Cytomegalovirus Retinitus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is very common within the general population, but it often shows little or no symptoms in healthy people (Gateway). It infects between 50% to 85% of adults in the United States by the age of 40 (CDC). However, in the immunodepressed population, there is often an active infection that shows many possible symptoms. Within the HIV infected community, the CMV virus’ most common symptoms are retinitus and gastrointestinal problems (Gateway). In these patients, CMV retinitus usually develops when the T-cell count is below 50 cells/mm^3. CMV retinitus presents itself as an area of whitening in the retina of the eye. The whitening may be accompanied by a hemorrhage (Medscape).
CMV retinitus is particularly important to the HIV/AIDS community. Infection with CMV is a major cause of disease and death in immunocompromised patients, specifically HIV infected patients (CDC). Retinitus is one of the most common symptoms of CMV infection within the HIV community. As stated before, CMV retinitus presents itself as an area of whitening within the retina. Hemorrhages may or may not occur. If the infection involves the posterior pole of the eye where many large blood vessels, there is a strong likelihood that hemorrhaging will occur where as if the infection is in the peripheral retina where there is a small number of large blood vessels, hemorrhaging is less likely to occur. CMV retinitus most often occurs in the peripheral retina and the area around the optic nerve. Since vision is determined mostly by the fovea, which is located in the central part of the retina, a large part of the retina can be affected before the infected individual ever develops noticeable vi...
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...ight is not damaged. Currently the lady is not showing any signs of retinitus, but there is no assurance that she never will. There is a good chance that when I enter optometry school I will study CMV as a cause for retinitus. My father did not study CMV while he was in optometry school but AIDS had not even been discovered during the time he was in school.
I find the information I have found about CMV retinitus to be very interesting. I have always been interested in eyes and how they work so obviously I am interested in learning more about diseases that can possibly take the wonderful gift of sight away from us. The information I found included some photographs of the retina of infected individuals and I found this very interesting as well. Overall, my opinion of the time I spent researching is very good. It was time well spent.
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The Tale of Dueling Neurosurgeons definitely provided me with insight into the subject matter. I personally enjoyed reading about the rare ailments that an average person would have no idea about. The features of some of these brain anomalies are quite peculiar, yet they have a scientific diagnosis. I learned about the explanation for phantom limb syndrome and that because the motor cortex and the somatosensory cortex each contain “body map” and when areas share borders the sensations on one can wake up the mental memory of the area lost causing the phantom limb phenomena. I also learned about the mirror therapy that is so simplistic, yet so logical, while at the same time Kean provided historical information about the Civil War while telling this story. Teaching about the method and the myriad of amputations that could be done in just one day. Another thing I found interesting was how Harvey Cushing performed his work. I knew that the pituitary gland was responsible for the growth hormone and the different things that could go awry, but the way he had an assistant break into a funeral to remove the glands of a dead man seemed irrational, but I suppose it proves
The only true risk that an AIDS patient would find would be the increase of
Herpes. Herpes, a word that all of us know, something that gets made fun of by the raunchiest of comedians, a suggestion of a loose life style, a complex virus that was only recently seen as something to be feared since the early 1970’s for a target of money for pharmaceutical companies. Yet as common to be referenced by Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet, and is a virus that is known worldwide, and almost every one has experienced in one-way or another.
Feline panleukopenia is endemic to cats worldwide. The virus has been identified since the early 20th century. The virus is so severe that it was referred to as “cat plague” in earlier times when infections worldwide nearly wiped out cat populations in certain geographic areas. Now FPV rarely occurs in domestic populations in which vaccination is routinely practiced. There is a seasonality to the occurrence of FPV that usually coincides with the production of new populations of susceptible kittens. This seasonal effect may vary according to geographic location. In the northeastern United States, most cases of FPV are seen in the summer and early fall. However, outbreaks of FPV may occur at any time of the year. It is thought that feral domestic cat populations are a natural resevior for Feline panleukopenia virus.
...rticular protein, called MAVS, which is key to our innate ability to fight certain viral infections, acquires a self-perpetuating fibrillar form in cells that have become infected with virus and amplifies the cellular alarm signal. [7] This ultimately induces the production of interferons that recruit macrophages to combat the infection. [7]
Mumps is a paramyxovirus that is closely related to the parainfluenza virus. Its symptoms were first described in the 5th century BC, and it was a very common childhood affliction until the last several decades. It was identified as a virus in 1934, and an effective vaccine was developed in 1967. Mumps is acquired by aerosol, necessitating close human interaction for spread. Human beings are the only known reservoir for mumps virus, and there is only one serotype.
Feline Leukemia Virus is caused by C-type RNA viruses (Padman S. Sarma & Robert J. Huebner, et al). It is what is known as a retrovirus, and it occurs in all species of cats. All retroviruses produce an enzyme that allows them to inject their genetic material into healthy cells, causing the once-healthy cell to become infected and take on properties of the virus (Feline Leukemia Virus). The name comes from the original attempt to understand the virus, and it was believed to be similar to leukemia in humans. By the time the actual cause of the virus was discovered the misnomer of “leukemia” had already become commonly used, and leukemia was then used as part of the virus’ official name. While the virus produces leukemia-like symptoms, it can also lead to cases of lymphoma (Raoul E. Benveniste & Charles J. Sherr, et al).
Adams, Heather P., and Erica L. Carnright. "HPV Infection And Cervical Cancer Prevention." Clinician Reviews 23.9 (2013): 42-50. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Nov. 2013
The Oyez Project. N.p., n.d. Web. The Web. The Web. 18 Mar. 2010. http://www.eyes.org/cases/1970-1979/1971/1971_70_18>.
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people 's defense systems against infections and some types of cancer. As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count. Immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections and diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which can take from 2 to 15 years to develop depending on the individual. AIDS is defined by the development of certain cancers, infections, or other severe clinical manifestations.
The study tested seven astronauts and found eye structure and vision abnormalities for all of them. Changes are found in the retina, the slightly sensitive part in the back of our eyes. It is also found that some astronauts had them longer after they came back to our planet. (AAO, 2013). Support B: Based on a research, cancer can happen because of too much exposure to radiation.
My father made a successful recovery and I became inspired. I realized that having the gift of sight is something people take for granted. Therefore, when I embarked on my undergraduate journey, I partook in several activities to help foster my thirst for knowledge about optometry. For instance, I became the treasurer of the pre-optometry club at the University of Florida. As an executive board member, I opened doors for others to find their passion for optometry through managing our budget and finances to sponsor trips and activities. Meanwhile, I also worked as a secretary and shadowed at the Eye Associates of Orlando, where I gained practical knowledge. I also volunteered for the KidSight Vision Screening Program where I entered data of visio...
...ve or systemic disease (Cole and Gazewood, 2007, p. 862). Scarring is unusual in most cases, but hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation sometimes occur post infection. The prognosis for impetigo is a positive one. Most patients’ condition resolves in 2 weeks (Cole and Gazewood, 2007, p. 861). If complications do occur, acute post streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a very important one. It affects up to 5% of patients with nonboullous (Brown, Shriner, Schwartz, and Janniger, 2007, p. 252).
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a slow moving retrovirus that eventually causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome commonly called AIDS. This combo disease known as HIV/AIDS is labeled as a pandemic and has caused controversy throughout the whole world. The disease begins when a person infected passes on the HIV virus through sexual secretions, blood transfusions, and using dirty needles. The virus enters through vaginal or anal openings and through open cuts, once the virus enters a person’s blood stream they are infected with HIV however they may not necessarily have AIDS (WEBMD). Symptoms of HIV include lethargy or sleepiness, weight loss, and flu like symptoms after a while AIDS eventually develops and is the finally or most advanced stage of the disease the symptoms are the same as HIV and also includes vision loss, weight loss, memory loss, and eventually organ failure (AIDS.gov) The first reports of AIDS came from young gay men in New York and San Francisco.