work with humans. Whenever he is introduced to his patients, he is given the patients who are primarily unresponsive, or known as catatonic. He discovers a common link between all of them, that being that they all dealt with a common issue, being encephalitis, which is essentially the swelling of the brain. Dr. Malcolm Sayer then went to a conference that discussed a breakthrough drug called L-Dopa. The medication was designed
The movie “Awakenings” directed by Penny Marshall reveals the victims of an encephalitis epidemic from 1917-1928. The patients at Bainbridge Hospital in Bronx, New York 1969 are all living with a rare disease that puts them into a comatose or frozen state and completely unresponsive due from swelling of the brain. Dr. Malcolm Sayer is a driven man that attempts to awaken all of his patients, using observation, interviews, experiments and topical research he tries to find a cure. Leonard Lowe and
In the early twentieth century, during the end of the First World War, the puzzling illness of Encephalitis Lethargica (EL) swept the world. Millions of people were left to die and others less fortunate continued to live, trapped within their frozen and emotionless bodies. EL causes an inflammation of the brain, targeting the brain stem, which is home to critical motor components like the Basal Ganglia and Substantia Nigra. As it progresses, patients feel rigidity, muscle twitching and tremors similar
Tomas Izquierdo has not slept since 1945. Due to an attack of encephalitis, an inner brain inflammation, his ability to fall asleep was lost at the age of 13. Although he rests with his eyes closed, his brain patterns are those of someone who is fully awake and aware. He has memory problems and very sensitive eyes, but is otherwise completely normal. To relax, he usually uses transcendental meditation from about three or four AM until the morning (Coleman 94). Tomas Izquierdo is what one might call
Herpes 1 Herpes Herpes Megan Iacovetta Dental Office Emergencies and Compliance Ms. Kim Martin Everest Institute LRSA 4/10/14 Herpes 2 Herpes Herpes The Herpes simplex virus is an infection that can affect the mouth, lips, genitals and sometimes other parts of the body. I will be discussing the signs, symptoms and causes of herpes, as well as how to prevent contracting this virus or passing it to others Herpes 3 Herpes There are two main
condition is known as Rasmussen’s encephalitis. The meaningful research on Rasmussen’s encephalitis was begun (unintentionally) by Scott Rogers and Lorise Gahring, two neurologists, who were at the time measuring the distribution of glutamate receptors in the brain. Later on when more provocative information was found they enlisted the help of James McNamara and Ian Andrews, epilepsy experts at Duke University Medical Center. The details on Rasmussen’s encephalitis were very bleak at the time when
monocytogenes Introduction Listeria monocytogenes, a motile, gram-positive rod, is an opportunistic food-borne pathogen capable of causing listeriosis in humans. Listeriosis includes manifestations of septicemia, meningitis, pneumonia, and encephalitis. L. monocytogenes is also implicated in miscarriages, stillbirth, and premature birth for pregnant women. L. monocytogenes is a tough bacterium resistant to freezing, drying, and heat; most strains have been shown to be pathogenic. It is hypothesized
book has proposed an intriguing hypothesis regarding the seventeenth-century witchcraft trials in Salem, Massachusetts. Laurie Winn Carlson argues that accusations of witchcraft were linked to an epidemic of encephalitis and that it was a specific form of this disease, encephalitis lethargica, that accounts for the symptoms suffered by the afflicted, those who accused their neighbors of bewitching them. Though this interpretation of the Salem episode is fascinating, the book itself is extremely problematic
The Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692 were the largest outbreak of witch hunting in colonial New England up to that time. Although it was the largest outbreak, it was not something that was new. Witch-hunting had been a part of colonial New England since the formation of the colonies. Between the years 1648 to 1663, approximately 15 witches were executed. During the winter of 1692 to February of 1693, approximately 150 citizens were accused of being witches and about 25 of those died, either by
In Oliver Sacks clinical biography Awakenings, men and women diagnosed with encephalitis lethargica seemed hopeless until 1969 when Dr. Sacks introduces patients to a new drug called L-DOPA. The patients were catatonic; they would display behaviors like stupor or motor rigidity and in some cases would be unable to speak, respond, or move. Patients would be checked out or seem to be in their own world. The drug L-DOPA provides an “awakening” effect and makes an exceptional impact on patients’ physical
post- World War I sleeping sickness epidemic had lived in a state of catatonia but remained “alive inside” for decades. In order to understand the movie, it is important to convey basic information about encephalitis lethargica also known as “sleeping sickness”. From 1917 to 1928, encephalitis lethargica was epidemic
The Salem witch trials of 1692 were one of the bloodiest witch-hunts in America colonial history. The event started in the house of the new minister of Salem, Samuel Parris, when his daughter, Betty, suffered from mysterious symptoms, and later she accused her slave, Tibuta, for using witchcraft on her. Later, two other women, Sarah Goode and Sarah Osborne, were accused of using witchcraft on other girls; right after the accusations, they were arrested (Lecture 9/13/2016). As a result, the hunt of
Some people developed acute restlessness or insomnia or dementia. Others fell into a trance-like sleep or coma. These different forms were recognized and identified by the physician Constantin von Economo as one disease, which he called encephalitis lethargica,
From the beginning of time there has been conflict between the views of different people and their different groups. Conflict has brought prejudice and fear into communities around the world. As conflict is an inescapable part of any society, it can be expected to extend to the greatest impact possible. The Salem Witch Trials are one such conflict. This conflict caused many to be accused, arrested, and killed. Because of social, economic, religious, and physical problems within the community, Salem
The Science, Diagnosing, and Treatment of ADHD in Children If one notices a loved one, such as a child, has been having a hard time paying attention or is a big ball of energy, it is possible that he or she suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD (Helpguide.org, n.d.). However, before jumping to this conclusion, it is important that one sees a doctor in order to be given a proper diagnosis. It is possible that “other medical conditions—or even normal childhood behavior—can
Malcolm Sayer worked in Bronx Hospital and discovered beneficial effects of L-Dopa, a drug that was used to treat Parkinson’s disease. He speculated that the catatonic patients’, who survived the 1917–1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica, rigidity might be similar to Parkinsonism, so he asked permission from his skeptical superiors to try and treat them with the drug. Leonard Lowe is the first patient that Dr. Sayer tested with the drug. He raised the dose to a higher level
cannot stand the thought that this many people are being treated as if they have no hope of ever recovering from their conditions. It is in that moment, that Dr.Sayer decides to do something about it. He discovers that many of the patients survived encephalitis lethargic many years ago. He then find a possible drug to cure them called L-Dopa. In order for this experiment and drug to be successful Dr. Sayer needed someone to focus his attention on while giving correct dosages of L-Dopa. He chooses Leonard
the cruel reality of the Salem Witch Trials. Some people (not philosophers) think it was a government conspiracy. Some scientist thinks that it was “One of the more controversial theories states that the girls suffered from an outbreak of encephalitis lethargica, an inflammation of the brain spread by insects and birds. Symptoms include fever, headaches, lethargy, double vision, abnormal eye movements, neck rigidity, behavioral changes, and tremors” (Daily.jstor.org) All of the accusers also had the
In Salem Massachusetts, during the summer of 1692 a tragedy occurred that continues to mystify our country. The Salem witchcraft hysteria leaves us with many questions as to what really happened in this small Puritan town. Starting with a small group of young girls trying to read the messages of the future in egg whites, ended with around 19 deaths and over 100 innocent people found guilty of practicing witchcraft. In this Taking Sides Issue 1.4, Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum argue that the
This 2014 film of drama and emotion highlights the potential effects of Alzheimer’s disease in an individual’s life, as well as the support system that surrounds the individual. A linguistic professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (IMDb, n.d.). Alice Howland is happily married with three grown children as she receives the specific diagnosis of Early-Onset-Alzheimer’s disease (Rotten Tomatoes, 2018). Alice faces a struggle to stay connected to