Heart Failure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Heart Failure - Essay Example Heart Failure Precisely, this was the literature gap identified in this study. To establish the research problem, Felter et al. (2014) grounded their arguments on the recent statistical data, which proved the claim of the authors regarding readmissions of heart failure patients. Perhaps, with the supposition to maintain generalisability and include both favoring and opposing data, Felter et al. (2014) also delivered due significance in including information about those strategies, which are adopted by hospitals to prevent readmissions of the patient population, through the implementation of â€Å"transitional care intervention† programs. From an argumentative perception thus, Felter et al. (2014: 774) stated, â€Å"†¦An analysis of Medicare claims data from 2007 to 2009 found that 35% of readmissions within 30 days were for HF [heart failure]†. Although the focus of the study was laid on the evaluation of the health care efficiency in delivering quality treatment to heart failure patients, Felter et al. (2014) also attempted to recommend a few noteworthy solutions to the situation based on the â€Å"transitional care intervention† program that is often practiced to serve the population. Precisely, Felter et al. (2014) stated that their purpose was to â€Å"assess the efficacy, comparative effectiveness, and harms of transitional care interventions to reduce readmission and mortality rates for adults hospitalized with HF†.

The Women, Infant's and Children programs Research Paper

The Women, Infant's and Children programs - Research Paper Example The researcher states that WIC was founded in 1973. But its history stretches back to the 1960s. Studies and national television programs were discovering that starvation, malnutrition and other forms of caloric deficiency were preventing many Americans from having enough to eat. The Poor People's March on Washington and major documentaries focused the issue and brought it to the attention of policymakers. A 1969 Conference was convened, which included in its report a recommendation to focus specifically on the needs of low-income women, pregnant women, children and infants, whose gaps between nutritional needs and opportunities were often most dire. A Commodity Supplemental Food Program was created that targeted women and children under 6, but studies found that it and the Food Stamp Program were not dealing with the special needs of the groups in question. An amendment of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 finally created the WIC department as a two-year pilot. The department was desi gned to work with the USDA, who would provide the food support and commodities. The WIC program differed itself from the CSFP by coordinating food relief with health care and other aid programs. USDA resistance to coordination required a federal court order to force them to comply. The WIC proved successful enough to be established permanently on October 7, 1975, by PL 94-105. Eligibility was expanded to nonbreastfeeding women, and while inadequate income was an eligibility requirement, it was not specifically defined, giving the program flexibility. In 1999, the USDA implemented standard measures of food security and, after two years, published a report that indicated what food scholars had been saying for years: Malnutrition and caloric deficiency were reaching epidemic levels. The standardization of food insufficiency metrics has transformed the debate around food provision entirely and galvanized public interest and support. Mission Statement The WIC's mission is as follows: â⠂¬ ¢ Protect women, children and infants †¢ Improve nutrition and health of poor and disadvantaged women †¢ Provide education, support and information †¢ Support women with post-partum depression The WIC themselves define their goal as, â€Å"To safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care†. They define their mission completion mechanisms as, â€Å"Food, nutrition counseling, and access to health services are provided to low-income women, infants, and children under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, popularly known as WIC. WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children who are found to be at nutritional risk...Most State WIC programs provide vouchers that participants use at authorized food stores.

Thiamine Functions and Structure

Thiamine Functions and Structure Marno Terblanche Clinical Chemistry II BAssignment Overview About five million individuals in America suffer from heart failure, with an additional 550,000 new diagnosis made each year. The life expectancy of people living with this condition has gradually increased due to the availability of useful and established treatment opportunities. The percentage of mortality in the States continues to be high even though things like â€Å"omega-3 fatty acids, ÃŽ ²-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors† have bettered the circumstances of these people. Vitamin B1, or better known as Thiamine, plays an integral part in the treatment of heart failure and is regarded as a clinical significant factor in the well-being of the heart. It also enhances the prognosis and general health of the patients. Heart failure can be caused by trace mineral deficiencies such as thiamine deficiency and therefore thiamine supplementation can be of great assistance in the treatment of this condition (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Vitamin B1 was the first out of eight B-vitamins to be identified, and ever since the discovery it was given several names, with Thiamine being used the most (DiNicolantonio, 2013). It is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that it cannot be stored by the body and is obtained through food sources such as beef, nuts, milk and whole-grain foods (Ehrlich, 2011). Studies around the causes of beriberi by a Dutch physician and pathologist, Christiaan Eijkman, led to the discovery of Vitamin B1 in 1897. Beriberi is a widespread and sometimes deadly disease associated with heart failure. By 1926, vitamin B1 was separated into its pure form and given the name thiamine (Vitamins in Motion, 2013). More about Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Absorption The absorption of thiamine takes place in the jejunum with the aid of two processes. An active transport system in the small intestines is responsible for the absorption of thiamine once the levels drop below normal. Once the levels are too high, an inactive mucosal process occurs. The small intestines are capable of absorbing about 5 mg of thiamine. Tissues can reserve up to 30 mg of thiamine. The storing of thiamine is very important as the body cannot produce its own. The liver, heart, kidneys and brain are some of the organs which stores thiamine, with most of it found in the skeletal muscles (Nguyen-Khoa, 2013). Structure The structure of thiamine consists of a pyrimidine ring with the radical –NH2 and a thiazole ring. These two rings are connected with one another by means of a methylene bridge (Mouton, 2014:4). Thiamine found within living tissues have a diphosphate ester structure known as thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP). TPP serves as a coenzyme that binds tightly to the apoenzyme (Ball, 1998:268). Functions There are four structures of thiamine that are present in all human beings. They include: thiamine monophosphate, thiamine diphosphate, thiamine triphosphate and unphosphorylated thiamine (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Thiamine is very important in the body as it operates as a coenzyme that converts carbohydrates into glucose, which in turn is used to provide energy. It also assists in the metabolism of fats and protein, and is essential for healthy eyes, hair, skin and liver (Ehrlich, 2011). Thiamine monophosphate can actively move into the central nervous system and nerves where it is capable of preserving the sodium and potassium concentrations. Sodium and potassium is required for nerve impulse conduction, and therefore it is vital for these levels to be maintained (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Thiamine is occasionally referred to as an â€Å"anti-stress† vitamin because of its ability to support the immune system and improve the ability of a person’s body to endure traumatic situations. People who suffer from vitamin B1 deficiency are deprived from these normal functions that the vitamin provides, and therefore they develop conditions such as dry and wet beriberi (Ehrlich, 2011). Thiamine deficiency Diets that are low or deficient in vitamin B1 can lead to Thiamine deficiency (beriberi) as well as constant (long-lasting) diarrhoea. Diarrhoea actually weakens the body’s capacity to take up vitamin B1 (Nguyen-Khoa, 2013). There are two forms of beriberi namely dry and wet beriberi. Dry beriberi involves the deficiency of thiamine that affects the nervous system while wet beriberi comprises of cardiovascular complications (DiNicolantonio, 2013). A potential reason as to why wet beriberi arises, because of thiamine deficiency, is based on the fact that ATP is depleted from the cardiac muscle cells. The decrease in ATP then leads to the weakening of the cardiac muscle, which in the long run causes heart failure. There will be an increase in the concentration of adenosine monophosphate in the cardiac muscle cells as a result of the inability of the cells to produce ATP. The adenosine monophosphate is then converted to adenosine, which then starts to accumulate in the cells and then finally leading to its release into the plasma by the aid of a nucleoside transporter. The manifestation of systemic vasodilatation and headaches is due to adenosine in the plasma (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Features of wet beriberi As a result of thiamine deficiency and specifically wet beriberi, patients will represent with cardiovascular symptoms. It will include swelling of cells and tissues because of excessive water build-up, lactic acidosis, fluid retention, systemic dilation of blood vessels and a high-or-low-output cardiac failure. In addition to the mentioned symptoms other signs such as increased levels of catecholamine and low diastolic pressure may be evident of wet beriberi (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Shoshin beriberi is known as an acute version of wet beriberi and these patients may show signs of an acute cardiovascular collapse as well as metabolic acidosis. If left untreated (i.e. if thiamine is not injected immediately) it may lead to death (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Epidemiology The prevalence of beriberi may be associated with the fact that milled rice was consumed by some populations all over the world. The external part of the rice that contained thiamine was removed by the milling process. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there is a significant improvement in Indonesia where this process of removing the outer crust was and still is implemented. Back in the day beriberi was widespread and a health concern, but currently the occurrence is less common than what it was. Beriberi has a tendency to affect infants between 1 and 4 months as well as adults (Knott, 2010). Measurement of thiamine Direct detection is one of the methods used to measure the concentration of thiamine in the system. It can also be measured by determining enzyme activity of those enzymes that require thiamine for optimal functioning. There is more than one method that can be used to measure thiamine levels. Urinary and serum thiamine level estimation, red blood cell transketolase and TPP (thiamine pyrophosphate) analysis is some of the methods available. It is important to measure thiamine stores and amongst all current tests available there is still no consistent test usable for this purpose. Thiamine will move to the liver and enter the red blood cells soon after it has been absorbed in the jejunum. The amount of thiamine in blood ranges from 60-120 ÃŽ ¼g/L. From this total volume (concentration) about 80% will be found within the red blood cells. Because thiamine has a limited duration in the body, it is not reliable to measure serum levels or use it as a marker of thiamine stores (DiNicolantoni o, 2013). Excretion of thiamine in the distal nephron is also directly associated with the amount of thiamine in blood. However, the concentration will be dependent on recent intake only, and therefore isn’t indicative of thiamine sites (for storage) in the body. 24-hour urine samples are required for evaluating thiamine levels, and this may be tiresome for the individual (DiNicolantonio, 2013). So far the most effective and reliable test available is the â€Å"erythrocyte transketolase activity assay† that evaluates transketolase activity. In an artificial manner thiamine is added to the red blood cells followed by the measurement of transketolase activity. Transketolase cannot function without thiamine diphospahte. Because it requires the coenzyme for optimal functioning the action of the transketolase enzyme proves that there is indeed thiamine diphosphate in the cells. Since red blood cells are one of the first cell types to be affected by thiamine deficiency, it can be considered an accurate test procedure (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Treatment Thiamine supplements are essential to those individuals that suffer from dry or wet beriberi. It is recommended that 1.1-1.2 mg of thiamine supplements are administered on a daily basis. When it comes to wet beriberi the patient may require 100 mg/day intravenous thiamine supplementation for more than a few days. It has also been suggested that individuals whose chances are higher of developing the deficiency should receive 100 mg of supplements three times daily. In instances where there is a confirmed deficiency, an increased dosage of thiamine (from 100 to 200 mg) should be taken three times daily. The supplementation is critical for the management and treatment of this deficiency and it has been showed that there is substantial improvement in the condition after the person received treatment (DiNicolantonio, 2013). Prognosis Beriberi is not that difficult to treat. With proper treatment one can expect to see a significant recovery, even in more severe types of this deficiency. Within 12 hours of supplementation one can notice an improvement. Because treatment provides for more rapid recovery, it can almost be used as a diagnostic test. Overall the prognosis is fairly good (Nguyen-Khoa, 2013). Conclusion Individuals who suffer from heart failure are more prone to develop vitamin deficiencies such as thiamine deficiency. It is therefore important to limit any nutritional defects to prevent such deficiencies from occurring. This is a controllable condition and with necessary treatment one can expect substantial improvements. The use of vitamin B1 has demonstrated to better heart function, urinary function as well as symptoms of heart failure (DiNicolantonio, 2013). References Ball, G.F.M. (1998). Bioavailability and Analysis of Vitamins in Foods. 1st ed. London: Chapman Hall. DiNicolantonio, JJ. et al. (2013). Thiamine Supplementation for the Treatment of Heart Failure: A Review of the Literature. Congestive Heart Failure [online]. 19, p.214-222. Available from: . [Accessed 18 August 2014]. Ehrlich, SD. (2011). University of Maryland Medical Center [online]. Available from: https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-b1-thiamine>. [Accessed 18 August 2014]. Knott, L. (2010). Patient.co.uk [online]. Available from: www.patient.co.uk/doctor/beriberi>. [Accessed 26 August 2014]. Mouton, TM. (2014). Clinical Chemistry II B Core Notes Bellville: CPUT Nguyen-Khoa, DT. (2013). Medscape [online]. Available from: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/116930-overview>. [Accessed 18 August 2014]. Vitamins in Motion [online]. (2013). Available from: www.vitaminsinmotion.com//VitaminsinMotion_VitaminB1.pdf‎>. [Accessed 9 August 2014].

Drinking on College Campuses :: beer Alcohol Abuse Alcoholism,

Drinking on College Campuses Beer bongs, keg stands, and a million new drinks to discover, these are what college is all about. First-year students are introduced to a whole new world of parties that last until 3 a.m. and drinking beer for the usual breakfast. The week consists of concentrating on school for about 4 days of the week and partying 3 days. The money that was supposed to go towards books and gas to get home has been hoarded for the latest beer run or was used to get into the bar. This trend is getting into the habit of drinking as you enter college; it seems the two go hand in hand. It has become a rite of passage that weaved its way into the introduction of university life (National Institute, October 2002). Those students who never drank in high school seem to think drinking is suddenly okay when they start studying for their bachelor’s degree. This addition of responsibility is then balanced by the act of partying. It seems completely absurd that students choose to drink while investing around $20,000 a year in school. It all starts at high school graduation. Drinking is suddenly endorsed, or protested less, by parents, coaches, adults, organizations, and businesses. When seniors in high school finally graduate, it is common for a party to be thrown in their honor. Some of these parties include alcohol, and we can be pretty sure it wasn’t bought by the graduate unless they flunked a few times and are of legal age. Parents, other adults, and older friends supply the liquor and beer for the underage partiers. When the graduates make the next major step in their life and head for college, they are confronted with many opportunities to get hammered, sloshed, annihilated, drunk, inebriated, intoxicated, wasted, and totally smashed. Other college students are eager to help their young, new friends out by taking them for a trip to the liquor store. Since some bars are legal to those over the age of eighteen, it’s not a problem getting served there either. The 21 year-olds are conveniently stamped for minors looking to spot a potential buyer. Since a minor isn’t worried about getting served, the most apparent problem is getting to the bar. One setting of this national trend can be studied locally.

Bad Side of Sports Essay

Trophies, gold medals, and awards are some of the reason you might play a sport. But there is something else that you can also get in trying to achieve your goal. All the work you put in for a particular sport can set you up for success and also can set up for failure. Also, it can leave you with something that you will remember for the rest of your life. In a lot of the things that you do like practice, exercising athletics need to also protect themselves. While playing sports some of the things that you do not think of are injuries, diseases, and medicine. Image, you are just at practice, not a big game, but you are get ready for the next game. Then next thing you notice is that you hear something break and it is your leg. You start to feel all kinds of emotions; it hurts, you have to go to the doctor, and you will not be able to play any more sports for a while. Also think about if you were playing basketball and you were in the middle of the game and you tripped over your own two feet and you sprained you ankle. Or think about if you were a wrestler or something and all you think about is your body weight. This can cause you to become anorexic, which is an eating disorder and now you have a body disorder. Also think about if you were a boxer and you were to get hit in head (you would probably get hit unconscious) or if you got hit in the kidney ( you would suffer a lot of pain. Every once in a while you can get hurt playing a sport and you might even get cut. But can this effect any other participant playing the sport? There are many diseases that can spread through blood, not to mention disease that can spread through sweat. All the time you are practicing with a person whose has ringworm, staphylococcus, or what if the person you are practicing with has HIV/AID. What are the chances of getting one of those diseases? Well, wrestling is a common sport and this sport you are wrestling with a person with full contact and you are less likely to be prevented from any diseases. If a person had a ringworm for insists you are easily in contact with the person and you become in contact with this contagious disease. Times are change and they are now coming up with more ways to prevent getting broken bones, getting diseases, and helping those who are already injured. For most broken pains you will go through rehabilitation and also get some pain relievers. For the diseases (most but not all) there are some pills that can kill most of the diseases inside the body. One of the most important things that you are going to need is time. It will take a lot of time for your body to heal, and by you going out on a hurt body you are just endangering your even more. While playing sports some of the things that you do not think of are injuries, diseases, and medicine. So the next time you think about playing a sport think about whether you want a gold medal or a broke leg. But if it happens you are to get a broken leg the doctors can help you and take some of the pain away but you will still remember it for life. That’s just the bad side of sports.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Going Abroad

The advantages and disadvantages of going abroad for further studies As for this topic, I feel envied. As a person who has no chance to go abroad, I will go no matter how. It’s a different experience and it must do more good than bad, at least for me. We’ve lived in China for twenty years so we can broaden our eye sights and we may get some inspiration about life. That’s vital, as far as I’m concerned. Westerns have their own opinions on life value which we may use for reference. Sometimes, we take something too important, you could find it unnecessary when you contact with various people.Besides, communicating with people from different areas can improve your skills of interactions. As we all know, Chinese do not excel in cooperating with others but westerns are good at it. Thus, our common shortcomings in personality can be corrected by the environment. Thirdly, western countries are advanced in science, economy, culture and politics. So many aspects tha t we can learn and use them to develop our country. Also, we can bring Chinese culture there, which makes more people to know about its attraction.In addition, if you succeed in graduating from famous foreign university, a good working opportunity is waiting for you. You can lead a high quality life and enjoy life better, at least no worrying for the money. If you like, you can live in abroad and make your children get a better education. But every coin has two sides. Going abroad has its advantages which we should take into consideration. Students who are poor in adapting to new circumstances may feel lonely and hopeless at beginning. If this psychology can’t be changed, it may cause serious problems.Some may be addicted to the drugs or choose to drop out. Secondly, you may feel disappointed when you arrive the country because imagination and truth is dollars to doughnuts. You have to tolerate hard conditions such as rough rooms, living on bread and water, worrying about the money and being forced to do a part-job if you are not rich enough. Then heavy pressure from work and study may let you mad. Thirdly, it could be a problem to become fully integrated into the local community, which has a bad influence in mastering the foreign language and being familiar with the local culture.Above all, I am still of the opinion that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages in this case. Doing everything has the adventure and we can’t just focus on the harm it may cause. We may be brave if we want to read more about the world or improve yourself. There’s no doubt that some troubles must happen in the process, but you can gain something unexpected. Moreover, the phenomenon that more and more people would like to go abroad must have the reason, especially the upper class. No matter what others’ choices are, you should fully analyze it with combining your situation and make the best opt which you’ll never regret.