Neurologic Disorders
Hunter Boumans
Central Louisiana Technical Community College
NEUROLOGIC DISORDERS
A. Definition-
Any disorder that involves dysfunction of the spinal cord, brain or nervous system.
• Cerebral palsy- loss of motor function, posture, muscle tone
• Hydrocephalus- built up fluid in the brain
• Spinal bifida- defect in spinal cord development
• Muscular Dystrophy- multiple genetic diseases that cause weakness that worsens over time.
• Bacterial meningitis-inflammation usually caused by an infection that effects the brain and spinal cord cells
• Seizure disorders- disturbance of nerve cell activity in the brain
B. Assessment-
• Airway, Breathing, Circulation
• Glasgow Coma Scale (less than 8 is unconscious)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy, also known as “SMA” is a genetic and also a motor neuron disease that affects the area of the nervous system that controls your voluntary muscle movements such as walking, crawling, and swallowing. When someone acquires this condition their muscles start to shrink as a cause to the muscles not receiving signals from the nerve cells in the spine that control function. Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a rare but serious condition.
A. NF is caused by a mutation in the NF1 gene, which creates the protein neurofibromin.
Capriotti & Frizzell (2016) explain that sepsis is often seen in those who have a weak immune system. These individuals are at an increased risk of developing sepsis from microorganisms that a healthy immune system would normally fight off (Capriotti et al. 2016). The elderly, infants, and immunosuppressed patients are the most at risk for developing the condition (Capriotti et al. 2016). Sepsis can be caused by any microbe, but is most often caused by bacteria (Capriotti et al. 2016). Since sepsis has such a broad reach and can develop as a secondary infection after an initial injury or illness, Capriotti & Frizzell (2016) further explain the di...
To gather information at one place to facilitate researchers to look into the basics and advance technologies in this area of science at one platform.
A piece of well-oiled machinery consists of an intricate and complex system: there are well-organized processes, mechanisms within the device work efficiently, and multiple processes function simultaneously to subsequently perform various functions. What happens when there is a glitch in the machine? When there is something wrong, such as connections between intricate processes, which do not follow through, the machine fails to function properly. In some cases, there are not any adjustment or fallback mechanisms. At that point, the damage can be irreversible and the machinery is no longer salvageable. [However, this can illustrate the interactions and processes within the complex machinery.]
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide for which there is no cure. Many patients who survive from TBI may experience permanent cognitive loss, behavioral issues, and emotional disturbances, which require daily medical or social attentions.[1, 2] It is believed that over 2% US population is experiencing TBI-associated disabilities which create an annual burden evaluated at $60 billion on direct (medical service) and indirect (loss of productivity) costs.[3, 4] Traumatic brain injury is complex which consists of a mechanical trauma (primary injury) and a resulting biochemical cascade (secondary injury), and lead to a wide diversity of symptoms.[5]
The thought of never being able to walk or crawl is unimaginable. We take for granted how truly blessed we are. Even the simple task of walking or even standing may seem like moving mountains to the children who suffer from Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Some go their whole lives without knowing what it is like to even crawl. SMA is the number one genetic killer in infants under two (What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?) it affects people for the rest of their life and the disease is devastating, so why is it taking a backseat to other infant diseases such as SIDS?
Meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges. Usually meningitis is caused by either a bacteria or a virus, but in less common cases, meningitis can possibly be caused by certain medications or injuries. The most common way that meningitis is contracted is by bacteria or viruses that infect the body and spread from the bloodstream to the meninges by cerebrospinal fluid. Viral meningitis is more frequently seen and is not usually severe. In more serious cases, viral meningitis may cause prolonged fever or seizures. On the other hand, bacterial meningitis is very serious and must be treated immediately in order to prevent brain damage or even death. Both types of meningitis share the same symptoms which makes it very important to see a doctor to determine the severity of the disease. The severity of meningitis depends on a person's age, health, and also the cause. Meningitis can range from very mild to very severe. The likely hood of death is highest in someone who suffered a seizure in the first 24 hours, ...
Septic shock can occur when an untreated or inadequately treated infection is allowed to grow in the body. Bacteria often produce toxins which can cause injury throughout the body. When large quantities of these bacteria, and the toxins, begin circulating in the bloodstream, every organ and tissue in the body is at risk of their damaging effects. "The most damaging consequences of these bacteria and toxins include poor functioning of the
This means that the immune system is malfunctioning within the body (by mistakenly attacking the CNS), which is why it is appropriate for this term to be a possible cause. Studies have found what type of immune cells are responsible for attacking the CNS; T cells and possibly B cells—the major components of cellular adaptive immune response. Studies are still ongoing to find out more in depth information regarding the immunologic cause.
Imagine a nightmare where you have no control of your body and no matter how hard you may try you cannot move a single muscle or even mutter a single word. For some people this so-called “nightmare” is a grimm reality, the nightmares name? Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Or imagine having to brush your teeth 50 times a day because you forgot you already did. This is what people suffering from a certain kind of CTE called Dementia. But, who is getting afflicted with these diseases? The elderly? Children? Young Adults? The answer, professional athletes. Studies show that athletes are more likely to be diagnosed because of the contact that comes with playing sports. Now, living in the world we live in today we take all these precautions
Rationale: As explained in the background, CGRP activates adenylate cyclase increasing the cytosolic cAMP. My preliminary data show that cAMP potentiates increased Ca2+ influx into the SGNs synonymous with the synaptopathy. The preliminary experiments that showed CGRP might potentiate synptopathy was done by Qiong Wang, a former postdoc in our lab. Due to the lack of appropriate antibodies she had to count the axonal fibers instead of synapses. This method is obsolete now, as SGNs are found usually in bundles before they make synapses, which makes this method unreliable. I intend to redo the treatment with CGRP and cAMP in the organotypic culture
Neisseria meningitidis is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen which is hosted only by humans and colonizes nasopharynx. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal infections worldwide. Over half a million meningococcal cases occur annually and causes large epidemic and endemic outbreaks. Thus, meningococcal infection is one of the top ten infectious cause of death in the whole world (Tzeng & Stephens, 2000). Although the bacterium causes numerous human diseases, the most often associated with serious consequences are meningitis and meningococcemia (severe sepsis). Meningitis usually develops within a week and causes the list of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, eye sensitivity to light, fever, headache, and stiff neck. The meningococcemia is characterized by fever and rash (petechial or purpuric), malaise, vomiting, drowsiness, hypotension, acute adrenal hemorrhage, multiorgan failure, and shock (Centers for control disease and prevention, 2005). Also, meningococcal disease include pneumonia, conjunctivitis, urethritis, sinusitis, otitis, septic arthritis, and purulent pericarditis, where 10-15% of cases are fatal, and 10% of the patients who recover, usually have hearing loss (Ferguson et al., 2002).
Paramedics are frequently presented with neurological emergencies in the pre-hospital environment. Neurological emergencies include conditions such as, strokes, head or spinal injuries. To ensure the effective management of neurological emergencies an appropriate and timely neurological assessment is essential. Several factors are associated with the effectiveness and appropriateness of neurological assessments within the pre-hospital setting. Some examples include, variable clinical presentations, difficulty undertaking investigations, and the requirement for rapid management and transportation decisions (Lima & Maranhão-Filho, 2012; Middleton et al., 2012; Minardi & Crocco, 2009; Stocchetti et al., 2004; Yanagawa & Miyawaki, 2012). Through a review of current literature, the applicability and transferability of a neurological assessment within the pre-hospital clinical environment is critiqued. Blumenfeld (2010) describes the neurological assessment as an important analytical tool that evaluates the functionality of an individual’s nervous system. Blumenfeld (2010) dissected and evaluated the neurological assessment into six functional components, mental status, cranial nerves, motor exam, reflexes, co-ordination and gait, and a sensory examination.
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga is the story of young Tambu. The book starts off with her living with her parents, Ma’Shingyai and Jeremiah, and her brother, Nhambo in post-colonial Zimbabwe. After facing the news that her brother died, she and her immediate family decided move Tambu to live with her aunt and uncle, Babamukuru and Maiguru, to go to the missionary school where her uncle is head of and to get a better life for herself from the homestead. While living with her aunt, uncle, and their daughter, Nyahsa, Tambu realizes the nervous conditions that are around her as she sees the issues between race and gender in modern day Zimbabwe through her family. Even though, she has lived the luxury life of her uncle’s house, she sees that all things