...CNS Cancer or Brain Tumor A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells that is growing in or around the brain. It develops when abnormal cells multiply for unknown reasons. Benign and malignant are terms used to describe brain tumors. Benign brain tumors are usually slow growing and have distinct borders and a normal appearance under a microscope. Malignant tumors are considered brain cancer. They tend to invade healthy areas of the brain and may grow rapidly. A benign tumor may be considered malignant if it is located in a critical area of the brain or its size is life-threatening. Primary brain tumors start within the brain. Secondary or metastatic brain tumors come from cells which have broken away from cancers within the body and traveled to the brain. Metastatic brain tumors are always considered malignant since they evolve from cancerous cells and grow rapidly. I. Anatomy Review * The brain and spinal cord together are known as the Central Nervous System. * The adult brain weighs about three pounds, and is tightly enclosed by the skull. * It is a complex organ composed of nerve cells (neurons) and supporting tissues (glia). * The brain has four main parts: the meninges which are the membranes that enclose the brain, the cerebrum which is the largest part of the brain and is split into two hemispheres, the cerebellum which is the back part of the brain, located under the cerebral hemispheres, and the brain stem which connects to the spinal cord. ...
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...the Brain Brain cancer is a rare disease effecting one out of every five-thousand people in the U.S. Eighty-five percent of cases occur in adults that are over the age forty and as for the other fifteen percent it is seen in children and young adults up to the age of twenty. Research has also found that more men are affected by brain cancer than women. There are two classifications of a brain tumor that are formed. One is called primary brain cancer. A primary brain tumor occurs when one type of cell changes it characteristics and multiplies in abnormal ways causing a tumor or mass to grow in the brain. The most common primary brain tumors are gliomas, meningiomas, pituitary adenomas, vestibular schwannomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors. These brain tumors are called primary because they start and form in the brain. The second type of brain tumor is called metastatic brain cancer. Metastatic brain tumors are caused by cancerous cells in a tumor elsewhere in the body. These cancerous cells spread to the brain from a cancerous tumor in the body causing a cancerous tumor in the brain. This process is called metastasis. This process occurs in about twenty-five percent of tumors found in the body. There are many types of brain tumors. Not all tumors found in the brain are cancer. Tumors can be malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer). A malignant tumor is a cancerous tumor that in some cases can spread to other parts of the brain. A benign...
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...Abstract Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest brain tumors. It is commonly found among adults (more commonly in men) over 50 years old. Children and younger adults are susceptible to another, less aggressive form of glioblastoma. This tumor part of the astrocytomas family and is initially formed from glial cells in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. It differs significantly from other brain tumors in terms of how quickly the cells grow, how often the tumors recur, and the treatment options. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, confusion, and seizures. Doctors can test the patients for whether or not they have the tumor through MRIs, biopsies, and CT scans. Following diagnosis, patients undergo a craniotomy, followed by chemotherapy...
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...Review The Controversy about a Possible Relationship between Mobile Phone Use and Cancer Michael Kundi Institute of Environmental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria oBjective: During the last decade, mobile phone use increased to almost 100% prevalence in many countries of the world. Evidence for potential health hazards accumulated in parallel by epidemiologic investigations has raised controversies about the appropriate interpretation and the degree of bias and confounding responsible for reduced or increased risk estimates. data sources: Overall, I identified 33 epidemiologic studies in the peer-reviewed literature, most of which (25) were about brain tumors. Two groups have collected data for ≥ 10 years of mobile phone use: Hardell and colleagues from Sweden and the Interphone group, an international consortium from 13 countries coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. data synthesis: Combined odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) from these studies for glioma, acoustic neuroma, and meningioma were 1.5 (1.2–1.8); 1.3 (0.95–1.9); and 1.1 (0.8–1.4), respectively. conclusions: Methodologic considerations revealed that three important conditions for epidemiologic studies to detect an increased risk are not met: a) no evidence-based exposure metric is available; b) the observed duration of mobile phone use is generally still too low; c) no evidence-based selection of end points among the grossly different types of neoplasias is possible...
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...by the brain and spinal cord. This complex system controls both things that we intentionally think about and do, like walking and talking, and essential body functions that occur without specific thought on our part, such as breathing and digesting food. The CNS is also involved with the five senses of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling, as well as emotions, thoughts, and memory. The brain is a soft, spongy organ that is made up of nerve cells and tissue. It is divided into three major sections: the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brainstem. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain, and is divided into two halves, called the right and left hemispheres. The right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and the left hemisphere controls the right side of the body. Each hemisphere is further divided into sections called lobes. There are four lobes in each hemisphere: the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal, and each lobe is responsible for certain functions. A brain tumor is a mass of abnormal cells that is growing in or around the brain. It develops when abnormal cells multiply for unknown reasons. Benign and malignant are terms used to describe brain tumors. Benign brain tumors are usually slow growing and have distinct borders and a normal appearance under a microscope. Malignant tumors are considered brain cancer. They tend to invade healthy areas of the brain and may grow rapidly. A benign tumor may be considered malignant if it is...
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...You have a brain tumor! This is a statement that I hope none of you every have to hear. But, unfortunately 8.2 out of every 100,000 people in the US have received this diagnosis according to the IRSA Website. A primary malignant brain tumor represents 2% of cancers diagnosed in the US. And even worse 13,000 Americans die from them each year…which is 2% of all cancer deaths per the IRSA website. So, tonight I would like to talk to you about one type of primary brain cancer that has affected my life personally. Glioblastoma Multiforeme…or as a June 6, 2000 article named it “ The Terminator” My mom was diagnosed with this cancer on Dec 30,2010 after showing signs that my family and I missed for months. My hopes are that by sharing the information that I have learned with each of you that you may be better educated in what to watch for, treatment options, prognosis and etc. Just in case it ever happens to you or someone you love. Let’s start with the facts. According to the IRSA website “Malignant tumors are life-threatening; they invade surrounding normal body tissue, and grow unusually rapidly”. “The tumor generally does not have a distinct border and may spread to other areas in the brain or spine…some of them to critical areas which can be life threatening immediately. Even benign tumors can be life-threatening because of their location. So, you might ask yourself…what causes a brain tumor? Tumors are caused by a change in the genetic structure or...
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...Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), tumors that originate from astrocytes, is the most common and deadliest form of brain tumor in the human population. Since the tumors are supported by a comparatively large network of blood vessels in contrast to other tumoral cells , they are highly proliferative and malignant. Though with a seemingly exclusive localization to the cerebral hemisphere, GBMs can be found in the spinal cord, brain stem and the cerebellum as well; an estimated 61% of primary gliomas are found in the cerebral lobes, with the highest incidence in the frontal lobe (25%), respectively followed by the temporal lobe (20%), parietal lobe (13%) and the occipital lobe (3%). Based on origin, GBMs are categorized into two groups: Primary (de novo) and Secondary. While primary...
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...Chapter 22 Through what area does the cerebrospinal fluid circulate around the brain and spinal cord? in the subarachnoid space Which is the usual location of language centers? left hemisphere What would be the effect of damage to the auditory association area in the left hemisphere? inability to understand what is heard Which applies to corticospinal tract? it is a pyramidal tract for efferent impulses What is a major function of the limbic system? determines emotional responses Where are beta-1 adrenergic receptors located? cardiac muscle What does a vegetative state refer to? depression of the RAS and inability to initiate action Which is NOT part of the criteria for a declaration of "brain death"? presence of any head injury What is the best definition of aphasia? inability to comprehend or express language appropriately What is an early indicator of increased intracranial pressure? decreasing responsiveness What is the rationale for vomiting with increased intracranial pressure? pressure on the emetic center in the medulla What is the typical change in blood pressure with increased intracranial pressure? increasing pulse pressure A brain tumor causes a headache because the tumor stretches the meninges and blood vessels wall Which of the following causes papilledema? increased pressure of CSF at the optic disc What is the effect of an enlarging brain abscess on cardiovascular activity? systemic vasoconstriction and slower...
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...to live, but have you ever wondered just how harmful a cell phone is to your body? If you text and drive, do you realize how dangerous it is? Or are you one of those people that don’t stop to think about this type of stuff because regardless, you can’t live without it? Either way, one should take into consideration what exactly it’s doing to your body and even the people around you. The device that you think is just keeping you in contact with all your friends may be causing you headaches, memory loss, DNA damage, malignant brain tumors, or even a car accident. Radiofrequency energy, also known as radio waves, is a form of non-ionizing radiation. Your cell phone emits these electromagnetic frequency (EMF) waves that penetrate a users’ brain. The tissues closest to where the phone is held absorbs in this energy. “The WTR (Wireless Technology Research) study showed a correlation between a higher incident of brain cancer and a great risk of rare neurological tumors and DNA damage among the users of handheld phones versus users of other types of phones” (Brown, 2000). Many will argue that a cell phone’s radiation level has been tested and is certified by the manufacturer to meet the safety level. Is this something you can believe or are they just saying that so you’ll continue to buy their product? There are shields that “promise” to block electromagnetic waves, but shields can disturb transmission to the base antenna, which...
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...Coding and Treatment for Pleural Mesothelioma Although it doesn't seem that long ago, my brother Bob was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma in September 1997. He was only 50 years old. As chronicled by my sister Barb in “A Hole in Many Lives” – Bob’s Story, Bob had been exposed to asbestos while working a summer job approximately 30 years prior to his diagnosis. Two months after being diagnosed, he went on to have surgery to remove his right lung, pericardium and diaphragm. Following the surgery, he began chemotherapy and radiation. Bob was told he had no more than 18 months to live. He surpassed that. In September 2003, Bob’s cancer recurred in his abdomen. This time he chose to undergo chemotherapy using cisplatin and Alimta...
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...Tarik Tihan, MD, PhD4 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 3 Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M. D. anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Tex. 4 Department of Pathology, Neuropathology Unit, The University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif. 2 1 Corresponding author: Tarik Tihan, MD, UCSF, Department of Pathology, Neuropathology Unit, M 551, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143-0102 (E-mail: tarik.tihan@ucsf.edu) The 4th edition of the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Nervous System (WHO 2007) introduces changes that reflect both the recognition of new brain tumour types and a better understanding of neoplastic behavior. Three new tumours, angiocentric glioma (AG), pilomyxoid astrocytoma (PMA), and pituicytoma are added to the section on gliomas. AG is a slowly growing cerebral tumour that typically presents with seizures in children and young adults. It is characterized by monomorphous, bipolar tumour cells with a striking perivascular growth pattern. Although the ‘cell of origin’ of AG is not clear, ultrastructural evidence points to an ependymal derivation. Typically, AG can be cured by total resection, and is designated WHO grade I. PMA is a solid, circumscribed tumour occurring mainly in the hypothalamic region of young children. It is composed of a...
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...When I was 10 years old, I was treated many times for severe headaches. I was examined by various doctors and was prescribed different medicine every time because none worked. Being prescribed many different medications and never getting a true answer to my chronic headaches, I was always in pain. It was roughly 5 years later during my freshman year in High School when I learned the reason for my headaches. The experience of having a brain tumor completely changed the way I saw life and taught me to not take my life for granted.. It all started when I was 10 years old going from doctor to doctor for my headaches, being told the same thing over and over, that I should take a certain medication for my migraines. However, every time I saw a different doctor I was prescribed a new medication, which had no effect on me and didn’t stop my headache problem. This went on for a few years, going back and forth getting no true answer for my headaches. I would tell my mom that I did not want to go to school because I could not focus at all and she would usually respond, “stop crying it is just a little headache. Take some Tylenol like the doctor said.” She was as clueless about my situation as the doctors were, so I had to suffer the unbearable pain in and out of school. It was not until 5 years later, when I started my freshman year in High School that I realized my motor skills were different and I was failing many classes from not being able to focus in class. One Monday morning when...
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...Karen Minwalla April 7, 2015 “Listen To Your Heart” Contemporary Movie Reaction Paper 1. Danny, Ariana, and her mother, Mrs. Scott, play huge roles in the movie, “Listen to Your Heart” A. Danny is a twenty three year old musician who ends up falling in love with a deaf woman, Ariana. As Danny and Ariana have their ups and downs, they stick together until Danny ends up developing a brain tumor which makes him very sick. B. Ariana is a twenty two year old young woman who lost her hearing when she was young due to meningitis she caught from her father who passed away. Ariana can not talk in the beginning of the movie, but she does know sign language, and she can also read lips. C. Mrs. Scott is Ariana’s mother, who is very strict and controlling. She doesn’t approve of Ariana and Danny, so she tries her hardest to keep them apart from each other. 2. There are a couple communication problems throughout the movie with Danny and Ariana from the moment they meet to the moment they fall in love. A. Ariana and her mother went out to lunch, and for the first time, at the restaurant that Danny worked at, her soon to be love. As soon as Danny and Ariana make eye contact with each other it was like love at first sight. As Ariana was walking out of the restaurant door, Danny hands her his number and says, “I think you forgot something.” Ariana didn’t call Danny for two weeks, and he couldn’t understand why until Ariana finally shows back up in the store and finally...
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...clear and detailed image of soft tissues of the body to a computer that creates an image based on the radio signals emitted from the body. The whole procedure can take 20-40 minutes or can take even longer. The scanner is very loud, so patient will be required to use earplugs or headphones to protect their ears from the noise. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is important because MRI scan can investigate or diagnose conditions that affect soft tissues such as abnormal tissue like tumours, joint or spinal injuries or diseases, and soft tissue injuries or diseases of internal organ like brain or heart. In addition, MRI is also important because it can provide important diagnostic information that cannot be obtained by other imaging techniques. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is very useful particularly for identifying bone ad joint damage, evaluating blood vessels, examining brain, neck or spinal cord, revealing brain abnormalities, detecting damages of soft tissues and cancers, helping with...
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...If Ming recommends Modoxolin to customers, he would earn an extra $5 commission each sale, thus able to support his wife for English classes and his infant. Roger would get a commission on the sale too and would renovate the pharmacy. It would also increase the sale volume for EastPharma. However, his decision would result in the pharmacy’s customers, mainly elderly buying more expensive medicine. If Ming does not sell Modoxolin, he would be serving the customers justly by not making them pay more when there is a cheaper alternative available. In this case, he might not get the job thereby making his family's financial situation tight and being unable to pay for his wife's education. Roger would be making lower profits which would hinder his renovation plans. Lastly, EastPharma will face lesser sales volume during the discount period while WestPharma will have an increase in sales as it’s the alternative. Conclusion Considering Utilitarianism, Ming should follow Roger’s order and promote Modoxolin from EastPharma. This would be a tradeoff as the Consumers and WestPharma will be unhappy but the majority stakeholders will be satisfied. Ming will be able to support his family, Roger will have funding for the renovations and EastPharma sales volume will increase. Thus, it’s ethical for Ming to follow Roger’s order in-regards to Utilitarianism. Kantian Ethics The Maxim (rule) in this situation would be: Ming should sell Modoxolin instead of Condoitinh in order to earn...
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