Toxic Effects of Aluminum and Their Probable Association with Dialysis Encephalopathy
Reports on the neurotoxic properties of Aluminum (Al++), as well as those of many other heavy metals, date as far back as the end of the nineteenth century. In 1965, Al was found to induce the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in animal brains. These NFT’s were similar to those found in brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Vast research thus, was targeted at defining the possible etiologic role of Al in AD. However, several findings, among them the fact that Al++ induced NFT’s are structurally different than those found in AD, have contributed to reducing the importance placed on Al++ as an etiologic factor of AD. The Al++ theory, however, still remains a theory, and further research needs to be done before it can be disproved.
In 1970, Alfrey and collaborators described a disease called dialysis encephalopathy (DE). This degenerative disease was seen in renal failure patients who had been undergoing dialysis. Studies following this initial report have implicated Al++ intoxication as a probable cause for the development of the disease. The purpose of this paper will be to describe the possible mechanisms by which Al may in fact act as a contributory factor the in induction of neural degeneration that may lead to DE.
The neurological problems associated with chronic renal failure and its consequent treatment, namely hemodialysis, can be either acute or chronic. When acute, the patient develops a set of symptoms collectively referred to as dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS). This syndrome presents with a transient loss or alteration of the sense of equilibrium due to disturbances to the vestibular sy...
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The Alzheimer’s Association (2005) defines the disease as “a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason, make judgments, communicate, and carry out daily activities”. Contrary to popular belief, Alzheimer’s is not the result of normal aging, although it normally occurs more frequently in people who are over the age of 65 (Gruetzner, 1988). Studies performed on the brains of deceased Alzheimer’s patients show several irregularities. The most obvious abnormality is in the signal-transmitting chemicals, where a 40-90% decrease in the enzyme CAT is found. This enzyme lies in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus regions of the brain. When CAT is decreased, it causes cholinergic or acetylcholine-releasing nerve terminals to diminish. These chemicals are important for communication between nerves. Also found during these autopsies were double strands of neurofibullary tangles, senile plaque (decayed neural material), and granulovacular degeneration-all which are associated with mental impairment. Neurofibullary tangles normally do increase with age, but Alzheimer’s patients show a very high density of the tangles. The brain has also been found to contain abnormally high concentrations of aluminum (Weiner, 1987).
Offshoring American jobs have positive and negative consequences to the American community. Some of those consequences of offshoring American jobs include Amer...
In vitro: Edrophonium inhibited AChE activity in human red blood cells, purified calf forebrain, and purified octopus brain with Ki values of 0.2, 0.2, and 0.4 µM, respectively. The IC50s were 0.2, 0.05, and 0.5 µM, respectively [1].
As the problem of job outsourcing becomes more of an issue in politics, elected officials like the President and Congress will no longer be able to ignore the dilemma. The war in Iraq has been at the forefront of the presidential race but the importance of outsourcing American jobs seems to have been slightly overshadowed. If the issue of outsourcing is not watched carefully and a definitive plan hammered out, a trickling down of negative effects may occur within the U.S. economy. However, there is a polarized opinion on the effects of this “phenomenon”.
In the past, races were identified by the imposition of discrete boundaries upon continuous and often discordant biological variation. The concept of race is therefore a historical construct and not one that provides either valid classification or an explanatory process. Popular everyday awareness of race is transmitted from generation to generation through cultural learning. Attributing race to an individual or a population amounts to applying a social and cultural label that lacks scientific consensus and supporting data. While anthropologists continue to study how and why humans vary biologically, it is apparent that human populations differ from one another much less than do populations in other species because we use our cultural, rather than our physical differences to aid us in adapting to various environments.
“Since the human genome has been mapped, debates within the scientific community about race have intensified. When you look at the human genome, you cannot find race…” (Freeman). Biological evidence suggests there are genetic codes for everything from eye and hair color to how tall someone will grow. Those genetic codes are based on inheritance and where family history has brought them. According to scientists there are no genetic codes that group humans into specific racial categories. According to the Department of Epidemiology and public health, “There is more genetic variation within than between races, and the genes responsible for morphological features such as skin color (which are the basis of racial groupings) are few.” (Senor, 327). It has been seen in numerous studies that genetically someone who identifies with the African- American race, has the potential to carry the same genetic markers as someone of the Caucasian race, or any other racial grouping. If race is not verifiable by scientific or biological means, then it’s origin must be from another
...ect on the college graduates and younger children of today. Outsourcing has made nothing but trouble for the United States with the passing of free trade agreements. It will cause a lack of jobs that will run the economy into the ground, and ruin the lives of the citizens of the United States. All of that so a business can use its faulty practices to make a higher profit. Outsourcing has consequences that will haunt the average American and their families for the rest of their existence on this planet.
Although historical perspectives show racial differences as a biological factor, recent studies show that race is more a social than a biological fact. To this day the notion of race is an ongoing debate. Race is more or less defined as a “socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important” (Macionis, 2013, p. 40). Many factors lead social scientists to believe that race is no longer a biological factor, but rather importance given to differences amongst people by the people. Johann Frederich Blumenbach, a German physician, is known to be the first to develop taxonomy of race (Gabbidon, 2013, p. 1). Blumenbach conducted a research in which he separated the people of color into five groups: “Ethiopian (African), Mongolian (Asian), American (Native American), Malaysian (Pacific Islander) and White (Causcasian)” (p.1). Although his work is known to be the gateway for human classification, scholars have further expanded the idea of race.There are parts of this concept...
Disease is so persistent, disabling, and costly. Based on postmortem examinations of remaining brain tissues in Alzheimer’s patients, Amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles are the two main characteristics involved with Alzheimer’s disease. (5) Amyloid-B is a protein that accumulates on the inside and outside of neurons. High levels of amyloid proteins damage axons and dendrites. (3) These damaged axons and dendrites cluster into structures called amyloid plaques, which begin to form before any behavioral symptoms appear (3). As the plaques accumulate, the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and other areas atrophy or waste away (3). In addition to amyloid-B, these neurofibrillary tangles accumulate from tau proteins (3). Tau proteins are the intracellular support structure for neurons. Tau proteins help assemble and maintain microtubules that transport nutrients along axons (5). However, in Alzheimer’s disease, tau undergoes changes that cause it to bind to itself, resulting in neurofibrillary tangles (5). Therefore, the combination of amyloid and tau produces the behavioral deficits seen in those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease ...
Do you ever wonder what our nations underlying focus is? The answer is simple and should be fairly easy to guess… Money! Outsourcing originated from someone coming up with the idea that we can make products for practically nothing in other countries and make very high profits. Although it seems like a great idea to businesses, it negatively affects our country. American consumers are buying these products that are made in other countries and the companies profits are continuing to rapidly increase. At the same time, people that are in the production field of work in America are losing their jobs because producers would rather pay foreign workers to get the job done for a much lower wage. When it comes down to it, one of the reasons our economy is suffering is because of outsourcing. Basically, it all comes down to money. The consumers don’t pay close enough attention to where the products are made. Therefore, consumers are spending extra money and are causing outsourcing to thrive. The lack of knowledge Americans have on the subject of consumers affecting outsourcing is leading our country to economic stress but if we begin to recognize the issue, the jobs we could potentially save may be our own.
There are many benefits to outsourcing, many reasons that company has to outsource some of its business. According to Robin Gareiss, “The No. 1 reason companies turn to outsourcers is to save money--64% say that’s the main goal of their outsourcing contracts” (3). Companies are able to save money because they outsource to another country, and the third party that is in the outsourcing contract, runs the business in that country and is able to pay wages in accordance with that country’s laws, which for the most part there are none. The business usually outsources to a developing nation, and as a result can pay much, much lower wages than if it were to stay within the US. This cost-saving idea has become a much strong reason for outsourcing since the economy has been in a recession, a...
As esteemed journalist Tom Piatak wisely puts it, “The trickle of outsourcing threatens to become a flood.” His words speak the truth as outsourcing has left United States’ workers jobless, and it continues to increase the unemployment rate every year. During February of 2009, American workers lost a record 651,000 jobs alone, increasing the unemployment rate to 8.1 percent, the highest it has been in 25 years (Katel). Multinational corporations, hoping to cut down costs and stay profitable in the market, outsource by exporting American jobs to third-world countries such as China and India. It may seem noble that outsourcing provides third-world countries with job opportunities, but the United States’ markets and industries are greatly affected. Outsourcing is harmful to the United States’ economy because it paves the way for job losses, decreases product consumption, and widens the gap between the rich and the poor.
There is still no known fact on how the Alzheimer’s disease process begins. They seem to think that the damage to the brain starts a decade or more before problems become evident. During the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease, people are asymptomatic, but unfortunately there are toxic changes taking place in the brain. Abnormal deposits of proteins form amyloid plaques and tau tangles throughout the brain, causing the once-healthy neurons to work less efficiently. Over time, neurons lose the ...
When Americans hear the word “offshore outsourcing”, they automatically assume that Americans are losing their jobs to foreign countries. Most of these jobs that companies outsource such as the garment industry jobs are offshore outsourced because they are labor intensive jobs. According to Timmerman
people associate with race are simple genetic traits. Complex traits are influenced by several genes as well as environment.” There seem to be only subtle changes in the genetic makeup of humans from one place to another. Anthropologists’ have explained this simply as a consequence of people marrying those who live near them versus marrying those who live across large distances. An example of this is how several generations of families seem to share many of the same inherited traits. (the American Anthropological Association, 2011)