BIOL 301 Human Health and Disease

• Patient Scenario

Write a 750- 1000 words

Addresses Learning Outcomes:

• Use knowledge of biological principles and the Scientific Method to ask and answer relevant questions about human health and disease
• Analyze information to distinguish between diseased and healthy structure and functioning.
• Analyze how internal and external factors cause disruption of healthy body function, leading to disease and disorders.

Mr. Smith is 60 years old. He was diagnosed with a prostate cancer five years ago. Over the past few days, Mr. Smith has been feeling weak and increasingly tired and has also been suffering from a headache that did not respond to over-the-counter medications. He scheduled an appointment with his physician.

His physician performed a physical examination and recommended a battery of laboratory tests and imaging procedures.

The table below shows Reference values in the right-hand column. These values reflect the normal range of values for patients without disease or illness. The center column reflects the resulting values for medical test results obtained for Mr. Smith.

Take note whether Mr. Smith’s values are within normal limits.

After receiving Mr. Smith’s test results, his physician admits him to the hospital. Hospital staff treated him and discharged him.

The following week, Mr. Smith returns to his physician with the same complaint of weakness and a new complaint of shortness of breath. His blood pressure is 160/100 mmHg. MRI reveals metastasis of prostate cancer to osseous tissue. Abdominal CT shows obstruction of intestine due to nodular enlargement of adrenal glands.

Laboratory results from Mr. Smith’s second hospital admission and medical tests show following findings:

CONCLUSION AND DIAGNOSIS

Laboratory findings, MRI and CT confirmed metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma, hypertension and refractory hypokalemia due to ectopic ACTH production. High levels of circulating cortisol caused continuous activation of mineralocorticoid receptors resulting in hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and hypertension.

After reading provided scenario, answer the following questions:

1. What are the components of physical examination? Describe each component. (See Module 1, Commentary, Topic 8. Disease Categories, Part B. Steps in Diagnosis)

2. Mr. Smith’s blood pressure was 160/100 mmHg. How does a medical provider take or measure blood pressure? What do the top (numerator) and bottom (denominator) numbers mean in the biological sense? What is the significance the size of these two numbers? Is Mr. Smith’s blood pressure within normal range? Explain how you concluded whether Mr. Smith’s blood pressure is/is not within normal range.

3. Based on the data provided, what laboratory tests were performed and what samples were taken from the patient? Select one of the laboratory tests ordered for Mr. Smith and discuss why Mr. Smith’s physician might have ordered the test and the information she might have expected to obtain from that particular test.

4. Compare Mr. Smith’s values with reference values and indicate whether MR. Smith’s values are below, above, or within normal range (compare Mr. Smith’s values with the Reference values) for each laboratory tests in the table above from the second set of tests.

5. What imaging procedures did Mr. Smith undergo? Discuss the distinctions and similarities between the two different imaging approaches. What were the results of imaging procedures in Mr. Smith’s case?

6. Select one of the medical terms from the CONCLUSION and DIAGNOSIS section above and define what it means. Also, discuss, in your own words and based on what you can gather about Mr. Smith’s condition, how the laboratory or imaging tests helped with drawing a conclusion or making the diagnosis. In your own words, discuss how medical providers use the scientific method to come to work through the examination and diagnosis of a patient.

You should write a 750-1000 words paper addressing all six questions and submit it into the assignment folder. Your grade will depend upon the content, clarity and originality of responses written in your own words. Good writing practices, including the use of correct grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, and punctuation, and presence of logical reasoning, will account for a portion of your grade.

Cite all sources in APA format within your answer text as well as full citations in APA format at the end of the assignment.

Pamphlet addressing non-scientific community and presentation

Write a 850-1200 words paper

Addresses Learning Outcome:

• Recognize risk factors leading to disease and identify preventive measures and treatments.

This assignment is designed for you to demonstrate your ability to communicate your knowledge of a disease to the lay (non-scientific and non-medical) public.

The disease or disorder should not be a common disease that has already addressed in our course. Common diseases include coronary artery disease, Alzheimer disease, arthritis, diabetes, AIDS, hypo- and hyper-thyroidism, hypertension, psoriasis, sleep apnea, Lyme’s Disease, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, mononucleosis, asthma, urinary tract infections, many STDs (check with your instructor), irritable bowel disease, strep throat, MRSA, polio, tuberculosis, Lockjaw, anorexia nervosa, autism, Down syndrome, and many cancers (check with your instructor). For any additions to this list, check with your instructor.

In this assignment, you will develop good working knowledge of unique (uncommon) chronic disease or a unique preventable disease. Check with your instructor for approval of your topic selection.

Process

• You will choose a unique chronic or preventable disease during the first two weeks of the course.
• Seek approval for your topic from your instructor.
• Create an informative pamphlet about the chosen chronic or preventable disease for a non-scientific community. Ideally, the pamphlet should be in the form of a six-page pamphlet.

Content

• The pamphlet should contain the follow
  ing:
• Content and language that targets a lay audience. All terms should be explained and diagrams and graphics should be provided to clarify concepts and ideas.
• A well detailed description of the disease, including its symptoms and signs
• Explanation of the effects of the disease on healthy body function including cellular, tissue, organ and organ system levels
• Risk factors contributing to the onset of the disease
• Description of preventive steps to avoid the disease (if avoidable)
• Available diagnostic and therapeutic tools
• Outcomes of the disease (such as prognosis or recovery potential)
• Information about how a person suffering from the disease can maintain a desirable quality of life, minimize or slow the progress of the disease

Format of the pamhlet

• Single-spaced
• Tri-fold
• All content written in your own words
• Reference citations included in APA format (not part of the tri-fold; should be provided on a separate page)

Grading Rubric

This project has three phases:

1. Select a Topic. By the end of the second week of the course (see Course Schedule for due date), you will be required to post your chosen topic and information about why you chose it in a designated area in the Conferences. The information you present should include sufficient detail to demonstrate that you have completed some preliminary research and should present a clear rationale for your choice.

2. Develop a reference list and outline. By the end of the fifth week of the course (see Course Schedule for due date), you will be required to submit a list of references and an outline for your pamphlet in the Conferences. The outline should go beyond the list of required elements to sketch out some of the facts you have learned about the disease – for example, it might include a bullet list of the symptoms. The reference list and outline should demonstrate that you have conducted at least preliminary research into the topic and that you have a grasp of the facts related to the disease. Note that the reference list and outline that you present in week five could still be subject to change as you complete the research and writing of your final paper.

3. Write the pamphlet and be prepared to discuss it. You will post the pamphlet in a designated discussion conference by the end of week 7 (see Course Schedule for exact due date). As a presenter and topic expert, you will be responsible for answering classmates’ questions and reacting to their comments. You will also read classmates’ pamphlets and will have a chance to discuss them during the last week of the class.

At a minimum, your pamphlet should contain the following required elements:

• Introductory paragraph describing your subject and its importance
• Body of the pamphlet
  • Addresses signs, symptoms
  • Explains effects of the disease on healthy body functions, and relates this to signs and symptoms
  • Analyzes risk factors and preventive steps
  • Describes maintenance of quality of life
  • Discusses diagnostic and therapeutic tools
  • Explains expected outcomes and prognosis
  • Describes current areas of research into prevention, treatment or cure
  • Describes possible future areas of research into prevention, treatment or cure
• References
• Conclusion – summary of your findings

List all references at the end of your pamphlet. You must use at least five references from credible, scientifically rigorous sources and cite them using American Psychological Association (APA) style.

Your grade will depend upon the content and clarity of your presentation as well as your ability to answer questions from classmates and the instructor. Keep in mind that longer does not always mean better. Good writing practices, including the use of correct grammar, punctuation, sentence and paragraph structure, and a clear flow of thought, will account for a portion of your grade.

3. Pamphlet (final product).

• Introduction
• Addresses signs, symptom
• Explains effects of the disease on healthy body functions, and relates this to signs and symptoms
• Explains effects of the disease on healthy body functions, and relates this to signs and symptoms
• Analyzes risk factors and preventive steps
• Describes maintenance of quality of life
• Explains outcomes and prognosis
• Describes current areas of research into prevention, treatment or cure
• Describes possible future areas of research into prevention, treatment or cure
• Conclusion
• Final list of references included in pamphlet
• Clarity, proper grammar, punctuation, spelling