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Photodynamic Therapy
Get PDFPhotodynamic therapy is a new treatment that is being introduced into the veterinary community. Photodynamic therapy is the use of light activated chemotherapy to kill cancer cells (Dougherty, 1998). It has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to be used as a form of cancer treatment in humans, but has not been carried over to the veterinary community. That is until now. Photodynamic therapy is now being tested in the veterinary community in hopes to find the same results that the human medical community has when dealing with certain types of cancer. They also hope to permanently adopt the new procedure into facilities as an alternative form of cancer treatment.
The purpose of this study is to determine what laser works the best with what concentration of drug and what amount of exposure time will yield the highest kill percentage
A Comparison of Students\u27 Anxiety Levels While Taking Computer Versus Paper and Pencil Timed Math Tests
Get PDFThe purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the anxiety levels of students before and after taking the computerized timed math test with the levels before and after taking the paper-and-pencil timed math test. Two second-grade classes were used in this research with each student taking each test once. The computer test, found at www .saxonpublishers.com/activities/basic fact_ sheets/, consisted of 50 addition questions to be completed in 30 seconds, and the paper-and-pencil version, adapted by the researcher from a Saxon created test, consisted of 100 addition questions to be completed in 60 seconds. The students\u27 blood pressures and pulses were taken while they were at rest before the tests, right before they were told to begin the test, and right after the test was over. An elevation from the at rest readings to the beginning readings indicates increase in anxiety, as does an increase from the at rest readings to the ending readings. The differences in blood pressures and pulses of both tests were compared for each student with the least amount of change indicating less anxiety was experienced while taking that test. The scores of the two tests were also compared with the better score indicating less anxiety experienced while taking that test. All the students responded to a survey and several randomly chosen students were interviewed about their experiences and feelings toward the tests and research process
Analysis of the Effects of Hypogeal and Epigeal Emergence on Seedling Competition in Legumes
Get PDFSeedling emergence is either hypogeal or epigeal. In hypogeal emergence the cotyledons remain below the soil surface during seedling development, while in epigeal emergence the cotyledons extend above the soil surface due to elongation of the hypocotyl. Here we examine the effect of seed size, and emergence type, on seedling growth. Six legumes with variation in seed size and either epigeal or hypogeal emergence were grown under dark and light conditions. A competition study was also conducted where a hypogeal and epigeal legume were grown in combination with wheat and ryegrass. Legumes expressing epigeal emergence were cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), mung bean (Vigna radiata) and soybean (Glycine max Merr.), while Austrian winter pea (Pisurn sativum var. arvense (L.) Poir), field pea (Pisum arvense) and lentil (Lens culinaris) expressed hypogeal emergence. In the dark growth study, seed size did not have a direct effect on growth, but there was a correlation with the heavier seeded species having heavier seedlings. Soybean had the largest seedlings under both dark and light conditions. Wheat and ryegrass competition reduced both Austrian winter pea and soybean growth. However, the cool air-temperature during the study may have favored the growth of Austrian winter pea, a cool-season legume. Soybean, a warm-season legume, seedling development may have been limited by the cool-temperature. We could not separate hypogeal or epigeal emergence types as to seedling growth or competitiveness. However, seed size did have a direct effect on seedling size, regardless of emergence \u27 type
Do Cellular Phones Cause Headaches?
Get PDFMany people have recently complained about experiencing headaches in association with the use of their cellular telephones. There is much controversy over this subject because it has not yet been proven that the microwaves emitted by cellular telephones cause headaches. The research questions include the following: What are the effects, if any, of the use of cellular telephones on human health? Do they cause headaches? Are they responsible for the increase in size of some brain tumors?
There have been many experiments performed by various scientists in the field of bioelectromagnetics and by the World Health Organization (WHO); however, these studies are fairly new and the results have not been collected. There is evidence, however, to prove that the microwaves emitted by cellular telephones affect the bloodbrain barrier and the dopamine-opiate systems of the brain. It is also known that the penetration of the blood-brain barrier causes headaches in human beings. Although there are many different factors that are involved with the causes of headaches, I hypothesize that the frequent use of cellular telephones can be linked to an increased frequency of headaches.
The particular question that I plan to address is Does the prolonged use of cellular telephones cause headaches? I am not licensed as a scientist; however, my research on this subject will draw more attention to this controversy and will question the safety of cellular phones. My perspective is that the microwaves emitted by cellular telephones are involved in the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier and the dopamine - opiate systems of 2 the brain and, therefore, are associated with the frequent headaches that cellular phone users complain of
Is Hypochondria Really a Mental Disorder?
Get PDFAccording to Webster\u27s Dictionary, hypochondria means, a morbid condition characterized by the simulation of the symptoms of any several diseases. Convinced of a grave illness, the hypochondrians may suffer acutely, not only from the symptoms of the presumed disease but also from anxiety. Hypochondria is a mental disorder in which the affected person becomes obsessive about sickness and his health (or supposed lack of it). The person often becomes fearful of illnesses despite proof that he or she does not. Many times small symptoms of a common disease might be mistaken or exaggerated into something more severe (such as someone sighting a freckle and assuming that they have skin cancer). In other cases, patients think that they have a disease and through mind over matter, will begin to develop the correct symptoms as well as suffer from anxiety or melancholy. The technical medical term for this condition is Hypochondriasis. According to medical doctors, about six percent and ten percent of people who visit the doctor is suffering from hypochondria. Anyone can become a hypochondriac, no matter what their gender, age, or appearance. It is also quite common for medical students to become hypochondriacs after studying different kinds of rare and serious diseases. It may also be inherited genetically. Hypochondriacs many times have been cautious, anxious, or fearful of diseases all of their lives. It is just a condition that they are born with. Other times it can be brought on by a traumatic event in a person\u27s life that leads them to feeling unsafe. Also, small fits of hypochondria can be brought on after hearing about a serious illness constantly, or learning about a disease in more depth. It can also be used to seek attention, withdraw from personal responsibilities. To be diagnosed with hypochondria, the patient must be convinced of fear that he has a serious disease for a least six months, even when given positive proof that he is healthy. This fear of disease must influence the persons\u27 life negatively, and lead to medical treatment. The patient will only be able to temporarily accept that there is no explanation for his symptoms. The common symptoms that a hypochondriac will have include: - constantly visiting the doctor - fixated on a disease that no doctor has diagnosed them with - refusing to believe a doctor when they say nothing is seriously wrong with them - checking their bodies for strange oddities or symptoms often - being preoccupied with a disease that they saw on television or in the newspaper - being constantly concerned about sickness and pain - frequently thinking about death - thinking that doctors often misdiagnose serious illnesses - thinking that it is normal to feel completely well all of the time.
Many doctors do not think that hypochondria is a serious illness. In fact, they think that a disease can only occur in the body, or in the mind. So they classify hypochondria as a mental disorder, such as depression. However, since hypochondria affects both the mind and the body, they are unsure on how to approach it. However doctors are beginning to recognize that hypochondriacs are actually suffering and the disease is considered slightly higher than it previously was. Doctors think that hypochondria can be treated, although never fully cured because the anxiety can never fully disappear. The type of hypochondria which is easiest to treat is when it has not always been a part of the patient\u27s life, in comparison to it being a part of their nature. The first step to being cured is for the patient to admit to themselves that they are overly anxious about their health. Over a period of time they have to realize that they do not actually have a physical disease, but it is all in their minds. Some doctors have used Prozac on their patients with positive results, which hints that hypochondria may be mainly in the mind. Some doctors use cognitive behavioral treatment, sometimes combined with medication. In the first consultation the patient explains their symptoms, and they make an evaluation whether they have been examined good enough. They never discuss the symptoms because they are subjective, and hence accepted . However, they do discuss how to interpret the symptoms. They cannot imagine that symptoms that they have can be caused by anxiety During the treatment the patient can register the thoughts that go through their mind when they notice their physical symptoms. Hypochondriacs choose the most serious explanation. A headache is not a migraine or stress, but a brain tumor, chest pain is not caused by tense muscles, but is a serious heart attack and so on. These thoughts are then discussed and alternative explanations are tested out
Neuromotor and Cognitive Development in Children with Cerebral Palsy in Relation to Neural Plasticity
Get PDFInfants with neurological disabilities, such as cerebral palsy (CP) and Down syndrome (DS), show severe delays in motor and cognitive development relative to chronological age. Involvement of neural plasticity as a treatment of such neurological disorders is increasingly being seen. Previous studies have found that interventions involving sensory linked motor performance have been critical in facilitating motor improvement. The purpose of this study was to compare self-initiated mobility in children with CP and DS. Three infants, ages 8, 9, and 22 months, with diagnoses of no CP, DS, and CP respectively, participated in the study. The infants were videotaped in 5-minute trials using the Self-Initiated Prone Progression Crawler (SIPPC), a mobility aid that assists in infant crawling. Each recorded trial was coded and scored using the Mobility Scale. Movement and speed data from the trials showed the infants with CP and DS performed with less amplitude and purpose when compared to the typically developing child. Differences were also noted in the child with CP, displaying the lowest scores in coordination and movement. Asymmetry was also noted in the initiation movements of the children with CP and DS. However, overall test scores improved over time, suggesting that the SIPPC is an effective tool, taking advantage of experience-expectant and experience-dependent characteristics of learning and skill acquisition
