Life Support Essay Example for Free

Life Support EssayThe issue of sustaining life by medical technology is complicated by uncertainty as to when death actually occurs. Is it when breathing ceases, the heart stops beating, or brain activity is no longer evident? Medical lose can stay on a tree trunk breathing after meaningful signs of human life have ceased. There atomic number 18 individuals who seemingly have died, except to be revive within minutes of interrupted heartbeat or breathing. Some who have been so resuscitated and kept alive with life support have recovered(p) and returned to live normal lives. Others have not. Questions arise in these instances How long should one try to hold on to life, especially when suffering persists and the quality of life is at question? When is our appointed time to die? Although most bulk may think of ventilators when they hear the words life support machine, there be galore(postnominal) other types of machines apply to sustain ones life. The type of life support machine used depends on the medical condition of the patient and the reasons for the use of life support machines.Patients with life threatening illnesses may make the choice to use life support machines while they are still of sound mind and cap able-bodied of fashioning their own decisions. There are four main types of life support machines. The first is a ventilator, which forces air into the lungs of a patient who cannot breathe on her own. The help type is a pacemaker which is used for those who have irregular heartbeats, or for those who suffer from an abnormality of the blood vessels. Next, there are dialysis machines, which are most ordinarily used for patients who suffer from renal (kidney) failure.A ventilator works by forcing warm, oxygenated air into the lungs while removing carbon dioxide. A plastic tube is inserted through the give tongue to and into the trachea, and is then hooked up to the ventilator which monitors every breath of the patient while regulating the air pressure at which the patient receives the air. Pacemakers are used most frequently for those who suffer from an irregular heartbeat or rhythm. They are surgically inserted below the skin, and emit electrical impulses that remind the heart to beat normally.Dialysis machines are used for both short and long term use, sometimes as a temporary measure to maintain the patients health until they can receive a kidney transplant or to prolong and provide a quality of life for people who are not transplant candidates. Hemodialysis is often used troika times a week to help meliorate the blood and remove the build-up of deadly toxins. Hemodialysis machines work by removing the patients blood, running it through the machine to cleanse it, and then pumping it back into the patient. This process happens simultaneously with the use of a shunt.Life support machines enable patients to survive for a period of time while their body is recovering from a specific illness or injury. They benefit patients who only need them for a short time as well as people who are attempting to maintain quality of life for the long term. Life support machines are also beneficial in the event that the patient is deemed brain dead. In these circumstances, the organs continue to receive oxygen-rich blood flow to keep them functioning until they can be removed for transplantation.Many believe that life support machines are used only for those who are comatose or critically ill. They are however, also used for those who have a life threatening disease or injury, such as paralysis, who are attempting to maintain a normal life. A perfect example of this is Christopher Reeve. He relied on a ventilator to breathe for him a majority of the time, and before his death, was still able to lead a productive life. Many also believe that life support systems are used only in a hospital. Again, this is not true.The use of noninvasive ventilators are becoming more popular for those who wish to live at home. Patients who receive dialysis are able to reside at home while visiting a dialysis treatment center on scheduled days.

Corporate social responsibility motivations and country factors Essay Example for Free

Corporate kindly certificate of indebtedness motivations and outlandish factors EssayCorporate affectionate state (CSR) is an increasingly most-valuable issue for altogether businesses around the domain. CSR covers economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities of firms. Explain the factors that may motivate an MNE to adopt CSR in its international business strategy and operations. How powerfulness the country background influence the types of CSR initiatives undertaken? Support your answer with real world examples or cases. speckle collective social responsibility (CSR) has existed for a long time, it has garnered fear just in the last ii decades as an important aspect of doing business. Academic research on CSR has evolved over the years, indicating a change in how CSR is viewed as time goes by. In the earlier years of CSR research, academics sought to identify a link between CSR and financial performance (Aupperle et al. 1985 McGuire et al. 1998), as though CSR had to be rationalised in order to exist. But moving for struggled to the present, CSR has been undoubtedly recognised as a need by many organisations, and research has shifted from discussing macro social make to an organisational-level analysis of CSR and its impact on organisational processes and performance (Lindgreen and Swaen 2010, p. 1). In other words, CSR research has moved from questioning the why to how of doing CSR, reflecting the growing prominence of the practice. CSR involves the economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations that society has of organizations at a given point in time (Carroll 1979, p. 500). These programs argon designed to fulfill a basic economic or social need as expected by the community, honoured by the confederation in good impart so as to position oneself as a positively value-driven entity (Swanson 1995 Wood 1991).CSR initiatives provoke be derived out of self-interest, or external pressure from institutional economi cs (Meyer and Rowan 1991 North 1992) or when a company decides to rise above its economic bring to help and aid stakeholders (Trevino and Nelson, 2004). While there argon many reasons for a company to engage in CSR, it ultimately assists the corporation in enhancing its legitimacy (Wood 1991) and check with society at large (Zensisek 1979), creating a symbiotic relationship between stakeholders and companies (Tuzzolinio and Armandi 1981). Unfortunately, CSR has no consensus definition (Dahlsrud, 2008). It is important to recognise from this that CSRis a complex and multilayered concept that requires mental test from various angles. In this essay, CSR will be understood as a firms compacts to act responsibly to all possible stakeholders in the commercialise environment. This essay will now seek to explore the motivations behind pursuing CSR programs by a business organisation, determining how various stakeholders and the general public female genitalia influence this decision a nd how the broader country context can see how a company participates in CSR. In the corporate world, companies be fully engaged in CSR initiatives, with more than than 80% of Fortune 500 companies addressing CSR issues (Esrock and Leichty, 1998), reflecting that CSR is more than an ethical or ideological necessity, just now also an economic one. As much(prenominal)(prenominal), more companies today restrain realised that not only doing good is the right thing to do, but it also leads to doing cleanse (Bhattacharya and Sen 2004, p.9).While it was infamously argued previously that the main purpose of a company was to make profits and thrive economically (Friedman 1970), enterprises now have the option to do so and at the same time, contribute meaningfully to society at large. The reasons for a MNE to engage in CSR initiatives are multiple. Stakeholder theory (Donaldson and Preston 1995) can be used as a skeletal frame fit to under project where posits for CSR arise. Demand de rives from two main groups consumers and stakeholders. Stakeholders of a company include its investors, employees, suppliers and even the local environment that it is located in. The consumer demand for CSR will be addressed first. CSR engagements may result in producing a good that has socially responsible attributes, much(prenominal) as dolphin-free tuna or a non-animal tested product.It could be in less obvious means, such as a clothing company not ultilising sweat shops or child labour in producing its goods. When consumers buy products that bear such attributes, they believe they are indirectly livelihooding a cause and rewarding firms that devote resources to CSR (McWilliams and Siegel 2001, p. 119). Consumers are able to identify better with a company that engages in CSR activities and feel a stronger connection or attachment to such firms. Consumer oriented CSR also involve intangible attributes, such as reputation. Having a strong reputation has been linked to attracting more customers, retaining and motivating employees, gaining favour with analysts and the media amongst many more reasons (Bhattacharya and Sen 2004). CSR has come to matter in building a reputation for corporations.The ReputationInstitute ranks the worlds nearly reputable companies based on the RepTrak system. RepTrak analyses seven dimensions of corporate reputation Citizenship, Innovation, Governance, Workplace, Leadership, Products/Services and Financial Performance (Reputation Institute 2013). Of which, three of these dimensions (citizenship, governance and workplace) fall into the CSR category, and analysis has shown that 42% of how people feel about a firm is based on their perceptions of the a firms CSR practices (Smith 2012, para. 6). The Body Shop, Patagonia and Ben Jerrys are some examples that stand out in their respective industries having built reputations centring on socially responsible practices. Hence, it is easy to see why consumers drive the demand for companie s to engage in CSR activities. Stakeholders too, demand for CSR for various reasons. McWilliams and Siegel (2001, p.122) have posited that employees will support progressive labour relations policies, safety, financial security, and workplace amenities, such as childcare.Workers are searching for signals that managers are responding to causes they support. Nintendo has numerous employee well-being programs in place where all employees can receive support in various aspects of their lives. Free training in life-saving skills and first aid, and subsidies for work safety shoes, transportation costs and even gym memberships are provided to help employees achieve work-life balance and a better well being (Nintendo, 2013). It has been observed that CSR initiatives in a firm typically lead to greater employee work satisfaction where job attitudes are improved and productivity is increased, and is used as a office of attracting talents to a company (Bhattacharya, Sen and Korschun 2012). Va lentine and Fleischman (2008) have observed that CSR also plays a part in mediating the relationships between ethics programs and job satisfaction. Taken holistically, effective organisational ethics and CSR activities will incite more positive beliefs in the firm, as well as the agile work context and culture (Valentine and Fleischman 2008, p. 167). As observed then, employees play an important role in creating a demand for CSR in firms as they stand to benefit from such programs intrinsically. For both stakeholders and consumers then, CSR programs fashion an organisational identity that becomes relatable.When companies engage in CSR that underpins their boot and values, stakeholders are able to see an element of themselves in the organisation,which leads to increased support for the company. As already observed, this can lead to stronger purchase intention in customers, or increased job satisfaction in employees. The largest motivation to keep an eye on CSR for a company thoug h could lie in damping a competitive advantage. While CSR could be executed simply by donating to charities as corporate philanthropy, some firms have recognised CSR as a strategic tool to use and develop in order to answer not only a societal need, but a business issue as well. Strategic CSR is now a form of social innovation, and by answering crucial problems in society that leads to real, long-lasting change a company will reap the benefits of a better workforce, a new market or higher consumption while adding value to society (Kanter 1999). The need to recognise that economic and social objectives are not distinctively opposing but complementary will lead to CSR that can potentially bring about a social benefit and improve scrap (Porter and Kramer, 2002). There are two main business advantages that arise from CSR. Firstly, it presents an opportunity to test out a new engineering science. Secondly, it provides the opportunity to build political jacket crown by influencing reg ulations, presenting itself as a market leader or to strengthen relationships with political relation officials (Kanter 1999).This was exactly what Bell Atlantic did through Project Explore by going into schools to test out their new High-bitrate Digital Subscriber Line (HDSL) technologies with personal computers in the early 1990s. This provided a test ground that would get their engine room into the real world and also presented itself as a demonstration site to political leaders for Bell Atlantic to petition favourably for their proposed statewide technology communications plan (Kanter 1999). Bell Atlantic managed to help schools by providing them with computers and new technologies, bettering education and technology literacy, while still achieving a business agenda. The competitive context of a company and its business environment can benefit greatly when economic and social goals are seen as mutually linked. Porter and Kramer (2006) identify quartet key areas strategic CSR can affect competitive context positively factor conditions, demand conditions, context for strategy and rivalry, and lastly, related and supported industries. Improving education, in the case of Cisco, enabled them to educate students in computer skills that resulted in a high quality, yet cost effective curriculum collectible to Ciscos expertise.Whilst all students from Ciscos Networking Academy may not work for Cisco, the industry at large benefits. Furthermore, well-trained network administrators who graduate from The Cisco Network Academy constitute demand for higher quality service and solutions (Porter and Kramer 2006, p. 85). CSR can influence in the creation of a more productive and trans name environment for competition (Porter and Kramer 2006, p. 85), such as Transparency International, where corporations have pledged to disclose and deter corruption in the world. This aids in building fair competition and higher productivity. Finally, a company can benefit by supportin g a related industry. For example, American Express funds travel and tourism academics in the recognition of its credit on the hospitality industry for travel-related spending on its credit cards (Porter and Kramer 2006, p.85). These examples show how CSR can result in tremendous payoffs when executed effectively. While immediate stakeholders can drive the motivations for CSR initiatives, it is important to consider how the country a company is operating in can affect how CSR activities are chosen and implemented.The antithetical social and cultural differences in each country should be salient enough for managers to acknowledge that CSR cannot be entirely universal, especially in the case of spherical MNEs. Furthermore, different social necessitate and problems will be inherent in each country. For example, the prevalence of AIDS/HIV is critical in South Africa. As such, it is only appropriate that companies with a presence in South Africa address this issue with the likes of T oyota, Sappi and Mercedes-Benz deploying CSR programs that help employees tackle the pandemic of AIDS/HIV. British Petroleum (BP) (BP 2013), a global oil company, undertakes CSR initiatives that are identified as locally relevant, tailoring to the needs of their host communities and societies. A quick glance of their case studies shows various CSR programs ranging from workforce rights in Brazil to community relations in Turkey. While addressing locale-specific issues would be the most effective method of CSR, other factors may encourage or hinder such intention. The legal environment can affect the way CSR is implement in a country greatly. It changes either through strong intervention whereby social responsibility is legally stipulated, or a severe lack thereof, which leads to voluntary action by other players (Campbell 2007). France and Brazil are two examples par excellence of how the government can play a key role in creating CSRdemand, albeit in opposite directions.The French government has influenced how CSR has developed and emerged greatly by playing an ready role in passing legislation, amongst other policies that requires French companies, including subsidiaries of international firms, to be socially responsible and accountable (Sobczak and Martins 2010, p. 448). On the other hand, Brazils tale of a military government has fostered a passive environment where innovation is stifled, including that of encouraging improvements for society (Sobczak and Martins 2010, p.449). As such, private actors such as Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are most active in Brazil to encourage CSR programs to Brazilian companies. While the legal environment can affect how CSR is implemented in a country, it can also affect what type of CSR is initiated. Although France has passed mandates to enforce listed companies submit reports on social and environment impacts, the main area of concern belies in employment rights (Sobczak and Martins 2010, p. 450). Similarly, Brazilian companies are also strongly focused on employee relations and well-being, that being the key principle of CSR in Brazil (Sobczak and Martins 2010, p. 451). CSR then is only translated into one dimension of obligation and other dimensions, though equally pressing take a backseat in the case of France and Brazil. Different priorities in a country culturally can affect how CSR is implemented. In such scenarios, international NGOs come in and encourage other concerns to be addressed.This helps to bring harmony to the imbalance within the CSR activities focused in countries such as France and Brazil. For instance, international environmental NGO, the World Wildlife Fund, has collaborated with French companies to allow the use of their logo, one of the most recognisable brands in the world, on products that meet their standards (Sobczak and Martins 2010, p.452). This has encouraged firms in France to meet environmental standards that was not previously crucial in CSR portfolios. Through this, French companies are more receptive to practicing CSR that is not inherent to their usual procedures. despite the particularity of each country and how CSR is ideally done based on local demands, the reality of the matter is that CSR is not always practiced this way. Global MNEs typically have general and universal guidelines on what CSR activities should be undertaken in host countries, and most managers have to be given permission to pursue local CSR from the parent company. Universalism in CSR practices by MNEs creates linearity andcoherence for all stakeholders, but can result in less powerful CSR practices.On the other hand, localised programs may end up being fragmented or ad hoc. There is undoubtedly differing perspective on which approach is preferable, as each holds its argument convincingly (Muller 2006). As suggested by Husted and Allen (2006) then, the key difference between global or local CSR is the community that demands it. Another key factor that aff ects the way CSR is conducted is the development of CSR in a globalised world. It has been recognised by scholars (Gugler and Shi 2009 Jamali 2010) that CSR is fundamentally Anglo-Saxon both in history and development. Hence, CSR has a strong presence in the United States and United Kingdom, but is still lacking in both conceptual and practical thinking in countries based in the Southern hemisphere. Jamali and Ramez (2007) has noted that numerous issues with CSR in the Lebanon context. Firstly, CSR is typically executed in tangent to the parent companys mission and values. While it is not necessarily a bad move to have a universally applicable CSR issue identified by a parent company, this may lead to a lack of agency by immaterial subsidiaries to pursue CSR that is truly important in a specific context. Hence, CSR in Lebanon is still largely based on altruistic means and charitable giving, which is considered a low-level and basic method of implementing CSR. Interviewed companies by Jamali (2007) did not track the performance of its CSR outputs, showing that CSR is not implemented for a genuine purpose of serving a long-term positive impact to society, but to address the obligatory needs in order to build a positive corporate image. Due to the lack of grounds from global perspectives and North-driven ideology, countries may derive value and meaning from CSR in their own terms (Gugler and Shi 2009).China has come up with their own standards because of the dilemma of being the worlds factory and cannot comply with various standards demanded from different suppliers, it becomes too costly to be effective. In this instance, the Chinese government has developed various rankings and best practices for Chinese companies, and goes as far as prohibiting international certifications unless approved by the right local authorities (Gugler and Shi 2009, p.15). By doing so, Chinese companies do not face foreign pressure to comply with standards that are unfeasible for their modus operandi. Overall, this essay has shown that there are numerous motivations for companies to practice CSR. Answering demands toachieve higher satisfaction in consumers and employees, circumstances to build a reputation and in its most strategic form, creates a competitive advantage for companies are some of the benefits that a company can bring forth through effective CSR. While there are numerous benefits of conducting CSR, CSR implementation is highly diverse due to the various legal, socio-economic and cultural factors that each country brings.Furthermore, due to the development and history of CSR, CSR is still very much in its infancy stage in the Southern hemisphere and pressure to develop a CSR programs quasi(prenominal) to current ones in the Northern hemisphere becomes unrealistic and untenable. As such, other actors such as international NGOs may step in to realign and create focus for different needs, or countries may come up with their own compliance standa rds as a global benchmark to ease doing of business internationally. This has shown thusly far how CSR is highly complex as a practice, varying from simplistic to more complex approaches, and once again changing within localities due to the needs and issues to be addressed. As CSR continues to develop, one should take notice of how CSR might change in developing countries and how globalisation continues to affect how companies may choose to conduct CSR. ReferencesAupperle, K. E., et al. (1985). An empiric examination of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and profitability. Academy of Management Journal 28(2) 446-463. Bhattacharya, C., et al. (2012). Using corporate social responsibility to win the war for talent. MIT Sloan Management Review 49. Bhattacharya, C. B. and S. Sen (2004). Doing better at doing good when, why and how consumers respond to corporate social initatives. California Management Review 47(1) 9-24 BP (2013). Sustainability. from http//www.bp .com/en/global/corporate/sustainability.html. Campbell, J. L. (2007). Why would corporations behave in socially responsible ways? An institutional theory of corporate social responsibility. Academy of Management Review 32(3) 946-967. Carroll, A. B. (1979). A three-dimensional conceptual model of corporate performance. Academy of Management Review 4(4) 497-505 Dahlsrud, A. (2008). How corporate social responsibility is defined an analysis of 37 definitions. Corporate Social obligation and Environmental Management 15(1) 1-13 Donaldson, T. and L.E. Preston (1995). The stakeholder theory of the corporation Concepts, evidence, and implications. Academy of Management Review 20(1) 65 Esrock, S. L. and G. B. Leichty (1998). Social responsibility and corporate web pages self-presentation or agenda-setting? Public dealings Review 24(3) 305-319. Friedman, M. 1970. The social responsibility of business is to increase profits. New York Times Magazine, September 13 3233, 122, 124, 126. Gugler, P. and J. Y. Shi (2009).Corporate social responsibility for developing country multinational corporations lost war in pertaining global competitiveness? Journal of art Ethics 87(1) 3-24. Institute, R. (2013). Reputation Institute The Reptrak system. from http//www.reputationinstitute.com/thought-leadership/the-reptrak-system. Jamali, D. (2010). The CSR of MNC subsidiaries in developing countries Global, local, substantive or diluted? Journal of clientele Ethics 93(2) 181-200. Jamali, D. and Ramez, M. (2007). Corporate social responsibility (CSR) theory and practice in a developing country context. Journal of Business Ethics 72(3) 243-262. Kanter, R. M. (1999). From spare change to real change The social sector as beta site for business innovation. Harvard Business Review 77. Lindgreen, A. and V. Swaen (2010). Corporate social responsibility. International Journal of Management Reviews 12(1) 1-7 McGuire, J. B., et al. (1988). Corporate social responsibility and firm financial perf ormance. Academy of Management Journal 31(4) 854-872. McWilliams, A. and D. Siegel (2001). Corporate social responsibility A theory of the firm perspective. Academy of Management Review 26(1) 117-127. Muller, A. (2006). Global versus local CSR strategies. European Management Journal 24(2) 189-198 Meyer, J. and B. Rowan. (1991). Institutional Organizations Formal Structure as fabrication and Ceremony, in P. J. DiMaggio and W. Walter (eds.), The New Institutionalism in Organizational Analysis (University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London), pp. 4162.Nintendo (2013). Nintendo of America Employee Welfare and Well-being. from http//www.nintendo.com/corp/csr/welfare. Porter, M. E. and M. R. Kramer (2002). The competitive advantage of corporate philanthropy. Harvard Business Review 80(12) 56-68. Porter, M. E. and M. R. Kramer (2006). Strategy and society. Harvard Business Review 84(12) 78-92. Smith, J. (2012). The companies with the best CSR reputation. from

The Preservation Of Heritage Properties History Essay

The delivery Of heritage Properties History EssayThe deliverance of inheritance properties is an either important(predicate) undertaking. It is so important that even the United Nations has set up a subsidiary responsible for this purpose called the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. This organization decl bes ethnical websites from around the world as being protected in order to preserve global heritage. Similarly, Canada has organizations that ar dedicated to the preserving national heritage. This function is important because this helps surrogate a strong sense of national identity. A nonher reason these sites are preserved are to encourage tourism. Canadian history is important to all Canadians and all the other nationalities that live in Canada. The stories that are told by these structures do non al appearances depict Canada in a positive light, but that is not the point. They are important because they are the reason we are where we are and without them we would lose a critical element of our identity. Heritage sites need to actively be preserved so that they do not fall into disrepair, this means that funds need to be allocated towards this and the money for these programs come from Canadian tax dollars. As we all pay for the tutelage of these structures, we all has a financial vested recreate in their maintenance in addition to our national pride. Organizations that pull in the specific purpose of maintaining heritage sites are postulate because these sites need to be protected from incursion, in the same fashion that natural preserves need to be protected from human encroachment. As a metropoliss community density increases so too does the threat that these heritage sites may be erased to cope with the expanding population. Exacerbating the issue of space is the fact that many of these structures are on prime real estate. This must cause conflicts with city developers who would much rather have buildings th at foster economic growth built in the bulge of these culturally significant structures.PoliticsThe political impetus that lead to the creation of Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada was initially given by Canadas first commissioner of national parks pile Bernard Harkin. In addition to preventing corporations mining resources from national parks, it was his recommendation that lead to the creation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1919. The organizations role was to advise the Canadian Minister of the environs about sites that are of national interest. The veritable political landscape with respect to Canadian heritage is very diverse. The organizations that are responsible for preserving these heritage sites are secern on the level of government that they represent. The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) is the federal organization that is responsible for promoting and showcasing Canadian heritage sites. Their mandate is very na rrow, unlike other Canadian organizations (mainly boor and municipal), the HSMBC is not provided the world power that would allow it to preserve the national sites in question. The HSMBC plays to a greater extent of an advisory role in this respect they take a more laissez fair approach to the problem. The HSMBC itself says that they are there to bring cultural sites to the attention of the Canadian humankind and to the provincial and municipal authorities that have the legal power to preserve these sites. The aforementioned body of the United Nations UNESCO, plays a similar role in Canada. There are sites in Canada that have been declared as be to a group of world heritage sites and while the United Nations has very limited powers pertaining to the preservation of these sites. At the municipal level there are public organizations like the city of Torontos Heritage Preservation Services whose mandate is to advise the city council on matters that are important to the citys histor ic cultural sites. On the provincial level there are organizations like the Ontario Heritage Foundation which is tasked with identifying, preserving and promoting sites of cultural importance in Ontario.The Ontario Heritage Act is the legal framework that empowers Heritage organizations in Ontario to preserve the sites that are deemed to be culturally and historically important. This Act gave the power to provincial and municipal governmental bodies the right to designate specific areas as being culturally integral to Canadas identity. The act limits the rights of the owners of the properties that are designated as heritage sites. They are moreover able to alter the site or demolish it with the appropriate allowance from the local municipality. This is the highly controversial part of the Act. In a democracy where property rights are for the approximately part assured it is unconventional to prevent an undivided from doing what they like to their own property within reason. The Act seems to mirror the notwithstanding clause in the Canadian constitution. This clause is used by the government to breach upon the rights given to Canadian citizens by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when doing so leave serve the greatest good. Similarly, the Ontario Heritage Act inconveniences and limits the rights of the owners of historic structures so that they may be of the most benefit to all Canadian citizens. It is because of this that all Canadians have an interest in the preservation of these structures. The various(prenominal)s against these policies are typically the individuals who own the properties that fall under the restrictive equitys. adept of the groups that have arisen to encourage the preservation of sites in Toronto is the Toronto Historical Association. They are composed entirely of volunteers and serve to educate the public about their efforts and to showcase the areas that are of interest. They withal claim to provide mayoral candidates with a pu blic forum which helps the organization lobby its case. The volunteer organization is only able to influence events because of its fundraising abilities it provides workshops for its members that teach them how to dress this essential role. Workshops are also held to train members on how to organize their efforts and on how to communicate to their community to garner support. The organization also teaches its members to leverage their political military strength by writing letters, meeting with local politicians, resident groups and scheduling appearances before government committees. The Toronto Historical Association encourages their members to help mobilize the public by ratting them and helping them find information about their family history and issues about land registration. Members also perform a number of volunteer services for the community, including but not limited to tours and heritage walks.The law was on side of the individuals who owned the heritage sites designate d by the municipality or res publica. The law initially was not as severe towards these community as it is now. In its original form the law did not require a property owner to abide by the municipalitys or provinces wishes. The law only required the individual with the property rights to wait for six months and attend meetings with city interpreters so that eitherone could come to an amicable solution. The laws was created with the best of intentions as the government did not explore to snatch the rights away from these individuals so they only created a period within which the owners would be required to listen to reason. Instead of having its intended effect all the law did was to postpone the destruction or alteration of heritage sites. The proprietors would just have to wait out the 180 days and they would be free to legally do whatever they wanted with their property. On observing this the provincial government of Ontario decided that they needed to give the law teeth. The y made it so that the proprietor would not be allowed to do as they wished once the time had lapsed and that a settlement needed to be reached for the owner to make modifications to the protected building. It is difficult for these individuals because they are placed in a precarious position by the law and because of the unwanted attention such a position would bring.Intergovernmental RelationsThe federal government is responsible for the overall direction that the heritage organizations in Canada take. Heading the Canadian position on heritage sites is the Minister of Canadian Heritage. His job is to support Canadian media, arts, heritage and sport. These responsibilities are somewhat overlapped with the Minister of the Environment who is also responsible for the maintenance of heritage sites. They are the ones who are able to designate sites as being culturally or historically sensitive. Following this the government gives the power to the province in the form of acts that are de signed to give the provinces the power they need to deal with these problems themselves. The provinces in turn give their municipalities powers not dissimilar from those at the federal level. At the municipal level the municipal government has bodies that are able to assign sites of interest as being heritage sites they typically follow the direction set out by the ministers but are able to actually stop an individual from modifying or destroying a site of cultural heritage. Once this is done the provincial department is the one that has the ultimate say in the matter. When the proprietor of the property in question appeals the decision made by the municipal board they are appealing to the provincial board. When this committee makes their decision, it is ultimately this decision that is enforced. Federal policies set the layer for the provincial and municipal authorities to act. It would be foolish to think that the federal level of influence would end here, there is undoubtedly a significant meter of political pressure exerted from the ministers and their offices and this must make it to the top of the priority list on the provincial and municipal levels. While this may seem odd, it would be a very practical measure as losing some of the more important sites could become a source of national embarrassment. Both the Toronto and Ontario Heritage conservation bodies are designed to make full use of the laws that are made available to them, the most notable of which is the Ontario Heritage Act.Case AnalysisToronto is a city that is cognize for its cosmopolitan reputation and its deep rooted artistic culture. It is home to the Toronto Opera nursing home, innumerable other vocal artist studios, painting galleries, dance studios and even a plethora of restaurants. The Heritage Preservation Services (HPS) are responsible for the preservation of buildings that are important to Torontonian and Canadian heritage. It is part of the citys planning division and is res ponsible for the preservation of over 8,000 different properties. This organization is even empowered by the Ontario Heritage Act enough that it is able to designate entire areas as being Heritage Conservation Districts. In an effort to be more amenable to the property owner affected by HPS decisions, Heritage Easement Agreements are made amidst property owners and the city. These contracts identify parts of a building that are to be retained undamaged disregardless of the owners improvements or alterations to the property. In addition the laws that designate that a certain building need be conserved do not affect the title of the property. The owners are free to sell the property according to their wishes regardless of the status of their building. The city does provide grants for the owners of these historic properties that can pay for up to half the upkeep of said property. In addition to this, the owners are also legal for a for tax benefits that can provide up to 40% relief from municipal taxes. These funds are set up to mitigate the negative and autocratic impact of having property that the Heritage Preservation Services is interested in.An example of a structure that is protected by Torontos Heritage Preservation Services is the MacLean House located on 7 Austin Terrace. This house is a ten part rental unit that has been designated as a heritage site by HPS. The owner o the site wanted to demolish the building and sent an application to do so to the city. Upon the advice of HPS the city council denied the acquiescing to the owners wishes. John Bayne Macleanlived in this home until his death, he was responsible for founding Canadas MacLeans magazine and the Financial Post. City staff was employed to ensure that the house did not suffer from neglect after the rulings that ensured the structure stayed in good condition. The importance given to the house is mainly due to the people that were involved in the history of the building. The publishing compan y founded by John Bayne Macleanwas the largest of its kind, not only in Canada, but in the entire commonwealth. John M. Lyle was the architect of this building and he was responsible for the building of notable structures, including the Royal Alexandra Theatre. In 1922 He won the Gold Medal of Honor from the Ontario Association of Architects on account of the design he made for the Thornton-Smith Building. Thornton went on to become the president of the Art trend of Ontario. MacLean and Lyle were two of Toronto societys key figures. Their efforts have helped to make indelible marks on Toronto culture and even Canada itself. The building itself was constructed in 1910 making the building over a hundred years old. The notice declaring 7 Austin Terrace a heritage site came on January 27th last year. The notice informed the landlord that if they objected to the buildings denomination as a heritage site that they should appeal this within thirty days of the notice. Despite having rejec ted the owners application for demolition, neither the city council nor the Heritage Preservation Services have the absolute right to deny all landlords the right to demolish heritage sites. They have to comply with applications depending on the owners proposal for the structure that w sick of(p) replace the building to be demolished and have to be in line with city bylaws. In the case of the MacLean house the application was to build a smaller housing unit and this was rejected by the city council as it was not in keeping with the neighborhood. This was in addition to the status given to the site by the HPS.RecommendationsWhile the Toronto procedure for maintaining its cultural integrity is well thought out, there are still problems with this system. The first problem that comes to mind is the authoritarian nature of the current system. Under the current management, the owner is told that the building is a heritage site and has thirty days to appeal this label. Following that the o wner has to file for permission by the city council to make modifications to this property. Instead of telling the owner what the situation is through a letter the government should have to send a representative to meet with the individual and discuss the issue with them. Following this if an agreement cannot be reached then more authoritarian measures should be taken. The point of this change would be to place the onus of change solely on the shoulders of the city. The owner is a single individual and should not be expected to carry the burden of having to appeal to the city to change the designation of the property that was legally bought. The owner should be able to meet with a city representative and explain to them that they want to appeal the citys categorization of the property and the representative should be the one who has the responsibility to file the appeal. This would ensure that the proprietor wouldnt have the additional expense of requiring a lawyer to draft a lett er or the inconvenience of having to waste time pushing the paperwork through the system. The city has provisions by which they are able to give certain pecuniary allowances to the owners of the homes that are inconvenienced by the city. In the interests of evenhandedness the city council should readily make this financial relief available for those that are inconvenienced by the city instead of having them apply for it. The province did well to retain the final authority on the matter as this prevents individual interests from competing on a level playing field with the interests of the nation as a whole. While it is true that the maintenance of an individuals rights are critically important for the functioning of any democratic nation, it is also true that there are propagation (not often) when these rights need to be set aside for the greater good. an example of this would be in the building of a bridge, if there are owners of the houses that are in the way of such a spin then they are compensated but for all practical purposes forcefully evicted from their homes so that society can benefit from the construction of the bridge. It is the same concept when it comes to heritage and cultural identity. When the presence of a building or even district serves a cultural and historic purpose, it would be ill advised to squander this based on the whims of the individual who owns the property.Any municipality would benefit from adopting many of the policies set in place by the Toronto municipality as they try to respite the individuals rights alongside those of the nation. While the nation should ultimately preserve its physical history, it should not trample the rights of its citizens in the process. The few alterations that should be made to these rules are to placate the injure party, which in this case always happens to be the individual who owns the property whose rights are being narrowed. If the municipality wishes for a structure to be maintained against t he wishes of its rightful owner, the city should have to bear a significant portion of the costs associated with the upkeep of the property it has set its eyes on. The money that is required for this should come from donations and tax dollars as is the current arrangement made by the city of Toronto. History is important because it brings us all together and this is a cornerstone of nationhood that should be protected by every country and culture.http//www.toronto.ca/heritage-preservation/index.htmhttp//www.pc.gc.ca/eng/clmhc-hsmbc/ressources-resources/protection.aspxhttp//www.heritagefdn.on.ca/http//www.nationalpost.com/Fight+stop+Hearn+demolition/3978609/story.htmlhttp//www.toronto.ca/involved/statutorynotices/archive2010/jan/hl_012710.htmis to preserve structures and monuments that are important to the history of the Canadian nation, these monuments would otherwise be neglected, or even worse, they would be destroyed to make way for housing or other building projects.

Helical CT Scan in Comparison to MRI Scans

Helical CT Scan in Comparison to magnetic resonance resource Scans demonstrationHelical CT is also known as spiral CT the two terms are interchangeable (Kalender, 1994). Both magnetic resonance imaging and helical CT have been introduced into clinical practice ahead of any evidence for cost-effective im switch finishment in clinical care. Both technologies are understood evolving. For instance vascular 3D imaging is a newly expanding indication within CT. Although helical CT is replacing conventional CT the question arises as to whether it exit switch over MRI.1) EquipmentHelical CT began in the 1990s. It is a fast technique data is collected continuously at less than one second for a 10 mm slice. It is c each(prenominal)ed helical beca mathematical function the patient moves continuously though the machine whilst the X-ray tube rotates around them. Slip ring technology enables the electronic scanner, mounted on a gantry, to continue rotating in the same direction around the pat ient yet still maintain its power supply and x-Ray capability. Because it is so quick external respiration does not affect the quality of the final image and it is an excellent way to view the lungs and liver. Because of the continuous rotation helical CT enables patient translation and the encyclopaedism of data to take place at the same time. Helical CT requires completely different equipment to convention CT necessitating the replacement of the entire unit not just an upgrade. A multislice CT scanner is along the same principle as a helical scanner but is even faster still and contains more detection elements. Although the actual data erudition is so much faster with multislice the time required to process the image is lengthy (so patient done put will be no faster). The amount of data storage space required for multislice images is incredibly vast and may overload the capability of the living PACS system within the hospital.The equipment for MRI consists of a large, heavy magnet which creates the magnetic field. Magnetic shielding of the room is necessary together with stringent safety precautions to avoid accidents for instance with flying metal objects within the room. The scanning tube where the patient must lie is relatively enclosed and this can create problems with claustrophobia. The equipment is also real noisy which may unnerve the patient. MRI requires more extensive software for viewing the images than does CT. Some MRI machinery is more open permitting greater patient get to even to the extent of allowing simultaneous surgical procedure (Gould and Darzi, 1997).2) TechniquesMRI involves the person being placed in a large magnet the magnetic field of which causes all the protons (the nuclei of hydrogen atoms) in the body to line up and oscillate at a certain frequency (precision frequency). Radiofrequency pulses are emitted from the machinery at the same frequency as the precision frequency causing the protons to come out of alignment f or a brief time and subsequently realign emitting energy in the process. The radiofrequency of these emissions is specific to the fibre of issue (since it reflects the hydrogen content) and is then computed to form an image. Patient movement is a major problem with the MRI technique since data acquisition is quite abate and so it is not as good as helical CT for moving organs such(prenominal) as the lungs and liver. MRI scans are more pricy to produce that helical CT. The major advantages of MRI over helical CT are that MRI involves no x-Ray exposure and certain structures provide reform images with MRI such as the question and musculoskeletal system. MRI is definitely the best test for acoustic neuroma (Renowden and Anslow 1993). CT is better than MRI for imaging brain trauma and is better in the abdominal cavity for the bowel (on account of it being a moving structure) whereas MRI is better in the pelvis. Helical CT is finding a place in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (Roy 2005). The disadvantages of CT are the x-Ray dose and the nephrotoxicity of some contrast agents.In 1993 the Royal College of radiotherapist guidelines recommended MRI be used for investigations on the brain, musculoskeletal system, oncology and paediatrics, the 1995 version of the guidelines recommended back pain beyond six weeks be investigated by MRI. The Royal College of Radiologists document on oncology (1999) provides graded evidence based recommendation of which scanning modality to use according to tumour site.3) StaffStaff training is necessary for both modalities of scanning. MRI staffing be are higher than with CT. Because MRI scans are in such demand and scanning time long it is often necessary to run the machines in the evenings and at weekends (Moore Golding, 1992). Multislice CT can involve change magnitude radiologist workload.4) PatientPatients with metal implants or pacemakers or who are claustrophobic are un qualified for MRI. mechanic ventilation is a relative contraindication. Patients with acute major trauma including head injury are unlikely to be suitable for MRI because of the duration of scanning. The increased x-Ray dose to patients (and to the community) of the later generation CT scanners is of concern ( content Radiological Protection Board, 1990). For this reason MRI is the preferred modality for children and fetuses (Duncan 1996). Patients requiring interventional procedures may be suitable for a CT fluoroscopy (Wagner 2001).5) Quality of resultsMRI is preferred for the brain and spine (where it is of overriding advantage), orthopaedics and the pelvis. MRI produces very accurate images of soft tissues but imaging time is longer and artefacts are caused by patient movement. It is likely it has reduced the number of knee arthroscopies (Stoner, 1995) and it is anticipated to reduce the number of invasive radiological investigations such as angiograms. MRI may develop a clinical role as investigating the actual function o f the brain in neuropsychiatry (Callicott and Weinberger1999). CT is preferred for bone. In brain trauma, subarachnoid haemorrhage and acute cerebrovascular disease MRI is not as good as CT.Spiral CT is used for the lungs and abdomen and pelvis. It is valuable in detecting small lesions. It is helpful in trauma patients since the procedure is so quick. Spiral CT does lose a bit of resoluteness as compared with conventional CT and so for structures that are not moving conventional CT or MRI has the advantage.6) CostCost considerations include those of initial purchase (or learn) set up and also running be. Assistance in the procurement process is available from the Diagnostic Medical Equipment team which is working nigh with the Department of Health in the optimising of value for money in the replacement of all MRI and CT scanners that are pre-1997. A 16 multislice CT scanner costs approximately 500 000 whereas an MRI scanner is more at 800 000 running costs are also more with M RI (Frank, 2003). Bowens and Smith (writing in 1999) state the costs of an MRI scanner are from 400 000 for a 0.5T and 750 000 for a 1.5T. They state the service contracts are around 50 000 per year and that to lease a machine costs about 120 000 per year. MRI may be more expensive to install since the magnet is large and heavy. The site may be unsuitable with regard to load bearing or access. In any case expense will be incurred in magnetic shielding. MRI is a relatively expensive imaging modality. Fletcher (1999) has analysed costs of acquiring and operating MRI in the NHS over a seven-year machine lifespan. Its staffing, upgrade, maintenance and running costs are all high. The cost of an MRI scan varies from 30 to 180 (Bowens and Smith, 1999).In evaluating costs it is necessary to look at the whole picture. The running costs of isolated MRI machines will be higher than where machines are grouped together. Smaller MRI scanners just for joint scanning use may prove cost effective ( Marti-Bonmati Kormano, 1997). If a more expensive scanning modality saves on the costs of surgery then overall there may be economic gain. For instance MRI may avoid knee joint surgery (Bui-Mansfield 1997). It is important to ensure that it is actually replacing other investigations or surgery and not just adding to them (Hailey Marshall, 1995). Overall the cost effectiveness will depend on how appropriately the imaging modality is used.Regarding CT the X- Ray tubes are expensive. A helical scanner is likely to need one x-Ray tube replacement per year (possibly more frequently in the case of a multislice scanner) and this will cost approximately 30000-40000 (Conall and Hanlon, 2002). Berry (1999) performed a systematic review finding little clinical or economic impact of spiral CT.ConclusionAlthough there has been away from MRI to helical CT in some clinical situations units will need access to both types of scan. Cooperation between different units is important in order to provi de a comprehensive service to the population. It is likely that some patients such as orthopaedic outpatients should move to another unit for the scan. Computerised reporting makes off site scanning realistically closer. Choice of scanning modality is likely to ultimately depend upon collaboration with local units to develop a hub and spoke flak to providing cost effective services which are also effective and convenient for patients.ReferencesBookFishman EK Jeffrey RB Spiral CT. Principles, Techniques and Clinical Applications. 2nd edition. 1998 Philadelphia. Lippincourt Raven.ArticlesBerry E et al A systematic literature review of spiral and electron beam computed tomography with particular reference to clinical applications in hepatic lesions, pulmonary embolus and coronary thrombosis artery disease. Health Technology Assessment, 1999 3(18)Bui-Mansfield LT et al Potential cost savings of MR imaging obtained before arthroscopy of the knee evaluation of 50 consecutive patients. A merican ledger of Roentgenology 1997 168 913-18Callicott JH and Weinberger DR Neuropsychiatric dynamics the study of mental illness using functional magnetic resonance imaging. European Journal of Radiology, 1999 30(2) 95-104Conall JGarvey CJ and Hanlon R Computed tomography in clinical practice BMJ 20023241077-1080Fletcher J et al The cost of MRI changes in costs 1989-1996. British Journal of Radiology 1999 72(5) 432-437Duncan KR. The development of magnetic resonance imaging in obstetrics. British Journal of Hospital Medicine, 1996 55(4) 178-81Frank J introduction to imaging Student BMJ 200311393-436Gould SW and Darzi A The interventional magnetic resonance unit the token(prenominal) access operating theatre of the future? British Journal of Radiology 1997 70 (Special issue) S89-97Kalender WA Spiral or helical CT right or wrong?letter Radiology 1994 193583.Hailey D and Marshall D The place of magnetic resonance imaging in health care. Health Policy, 1995 31 43-52Marti-Bonmati L Kormano M. MR equipment acquisition strategies low-field or high-field scanners. European Radiology 1997 7(Supplement 5) 263-68Moore NR and Golding SJ Increasing patient throughput in magnetic resonance imaging a practical approach. British Journal of Radiology, 1992 470-75 26National Radiological Protection Board. Patient dose reduction in diagnostic radiology. Didcot, 19901(3).Renowden SA and Anslow P. The effective use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of acoustic neuromas. Clinical Radiology 1993 48(1) 25-8Roy P-M Colombet I and Durieux P et al Systematic review and meta-analysis of strategies for the diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism. BMJ2005331259Royal College of Radiologists. A guide to the practical use of MRI in oncology. London RCR, 1999bRoyal College of Radiologists. Making the best use of a department of clinical radiology guidelines for doctors (2nd edition). London RCR, (3rd edition) 1993, (4th edition) 1998, (5th edition) 2003.Stoner DW. The k nee. In Seminars in Roentgenology 1995 30 277-93Wagner LK. CT fluoroscopy another advancement with additional challenges in radiation management. Radiology 2001 216 9-10ReportsBowens A Smith I Magnetic resonance imaging up-to-date provision and future demands. Nuffield Portfolio programme Report No3. Northern and Yorkshire RD Portfolio programme at the Nuffield Institute for Health. December 1999. Available at http//www.nuffield.leeds.ac.uk/downloads/portfolio/mri.pdfRoyal College of radiologists Making the Best use of goods and services of a Department of Clinical Radiology Guidelines for Doctors. Fifth stochastic variable 2003 BFCR(03)3 Making the Best Use of a Department of Clinical Radiology Guidelines for Doctors. Fifth EditionWebsitesBritish Association of MR Radiographers http//www.bamrr.net/Department of Health www.dh.gov.ukDiagnostic Medical Equipment team http//www.pasa.doh.gov.uk/dme/radiology/mr.stm

Herbal Medicines: Helpful Aids or Harmful Injuries

herb tea Medicines Helpful Aids or Harmful InjuriesAnna PhamAbstractDespite apply makes for medicinal purposes for over 5,000 years, not much is cognize about the efficacy, mechanism, or pre concern of herbs pharmacological activity. Although herb tea medicines ar not a new threat, they are becoming an increasing concern due to their growth popularity around the world.IntroductionUse of traditional medicine has expanded glob totallyy and has gained popularity. Not entirely is it use for primary health care of the lamentable in developing countries, it is also used in countries where stodgy medicine is predominant in the national health care system. Three quarters of the world world is estimated to rely on herbal tea and traditional medicine as a basis for primary health care1. With this increase in popularity, an awareness of the efficacy, quality control, and rubber of herbal medicines withdraw establish distinguished concerns.Plants have been recorded as bein g used for medicinal purposes over 5,000 years2. For most of history, herbal medicine was the only treatment. As early as 1890, 59% of the listings in the US Pharmacopeia were from herbal carrefours, and it is estimated that one third to one half of currently used drugs were derived from plants1. Today, thousands of herbal products are available over the counter and are commonly used by patients globally. Public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in return to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine consumption1. This is particularly true in individuals with chronic or incurable diseases. Herbal medicines are not a new threat, but they are an important and misunderstood threat.According to the World Health Organization, an herb is any form of a plant or plant product, including leaves, flowers, fruit, seed, stems, roots, and seeds2. These plants can either be sold raw or as tears, where the plant is softened with water, alcohol, or other solvents to extract some of the chemicals. The resulting products contain dozens of chemicals, including fatty acids, sterols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides3.Efficacygenus genus Echinacea plant is widely used primarily for treatment of the common cold. Assessing the trenchantness of opposite Echinacea preparations is complicated because of the many a(prenominal) extraneous variables. There are three different species of Echinacea in medical use, which include Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea angustifolia4. As swell up, not only are different parts of the plant are used (root, herb, flower, or whole plant), different methods of extraction are used. Lastly, other plant extracts or homeopathic components are added in some preparations. Making comparisons and pooling data of different preparations of Echinacea is methodologically questionable, so interpreting the plants effectiveness needs caution due to the heteroge neity of the preparations.Furthermore, the exact mechanisms of action for the immunomodulating effects of Echinacea preparations are unclear. There are four classes of compounds that are known to contribute to the immunomodulatory activity of Echinacea extracts alkamides, glycoproteins, polysaccharides, and caffeic acid derivatives4. Different concentrations of different compounds are found in the three species of Echinacea. Subsequently, the pharmacologic effects associated with the elements in Echinacea may result from independent or synergistic interactions with single or multiple elements. As well, even if Echinacea extracts and constituents have demonstrated pharmacological activities in discordant biological assays, there is no evidence-based conceptual framework to explain how Echinacea might effectively prevent or treat acute respiratory infections4.Karsch-Volk et al. investigated in a systemic look into the effectiveness of different Echinacea preparations for preventing and treating common colds or induced rhinovirus infections4. Different preparations were compared to a placebo in twenty-four double-blind randomized control trials with 4631 participants. It was not possible to utilise a standard definition of the common cold across the trials, so the participants included in this study were individuals with non-specific viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) with a clinical diagnosis of common cold, influenza-like syndrome, or viral URTI volunteers without acute URTIs but treated for preventative purposes or volunteers without acute URTIs but challenged with rhinovirus treated for preventative and/or therapeutic purposes. The researchers only included trials of oral Echinacea with one preparation versus a placebo and excluded trials of combinations of Echinacea with other herbs and trials comparing Echinacea with no treatment or a treatment other than placebo. A galactic proportion of the preparations used in the trials were pressed ju ices (stabilized with alcohol), alcohol tinctures or tablets made from dried extracts.The heterogeneity of the preparations time-tested did not allow a strong conclusion. The different preparations of Echinacea contained different amounts of bioactive components therefore, the different preparations were not comparable. Karsch-Volk et al did conclude that some Echinacea products were more effective than a placebo for treating the common cold, but the overall evidence for clinically relevant treatment effects was weak. In general, Echinacea preventing colds did not show statistically solid reductions in illness occurrence however, nearly all prevention trials suggested small preventative effects. Studies investigating the effects of herbs cannot draw strong conclusions unless heterogeneity and reproducibility are controlled.RegulationHerbal medicines are often promoted as natural and therefore harmless however, these remedies are not free from adverse effects. Much of the United St ates botanic industrys products are unlicensed and are not required to demonstrate efficacy, quality, or safety1. Lack of regulation and loose distribution channels may attribute to poor quality of herbal products which will result in adverse reactions. Regulation is difficult since different cultures in different regions of the world have developed various practices of traditional medicine without a parallel international standard and appropriate method for evaluating traditional medicine.SafetyPharmacologically Active Ingredients Natural products contain pharmacologically active molecules which can potentially cause danger to human health. Examples of toxicity associated with herbal use include the hepatotoxicity due to pyrrolizidine alkaloids-containing plants, acting by a characteristic veno-occlusive disease that may be rapidly progressive and fatal, Aconitum poisoning due to Aconitum alkaloids, which are highly toxic cardiotoxins and neurotoxins, and the operose and lethal cardiovascular side effects associated with Ephedra sinica6. However, other studies have clearly shown that adverse events due to herbal remedies are relatively infrequent if assessed for causality and that although the number of severe clinical reactions was small, fatalities have been described7.The objective of this review was to collect available data on the following (i) adverse effects observed in humans from the dream ofplant nutrition supplements or botanical preparations (ii) the misidentification of poisonous plants and (iii) interactions amid plantfood supplements/botanicals and conventional drugs or nutrients.ContaminationBiological taint and chemical contaminant of medicinal herbs and herbal products are very common. Impurities in medicinal herbs and their preparations and products refer to biological contamination8. They may involve living microbes such as bacteria and their spores, yeasts and molds, viruses, protozoa, insects (their testicle and larvae), and oth er organisms. Microbial contamination of herbs may result from improper handling during production and packaging. Sources of contamination are microbes from the ground and processing facilities ( begrime air, microbes of human origin). Cross contamination is also a possibility from extraneous materials such as glass, plastic, and other materials which contact the herbs, herbal preparations, or products. Human excrement, animal manure and feces used as fertilizers are other sources of biological contamination. As well, contamination of herbs with bacterial strains resistant to known antibiotics poses human health risks and infection. Additionally, because molds are widespread in the atmosphere, they are a natural contaminant of medicinal herbs. Molds are potent allergens and producers of mycotoxins. Products of microbial metabolism, such as toxic, low-molecular-weight metabolites from molds, are chemical contaminants. Furthermore, herbal products can be contaminated by heavy metals a nd pesticides as well.DrugInteractionsCase reports, case series, and pharmacokinetic trials have highlighted that herbal medicines can interact with prescribed medicines6. Interactions can have either a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics basis or both, and herbal medicines may interact with prescribed drugs at the intestine, liver, kidneys, and targets of action. Herbal remedies involved in drug interactions have been shown to up-regulate or down-regulate cytochrome P450s and/or P-glycoprotein6. The roles of drug transporters, including the organic anion and cation transporters and the nuclear pregnane-X receptor, are apparent9. However, most of the evidence for herb-drug interactions come from case reports therefore, it is difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship.Izzo reviewed the clinical data regarding the interactions between herbal remedies and prescribed drugs. Since herbal medicines are a mixture of more than one bioactive ingredient, such combinations of many substances increase the likelihood of interactions taking place therefore, theoretically, the likelihood of herb-to-drug interactions is higher than drug-to-drug interactions, if only because celluloid drugs usually contain single chemical entitities10. Therefore, it is difficult to rule out what causes the interaction. The review investigated the clinical data for 27 herbal remedies known to interact with conventional medicines, such as Aloe vera, Echinacea, and St Johns Wort.Also examined in the review were characteristics of the patient. Age, frailty, infrequent genotypes, ethnicity, gender, and comorbidity should be accounted for when considering herb-to-drug interactions. This is important since polymorphisms in the genes for drug-metabolizing enzymes or transporters may square up herb-to-drug interactions. As well, the concomitant use of prescription medications and herbal products by older adults is a common situation in western countries10. Since older adults typically ha ve multiple health problems, they are at particular risk for herb-to-drug interactions. Despite this gravity, clinical studies investigating the potential of drug interactions in elderly patients are rare. Additionally, it is well established that the pharmacokinetics of many drugs vary between men and women. Gender differences in herb-to-drug interactions have been reported both experimentally and in clinical trials10.Izzos review term had many limitations. Only clinical reports were considered, and preclinical studies, including human in vitro experiments, were excluded. This and other unpublished terms could lead to underestimation. As well, most of the evidence on herb-to-drug interactions discussed in the article was based on case reports, which are sometimes incomplete and do not allow inferences for a causal relationship. However, it should be noted that even documented case reports can never establish a causal relationship between drug administration and an adverse event since there are so many extraneous variables. Also, the extract type, standardization of extract, part of the plant used and the scientific name of the plant were not specified in the papers reviewed. This is important because preparations obtained from the same plant may have different chemical compositions and therefore different biological actions, as previously highlighted. This leads to uncertainty as to what causes the adverse effects. Furthermore, herbal preparations are not subject to the same regulations as prescription drugs, so the content of active ingredients may vary among manufacturers, potentially causing a large variation in efficacy and safety. The under-regulated quality of herbal medicines is another limitation and safety issue since contamination or adulteration of herbal medicines, including adulteration with synthetic drugs, may cause drug interactions. Therefore, a contaminant/adulterant, and not an herbal ingredient, can theoretically cause the drug interact ions. Lastly, it is difficult to identify most herb-to-drug interactions because many countries do not have a central mechanism for mandatory reporting, and many people conceal their use of herbal medicines to their physicians or pharmacists, believing that herbal products are natural and therefore safe10.Izzo concluded that clinical reports clearly indicate that herbal medicines can interact with conventional drugs. While most of these interactions have a negligible clinical significance, some may pose a serious threat to public health. Herbal medicines may be used by patients concomitantly receiving conventional drugs, which can result in misunderstood adverse events.FutureDirectionsImportant changes to the regulation of herbs are needed to improve the safety and appropriate use of herbal products. These include requiring manufacturers to register with the FDA, requiring safety tests like those required for over-the-counter drugs, requiring all health claims to be supported by dat a approved by the FDA, and ensuring that product labels provide an accurate list of all ingredients1. These changes will help the safety of herbal products, but additional changes are needed to improve and promote high-quality research. define specific standards for herbal products to ensure consistency between studies is critical. Once a well-established standard of the chemical fingerprint exists for herbs, the formulation of the herbal product can become clear.Additionally, symptoms of illnesses are subjective. Operational definitions need to be addressed to make strong comparisons. Ideally, a robust study design would be able to show all preparations of a plant showing either positive or negative effects.Because of the current regulatory structure and limited available data on safety and efficacy, there is high risk using herbal medicine, including severe side effects from pharmacologically active ingredients, contaminants, or drug interactions. On the other hand, the benefits using herbal medicine lack evidence or have inconsistent evidence, so more high-quality research needs to be conducted, especially regarding high-risk patients such as older adults.Conclusion/SummaryAssessing the efficacy, quality, and safety of herbal medicines is problematic because of inadequate or inconsistent study methods being used. Herbal research should be conducted with the same meticulous care as any other medical research, and all herbal products administered to patients should ideally be chemically characterized, standardized, and of known quality. Extraneous variables from different herbal preparations do not allow for generalizations about the efficacy and safety of herbal remedies, and findings of clinical studies must be interpreted cautiously because many studies were performed without capable rigor and recorded detail.Additionally, the current regulation of herbs does not ensure that available products are safe, and false and illegal marketing claims are common. Changes to the regulation of herbal products could dramatically improve the appropriate use of herbs. High quality research in this field is needed to firmly establish the efficacy and safety of many herbal products.The biggest threat regarding herbal medicines is that it continues to be misunderstood. It is unknown which exact chemical, or combination of chemicals, in an herb produces a biological effect. Hence, it is difficult to create the ideal herbal product that is precise, controlled, and standardized. Also, it is not known if a single chemical component of the herb or the synergistic combination of chemicals in the plant would produce the want effect. Which constituent of the herb produces an herb-to-drug interaction is not understood either, allowing for adverse reactions. These ambiguous fallouts result from the many different preparations of herbal products. Standardized, robust study designs are required to address the uncertainty of these findings.ReferencesEfferth T, Kaina B. Toxicities by Herbal Medicines with Emphasis to Traditional Chinese Medicine United States, 2011.World Health Organization. General Guidelines for Methodologies on Research and evaluation of Traditional Medicine Geneva, 2000.Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-based herbal medicine. Philadelphia, PA Hanley Belfus 2002.Karsch-Vlk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K. 2014. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2 CD000530.Gauthier S, Schlaefke S. 2014. Efficacy and tolerability of Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 in dementia a arrogant review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Clin Interv Aging 9 2065-77.Izzo A, Hoon-Kim S, Radhakrishnan R, Williamson EM. A Critical Approach to Evaluating Clinical Efficacy, Adverse Events and Drug Interactions of Herbal Remedies 2016.Di Lorenzo C, Ceschi A, Kupferschmidt H, et al. 2015. Adverse effects of plant food supplements and botanical preparatio ns a systematic review with critical evaluation of causality. Br J Clin Pharmacol 79 578-92.Kosalec I, Cvek J, and Tomic S. Contaminants of medicinal herbs and herbal products Croatia, 2009.Cho HJ, Yoon IS. 2015. Pharmacokinetic interactions of herbs with cytochrome p450 and p-glycoprotein. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015 736431.Izzo AA. 2012. Interactions between herbs and conventional drugs overview of the clinical data. Med Princ Prac 21 404-28.

My Mom the Matchmaker :: Personal Narrative Profile

My Mom the Matchmaker   I was walking around Fairfield Highs Arts and Crafts show last pass when I truism a mirror with that saying engraved around the edge. I didnt know whether to buy it for my pay off or myself. I dont think many a(prenominal) 17-year-old girls see a similarity between themselves and their fetchs. That seems to come much later in life, if at each(prenominal). But then again, most 17-year-old girls dont have a fix like mine. . .   My mother made a list of colleges she wanted me to consider based on the ratio of men to women Connecticut College was at the top. . . 600 male cadets recompense across the street. My mother is a professional matchmaker and my brother and I are her biggest ch each(prenominal)enges.   Other third grade girls had arts and crafts parties, or pizza and icon sleepovers. . . I had a boy/girl silver disco nighttime affair in my finished basement. Mom removed all the furniture, strung up white lights, pre-recorded all the music, and insisted that all the third grade boys arrive in ties and jackets. Their mothers said they would never come. Well, every one of them showed up, all decked out, to my mothers delight. My party was the social matter of third grade. . . we restrained watch the video today   Mom except loves romance, what else can I say? She made her first match when she was a crank in college, and they just celebrated their 27th anniversary. She also unknowingly fixed up my dads gay roommate with her lesbian 2nd cousin . . .they actually date for months before falling out the news to each other, and then to my mom. She even arranged prom dates for four seniors two days before the prom, and considered starting a ship called Prom Partners. non at my high prepare, I warned her.   Back in seventh grade, when everyone was in the midst of their first romance, Mom would always volunteer to fight the carpools home from school dances or the movies. If she saw a new couple sitting i n the third seat in her rearview mirror and she thought, given a little pointless time, that magical first kiss might take place, she would just keep driving around the block to give romance a chance. Needless to say, all of my friends loved her.My Mom the Matchmaker Personal Narrative Profile My Mom the Matchmaker   I was walking around Fairfield Highs Arts and Crafts show last weekend when I saw a mirror with that saying engraved around the edge. I didnt know whether to buy it for my mother or myself. I dont think many 17-year-old girls see a similarity between themselves and their mothers. That seems to come much later in life, if at all. But then again, most 17-year-old girls dont have a mother like mine. . .   My mother made a list of colleges she wanted me to consider based on the ratio of men to women Connecticut College was at the top. . . 600 male cadets right across the street. My mother is a professional matchmaker and my brother and I are her biggest challen ges.   Other third grade girls had arts and crafts parties, or pizza and video sleepovers. . . I had a boy/girl silver disco nighttime affair in my finished basement. Mom removed all the furniture, strung up white lights, pre-recorded all the music, and insisted that all the third grade boys arrive in ties and jackets. Their mothers said they would never come. Well, every one of them showed up, all decked out, to my mothers delight. My party was the social event of third grade. . . we still watch the video today   Mom just loves romance, what else can I say? She made her first match when she was a freshman in college, and they just celebrated their 27th anniversary. She also unknowingly fixed up my dads gay roommate with her lesbian 2nd cousin . . .they actually dated for months before breaking the news to each other, and then to my mom. She even arranged prom dates for four seniors two days before the prom, and considered starting a venture called Prom Partners. Not at my high school, I warned her.   Back in seventh grade, when everyone was in the midst of their first romance, Mom would always volunteer to drive the carpools home from school dances or the movies. If she saw a new couple sitting in the third seat in her rearview mirror and she thought, given a little extra time, that magical first kiss might take place, she would just keep driving around the block to give romance a chance. Needless to say, all of my friends loved her.

Subdivisions of Corneal Ulcers and Treatment :: Eyes Cornea Vision Health Medical Essays

Subdivisions of Corneal Ulcers and TreatmentThe eye is one of the vital organs in a human being. As seen on figure 1, the eye is composed of many different parts and function. The cornea is a clear covering over the colored iris and the pupil of the eye. The function of cornea is to armed service focus light on the retina and protect the iris, lens, etc. so that the eye can see. The cornea is best to compargon with a standard contact lens. Although, the function of a cornea is to protect from harmful microorganisms, it is also vulnerable to those same unicellular organisms. One of the major diseases affecting the cornea is a corneal ulcer. A corneal ulcer is an non-penetrating erosion, or open sore in the outer layer of the cornea, the transparent area at the front of the eyeball (Medlineplus). Corneal Ulcer has many different names, depending on the microorganism that causes the ulcer. nearly of the major diseases include Bacterial Keratitis, Fungal Keratitis, Acanthamoeba Keratit is, and Herpes Simplex Keratitis. Bacteria, fungi, amoebae, and viruses are the prime cause for these diseases. These microorganisms settle in the cornea, grow, and feed on the cornea. This process causes a corneal ulceration. Contact lenses are the leading way these microorganisms enter the cornea (discussed later). There contains multiple symptoms in order to identify corneal ulceration. Some of these symptoms include the following eye redness, tearing increases, vision impairs, eye burning, itching, and photophobia (sensitive to light) start to develop (Medlineplus). Many different methods of detecting corneal ulcer are present at the doctors office. Visual acuity study, Slit-lamp test, and Shirmers (tear) test are some of the tests that a doctor conducts during eye examination. Visual acuity test allows the doctor to measure a persons vision by reading the eye chart (figure 6). A Slit-lamp is a specialized magnifying microscope in which a doctor could examine the cornea, iris, and retina. Its use is to look in the interior of the eye with the built-in laser and a camera (figure 7). Shirmers test determines whether or not in that respect is enough tears to keep the eye moist. Another methods of detecting for corneal ulcer are Keratometry (measurement of the cornea) and scraping of the ulcer for analysis (Medlineplus). There are many different ways to treat corneal ulcer. Many times, corneal ulcer is treated in the doctors office using eye drops.