cranium and heavy jaw, he caught the eye of agents from a circus in Somerville, New Jersey. His unique characteristics led to many believing he was microcephalic, frequently referred to as a ‘pinhead.’ Microcephaly An individual who is born with microcephaly has a small, elongated cranium. Microcephaly is a neurological disorder and
speech by Professor William Dobyns (MD) Title: Zika virus-associated microcephaly and fetal brain disruption Zika virus has been gaining notoriety due to the recent Rio Olympics. It is not a new disease, in fact, it has been around for a long time. The first recorded case of Zika virus infection was in Uganda in 1947. Previous research and press coverage on the disease highlighted microcephaly in babies as the main detrimental effect of Zika virus. The speaker aimed to show the
connected with other abnormalities such as eye defects, impaired growth and hearing loss. (CDC.com). It remains questionable if pyriproxyfen, a pesticide frequently used to control the mosquito population is also intertwined with the cases of microcephaly and other birth defects surrounding the Zika virus. Newer studies also reveal the possibility that Zika is linked to an auto immune disorder called acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). This disorder is similar to Multiple Sclerosis,
"The release of atomic energy has so changed everything that our former ways of thinking have been rendered obsolete. We therefore face catastrophe unheard of in former times. If mankind is to survive, then we need a completely new way of thinking." ~Albert Einstein Life Was Never the Same: The Effects of the Atomic Bomb on the Survivors In August of 1945, the world changed forever with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The lives of millions were shattered in a
Human body is such an enigma. It is very fragile and there is not even a single person who did not fell sick in his lifetime. Some people suffer from minor flus and some have to undergo life-threatening surgeries. There are some who will have to take medicines all throughout their life and some face horrible treatments. But the most saddening thing is suffering from a disease that is so rare that only handful people know about it. It is such a bad luck that you are one in a million who is suffering
An Overview of the Rare Disease Known as Kabuki Syndrome As I look to graduate, I become increasingly aware that I have my entire life to look forward to. Even though I will have struggles throughout my life, I still have my well being to fall back on. When all else fails, I am and hopefully always will be self-assured that I am here, healthy and able to bring myself through the worst of circumstances. This realization and knowledge has presented itself in the most realistic way just within
to babies with deformed heads. Eventually, it was determined that the culprit was a mild flu-like virus transmitted via mosquitoes. Although, some adults and children only exhibited mild symptoms, it was discovered that the virus was causing microcephaly in fetal brains; a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than usual. In 2016 US Congress finally approved aid to fight the virus after several reports that the virus had reached the United State. It eventually became apparent that the
The relationship between medicine and public health has a complex aspect. They both are essential to keep communities safe from illnesses. However, medicine focuses on individuals who are ill and public health focuses on preventing illness. The two fields of study share epidemiology as a common source of knowledge to achieve their goals. The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson tells the story of John Snow, the man known as “the father of Epidemiology”. Donald McNeil JR. follows a modern day use of epidemiology
Overall, I do believe that my moral code is based on utilitarian views. I believe everyone should be free to be who they want to be, do what they want to do and choose their own life. Below, I will go through some different aspects of the utilitarian view that apply to me and what I believe I would do based on my moral code in certain situations. With the decision to have sex, Utilitarian ethics insist on having consent. I absolutely agree with this and sex without consent would be completely against
Human lineage and how each and every different species within each lineage evolved all have many different ideas as to what happened and why each event happened. One of the many ongoing debates dealing with human evolution is formed around one of the newest species discovered called Homo floresiensis, otherwise known as the “Hobbit”. The confusion of the debate is that it is thought that this species of modern humans either evolved from an undocumented small-bodied, small-brained pre-Homo erectus
Living in the world that consists of three thousand different types of mosquitoes is frightening. People got used to a daily routine of waking up and getting to their jobs, that many of them are so focused on their career and family that they do not even notice and pay much attention when they are getting bitten by mosquitoes. Unfortunately not many people were aware of the fact that not all insects are safe, many of mosquitoes transfer infections, but we were not concentrating on that since it was
Zika Virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and the symptoms experienced are usually mild if any at all. Unfortunately, the Zika Virus can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus potentially causing microcephaly; a birth defect in which an infant is born with an abnormally small head size which can in turn cause other developmental problems depending on the severity (CDC, 2016). Concern about the Zika Virus is not new, nor is caution when traveling to
country’s well-being. In the article written by Lorraine Chow “Latin America Doctors Suggest Monsanto-Linked Larvice Cause of Microcephaly, not Zika Virus,” she informs the readers about Monsanto, a chemical company hired by the Brazilian government to provide pesticides with the objective to minimize and eliminate the Zika virus. This virus has remained the main cause for “microcephaly, the medical term in which a baby’s head is abnormally small” (2016). The article study the social responsibilities of
facial movements needed for normal human speech. Alterations of where and when the FOXP2 gene is produced could explain the complexity of the human language. ASPM (Abnormal Spindle-like Microcephaly Associated) is a gene that controls brain size. A mutation in the ASPM gene leads to a condition known as microcephaly which causes a reduced brain size that normally is around 70% less than the average brain. The ASPM gene encodes protein that are necessary in the development of neuroblasts, which has
Encephaloceles Encephaloceles are rare disorders that are caused by a neural tube defect in which the bones of the skull fail to close completely. This failure to close allows cerebral spinal fluid, brain tissue, and the meninges to push through the gap and create a sac-like formation protruding from the skull. Encephaloceles differ from meningoceles in that meningoceles contain only the meninges and cerebral spinal fluid, whereas encephaloceles involve brain tissue being pushed through the sac
Every moment that time passes, a mosquito sucks fresh scarlet blood cells beyond the delicate, hydrated, smooth skin, creating an itchy, crimson, round-like bump that irritates whoever is bitten. There is a vast number of different mosquitoes with distinctive characteristics, and although they are seen as a common threat, some tend to have more extreme side effects than others. For example, the Culex Pipiens, also known as the Northern House Mosquito, is one of the causes of various diseases, such
also complications like muscle pain, joint pain, headache, pain behind the eyes, and conjunctivitis. People are also likely to not have any symptoms at all. If a woman is pregnant and is or was affected with Zika the child is going to have microcephaly. Microcephaly is a child’s brain that fails to grow to its normal size. Other people with Zika lose the ability to walk and they need to be put in a mechanical ventilator. A mechanical ventilator is a device that helps patients breathe by assisting breathing
Isaac Thomas Rett Syndrome Rett syndrome is a progressive neurological disorder that affects almost exclusively in females. The most basic symptoms include decreased speech, cognitive disabilities, severe lack of muscle control, small head size, and unusual hand movements. A woman with a mutation in her MECP2 gene, has a 50% risk with any pregnancy to pass on her X chromosome with the mutation. It is not common for women with Rett syndrome to have children because the severity of the disorder. The
Down Syndrome The life of a child with Down syndrome is different from the life of a child without Down syndrome. Down syndrome is “a genetic chromosome 21 disorder causing developmental and intellectual delays”. (4) If you think about it, there are many people that have Down syndrome. The complications of living with Down syndrome can range in severity to mild to extreme and may include thyroid disease which is any dysfunction of the butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. Heart defects
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a disorder that can happen to children whose mothers drank sufficient amounts of alcohol sometime throughout their pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a condition classified in a group called Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and is the most known and severe of the group. FAS, depending on the factors such as location, population and race studied is considered one of the leading known causes of mental retardation and birth defects, with 0.2 – 1.5 out of every 1,000