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Subjects and Topics in Basic Medical Science: A Imhotep Virtual Medical School Primer
Subjects and Topics in Basic Medical Science: A Imhotep Virtual Medical School Primer
Medical Science
Contents
Articles
Anatomy
Embryology
Biochemistry
Histology
14
Epidemiology
20
Biostatistics
31
Molecular biology
34
Genetics
39
Cell biology
55
Endocrinology
60
General pathology
65
Immunology
67
Microbiology
71
Physiology
76
Pathophysiology
78
Pathology
80
Pathogenesis
85
Neuroscience
85
Pharmacology
93
Toxicology
98
Medicine
100
Medical history
114
Chief complaint
116
117
119
Review of systems
121
Biological system
123
124
125
127
Allergy
128
Doctor-patient relationship
142
Differential diagnosis
146
Symptom
148
Medical sign
149
Physical examination
154
References
Article Sources and Contributors
157
163
Article Licenses
License
165
Anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia, from ana:
separate, apart from, and temnein, to cut up, cut open) is a branch of
biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living
things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal
anatomy (zootomy) and plant anatomy (phytotomy). In some of its
facets anatomy is closely related to embryology, comparative anatomy
and comparative embryology,[1] through common roots in evolution.
Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy (or macroscopic anatomy)
and microscopic anatomy.[1] Gross anatomy (also called topographical
Superficial anatomy
Superficial anatomy or surface anatomy is important in anatomy being the study of anatomical landmarks that can be
readily seen from the contours or the surface of the body.[1] With knowledge of superficial anatomy, physicians or
veterinary surgeons gauge the position and anatomy of the associated deeper structures. Superficial is a directional
term that indicates one structure is located more externally than another, or closer to the surface of the body.
Human anatomy
Human anatomy, including gross human anatomy and histology, is primarily
the scientific study of the morphology of the adult human body.[1]
Generally, students of certain biological sciences, paramedics, prosthetists
and orthotists, physiotherapists, occupational therapy, nurses, and medical
students learn gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy from anatomical
models, skeletons, textbooks, diagrams, photographs, lectures and tutorials.
The study of microscopic anatomy (or histology) can be aided by practical
experience examining histological preparations (or slides) under a
microscope; and in addition, medical students generally also learn gross
anatomy with practical experience of dissection and inspection of cadavers
(dead human bodies).
Human anatomy, physiology and biochemistry are complementary basic medical sciences, which are generally
taught
to
medical
students
in
their
first
Anatomy
Other branches
Comparative anatomy relates to the comparison of anatomical structures
(both gross and microscopic) in different animals.[1]
Anthropological anatomy or physical anthropology relates to the
comparison of the anatomy of different races of humans.
Artistic anatomy relates to anatomic studies for artistic reasons.
Notes
[1] "Introduction page, "Anatomy of the Human Body". Henry Gray. 20th edition. 1918" (http:/ / www. bartleby. com/ 107/ 1. html). . Retrieved
19 March 2007.
[2] "Publisher's page for Gray's Anatomy. 39th edition (UK). 2004. ISBN 0-443-07168-3" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20071012104507/
http:/ / intl. elsevierhealth. com/ catalogue/ title. cfm?ISBN=0443071683). Archived from the original (http:/ / www. intl. elsevierhealth. com/
catalogue/ title. cfm?ISBN=0443071683) on 2007-10-12. . Retrieved 19 March 2007.
[3] "Publisher's page for Gray's Anatomy. 39th edition (US). 2004. ISBN 0-443-07168-3" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20070209134753/
http:/ / www. us. elsevierhealth. com/ product. jsp?isbn=0443071683). Archived from the original (http:/ / www. us. elsevierhealth. com/
product. jsp?isbn=0443071683) on 9 February 2007. . Retrieved 19 March 2007.
References
"Anatomy of the Human Body". 20th edition. 1918. Henry Gray (http://www.bartleby.com/107/)
External links
Anatomy Mnemonics (http://www.lifehugger.com/anatomy) Mnemonics in Anatomy.
Journal - Journal of Anatomy (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1469-7580)*
Anatomy (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p005488j) on In Our Time at the BBC. ( listen now (http://
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p005488j/In_Our_Time_Anatomy))
Anatomia 15221867: Anatomical Plates from the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (http://link.library.
utoronto.ca/anatomia/)
Anatomy of the Human Body (http://www.bartleby.com/107/) Gray, Henry. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger,
1918
High-Resolution Cytoarchitectural Primate Brain Atlases (http://brainmaps.org/)
Anatomy in the 16th century (http://www.bium.univ-paris5.fr/histmed/medica/anatomie.htm#vonseng)
studies and digitized texts by the BIUM (Bibliothque interuniversitaire de mdecine et d'odontologie, Paris)
Anatomy
Embryology
Embryology (from Greek , embryon, "unborn,
embryo"; and -, -logia) is a science which is about
the development of an embryo from the fertilization of
the ovum to the fetus stage. After cleavage, the dividing
cells, or morula, becomes a hollow ball, or blastula,
which develops a hole or pore at one end.
In bilateral animals, the blastula develops in one of two
ways that divides the whole animal kingdom into two
halves (see: Embryological origins of the mouth and
anus). If in the blastula the first pore (blastopore)
1 - morula, 2 - blastula
Embryology
History
As recently as the 18th century, the prevailing notion in human embryology
was preformation: the idea that semen contains an embryo a preformed,
miniature infant, or "homunculus" that simply becomes larger during
development. The competing explanation of embryonic development was
epigenesis, originally proposed 2,000 years earlier by Aristotle. According to
epigenesis, the form of an animal emerges gradually from a relatively
formless egg. As microscopy improved during the 19th century, biologists
could see that embryos took shape in a series of progressive steps, and
epigenesis displaced preformation as the favored explanation among
embryologists.[1]
Beetle larvae
Embryology
References
[1] Campbell et al. (p. 987)
[2] Massimo De Felici, Gregorio Siracus, The rise of embryology in Italy: from the Renaissance to the early 20th Century, (http:/ / www. ijdb.
ehu. es/ fullaccess/ fulltext. 0009/ ft515. pdf) Int. J. Dev. Biol. 44: 515-521 (2000).
[3] Parker, Sybil. "Invertebrate Embryology," McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology (http:/ / books. google. com/
books?vid=ISBN0079115047& id=CMC32Rmo9tYC& q="invertebrate+ embryology"+ and+ "mcgraw-hill"& dq="invertebrate+
embryology"+ and+ "mcgraw-hill"& pgis=1) (McGraw-Hill 1997).
Further reading
Apostoli, Pietro; Catalani, Simona (2011). "Chapter 11. Metal Ions Affecting Reproduction and Development". In
Astrid Sigel, Helmut Sigel and Roland K. O. Sigel. Metal Ions in Toxicology. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. 8. RSC
Publishing. pp.263-303. doi:10.1039/9781849732116-00263.
Scott F. Gilbert. Developmental Biology. Sinauer, 2003. ISBN 0-87893-258-5.
Lewis Wolpert. Principles of Development. Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-19-927536-X.
External links
Indiana University's Human Embryology Animations (http://www.indiana.edu/~anat550/embryo_main/index.
html)
What is a human admixed embryo? (http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/views/biolines)
UNSW Embryology (http://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/) | UNSW Embryology (http://php.med.unsw.
edu.au/embryology/index.php?title=Main_Page) Large resource of information and media
Definition of embryo according to Webster (http://www2.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/
mwmednlm?book=Medical&va=embryo)
Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms,
including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes. By
controlling information flow through biochemical signalling and the flow of chemical energy through metabolism,
biochemical processes give rise to the incredible complexity of life. Much of biochemistry deals with the structures
and functions of cellular components such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules
although increasingly processes rather than individual molecules are the main focus. Over the last 40 years
biochemistry has become so successful at explaining living processes that now almost all areas of the life sciences
from botany to medicine are engaged in biochemical research. Today the main focus of pure biochemistry is in
understanding how biological molecules give rise to the processes that occur within living cells which in turn relates
greatly to the study and understanding of whole organisms.
Among the vast number of different biomolecules, many are complex and large molecules (called biopolymers),
which are composed of similar repeating subunits (called monomers). Each class of polymeric biomolecule has a
different set of subunit types.[1] For example, a protein is a polymer whose subunits are selected from a set of 20 or
more amino acids. Biochemistry studies the chemical properties of important biological molecules, like proteins, and
in particular the chemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.
The biochemistry of cell metabolism and the endocrine system has been extensively described. Other areas of
biochemistry include the genetic code (DNA, RNA), protein synthesis, cell membrane transport, and signal
transduction.
History
It once was generally believed that life and its materials had some essential property or substance distinct from any
found in non-living matter, and it was thought that only living beings could produce the molecules of life. Then, in
1828, Friedrich Whler published a paper on the synthesis of urea, proving that organic compounds can be created
artificially.[2] [3]
The dawn of biochemistry may have been the discovery of the first enzyme, diastase (today called amylase), in 1833
by Anselme Payen. Eduard Buchner contributed the first demonstration of a complex biochemical process outside of
a cell in 1896: alcoholic fermentation in cell extracts of yeast. Although the term biochemistry seems to have been
first used in 1882, it is generally accepted that the formal coinage of biochemistry occurred in 1903 by Carl Neuberg,
a German chemist. Previously, this area would have been referred to as physiological chemistry. Since then,
biochemistry has advanced, especially since the mid-20th century, with the development of new techniques such as
chromatography, X-ray diffraction, dual polarisation interferometry, NMR spectroscopy, radioisotopic labeling,
electron microscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. These techniques allowed for the discovery and detailed
analysis of many molecules and metabolic pathways of the cell, such as glycolysis and the Krebs cycle (citric acid
cycle).
Another significant historic event in biochemistry is the discovery of the gene and its role in the transfer of
information in the cell. This part of biochemistry is often called molecular biology. In the 1950s, James D. Watson,
Francis Crick, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins were instrumental in solving DNA structure and suggesting
its relationship with genetic transfer of information. In 1958, George Beadle and Edward Tatum received the Nobel
Prize for work in fungi showing that one gene produces one enzyme. In 1988, Colin Pitchfork was the first person
convicted of murder with DNA evidence, which led to growth of forensic science. More recently, Andrew Z. Fire
and Craig C. Mello received the 2006 Nobel Prize for discovering the role of RNA interference (RNAi), in the
silencing of gene expression.
Biochemistry
Today, there are three main types of biochemistry. Plant biochemistry involves the study of the biochemistry of
autotrophic organisms such as photosynthesis and other plant specific biochemical processes. General biochemistry
encompasses both plant and animal biochemistry. Human/medical/medicinal biochemistry focuses on the
biochemistry of humans and medical illnesses.
Biomolecules
The four main classes of molecules in biochemistry are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Many
biological molecules are polymers: in this terminology, monomers are relatively small micromolecules that are
linked together to create large macromolecules, which are known as polymers. When monomers are linked together
to synthesize a biological polymer, they undergo a process called dehydration synthesis.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are made from monomers called monosaccharides. Some of these
monosaccharides include glucose (C6H O ), fructose (C H O ), and deoxyribose
12 6
6 12 6
Lipids
Lipids are usually made from one molecule of glycerol combined with other
molecules. In triglycerides, the main group of bulk lipids, there is one
molecule of glycerol and three fatty acids. Fatty acids are considered the
monomer in that case, and may be saturated (no double bonds in the carbon
chain) or unsaturated (one or more double bonds in the carbon chain).
Lipids, especially phospholipids, are also used in various pharmaceutical
products, either as co-solubilisers (e.g. in parenteral infusions) or else as drug
carrier components (e.g. in a liposome or transfersome).
Proteins
Proteins are very large molecules macro-biopolymers made from monomers called
amino acids. There are 20 standard amino acids, each containing a carboxyl group, an
amino group, and a side chain (known as an "R" group). The "R" group is what makes
each amino acid different, and the properties of the side chains greatly influence the
overall three-dimensional conformation of a protein. When amino acids combine, they
form a special bond called a peptide bond through dehydration synthesis, and become a
polypeptide, or protein.
To determine if two proteins are related or in other words to decide whether they are
homologous or not, scientists use sequence-comparison methods. Methods like Sequence
Alignments and Structural Alignments are powerful tools that help scientist identify
homologies between related molecules. The relevance of finding homologies among proteins goes beyond forming
an evolutionary pattern of protein families. By finding how similar two protein sequences are, we acquire knowledge
about their structure and therefore their function.
Biochemistry
Nucleic acids
Nucleic acids are the molecules that make up DNA, an extremely
important substance which all cellular organisms use to store their
genetic information. The most common nucleic acids are
deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid. Their monomers are
called nucleotides. The most common nucleotides are Adenine,
Cytosine, Guanine, Thymine, and Uracil. Adenine binds with
thymine and uracil; Thymine only binds with Adenine; and
Cytosine and Guanine can only bind with each other.
Carbohydrates
Monosaccharides
The simplest type of carbohydrate is a monosaccharide, which among
other properties contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, mostly in a
ratio of 1:2:1 (generalized formula CnH O , where n is at least 3).
2n n
Disaccharides
Two monosaccharides can be joined together using dehydration
synthesis, in which a hydrogen atom is removed from the end of one
molecule and a hydroxyl group (OH) is removed from the other; the
remaining residues are then attached at the sites from which the atoms
were removed. The HOH or H2O is then released as a molecule of
water, hence the term dehydration. The new molecule, consisting of
two monosaccharides, is called a disaccharide and is conjoined
together by a glycosidic or ether bond. The reverse reaction can also
Biochemistry
occur, using a molecule of water to split up a disaccharide and break the glycosidic bond; this is termed hydrolysis.
The most well-known disaccharide is sucrose, ordinary sugar (in scientific contexts, called table sugar or cane sugar
to differentiate it from other sugars). Sucrose consists of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule joined together.
Another important disaccharide is lactose, consisting of a glucose molecule and a galactose molecule. As most
humans age, the production of lactase, the enzyme that hydrolyzes lactose back into glucose and galactose, typically
decreases. This results in lactase deficiency, also called lactose intolerance.
Sugar polymers are characterised by having reducing or non-reducing ends. A reducing end of a carbohydrate is a
carbon atom which can be in equilibrium with the open-chain aldehyde or keto form. If the joining of monomers
takes place at such a carbon atom, the free hydroxy group of the pyranose or furanose form is exchanged with an
OH-side chain of another sugar, yielding a full acetal. This prevents opening of the chain to the aldehyde or keto
form and renders the modified residue non-reducing. Lactose contains a reducing end at its glucose moiety, whereas
the galactose moiety form a full acetal with the C4-OH group of glucose. Saccharose does not have a reducing end
because of full acetal formation between the aldehyde carbon of glucose (C1) and the keto carbon of fructose (C2).
Cellulose is made by plants and is an important structural component of their cell walls. Humans can neither
manufacture nor digest it.
Glycogen, on the other hand, is an animal carbohydrate; humans and other animals use it as a form of energy
storage.
Biochemistry
10
Aerobic
In aerobic cells with sufficient oxygen, like most human cells, the pyruvate is further metabolized. It is irreversibly
converted to acetyl-CoA, giving off one carbon atom as the waste product carbon dioxide, generating another
reducing equivalent as NADH. The two molecules acetyl-CoA (from one molecule of glucose) then enter the citric
acid cycle, producing two more molecules of ATP, six more NADH molecules and two reduced (ubi)quinones (via
FADH2 as enzyme-bound cofactor), and releasing the remaining carbon atoms as carbon dioxide. The produced
NADH and quinol molecules then feed into the enzyme complexes of the respiratory chain, an electron transport
system transferring the electrons ultimately to oxygen and conserving the released energy in the form of a proton
gradient over a membrane (inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotes). Thereby, oxygen is reduced to water and
the original electron acceptors NAD+ and quinone are regenerated. This is why humans breathe in oxygen and
breathe out carbon dioxide. The energy released from transferring the electrons from high-energy states in NADH
and quinol is conserved first as proton gradient and converted to ATP via ATP synthase. This generates an additional
28 molecules of ATP (24 from the 8 NADH + 4 from the 2 quinols), totaling to 32 molecules of ATP conserved per
degraded glucose (two from glycolysis + two from the citrate cycle). It is clear that using oxygen to completely
oxidize glucose provides an organism with far more energy than any oxygen-independent metabolic feature, and this
is thought to be the reason why complex life appeared only after Earth's atmosphere accumulated large amounts of
oxygen.
Gluconeogenesis
In vertebrates, vigorously contracting skeletal muscles (during weightlifting or sprinting, for example) do not receive
enough oxygen to meet the energy demand, and so they shift to anaerobic metabolism, converting glucose to lactate.
The liver regenerates the glucose, using a process called gluconeogenesis. This process is not quite the opposite of
glycolysis, and actually requires three times the amount of energy gained from glycolysis (six molecules of ATP are
used, compared to the two gained in glycolysis). Analogous to the above reactions, the glucose produced can then
undergo glycolysis in tissues that need energy, be stored as glycogen (or starch in plants), or be converted to other
monosaccharides or joined into di- or oligosaccharides. The combined pathways of glycolysis during exercise,
lactate's crossing via the bloodstream to the liver, subsequent gluconeogenesis and release of glucose into the
bloodstream is called the Cori cycle.
Proteins
Like carbohydrates, some proteins perform largely structural roles. For
instance, movements of the proteins actin and myosin ultimately are
responsible for the contraction of skeletal muscle. One property many
proteins have is that they specifically bind to a certain molecule or class of
moleculesthey may be extremely selective in what they bind. Antibodies
are an example of proteins that attach to one specific type of molecule. In
fact, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which uses
antibodies, is currently one of the most sensitive tests modern medicine uses
to detect various biomolecules. Probably the most important proteins,
however, are the enzymes. These molecules recognize specific reactant
A schematic of hemoglobin. The red and
molecules called substrates; they then catalyze the reaction between them. By
blue ribbons represent the protein globin;
lowering the activation energy, the enzyme speeds up that reaction by a rate
the green structures are the heme groups.
of 1011 or more: a reaction that would normally take over 3,000 years to
complete spontaneously might take less than a second with an enzyme. The enzyme itself is not used up in the
process, and is free to catalyze the same reaction with a new set of substrates. Using various modifiers, the activity of
the enzyme can be regulated, enabling control of the biochemistry of the cell as a whole.
Biochemistry
11
In essence, proteins are chains of amino acids. An amino acid consists of a carbon atom bound to four groups. One is
an amino group, NH , and one is a carboxylic acid group, COOH (although these exist as NH + and COO
2
under physiologic conditions). The third is a simple hydrogen atom. The fourth is commonly denoted "R" and is
different for each amino acid. There are twenty standard amino acids. Some of these have functions by themselves or
in a modified form; for instance, glutamate functions as an important neurotransmitter.
Amino acids can be joined together via
a peptide bond. In this dehydration
synthesis, a water molecule is removed
and the peptide bond connects the
nitrogen of one amino acid's amino
group to the carbon of the other's
Generic amino acids (1) in neutral form, (2) as they exist physiologically, and (3) joined
carboxylic acid group. The resulting
together as a dipeptide.
molecule is called a dipeptide, and
short stretches of amino acids (usually,
fewer than thirty) are called peptides or polypeptides. Longer stretches merit the title proteins. As an example, the
important blood serum protein albumin contains 585 amino acid residues.
The structure of proteins is traditionally described in a hierarchy of four levels. The primary structure of a protein
simply
consists
of
its
linear
sequence
of
amino
acids;
for
instance,
"alanine-glycine-tryptophan-serine-glutamate-asparagine-glycine-lysine-". Secondary structure is concerned with
local morphology (morphology being the study of structure). Some combinations of amino acids will tend to curl up
in a coil called an -helix or into a sheet called a -sheet; some -helixes can be seen in the hemoglobin schematic
above. Tertiary structure is the entire three-dimensional shape of the protein. This shape is determined by the
sequence of amino acids. In fact, a single change can change the entire structure. The alpha chain of hemoglobin
contains 146 amino acid residues; substitution of the glutamate residue at position 6 with a valine residue changes
the behavior of hemoglobin so much that it results in sickle-cell disease. Finally quaternary structure is concerned
with the structure of a protein with multiple peptide subunits, like hemoglobin with its four subunits. Not all proteins
have more than one subunit.
Ingested proteins are usually broken up into single amino acids or dipeptides in the small intestine, and then
absorbed. They can then be joined together to make new proteins. Intermediate products of glycolysis, the citric acid
cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway can be used to make all twenty amino acids, and most bacteria and plants
possess all the necessary enzymes to synthesize them. Humans and other mammals, however, can only synthesize
half of them. They cannot synthesize isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan,
and valine. These are the essential amino acids, since it is essential to ingest them. Mammals do possess the enzymes
to synthesize alanine, asparagine, aspartate, cysteine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, proline, serine, and tyrosine, the
nonessential amino acids. While they can synthesize arginine and histidine, they cannot produce it in sufficient
amounts for young, growing animals, and so these are often considered essential amino acids.
If the amino group is removed from an amino acid, it leaves behind a carbon skeleton called an -keto acid.
Enzymes called transaminases can easily transfer the amino group from one amino acid (making it an -keto acid) to
another -keto acid (making it an amino acid). This is important in the biosynthesis of amino acids, as for many of
the pathways, intermediates from other biochemical pathways are converted to the -keto acid skeleton, and then an
amino group is added, often via transamination. The amino acids may then be linked together to make a protein.
A similar process is used to break down proteins. It is first hydrolyzed into its component amino acids. Free
ammonia (NH3), existing as the ammonium ion (NH +) in blood, is toxic to life forms. A suitable method for
4
excreting it must therefore exist. Different strategies have evolved in different animals, depending on the animals'
needs. Unicellular organisms, of course, simply release the ammonia into the environment. Similarly, bony fish can
release the ammonia into the water where it is quickly diluted. In general, mammals convert the ammonia into urea,
Biochemistry
12
Lipids
The term lipid comprises a diverse range of molecules and to some extent is a catchall for relatively water-insoluble
or nonpolar compounds of biological origin, including waxes, fatty acids, fatty-acid derived phospholipids,
sphingolipids, glycolipids and terpenoids (e.g. retinoids and steroids). Some lipids are linear aliphatic molecules,
while others have ring structures. Some are aromatic, while others are not. Some are flexible, while others are rigid.
Most lipids have some polar character in addition to being largely nonpolar. Generally, the bulk of their structure is
nonpolar or hydrophobic ("water-fearing"), meaning that it does not interact well with polar solvents like water.
Another part of their structure is polar or hydrophilic ("water-loving") and will tend to associate with polar solvents
like water. This makes them amphiphilic molecules (having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic portions). In the case
of cholesterol, the polar group is a mere -OH (hydroxyl or alcohol). In the case of phospholipids, the polar groups are
considerably larger and more polar, as described below.
Lipids are an integral part of our daily diet. Most oils and milk products that we use for cooking and eating like
butter, cheese, ghee etc., are composed of fats. Vegetable oils are rich in various polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
Lipid-containing foods undergo digestion within the body and are broken into fatty acids and glycerol, which are the
final degradation products of fats and lipids.
Nucleic acids
A nucleic acid is a complex, high-molecular-weight biochemical macromolecule composed of nucleotide chains that
convey genetic information. The most common nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid
(RNA). Nucleic acids are found in all living cells and viruses. Aside from the genetic material of the cell, nucleic
acids often play a role as second messengers, as well as forming the base molecule for adenosine triphosphate, the
primary energy-carrier molecule found in all living organisms.
Nucleic acid, so called because of its prevalence in cellular nuclei, is the generic name of the family of biopolymers.
The monomers are called nucleotides, and each consists of three components: a nitrogenous heterocyclic base (either
a purine or a pyrimidine), a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. Different nucleic acid types differ in the specific
sugar found in their chain (e.g. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid contains 2-deoxyriboses). Also, the nitrogenous bases
possible in the two nucleic acids are different: adenine, cytosine, and guanine occur in both RNA and DNA, while
thymine occurs only in DNA and uracil occurs in RNA.
Biochemistry
13
Notes
a. It should be noted that fructose is not the only sugar found in fruits. Glucose and sucrose are also found in
varying quantities in various fruits, and indeed sometimes exceed the fructose present. For example, 32% of the
edible portion of date is glucose, compared with 23.70% fructose and 8.20% sucrose. Conversely, peaches contain
more sucrose (6.66%) than they do fructose (0.93%) or glucose (1.47%).[5]
References
[1] Campbell, Neil A.; Brad Williamson; Robin J. Heyden (2006). Biology: Exploring Life (http:/ / www. phschool. com/ el_marketing. html).
Boston, Massachusetts: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN0-13-250882-6. .
[2] Whler, F. (1828). "Ueber knstliche Bildung des Harnstoffs". Ann. Phys. Chem. 12: 253256.
[3] Kauffman, G. B. and Chooljian, S.H. (2001). "Friedrich Whler (18001882), on the Bicentennial of His Birth". The Chemical Educator 6
(2): 121133. doi:10.1007/s00897010444a.
[4] Whiting, G.C (1970). "Sugars". In A.C. Hulme. The Biochemistry of Fruits and their Products. Volume 1. London & New York: Academic
Press. pp.1=31
Biochemistry
14
Further reading
Hunter, Graeme K. (2000). Vital Forces: The Discovery of the Molecular Basis of Life. San Diego: Academic
Press. ISBN0-12-361810-X. OCLC162129355 191848148 44187710.
External links
The Virtual Library of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (http://www.biochemweb.org/)
Biochemistry, 5th ed. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?call=bv.View..ShowTOC&rid=stryer.
TOC&depth=2) Full text of Berg, Tymoczko, and Stryer, courtesy of NCBI.
biochemical families: prot nucl carb (glpr, alco, glys) lipd (fata/i, phld, strd, gllp, eico) amac/i ncbs/i ttpy/i
Histology
Histology (compound of the Greek words:
"tissue", and - -logia) is the
study of the microscopic anatomy of cells
and tissues of plants and animals. It is
performed by examining a thin slice
(section) of tissue under a light microscope
or electron microscope. The ability to
visualize
or
differentially
identify
microscopic structures is frequently
enhanced through the use of histological
stains. Histology is an essential tool of
biology and medicine.
Histopathology, the microscopic study of
diseased tissue, is an important tool in
A stained histologic specimen, sandwiched between a glass microscope slide and
anatomical pathology, since accurate
coverslip, mounted on the stage of a light microscope.
diagnosis of cancer and other diseases
usually requires histopathological examination of samples. Trained medical doctors, frequently board-certified as
pathologists, are the personnel who perform histopathological examination and provide diagnostic information based
on their observations.
Histology
15
Histology
Fixing
Chemical fixation with formaldehyde or
other chemicals
Histology
16
the water. This is followed by a hydrophobic clearing agent (such as xylene) to remove the alcohol, and finally
molten paraffin wax, the infiltration agent, which replaces the xylene. Paraffin wax does not provide a sufficiently
hard matrix for cutting very thin sections for electron microscopy. Instead, resins are used. Epoxy resins are the most
commonly employed embedding media, but acrylic resins are also used, particularly where immunohistochemistry is
required. Thicker sections (0.35m to 5m) of resin-embedded tissue can also be cut for light microscopy. Again, the
immiscibility of most epoxy and acrylic resins with water necessitates the use of dehydration, usually with ethanol.
Embedding
After the tissues have been dehydrated, cleared, and infiltrated with the embedding material, they are ready for
external embedding. During this process the tissue samples are placed into molds along with liquid embedding
material (such as agar, gelatine, or wax) which is then hardened. This is achieved by cooling in the case of paraffin
wax and heating (curing) in the case of the epoxy resins. The acrylic resins are polymerised by heat, ultraviolet light,
or chemical catalysts. The hardened blocks containing the tissue samples are then ready to be sectioned.
Because Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues may be stored indefinitely at room temperature, and
nucleic acids (both DNA and RNA) may be recovered from them decades after fixation, FFPE tissues are an
important resource for historical studies in medicine.
Embedding can also be accomplished using frozen, non-fixed tissue in a water-based medium. Pre-frozen tissues are
placed into molds with the liquid embedding material, usually a water-based glycol, OCT, TBS, Cryogel, or resin,
which is then frozen to form hardened blocks.
Sectioning
Sectioning can be done in limited ways. Vertical sectioning perpendicular to the surface of the tissue is the usual
method. Horizontal sectioning is often done in the evaluation of the hair follicles and pilosebaceous units. Tangential
to horizontal sectioning is done in Mohs surgery and in methods of CCPDMA.
For light microscopy, a steel knife mounted in a microtome is used to cut 10-micrometer-thick tissue sections which
are mounted on a glass microscope slide. For transmission electron microscopy, a diamond knife mounted in an
ultramicrotome is used to cut 50-nanometer-thick tissue sections which are mounted on a 3-millimeter-diameter
copper grid. Then the mounted sections are treated with the appropriate stain.
Frozen tissue embedded in a freezing medium is cut on a microtome in a cooled machine called a cryostat.
Staining
Biological tissue has little inherent contrast in either the light or electron microscope. Staining is employed to give
both contrast to the tissue as well as highlighting particular features of interest. Where the underlying mechanistic
chemistry of staining is understood, the term histochemistry is used. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E stain) is the most
commonly used light microscopical stain in histology and histopathology. Hematoxylin, a basic dye, stains nuclei
blue due to an affinity to nucleic acids in the cell nucleus; eosin, an acidic dye, stains the cytoplasm pink. Uranyl
acetate and lead citrate are commonly used to impart contrast to tissue in the electron microscope.
Special staining: There are hundreds of various other techniques that have been used to selectively stain cells and
cellular components. Other compounds used to color tissue sections include safranin, oil red o, Congo red, fast green
FCF, silver salts, and numerous natural and artificial dyes that were usually originated from the development dyes
for the textile industry.
Histochemistry refers to the science of using chemical reactions between laboratory chemicals and components
within tissue. A commonly performed histochemical technique is the Perls Prussian blue reaction, used to
demonstrate iron deposits in diseases like hemochromatosis.
Histology
17
Histology samples have often been examined by radioactive techniques. In historadiography, a slide (sometimes
stained histochemically) is X-rayed. More commonly, autoradiography is used to visualize the locations to which a
radioactive substance has been transported within the body, such as cells in S phase (undergoing DNA replication)
which incorporate tritiated thymidine, or sites to which radiolabeled nucleic acid probes bind in in situ hybridization.
For autoradiography on a microscopic level, the slide is typically dipped into liquid nuclear tract emulsion, which
dries to form the exposure film. Individual silver grains in the film are visualized with dark field microscopy.
Recently, antibodies have been used to specifically visualize proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. This process is
called immunohistochemistry, or when the stain is a fluorescent molecule, immunofluorescence. This technique has
greatly increased the ability to identify categories of cells under a microscope. Other advanced techniques, such as
nonradioactive in situ hybridization, can be combined with immunochemistry to identify specific DNA or RNA
molecules with fluorescent probes or tags that can be used for immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked fluorescence
amplification (especially alkaline phosphatase and tyramide signal amplification). Fluorescence microscopy and
confocal microscopy are used to detect fluorescent signals with good intracellular detail. Digital cameras are
increasingly used to capture histological and histopathological image
Common use
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Red blood
cell (RBC)
Collagen
fibers
Specifically stains
Haematoxylin
General staining
when paired with
eosin (i.e. H&E)
Blue
N/A
N/A
N/A
Eosin
General staining
when paired with
haematoxylin (i.e.
H&E)
N/A
Pink
Orange/red
Pink
Toluidine blue
General staining
Blue
Blue
Blue
Blue
Masson's
trichrome stain
Connective tissue
Black
Red/pink
Red
Blue/green
Mallory's
trichrome stain
Connective tissue
Red
Pale red
Orange
Deep blue
Weigert's elastic
stain
Elastic fibers
Blue/black
N/A
N/A
N/A
Elastic fibersblue/black
Heidenhain's
Distinguishing cells
AZAN trichrome from extracellular
stain
components
Red/purple
Pink
Red
Blue
Silver stain
Reticular fibers,
nerve fibers, fungi
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Wright's stain
Blood cells
Bluish/purple
Bluish/gray Red/pink
N/A
Neutrophil granulespurple/pink
Eosinophil granulesbright red/orange
Basophil granulesdeep purple/violet
Platelet granulesred/purple
Orcein stain
Elastic fibres
N/A
Bright red
Pink
Periodic
acid-Schiff stain
(PAS)
N/A
N/A
Pink
Histology
18
Table sourced from Michael H. Ross, Wojciech Pawlina, (2006). Histology: A Text and Atlas. Hagerstown, MD:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN0-7817-5056-3.
The Nissl method and Golgi's method are useful in identifying neurons.
Alternative techniques
Alternative techniques include cryosection. The tissue is frozen using a cryostat, and cut. Tissue staining methods are
similar to those of wax sections. Plastic embedding is commonly used in the preparation of material for electron
microscopy. Tissues are embedded in epoxy resin. Very thin sections (less than 0.1 micrometer) are cut using
diamond or glass knives. The sections are stained with electron dense stains (uranium and lead) so that they can
possibly be seen with the electron microscope.
History
In the 19th century, histology was an academic discipline in its own right. The 1906 Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine was awarded to histologists Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramon y Cajal. They had dueling interpretations
of the neural structure of the brain based in differing interpretations of the same images. Cajal won the prize for his
correct theory and Golgi for the staining technique he invented to make it possible.
Epithelium: the lining of glands, bowel, skin, and some organs like the liver, lung, and kidney
Endothelium: the lining of blood and lymphatic vessels
Mesothelium: the lining of pleural and pericardial spaces
Mesenchyme: the cells filling the spaces between the organs, including fat, muscle, bone, cartilage, and tendon
cells
Blood cells: the red and white blood cells, including those found in lymph nodes and spleen
Neurons: any of the conducting cells of the nervous system
Germ cells: reproductive cells (spermatozoa in men, oocytes in women)
Placenta: an organ characteristic of true mammals during pregnancy, joining mother and offspring, providing
endocrine secretion and selective exchange of soluble, but not particulate, blood-borne substances through an
apposition of uterine and trophoblastic vascularised parts
Stem cells: cells with the ability to develop into different cell types
Note that tissues from plants, fungi, and microorganisms can also be examined histologically. Their structure is very
different from animal tissues.
Histology
19
Related sciences
Cell biology is the study of living cells, their DNA and RNA and the proteins they express.
Anatomy is the study of organs visible by the naked eye.
Morphology studies entire organisms.
Artifacts
Artifacts are structures or features in tissue that interfere with normal histological examination. These are not always
present in normal tissue and can come from outside sources. Artifacts interfere with histology by changing the
tissues appearance and hiding structures. These can be divided into two categories:
Pre-histology
These are features and structures that have being introduced prior to the collection of the tissues. A common example
of these include: ink from tattoos and freckles (melanin) in skin samples.
Post-histology
Artifacts can result from tissue processing. Processing commonly leads to changes like shrinkage, washing out of
particular cellular components, color changes in different tissues types and alterations of the structures in the tissue.
Because these are caused in a laboratory the majority of post histology artifacts can be avoided or removed after
being discovered. A common example is mercury pigment left behind after using Zenker's fixative to fix a section.
Notes
[1] Weiss AT, Delcour NM, Meyer A, Klopfleisch R. (2010). "Efficient and Cost-Effective Extraction of Genomic DNA From Formalin-Fixed
and Paraffin-Embedded Tissues.". Veterinary Pathology 227. PMID20817894.
References
1. Merck Source (2002). Dorland's Medical Dictionary. Retrieved 2005-01-26.
2. Stedman's Medical Dictionaries (2005). Stedman's Online Medical Dictionary (http://stedmans.com/).
Retrieved 2005-01-26.
3. 4,000online histology images (2007). (http://histology-online.com)
External links
Epidemiology
20
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a society. It is the
cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by
identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive medicine. Epidemiologists are involved in the design of
studies, collection and statistical analysis of data, and interpretation and dissemination of results (including peer
review and occasional systematic review). Major areas of epidemiologic work include outbreak investigation,
disease surveillance and screening (medicine), biomonitoring, and comparisons of treatment effects such as in
clinical trials. Epidemiologists rely on a number of other scientific disciplines such as biology (to better understand
disease processes), biostatistics (to make efficient use of the data and draw appropriate conclusions), and exposure
assessment and social science disciplines (to better understand proximate and distal risk factors, and their
measurement).
Etymology
Epidemiology, literally meaning "the study of what is upon the people", is derived from Greek epi, meaning "upon,
among", demos, meaning "people, district", and logos, meaning "study, word, discourse", suggesting that it applies
only to human populations. However, the term is widely used in studies of zoological populations (veterinary
epidemiology), although the term 'epizoology' is available, and it has also been applied to studies of plant
populations (botanical epidemiology).[1]
The distinction between 'epidemic' and 'endemic' was first drawn by Hippocrates,[2] to distinguish between diseases
that are 'visited upon' a population (epidemic) from those that 'reside within' a population (endemic).[3] The term
'epidemiology' appears to have first been used to describe the study of epidemics in 1802 by the Spanish physician
Villalba in Epidemiologa Espaola.[3] Epidemiologists also study the interaction of diseases in a population, a
condition known as a syndemic.
The term epidemiology is now widely applied to cover the description and causation of not only epidemic disease,
but of disease in general, and even many non-disease health-related conditions, such as high blood pressure and
obesity.
History
The Greek physician Hippocrates has been called the father of epidemiology.[4] He is the first person known to have
examined the relationships between the occurrence of disease and environmental influences.[5] He coined the terms
endemic (for diseases usually found in some places but not in others) and epidemic (for disease that are seen at some
times but not others).[6]
Epidemiology is defined as the study of distribution and determinants of health related states in populations and use
of this study to address health related problems. One of the earliest theories on the origin of disease was that it was
primarily the fault of human luxury. This was expressed by philosophers such as Plato[7] and Rousseau,[8] and social
critics like Jonathan Swift.[9]
In the middle of the 16th century, a doctor from Verona named Girolamo Fracastoro was the first to propose a theory
that these very small, unseeable, particles that cause disease were alive. They were considered to be able to spread by
air, multiply by themselves and to be destroyable by fire. In this way he refuted Galen's miasma theory (poison gas
in sick people). In 1543 he wrote a book De contagione et contagiosis morbis, in which he was the first to promote
personal and environmental hygiene to prevent disease. The development of a sufficiently powerful microscope by
Anton van Leeuwenhoek in 1675 provided visual evidence of living particles consistent with a germ theory of
disease.
Epidemiology
21
The profession
To date, few universities offer epidemiology as a course of study at the undergraduate level. Many epidemiologists
are physicians, or hold graduate degrees such as a Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science or
Epidemiology (MSc.). Doctorates include the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD),
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Science (ScD), or for clinically trained physicians, Doctor of Medicine (MD)
and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) . In the United Kingdom, the title of 'doctor' is by long custom used to
refer to general medical practitioners, whose professional degrees are usually those of Bachelor of Medicine and
Surgery (MBBS or MBChB). As public health/health protection practitioners, epidemiologists work in a number of
different settings. Some epidemiologists work 'in the field'; i.e., in the community, commonly in a public
Epidemiology
22
health/health protection service and are often at the forefront of investigating and combating disease outbreaks.
Others work for non-profit organizations, universities, hospitals and larger government entities such as the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Protection Agency, The World Health Organization (WHO),
or the Public Health Agency of Canada. Epidemiologists can also work in for-profit organizations such as
pharmaceutical and medical device companies in groups such as market research or clinical development.
The practice
Epidemiologists employ a range of study designs from the observational to experimental and generally categorized
as descriptive, analytic (aiming to further examine known associations or hypothesized relationships), and
experimental (a term often equated with clinical or community trials of treatments and other interventions).
Epidemiological studies are aimed, where possible, at revealing unbiased relationships between exposures such as
alcohol or smoking, biological agents, stress, or chemicals to mortality or morbidity. The identification of causal
relationships between these exposures and outcomes is an important aspect of epidemiology. Modern
epidemiologists use informatics as a tool.
The term 'epidemiologic triad' is used to describe the intersection of Host, Agent, and Environment in analyzing an
outbreak.
As causal inference
Although epidemiology is sometimes viewed as a collection of statistical tools used to elucidate the associations of
exposures to health outcomes, a deeper understanding of this science is that of discovering causal relationships.
It is nearly impossible to say with perfect accuracy how even the most simple physical systems behave beyond the
immediate future, much less the complex field of epidemiology, which draws on biology, sociology, mathematics,
statistics, anthropology, psychology, and policy; "Correlation does not imply causation" is a common theme for
much of the epidemiological literature. For epidemiologists, the key is in the term inference. Epidemiologists use
gathered data and a broad range of biomedical and psychosocial theories in an iterative way to generate or expand
theory, to test hypotheses, and to make educated, informed assertions about which relationships are causal, and about
exactly how they are causal. Epidemiologists Rothman and Greenland emphasize that the "one cause - one effect"
understanding is a simplistic mis-belief. Most outcomes, whether disease or death, are caused by a chain or web
consisting of many component causes. Causes can be distinguished as necessary, sufficient or probabilistic
conditions. If a necessary condition can be identified and controlled (e.g., antibodies to a disease agent), the harmful
outcome can be avoided.
Bradford-Hill criteria
In 1965 Austin Bradford Hill detailed criteria for assessing evidence of causation.[12] These guidelines are
sometimes referred to as the Bradford-Hill criteria, but this makes it seem like it is some sort of checklist. For
example, Phillips and Goodman (2004) note that they are often taught or referenced as a checklist for assessing
causality, despite this not being Hill's intention.[13] Hill himself said "None of my nine viewpoints can bring
indisputable evidence for or against the cause-and-effect hypothesis and none can be required sine qua non".[12]
1. Strength: A small association does not mean that there is not a causal effect, though the larger the association,
the more likely that it is causal.[12]
2. Consistency: Consistent findings observed by different persons in different places with different samples
strengthens the likelihood of an effect.[12]
3. Specificity: Causation is likely if a very specific population at a specific site and disease with no other likely
explanation. The more specific an association between a factor and an effect is, the bigger the probability of a
causal relationship.[12]
Epidemiology
23
4. Temporality: The effect has to occur after the cause (and if there is an expected delay between the cause and
expected effect, then the effect must occur after that delay).[12]
5. Biological gradient: Greater exposure should generally lead to greater incidence of the effect. However, in some
cases, the mere presence of the factor can trigger the effect. In other cases, an inverse proportion is observed:
greater exposure leads to lower incidence.[12]
6. Plausibility: A plausible mechanism between cause and effect is helpful (but Hill noted that knowledge of the
mechanism is limited by current knowledge).[12]
7. Coherence: Coherence between epidemiological and laboratory findings increases the likelihood of an effect.
However, Hill noted that "... lack of such [laboratory] evidence cannot nullify the epidemiological effect on
associations".[12]
8. Experiment: "Occasionally it is possible to appeal to experimental evidence".[12]
9. Analogy: The effect of similar factors may be considered.[12]
Legal interpretation
Epidemiological studies can only go to prove that an agent could have caused, but not that it did cause, an effect in
any particular case:
"Epidemiology is concerned with the incidence of disease in populations and does not address the
question of the cause of an individual's disease. This question, sometimes referred to as specific
causation, is beyond the domain of the science of epidemiology. Epidemiology has its limits at the point
where an inference is made that the relationship between an agent and a disease is causal (general
causation) and where the magnitude of excess risk attributed to the agent has been determined; that is,
epidemiology addresses whether an agent can cause a disease, not whether an agent did cause a specific
plaintiff's disease."[14]
In United States law, epidemiology alone cannot prove that a causal association does not exist in general.
Conversely, it can be (and is in some circumstances) taken by US courts, in an individual case, to justify an inference
that a causal association does exist, based upon a balance of probability.
The subdiscipline of forensic epidemiology is directed at the investigation of specific causation of disease or injury
in individuals or groups of individuals in instances in which causation is disputed or is unclear, for presentation in
legal settings.
Advocacy
As a public health discipline, epidemiologic evidence is often used to advocate both personal measures like diet
change and corporate measures like removal of junk food advertising, with study findings disseminated to the
general public to help people to make informed decisions about their health. Often the uncertainties about these
findings are not communicated well; news articles often prominently report the latest result of one study with little
mention of its limitations, caveats, or context. Epidemiological tools have proved effective in establishing major
causes of diseases like cholera and lung cancer,[12] but experience difficulty in regards to more subtle health issues
where causation is not as clear. Notably, conclusions drawn from observational studies may be reconsidered as later
data from randomized controlled trials becomes available, as was the case with the association between the use of
hormone replacement therapy and cardiac risk.[15]
Epidemiology
24
Types of studies
Case series
Case-series may refer to the qualititative study of the experience of a single patient, or small group of patients with a
similar diagnosis, or to a statistical technique comparing periods during which patients are exposed to some factor
with the potential to produce illness with periods when they are unexposed.
The former type of study is purely descriptive and cannot be used to make inferences about the general population of
patients with that disease. These types of studies, in which an astute clinician identifies an unusual feature of a
disease or a patient's history, may lead to formulation of a new hypothesis. Using the data from the series, analytic
studies could be done to investigate possible causal factors. These can include case control studies or prospective
studies. A case control study would involve matching comparable controls without the disease to the cases in the
series. A prospective study would involve following the case series over time to evaluate the disease's natural
history.[19]
Epidemiology
25
The latter type, more formally described as self-controlled case-series studies, divide individual patient follow-up
time into exposed and unexposed periods and use fixed-effects Poisson regression processes to compare the
incidence rate of a given outcome between exposed and unexposed periods. This technique has been extensively
used in the study of adverse reactions to vaccination, and has been shown in some circumstances to provide
statistical power comparable to that available in cohort studies.
Cases
Controls
Unexposed C
Exposed
If the OR is clearly greater than 1, then the conclusion is "those with the disease are more likely to have been
exposed," whereas if it is close to 1 then the exposure and disease are not likely associated. If the OR is far less than
one, then this suggests that the exposure is a protective factor in the causation of the disease.
Case control studies are usually faster and more cost effective than cohort studies, but are sensitive to bias (such as
recall bias and selection bias). The main challenge is to identify the appropriate control group; the distribution of
exposure among the control group should be representative of the distribution in the population that gave rise to the
cases. This can be achieved by drawing a random sample from the original population at risk. This has as a
consequence that the control group can contain people with the disease under study when the disease has a high
attack rate in a population.
Cohort studies
Cohort studies select subjects based on their exposure status. The study subjects should be at risk of the outcome
under investigation at the beginning of the cohort study; this usually means that they should be disease free when the
cohort study starts. The cohort is followed through time to assess their later outcome status. An example of a cohort
study would be the investigation of a cohort of smokers and non-smokers over time to estimate the incidence of lung
cancer. The same 2x2 table is constructed as with the case control study. However, the point estimate generated is
the Relative Risk (RR), which is the probability of disease for a person in the exposed group, Pe=A/(A+B) over
the probability of disease for a person in the unexposed group, P =C/(C+D), i.e. RR=P /P .
u
Epidemiology
26
.....
Case
Non case
Total
(A+B)
Unexposed C
(C+D)
Exposed
As with the OR, a RR greater than 1 shows association, where the conclusion can be read "those with the exposure
were more likely to develop disease."
Prospective studies have many benefits over case control studies. The RR is a more powerful effect measure than the
OR, as the OR is just an estimation of the RR, since true incidence cannot be calculated in a case control study where
subjects are selected based on disease status. Temporality can be established in a prospective study, and confounders
are more easily controlled for. However, they are more costly, and there is a greater chance of losing subjects to
follow-up based on the long time period over which the cohort is followed.
Outbreak investigation
For information on investigation of infectious disease outbreaks, please see outbreak investigation.
Systematic error
A systematic error or bias occurs when there is a difference between the true value (in the population) and the
observed value (in the study) from any cause other than sampling variability. An example of systematic error is if,
unbeknown to you, the pulse oximeter you are using is set incorrectly and adds two points to the true value each time
a measurement is taken. The measuring device could be precise but not accurate. Because the error happens in every
instance, it is systematic. Conclusions you draw based on that data will still be incorrect. But the error can be
reproduced in the future (e.g., by using the same mis-set instrument).
A mistake in coding that affects all responses for that particular question is another example of a systematic error.
Epidemiology
27
The validity of a study is dependent on the degree of systematic error. Validity is usually separated into two
components:
Internal validity is dependent on the amount of error in measurements, including exposure, disease, and the
associations between these variables. Good internal validity implies a lack of error in measurement and suggests
that inferences may be drawn at least as they pertain to the subjects under study.
External validity pertains to the process of generalizing the findings of the study to the population from which the
sample was drawn (or even beyond that population to a more universal statement). This requires an understanding
of which conditions are relevant (or irrelevant) to the generalization. Internal validity is clearly a prerequisite for
external validity.
Three types of bias
Selection bias
Selection bias is one of three types of bias that can threaten the validity of a study. Selection bias occurs when study
subjects are selected or become part of the study as a result of a third, unmeasured variable which is associated with
both the exposure and outcome of interest.[20]
Examples of selection bias are volunteer bias (the opposite of which is non-response bias)[21] in which participants
and non participants differ in terms of exposure and outcome. For instance, it has repeatedly been noted that cigarette
smokers and non smokers tend to differ in their study participation rates. (Sackett D cites the example of Seltzer et
al., in which 85% of non smokers and 67% of smokers returned mailed questionnaires)[21] It is important to note that
such a difference in response will not lead to bias if it is not also associated with a systematic difference in outcome
between the two response groups.
Confounding
Confounding has traditionally been defined as bias arising from the co-occurrence or mixing of effects of extraneous
factors, referred to as confounders, with the main effect(s) of interest.[22] [23] A more recent definition of
confounding invokes the notion of counterfactual effects.[23] According to this view, when one observes an outcome
of interest, say Y=1 (as opposed to Y=0), in a given population A which is entirely exposed (i.e. exposure X=1 for
every unit of the population) the risk of this event will be RA1. The counterfactual or unobserved risk RA0
corresponds to the risk which would have been observed if these same individuals had been unexposed (i.e. X=0 for
every unit of the population). The true effect of exposure therefore is: RA1 - RA0 (if one is interested in risk
differences) or RA1/RA0 (if one is interested in relative risk). Since the counterfactual risk RA0 is unobservable we
approximate it using a second population B and we actually measure the following relations: RA1 - RB0 or RA1/RB0.
In this situation, confounding occurs when RA0 RB0.[23]
(NB: Example assumes binary outcome and exposure variables.)
Information bias
Information bias is bias arising from systematic error in the assessment of a variable.[22] An example of this is recall
bias. A typical example is again provided by Sackett in his discussion of a study examining the effect of specific
exposures on fetal health: "in questioning mothers whose recent pregnancies had ended in fetal death or
malformation (cases) and a matched group of mothers whose pregnancies ended normally (controls) it was found
that 28%; of the former, but only 20%,; of the latter, reported exposure to drugs which could not be substantiated
either in earlier prospective interviews or in other health records".[21] In this example, recall bias probably occurred
as a result of women who had had miscarriages having an apparent tendency to better recall and therefore report
previous exposures.
Epidemiology
28
Journals
A list of journals:[24]
General journals:
Specialty journals:
[30]
Areas
By physiology/disease:
By methodological approach:
Environmental epidemiology
Economic epidemiology
Clinical epidemiology
Conflict epidemiology
Cognitive epidemiology
Genetic epidemiology
Molecular epidemiology
Nutritional epidemiology
Social epidemiology
Lifecourse epidemiology
Epi methods development / Biostatistics
Meta-analysis
Spatial epidemiology
Tele-epidemiology
Biomarker epidemiology
Pharmacoepidemiology
Primary care epidemiology
Infection control and hospital epidemiology
Public Health practice epidemiology
Surveillance epidemiology (Clinical surveillance)
Disease Informatics
Epidemiology
29
References
Notes
[1] Nutter, Jr., F.W. (1999). "Understanding the interrelationships between botanical, human, and veterinary epidemiology: the Ys and Rs of it
all". Ecosys Health 5 (3): 13140. doi:10.1046/j.1526-0992.1999.09922.x.
[2] Hippocrates. (~200BC). Airs, Waters, Places.
[3] Carol Buck, Alvaro Llopis, Enrique Njera, Milton Terris. (1998). The Challenge of Epidemiology: Issues and Selected Readings. Scientific
Publication No. 505. Pan American Health Organization. Washington, DC. p3.
[4] Alfredo Morabia (2004). A history of epidemiologic methods and concepts (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=E-OZbEmPSTkC&
pg=PA93& dq& hl=en#v=onepage& q=& f=false). Birkhuser. p.93. ISBN3764368187. .
[5] Ray M. Merrill (2010). Introduction to Epidemiology (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=RMDBh6gw1_UC& pg=PA24& dq&
hl=en#v=onepage& q=& f=false). Jones & Bartlett Learning. p.24. ISBN0763766224. .
[6] "Changing Concepts: Background to Epidemiology" (http:/ / www. duncan-associates. com/ changing_concepts. pdf). Duncan & Associates. .
Retrieved 2008-02-03.
[7] Plato. "The Republic" (http:/ / classics. mit. edu/ Plato/ republic. 4. iii. html). The Internet Classic Archive. . Retrieved 2008-02-03.
[8] "A Dissertation on the Origin and Foundation of the Inequality of Mankind" (http:/ / www. constitution. org/ jjr/ ineq_03. htm). Constitution
Society. .
[9] Swift, Jonathan. "Gulliver's Travels: Part IV. A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms" (http:/ / www. jaffebros. com/ lee/ gulliver/ bk4/
chap4-7. html). . Retrieved 2008-02-03.
[10] lf Gararsdttir; Loftur Guttormsson (June 2008). "An isolated case of early medical intervention. The battle against neonatal tetanus in
the island of Vestmannaeyjar (Iceland) during the 19th century" (http:/ / ftp. ieg. csic. es/ workshop/ pdf/ olofpaper. pdf). Instituto de
Economa y Geografa. . Retrieved 2011-04-19.
[11] lf Gararsdttir; Loftur Guttormsson (25 August 2009). "Public health measures against neonatal tetanus on the island of Vestmannaeyjar
(Iceland) during the 19th century". The History of the Family 14 (3): 26679. doi:10.1016/j.hisfam.2009.08.004.
[12] Hill, Austin Bradford (1965). "The environment and disease: association or causation?" (http:/ / www. edwardtufte. com/ tufte/ hill).
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine 58: 295300. PMC1898525. PMID14283879. .
[13] Phillips, Carl V.; Karen J. Goodman (October 2004). "The missed lessons of Sir Austin Bradford Hill" (http:/ / www. epi-perspectives. com/
content/ 1/ 1/ 3). Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations 1 (3): 3. doi:10.1186/1742-5573-1-3. PMC524370. PMID15507128. .
[14] Green, Michael D.; D. Michal Freedman, and Leon Gordis (PDF). Reference Guide on Epidemiology (http:/ / www. fjc. gov/ public/ pdf.
nsf/ lookup/ sciman06. pdf/ $file/ sciman06. pdf). Federal Judicial Centre. . Retrieved 2008-02-03.
[15] Gabriel Sanchez R, Sanchez Gomez LM, Carmona L, Roqu i Figuls M, Bonfill Cosp X. Hormone replacement therapy for preventing
cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD002229. DOI:
10.1002/14651858.CD002229.pub2
[16] Smetanin, P.; P. Kobak (October 2005). "Interdisciplinary Cancer Risk Management: Canadian Life and Economic Impacts". 1st
International Cancer Control Congress (http:/ / www. cancercontrol2005. com).
[17] Smetanin, P.; P. Kobak (July 2006). "A Population-Based Risk Management Framework for Cancer Control" (http:/ / www. riskanalytica.
com/ Library/ Papers/ Population Based Risk Management Framework for Cancer Control. pdf) (PDF). The International Union Against
Cancer Conference (http:/ / www. 2006conferences. org/ u-index. php). .
[18] Smetanin, P.; P. Kobak (July 2005). "Selected Canadian Life and Economic Forecast Impacts of Lung Cancer" (http:/ / www. riskanalytica.
com/ Library/ Papers/ Canadian Lung Cancer Abstract Jan 2005. pdf) (PDF). 11th World Conference on Lung Cancer. .
[19] Hennekens, Charles H.; Julie E. Buring (1987). Mayrent, Sherry L. (Ed.). ed. Epidemiology in Medicine. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
ISBN978-0316356367.
[20] (http:/ / journals. lww. com/ epidem/ Fulltext/ 2004/ 09000/ A_Structural_Approach_to_Selection_Bias. 20. aspx) 23
[21] (http:/ / www. epidemiology. ch/ history/ PDF bg/ Sackett DL 1979 bias in analytic research. pdf) 24
[22] Special:BookSources/0195135547 21
[23] (http:/ / www. annualreviews. org/ doi/ full/ 10. 1146/ annurev. publhealth. 22. 1. 189) 22
[24] "Epidemiologic Inquiry: Impact Factors of leading epidemiology journals" (http:/ / www. epidemiologic. org/ 2006/ 10/
impact-factors-of-epidemiology-and. html). Epidemiologic.org. . Retrieved 2008-02-03.
[25] http:/ / www. cjeb. ca/
[26] http:/ / epirev. oxfordjournals. org
[27] http:/ / jech. bmj. com
[28] http:/ / www. epi-perspectives. com
[29] http:/ / www. eurosurveillance. org
[30] http:/ / cebp. aacrjournals. org
[31] http:/ / www. blackwellpublishing. com/ journal. asp?ref=0269-5022
[32] http:/ / eu. wiley. com/ WileyCDA/ WileyTitle/ productCd-PDS. html
[33] http:/ / www. elsevier. com/ wps/ find/ journaldescription. cws_home/ 622934/ description#description
Epidemiology
30
Bibliography
Clayton, David and Michael Hills (1993) Statistical Models in Epidemiology Oxford University Press. ISBN
0-19-852221-5
Last JM (2001). "A dictionary of epidemiology", 4th edn, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 5th. edn (2008),
edited by Miquel Porta (http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/Medicine/
EpidemiologyBiostatistics/?view=usa&ci=9780195314502)
Morabia, Alfredo. ed. (2004) A History of Epidemiologic Methods and Concepts. Basel, Birkhauser Verlag. Part
I. (http://books.google.es/books?id=Hgnnhu1ym-8C&dq=Morabia,+Alfredo.+ed.+(2004)+A+History+
of+Epidemiologic+Methods&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=es&ei=U4ARSvbaEJGUjAew8LnCBg&
sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4) (http://www.springer.com/public+health/book/
978-3-7643-6818-0)
Smetanin P., Kobak P., Moyer C., Maley O (2005) "The Risk Management of Tobacco Control Research Policy
Programs" The World Conference on Tobacco OR Health Conference, July 1215, 2006 in Washington DC.
Szklo MM & Nieto FJ (2002). "Epidemiology: beyond the basics", Aspen Publishers, Inc.
Rothman, Kenneth, Sander Greenland and Timothy Lash (2008). "Modern Epidemiology", 3rd Edition,
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0781755646, ISBN 978-0781755641
Rothman, Kenneth (2002). "Epidemiology. An introduction", Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195135547, ISBN
978-0195135541
External links
Biostatistics
31
Biostatistics
Biostatistics (a contraction of biology and statistics; sometimes referred to as biometry or biometrics) is the
application of statistics to a wide range of topics in biology. The science of biostatistics encompasses the design of
biological experiments, especially in medicine and agriculture; the collection, summarization, and analysis of data
from those experiments; and the interpretation of, and inference from, the results.
Biostatistics
32
the bare minimum to very close collaboration. In general, the difference between a statistics program and a
biostatistics one is twofold: (i) statistics departments will often host theoretical/methodological research which are
less common in biostatistics programs and (ii) statistics departments have lines of research that may include
biomedical applications but also other areas such as industry (quality control), business and economics and
biological areas other than medicine.
Applications of biostatistics
Public health, including epidemiology, health services research, nutrition, and environmental health
Design and analysis of clinical trials in medicine
Population genetics, and statistical genetics in order to link variation in genotype with a variation in phenotype.
This has been used in agriculture to improve crops and farm animals (animal breeding). In biomedical research,
this work can assist in finding candidates for gene alleles that can cause or influence predisposition to disease in
human genetics
Analysis of genomics data, for example from microarray or proteomics experiments.[3] [4] Often concerning
diseases or disease stages.[5]
Ecology, ecological forecasting
Biological sequence analysis [6]
Systems biology for gene network inference or pathways analysis.[7]
Statistical methods are beginning to be integrated into medical informatics, public health informatics, bioinformatics
and computational biology.
Biostatistics journals
Biometrics
Biometrika
Biostatistics
International Journal of Biostatistics, The
Canadian Journal of Epidemiology and Biostatistics [25]
Biostatistics
33
Related fields
Biostatistics shares several methods with quantitative fields such as:
computational biology
computer science,
operations research,
psychometrics,
statistics,
econometrics, and
mathematical demography
References
[1] Charles T. Munger (2003-10-03). "Academic Economics: Strengths and Faults After Considering Interdisciplinary Needs" (http:/ / www.
tilsonfunds. com/ MungerUCSBspeech. pdf). .
[2] "Spotlight:application of quantitative concepts and techniques in undergraduate biology" (http:/ / www. reinventioncenter. miami. edu/
Spotlights/ BioMath. htm). .
[3] Helen Causton, John Quackenbush and Alvis Brazma (2003). "Statistical Analysis of Gene Expression Microarray Data". Wiley-Blackwell.
[4] Terry Speed (2003). "Microarray Gene Expression Data Analysis: A Beginner's Guide". Chapman & Hall/CRC.
[5] Frank Emmert-Streib and Matthias Dehmer (2010). "Medical Biostatistics for Complex Diseases". Wiley-Blackwell.
[6] Warren J. Ewens and Gregory R. Grant (2004). "Statistical Methods in Bioinformatics: An Introduction". Springer.
[7] Matthias Dehmer, Frank Emmert-Streib, Armin Graber and Armindo Salvador (2011). "Applied Statistics for Network Biology: Methods in
Systems Biology". Wiley-Blackwell.
External links
The International Biometric Society (http://www.tibs.org)
The Collection of Biostatistics Research Archive (http://www.biostatsresearch.com/repository/)
Guide to Biostatistics (MedPageToday.com) (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Medpage-Guide-to-Biostatistics.
pdf)
Journals
Molecular biology
34
Molecular biology
Molecular biology (pronounced/mlkjlr .../) is the branch of biology that deals with the molecular basis of
biological activity. This field overlaps with other areas of biology and chemistry, particularly genetics and
biochemistry. Molecular biology chiefly concerns itself with understanding and the interactions between the various
systems of a cell, including the interactions between the different types of DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis as
well as learning how these interactions are regulated.
Writing in Nature in 1961, William Astbury described molecular biology as
not so much a technique as an approach, an approach from the viewpoint of the so-called basic sciences with
the leading idea of searching below the large-scale manifestations of classical biology for the corresponding
molecular plan. It is concerned particularly with the forms of biological molecules and [...] is predominantly
three-dimensional and structuralwhich does not mean, however, that it is merely a refinement of
morphology. It must at the same time inquire into genesis and function.[1]
Molecular biology
35
Increasingly many other loops of biology focus on molecules, either directly studying their interactions in their own
right such as in cell biology and developmental biology, or indirectly, where the techniques of molecular biology are
used to infer historical attributes of populations or species, as in fields in evolutionary biology such as population
genetics and phylogenetics. There is also a long tradition of studying biomolecules "from the ground up" in
biophysics.
Expression cloning
One of the most basic techniques of molecular biology to study protein function is expression cloning. In this
technique, DNA coding for a protein of interest is cloned (using PCR and/or restriction enzymes) into a plasmid
(known as an expression vector). A vector has 3 distinctive features: an origin of replication, a multiple cloning site
(MCS), and a selective marker (usually antibiotic resistence). The origin of replication will have promoter regions
upstream the replication/transcription start site.
This plasmid can be inserted into either bacterial or animal cells. Introducing DNA into bacterial cells can be done
by transformation (via uptake of naked DNA), conjugation (via cell-cell contact) or by transduction (via viral
vector). Introducing DNA into eukaryotic cells, such as animal cells, by physical or chemical means is called
transfection. Several different transfection techniques are available, such as calcium phosphate transfection,
electroporation, microinjection and liposome transfection. DNA can also be introduced into eukaryotic cells using
viruses or bacteria as carriers, the latter is sometimes called bactofection and in particular uses Agrobacterium
tumefaciens. The plasmid may be integrated into the genome, resulting in a stable transfection, or may remain
independent of the genome, called transient transfection.
In either case, DNA coding for a protein of interest is now inside a cell, and the protein can now be expressed. A
variety of systems, such as inducible promoters and specific cell-signaling factors, are available to help express the
protein of interest at high levels. Large quantities of a protein can then be extracted from the bacterial or eukaryotic
cell. The protein can be tested for enzymatic activity under a variety of situations, the protein may be crystallized so
its tertiary structure can be studied, or, in the pharmaceutical industry, the activity of new drugs against the protein
can be studied.
Molecular biology
36
Gel electrophoresis
Gel electrophoresis is one of the principal tools of molecular biology. The basic principle is that DNA, RNA, and
proteins can all be separated by means of an electric field. In agarose gel electrophoresis, DNA and RNA can be
separated on the basis of size by running the DNA through an agarose gel. Proteins can be separated on the basis of
size by using an SDS-PAGE gel, or on the basis of size and their electric charge by using what is known as a 2D gel
electrophoresis.
Molecular biology
37
labeled with enzymes. When a chemiluminescent substrate is exposed to the enzyme it allows detection. Using
western blotting techniques allows not only detection but also quantitative analysis.
Analogous methods to western blotting can be used to directly stain specific proteins in live cells or tissue sections.
However, these immunostaining methods, such as FISH, are used more often in cell biology research.
Eastern blotting
Eastern blotting technique is to detect post-translational modification of proteins.[3] Proteins blotted on to the PVDF
or nitrocellulose membrane are probed for modifications using specific substrates.
Arrays
A DNA array is a collection of spots attached to a solid support such as a microscope slide where each spot contains
one or more single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide fragment. Arrays make it possible to put down a large quantities
of very small (100 micrometre diameter) spots on a single slide. Each spot has a DNA fragment molecule that is
complementary to a single DNA sequence (similar to Southern blotting). A variation of this technique allows the
gene expression of an organism at a particular stage in development to be qualified (expression profiling). In this
technique the RNA in a tissue is isolated and converted to labeled cDNA. This cDNA is then hybridized to the
fragments on the array and visualization of the hybridization can be done. Since multiple arrays can be made with
exactly the same position of fragments they are particularly useful for comparing the gene expression of two
different tissues, such as a healthy and cancerous tissue. Also, one can measure what genes are expressed and how
that expression changes with time or with other factors. For instance, the common baker's yeast, Saccharomyces
cerevisiae, contains about 7000 genes; with a microarray, one can measure qualitatively how each gene is expressed,
and how that expression changes, for example, with a change in temperature. There are many different ways to
fabricate microarrays; the most common are silicon chips, microscope slides with spots of ~ 100 micrometre
diameter, custom arrays, and arrays with larger spots on porous membranes (macroarrays). There can be anywhere
from 100 spots to more than 10,000 on a given array.
Arrays can also be made with molecules other than DNA. For example, an antibody array can be used to determine
what proteins or bacteria are present in a blood sample.
Molecular biology
38
Antiquated technologies
In molecular biology, procedures and technologies are continually being developed and older technologies
abandoned. For example, before the advent of DNA gel electrophoresis (agarose or polyacrylamide), the size of
DNA molecules was typically determined by rate sedimentation in sucrose gradients, a slow and labor-intensive
technique requiring expensive instrumentation; prior to sucrose gradients, viscometry was used.
Aside from their historical interest, it is often worth knowing about older technology, as it is occasionally useful to
solve another new problem for which the newer technique is inappropriate.
History
While molecular biology was established in the 1930s, the term was first coined by Warren Weaver in 1938. Warren
was the director of Natural Sciences for the Rockefeller Foundation at the time and believed that biology was about
to undergo a period of significant change given recent advances in fields such as X-ray crystallography. He therefore
channeled significant amounts of (Rockefeller Institute) money into biological fields.
Clinical significance
Clinical research and medical therapies arising from molecular biology are covered under gene therapy
References
[1] Astbury, W.T. (1961). "Molecular Biology or Ultrastructural Biology?" (http:/ / www. nature. com/ nature/ journal/ v190/ n4781/ pdf/
1901124a0. pdf) (PDF). Nature 190 (4781): 1124. doi:10.1038/1901124a0. PMID13684868. . Retrieved 2008-08-04.
[2] Thomas, P.S. (1980). "Hybridization of denatured RNA and small DNA fragments transferred to nitrocellulose". PNAS 77 (9): 52015.
doi:10.1073/pnas.77.9.5201. ISSN1091-6490. PMC350025. PMID6159641.
[3] Thomas S, Thirumalapura N, Crossley EC, Ismail N, and Walker DH (2009). Antigenic protein modifications in Ehrlichia. Parasite
Immunology 31, 296-303. (http:/ / www3. interscience. wiley. com/ journal/ 121641379/ abstract)
Cohen, S.N., Chang, A.C.Y., Boyer, H. & Heling, R.B. Construction of biologically functional bacterial plasmids
in vitro. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 70, 3240 3244 (1973).
Rodgers, M. The Pandora's box congress. Rolling Stone 189, 37 77 (1975).
Further reading
Keith Roberts, Martin Raff, Bruce Alberts, Peter Walter, Julian Lewis and Alexander Johnson, Molecular Biology
of the Cell
4th Edition, Routledge, March, 2002, hardcover, 1616 pages, 7.6 pounds, ISBN 0-8153-3218-1
3rd Edition, Garland, 1994, ISBN 0-8153-1620-8
2nd Edition, Garland, 1989, ISBN 0-8240-3695-6
External links
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Biology/
Biochemistry_and_Molecular_Biology/) at the Open Directory Project
Genetics
39
Genetics
Genetics (from Ancient Greek genetikos, "genitive" and that from genesis, "origin"),[1]
discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms.[4] [5]
[2] [3]
Genetics deals with the molecular structure and function of genes, with gene behavior in the context of a cell or
organism (e.g. dominance and epigenetics), with patterns of inheritance from parent to offspring, and with gene
distribution, variation and change in populations. Given that genes are universal to living organisms, genetics can be
applied to the study of all living systems, from viruses and bacteria, through plants (especially crops) and domestic
animals, to humans (as in medical genetics).
The fact that living things inherit traits from their parents has been used since prehistoric times to improve crop
plants and animals through selective breeding. However, the modern science of genetics, which seeks to understand
the process of inheritance, only began with the work of Gregor Mendel in the mid-19th century.[6] Although he did
not know the physical basis for heredity, Mendel observed that organisms inherit traits via discrete units of
inheritance, which are now called genes.
Genes correspond to regions within DNA, a molecule composed of a chain of four different types of
nucleotidesthe sequence of these nucleotides is the genetic information organisms inherit. DNA naturally occurs in
a double stranded form, with nucleotides on each strand complementary to each other. Each strand can act as a
template for creating a new partner strand. This is the physical method for making copies of genes that can be
inherited.
The sequence of nucleotides in a gene is translated by cells to produce a chain of amino acids, creating proteinsthe
order of amino acids in a protein corresponds to the order of nucleotides in the gene. This relationship between
nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence is known as the genetic code. The amino acids in a protein determine
how it folds into a three-dimensional shape; this structure is, in turn, responsible for the protein's function. Proteins
carry out almost all the functions needed for cells to live. A change to the DNA in a gene can change a protein's
amino acids, changing its shape and function: this can have a dramatic effect in the cell and on the organism as a
whole.
Although genetics plays a large role in the appearance and behavior of organisms, it is the combination of genetics
with what an organism experiences that determines the ultimate outcome. For example, while genes play a role in
determining an organism's size, the nutrition and health it experiences after inception also have a large effect.
Genetics
40
History
Although the science of genetics began with the applied and theoretical work of Gregor
Mendel in the mid-19th century, other theories of inheritance preceded Mendel. A
popular theory during Mendel's time was the concept of blending inheritance: the idea
that individuals inherit a smooth blend of traits from their parents. Mendel's work
disproved this, showing that traits are composed of combinations of distinct genes
rather than a continuous blend. Another theory that had some support at that time was
the inheritance of acquired characteristics: the belief that individuals inherit traits
strengthened by their parents. This theory (commonly associated with Jean-Baptiste
Lamarck) is now known to be wrongthe experiences of individuals do not affect the
genes they pass to their children.[7] Other theories included the pangenesis of Charles
Darwin (which had both acquired and inherited aspects) and Francis Galton's
reformulation of pangenesis as both particulate and inherited.[8]
The importance of Mendel's work did not gain wide understanding until the 1890s, after
his death, when other scientists working on similar problems re-discovered his research.
[10] [11]
(The adjective genetic,
William Bateson, a proponent of Mendel's work, coined the word genetics in 1905.
derived from the Greek word genesis, "origin", predates the noun and was first used in a biological sense
in 1860.)[12] Bateson popularized the usage of the word genetics to describe the study of inheritance in his inaugural
address to the Third International Conference on Plant Hybridization in London, England, in 1906.[13]
After the rediscovery of Mendel's work, scientists tried to determine which molecules in the cell were responsible for
inheritance. In 1910, Thomas Hunt Morgan argued that genes are on chromosomes, based on observations of a
sex-linked white eye mutation in fruit flies.[14] In 1913, his student Alfred Sturtevant used the phenomenon of
genetic linkage to show that genes are arranged linearly on the chromosome.[15]
Genetics
41
Molecular genetics
Although genes were known to exist on chromosomes, chromosomes
are composed of both protein and DNAscientists did not know
which of these is responsible for inheritance. In 1928, Frederick
Griffith discovered the phenomenon of transformation (see Griffith's
experiment): dead bacteria could transfer genetic material to
"transform" other still-living bacteria. Sixteen years later, in 1944,
Oswald Theodore Avery, Colin McLeod and Maclyn McCarty
identified the molecule responsible for transformation as DNA.[16] The
Morgan's observation of sex-linked inheritance of
a mutation causing white eyes in Drosophila led
him to the hypothesis that genes are located upon
chromosomes.
Genetics
42
Features of inheritance
Discrete inheritance and Mendel's laws
At its most fundamental level, inheritance in organisms occurs by
means of discrete traits, called genes.[24] This property was first
observed by Gregor Mendel, who studied the segregation of heritable
traits in pea plants.[9] [25] In his experiments studying the trait for
flower color, Mendel observed that the flowers of each pea plant were
either purple or whitebut never an intermediate between the two
colors. These different, discrete versions of the same gene are called
alleles.
In the case of pea, which is a diploid species, each individual plant has
two alleles of each gene, one allele inherited from each parent.[26]
Many species, including humans, have this pattern of inheritance.
Diploid organisms with two copies of the same allele of a given gene
are called homozygous at that gene locus, while organisms with two
different alleles of a given gene are called heterozygous.
The set of alleles for a given organism is called its genotype, while the observable traits of the organism are called its
phenotype. When organisms are heterozygous at a gene, often one allele is called dominant as its qualities dominate
the phenotype of the organism, while the other allele is called recessive as its qualities recede and are not observed.
Some alleles do not have complete dominance and instead have incomplete dominance by expressing an
intermediate phenotype, or codominance by expressing both alleles at once.[27]
When a pair of organisms reproduce sexually, their offspring randomly inherit one of the two alleles from each
parent. These observations of discrete inheritance and the segregation of alleles are collectively known as Mendel's
first law or the Law of Segregation.
family tree.
Genetics
43
Many traits are not discrete features (e.g. purple or white flowers) but
are instead continuous features (e.g. human height and skin color). These complex traits are products of many
genes.[31] The influence of these genes is mediated, to varying degrees, by the environment an organism has
[32]
experienced. The degree to which an organism's genes contribute to a complex trait is called heritability.
Measurement of the heritability of a trait is relativein a more variable environment, the environment has a bigger
influence on the total variation of the trait. For example, human height is a trait with complex causes. It has a
heritability of 89% in the United States. In Nigeria, however, where people experience a more variable access to
good nutrition and health care, height has a heritability of only 62%.[33]
Genetics
44
Genes are arranged linearly along long chains of DNA base-pair sequences. In bacteria, each cell usually contains a
single circular genophore, while eukaryotic organisms (including plants and animals) have their DNA arranged in
multiple linear chromosomes. These DNA strands are often extremely long; the largest human chromosome, for
example, is about 247 million base pairs in length.[37] The DNA of a chromosome is associated with structural
proteins that organize, compact, and control access to the DNA, forming a material called chromatin; in eukaryotes,
chromatin is usually composed of nucleosomes, segments of DNA wound around cores of histone proteins.[38] The
full set of hereditary material in an organism (usually the combined DNA sequences of all chromosomes) is called
the genome.
While haploid organisms have only one copy of each chromosome, most animals and many plants are diploid,
containing two of each chromosome and thus two copies of every gene.[26] The two alleles for a gene are located on
identical loci of sister chromatids, each allele inherited from a different parent.
Genetics
45
Many species have so called sex chromosomes. They are special in that
they determine the sex of the organism.[39] In humans and many other
animals, the Y-chromosome contains the gene that triggers the
development of the specifically male characteristics. In evolution, this
chromosome has lost most of its content and also most of its genes,
while the X chromosome is similar to the other chromosomes and
contains many genes. The X and Y chromosomes form a very
heterogeneous pair before cell division.
Reproduction
When cells divide, their full genome is copied and each daughter cell
inherits one copy. This process, called mitosis, is the simplest form of
reproduction and is the basis for asexual reproduction. Asexual
reproduction can also occur in multicellular organisms, producing
offspring that inherit their genome from a single parent. Offspring that
are genetically identical to their parents are called clones.
Eukaryotic organisms often use sexual reproduction to generate
offspring that contain a mixture of genetic material inherited from two
different parents. The process of sexual reproduction alternates
between forms that contain single copies of the genome (haploid) and
double copies (diploid).[26] Haploid cells fuse and combine genetic material to create a diploid cell with paired
chromosomes. Diploid organisms form haploids by dividing, without replicating their DNA, to create daughter cells
that randomly inherit one of each pair of chromosomes. Most animals and many plants are diploid for most of their
lifespan, with the haploid form reduced to single cell gametes such as sperm or eggs.
Although they do not use the haploid/diploid method of sexual reproduction, bacteria have many methods of
acquiring new genetic information. Some bacteria can undergo conjugation, transferring a small circular piece of
DNA to another bacterium.[40] Bacteria can also take up raw DNA fragments found in the environment and integrate
them into their genomes, a phenomenon known as transformation.[41] These processes result in horizontal gene
transfer, transmitting fragments of genetic information between organisms that would be otherwise unrelated.
Genetics
46
Gene expression
Genetic code
This messenger RNA molecule is then used to produce a corresponding amino acid sequence through a process
called translation. Each group of three nucleotides in the sequence, called a codon, corresponds either to one of the
twenty possible amino acids in a protein or an instruction to end the amino acic sequence; this correspondence is
called the genetic code.[44] The flow of information is unidirectional: information is transferred from nucleotide
sequences into the amino acid sequence of proteins, but it never transfers from protein back into the sequence of
DNAa phenomenon Francis Crick called the central dogma of molecular biology.[45]
Genetics
47
colderlegs, ears, tail, and faceand so the cat has dark fur at its extremities.
Environment also plays a dramatic role in effects of the human genetic disease phenylketonuria.[50] The mutation
that causes phenylketonuria disrupts the ability of the body to break down the amino acid phenylalanine, causing a
toxic build-up of an intermediate molecule that, in turn, causes severe symptoms of progressive mental retardation
and seizures. If someone with the phenylketonuria mutation follows a strict diet that avoids this amino acid,
Genetics
48
Gene regulation
The genome of a given organism contains thousands of genes, but not all these genes need to be active at any given
moment. A gene is expressed when it is being transcribed into mRNA (and translated into protein), and there exist
many cellular methods of controlling the expression of genes such that proteins are produced only when needed by
the cell. Transcription factors are regulatory proteins that bind to the start of genes, either promoting or inhibiting the
transcription of the gene.[52] Within the genome of Escherichia coli bacteria, for example, there exists a series of
genes necessary for the synthesis of the amino acid tryptophan. However, when tryptophan is already available to the
cell, these genes for tryptophan synthesis are no longer needed. The presence of tryptophan directly affects the
activity of the genestryptophan molecules bind to the tryptophan repressor (a transcription factor), changing the
repressor's structure such that the repressor binds to the genes. The tryptophan repressor blocks the transcription and
expression of the genes, thereby creating negative feedback regulation of the tryptophan synthesis process.[53]
Within eukaryotes there exist structural features of chromatin that influence the
transcription of genes, often in the form of modifications to DNA and chromatin
that are stably inherited by daughter cells.[54] These features are called "epigenetic" because they exist "on top" of
the DNA sequence and retain inheritance from one cell generation to the next. Because of epigenetic features,
different cell types grown within the same medium can retain very different properties. Although epigenetic features
are generally dynamic over the course of development, some, like the phenomenon of paramutation, have
multigenerational inheritance and exist as rare exceptions to the general rule of DNA as the basis for inheritance.[55]
Genetics
49
Genetic change
Mutations
During the process of DNA replication, errors occasionally occur in the
polymerization of the second strand. These errors, called mutations, can have an
impact on the phenotype of an organism, especially if they occur within the
protein coding sequence of a gene. Error rates are usually very low1 error in
every 10100million basesdue to the "proofreading" ability of DNA
polymerases.[56] [57] (Without proofreading error rates are a thousandfold higher;
because many viruses rely on DNA and RNA polymerases that lack proofreading
ability, they experience higher mutation rates.) Processes that increase the rate of
changes in DNA are called mutagenic: mutagenic chemicals promote errors in
DNA replication, often by interfering with the structure of base-pairing, while
UV radiation induces mutations by causing damage to the DNA structure.[58]
Chemical damage to DNA occurs naturally as well, and cells use DNA repair
mechanisms to repair mismatches and breaks in DNAnevertheless, the repair
sometimes fails to return the DNA to its original sequence.
Genetics
50
Population genetics studies the distribution of genetic differences
within populations and how these distributions change over time.[61]
Changes in the frequency of an allele in a population are mainly
influenced by natural selection, where a given allele provides a
selective or reproductive advantage to the organism,[62] as well as other
factors such as mutation, genetic drift, genetic draft[63] , artificial
selection and migration.[64]
Genetics
51
Medicine
Medical genetics seeks to understand how genetic variation relates to human health and disease.[69] When searching
for an unknown gene that may be involved in a disease, researchers commonly use genetic linkage and genetic
pedigree charts to find the location on the genome associated with the disease. At the population level, researchers
take advantage of Mendelian randomization to look for locations in the genome that are associated with diseases, a
method especially useful for multigenic traits not clearly defined by a single gene.[70] Once a candidate gene is
found, further research is often done on the corresponding gene (called an orthologous gene) in model organisms. In
addition to studying genetic diseases, the increased availability of genotyping methods has led to the field of
pharmacogeneticsstudying how genotype can affect drug responses.[71]
Individuals differ in their inherited tendency to develop cancer,[72] and cancer is a genetic disease.[73] The process of
cancer development in the body is a combination of events. Mutations occasionally occur within cells in the body as
they divide. Although these mutations will not be inherited by any offspring, they can affect the behavior of cells,
sometimes causing them to grow and divide more frequently. There are biological mechanisms that attempt to stop
this process; signals are given to inappropriately dividing cells that should trigger cell death, but sometimes
additional mutations occur that cause cells to ignore these messages. An internal process of natural selection occurs
within the body and eventually mutations accumulate within cells to promote their own growth, creating a cancerous
tumor that grows and invades various tissues of the body.
Research methods
DNA can be manipulated in the laboratory. Restriction enzymes are commonly used enzymes that cut DNA at
specific sequences, producing predictable fragments of DNA.[74] DNA fragments can be visualized through use of
gel electrophoresis, which separates fragments according to their length.
The use of ligation enzymes allows DNA fragments to be connected, and by ligating fragments of DNA together
from different sources, researchers can create recombinant DNA. Often associated with genetically modified
organisms, recombinant DNA is commonly used in the context of plasmidsshort circular DNA fragments with a
few genes on them. By inserting plasmids into bacteria and growing those bacteria on plates of agar (to isolate clones
of bacteria cells), researchers can clonally amplify the inserted fragment of DNA (a process known as molecular
cloning). (Cloning can also refer to creating clonal organisms, by various means.)
DNA can also be amplified using a procedure called the polymerase
chain reaction (PCR).[75] By using specific short sequences of DNA,
PCR can isolate and exponentially amplify a targeted region of DNA.
Because it can amplify from extremely small amounts of DNA, PCR is
also often used to detect the presence of specific DNA sequences.
Genetics
52
Human Genome Project in 2003.[23] New high-throughput sequencing technologies are dramatically lowering the
cost of DNA sequencing, with many researchers hoping to bring the cost of resequencing a human genome down to
a thousand dollars.[78]
The large amount of sequence data available has created the field of genomics, research that uses computational
tools to search for and analyze patterns in the full genomes of organisms. Genomics can also be considered a
subfield of bioinformatics, which uses computational approaches to analyze large sets of biological data.
Notes
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References
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, and Walter P (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th ed.).
New York: Garland Science. ISBN0-8153-3218-1.
Griffiths, William M.; Miller, Jeffrey H.; Suzuki, David T. et al., eds (2000). An Introduction to Genetic Analysis
(7th ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman. ISBN0-7167-3520-2.
Hartl D, Jones E (2005). Genetics: Analysis of Genes and Genomes (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.
ISBN0-7637-1511-5.
Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky LS, Matsudaira P, Baltimore D, and Darnell J (2000). Molecular Cell Biology (4th
ed.). New York: Scientific American Books. ISBN0-7167-3136-3.
External links
Genetics (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00547md) on In Our Time at the BBC. ( listen now (http://
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/p00547md/In_Our_Time_Genetics))
Genetics (http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Biology/Genetics/) at the Open Directory Project
Cell biology
Cell biology (formerly cytology, from the Greek kytos, "container") is a scientific discipline that studies cells their
physiological properties, their structure, the organelles they contain, interactions with their environment, their life
cycle, division and death. This is done both on a microscopic and molecular level. Cell biology research
encompasses both the great diversity of single-celled organisms like bacteria and protozoa, as well as the many
specialized cells in multicellular organisms such as humans.
Knowing the components of cells and how cells work is fundamental to all biological sciences. Appreciating the
similarities and differences between cell types is particularly important to the fields of cell and molecular biology as
well as to biomedical fields such as cancer research and developmental biology. These fundamental similarities and
differences provide a unifying theme, sometimes allowing the principles learned from studying one cell type to be
extrapolated and generalized to other cell types. Therefore, research in cell biology is closely related to genetics,
biochemistry, molecular biology, immunology, and developmental biology.
Cell biology
56
Processes
Movement of proteins
Each type of protein is usually sent to a particular part of the cell. An
important part of cell biology is the investigation of molecular
mechanisms by which proteins are moved to different places inside
cells or secreted from cells.
Most proteins are synthesized by ribosomes in the cytoplasm. This
process is known as protein biosynthesis. Biosynthesis (also called
biogenesis) is an enzyme-catalyzed process in cells of living organisms
by which substrates are converted to more complex products (also
simply known as protein translation). Some proteins, such as those to
be incorporated in membranes (known as membrane proteins), are
transported into the "rough" endoplasmic reticulum (ER) during
synthesis. This process can be followed by transportation and
Endothelial cells under the microscope. Nuclei
are stained blue with DAPI, microtubles are
processing in the Golgi apparatus. From the Golgi, membrane proteins
marked green by an antibody and actin filaments
can move to the plasma membrane, to other sub-cellular compartments,
are labelled red with phalloidin.
or they can be secreted from the cell. The ER and Golgi can be thought
of as the "membrane protein synthesis compartment" and the
"membrane protein processing compartment", respectively. There is a semi-constant flux of proteins through these
compartments. ER and Golgi-resident proteins associate with other proteins but remain in their respective
compartments. Other proteins "flow" through the ER and Golgi to the plasma membrane. Motor proteins transport
membrane protein-containing vesicles along cytoskeletal tracks to distant parts of cells such as axon terminals.
Some proteins that are made in the cytoplasm contain structural features that target them for transport into
mitochondria or the nucleus. Some mitochondrial proteins are made inside mitochondria and are coded for by
mitochondrial DNA. In plants, chloroplasts also make some cell proteins.
Extracellular and cell surface proteins destined to be degraded can move back into intracellular compartments upon
being incorporated into endocytosed vesicles some of which fuse with lysosomes where the proteins are broken
Cell biology
57
down to their individual amino acids. The degradation of some membrane proteins begins while still at the cell
surface when they are cleaved by secretases. Proteins that function in the cytoplasm are often degraded by
proteasomes.
Electron micrograph.
Nucleus - holds most of the DNA of eukaryotic cells and controls all cellular activities
Organelle - term used for major subcellular structures
Ribosome - RNA and protein complex required for protein synthesis in cells
Vesicle - small membrane-bounded spheres inside cells
Cell biology
58
DNA microarrays identify changes in transcript levels between different experimental conditions.
Gene knockdown mutates a selected gene.
In situ hybridization shows which cells are expressing a particular RNA transcript.
PCR can be used to determine how many copies of a gene are present in a cell.
Transfection introduces a new gene into a cell, usually an expression construct
Purification of cells and their parts Purification may be performed using the following methods:
Cell fractionation
Release of cellular organelles by disruption of cells.
Separation of different organelles by centrifugation.
Flow cytometry
Immunoprecipitation
Proteins extracted from cell membranes by detergents and salts or other kinds of chemicals.
Cell biology
59
References
Cell and Molecular Biology by Karp 5th Ed., ISBN 0471465801
This article incorporates public domain material from the NCBI document "Science Primer" [2].
[1] Cristianini, N. and Hahn, M. Introduction to Computational Genomics (http:/ / www. computational-genomics. net/ ), Cambridge University
Press, 2006. (ISBN 9780521671910 | ISBN 0521671914)
[2] http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ About/ primer/ index. html
External links
Cell Centered Database (http://ccdb.ucsd.edu/sand/main?event=showMPByType&typeid=0&start=1&pl=y)
Cell Biology (http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Biology/Cell_Biology/) at the Open Directory Project
Endocrinology
60
Endocrinology
Endocrinologist
Occupation
Names
Type
Specialty
Activity sectors
Medicine
Description
Education required
Endocrinology (from Greek , endo, "within"; , krn, "to separate"; and -, -logia) is a branch of
biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the
integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation (including histogenesis and
organogenesis) and the coordination of metabolism, respiration, excretion, movement, reproduction, and sensory
perception depend on chemical cues, substances synthesized and secreted by specialized cells.
Endocrinology is concerned with the study of the biosynthesis, storage, chemistry, Physiological function of
hormones and Pathology with the cells of the endocrine glands and tissues that secrete them.
The endocrine system consists of several glands, all and in different parts of the body, that secrete hormones directly
into the blood rather than into a duct system. Hormones have many different functions and modes of action; one
hormone may have several effects on different target organs, and, conversely, one target organ may be affected by
more than one hormone.
In the original 1902 definition by Bayliss and Starling (see below), they specified that, to be classified as a hormone,
a chemical must be produced by an organ, be released (in small amounts) into the blood, and be transported by the
blood to a distant organ to exert its specific function. This definition holds for most "classical" hormones, but there
are also paracrine mechanisms (chemical communication between cells within a tissue or organ), autocrine signals (a
chemical that acts on the same cell), and intracrine signals (a chemical that acts within the same cell).[1] A
neuroendocrine signal is a "classical" hormone that is released into the blood by a neurosecretory neuron (see article
on neuroendocrinology).
Hormones act by binding to specific receptors in the target organ. As Baulieu notes, a receptor has at least two basic
constituents:
a recognition site, to which the hormone binds
an effector site, which precipitates the modification of cellular function.[2]
Between these is a "transdu | background color = white | image1 = Cortisol2.svg | width1 = 150 | caption1 = Cortisol
| image2 = Cholecalciferol.svg | width2 = 150 | caption2 = Vitamin D3 }} Griffin and Ojeda identify three different
classes of hormone based on their chemical composition:[3]
Endocrinology
61
Amines
Amines, such as norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, are derived from single amino acids, in this case
tyrosine. Thyroid hormones such as 3,5,3-triiodothyronine (T3) and 3,5,3,5-tetraiodothyronine (thyroxine, T4)
make up a subset of this class because they derive from the combination of two iodinated tyrosine amino acid
residues.
Steroid
Steroid hormones are converted from their parent compound, cholesterol. Mammalian steroid hormones can be
grouped into five groups by the receptors to which they bind: glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens,
estrogens, and progestagens.
Endocrinology
62
symptoms in 1840, while earlier reports of the disease were also published by the Italians Giuseppe Flajani and
Antonio Giuseppe Testa, in 1802 and 1810 respectively,[12] and by the English physician Caleb Hillier Parry (a
friend of Edward Jenner) in the late 18th century.[13]
In 1902 Bayliss and Starling performed an experiment in which they observed that acid instilled into the duodenum
caused the pancreas to begin secretion, even after they had removed all nervous connections between the two.[14]
The same response could be produced by injecting extract of jejunum mucosa into the jugular vein, showing that
some factor in the mucosa was responsible. They named this substance "secretin" and coined the term hormone for
chemicals that act in this way.
Von Mering and Minkowski made the observation in 1889 that removing the pancreas surgically led to an increase
in blood sugar, followed by a coma and eventual deathsymptoms of diabetes mellitus. In 1922, Banting and Best
realized that homogenizing the pancreas and injecting the derived extract reversed this condition.[15] The hormone
responsible, insulin, was not discovered until Frederick Sanger sequenced it in 1953.
Neurohormones were first identified by Otto Loewi in 1921.[16] He incubated a frog's heart (innervated with its
vagus nerve attached) in a saline bath, and left in the solution for some time. The solution was then used to bathe a
non-innervated second heart. If the vagus nerve on the first heart was stimulated, negative inotropic (beat amplitude)
and chronotropic (beat rate) activity were seen in both hearts. This did not occur in either heart if the vagus nerve
was not stimulated. The vagus nerve was adding something to the saline solution. The effect could be blocked using
atropine, a known inhibitor to heart vagal nerve stimulation. Clearly, something was being secreted by the vagus
nerve and affecting the heart. The "vagusstuff" (as Loewi called it) causing the myotropic (muscle enhancing) effects
was later identified to be acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Loewi won the Nobel Prize for his discovery.
Recent work in endocrinology focuses on the molecular mechanisms responsible for triggering the effects of
hormones. The first example of such work being done was in 1962 by Earl Sutherland. Sutherland investigated
whether hormones enter cells to evoke action, or stayed outside of cells. He studied norepinephrine, which acts on
the liver to convert glycogen into glucose via the activation of the phosphorylase enzyme. He homogenized the liver
into a membrane fraction and soluble fraction (phosphorylase is soluble), added norepinephrine to the membrane
fraction, extracted its soluble products, and added them to the first soluble fraction. Phosphorylase activated,
indicating that norepinephrine's target receptor was on the cell membrane, not located intracellularly. He later
identified the compound as cyclic AMP (cAMP) and with his discovery created the concept of
second-messenger-mediated pathways. He, like Loewi, won the Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work in
endocrinology.[17]
Endocrinology as a profession
Although every organ system secretes and responds to hormones (including the brain, lungs, heart, intestine, skin,
and the kidney), the clinical specialty of endocrinology focuses primarily on the endocrine organs, meaning the
organs whose primary function is hormone secretion. These organs include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries,
testes, and pancreas.
An endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in treating disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes,
hyperthyroidism, and many others (see list of diseases below).
Endocrinology
63
Work
The medical specialty of endocrinology involves the diagnostic evaluation of a wide variety of symptoms and
variations and the long-term management of disorders of deficiency or excess of one or more hormones.
The diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases are guided by laboratory tests to a greater extent than for most
specialties. Many diseases are investigated through excitation/stimulation or inhibition/suppression testing. This
might involve injection with a stimulating agent to test the function of an endocrine organ. Blood is then sampled to
assess the changes of the relevant hormones or metabolites. An endocrinologist needs extensive knowledge of
clinical chemistry and biochemistry to understand the uses and limitations of the investigations.
A second important aspect of the practice of endocrinology is distinguishing human variation from disease. Atypical
patterns of physical development and abnormal test results must be assessed as indicative of disease or not.
Diagnostic imaging of endocrine organs may reveal incidental findings called incidentalomas, which may or may not
represent disease.
Endocrinology involves caring for the person biology as well as the nucleus the enzymes as well as the disease. Most
endocrine disorders are chronic diseases that need life-long care. Some of the most common endocrine diseases
include diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and the metabolic syndrome. Care of diabetes, obesity and other chronic
diseases necessitates understanding the patient at the personal and social level as well as the molecular, and the
physicianpatient relationship can be an important therapeutic process.
Apart from treating patients, many endocrinologists are involved in clinical science and medical research, teaching,
and hospital management.
Training
There are roughly 4,000 endocrinologists in the United States. Endocrinologists are specialists of internal medicine
or pediatrics. Reproductive endocrinologists deal primarily with problems of fertility and menstrual functionoften
training first in obstetrics. Most qualify as an internist, pediatrician, or gynecologist for a few years before
specializing, depending on the local training system. In the U.S. and Canada, training for board certification in
internal medicine, pediatrics, or gynecology after medical school is called residency. Further formal training to
subspecialize in adult, pediatric, or reproductive endocrinology is called a fellowship. Typical training for a North
American endocrinologist involves 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency, and 2 years of
fellowship. Adult endocrinologists are board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) in
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.
Professional organizations
In North America the principal professional organizations of endocrinologists include The Endocrine Society,[18] the
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists,[19] the American Diabetes Association,[20] the Lawson Wilkins
Pediatric Endocrine Society,[21] and the American Thyroid Association.[22]
In the United Kingdom, the Society for Endocrinology[23] and the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and
Diabetes[24] are the main professional organisations. The European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology[25] is the
largest international professional association dedicated solely to paediatric endocrinology. There are numerous
similar associations around the world.
Endocrinology
64
Patient education
Because endocrinology encompasses so many conditions and diseases, there are many organizations that provide
education to patients and the public. The Hormone Foundation is the public education affiliate of The Endocrine
Society and provides information on all endocrine-related conditions. Other educational organizations that focus on
one or more endocrine-related conditions include the American Diabetes Association, National Osteoporosis
Foundation, Human Growth Foundation, American Menopause Foundation, Inc., and Thyroid Foundation of
America.
Diseases
See main article at Endocrine diseases
A disease due to a disorder of the endocrine system is often called a "hormone imbalance", but is technically known
as an endocrinopathy or endocrinosis. Such disease can be treated by reducing the hormone which has become
imbalanced.
In popular culture
Lisa Cuddy, a character on the television show House M.D.
Elliot Reid, a character who becomes an expert in the field in the Scrubs episode "My Way Home"
Naomi Bennett, a character on the television show Private Practice who did her residency in Obstetrics and
Gynecology and her fellowship in Reproductive endocrinology and infertility
References
[1] Nussey S, Whitehead S (2001). Endocrinology: An Integrated Approach. Oxford: Bios Scientific Publ.. ISBN1-85996-252-1.
[2] Kelly, Paul; Baulieu, Etienne-Emile (1990). Hormones: from molecules to disease. Paris: Hermann. ISBN2-7056-6030-5.
[3] Ojeda, Sergio R.; Griffin, James Bennett (2000). Textbook of endocrine physiology (4th ed.). Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press.
ISBN0-19-513541-5.
[4] Temple, Robert. The Genius of China.pp. 141, 142. ISBN 9781594772177.
[5] Berthold AA (1849). "Transplantation der Hoden". Arch. Anat. Phsiol. Wiss. Med. 16: 426.
[6] David K, Dingemanse E, Freud J et al. (1935). "Uber krystallinisches mannliches Hormon aus Hoden (Testosteron) wirksamer als aus harn
oder aus Cholesterin bereitetes Androsteron". Hoppe Seylers Z Physiol Chem 233: 281.
[7] Freeman ER, Bloom DA, McGuire EJ (2001). "A brief history of testosterone". J. Urol. 165 (2): 3713.
doi:10.1097/00005392-200102000-00004. PMID11176375.
[8] Nabipour, I. (2003). "Clinical Endocrinology in the Islamic Civilization in Iran". International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 1:
4345 [445].
[9] Basedow's syndrome or disease (http:/ / www. whonamedit. com/ synd. cfm/ 1517. html) at Who Named It? - the history and naming of the
disease
[10] Ljunggren, J. G. (August 10, 1983). "Who was the man behind the syndrome: Ismail al-Jurjani, Testa, Flagani, Parry, Graves or Basedow?
Use the term hyperthyreosis instead". Lakartidningen 80 (3233): 2902. PMID6355710.
[11] Robert James Graves (http:/ / www. whonamedit. com/ doctor. cfm/ 695. html) at Who Named It?
[12] Giuseppe Flajani (http:/ / www. whonamedit. com/ doctor. cfm/ 1471. html) at Who Named It?
[13] Hull G (1998). "Caleb Hillier Parry 1755-1822: a notable provincial physician". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 91 (6): 3358.
PMC1296785. PMID9771526.
[14] Bayliss WM, Starling EH. The mechanism of pancreatic secretion. J Physiol 1902;28:325352.
[15] Bliss M (1989). "J. J. R. Macleod and the discovery of insulin". Q J Exp Physiol 74 (2): 8796. PMID2657840.
[16] Loewi, O. Uebertragbarkeit der Herznervenwirkung. Pfluger's Arch. ges Physiol. 1921;189:239-42.
[17] Sutherland EW (1972). "Studies on the mechanism of hormone action" (http:/ / www. sciencemag. org/ cgi/ pmidlookup?view=long&
pmid=4339614). Science 177 (4047): 4018. Bibcode1972Sci...177..401S. doi:10.1126/science.177.4047.401. PMID4339614. .
[18] The Endocrine Society (http:/ / www. endo-society. org)
[19] Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (http:/ / www. aace. com)
[20] American Diabetes Association (http:/ / www. diabetes. org)
[21] Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (http:/ / www. lwpes. org)
[22] American Thyroid Association (http:/ / www. thyroid. org)
Endocrinology
65
External links
Endocrinology (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/books/bv.fcgi?call=bv.View..ShowTOC&rid=endocrin.
TOC&depth=1) (British online textbook)
Endotext (http://www.endotext.org) (American online textbook)
Useful Endocrinology Resources for Residents (http://www.endocrinology.med.ucla.edu/resident.htm)
Endocrinology journals from Elsevier (http://www.intl.elsevierhealth.com/endocrinology/journals.cfm)
Endocrinology news updates from Elsevier (http://www.clinicalendocrinologynewsupdate.com)
MeSH Endocrinology (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/cgi/mesh/2011/MB_cgi?mode=&term=Endocrinology)
The Hormone Foundation (http://www.hormone.org)
Endocrinology Center medical in Thailand (http://www.vejthani.com/web-english/index-english.php)
General pathology
General pathology, also called investigative pathology, experimental pathology or theoretical pathology, is a
broad and complex scientific field which seeks to understand the mechanisms of injury to cells and tissues, as well as
the body's means of responding to and repairing injury. Areas of study include cellular adaptation to injury, necrosis,
inflammation, wound healing and neoplasia. It forms the foundation of pathology, the application of this knowledge
to diagnose diseases in humans and animals.
The term "general pathology" is also used to describe the practice of both anatomical and clinical pathology.
Adaptation to injury
Disease processes may be incited or exacerbated by a variety of external and internal influences, including trauma,
infection, poisoning, loss of blood flow, autoimmunity, inherited or acquired genetic damage, or errors of
development. One common theme in pathology is the way in which the body's responses to injury, while evolved to
protect health, can also contribute in some ways to disease processes.[1]
Cells and tissues may respond to injury and stress by specific mechanisms, which may vary according to the cell
types and nature of the injury. In the short term, cells may activate specific genetic programs to protect their vital
proteins and organelles from heat shock or hypoxia, and may activate DNA repair pathways to repair damage to
chromosomes from radiation or chemicals. Hyperplasia is a long-term adaptive response of cell division and
multiplication, which can increase the ability of a tissue to compensate for an injury. For example, repeated irritation
to the skin can cause a protective thickening due to hyperplasia of the epidermis. Hypertrophy is an increase in the
size of cells in a tissue in response to stress, an example being hypertrophy of muscle cells in the heart in response to
General pathology
66
increased resistance to blood flow as a result of narrowing of the heart's outflow valve. Metaplasia occurs when
repeated damage to the cellular lining of an organ triggers its replacement by a different cell type.[1]
Cell death
Necrosis is the irreversible destruction of cells as a result of severe injury in a setting where the cell is unable to
activate the needed metabolic pathways for survival or orderly degeneration. This is often due to external pathologic
factors, such as toxins or loss of oxygen supply. Milder stresses may lead to a process called reversible cell injury,
which mimics the cell swelling and vacuolization seen early in the necrotic process, but in which the cell is able to
adapt and survive. In necrosis, the components of degenerating cells leak out, potentially contributing to
inflammation and further damage. Apoptosis, in contrast, is a regulated, orderly degeneration of the cell which
occurs in the settings of both injury and normal physiological processes.[1]
Inflammation
Inflammation is a particularly important and complex
reaction to tissue injury, and is particularly important in
fighting infection. Acute inflammation is generally a
non-specific response triggered by the injured tissue
cells themselves, as well as specialized cells of the
innate immune system and previously developed
adaptive immune mechanisms. A localized acute
inflammatory response triggers vascular changes in the
injured area, recruits pathogen-fighting neutrophils, and
begins the process of developing a new adaptive
immune response. Chronic inflammation occurs when
the acute response fails to entirely clear the inciting
factor. While chronic inflammation can lay a positive
role in containing a continuing infectious hazard, it can
also lead to progressive tissue damage, as well as
predisposing (in some cases) to the development of
cancer.[1]
Tissue repair
Tissue repair, as seen in wound healing, is triggered by inflammation. The process may proceed even before the
resolution of a precipitating insult, through the formation of granulation tissue. Healing involves the proliferation of
connective tissue cells and blood vessel-forming cells as a result of hormonal growth signals. While healing is a
critical adaptive response, an aberrant healing response can lead to progressive fibrosis, contractures, or other
changes which can compromise function.[1]
Neoplasia
Neoplasia, or "new growth," is a proliferation of cells which is independent of any physiological process. The most
familiar examples of neoplasia are benign tumors and cancers. Neoplasia results from genetic changes which cause
cells to activate genetic programs inappropriately. Dysplasia is an early sign of a neoplastic process in a tissue, and is
marked by persistence of immature, poorly differentiated cell forms. Interestingly, there are many similarities in the
gene pathways activated in cancer cells, and those activated in cells involved in wound healing and inflammation.[1]
General pathology
67
Choristoma
Choristoma, ectopic tissue, heterotopic tissue, or aberrant tissue, is a mass of histologically normal tissue that is
present in an abnormal location.[2]
References
[1] Ramzi Cotran, Vinay Kumar, Tucker Collins (1999). Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, Sixth Edition. W.B. Saunders. ISBN072167335X.
[2] MeSH classification C23.300.250 (http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ cgi/ mesh/ 2007/ MB_cgi?mode=& term=Pathological+ Conditions,+ Signs+
and+ Symptoms& field=entry#TreeC23) (pathological conditions, signs and symptoms
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all
organisms.[1] It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and disease;
malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune
deficiency, transplant rejection); the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the
immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Immunology has applications in several disciplines of science, and as
such is further divided.
Classical immunology
Classical immunology ties in with the fields of epidemiology and medicine. It studies the relationship between the
body systems, pathogens, and immunity. The earliest written mention of immunity can be traced back to the plague
of Athens in 430 BCE. Thucydides noted that people who had recovered from a previous bout of the disease could
nurse the sick without contracting the illness a second time. Many other ancient societies have references to this
phenomenon, but it was not until the 19th and 20th centuries before the concept developed into scientific theory.
The study of the molecular and cellular components that comprise the immune system, including their function and
interaction, is the central science of immunology. The immune system has been divided into a more primitive innate
immune system, and acquired or adaptive immune system of vertebrates, the latter of which is further divided into
humoral and cellular components.
The humoral (antibody) response is defined as the interaction between antibodies and antigens. Antibodies are
specific proteins released from a certain class of immune cells (B lymphocytes). Antigens are defined as anything
that elicits generation of antibodies, hence they are Antibody Generators. Immunology itself rests on an
understanding of the properties of these two biological entities. However, equally important is the cellular response,
which can not only kill infected cells in its own right, but is also crucial in controlling the antibody response. Put
simply, both systems are highly interdependent.
Immunology
68
In the 21st century, immunology has broadened its horizons with much research being performed in the more
specialized niches of immunology. This includes the immunological function of cells, organs and systems not
normally associated with the immune system, as well as the function of the immune system outside classical models
of immunity (Yemeserach 2010).
Clinical immunology
Clinical immunology is the study of diseases caused by disorders of the immune system (failure, aberrant action, and
malignant growth of the cellular elements of the system). It also involves diseases of other systems, where immune
reactions play a part in the pathology and clinical features.
The diseases caused by disorders of the immune system fall into two broad categories: immunodeficiency, in which
parts of the immune system fail to provide an adequate response (examples include chronic granulomatous disease),
and autoimmunity, in which the immune system attacks its own host's body (examples include systemic lupus
erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's disease and myasthenia gravis). Other immune system disorders
include different hypersensitivities, in which the system responds inappropriately to harmless compounds (asthma
and other allergies) or responds too intensely.
The most well-known disease that affects the immune system itself is AIDS, caused by HIV. AIDS is an
immunodeficiency characterized by the lack of CD4+ ("helper") T cells and macrophages, which are destroyed by
HIV.
Clinical immunologists also study ways to prevent transplant rejection, in which the immune system attempts to
destroy allografts os
Developmental immunology
The bodys capability to react to antigen depends on a person's age, antigen type, maternal factors and the area where
the antigen is presented.[2] Neonates are said to be in a state of physiological immunodeficiency, because both their
innate and adaptive immunological responses are greatly suppressed. Once born, a childs immune system responds
favorably to protein antigens while not as well to glycoproteins and polysaccharides. In fact, many of the infections
acquired by neonates are caused by low virulence organisms like Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. In neonates,
opsonic activity and the ability to activate the complement cascade is very limited. For example, the mean level of
C3 in a newborn is approximately 65% of that found in the adult. Phagocytic activity is also greatly impaired in
newborns. This is due to lower opsonic activity, as well as diminished up-regulation of integrin and selectin
receptors, which limit the ability of neutrophils to interact with adhesion molecules in the endothelium. Their
monocytes are slow and have a reduced ATP production, which also limits the newborns phagocytic activity.
Although, the number of total lymphocytes is significantly higher than in adults, the cellular and humoral immunity
is also impaired. Antigen presenting cells in newborns have a reduced capability to activate T cells. Also, T cells of a
newborn proliferate poorly and produce very small amounts of cytokines like IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12, and IFN-g
which limits their capacity to activate the humoral response as well as the phagocitic activity of macrophage. B cells
develop early in gestation but are not fully active.[3]
Maternal factors also play a role in the bodys immune response. At
birth most of the immunoglobulin is present is maternal IgG. Because
IgM, IgD, IgE and IgA dont cross the placenta, they are almost
undetectable at birth. Although some IgA is provided in breast milk.
These passively acquired antibodies can protect the newborn up to 18
months, but their response is usually short-lived and of low affinity.[3]
Immunology
69
These antibodies can also produce a negative response. If a child is exposed to the antibody for a particular antigen
before being exposed to the antigen itself then the child will produce a dampened response. Passively acquired
maternal antibodies can suppress the antibody response to active immunization. Similarly the response of T-cells to
vaccination differs in children compared to adults, and vaccines that induce Th1 responses in adults do not readily
elicit these same responses in neonates.[3] By 6-9 months after birth, a childs immune system begins to respond
more strongly to glycoproteins. Not until 12-24 months of age is there a marked improvement in the bodys response
to polysaccharides. This can be the reason for the specific time frames found in vaccination schedules.[4] [5]
During adolescence the human body undergoes several physical, physiological and immunological changes. These
changes are started and mediated by different hormones. Depending on the sex either testosterone or 17--oestradiol,
act on male and female bodies accordingly, start acting at ages of 12 and 10 years.[6] There is evidence that these
steroids act directly not only on the primary and secondary sexual characteristics, but also have an effect on the
development and regulation of the immune system.[7] There is an increased risk in developing autoimmunity for
pubescent and post pubescent females and males.[8] There is also some evidence that cell surface receptors on B cells
and macrophages may detect sex hormones in the system.[9] The female sex hormone 17--oestradiol has been
shown to regulate the level of immunological response.[10] Similarly, some male androgens, like testosterone, seem
to suppress the stress response to infection; but other androgens like DHEA have the opposite effect, as it increases
the immune response instead of down playing it.[11] As in females, the male sex hormones seem to have more
control of the immune system during puberty and the time right after than in fully developed adults. Other than
hormonal changes physical changes like the involution of the Thymus during puberty will also affect the
immunological response of the subject or patient.[12]
Immunotherapy
The use of immune system components to treat a disease or disorder is known as immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is
most commonly used in the context of the treatment of cancers together with chemotherapy (drugs) and radiotherapy
(radiation). However, immunotherapy is also often used in the immunosuppressed (such as HIV patients) and people
suffering from other immune deficiencies or autoimmune diseases.
Diagnostic immunology
The specificity of the bond between antibody and antigen has made it an excellent tool in the detection of substances
in a variety of diagnostic techniques. Antibodies specific for a desired antigen can be conjugated with a radiolabel,
fluorescent label, or color-forming enzyme and are used as a "probe" to detect it. However, the similarity between
some antigens can lead to false positives and other errors in such tests by antibodies cross-reacting with antigens that
aren't exact matches.[13]
Evolutionary immunology
Study of the immune system in extant species is capable of giving us a key understanding of the evolution of species
and the immune system.
A development of complexity of the immune system can be seen from simple phagocytotic protection of single
celled organisms, to circulating antimicrobial peptides in insects to lymphoid organs in vertebrates. However, it is
important to recognize that every organism living today has an immune system that has evolved to be absolutely
capable of protecting it from most forms of harm; those organisms that did not adapt their immune systems to
external threats are no longer around to be observed.
Insects and other arthropods, while not possessing true adaptive immunity, show highly evolved systems of innate
immunity, and are additionally protected from external injury (and exposure to pathogens) by their chitinous shells.
Immunology
70
Reproductive immunology
This area of the immunology is devoted to the study of immunological aspects of the reproductive process including
fetus acceptance. The term has also been used by fertility clinics to address fertility problems, recurrent miscarriages,
premature deliveries, and dangerous complications such as pre-eclampsia.
Immunologist
Immunologist
Occupation
Type
Profession, Specialty
Activity sectors
Education required
[15]
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), "an immunologist is a
research scientist who investigates the immune system of vertebrates (including the human immune system).
Immunologists include research scientists (Ph.D.) who work in laboratories. Immunologists also include physicians
who, for example, treat patients with immune system disorders. Some immunologists are physician-scientists who
combine laboratory research with patient care."[14]
References
[1] Janeway's Immunobiology textbook (http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/ books/ bv. fcgi?rid=imm. TOC& depth=2) Searchable free online
version at the National Center for Biotechnology Information
[2] Goldsby RA, Kindt TK, Osborne BA and Kuby J (2003) Immunology, 5th Edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, New York,
ISBN 0-7167-4947-5
[3] Jaspan Heather, S.D Lawn; et al. "The maturing immune system: implications for development and testing HIV-1 vaccines for children and
adolescents" AIDS21 Mar. 2006, Vol 20 p.p 483-494.
[4] Glezen WP. Maternal vaccines. Prim Care 2001(28):791.
[5] Holt PG, Macaubas C, Cooper D, Nelson DJ, McWilliam AS. Th-1/Th-2 switch regulation in immune responses to inhaled antigens - role of
dendritic cells in the aetiology of allergic respiratory disease. Dendritic Cells in Fundamental and Clinical Immunology 1997; (3) (417)
301306.
[6] Sizonenko PC, Paunier L. Hormonal changes in puberty III: Correlation of plasma dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, FSH, and LH with
stages of puberty and bone age in normal boys and girls and in patients with Addison's disease or hypogonadism or with premature or late
adrenarche. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1975; 41:894904.
[7] Verthelyi D. Sex hormones as immunomodulators in health and disease. Int Immunopharmacol 2001; 1:983993.
[8] Stimson WH. Oestrogen and human T lymphocytes: presence of specific receptors in the T-suppressor/cytotoxic subset. Scand J Immunol
1998; 28:345350.
[9] Benten WPM, Stephan C, Wunderlich F. B cells express intracellular but not surface receptors for testosterone and estradiol. Steroids 2002;
67:647654.
[10] Beagley K, Gockel CM. Regulation of innate and adaptive immunity by the female sex hormones oestradiol and progesterone. FEMS
Immunol Med Microbiol 2003; 38:1322.
[11] Kanda N, Tamaki K. Estrogen enhances immunoglobulin production by human PBMCs. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999; 103:282288.
[12] McFarland RD, Douek DC, Koup RA, Picker LJ. Identification of a human recent thymic emigrant phenotype. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA
2000; 97:42154220.
[13] Miller JJ and Valdes R, Jr. Approaches to minimizing interference by cross-reacting molecules in immunoassays. Clin Chem 1991 37:
144-153.
Immunology
71
[14] "Office of Science Education - LifeWorks - Immunologist" (http:/ / science. education. nih. gov/ LifeWorks. nsf/ Alphabetical+ List/
Immunologist). . Retrieved 2009-09-10.
[15] "Immunologist | Bioscience Careers" (http:/ / www. aboutbioscience. org/ immunologist. html). . Retrieved 2009-09-10.
External links
Microbiology
Microbiology (from Greek , mkros, "small"; , bios, "life";
and -, -logia) is the study of microorganisms, which are
microscopic, unicellular, and cell-cluster organisms.[1] This includes
eukaryotes such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes. Viruses[2] and
prions, though not strictly classed as living organisms, are also studied.
Microbiology typically includes the study of the immune system, or
Immunology. Generally, immune systems interact with pathogenic
microbes; these two disciplines often intersect which is why many
colleges offer a paired degree such as "Microbiology and
Immunology".
Microbiology is a broad term which includes virology, mycology, parasitology, bacteriology and other branches. A
microbiologist is a specialist in microbiology and these other topics.
Microbiology is researched actively, and the field is advancing continually. It is estimated that only about one
percent of all of the microbe species on Earth have been studied.[3] Although microbes were directly observed over
three hundred years ago, the field of microbiology can be said to be in its infancy relative to older biological
disciplines such as zoology and botany.
History
Ancient
The existence of microorganisms was hypothesized for many centuries before their actual discovery. The existence
of unseen microbiological life was postulated by Jainism which is based on Mahaviras teachings as early as 6th
century BCE.[4] Paul Dundas notes that Mahavira asserted existence of unseen microbiological creatures living in
earth, water, air and fire.[5] Jain scriptures also describe nigodas which are sub-microscopic creatures living in large
clusters and having a very short life and are said to pervade each and every part of the universe, even in tissues of
plants and flesh of animals.[6] The Roman Marcus Terentius Varro made references to microbes when he warned
Microbiology
72
against locating a homestead in the vicinity of swamps "because there are bred certain minute creatures which cannot
be seen by the eyes, which float in the air and enter the body through the mouth and nose and there cause serious
diseases."[7]
In 1546 Girolamo Fracastoro proposed that epidemic diseases were caused by transferable seedlike entities that
could transmit infection by direct or indirect contact, or even without contact over long distances.
However, early claims about the existence of microorganisms were speculative, and not based on microscopic
observation. Actual observation and discovery of microbes had to await the invention of the microscope in the 17th
century.
Modern
In 1676, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek observed bacteria and other
microorganisms, using a single-lens microscope of his own design.[1]
While Van Leeuwenhoek is often cited as the first to observe microbes,
Robert Hooke made the first recorded microscopic observation, of the
fruiting bodies of molds, in 1665.[8] The first observation of microbes
using a microscope is generally credited to the Dutch draper and
haberdasher, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, who lived for most of his life
in Delft, Holland. It has, however, been suggested that a Jesuit priest
called Athanasius Kircher was the first to observe micro-organisms.[9]
He was among the first to design magic lanterns for projection
purposes, so he must have been well acquainted with the properties of
lenses.[9] One of his book contains a chapter in Latin, which reads in
translation Concerning the wonderful structure of things in nature,
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, was considered to be
investigated by Microscope. Here, he wrote who would believe that
the first to observe microorganisms using a
vinegar and milk abound with an innumerable multitude of worms. He
microscope.
also noted that putrid material is full of innumerable creeping
animalcule. These observations antedate Robert Hookes Micrographia
by nearly 20 years and were published some 29 years before van Leeuwenhoek saw protozoa and 37 years before he
described having seen bacteria.[9]
The field of bacteriology (later a subdiscipline of microbiology) was founded in the 19th century by Ferdinand Cohn,
a botanist whose studies on algae and photosynthetic bacteria led him to describe several bacteria including Bacillus
and Beggiatoa. Cohn was also the first to formulate a scheme for the taxonomic classification of bacteria and
discover spores.[10] Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch were contemporaries of Cohns and are often considered to be
the father of microbiology[9] and medical microbiology, respectively.[11] Pasteur is most famous for his series of
experiments designed to disprove the then widely held theory of spontaneous generation, thereby solidifying
microbiologys identity as a biological science.[12] Pasteur also designed methods for food preservation
(pasteurization) and vaccines against several diseases such as anthrax, fowl cholera and rabies.[1] Koch is best known
for his contributions to the germ theory of disease, proving that specific diseases were caused by specific pathogenic
micro-organisms. He developed a series of criteria that have become known as the Koch's postulates. Koch was one
of the first scientists to focus on the isolation of bacteria in pure culture resulting in his description of several novel
bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis.[1]
While Pasteur and Koch are often considered the founders of microbiology, their work did not accurately reflect the
true diversity of the microbial world because of their exclusive focus on micro-organisms having direct medical
relevance. It was not until the late 19th century and the work of Martinus Beijerinck and Sergei Winogradsky, the
founders of general microbiology (an older term encompassing aspects of microbial physiology, diversity and
ecology), that the true breadth of microbiology was revealed.[1] Beijerinck made two major contributions to
Microbiology
73
microbiology: the discovery of viruses and the development of enrichment culture techniques.[13] While his work on
the Tobacco Mosaic Virus established the basic principles of virology, it was his development of enrichment
culturing that had the most immediate impact on microbiology by allowing for the cultivation of a wide range of
microbes with wildly different physiologies. Winogradsky was the first to develop the concept of chemolithotrophy
and to thereby reveal the essential role played by micro-organisms in geochemical processes.[14] He was responsible
for the first isolation and description of both nitrifying and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.[1]
Branches
The branches of microbiology can be classified into pure and applied sciences.[15] Microbiology can be also
classified based on taxonomy, in the cases of bacteriology, mycology, protozoology, and phycology. There is
considerable overlap between the specific branches of microbiology with each other and with other disciplines.
Integrative arrangement
Microbial cytology: The study of microscopic and submicroscopic details of microorganisms.
Microbial physiology: The study of how the microbial cell functions biochemically. Includes the study of
microbial growth, microbial metabolism and microbial cell structure.
Microbial ecology: The relationship between microorganisms and their environment.
Microbial genetics: The study of how genes are organized and regulated in microbes in relation to their cellular
functions. Closely related to the field of molecular biology.
Cellular microbiology: A discipline bridging microbiology and cell biology.
Evolutionary microbiology: The study of the evolution of microbes. This field can be subdivided into:
Microbial taxonomy: The naming and classification of microorganisms.
Microbial systematics: The study of the diversity and genetic relationship of microorganisms.
Generation microbiology: The study of those microorganisms that have the same characters as their parents.
Other
Nano microbiology: The study of those microorganisms at nano level.
Exo microbiology (or Astro microbiology): The study of microorganisms in outer space.
Microbiology
74
Industrial microbiology: The exploitation of microbes for use in industrial processes. Examples include industrial
fermentation and wastewater treatment. Closely linked to the biotechnology industry. This field also includes
brewing, an important application of microbiology.
Microbial biotechnology: The manipulation of microorganisms at the genetic and molecular level to generate
useful products.
Food microbiology and Dairy microbiology: The study of microorganisms causing food spoilage and foodborne
illness. Using microorganisms to produce foods, for example by fermentation.
Agricultural microbiology: The study of agriculturally relevant microorganisms. This field can be further
classified into the following:
Plant microbiology and Plant pathology: The study of the interactions between microorganisms and plants and
plant pathogens.
Soil microbiology: The study of those microorganisms that are found in soil.
Veterinary microbiology: The study of the role in microbes in veterinary medicine or animal taxonomy.
Environmental microbiology: The study of the function and diversity of microbes in their natural environments.
This involves the characterization of key bacterial habitats such as the rhizosphere and phyllosphere, soil and
groundwater ecosystems, open oceans or extreme environments (extremophiles). This field includes other
branches of microbiology such as:
Microbial ecology
Microbially-mediated nutrient cycling
Geomicrobiology
Microbial diversity
Bioremediation
Water microbiology (or Aquatic microbiology): The study of those microorganisms that are found in water.
Aeromicrobiology (or Air microbiology): The study of airborne microorganisms.
Epidemiology: The study of the incidence, spread, and control of disease.
Benefits
Whilst there are undoubtedly some who fear all microbes due to the
association of some microbes with various human illnesses, many
microbes are also responsible for numerous beneficial processes such
as industrial fermentation (e.g. the production of alcohol, vinegar and
dairy products), antibiotic production and as vehicles for cloning in
more complex organisms such as plants. Scientists have also exploited
their knowledge of microbes to produce biotechnologically important
enzymes such as Taq polymerase, reporter genes for use in other
genetic systems and novel molecular biology techniques such as the
yeast two-hybrid system.
Bacteria can be used for the industrial production of amino acids. Corynebacterium glutamicum is one of the most
important bacterial species with an annual production of more than two million tons of amino acids, mainly
L-glutamate and L-lysine.[16]
A variety of biopolymers, such as polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides, are produced by microorganisms.
Microorganisms are used for the biotechnological production of biopolymers with tailored properties suitable for
high-value medical application such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. Microorganisms are used for the
biosynthesis of xanthan, alginate, cellulose, cyanophycin, poly(gamma-glutamic acid), levan, hyaluronic acid,
organic acids, oligosaccharides and polysaccharide, and polyhydroxyalkanoates.[17]
Microbiology
75
Microorganisms are beneficial for microbial biodegradation or bioremediation of domestic, agricultural and
industrial wastes and subsurface pollution in soils, sediments and marine environments. The ability of each
microorganism to degrade toxic waste depends on the nature of each contaminant. Since sites typically have multiple
pollutant types, the most effective approach to microbial biodegradation is to use a mixture of bacterial species and
strains, each specific to the biodegradation of one or more types of contaminants.[18]
There are also various claims concerning the contributions to human and animal health by consuming probiotics
(bacteria potentially beneficial to the digestive system) and/or prebiotics (substances consumed to promote the
growth of probiotic microorganisms).[19]
Recent research has suggested that microorganisms could be useful in the treatment of cancer. Various strains of
non-pathogenic clostridia can infiltrate and replicate within solid tumors. Clostridial vectors can be safely
administered and their potential to deliver therapeutic proteins has been demonstrated in a variety of preclinical
models.[20]
References
[1] Madigan M, Martinko J (editors) (2006). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN0-13-144329-1.
[2] Rice G (2007-03-27). "Are Viruses Alive?" (http:/ / serc. carleton. edu/ microbelife/ yellowstone/ viruslive. html). . Retrieved 2007-07-23.
[3] Amann RI, Ludwig W, Schleifer KH (1995). "Phylogenetic identification and in situ detection of individual microbial cells without
cultivation". Microbiol. Rev. 59 (1): 143169. PMC239358. PMID7535888.
[4] Mahavira is dated 599 BCE - 527 BC. See. Dundas, Paul; John Hinnels ed. (2002). The Jain. London: Routledge. ISBN0-415-26606-8. p. 24
[5] Dundas, Paul (2002) p. 88
[6] *Jaini, Padmanabh (1998). The Jaina Path of Purification. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN81-208-1578-5. p. 109
[7] Varro on Agriculture 1, xii Loeb.
[8] Gest H (2005). "The remarkable vision of Robert Hooke (1635-1703): first observer of the microbial world". Perspect. Biol. Med. 48 (2):
26672. doi:10.1353/pbm.2005.0053. PMID15834198.
[9] Wainwright, Milton (2003). An Alternative View of the Early History of Microbiology. 52. pp. 33355. doi:10.1016/S0065-2164(03)01013-X.
PMID12964250.
[10] Drews G (1999). "Ferdinand Cohn, among the Founder of Microbiology". ASM News 65 (8): 547.
[11] Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed.). McGraw Hill. ISBN0-8385-8529-9.
[12] Bordenave G (2003). "Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)". Microbes Infect. 5 (6): 55360. doi:10.1016/S1286-4579(03)00075-3. PMID12758285.
[13] Johnson J (2001). "Martinus Willem Beijerinck" (http:/ / www. apsnet. org/ Education/ feature/ TMV/ intro. html). APSnet. American
Phytopathological Society. . Retrieved May 2, 2010.
[14] Paustian T, Roberts G (2009). "Beijerinck and Winogradsky Initiate the Field of Environmental Microbiology" (http:/ / www.
microbiologytext. com/ index. php?module=Book& func=displayarticle& art_id=32). Through the Microscope: A Look at All Things Small
(3rd ed.). Textbook Consortia. 114. . Retrieved May 2, 2010.
[15] Pharmaceutical Microbiology Principles and Applications (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=VN9Oj2MKTkQC& pg=SA1-PA1).
Nirali Prakashan. pp.1.11.2. ISBN9788185790619. . Retrieved 18 June 2011.
[16] Burkovski A (editor). (2008). Corynebacteria: Genomics and Molecular Biology (http:/ / www. horizonpress. com/ cory). Caister Academic
Press. ISBN1904455301. . .
[17] Rehm BHA (editor). (2008). Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors: Applications and Perspectives (http:/ / www.
horizonpress. com/ biopolymers). Caister Academic Press. . .
[18] Diaz E (editor). (2008). Microbial Biodegradation: Genomics and Molecular Biology (http:/ / www. horizonpress. com/ biod) (1st ed.).
Caister Academic Press. ISBN1904455174. . .
[19] Tannock GW (editor). (2005). Probiotics and Prebiotics: Scientific Aspects (http:/ / www. horizonpress. com/ pro3). Caister Academic
Press. . .
[20] Mengesha et al. (2009). "Clostridia in Anti-tumor Therapy". Clostridia: Molecular Biology in the Post-genomic Era. Caister Academic
Press. ISBN978-1-904455-38-7.
Microbiology
76
External links
Microbiology (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007753d) on In Our Time at the BBC. ( listen now (http:/
/www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b007753d/In_Our_Time_Microbiology))
Bacteriology Made Easy | Medchrome (http://medchrome.com/basic-science/microbiology/bacteriology-easy/)
Online lectures in microbiology (http://media.med.sc.edu/microbiology2007/) University of South Carolina
Microbiology Online (http://www.ocean.edu/academics/programs_of_study/science/MicrobiologyOnline.
htm)
Online Microbiology textbook (http://www.microbiologytext.com/index.php?module=Book&func=toc&
book_id=4)
Online Medical Microbiology textbook (http://www.microbiologybook.org/)
Institute of Microbiology of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (http://www.micro.biol.ethz.ch/)
Annual Review of Microbiology (http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/loi/micro/)
Physiology
Physiology English pronunciation: /fzildi/ is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how
organisms, organ systems, organs, cells and biomolecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a
living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarded since
1901 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Many U.S. universities offer physiology as a major.[1]
Etymology
From Ancient Greek: - physis meaning "nature" or "origin" and - -logia meaning the "study of".
Human physiology
Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical and biochemical functions of humans in good health,
their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of
organs and systems within systems. Much of the foundation of knowledge in human physiology was provided by
animal experimentation. Physiology is closely related to anatomy; anatomy is the study of form, and physiology is
the study of function. Due to the frequent connection between form and function physiology and anatomy are
intrinsically linked and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.
History
The study of human physiology dates back to at least 420 B.C. and the time of Hippocrates, the father of medicine.[2]
Physiology was first recognized in the early 1960s. The critical thinking of Aristotle and his emphasis on the
relationship between structure and function marked the beginning of physiology in Ancient Greece, while Claudius
Galenus (c. 126-199 A.D.), known as Galen, was the first to use experiments to probe the function of the body.
Galen was the founder of experimental physiology.[3] The medical world moved on from Galenism only with the
appearance of Andreas Vesalius and William Harvey.[4]
During the Middle Ages, the ancient Greek and Indian medical traditions were further developed by Muslim
physicians. Notable work in this period was done by Avicenna (980-1037), author of the The Canon of Medicine,
and Ibn al-Nafis (12131288), among others.
Following from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance brought an increase of physiological research in the Western
world that triggered the modern study of anatomy and physiology. Andreas Vesalius was an author of one of the
Physiology
77
most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica.[5] Vesalius is often referred to as the founder
of modern human anatomy.[6] Anatomist William Harvey described the circulatory system in the 17th century,[7]
demonstrating the fruitful combination of close observations and careful experiments to learn about the functions of
the body, which was fundamental to the development of experimental physiology. Herman Boerhaave is sometimes
referred to as a father of physiology due to his exemplary teaching in Leiden and textbook Institutiones medicae
(1708).
In the 18th century, important works in this field were by Pierre Cabanis, a French doctor and physiologist.
In the 19th century, physiological knowledge began to accumulate at a rapid rate, particularly with the 1838
appearance of the Cell theory of Matthias Schleiden and Theodor Schwann. It radically stated that organisms are
made up of units called cells. Claude Bernard's (18131878) further discoveries ultimately led to his concept of
milieu interieur (internal environment), which would later be taken up and championed as "homeostasis" by
American physiologist Walter Cannon (18711945).
In the 20th century, biologists also became interested in how organisms other than human beings function,
eventually spawning the fields of comparative physiology and ecophysiology.[8] Major figures in these fields include
Knut Schmidt-Nielsen and George Bartholomew. Most recently, evolutionary physiology has become a distinct
subdiscipline.[9]
The biological basis of the study of physiology, integration refers to the overlap of many functions of the systems of
the human body, as well as its accompanied form. It is achieved through communication which occurs in a variety of
ways, both electrical and chemical.
In terms of the human body, the endocrine and nervous systems play major roles in the reception and transmission of
signals which integrate function. Homeostasis is a major aspect with regards to the interactions within an organism,
humans included.
References
[1] "The American Physiological Society - Departments and Programs (US)" (http:/ / www. the-aps. org/ sites/ us. htm). . Retrieved 2010-06-21.
( Non-US (http:/ / www. the-aps. org/ sites/ non-us. htm))
[2] "Physiology - History of physiology, Branches of physiology" (http:/ / www. scienceclarified. com/ Ph-Py/ Physiology. html).
Scienceclarified.com. . Retrieved 2010-08-29.
[3] Fell, C.; Griffith Pearson, F. (November 2007). "Thoracic Surgery Clinics: Historical Perspectives of Thoracic Anatomy" (http:/ / linkinghub.
elsevier. com/ retrieve/ pii/ S1547412706001034). Thorac Surg Clin 17 (4): 4438, v.. .
[4] "Galen" (http:/ / www. discoveriesinmedicine. com/ General-Information-and-Biographies/ Galen. html). Discoveriesinmedicine.com. .
Retrieved 2010-08-29.
[5] "Page through a virtual copy of Vesalius's ''De Humanis Corporis Fabrica''" (http:/ / archive. nlm. nih. gov/ proj/ ttp/ books. htm).
Archive.nlm.nih.gov. . Retrieved 2010-08-29.
[6] "Andreas Vesalius (1514-1567)" (http:/ / www. ingentaconnect. com/ content/ apl/ uivs/ 1999/ 00000012/ 00000003/ art00002?crawler=true).
Ingentaconnect.com. 1999-05-01. . Retrieved 2010-08-29.
[7] Zimmer, Carl (2004). "Soul Made Flesh: The Discovery of the Brain - and How It Changed the World". J Clin Invest 114 (5): 604604.
doi:10.1172/JCI22882.
[8] Feder, Martin E. (1987). New directions in ecological physiology. New York: Cambridge Univ. Press. ISBN9780521349383.
[9] Garland, Jr, Theodore; Carter, P. A. (1994). "Evolutionary physiology" (http:/ / www. biology. ucr. edu/ people/ faculty/ Garland/ GarlCa94.
pdf). Annual Review of Physiology (56): 579621. .
Physiology
78
External links
Developmental physiology (http://www.biol.unt.edu/developmentalphysiology/)
physiologyINFO.org (http://www.physiologyinfo.org/), a public information website sponsored by The
American Physiological Society
Physiwiki (http://www.physiwiki.wetpaint.com)
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology sample values
BMP/ELECTROLYTES:
Na+=140
BUN=20
Cl=100
/
Glu=150
CO2=22
K+=4
PCr=1.0
paCO2=40
paO2=95
pH=7.40
ALVEOLAR GAS:
pACO2=36
pAO2=105
A-a g=10
OTHER:
Ca=9.5
Mg2+=2.0
PO4=1
CK=55
BE=0.36
AG=16
SERUM OSMOLARITY/RENAL:
PMO = 300 PCO=295
POG=5
BUN:Cr=20
URINALYSIS:
UNa+=80
UCl=100
UAG=5
FENa=0.95
UK+=25
USG=1.01
UCr=60
UO=800
TP=7.6
AST=25
TBIL=0.7
ALP=71
Alb=4.0
ALT=40
BC=0.5
AST/ALT=0.6 BU=0.2
AF alb=3.0
SAAG=1.0
SOG=60
CSF:
Pathophysiology is the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either
caused by a disease, or resulting from an abnormal syndrome.[1] More formally, it is the branch of medicine which
deals with any disturbances of body functions, caused by disease or prodromal symptoms.
An alternative definition is "the study of the biological and physical manifestations of disease as they correlate with
the underlying abnormalities and physiological disturbances."[2]
Pathophysiology
79
The study of pathology and the study of pathophysiology often involves substantial overlap in diseases and
processes, but pathology emphasizes direct observations, while pathophysiology emphasizes quantifiable
measurements.
Examples
An example from the field of infectious disease would be the study of a toxin released by a bacterium, and what that
toxin does to the body to cause harm, one possible result being sepsis.
Another example is the study of the chemical changes that take place in body tissue due to inflammation. the
intersection of two older, related disciplines: (normal) physiology and pathology.
Physiology is the study of normal, healthy bodily function (as opposed to anatomy, which is the study of normal
structure). When something disrupts normal physiological processes, it enters the realm of pathophysiology.
Pathology, broadly speaking, is the "study of the nature and cause of disease."[3] or the results of disease in the
body.
Pathophysiology looks at the specific malfunctioning that comes from or - alternately - causes disease.
One caution in this approach is that "healthy" structure and function is not precisely the same in any two
individuals...
Uses
Pathophysiology is a required area of study for nearly all healthcare professional school programs (medical, dental,
physician assistant, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nurse practitioner, pharmacy, nursing, and paramedic
programs) in the United States and other countries.
References
[1] "Pathophysiology - Definition from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary" (http:/ / www. merriam-webster. com/ dictionary/
Pathophysiology). . Retrieved 2009-04-09.
[2] Craig Scanlon and Evan Fawkes, Egan's Fundamentals of Respiratory Therapy, St. Louis, 1999, p. 1186.
[3] Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, Clayton Thomas, Philadelphia, 1993, p. 1445.
Pathology
80
Pathology
Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease. The word
pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling,
suffering"; and -, -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to
pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or
behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling. Pathologies
is synonymous with diseases. The suffix "path" is used to indicate
a disease, e.g. psychopath.
Pathology addresses 4 components of disease: cause/etiology,
mechanisms of development (pathogenesis), structural alterations
of cells (morphologic changes), and the consequences of changes
(clinical manifestations).[1]
General pathology
General pathology, also called investigative pathology, experimental pathology, or theoretical pathology, is a broad
and complex scientific field which seeks to understand the mechanisms of injury to cells and tissues, as well as the
body's means of responding to and repairing injury. Areas of study include cellular adaptation to injury, necrosis,
inflammation, wound healing, and neoplasia. It forms the foundation of pathology, the application of this knowledge
to diagnose diseases in humans and animals.
The term general pathology is also used to describe the practice of both anatomical and clinical pathology.
Anatomical pathology
Anatomical pathology (Commonwealth) or anatomic pathology
(United States) is a medical specialty that is concerned with the
diagnosis of disease based on the gross, microscopic, chemical,
immunologic and molecular examination of organs, tissues, and
whole bodies (autopsy).
Anatomical pathology is itself divided in subspecialties, the main
ones being surgical pathology, cytopathology, and forensic
pathology. To be licensed to practice pathology, one has to
complete medical school and secure a license to practice medicine.
An approved residency program and certification (in the United
States, the American Board of Pathology or the American
Osteopathic Board of Pathology) is usually required to obtain
employment or hospital privileges.
Anatomical pathology is one of two branches of pathology, the other being clinical pathology, the diagnosis of
disease through the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids and tissues. Often, pathologists practice both anatomical and
clinical pathology, a combination known as general pathology. The distinction between anatomic and clinical
pathology is increasingly blurred by the introduction of technologies that require new expertise and the need to
provide patients and referring physicians with integrated diagnostic reports. Similar specialties exist in veterinary
Pathology
81
pathology.
Clinical pathology
Clinical pathology is a medical specialty that is concerned with the
diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily
fluids such as blood and urine, and tissues using the tools of
chemistry, microbiology, hematology and molecular pathology.
Clinical pathologists work in close collaboration with medical
technologists, hospital administrations, and referring physicians to
ensure the accuracy and optimal utilization of laboratory testing.
Clinical pathology is one of the two major divisions of pathology,
the other being anatomical pathology. Often, pathologists practice
both anatomical and clinical pathology, a combination sometimes
known as general pathology.
Dermatopathology
Dermatopathology is a subspecialty of anatomic pathology that focuses on the skin as an organ. It is unique in that
there are two routes which a physician can use to obtain this specialization. All general pathologists and general
dermatologists are trained in the pathology of the skin; however, the dermatopathologist is a specialist in this organ.
In the USA, either a general pathologist or a dermatologist can undergo a 1 to 2 year fellowship in the field of
dermatopathology. The completion of this fellowship allows one to take a subspecialty board examination, and
becomes a board certified dermatopathologist.
Hematopathology
Hematopathology is the study of diseases of blood cells (White
blood cells, red blood cells, platelets) and cells/tissues/organs
comprising the hematopoietic system. The term hematopoietic
system refers to tissues and organs that produce and/or primarily
host hematopoietic cells and include bone marrow, lymph node,
thymus, spleen, and other lymphoid tissues. In the United States,
hematopathology is a board certified subspecialty (American
Board of Pathology) practiced by those physicians who have
completed general pathology residency (anatomic, clinical, or
combined) and an additional year of fellowship training in
hematology. The hematopathologist reviews biopsies of lymph
nodes, bone marrows and other tissues involved by an infiltrate of
cells of the hematopoietic system. In addition, the
hematopathologist may be in charge of flow cytometric and/or
molecular hematopathology studies. After the hematopathologist
makes the diagnosis, the hematologist or hemato-oncologist can
make a decision about the best course of action.
Pathology
82
Forensic pathology
Forensic pathology is a branch of pathology concerned with
determining the cause of death by examination of a cadaver. The
autopsy is performed by the pathologist at the request of a coroner
usually during the investigation of criminal law cases and civil law
cases in some jurisdictions. Forensic pathologists are also
frequently asked to confirm the identity of a cadaver.
The word forensics is derived from the Latin fornsis meaning
forum.
Veterinary pathology
Birth defect
Psychopathology
In psychology and psychiatry, psychopathology is the study of mental illness, mental distress and abnormal,
maladaptive behavior. The term is most commonly used within psychiatry where pathology refers to disease
processes. Abnormal psychology is a similar term used more frequently in the non-medical field of psychology.
Plant pathology
Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of plant
diseases caused by pathogens (infectious diseases) and environmental
conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious
disease include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like
organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes and parasitic plants.
Not included are insects, mites, vertebrate or other pests that affect
plant health by consumption of plant tissues. Plant pathology also
involves the study of pathogen identification, disease etiology, disease
cycles, economic impact, plant disease epidemiology, plant disease
resistance, how plant diseases affect humans and animals, pathosystem
genetics, and management of plant diseases.
The "disease triangle" is a central concept of plant pathology.[2] It is based on the principle that infectious diseases
develop, or do not develop, based on three-way interactions between the host, the pathogen, and environmental
Pathology
83
conditions.
Molecular pathology
Further information: Molecular pathology
Molecular pathology is an emerging discipline within pathology, and focuses in the study and diagnosis of disease
through the examination of molecules within organs, tissues or bodily fluids. Molecular pathology shares some
aspects of practice with both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology, molecular biology, biochemistry,
proteomics and genetics, and is sometimes considered a "crossover" discipline. It is multi-disciplinary in nature and
focuses mainly on the sub-microscopic aspects of disease and unknown illnesses with strange causes.
It is a scientific discipline that encompasses the development of molecular and genetic approaches to the diagnosis
and classification of human tumors, the design and validation of predictive biomarkers for treatment response and
disease progression, the susceptibility of individuals of different genetic constitution to develop cancer, and the
environmental and lifestyle factors implicated in carcinogenesis.[3]
Type
Specialty
Activity sectors
Medicine
Description
Education required
Degree in Medicine
USD $242,000
Pathologists are doctors who diagnose and characterize disease in living patients by examining biopsies or bodily
fluids. In addition, pathologists interpret medical laboratory tests to help prevent illness or monitor a chronic
condition.
The vast majority of cancer diagnoses are made by pathologists. Pathologists examine tissue biopsies to determine if
they are benign or cancerous. Some pathologists specialize in genetic testing that can, for example, determine the
most appropriate treatment for particular types of cancer. In addition, a pathologist analyzes blood samples from a
patient's annual physical and alerts their primary care physician to any changes in their health early, when successful
treatment is most likely. Pathologists also review results of tests ordered or performed by specialists, such as blood
tests ordered by a cardiologist, a biopsy of a skin lesion removed by a dermatologist, or a Pap test performed by a
gynecologist, to detect abnormalities.
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84
References
[1] Robbins, Stanley (2010). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. (8th ed. / ed.). Philadelphia PA: Saunders/Elsevier.
ISBN9781416031215.
[2] George N. Agrios (1997) Plant Pathology fourth edition, Academic Press. New York.
[3] http:/ / www. molecularpathology. org. uk/
External links
College of American Pathologists (http://www.cap.org/)
Pathology Resident Wiki (http://pathinfo.wikia.com/wiki/Pathology_Resident_Wiki): Complete directory of
pathology residency and fellowship training programs.
Flickr group: Pathology and Lab Medicine (http://www.flickr.com/groups/labmed/): numerous photos
illustrating the work of pathologists.
humpath.com (http://www.humpath.com/) (Atlas in Human Pathology)
Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland (http://www.pathsoc.org.uk/)
Royal College of Pathologists (UK) (http://www.rcpath.org/)
Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (Australia & Oceania) (http://www.rcpa.edu.au)
United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology (http://www.uscap.org/)
WebPath: The Internet Pathology Laboratory for Medical Education (http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/
webpath.html)
Atlases: High Resolution Pathology Images (http://atlases.muni.cz)
pathologybook.info (http://www.pathologybook.info/) the most comprehensive book information of
pathology-related
Pathogenesis
85
Pathogenesis
The pathogenesis of a disease is the mechanism by which the disease is caused. The term can also be used to
describe the origin and development of the disease and whether it is acute, chronic or recurrent. The word comes
from the Greek pathos, "disease", and genesis, "creation".
Types of pathogenesis include microbial infection, inflammation, malignancy and tissue breakdown.
Most diseases are caused by multiple pathogenetical processes together. For example, certain cancers arise from
dysfunction of the immune system (skin tumors and lymphoma after a renal transplant, which requires
immunosuppression).[1]
Often, a potential etiology is identified by epidemiological observations before a pathological link can be drawn
between the cause and the disease.
References
[1] Fox, Alvin (2010). General aspects of bacterial pathogenesis (http:/ / pathmicro. med. sc. edu/ fox/ bact-path. htm). University of South
Carolina School of Medicine: Microbiology and Immunology On-line Textbook. .
Further reading
Haugan, Salomon Avian Influenza: Etiology, Pathogenesis and Interventions (Public Health in the 21st Century.
Nova Science Pub Inc. January 30, 2010) ISBN 1607418460, ISBN 978-1607418467
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous
system.[1] Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as
a branch of biology. However, it is currently an
interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other
fields such as chemistry, computer science,
engineering, linguistics, mathematics, medicine and
allied disciplines, philosophy, physics, and psychology.
The term neurobiology is usually used interchangeably
with the term neuroscience, although the former refers
specifically to the biology of the nervous system,
whereas the latter refers to the entire science of the
nervous system.
The scope of neuroscience has broadened to include
different approaches used to study the molecular,
cellular,
developmental,
structural,
functional,
evolutionary, computational, and medical aspects of the
nervous system. The techniques used by neuroscientists
have also expanded enormously, from molecular and
Drawing by Santiago Ramn y Cajal (1899) of neurons in the pigeon
cellular studies of individual nerve cells to imaging of
cerebellum
sensory and motor tasks in the brain. Recent theoretical
advances in neuroscience have also been aided by the study of neural networks.
Neuroscience
86
Given the increasing number of scientists who study the nervous system, several prominent neuroscience
organizations have been formed to provide a forum to all neuroscientists and educators. For example, the
International Brain Research Organization was founded in 1960,[2] the International Society for Neurochemistry in
1963,[3] the European Brain and Behaviour Society in 1968,[4] and the Society for Neuroscience in 1969.[5]
History
The study of the nervous system dates back to ancient
Egypt. Evidence of trepanation, the surgical practice of
either drilling or scraping a hole into the skull with the
purpose of curing headaches or mental disorders or
relieving cranial pressure, being performed on patients
dates back to Neolithic times and has been found in
various cultures throughout the world. Manuscripts
dating back to 1700BC indicated that the Egyptians
had some knowledge about symptoms of brain
damage.[6]
Early views on the function of the brain regarded it to
be a "cranial stuffing" of sorts. In Egypt, from the late
Illustration from Gray's Anatomy (1918) of a lateral view of the
Middle Kingdom onwards, the brain was regularly
human brain, featuring the hippocampus among other
removed in preparation for mummification. It was
neuroanatomical features
believed at the time that the heart was the seat of
intelligence. According to Herodotus, the first step of mummification is to "take a crooked piece of iron, and with it
draw out the brain through the nostrils, thus getting rid of a portion, while the skull is cleared of the rest by rinsing
with drugs."[7]
The view that the heart was the source of consciousness was not challenged until the time of Hippocrates. He
believed that the brain was not only involved with sensationsince most specialized organs (e.g.,eyes, ears, tongue)
are located in the head near the brainbut was also the seat of intelligence. Plato also speculated that the brain was
the seat of the rational part of the soul.[8] Aristotle, however, believed the heart was the center of intelligence and
that the brain served to cool the blood. This view was generally accepted until the Roman physician Galen, a
follower of Hippocrates and physician to Roman gladiators, observed that his patients lost their mental faculties
when they had sustained damage to their brains.
Abulcasis, Averroes, Avenzoar, and Maimonides, active in the Medieval Muslim world, described a number of
medical problems related to the brain. In Renaissance Europe, Vesalius (15141564) and Ren Descartes
(15961650) also made several contributions to neuroscience.
Neuroscience
87
the brain. The neuron doctrine was supported by experiments following Luigi Galvani's pioneering work in the
electrical excitability of muscles and neurons. In the late 19th century, Emil du Bois-Reymond, Johannes Peter
Mller, and Hermann von Helmholtz demonstrated that neurons were electrically excitable and that their activity
predictably affected the electrical state of adjacent neurons.
In parallel with this research, work with brain-damaged patients by Paul Broca suggested that certain regions of the
brain were responsible for certain functions. At the time, Broca's findings were seen as a confirmation of Franz
Joseph Gall's theory that language was localized and that certain psychological functions were localized in specific
areas of the cerebral cortex.[9] [10] The localization of function hypothesis was supported by observations of epileptic
patients conducted by John Hughlings Jackson, who correctly inferred the organization of the motor cortex by
watching the progression of seizures through the body. Carl Wernicke further developed the theory of the
specialization of specific brain structures in language comprehension and production. Modern research still uses the
Brodmann cerebral cytoarchitectonic map (referring to study of cell structure) anatomical definitions from this era in
continuing to show that distinct areas of the cortex are activated in the execution of specific tasks.[11]
In 1952, Alan Lloyd Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley presented a mathematical model for transmission of electrical
signals in neurons of the giant axon of a squid, action potentials, and how they are initiated and propagated, known
as the Hodgkin-Huxley model. In 1961-2, Richard FitzHugh and J. Nagumo simplified Hodgkin-Huxley, in what is
called the FitzHughNagumo model. In 1962, Bernard Katz modeled neurotransmission across the space between
neurons known as synapses. In 1981 Catherine Morris and Harold Lecar combined these models in the Morris-Lecar
model. In 1984, J. L. Hindmarsh and R.M. Rose further modeled neurotransmission.
Beginning in 1966, Eric Kandel and James Schwartz examined the biochemical analysis of changes in neurons
associated with learning and memory storage.
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88
The task of neural science is to explain behavior in terms of the activities of the brain. How does the brain marshal its millions of individual
nerve cells to produce behavior, and how are these cells influenced by the environment...? The last frontier of the biological sciencestheir
ultimate challengeis to understand the biological basis of consciousness and the mental processes by which we perceive, act, learn, and
The nervous system is composed of a network of neurons along with other, supportive, cells (e.g., glial cells).
Neurons form functional circuits, each responsible for specific functions of behavior at the organismal level. Thus,
neuroscience can be studied at many different levels, ranging from the molecular and cellular levels to the systems
and cognitive levels.
At the molecular level, the basic questions addressed in molecular neuroscience include the mechanisms by which
neurons express and respond to molecular signals and how axons form complex connectivity patterns. At this level,
tools from molecular biology and genetics are used to understand how neurons develop and how genetic changes
affect biological functions. The morphology, molecular identity, and physiological characteristics of neurons and
how they relate to different types of behavior are also of considerable interest.
At the cellular level, the fundamental questions addressed in cellular neuroscience include the mechanisms of how
neurons process signals physiologically and electrochemically. They address how signals are processed by dendrites,
somas and axons, and how neurotransmitters and electrical signals are used to process signals in a neuron. Another
major area of neuroscience is directed at investigations of the development of the nervous system. These questions
include the patterning and regionalization of the nervous system, neural stem cells, differentiation of neurons and
glia, neuronal migration, axonal and dendritic development, trophic interactions, and synapse formation.
At the systems level, the questions addressed in systems neuroscience include how neural circuits are formed and
used anatomically and physiologically to produce functions such as reflexes, sensory integration, motor
coordination, circadian rhythms, emotional responses, learning, and memory. In other words, they address how these
neural circuits function and the mechanisms through which behaviors are generated. For example, systems level
analysis addresses questions concerning specific sensory and motor modalities: how does vision work? How do
songbirds learn new songs and bats localize with ultrasound? How does the somatosensory system process tactile
information? The related fields of neuroethology and neuropsychology address the question of how neural substrates
underlie specific animal and human behaviors. Neuroendocrinology and psychoneuroimmunology examine
interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine and immune systems, respectively.
At the cognitive level, cognitive neuroscience addresses the questions of how psychological functions are produced
by neural circuitry. The emergence of powerful new measurement techniques such as neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI,
PET, SPECT), electrophysiology, and human genetic analysis combined with sophisticated experimental techniques
from cognitive psychology allows neuroscientists and psychologists to address abstract questions such as how
human cognition and emotion are mapped to specific neural substrates.
Neuroscience is also allied with the social and behavioral sciences as well as nascent interdisciplinary fields such as
neuroeconomics, decision theory, and social neuroscience to address complex questions about interactions of the
brain with its environment.
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89
Major branches
Modern neuroscience education and research activities can be very roughly categorized into the following major
branches, based on the subject and scale of the system in examination as well as distinct experimental or curricular
approaches. Individual neuroscientists, however, often work on questions that span several distinct subfields.
Branch
Description
Behavioral
neuroscience
Behavioral neuroscience (also known as biological psychology, biopsychology, or psychobiology) is the application of the
principles of biology (viz., neurobiology) to the study of genetic, physiological, and developmental mechanisms of behavior
in humans and non-human animals.
Cellular
neuroscience
Cellular neuroscience is the study of neurons at a cellular level including morphology and physiological properties.
Clinical
neuroscience
This consists of medical specialties such as neurology and psychiatry, among others. Neurology is the medical specialty that
works with disorders of the nervous system. Psychiatry is the medical specialty that works with the disorders of the
mindwhich include various affective, behavioral, cognitive, and perceptual disorders. (Also see note below.)
Cognitive
neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is the study of biological substrates underlying cognition with a specific focus on the neural
substrates of mental processes.
Computational
neuroscience
Computational neuroscience is the study of brain function in terms of the information processing properties of the structures
that make up the nervous system. Computational neuroscience can also refer to the use of computer simulations and
theoretical models to study the function of the nervous system.
Cultural
neuroscience
Cultural neuroscience is the study of how cultural values, practices and beliefs shape and are shaped by the mind, brain and
[13]
genes across multiple timescales.
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90
Developmental
neuroscience
Developmental neuroscience studies the processes that generate, shape, and reshape the nervous system and seeks to
describe the cellular basis of neural development to address underlying mechanisms.
Molecular
neuroscience
Molecular neuroscience is a branch of neuroscience that examines the biology of the nervous system with molecular biology,
molecular genetics, protein chemistry, and related methodologies.
Neuroengineering
Neuroengineering is a discipline within biomedical engineering that uses engineering techniques to understand, repair,
replace, or enhance neural systems.
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure and function of the
brain.
Neuroinformatics
Neuroinformatics is a discipline within bioinformatics that conducts the organization of neuroscience data and application of
computational models and analytical tools.
Neurolinguistics
Neurolinguistics is the study of the neural mechanisms in the human brain that control the comprehension, production, and
acquisition of language.
Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology is the study of the functioning of the nervous system, generally using physiological techniques that include
measurement and stimulation with electrodes or optically with ion- or voltage-sensitive dyes or light-sensitive channels.
Social neuroscience
Social neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field devoted to understanding how biological systems implement social
processes and behavior, and to using biological concepts and methods to inform and refine theories of social processes and
behavior.
Systems
neuroscience
Systems neuroscience is the study the function of neural circuits and systems.
In 1990s, neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp coined the term "affective neuroscience" to emphasize that research of
emotion should be a branch of the neurosciences, distinguishable from the nearby fields of cognitive neuroscience or
behavioral neuroscience.[14] More recently, the social aspect of the emotional brain has been integrated in what is
called "social-affective neuroscience" or simply social neuroscience.
Future directions
At this time in neuroscience research, several major questions remained unsolved, especially in cognitive
neuroscience. For example, neuroscientists have yet to fully explain the neural basis of consciousness, learning,
memory, perception, sensation, and sleep. Several questions regarding the development and evolution of the brain
remain unsolved. Researchers have also yet to fully delineate the neural bases of mental disorders such as addiction,
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and psychotic disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). Neuroscientific research on
free will is also in the early stages of understanding.[15] Thus, neuroscientists are continuously collaborating with
other scientists and researchers to address many of these unresolved problems.[16] Finally, proponents of the science
of morality, such as the neuroscientist and writer Sam Harris, maintain that neuroscience will play an important role
in the search for optimal moral systems.[17]
Neuroscience
91
Finally, neuroscientists have also collaborated with other education experts to study and refine educational
techniques to optimize learning among students, an emerging field called educational neuroscience.[22] Federal
Agencies in the United States, such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation
(NSF), have also funded research that pertain to best practices in teaching and learning of neuroscience concepts.
References
[1] "Neuroscience" (http:/ / www. merriam-webster. com/ medlineplus/ neuroscience). Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary. .
[2] "History of IBRO" (http:/ / www. ibro. info/ Pub/ Pub_Main_Display. asp?LC_Docs_ID=2343). International Brain Research Organization.
2010. .
[3] The Beginning (http:/ / www. neurochemistry. org/ Information/ History/ TheBeginning. aspx), International Society for Neurochemistry
[4] "About EBBS" (http:/ / www. ebbs-science. org/ cms/ general/ about-ebbs. html). European Brain and Behaviour Society. 2009. .
[5] "About SfN" (http:/ / www. sfn. org/ index. aspx?pagename=about_sfn). Society for Neuroscience. .
[6] Mohamed W (2008). "The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus: Neuroscience in Ancient Egypt" (http:/ / www. ibro. info/ Pub/
Pub_Main_Display. asp?LC_Docs_ID=3199). IBRO History of Neuroscience. .
[7] Herodotus (440BCE). The Histories: Book II (Euterpe) (http:/ / classics. mit. edu/ Herodotus/ history. mb. txt). .
[8] Plato (360BCE). Timaeus (http:/ / classics. mit. edu/ Plato/ timaeus. 1b. txt). .
[9] Greenblatt SH (1995). "Phrenology in the science and culture of the 19th century" (http:/ / journals. lww. com/ neurosurgery/ Abstract/ 1995/
10000/ Phrenology_in_the_Science_and_Culture_of_the_19th. 25. aspx). Neurosurg 37 (4): 790805. PMID8559310. .
[10] Bear MF, Connors BW, Paradiso MA (2001). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (4th ed.). Philedelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams &
Wilkins. ISBN0781739446.
[11] Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessel TM (2000). Principles of Neural Science (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. ISBN0838577016.
[12] Lepage M (2010). "Research at the Brain Imaging Centre" (http:/ / www. douglas. qc. ca/ page/ imagerie-cerebrale?locale=en). Douglas
Mental Health University Institute. .
[13] Chiao, J.Y. & Ambady, N. (2007). Cultural neuroscience: Parsing universality and diversity across levels of analysis. In Kitayama, S. and
Cohen, D. (Eds.) Handbook of Cultural Psychology, Guilford Press, NY, pp. 237-254.
[14] Panksepp J (1990). "A role for "affective neuroscience" in understanding stress: the case of separation distress circuitry". In Puglisi-Allegra
S, Oliverio A. Psychobiology of Stress. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic. pp.4158. ISBN0792306821.
[15] Balaguer M (2009). Free Will as an Open Scientific Problem. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. ISBN9780262013543.
[16] Hemmen JL, Sejnowski TJ (2006). 23 Problems in Systems Neuroscience (http:/ / papers. cnl. salk. edu/ PDFs/ 23 Problems in Systems
Neuroscience 2005-2921. pdf). New York NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN0195148223. .
[17] Koizumi H (2007). The Concept of Brain-Science and Ethics. Journal Seizon and Life Sciences.
[18] "About the International Brain Bee" (http:/ / www. internationalbrainbee. com/ about_bee. html). The International Brain Bee. .
[19] "Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System" (http:/ / www. sfn. org/ index. aspx?pagename=brainfacts). Society for
Neuroscience. .
[20] "Neuroscience Core Concepts: The Essential Principles of Neuroscience" (http:/ / www. sfn. org/ index. aspx?pagename=core_concepts).
Society for Neuroscience. .
[21] "Brain Awareness Week Campaign" (http:/ / www. dana. org/ brainweek/ ). The Dana Foundation. .
[22] Goswami U (2004). "Neuroscience, education and special education" (http:/ / onlinelibrary. wiley. com/ doi/ 10. 1111/ j. 0952-3383. 2004.
00352. x/ abstract). Br J of Spec Educ 31 (4): 175183. doi:10.1111/j.0952-3383.2004.00352.x. .
Further reading
Bear, M. F.; B. W. Connors, and M. A. Paradiso (2006). Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain (3rd ed.).
Philadelphia: Lippincott. ISBN0781760038.
Binder/Hirokawa/Windhorst (2009, 4399pp, 5 vols). Encyclopedia of Neuroscience (http://www.springer.com/
biomed/neuroscience/book/978-3-540-23735-8). Springer. ISBN978-3-540-23735-8.
Kandel, ER; Schwartz JH, Jessell TM (2000). Principles of Neural Science (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
ISBN0-8385-7701-6.
Squire, L. et al. (2003). Fundamental Neuroscience, 2nd edition. Academic Press; ISBN 0-12-660303-0
Byrne and Roberts (2004). From Molecules to Networks. Academic Press; ISBN 0-12-148660-5
Sanes, Reh, Harris (2005). Development of the Nervous System, 2nd edition. Academic Press; ISBN
0-12-618621-9
Siegel et al. (2005). Basic Neurochemistry, 7th edition. Academic Press; ISBN 0-12-088397-X
Rieke, F. et al. (1999). Spikes: Exploring the Neural Code. The MIT Press; Reprint edition ISBN 0-262-68108-0
Neuroscience
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93
External links
Neuroscience (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00fbd26) on In Our Time at the BBC. ( listen now (http:/
/www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00fbd26/In_Our_Time_Neuroscience))
Pharmacology
Pharmacology (from Greek ,
pharmakon, "poison in classic Greek; drug
in modern Greek"; and -, "Study of"
-logia) is the branch of medicine and
biology concerned with the study of drug
action.[1] More specifically, it is the study of
the interactions that occur between a living
organism and chemicals that affect normal
or abnormal biochemical function. If
substances have medicinal properties, they
are considered pharmaceuticals. The field
encompasses
drug
composition
and
A variety of topics involved with pharmacology, including neuropharmacology,
properties, interactions, toxicology, therapy,
renal pharmacology, human metabolism, intracellular metabolism, and intracellular
and medical applications and antipathogenic
regulation.
capabilities. The two main areas of
pharmacology are pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. The former studies the effects of the drugs on
biological systems, and the latter the effects of biological systems on the drugs. In broad terms, pharmacodynamics
discusses the interactions of chemicals with biological receptors, and pharmacokinetics discusses the absorption,
distribution, metabolism, and excretion of chemicals from the biological systems. Pharmacology is not synonymous
with pharmacy and the two terms are frequently confused. Pharmacology deals with how drugs interact within
biological systems to affect function. It is the study of drugs, of the reactions of the body and drug on each other, the
sources of drugs, their nature, and their properties. In contrast, pharmacy is a biomedical science concerned with
preparation, dispensing, dosage, and the safe and effective use of medicines.
Dioscorides' De Materia Medica is often said to be the oldest and most valuable work in the history of
pharmacology.[2] The origins of clinical pharmacology date back to the Middle Ages in Avicenna's The Canon of
Medicine, Peter of Spain's Commentary on Isaac, and John of St Amand's Commentary on the Antedotary of
Pharmacology
94
Nicholas.[3] Clinical pharmacology owes much of its foundation to the work of William Withering.[4] Pharmacology
as a scientific discipline did not further advance until the mid-19th century amid the great biomedical resurgence of
that period.[5] Before the second half of the nineteenth century, the remarkable potency and specificity of the actions
of drugs such as morphine, quinine and digitalis were explained vaguely and with reference to extraordinary
chemical powers and affinities to certain organs or tissues.[6] The first pharmacology department was set up by
Rudolf Buchheim in 1847, in recognition of the need to understand how therapeutic drugs and poisons produced
their effects.[5]
Early pharmacologists focused on natural substances, mainly plant extracts. Pharmacology developed in the 19th
century as a biomedical science that applied the principles of scientific experimentation to therapeutic contexts.[7]
Divisions
Clinical pharmacology
The medical field of medication effects on humans and animals.
Neuropharmacology
Effects of medication on nervous system functioning..
Psychopharmacology
Effects of medication on the brain; observing changed behaviors of the body and read the effect of drugs on the
brain.
Pharmacogenetics
Clinical testing of genetic variation that gives rise to differing response to drugs.
Pharmacogenomics
Application of genomic technologies to new drug discovery and further characterization of older drugs.
Pharmacoepidemiology
Study of effects of drugs in large numbers of people.
Toxicology
Study of harmful or toxic effects of drugs.
Theoretical Pharmacology
Study of metrics in Pharmacology.
Dosology
How medicines are dosed. It also depends upon various factors like age, climate, weight, sex, and so on.
Pharmacognosy
A branch of pharmacology dealing especially with the composition, use, and development of medicinal substances of
biological origin and especially medicinal substances obtained from plants also known as deriving medicines from
plants
Pharmacology
95
Behavioral Pharmacology
Behavioral pharmacology, also referred to as psychopharmacology, is an interdisciplinary field which studies
behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs. It incorporates approaches and techniques from neuropharmacology,
animal behavior and behavioral neuroscience, and is interested in the behavioral and neurobiological mechanisms of
action of psychoactive drugs. Another goal of behavioral pharmacology is to develop animal behavioral models to
screen chemical compounds with therapeutic potentials. People in this field (called behavioral pharmacologists)
typically use small animals (e.g. rodents) to study psychotherapeutic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants
and anxiolytics, and drugs of abuse such as nicotine, cocaine, methamphetamine, etc.
Environmental Pharmacology
Environmental pharmacology is a new discipline.[8] Focus is being given to understand Geneenvironment
interaction, drug-environment interaction and toxin-environment interaction. There is a close collaboration between
the Environmental science and Medical community in addressing these issues. It is recognised that healthcare can
itself be a cause of Environmental damage as well as its remediation. Human health and ecology is intimately
related. Demand for more pharmaceutical products is destroying countless species of animals and plants, placing the
public at risk. The entry of chemicals and drugs into the Aquatic ecosystem is a more serious concern today. In
addition, the production of some Illegal drugs pollutes drinking water supply by releasing carcinogens.[9] The
pharmaceutical industry is encouraged to pay greater attention to the environmental impact of its products. More and
more biodegradability of drugs are needed. It means environment friendly drugs could be designed. General
standards for discharge of environment pollutants is implemented strictly and environmental impact assessment is
checked frequently by health and other concerned regulators. Today, in Environmental Pharmacology, the topics
which are covered includes Pharmacoenvironmentology[10] and Ecopharmacology[11] which is all about the study of
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment.
Scientific background
The study of chemicals requires intimate knowledge of the biological system affected. With the knowledge of cell
biology and biochemistry increasing, the field of pharmacology has also changed substantially. It has become
possible, through molecular analysis of receptors, to design chemicals that act on specific cellular signaling or
metabolic pathways by affecting sites directly on cell-surface receptors (which modulate and mediate cellular
signaling pathways controlling cellular function).
A chemical has, from the pharmacological point-of-view, various properties. Pharmacokinetics describes the effect
of the body on the chemical (e.g. half-life and volume of distribution), and pharmacodynamics describes the
chemical's effect on the body (desired or toxic).
When describing the pharmacokinetic properties of a chemical, pharmacologists are often interested in LADME:
Liberation - disintegration (for solid oral forms {breaking down into smaller particles}), dispersal and dissolution
Absorption - How is the medication absorbed (through the skin, the intestine, the oral mucosa)?
Distribution - How does it spread through the organism?
Metabolism - Is the medication converted chemically inside the body, and into which substances. Are these
active? Could they be toxic?
Excretion - How is the medication eliminated (through the bile, urine, breath, skin)?
Medication is said to have a narrow or wide therapeutic index or therapeutic window. This describes the ratio of
desired effect to toxic effect. A compound with a narrow therapeutic index (close to one) exerts its desired effect at a
dose close to its toxic dose. A compound with a wide therapeutic index (greater than five) exerts its desired effect at
a dose substantially below its toxic dose. Those with a narrow margin are more difficult to dose and administer, and
may require therapeutic drug monitoring (examples are warfarin, some antiepileptics, aminoglycoside antibiotics).
Pharmacology
96
Most anti-cancer drugs have a narrow therapeutic margin: toxic side-effects are almost always encountered at doses
used to kill tumors.
Pharmacology
97
Education
The study of pharmacology is offered in many universities worldwide in programs that differ from pharmacy
programs. Students of pharmacology are trained as researchers, studying the effects of substances in order to better
understand the mechanisms which might lead to new drug discoveries for example. Whereas a pharmacy student will
eventually work in a pharmacy dispensing medications or some other position focused on the patient, a
pharmacologist will typically work within a laboratory setting.
Footnotes
[1] Vallance P, Smart TG (January 2006). "The future of pharmacology". British journal of pharmacology 147 Suppl 1: S3047.
doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706454. PMC1760753. PMID16402118.
[2] Gulsel M. Kavalali (2003). " Urtica: therapeutic and nutritional aspects of stinging nettles (http:/ / books. google. com/
books?id=AoWtF1ruQJsC& pg=PA15& dq& hl=en#v=onepage& q=& f=false)". CRC Press. p.15. ISBN 041530833X
[3] Brater DC, Daly WJ (May 2000). "Clinical pharmacology in the Middle Ages: principles that presage the 21st century". Clin. Pharmacol.
Ther. 67 (5): 44750. doi:10.1067/mcp.2000.106465. PMID10824622.
[4] Mannfred A. Hollinger (2003)." Introduction to pharmacology (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=bx-WfLwrVH8C& pg=PA4& dq&
hl=en#v=onepage& q=& f=false)". CRC Press. p.4. ISBN 0415280338
[5] Rang HP (January 2006). "The receptor concept: pharmacology's big idea". Br. J. Pharmacol. 147 Suppl 1: S916.
doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706457. PMC1760743. PMID16402126.
[6] Maehle AH, Prll CR, Halliwell RF (August 2002). "The emergence of the drug receptor theory". Nat Rev Drug Discov 1 (8): 63741.
doi:10.1038/nrd875. PMID12402503.
[7] Rang, H.P.; M.M. Dale, J.M. Ritter, R.J. Flower (2007). Pharmacology. China: Elsevier. ISBN0-443-06911-5.
[8] Rahman, SZ; Khan, RA (Dec 2006). "Environmental pharmacology: A new discipline" (http:/ / www. ijp-online. com/ text. asp?2006/ 38/ 4/
229/ 27017). Indian J Pharmacol. 38 (4): 22930. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.27017. .
[9] Ilene Sue Ruhoy, Christian G. Daughton. Beyond the medicine cabinet: An analysis of where and why medications accumulate. Environment
International 2008, Vol. 34 (8): 1157-1169
[10] SZ Rahman, RA Khan, V Gupta & Misbahuddin. PharmacoenvironmentologyAhead of Pharmacovigilance. In: Rahman SZ, Shahid M &
Gupta A Eds. An Introduction to Environmental Pharmacology (ISBN 978-81-906070-4-9). Ibn Sina Academy, Aligarh, India, 2008: 35-42
[11] Rahman, SZ; Khan, RA; Gupta, V; Uddin, Misbah (July 2007). "PharmacoenvironmentologyA Component of Pharmacovigilance" (http:/ /
www. ehjournal. net/ content/ 6/ 1/ 20). Environmental Health 6 (20): 20. doi:10.1186/1476-069X-6-20. PMC1947975. PMID17650313. .
[12] http:/ / www. freebase. com/ view/ en/ sporcalc
[13] James Smith; Viktor Stein (2009). "SPORCalc: A development of a database analysis that provides putative metabolic enzyme reactions for
ligand-based drug design". Computational Biology and Chemistry 33 (2): 149159. doi:10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2008.11.002.
PMID19157988.
[14] Newton, David; Alasdair Thorpe, Chris Otter (2004). Revise A2 Chemistry. Heinemann Educational Publishers. pp.1. ISBN0-435-58347-6.
[15] Nagle, Hinter; Barbara Nagle (2005). Pharmacology: An Introduction. Boston: McGraw Hill. ISBN0-07-312275-0.
External links
Toxicology
98
Toxicology
Toxicology (from the Greek words - toxicos "poisonous" and logos) is a branch of biology, chemistry, and
medicine concerned with the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms.[1] It is the study of
symptoms, mechanisms, treatments and detection of poisoning, especially the poisoning of people.
History
Dioscorides, a Greek physician in the court of the Roman
emperor Nero, made the first attempt to classify plants
according to their toxic and therapeutic effect.[2] Ibn
Wahshiya wrote the Book on Poisons in the 9th or 10th
century.[3]
Mathieu Orfila is considered to be the modern father of
toxicology, having given the subject its first formal treatment
in 1813 in his Trait des poisons, also called Toxicologie
gnrale.[4]
In 1850 Jean Stas gave the evidence that the Belgian Count
Hypolyte Visart de Bocarm killed his brother-in-law by
poisoning with nicotine[5]
Theophrastus Phillipus Auroleus Bombastus von Hohenheim
(14931541) (also referred to as Paracelsus, from his belief
that his studies were above or beyond the work of Celsus - a
Lithograph of Mathieu Orfila
Roman physician from the first century) is also considered
"the father" of toxicology.[6] He is credited with the classic toxicology maxim, "Alle Dinge sind Gift und nichts ist
ohne Gift; allein die Dosis macht, dass ein Ding kein Gift ist." which translates as, "All things are poison and nothing
is without poison; only the dose makes a thing not a poison." This is often condensed to: "The dose makes the
poison" or in Latin "Sola dosis facit venenum".
The relationship between dose and its effects on the exposed organism is of high significance in toxicology. The
chief criterion regarding the toxicity of a chemical is the dose, i.e. the amount of exposure to the substance. All
substances are toxic under the right conditions. The term LD50 refers to the dose of a toxic substance that kills 50
percent of a test population (typically rats or other surrogates when the test concerns human toxicity). LD50
estimations in animals are no longer required for regulatory submissions as a part of pre-clinical development
package.
The conventional relationship (more exposure equals higher risk) has been challenged in the study of endocrine
disruptors.
Toxicity of metabolites
Many substances regarded as poisons are toxic only indirectly. An example is "wood alcohol," or methanol, which is
chemically converted to formaldehyde and formic acid in the liver. It is the formaldehyde and formic acid that cause
the toxic effects of methanol exposure. As for drugs, many small molecules are made toxic in the liver, a good
example being acetaminophen (paracetamol), especially in the presence of chronic alcohol use. The genetic
variability of certain liver enzymes makes the toxicity of many compounds differ between one individual and the
next. Because demands placed on one liver enzyme can induce activity in another, many molecules become toxic
only in combination with others. A family of activities that many toxicologists engage includes identifying which
Toxicology
99
liver enzymes convert a molecule into a poison, what are the toxic products of the conversion and under what
conditions and in which individuals this conversion takes place.
Subdisciplines of toxicology
There are various specialized subdisciplines within the field of toxicology that concern diverse chemical and
biological aspects of this area. For example, toxicogenomics involves applying molecular profiling approaches to the
study of toxicology.[7] Other areas include Aquatic toxicology, Chemical (pharmaceutical) toxicology,
Ecotoxicology, Environmental toxicology, Forensic toxicology, and Medical toxicology.
References
[1] "What is Toxicology" -Schrager, TF, October 4, 2006 (http:/ / www. toxicologysource. com/ whatistoxicology. html)
[2] Ernest Hodgson (2010). " A Textbook of Modern Toxicology (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=tWVjQDxcd9IC& pg=PA10& dq&
hl=en#v=onepage& q=& f=false)". John Wiley and Sons. p.10. ISBN 047046206X
[3] Martin Levey (1966), Medieval Arabic Toxicology: The Book on Poisons of ibn Wahshiya and its Relation to Early Native American and
Greek Texts
[4] U.S. National Library of Medicine (http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ visibleproofs/ galleries/ biographies/ orfila. html), Biography of Mathieu
Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (17871853)
[5] Wennig, Robert (Apr. 2009). "Back to the roots of modern analytical toxicology: Jean Servais Stas and the Bocarm murder case". Drug Test
Anal (England) 1 (4): 153155. doi:10.1002/dta.32. PMID20355192.
[6] Paracelsus Dose Response in the Handbook of Pesticide Toxicology WILLIAM C KRIEGER / Academic Press Oct01 (http:/ / www.
mindfully. org/ Pesticide/ Paracelsus-Dose-ToxicologyOct01. htm)
[7] Afshari CA, Hamadeh HK (2004). Toxicogenomics: principles and applications. New York: Wiley-Liss. ISBN0-471-43417-5.
Review: Omenn GS (November 2004). "Toxicogenomics: Principles and Applications". Environ Health Perspect 112 (16): A962.
PMC1247673.
External links
Toxicology (http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Biology/Toxicology//) at the Open Directory Project
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Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of
health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the
prevention and treatment of illness.
Contemporary medicine applies health science, biomedical research,
and medical technology to diagnose and treat injury and disease,
typically through medication or surgery, but also through therapies as
diverse as psychotherapy, external splints & traction, prostheses,
biologics, ionizing radiation and others. The word medicine is derived
from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing.[1] [2]
Though medical technology and clinical expertise are pivotal to
contemporary medicine, successful face-to-face relief of actual
suffering continues to require the application of ordinary human
feeling and compassion, known in English as bedside manner.[3]
History
Prehistoric medicine incorporated plants (herbalism), animal parts and
Statue of Asclepius, the Greek God of medicine,
minerals. In many cases these materials were used ritually as magical
holding the symbolic Rod of Asclepius with its
substances by priests, shamans, or medicine men. Well-known spiritual
coiled serpent
systems include animism (the notion of inanimate objects having
spirits), spiritualism (an appeal to gods or communion with ancestor spirits); shamanism (the vesting of an individual
with mystic powers); and divination (magically obtaining the truth). The field of medical anthropology examines the
ways in which culture and society are organized around or impacted by issues of health, health care and related
issues.
Early records on medicine have been discovered from ancient
Egyptian medicine, Babylonian medicine, Ayurvedic medicine (in
the Indian subcontinent), classical Chinese medicine (predecessor
to the modern traditional Chinese Medicine), and ancient Greek
medicine and Roman medicine. The Egyptian Imhotep (3rd
millennium BC) is the first physician in history known by name.
Earliest records of dedicated hospitals come from Mihintale in Sri
Lanka where evidence of dedicated medicinal treatment facilities
for patients are found.[4] [5] The Indian surgeon Sushruta described
numerous surgical operations, including the earliest forms of
plastic surgery.[6] [7]
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101
The Greek physician Hippocrates, the "father of medicine",[9] [10] laid the
foundation for a rational approach to medicine. Hippocrates introduced the
Hippocratic Oath for physicians, which is still relevant and in use today, and was
the first to categorize illnesses as acute, chronic, endemic and epidemic, and use
terms such as, "exacerbation, relapse, resolution, crisis, paroxysm, peak, and
[12]
convalescence".[11]
The Greek physician Galen was also one of the greatest surgeons of the ancient
world and performed many audacious operations, including brain and eye
surgeries. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the onset of the Early
Middle Ages, the Greek tradition of medicine went into decline in Western
Europe, although it continued uninterrupted in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine)
Empire.
After 750 CE, the Muslim Arab world had the works of Hippocrates, Galen and
Sushruta translated into Arabic, and Islamic physicians engaged in some significant medical research. Notable
Islamic medical pioneers include the polymath, Avicenna, who, along with Imhotep and Hippocrates, has also been
called the "father of medicine".[13] [14] He wrote The Canon of Medicine, considered one of the most famous books
in the history of medicine.[15] Others include Abulcasis,[16] Avenzoar,[17] Ibn al-Nafis,[18] and Averroes.[19]
Rhazes[20] was one of first to question the Greek theory of humorism, which nevertheless remained influential in
both medieval Western and medieval Islamic medicine.[21] The Islamic Bimaristan hospitals were an early example
of public hospitals.[22] [23]
However, the fourteenth and fifteenth century Black Death was just as devastating to the Middle East as to Europe,
and it has even been argued that Western Europe was generally more effective in recovering from the pandemic than
the Middle East.[24] In the early modern period, important early figures in medicine and anatomy emerged in Europe,
including Gabriele Falloppio and William Harvey.
The major shift in medical thinking was the gradual rejection, especially during the Black Death in the 14th and 15th
centuries, of what may be called the 'traditional authority' approach to science and medicine. This was the notion that
because some prominent person in the past said something must be so, then that was the way it was, and anything
one observed to the contrary was an anomaly (which was paralleled by a similar shift in European society in general
- see Copernicus's rejection of Ptolemy's theories on astronomy). Physicians like Vesalius improved upon or
Medicine
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Medicine
103
Clinical practice
In clinical practice, doctors personally assess patients in
order to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease using
clinical judgment. The doctor-patient relationship
typically begins an interaction with an examination of
the patient's medical history and medical record,
followed a medical interview[31] and a physical
examination. Basic diagnostic medical devices (e.g.
stethoscope, tongue depressor) are typically used. After
examination for signs and interviewing for symptoms,
the doctor may order medical tests (e.g. blood tests),
take a biopsy, or prescribe pharmaceutical drugs or
other therapies. Differential diagnosis methods help to
rule out conditions based on the information provided.
The Doctor, by Sir Luke Fildes (1891)
During the encounter, properly informing the patient of
all relevant facts is an important part of the relationship and the development of trust. The medical encounter is then
documented in the medical record, which is a legal document in many jurisdictions.[32] Followups may be shorter but
follow the same general procedure.
The components of the medical interview[31] and encounter are:
Chief complaint (cc): the reason for the current medical visit. These are the 'symptoms.' They are in the patient's
own words and are recorded along with the duration of each one. Also called 'presenting complaint.'
History of present illness / complaint (HPI): the chronological order of events of symptoms and further
clarification of each symptom.
Current activity: occupation, hobbies, what the patient actually does.
Medications (Rx): what drugs the patient takes including prescribed, over-the-counter, and home remedies, as
well as alternative and herbal medicines/herbal remedies. Allergies are also recorded.
Past medical history (PMH/PMHx): concurrent medical problems, past hospitalizations and operations, injuries,
past infectious diseases and/or vaccinations, history of known allergies.
Social history (SH): birthplace, residences, marital history, social and economic status, habits (including diet,
medications, tobacco, alcohol).
Family history (FH): listing of diseases in the family that may impact the patient. A family tree is sometimes
used.
Review of systems (ROS) or systems inquiry: a set of additional questions to ask, which may be missed on HPI: a
general enquiry (have you noticed any weight loss, change in sleep quality, fevers, lumps and bumps? etc.),
followed by questions on the body's main organ systems (heart, lungs, digestive tract, urinary tract, etc.).
The physical examination is the examination of the patient looking for signs of disease ('Symptoms' are what the
patient volunteers, 'Signs' are what the healthcare provider detects by examination). The healthcare provider uses the
senses of sight, hearing, touch, and sometimes smell (e.g., in infection, uremia, diabetic ketoacidosis). Taste has been
made redundant by the availability of modern lab tests. Four actions are taught as the basis of physical examination:
inspection, palpation (feel), percussion (tap to determine resonance characteristics), and auscultation (listen). This
order may be modified depending on the main focus of the examination (e.g., a joint may be examined by simply
"look, feel, move". Having this set order is an educational tool that encourages practitioners to be systematic in their
approach and refrain from using tools such as the stethoscope before they have fully evaluated the other modalities.
The clinical examination involves study of:
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104
Vital signs including height, weight, body temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, hemoglobin
oxygen saturation
General appearance of the patient and specific indicators of disease (nutritional status, presence of jaundice, pallor
or clubbing)
Skin
Head, eye, ear, nose, and throat (HEENT)
It is to likely focus on areas of interest highlighted in the medical history and may not include everything listed
above.
Laboratory and imaging studies results may be obtained, if necessary.
The medical decision-making (MDM) process involves analysis and synthesis of all the above data to come up with
a list of possible diagnoses (the differential diagnoses), along with an idea of what needs to be done to obtain a
definitive diagnosis that would explain the patient's problem.
The treatment plan may include ordering additional laboratory tests and studies, starting therapy, referral to a
specialist, or watchful observation. Follow-up may be advised.
This process is used by primary care providers as well as specialists. It may take only a few minutes if the problem is
simple and straightforward. On the other hand, it may take weeks in a patient who has been hospitalized with bizarre
symptoms or multi-system problems, with involvement by several specialists.
On subsequent visits, the process may be repeated in an abbreviated manner to obtain any new history, symptoms,
physical findings, and lab or imaging results or specialist consultations.
Institutions
Contemporary medicine is in general conducted within health care systems. Legal, credentialing and financing
frameworks are established by individual governments, augmented on occasion by international organizations. The
characteristics of any given health care system have significant impact on the way medical care is provided.
Advanced industrial countries (with the exception of the United States)[33] [34] and many developing countries
provide medical services through a system of universal health care that aims to guarantee care for all through a
single-payer health care system, or compulsory private or co-operative health insurance. This is intended to ensure
that the entire population has access to medical care on the basis of need rather than ability to pay. Delivery may be
via private medical practices or by state-owned hospitals and clinics, or by charities, most commonly by a
combination of all three.
Most tribal societies, but also some capitalist countries and the United States,[33] [34] provide no guarantee of
healthcare for the population as a whole. In such societies, healthcare is available to those that can afford to pay for it
or have self-insured it (either directly or as part of an employment contract) or who may be covered by care financed
by the government or tribe directly.
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Delivery
Provision of medical care is classified into primary, secondary, and
tertiary care categories.
Primary care medical services are provided by physicians, physician
assistants, nurse practitioners, or other health professionals who have
Modern drug ampoules
first contact with a patient seeking medical treatment or care. These
occur in physician offices, clinics, nursing homes, schools, home visits,
and other places close to patients. About 90% of medical visits can be treated by the primary care provider. These
include treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes.
Secondary care medical services are provided by medical specialists in their offices or clinics or at local community
hospitals for a patient referred by a primary care provider who first diagnosed or treated the patient. Referrals are
made for those patients who required the expertise or procedures performed by specialists. These include both
ambulatory care and inpatient services, emergency rooms, intensive care medicine, surgery services, physical
therapy, labor and delivery, endoscopy units, diagnostic laboratory and medical imaging services, hospice centers,
etc. Some primary care providers may also take care of hospitalized patients and deliver babies in a secondary care
setting.
Tertiary care medical services are provided by specialist hospitals or regional centers equipped with diagnostic and
treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. These include trauma centers, burn treatment centers,
advanced neonatology unit services, organ transplants, high-risk pregnancy, radiation oncology, etc.
Modern medical care also depends on information - still delivered in many health care settings on paper records, but
increasingly nowadays by electronic means.
Branches
Working together as an interdisciplinary team, many highly trained health professionals besides medical
practitioners are involved in the delivery of modern health care. Examples include: nurses, emergency medical
technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, speech
therapists, occupational therapists, radiographers, dietitians, and bioengineers.
The scope and sciences underpinning human medicine overlap many other fields. Dentistry, while a separate
discipline from medicine, is considered a medical field.
A patient admitted to hospital is usually under the care of a specific team based on their main presenting problem,
e.g., the Cardiology team, who then may interact with other specialties, e.g., surgical, radiology, to help diagnose or
treat the main problem or any subsequent complications/developments.
Physicians have many specializations and subspecializations into certain branches of medicine, which are listed
below. There are variations from country to country regarding which specialties certain subspecialties are in.
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Basic sciences
Anatomy is the study of the physical structure of organisms. In contrast to macroscopic or gross anatomy,
cytology and histology are concerned with microscopic structures.
Biochemistry is the study of the chemistry taking place in living organisms, especially the structure and function
of their chemical components.
Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of the methods of
Mechanics.
Biostatistics is the application of statistics to biological fields in the broadest sense. A knowledge of biostatistics
is essential in the planning, evaluation, and interpretation of medical research. It is also fundamental to
epidemiology and evidence-based medicine.
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary science that uses the methods of physics and physical chemistry to study
biological systems.
Cytology is the microscopic study of individual cells.
Embryology is the study of the early development of organisms.
Endocrinology is the study of hormones and their effect throughout the body of animals.
Epidemiology is the study of the demographics of disease processes, and includes, but is not limited to, the study
of epidemics.
Genetics is the study of genes, and their role in biological inheritance.
Histology is the study of the structures of biological tissues by light microscopy, electron microscopy and
immunohistochemistry.
Immunology is the study of the immune system, which includes the innate and adaptive immune system in
humans, for example.
Medical physics is the study of the applications of physics principles in medicine.
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, including protozoa, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Molecular biology is the study of molecular underpinnings of the process of replication, transcription and
translation of the genetic material.
Neuroscience includes those disciplines of science that are related to the study of the nervous system. A main
focus of neuroscience is the biology and physiology of the human brain and spinal cord. Some related clinical
specialties include neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry.
Nutrition science (theoretical focus) and dietetics (practical focus) is the study of the relationship of food and
drink to health and disease, especially in determining an optimal diet. Medical nutrition therapy is done by
dietitians and is prescribed for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, weight and eating disorders, allergies,
malnutrition, and neoplastic diseases.
Pathology as a science is the study of diseasethe causes, course, progression and resolution thereof.
Pharmacology is the study of drugs and their actions.
Photobiology is the study of the interactions between non-ionizing radiation and living organisms.
Physiology is the study of the normal functioning of the body and the underlying regulatory mechanisms.
Radiobiology is the study of the interactions between ionizing radiation and living organisms.
Toxicology is the study of hazardous effects of drugs and poisons.
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107
Specialties
In the broadest meaning of "medicine", there are many different specialties. In the UK, most specialities will have
their own body or college (collectively known as the Royal Colleges, although currently not all use the term
"Royal"), which have their own entrance exam. The development of a speciality is often driven by new technology
(such as the development of effective anaesthetics) or ways of working (e.g., emergency departments), which leads
to the desire to form a unifying body of doctors and thence the prestige of administering their own exam.
Within medical circles, specialities usually fit into one of two broad categories: "Medicine" and "Surgery."
"Medicine" refers to the practice of non-operative medicine, and most subspecialties in this area require preliminary
training in "Internal Medicine". In the UK, this would traditionally have been evidenced by obtaining the MRCP (An
exam allowing Membership of the Royal College of Physicians or the equivalent college in Scotland or Ireland).
"Surgery" refers to the practice of operative medicine, and most subspecialties in this area require preliminary
training in "General Surgery." (In the UK: Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
(MRCS).)There are some specialties of medicine that at the present time do not fit easily into either of these
categories, such as radiology, pathology, or anesthesia. Most of these have branched from one or other of the two
camps above - for example anaesthesia developed first as a faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons (for which
MRCS/FRCS would have been required) before becoming the Royal College of Anaesthetists and membership of
the college is by sitting the FRCA (Fellowship of the Royal College of Anesthetists).
Surgery
Surgical specialties employ operative treatment. In addition, surgeons must decide when an operation is necessary,
and also treat many non-surgical issues, particularly in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), where a variety of
critical issues arise. Surgeons must also manage pre-operative, post-operative, and potential surgical candidates on
the hospital wards. Surgery has many sub-specialties, including general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, colorectal
surgery, neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery, orthopedic surgery, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, oncologic
surgery, transplant surgery, trauma surgery, urology, vascular surgery, and pediatric surgery. In some centers,
anesthesiology is part of the division of surgery (for historical and logistical reasons), although it is not a surgical
discipline. Other medical specialties may employ surgical procedures, such as ophthalmology and dermatology, but
are not considered surgical sub-specialties per se.
Surgical training in the U.S. requires a minimum of five years of residency after medical school. Sub-specialties of
surgery often require seven or more years. In addition, fellowships can last an additional one to three years. Because
post-residency fellowships can be competitive, many trainees devote two additional years to research. Thus in some
cases surgical training will not finish until more than a decade after medical school. Furthermore, surgical training
can be very difficult and time consuming.
'Medicine' as a specialty
Internal medicine is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of
unusual or serious diseases, either of one particular organ system or of the body as a whole. According to some
sources, an emphasis on internal structures is implied.[36] In North America, specialists in internal medicine are
commonly called "internists". Elsewhere, especially in Commonwealth nations, such specialists are often called
physicians.[37] These terms, internist or physician (in the narrow sense, common outside North America), generally
exclude practitioners of gynecology and obstetrics, pathology, psychiatry, and especially surgery and its
subspecialities.
Because their patients are often seriously ill or require complex investigations, internists do much of their work in
hospitals. Formerly, many internists were not subspecialized; such general physicians would see any complex
nonsurgical problem; this style of practice has become much less common. In modern urban practice, most internists
are subspecialists: that is, they generally limit their medical practice to problems of one organ system or to one
Medicine
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particular area of medical knowledge. For example, gastroenterologists and nephrologists specialize respectively in
diseases of the gut and the kidneys.[38]
In Commonwealth and some other countries, specialist pediatricians and geriatricians are also described as specialist
physicians (or internists) who have subspecialized by age of patient rather than by organ system. Elsewhere,
especially in North America, general pediatrics is often a form of Primary care.
There are many subspecialities (or subdisciplines) of internal medicine:
Cardiology
Critical care medicine
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Geriatrics
Haematology
Hepatology
Infectious diseases
Nephrology
Oncology
Pediatrics
Pulmonology/Pneumology/Respirology
Rheumatology
Sleep medicine
Training in internal medicine (as opposed to surgical training), varies considerably across the world: see the articles
on Medical education and Physician for more details. In North America, it requires at least three years of residency
training after medical school, which can then be followed by a one to three year fellowship in the subspecialties
listed above. In general, resident work hours in medicine are less than those in surgery, averaging about 60 hours per
week in the USA. This difference does not apply in the UK where all doctors are now required by law to work less
than 48 hours per week on average.
Diagnostic specialties
Clinical laboratory sciences are the clinical diagnostic services that apply laboratory techniques to diagnosis and
management of patients. In the United States, these services are supervised by a pathologist. The personnel that
work in these medical laboratory departments are technically trained staff who do not hold medical degrees, but
who usually hold an undergraduate medical technology degree, who actually perform the tests, assays, and
procedures needed for providing the specific services. Subspecialties include Transfusion medicine, Cellular
pathology, Clinical chemistry, Hematology, Clinical microbiology and Clinical immunology.
Pathology as a medical specialty is the branch of medicine that deals with the study of diseases and the
morphologic, physiologic changes produced by them. As a diagnostic specialty, pathology can be considered the
basis of modern scientific medical knowledge and plays a large role in evidence-based medicine. Many modern
molecular tests such as flow cytometry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry, cytogenetics,
gene rearrangements studies and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) fall within the territory of pathology.
Radiology is concerned with imaging of the human body, e.g. by x-rays, x-ray computed tomography,
ultrasonography, and nuclear magnetic resonance tomography.
Nuclear medicine is concerned with studying human organ systems by administering radiolabelled substances
(radiopharmaceuticals) to the body, which can then be imaged outside the body by a gamma camera or a PET
scanner. Each radiopharmaceutical consists of two parts: a tracer that is specific for the function under study (e.g.,
neurotransmitter pathway, metabolic pathway, blood flow, or other), and a radionuclide (usually either a
gamma-emitter or a positron emitter). There is a degree of overlap between nuclear medicine and radiology, as
Medicine
109
patient. The anesthesiologist's role during surgery is to prevent derangement in the vital organs' (i.e. brain, heart,
kidneys) functions and postoperative pain. Outside of the operating room, the anesthesiology physician also
served the same function in the labor & delivery ward, and some are specialized in critical medicine.
Dermatology is concerned with the skin and its diseases. In the UK, dermatology is a subspecialty of general
medicine.
Emergency medicine is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of acute or life-threatening conditions,
including trauma, surgical, medical, pediatric, and psychiatric emergencies.
Family medicine, family practice, general practice or primary care is, in many countries, the first port-of-call for
patients with non-emergency medical problems.
Obstetrics and gynecology (often abbreviated as OB/GYN (American English) or Obs & Gynae (British English))
are concerned respectively with childbirth and the female reproductive and associated organs. Reproductive
medicine and fertility medicine are generally practiced by gynecological specialists.
Medical Genetics is concerned with the diagnosis and management of hereditary disorders.
Neurology is concerned with diseases of the nervous system. In the UK, neurology is a subspecialty of general
medicine.
Ophthalmology exclusively concerned with the eye and ocular adnexa, combining conservative and surgical
therapy.
Pediatrics (AE) or paediatrics (BE) is devoted to the care of infants, children, and adolescents. Like internal
medicine, there are many pediatric subspecialties for specific age ranges, organ systems, disease classes, and sites
of care delivery.
Physical medicine and rehabilitation (or physiatry) is concerned with functional improvement after injury, illness,
or congenital disorders.
Psychiatry is the branch of medicine concerned with the bio-psycho-social study of the etiology, diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of cognitive, perceptual, emotional and behavioral disorders. Related non-medical fields
include psychotherapy and clinical psychology.
Preventive medicine is the branch of medicine concerned with preventing disease.
Community health or public health is an aspect of health services concerned with threats to the overall health
of a community based on population health analysis.
Occupational medicine's principal role is the provision of health advice to organizations and individuals to
ensure that the highest standards of health and safety at work can be achieved and maintained.
Aerospace medicine deals with medical problems related to flying and space travel.
Medicine
110
Interdisciplinary fields
Some interdisciplinary sub-specialties of medicine include:
Addiction medicine deals with the treatment of addiction.
Medical ethics deals with ethical and moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of
medicine.
Biomedical Engineering is a field dealing with the application of engineering principles to medical practice.
Clinical pharmacology is concerned with how systems of therapeutics interact with patients.
Conservation medicine studies the relationship between human and animal health, and environmental conditions.
Also known as ecological medicine, environmental medicine, or medical geology.
Disaster medicine deals with medical aspects of emergency preparedness, disaster mitigation and management.
Diving medicine (or hyperbaric medicine) is the prevention and treatment of diving-related problems.
Evolutionary medicine is a perspective on medicine derived through applying evolutionary theory.
Forensic medicine deals with medical questions in legal context, such as determination of the time and cause of
death.
Gender-based medicine studies the biological and physiological differences between the human sexes and how
that affects differences in disease.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine is a relatively modern branch of clinical medicine that deals with pain and
symptom relief and emotional support in patients with terminal illnesses including cancer and heart failure.
Hospital medicine is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. Physicians whose primary professional
focus is hospital medicine are called hospitalists in the USA.
Laser medicine involves the use of lasers in the diagnostics and/or treatment of various conditions.
Medical humanities includes the humanities (literature, philosophy, ethics, history and religion), social science
(anthropology, cultural studies, psychology, sociology), and the arts (literature, theater, film, and visual arts) and
their application to medical education and practice.
Medical informatics, medical computer science, medical information and eHealth are relatively recent fields that
deal with the application of computers and information technology to medicine.
Nosology is the classification of diseases for various purposes.
Nosokinetics is the science/subject of measuring and modelling the process of care in health and social care
systems.
Pain management (also called pain medicine, or algiatry) is the medical discipline concerned with the relief of
pain.
Pharmacogenomics is a form of individualized medicine.
Sexual medicine is concerned with diagnosing, assessing and treating all disorders related to sexuality.
Sports medicine deals with the treatment and preventive care of athletes, amateur and professional. The team
includes specialty physicians and surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, other personnel, and, of
course, the athlete.
Therapeutics is the field, more commonly referenced in earlier periods of history, of the various remedies that can
be used to treat disease and promote health [39].
Travel medicine or emporiatrics deals with health problems of international travelers or travelers across highly
different environments.
Urgent care focuses on delivery of unscheduled, walk-in care outside of the hospital emergency department for
injuries and illnesses that are not severe enough to require care in an emergency department. In some jurisdictions
this function is combined with the emergency room.
Veterinary medicine; veterinarians apply similar techniques as physicians to the care of animals.
Wilderness medicine entails the practice of medicine in the wild, where conventional medical facilities may not be
available.
Many other health science fields, e.g. dietetics
Medicine
111
Education
Medical education and training varies around the world. It typically
involves entry level education at a university medical school, followed
by a period of supervised practice or internship, and/or residency. This
can be followed by postgraduate vocational training. A variety of
teaching methods have been employed in medical education, still itself
a focus of active research.
Many regulatory authorities require continuing medical education,
since knowledge, techniques and medical technology continue to
evolve at a rapid rate.
Legal controls
Controversy
The Catholic social theorist Ivan Illich subjected contemporary western medicine to detailed attack in his Medical
Nemesis, first published in 1975. He argued that the medicalization in recent decades of so many of life's vicissitudes
birth and death, for example frequently caused more harm than good and rendered many people in effect
lifelong patients. He marshalled a body of statistics to show what he considered the shocking extent of post-operative
side-effects and drug-induced illness in advanced industrial society. He was the first to introduce to a wider public
the notion of iatrogenesis.[40] Others have since voiced similar views, but none so trenchantly, perhaps, as Illich.[41]
Through the course of the twentieth century, healthcare providers focused increasingly on the technology that was
enabling them to make dramatic improvements in patients' health. The ensuing development of a more mechanistic,
detached practice, with the perception of an attendant loss of patient-focused care, known as the medical model of
health, led to criticisms that medicine was neglecting a holistic model. The inability of modern medicine to properly
address some common complaints continues to prompt many people to seek support from alternative medicine.
Although most alternative approaches lack scientific validation, some, notably acupuncture for some conditions and
certain herbs, are backed by evidence.[42]
Medical errors and overmedication are also the focus of complaints and negative coverage. Practitioners of human
factors engineering believe that there is much that medicine may usefully gain by emulating concepts in aviation
safety, where it is recognized that it is dangerous to place too much responsibility on one "superhuman" individual
and expect him or her not to make errors. Reporting systems and checking mechanisms are becoming more common
in identifying sources of error and improving practice. Clinical versus statistical, algorithmic diagnostic methods
were famously examined in psychiatric practice in a 1954 book by Paul E. Meehl, which found statistical methods
superior.[43] A 2000 meta-analysis comparing these methods in both psychology and medicine found that statistical
or "mechanical" diagnostic methods were, in general, although not always, superior.[43]
Medicine
112
Disparities in quality of care given are often an additional cause of controversy.[44] For example, elderly mentally ill
patients received poorer care during hospitalization in a 2008 study.[45] Rural poor African-American men were used
in a study of syphilis that denied them basic medical care.
Patronage
There is a number of patron saints for physicians, the most important of whom are Saint Luke the Evangelist the
physician and disciple of Christ, Saints Cosmas and Damian (3rd-century physicians from Syria), and Saint
Pantaleon (4th-century physician from Nicomedia). Archangel Raphael is also considered a patron saint of
physicians.
The patron saints for surgeons are Saint Luke the Evangelist, the physician and disciple of Christ, Saints Cosmas and
Damian (3rd-century physicians from Syria), Saint Quentin (3rd-century saint from France), Saint Foillan
(7th-century saint from Ireland), and Saint Roch (14th-century saint from France).
References
[1] Etymology: Latin: medicina, from ars medicina "the medical art," from medicus "physician."( Etym.Online (http:/ / www. etymonline. com/
index. php?term=medicine)) Cf. mederi "to heal," etym. "know the best course for," from PIE base *med- "to measure, limit. Cf. Greek medos
"counsel, plan," Avestan vi-mad "physician")
[2] "Medicine" (http:/ / www. etymonline. com/ index. php?term=medicine) Online Etymology Dictionary
[3] Culliford Larry (December 2002). "Spirituality and clinical care (Editorial)". British Medical Journal 325 (7378): 14345.
doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7378.1434. PMC1124896. PMID12493652.
[4] Prof. Arjuna Aluvihare, "Rohal Kramaya Lovata Dhayadha Kale Sri Lankikayo" Vidhusara Science Magazine, Nov. 1993.
[5] Resource Mobilization in Sri Lanka's Health Sector (http:/ / www. hsph. harvard. edu/ ihsg/ publications/ pdf/ No-42. PDF) - Rannan-Eliya,
Ravi P. & De Mel, Nishan, Harvard School of Public Health & Health Policy Programme, , February 1997, Page 19. Accessed 2008-02-22.
[6] A. Singh and D. Sarangi (2003). "We need to think and act", Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery.
[7] H. W. Longfellow (2002). "History of Plastic Surgery in India", Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.
[8] Useful known and unknown views of the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates and his teacher Democritus. (http:/ / www. ncbi. nlm. nih.
gov/ pubmed/ 18392218), U.S. National Library of Medicine
[9] The father of modern medicine: the first research of the physical factor of tetanus (http:/ / www. blackwellpublishing. com/ eccmid16/
abstract. asp?id=50854), European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
[10] Grammaticos P.C. & Diamantis A. (2008). "Useful known and unknown views of the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates and his
teacher Democritus". Hell J Nucl Med 11 (1): 24. PMID18392218.
[11] Garrison 1966, p.97
[12] Mart-Ibez 1961, p.90
[13] Becka J (1980). "The father of medicine, Avicenna, in our science and culture: Abu Ali ibn Sina (980-1037) (Czech title: Otec lkar
Avicenna v nas vd a kulture)" (in Czech). Cas Lek Cesk 119 (1): 1723. PMID6989499.
[14] Medical Practitioners (https:/ / eee. uci. edu/ clients/ bjbecker/ PlaguesandPeople/ lecture5. html)
[15] ""The Canon of Medicine" (work by Avicenna)" (http:/ / www. britannica. com/ eb/ topic-92902/ The-Canon-of-Medicine). Encyclopdia
Britannica. 2008. . Retrieved 2008-06-11.
[16] Ahmad, Z. (St Thomas' Hospital) (2007). "Al-Zahrawi - The Father of Surgery". ANZ Journal of Surgery 77 (Suppl. 1): A83.
doi:10.1111/j.1445-2197.2007.04130_8.x
[17] Rabie E. Abdel-Halim (2006), "Contributions of Muhadhdhab Al-Deen Al-Baghdadi to the progress of medicine and urology", Saudi
Medical Journal 27 (11): 1631-1641.
[18] Chairman's Reflections (2004), "Traditional Medicine Among Gulf Arabs, Part II: Blood-letting", Heart Views 5 (2): 74-85 [80].
[19] Martn-Araguz A, Bustamante-Martnez C, Fernndez-Armayor Ajo V, Moreno-Martnez JM (2002-05-0115). "Neuroscience in
al-Andalus and its influence on medieval scholastic medicine" (in Spanish). Revista de neurologa 34 (9): 877892. PMID12134355.
[20] David W. Tschanz, PhD (2003), "Arab(?) Roots of European Medicine", Heart Views 4 (2).
[21] On the dominance of the Greek humoral theory, which was the basis for the practice of bloodletting, in medieval Islamic medicine see Peter
E. Pormann and E. Savage Smith,Medieval Islamic medicine, Georgetown University, Washington DC, 2007 p. 10, 43-45.
Medicine
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[22] Micheau, Franoise. "The Scientific Institutions in the Medieval Near East". pp. 9912, in (Morelon & Rashed 1996, pp.9851007)
[23] Peter Barrett (2004), Science and Theology Since Copernicus: The Search for Understanding, p. 18, Continuum International Publishing
Group, ISBN 056708969X.
[24] Michael Dols has shown that the Black Death was much more commonly believed by European authorities than by Middle Eastern
authorities to be contagious; as a result, flight was more commonly counseled, and in urban Italy quarantines were organized on a much wider
level than in urban Egypt or Syria (The Black Death in the Middle East Princeton, 1977, p. 119; 285-290.
[25] Page through a virtual copy of Vesalius's De Humanis Corporis Fabrica (http:/ / archive. nlm. nih. gov/ proj/ ttp/ books. htm)
[26] Madigan M, Martinko J (editors) (2006). Brock Biology of Microorganisms (11th ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN0-13-144329-1.
[27] Zimmer, Carl. 2004. Soul Made Flesh: The Discovery of the Brain - and How It Changed the World. New York: Free Press.
[28] " Pierre Fauchard: the 'Father of Modern Dentistry' (http:/ / www. nature. com/ bdj/ journal/ v201/ n12/ full/ 4814350a. html)". British
Dental Journal 201, 779 - 781 (2006)
[29] Peter Cooper, "Medicinal properties of body parts", The Pharmaceutical Journal, 18/25 December 2004, Vol. 273 / No 7330, pp. 900-902
http:/ / www. pharmj. com/ editorial/ 20041218/ christmas/ p900bodyparts. html
[30] Ezzo J, Bausell B, Moerman DE, Berman B, Hadhazy V (2001). "Reviewing the reviews. How strong is the evidence? How clear are the
conclusions?". Int J Technol Assess Health Care 17 (4): 457466. PMID11758290.
[31] Coulehan JL, Block MR (2005). The Medical Interview: Mastering Skills for Clinical Practice (5th ed.). F. A. Davis. ISBN0-8036-1246-X.
OCLC232304023.
[32] Addison K, Braden JH, Cupp JE, Emmert D, et al. (AHIMA e-HIM Work Group on the Legal Health Record) (September 2005). "Update:
Guidelines for Defining the Legal Health Record for Disclosure Purposes" (http:/ / library. ahima. org/ xpedio/ groups/ public/ documents/
ahima/ bok1_027921. hcsp?dDocName=bok1_027921). Journal of AHIMA 78 (8): 64AG. PMID16245584. .
[33] Insuring America's Health: Principles and Recommendations (http:/ / www. iom. edu/ Reports/ 2004/
Insuring-Americas-Health-Principles-and-Recommendations. aspx), Institute of Medicine at the National Academies of Science, 2004-01-14
[34] "The Case For Single Payer, Universal Health Care For The United States" (http:/ / cthealth. server101. com/
the_case_for_universal_health_care_in_the_united_states. htm). Cthealth.server101.com. . Retrieved 2009-05-04.
[35] Martin Sipkoff (January 2004). "Transparency called key to uniting cost control, quality improvement" (http:/ / www. managedcaremag.
com/ archives/ 0401/ 0401. forum. html). Managed Care. .
[36] " internal medicine (http:/ / www. mercksource. com/ pp/ us/ cns/ cns_hl_dorlands_split. jsp?pg=/ ppdocs/ us/ common/ dorlands/ dorland/
five/ 000063883. htm)" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
[37] H.W. Fowler. (1994). A Dictionary of Modern English Usage (Wordsworth Collection) (Wordsworth Collection). NTC/Contemporary
Publishing Company. ISBN1853263184.
[38] "The Royal Australasian College of Physicians: What are Physicians?" (http:/ / web. archive. org/ web/ 20080306053048/ http:/ / www.
racp. edu. au/ index. cfm?objectid=49EF1EB5-2A57-5487-D74DBAFBAE9143A3). Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Archived
from the original (http:/ / www. racp. edu. au/ index. cfm?objectid=49EF1EB5-2A57-5487-D74DBAFBAE9143A3) on 2008-03-06. .
Retrieved 2008-02-05.
[39] http:/ / www. britannica. com/ eb/ article-9106176?query=Therapeutics& ct=
[40] Illich Ivan (1974). Medical Nemesis. London: Calder & Boyars. ISBN0714510963. OCLC224760852.
[41] Postman Neil (1992). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York: Knopf. OCLC24694343.
[42] The HealthWatch Award 2005: (http:/ / www. healthwatch-uk. org/ awardwinners/ edzardernst. html) Prof. Edzard Ernst, Complementary
medicine: the good the bad and the ugly. Retrieved 5 August 2006.
[43] Grove WH, Zald DH, Lebow BS, Snitz BE, Nelson C. (2000). "Clinical versus mechanical prediction: A meta-analysis" (http:/ / www.
psych. umn. edu/ faculty/ grove/ 096clinicalversusmechanicalprediction. pdf) (w). Psychological Assessment 12 (1): 1930.
doi:10.1037/1040-3590.12.1.19. PMID10752360. .
[44] "Eliminating Health Disparities" (http:/ / www. ama-assn. org/ ama/ pub/ physician-resources/ public-health/ eliminating-health-disparities.
shtml). American Medical Association. .
[45] "Mental Disorders, Quality of Care, and Outcomes Among Older Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure" (http:/ / archpsyc. ama-assn. org/
cgi/ content/ abstract/ 65/ 12/ 1402). .
Medical history
114
Medical history
The medical history or anamnesis[1] [2] (abbr. Hx) of a patient is information gained by a physician by asking
specific questions, either of the patient or of other people who know the person and can give suitable information (in
this case, it is sometimes called heteroanamnesis), with the aim of obtaining information useful in formulating a
diagnosis and providing medical care to the patient. The medically relevant complaints reported by the patient or
others familiar with the patient are referred to as symptoms, in contrast with clinical signs, which are ascertained by
direct examination on the part of medical personnel. Most health encounters will result in some form of history being
taken. Medical histories vary in their depth and focus. For example, an ambulance paramedic would typically limit
his history to important details, such as name, history of presenting complaint, allergies, etc. In contrast, a psychiatric
history is frequently lengthy and in depth, as many details about the patient's life are relevant to formulating a
management plan for a psychiatric illness.
The information obtained in this way, together with clinical examination, enables the physician to form a diagnosis
and treatment plan. If a diagnosis cannot be made, a provisional diagnosis may be formulated, and other possibilities
(the differential diagnoses) may be added, listed in order of likelihood by convention. The treatment plan may then
include further investigations to clarify the diagnosis.
Process
A practitioner typically asks questions to obtain the following
information about the patient:
Identification and demographics: name, age, height, weight.
The "chief complaint (CC)" - the major health problem or concern,
and its time course (e.g. chest pain for past 4 hours).
History of the present illness (HPI) - details about the complaints,
enumerated in the CC. (Also often called 'History of presenting
complaint' or HPC.)
Past Medical History (PMH) (including major illnesses, any
previous surgery/operations, any current ongoing illness, e.g.
diabetes).
Review of systems (ROS) Systematic questioning about different
organ systems
Family diseases - especially those relevant to the patient's chief
complaint.
Childhood diseases - this is very important in pediatrics.
Example
Medical history
115
Review of systems
Whatever system a specific condition may seem restricted to, it may be reasonable to review all the other systems in
a comprehensive history.
Inhibiting factors
Factors that inhibit a proper medical history taking include physical inability of the patient to communicate with the
physician, such as unconsciousness and communication disorders. In such cases, it may be necessary to perform a so
called heteroanamnesis of other people who know the person and can give suitable information, which, however,
generally is more limited than a direct anamnesis.
Medical history taking may also be impaired by various factors impeding a proper doctor-patient relationship, such
as transitions to physicians that are and unfamiliar to the patient.
History taking of issues related to sexual or reproductive medicine may be inhibited by a reluctance of the patient to
disclose intimate or uncomfortable information. Even if such an issue is on the patient's mind, he or she often doesn't
start talking about such an issue without the physician initiating the subject by a specific question about sexual or
reproductive health.[3] Some familiarity with the doctor generally makes it easier for patients to talk about intimate
issues such as sexual subjects, but for some patients, a very high degree of familiarity may make the patient reluctant
to reveal such intimate issues.[3] When visiting a health provider about sexual issues, having both partners of a
couple present is often necessary, and is typically a good thing, but may also prevent the disclosure of certain
subjects, and, according to one report, increases the stress level.[3]
References
[1] Georg Klemperer (1904). The Elements of clinical diagnosis (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?vid=OCLC13821145&
id=sePtO3Y5EMwC& pg=PA4& lpg=PA4& dq=anamnesis). Macmillan. .
[2] Plinio Prioreschi (1998). Roman medicine (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?vid=ISBN1888456035& id=H3ZaIYAaOSQC& pg=PA489&
lpg=PA489& dq=anamnesis+ "medical+ history"& sig=INJCevRz3As9iZb3jKjJz6tmvhk). 3 (reprint ed.). Horatius Press.
ISBN9781888456035. .
[3] 'The Cringe Report' (http:/ / www. medscape. com/ viewarticle/ 743689_3) By Susan Quilliam. Posted: 06/28/2011; J Fam Plann Reprod
Health Care. 2011;37(2):110-112.
Chief complaint
116
Chief complaint
The Chief Complaint formally known as CC in the medical field, or termed Presenting Complaint (PC) in the UK,
is a concise statement describing the symptom, problem, condition, diagnosis, physician recommended return, or
other factor that is the reason for a medical encounter.[1] The patient's initial comments to a physician, nurse, or other
health care professional help form the differential diagnosis.
In some instances, the nature of a patient's chief complaint may determine whether or not services are covered by
medical or vision insurance.[2]
Medical students are advised to use open-ended questions in order to obtain the presenting complaint.[3]
Prevalence
The collection of chief complaint data may be useful in addressing public health issues.[4] Certain complaints are
more common in certain settings and among certain populations. Fatigue has been reported as one of the ten most
common reasons for seeing a physician.[5] In acute care settings, such as emergency rooms, reports of chest pain are
among the most common chief complaints.[6] The most common complaint in ERs has been reported to be
abdominal pain.[7] Among nursing home residents seeking treatment at ERs, respiratory symptoms, altered mental
status, gastrointestinal symptoms, and falls are the most commonly reported.[8]
[9]
CC
HPI
ROS
Problem focused
Required
Brief
N/A
N/A
Required
Brief
Problem pertinent
N/A
Detailed
Required
Extended
Extended
Pertinent
Comprehensive
Required
Extended
Complete
Complete
References
[1] http:/ / www. usc. edu/ health/ uscp/ compliance/ tm6. html#6
[2] Optometric Management (http:/ / www. optometric. com/ article. aspx?article=71722)
[3] sBMJ | Taking a history: Introduction and the presenting complaint (http:/ / www. studentbmj. com/ issues/ 05/ 09/ education/ 314. php)
[4] http:/ / www. cdc. gov/ PHIN/ architecture/ implementation_guides/ Healthcare%20Related/
PHIN_Healthcare_Encounter_Chief_Complaint_v231. pdf
[5] Nelson E, Kirk J, McHugo G, Douglass R, Ohler J, Wasson J, Zubkoff M. (Summer 1987). "Chief complaint fatigue: a longitudinal study
from the patient's perspective". Fam Pract Res J. 6 (4): 17588. PMID3455125.
[6] Emergency Medicine (http:/ / www. emedmag. com/ html/ pre/ cov/ covers/ 021504. asp)
[7] Graff LG 4th, Robinson D. (Feb 2001). "Abdominal pain and emergency department evaluation" (http:/ / cat. inist. fr/ ?aModele=afficheN&
cpsidt=917754). Emerg Med Clin North Am. 19 (1): 12336. doi:10.1016/S0733-8627(05)70171-1. PMID11214394. .
[8] Ackermann RJ, Kemle KA, Vogel RL, Griffin RC Jr (Jun 1998). "Emergency department use by nursing home residents". Ann Emerg Med.
31 (6): 74957. doi:10.1016/S0196-0644(98)70235-5. PMID9624316.
[9] "www.cms.gov" (http:/ / www. cms. gov/ MLNProducts/ downloads/ eval_mgmt_serv_guide-ICN006764. pdf). . Retrieved 2011-02-27.
Chief complaint
117
External links
MedEd at Loyola ipm/comphx1/sld003.htm (http://www.meddean.luc.edu/Lumen/MedEd/ipm/comphx1/
sld003.htm)
Chief+complaint (http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/srchcont_dict.asp?src=Chief+complaint) at
eMedicine Dictionary
Questions to include
Different sources include different questions to be asked while conducting an HPI.
Several acronyms have been developed to categorize the appropriate questions to include.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published criteria for what constitutes a reimbursable HPI. A
"brief HPI" constitutes one to three of these elements. A "extended HPI" includes four or more of these elements.[2]
[3]
CMS
[4] [5]
"OPQRST"
[6] [7]
or "PQRST"
[8]
"CLEARAST"
[9]
"LIQOR AAA"
[10]
"SCHOLAR"
("S" = Symptoms)
location
"L": Location
"L": Location
"L:" Location
quality
"C": Character
"Q": Quality
"C:" Characteristics
"R": Radiation
"R": Radiation
see above
severity
"S": Severity
"S": Severity
"I": Intensity
see above
duration
"O": Onset
"O": Onset
"O:" Onset
"H:" History
timing
"T": Time
see above
see above
see above
context
modifying factors
Medicare definitions
118
[11]
CC
HPI
ROS
Problem focused
Required
Brief
N/A
N/A
Required
Brief
Problem pertinent
N/A
Detailed
Required
Extended
Extended
Pertinent
Comprehensive
Required
Extended
Complete
Complete
References
[1] Adler HM (1997). "The history of the present illness as treatment: who's listening, and why does it matter?". J Am Board Fam Pract 10 (1):
2835. PMID9018660.
Evaluation and Management Coding and Electronic Health Records (http:/ / www. emrconsultant. com/ emr_EMcoding. php)
http:/ / www. usc. edu/ health/ uscp/ compliance/ tm6. html#6
Medical Assessment (http:/ / hopperinstitute. com/ emt_medical. html)
Learning To Perform a Medical Assessment Part 1: Quick Medical Assessment (http:/ / www. alpharubicon. com/ med/
medaccesshaumanao. htm)
[6] WEMSI - Assessment by PQRST (http:/ / www. wemsi. org/ pqrst. html)
[7] Department of Medicine Home Page (http:/ / www. usask. ca/ medicine/ medicine/ clsc. htm)
[8] Dartmouth Medicine Magazine :: Student Notebook (http:/ / dartmed. dartmouth. edu/ spring06/ html/ student_notebook. php)
[9] HPI (history of present illness) (http:/ / www. aippg. net/ forum/ viewtopic. php?p=71106)
[10] Buring SM, Kirby J, Conrad WF (February 2007). "A structured approach for teaching students to counsel self-care patients". Am J Pharm
Educ 71 (1): 8. PMC1847542. PMID17429508.
[11] "www.cms.gov" (http:/ / www. cms. gov/ MLNProducts/ downloads/ eval_mgmt_serv_guide-ICN006764. pdf). . Retrieved 2011-02-27.
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
External links
Overview at medicine.ucsd.edu (http://medicine.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed/history.htm)
Overview at medinfo.ufl.edu (http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs96/interv/hpians.html)
119
Questions to include
Different sources include different questions to be asked while conducting a PMH, but in general, they include the
following:
General state of health: e.g. excellent, good, fair, poor. Note any significant change from previous state.
Past illnesses: e.g. cancer, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes.
Hospitalizations: including all medical, surgical, and psychiatric hospitalizations. Note the date, reason, duration
Acronyms
Several acronyms have been developed to categorize the appropriate questions to include:
"MMASH", for Medical Illnesses, Medications, Allergies, Surgeries, Hospitalizations.[3]
"PAM HUGS FOSS",[4] for
Previous presence of the symptom (same chief complaint)
Allergies (drugs, foods, chemicals, dust, etc.)
Medicines (any drugs the patient used)
120
Medicare definitions
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services[5] has published criteria for what constitutes a reimbursable PMH.
A PMH is considered one of three elements of the "Past, Family, and Social History" (abbreviated as PFSH):[6]
Past medical history: "the patient's past experiences with illnesses, operations, injuries and treatments";
Family history: "a review of medical events in the patient's family, including diseases which may be hereditary or
place the patient at risk";
Social history: "an age-appropriate review of past and current activities".
A pertinent PFSH consists of at least one of the three components; a full PFSH consists of two or three components
for an established patient, or all three components for a new patient visit.[7]
[8]
CC
HPI
ROS
Problem focused
Required
Brief
N/A
N/A
Required
Brief
Problem pertinent
N/A
Detailed
Required
Extended
Extended
Pertinent
Comprehensive
Required
Extended
Complete
Complete
References
[1] Swartz, Mark (2002). Textbook of Physical Diagnosis: History and Examination. Philadelphia: Saunders. pp.1923. ISBN1-4160-2405-0.
[2] http:/ / www. sciencedaily. com/ releases/ 2004/ 09/ 040907083159. htm Science News: Enlarged Tonsils, Adenoids And Allergies May
Affect A Child's Bite, Facial Appearance And/Or Behavior
[3] Useful Acronyms for Facilitators and Students (http:/ / www. oucom. ohiou. edu/ FD/ Useful Acronyms for Facilitators and Students1. htm)
[4] HPI (history of present illness) (http:/ / www. aippg. net/ forum/ viewtopic. php?p=71106)
[5] http:/ / www. cms. hhs. gov/
[6] Evaluation and Management Coding and Electronic Health Records (http:/ / www. emrconsultant. com/ emr_EMcoding. php)
[7] Evaluation and Management Coding and Electronic Health Records (http:/ / www. emrconsultant. com/ emr_EMcoding. php)
[8] "www.cms.gov" (http:/ / www. cms. gov/ MLNProducts/ downloads/ eval_mgmt_serv_guide-ICN006764. pdf). . Retrieved 2011-02-27.
External links
Overview at medinfo.ufl.edu (http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/bcs96/interv/pmh.html)
An example of Past Medical History Questionnaire (http://www.bcm.edu/breastcenter/?PMID=11131)
Review of systems
121
Review of systems
A review of systems (also called a systems enquiry) is a component of an admission note covering the organ
systems, with a focus upon the subjective symptoms perceived by the patient (as opposed to the objective signs
perceived by the clinician). It can be particularly useful in identifying conditions that don't have precise diagnostic
tests.[1]
Examples
Whatever system a specific condition may seem restricted to, it may be reasonable to review all the other systems in
a comprehensive history. Different sources describe slightly different systems of organizing the organ systems.
However, the following are examples of what can be included:
There are 14 systems recognized by the CMS:[2]
System
Examples
Constitutional symptoms
(e.g., fever, weight loss)
unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fatigue/malaise/lethargy, sleeping pattern, appetite, fever, itch/rash, recent
trauma, lumps/bumps/masses, unexplained falls
Eyes
visual changes, headache, eye pain, double vision, scotomas (blind spots), floaters or "feeling like a curtain got
pulled down" (retinal hemorrhage vs amaurosis fugax)
Ears, nose, mouth, and throat Runny nose, frequent nose bleeds (epistaxis), sinus pain, stuffy ears, ear pain, ringing in ears (tinnitus), gingival
(ENT)
bleeding, toothache, sore throat, pain with swallowing (odynophagia)
Cardiovascular
chest pain, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, PND, orthopnoea, oedema, palpitations, faintness, loss of
consciousness, claudication
Respiratory
Gastrointestinal
abdominal pain, unintentional weight loss, difficulty swallowing (solids vs liquids), indigestion, bloating, cramping,
anorexia, food avoidance, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea/constipation, inability to pass gas (obstipation), vomiting blood
(haematemesis), bright red blood per rectum (BRBPR, hematochezia), foul smelling dark black tarry stools
(melaena), dry heaves of the bowels (tenesmus)
Genitourinary
Urinary: Irritative vs Obstructive symptoms: Micturition - incontinence, dysuria, haematuria, nocturia, polyuria,
hesitancy, terminal dribbling, decreased force of stream
Genital: Vaginal - discharge, pain, Menses - frequency, regularity, heavy or light (ask about excessive use of
pads/tampons, staining of clothes, clots always indicate heavy bleeding), duration, pain, first day of last menstrual
period (LMP), gravida/para/abortus, menarche, menopause, contraception (if relevant), date of last smear test and
result
Musculoskeletal
pain, misalignment, stiffness (morning vs day long; improves/worsens with activity), joint swelling, decreased range
of motion, crepitus, functional deficit, arthritis
Integumentary
pruritus, rashes, stria, lesions, wounds, incisions, acanthosis nigricans, nodules, tumors, eczema, excessive dryness
and/or discoloration.
Neurological
Special senses - any changes in sight, smell, hearing and taste, seizures, faints, fits, funny turns, headache, pins and
needles (paraesthesiae) or numbness, limb weakness, poor balance, speech problems, sphincter disturbance, higher
mental function and psychiatric symptoms
Psychiatric
depression, sleep patterns, anxiety, difficult concentrating, body image, work and school performance, paranoia,
ahedonia, lack of energy, episodes of mania, episodic change in personality, expansive personality, sexual or
financial 'binges',
Review of systems
122
Endocrine
Hyperthyroid: prefer cold weather, mood swings, sweaty, diarrhoea, oligomenorrhoea, weight loss despite increased
appetite, tremor, palpitations, visual disturbances;
Hypothyroid - prefer hot weather, slow, tired, depressed, thin hair, croaky voice, heavy periods, constipation, dry
skin
Diabetes: polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia (constant hunger without weight gain is more typical for a type I diabetic
than type II), symptoms of hypoglycemia such as dizziness, sweating, headache,hunger, tongue dysarticulation
Adrenal: difficult to treat hypertension, chronic low blood pressure, orthostatic symptoms, darkening of skin in
non-sun exposed places
Reproductive (female): menarche, cycle duration and frequency, vaginal bleeding irregularities, use of birth control
pills
Reproductive (male): difficulty with erection or sexual arousal, depression, lack of stamina/energy
Hematologic/lymphatic
anemia, purpura, petechia, results from routine hemolytic diseases screening, prolonged or excessive bleeding after
dental extraction / injury, use of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs (including aspirin), family history of
hemophilia, history of a blood transfusion, refused for blood donation
Allergic/immunologic
"Difficulty breathing" or "choking" (anaphylaxis) as a result of exposure to anything (and state what; e.g. "bee
sting"). Swelling or pain at groin(s), axilla(e) or neck (swollen lymph nodes/glands), allergic response (rash/itch) to
materials, foods, animals (e.g. cats); reaction to bee sting, unusual sneezing (in response to what), runny nose or
itchy/teary eyes; food, medication or environmental allergy test(s) results.
Relationship to history
[2]
CC
HPI
ROS
Problem focused
Required
Brief
N/A
N/A
Required
Brief
Problem pertinent
N/A
Detailed
Required
Extended
Extended
Pertinent
Comprehensive
Required
Extended
Complete
Complete
For CMS, a "problem pertinent" ROS is limited to the problem(s) identified in the HPI; an "extended" ROS covers
an additional 2 to 9 systems, and a "complete" ROS covers at least 10 additional systems.[2]
References
[1] Tuite PJ, Krawczewski K (April 2007). "Parkinsonism: a review-of-systems approach to diagnosis" (http:/ / www. thieme-connect. com/ DOI/
DOI?10. 1055/ s-2007-971174). Semin Neurol 27 (2): 11322. doi:10.1055/s-2007-971174. PMID17390256. .
[2] "www.cms.gov" (http:/ / www. cms. gov/ MLNProducts/ downloads/ eval_mgmt_serv_guide-ICN006764. pdf). . Retrieved 2011-02-27.
[3] Lynn S. Bickley; Peter G. Szilagyi (1 December 2008). Bates' guide to physical examination and history taking (http:/ / books. google. com/
books?id=j272REejmWMC& pg=PA10). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp.10. ISBN9780781780582. . Retrieved 27 February 2011.
Biological system
123
Biological system
In biology, a biological system (or organ
system or body system) is a group of
organs that work together to perform a
certain task. Common systems, such as
those present in mammals and other
animals, seen in human anatomy, are those
such as the circulatory system, the
respiratory system, the nervous system, etc.
A group of systems composes an organism,
e.g. the human body.
Human organism
These specific systems are widely studied in
Human anatomy. "Human" systems are also
present in many other animals.
Circulatory system: pumping and
channeling blood to and from the body
and lungs with heart, blood and blood vessels.
An example of a system: The nervous system. This basic diagram shows that this
system is made up of 4 different basic organs: the brain, the cerebellum, the spinal
cord, and the nerves.
Digestive system: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas, intestines, rectum and anus.
Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands such as the
hypothalamus, pituitary or pituitary gland, pineal body or pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroids and adrenals, i.e.,
adrenal glands.
Integumentary system: skin, hair, fat, and nails.
Lymphatic system: structures involved in the transfer of lymph between tissues and the blood stream, the lymph
and the nodes and vessels that transport it including the Immune system: defending against disease-causing agents
with leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus and spleen.
Muscular system: movement with muscles.
Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and
nerves.
Reproductive system: the sex organs, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, testes, vas
deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis.
Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs and diaphragm.
Skeletal system: structural support and protection with bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.
Urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance and excretion
of urine.
Biological system
124
External links
Systems Biology: An Overview [1] by Mario Jardon: A review from the Science Creative Quarterly, 2005.
Synthesis and Analysis of a Biological System [2], by Hiroyuki Kurata, 1999.
Semantic Systems Biology [3]
organ system are divided into 8 parts
skeletal system
muscular system
digestive system
respiratory system
circulatory system
excretory system
nervous system
reproductive system
References
[1] http:/ / www. scq. ubc. ca/ ?p=253
[2] http:/ / www. genome. ad. jp/ manuscripts/ GIW99/ Poster/ GIW99P66. pdf.
[3] http:/ / www. semantic-systems-biology. org
Uses
Although often neglected,[1] many healthcare professionals glean information on family morbidity of particular
diseases (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, mental disorders, diabetes, cancer) to assess whether a
person is at risk of developing similar problems.
Family histories may be imprecise because of various possible reasons:
Some medical conditions are carried only by the female line, and tracing female ancestors can be difficult in
societies that change the woman's family name when she marries. Death records often give the maiden name of the
deceased, and possibly also the deceased's mothers maiden name. Some of the most useful records for tracing
women are wills and probate records.
Other medical conditions are carried only by the male line. Tracing male ancestors may be impossible if the
conception is due to rape or sexual activity outside of a marriage.
125
Consequences
Not all positive family histories imply a genetic cause. If various members of the same family have been exposed to
the same toxin, then they may develop similar symptoms without a genetic cause.
If a patient has a strong family history of a particular disorder (or group of disorders), this will generally lead to a
lower threshold for investigating symptoms.
In diseases with a known hereditary component, many healthy people are now tested early to prevent the symptoms
from developing. This has become accepted in cystic fibrosis, hemochromatosis and various other disorders.
Definitions
[2]
CC
HPI
ROS
Problem focused
Required
Brief
N/A
N/A
Required
Brief
Problem pertinent
N/A
Detailed
Required
Extended
Extended
Pertinent
Comprehensive
Required
Extended
Complete
Complete
References
[1] Rich E. C., et al. (2004) "Reconsidering the family history in primary care" in: J Gen Intern Med 2004;19:273-80. PMID 15009784.
[2] "www.cms.gov" (http:/ / www. cms. gov/ MLNProducts/ downloads/ eval_mgmt_serv_guide-ICN006764. pdf). . Retrieved 2011-02-27.
Disability-adjusted life year for childhood-cluster diseases per 100,000inhabitants. These include
pertussis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, measles, and tetanus.no databrianna
2525-5050-100100-200200-300300-400400-500500-750750-10001000-20002000-3000
3000
126
Chickenpox
Croup
Cystic Fibrosis
Cytomegalovirus (the virus most frequently transmitted before birth)
dental caries
Diabetes(Type 1)
Diphtheria
Downs syndrome
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Fifth disease
Rickets
Congenital Heart Disease
Influenza
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Leukemia
Measles
Meningitis
Molluscum contagiosum
Mumps
Nephrotic syndrome
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Osteogenesis Imperfecta(OI)
Pneumonia
Polio
Protein energy malnutrition
Rheumatic fever
Roseola
Rubella
Sever's disease
Tetanus
Tuberculosis
Whooping cough
Hepatitis A
Fever
Scarlet fever (Scarletina)
ADD
ADHD
Mono
Lyme Disease
Xerophthalmia
127
Components
Components can include inquiries about:
Substances
Alcohol
Tobacco (pack years)
illicit drugs
occupation
sexual preference (increased risk of various infections among prostitutes, johns, and males engaging in
anal-receptive intercourse)
prison (especially if tuberculosis needs to be ruled out)
travel
Relationship to history
[2]
CC
HPI
ROS
Problem focused
Required
Brief
N/A
N/A
Required
Brief
Problem pertinent
N/A
Detailed
Required
Extended
Extended
Pertinent
Comprehensive
Required
Extended
Complete
Complete
References
[1] "Medscape.com" (http:/ / www. medscape. com/ viewarticle/ 414658). . Retrieved 2009-04-10.
[2] "www.cms.gov" (http:/ / www. cms. gov/ MLNProducts/ downloads/ eval_mgmt_serv_guide-ICN006764. pdf). . Retrieved 2011-02-27.
Allergy
128
Allergy
Allergy
Classification and external resources
ICD-10
T78.4
ICD-9
995.3
DiseasesDB
33481
MedlinePlus
000812
eMedicine
med/1101
MeSH
D006967
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system.[7] Allergic reactions occur to normally harmless
environmental substances known as allergens; these reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid. Strictly, allergy is
one of four forms of hypersensitivity and is called type I (or immediate) hypersensitivity. It is characterized by
excessive activation of certain white blood cells called mast cells and basophils by a type of antibody known as IgE,
resulting in an extreme inflammatory response. Common allergic reactions include eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma
attacks, food allergies, and reactions to the venom of stinging insects such as wasps and bees.[8]
Mild allergies like hay fever are highly prevalent in the human population and cause symptoms such as allergic
conjunctivitis, itchiness, and runny nose. Allergies can play a major role in conditions such as asthma. In some
people, severe allergies to environmental or dietary allergens or to medication may result in life-threatening
anaphylactic reactions.
A variety of tests now exist to diagnose allergic conditions; these include testing the skin for responses to known
allergens or analyzing the blood for the presence and levels of allergen-specific IgE. Treatments for allergies include
allergen avoidance, use of anti-histamines, steroids, or other oral medications, immunotherapy to desensitize the
response to allergen, and targeted therapy.
Allergy
129
Symptom
Nose
Sinuses
allergic sinusitis
Eyes
Airways
Sneezing, coughing, bronchoconstriction, wheezing and dyspnea, sometimes outright attacks of asthma, in
severe cases the airway constricts due to swelling known as laryngeal edema
Ears
feeling of fullness, possibly pain, and impaired hearing due to the lack of eustachian tube drainage.
Skin
Gastrointestinal
tract
Many allergens such as dust or pollen are airborne particles. In these cases, symptoms arise in areas in contact with
air, such as eyes, nose, and lungs. For instance, allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, causes irritation of the
nose, sneezing, itching, and redness of the eyes.[9] Inhaled allergens can also lead to asthmatic symptoms, caused by
narrowing of the airways (bronchoconstriction) and increased production of mucus in the lungs, shortness of breath
(dyspnea), coughing and wheezing.[10]
Aside from these ambient allergens, allergic reactions can result from foods, insect stings, and reactions to
medications like aspirin and antibiotics such as penicillin. Symptoms of food allergy include abdominal pain,
bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin, and swelling of the skin during hives. Food allergies rarely cause respiratory
(asthmatic) reactions, or rhinitis.[11] Insect stings, antibiotics, and certain medicines produce a systemic allergic
response that is also called anaphylaxis; multiple organ systems can be affected, including the digestive system, the
respiratory system, and the circulatory system.[12] [13] [14] Depending on the rate of severity, it can cause cutaneous
reactions, bronchoconstriction, edema, hypotension, coma, and even death. This type of reaction can be triggered
suddenly, or the onset can be delayed. The severity of this type of allergic response often requires injections of
epinephrine, sometimes through a device known as the EpiPen or Twinject auto-injector. The nature of anaphylaxis
is such that the reaction can seem to be subsiding, but may recur throughout a prolonged period of time.[14]
Substances that come into contact with the skin, such as latex, are also common causes of allergic reactions, known
as contact dermatitis or eczema.[15] Skin allergies frequently cause rashes, or swelling and inflammation within the
skin, in what is known as a "wheal and flare" reaction characteristic of hives and angioedema.[16]
Cause
Risk factors for allergy can be placed in two general categories, namely host and environmental factors.[17] Host
factors include heredity, gender, race, and age, with heredity being by far the most significant. However, there have
been recent increases in the incidence of allergic disorders that cannot be explained by genetic factors alone. Four
major environmental candidates are alterations in exposure to infectious diseases during early childhood,
environmental pollution, allergen levels, and dietary changes.[18]
Allergy
130
Foods
One of the most common food allergies is a sensitivity to peanuts. Peanut allergies may be extremely severe, but can
sometimes be outgrown by children school-age.[19] Tree nuts, including pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, and walnuts,
are another common allergen. Sufferers may be sensitive to one, or many, tree nuts.[20] Also seeds, including sesame
seeds and poppy seeds, contain oils where protein is present, which may elicit an allergic reaction.[20]
Egg allergies affect one to two percent of children but are outgrown by about two-thirds of children by the age of
5.[21] The sensitivity is usually to proteins in the white rather than the yolk.[20]
Milk, from cows, goats, or sheep, is another common allergy-causing food, and many sufferers are also unable to
tolerate dairy products such as cheese. Lactose intolerance, a common reaction to milk, is not in fact a form of
allergy. A small portion of children with a milk allergy, roughly ten percent, will have a reaction to beef. Beef
contains a small amount of protein that is present in cow's milk.[22]
Other foods containing allergenic proteins include soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, fruits, vegetables, spices, synthetic and
natural colors, chicken, and chemical additives.
Non-food proteins
Latex can trigger an IgE-mediated cutaneous, respiratory, and systemic reaction. The prevalence of latex allergy in
the general population is believed to be less than one percent. In a hospital study, one in 800 surgical patients (0.125
percent) report latex sensitivity, although the sensitivity among healthcare workers is higher, between seven and ten
percent. Researchers attribute this higher level to the exposure of healthcare workers to areas with significant
airborne latex allergens, such as operating rooms, intensive-care units, and dental suites. These latex-rich
environments may sensitize healthcare workers who regularly inhale allergenic proteins.[23]
The most prevalent response to latex is an allergic contact dermatitis, a delayed hypersensitive reaction appearing as
dry, crusted lesions. This reaction usually lasts 48 to 96 hours. Sweating or rubbing the area under the glove
aggravates the lesions, possibly leading to ulcerations.[23] Anaphylactic reactions occur most often in sensitive
patients, who have been exposed to the surgeon's latex gloves during abdominal surgery, but other mucosal
exposures, such as dental procedures, can also produce systemic reactions.[23]
Latex and banana sensitivity may cross-react; furthermore, patients with latex allergy may also have sensitivities to
avocado, kiwifruit, and chestnut.[24] These patients often have perioral itching and local urticaria. Only occasionally
have these food-induced allergies induced systemic responses. Researchers suspect that the cross-reactivity of latex
with banana, avocado, kiwifruit, and chestnut occurs because latex proteins are structurally homologous with some
plant proteins.[23]
Allergy
131
Genetic basis
Allergic diseases are strongly familial: identical twins are likely to have the same allergic diseases about 70% of the
time; the same allergy occurs about 40% of the time in non-identical twins.[29] Allergic parents are more likely to
have allergic children,[30] and their allergies are likely to be more severe than those from non-allergic parents. Some
allergies, however, are not consistent along genealogies; parents who are allergic to peanuts may have children who
are allergic to ragweed. It seems that the likelihood of developing allergies is inherited and related to an irregularity
in the immune system, but the specific allergen is not.[30]
The risk of allergic sensitization and the development of allergies varies with age, with young children most at
risk.[31] Several studies have shown that IgE levels are highest in childhood and fall rapidly between the ages of 10
and 30 years.[31] The peak prevalence of hay fever is highest in children and young adults and the incidence of
asthma is highest in children under 10.[32] Overall, boys have a higher risk of developing allergy than girls,[30]
although for some diseases, namely asthma in young adults, females are more likely to be affected.[33] Sex
differences tend to decrease in adulthood.[30] Ethnicity may play a role in some allergies; however, racial factors
have been difficult to separate from environmental influences and changes due to migration.[30] It has been suggested
that different genetic loci are responsible for asthma, to be specific, in people of European, Hispanic, Asian, and
African origins.[34]
Hygiene hypothesis
Allergic diseases are caused by inappropriate immunological responses to harmless antigens driven by a
TH2-mediated immune response. Many bacteria and viruses elicit a TH1-mediated immune response, which
down-regulates TH2 responses. The first proposed mechanism of action of the hygiene hypothesis stated that
insufficient stimulation of the TH1 arm of the immune system lead to an overactive TH2 arm, which in turn led to
allergic disease.[35] In other words, individuals living in too sterile an environment are not exposed to enough
pathogens to keep the immune system busy. Since our bodies evolved to deal with a certain level of such pathogens,
when it is not exposed to this level, the immune system will attack harmless antigens and thus normally benign
microbial objects like pollen will trigger an immune response.[36]
The hygiene hypothesis was developed to explain the observation that hay fever and eczema, both allergic diseases,
were less common in children from larger families, which were, it is presumed, exposed to more infectious agents
through their siblings, than in children from families with only one child. The hygiene hypothesis has been
extensively investigated by immunologists and epidemiologists and has become an important theoretical framework
for the study of allergic disorders. It is used to explain the increase in allergic diseases that have been seen since
industrialization, and the higher incidence of allergic diseases in more developed countries. The hygiene hypothesis
has now expanded to include exposure to symbiotic bacteria and parasites as important modulators of immune
system development, along with infectious agents.
Epidemiological data support the hygiene hypothesis. Studies have shown that various immunological and
autoimmune diseases are much less common in the developing world than the industrialized world and that
immigrants to the industrialized world from the developing world increasingly develop immunological disorders in
relation to the length of time since arrival in the industrialized world.[37] Longitudinal studies in the third world
demonstrate an increase in immunological disorders as a country grows more affluent and, it is presumed,
cleaner.[38] The use of antibiotics in the first year of life has been linked to asthma and other allergic diseases.[39]
The use of antibacterial cleaning products has also been associated with higher incidence of asthma, as has birth by
Caesarean section rather than vaginal birth.[40] [41]
Allergy
132
Acute response
In the early stages of allergy, a type I hypersensitivity reaction against
an allergen encountered for the first time and presented by a
professional Antigen-Presenting Cell causes a response in a type of
immune cell called a TH2 lymphocyte, which belongs to a subset of T
cells that produce a cytokine called interleukin-4 (IL-4). These TH2
cells interact with other lymphocytes called B cells, whose role is
production of antibodies. Coupled with signals provided by IL-4, this
interaction stimulates the B cell to begin production of a large amount
of a particular type of antibody known as IgE. Secreted IgE circulates
in the blood and binds to an IgE-specific receptor (a kind of Fc
receptor called FcRI) on the surface of other kinds of immune cells
called mast cells and basophils, which are both involved in the acute
inflammatory response. The IgE-coated cells, at this stage are
sensitized to the allergen.[18]
If later exposure to the same allergen occurs, the allergen can bind to
the IgE molecules held on the surface of the mast cells or basophils. Cross-linking of the IgE and Fc receptors occurs
when more than one IgE-receptor complex interacts with the same allergenic molecule, and activates the sensitized
cell. Activated mast cells and basophils undergo a process called degranulation, during which they release histamine
and other inflammatory chemical mediators (cytokines, interleukins, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins) from their
granules into the surrounding tissue causing several systemic effects, such as vasodilation, mucous secretion, nerve
Allergy
133
stimulation, and smooth muscle contraction. This results in rhinorrhea, itchiness, dyspnea, and anaphylaxis.
Depending on the individual, allergen, and mode of introduction, the symptoms can be system-wide (classical
anaphylaxis), or localized to particular body systems; asthma is localized to the respiratory system and eczema is
localized to the dermis.[18]
Late-phase response
After the chemical mediators of the acute response subside, late phase responses can often occur. This is due to the
migration of other leukocytes such as neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages to the initial site. The
reaction is usually seen 224 hours after the original reaction.[50] Cytokines from mast cells may also play a role in
the persistence of long-term effects. Late phase responses seen in asthma are slightly different from those seen in
other allergic responses, although they are still caused by release of mediators from eosinophils, and are still
dependent on activity of TH2 cells.[51]
Diagnosis
Before a diagnosis of allergic disease can be confirmed, the other
possible causes of the presenting symptoms should be carefully
considered.[52] Vasomotor rhinitis, for example, is one of many
maladies that shares symptoms with allergic rhinitis, underscoring the
need for professional differential diagnosis.[53] Once a diagnosis of
asthma, rhinitis, anaphylaxis, or other allergic disease has been made,
there are several methods for discovering the causative agent of that
allergy.
Allergy
134
Skin testing
For assessing the presence of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, allergy
skin testing is preferred over blood allergy tests because it is more
sensitive and specific, simpler to use, and less expensive.[54] Skin
testing is also known as "puncture testing" and "prick testing" due to
the series of tiny puncture or pricks made into the patient's skin. Small
amounts of suspected allergens and/or their extracts (pollen, grass, mite
proteins, peanut extract, etc.) are introduced to sites on the skin marked
with pen or dye (the ink/dye should be carefully selected, lest it cause
an allergic response itself). A small plastic or metal device is used to
puncture or prick the skin. Sometimes, the allergens are injected
"intradermally" into the patient's skin, with a needle and syringe.
Common areas for testing include the inside forearm and the back. If
the patient is allergic to the substance, then a visible inflammatory
reaction will usually occur within 30minutes. This response will range
from slight reddening of the skin to a full-blown hive (called "wheal
and flare") in more sensitive patients similar to a mosquito bite.
Interpretation of the results of the skin prick test is normally done by
allergists on a scale of severity, with +/- meaning borderline reactivity,
and 4+ being a large reaction. Increasingly, allergists are measuring
and recording the diameter of the wheal and flare reaction.
Interpretation by well-trained allergists is often guided by relevant
literature.[55] Some patients may believe they have determined their
own allergic sensitivity from observation, but a skin test has been shown to be much better than patient observation
to detect allergy.[56]
If a serious life threatening anaphylactic reaction has brought a patient in for evaluation, some allergists will prefer
an initial blood test prior to performing the skin prick test. Skin tests may not be an option if the patient has
widespread skin disease or has taken antihistamines sometime the last several days.
Blood testing
Various blood allergy testing methods are also available for detecting allergy to specific substances. This kind of
testing measures a "total IgE level" - an estimate of IgE contained within the patient's serum. This can be determined
through the use of radiometric and colormetric immunoassays. Radiometric assays include the radioallergosorbent
test (RAST) test method, which uses IgE-binding (anti-IgE) antibodies labeled with radioactive isotopes for
quantifying the levels of IgE antibody in the blood.[54] Other newer methods use colorimetric or fluorometric
technology in the place of radioactive isotopes. Some "screening" test methods are intended to provide qualitative
test results, giving a "yes" or "no" answer in patients with suspected allergic sensitization. One such method has a
sensitivity of about 70.8% and a positive predictive value of 72.6% according to a large study.[57]
A low total IgE level is not adequate to rule out sensitization to commonly inhaled allergens.[58] Statistical methods,
such as ROC curves, predictive value calculations, and likelihood ratios have been used to examine the relationship
of various testing methods to each other. These methods have shown that patients with a high total IgE have a high
probability of allergic sensitization, but further investigation with specific allergy tests for a carefully chosen
allergens is often warranted.
Allergy
135
Other
Challenge testing: Challenge testing is when small amounts of a suspected allergen are introduced to the body
orally, through inhalation, or other routes. Except for testing food and medication allergies, challenges are rarely
performed. When this type of testing is chosen, it must be closely supervised by an allergist.
Elimination/Challenge tests: This testing method is utilized most often with foods or medicines. A patient with a
particular suspected allergen is instructed to modify his/her diet to totally avoid that allergen for determined period
of time. If the patient experiences significant improvement, he/she may then be challenged by reintroducing the
allergen to see if symptoms can be reproduced.
Patch testing: Patch testing is used to help ascertain the cause of skin contact allergy, or contact dermatitis.
Adhesive patches, usually treated with a number of different commonly allergic chemicals or skin sensitizers, are
applied to the back. The skin is then examined for possible local reactions at least twice, usually at 48 hours after
application of the patch, and again two or three days later.
Unreliable tests: There are other types of allergy testing methods that the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma,
and Immunology considers to be unacceptable.
These unreliable allergy testing methods are:
Applied kinesiology (allergy testing through muscle relaxation), Cytotoxicity testing, Urine autoinjection, Skin
titration (Rinkel method), and Provocative and neutralization (subcutaneous) testing or sublingual provocation[59]
Treatment
In recent times, there have been enormous improvements in the medical practices used to treat allergic conditions.
With respect to anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions to foods, drugs, and insects and in allergic skin diseases,
advances have included the identification of food proteins to which IgE binding is associated with severe reactions
and development of low-allergen foods, improvements in skin prick test predictions; evaluation of the atopy patch
test; in wasp sting outcomes predictions and a rapidly disintegrating epinephrine tablet, and anti-IL-5 for
eosinophilic diseases.[60]
Traditional treatment and management of allergies consisted simply of avoiding the allergen in question or otherwise
reducing exposure. For instance, people with cat allergies were encouraged to avoid them. However, while
avoidance of allergens may reduce symptoms and avoid life-threatening anaphylaxis, it is difficult to achieve for
those with pollen or similar air-borne allergies. Nonetheless, strict avoidance of allergens is still considered a useful
treatment method, and is often used in managing food allergies.
New technology approaches to decreasing 1gE overproduction, and regulating histimine release in allergic
individuals have demonstrated statisitically significant reduction on Total Nasel Symptom Scores.[61] [62]
Pharmacotherapy
Several antagonistic drugs are used to block the action of allergic mediators, or to prevent activation of cells and
degranulation processes. These include antihistamines, glucocorticoids, epinephrine (adrenaline), theophylline and
cromolyn sodium. Anti-leukotrienes, such as Montelukast (Singulair) or Zafirlukast (Accolate), are FDA approved
for treatment of allergic diseases. Anti-cholinergics, decongestants, mast cell stabilizers, and other compounds
thought to impair eosinophil chemotaxis, are also commonly used. These drugs help to alleviate the symptoms of
allergy, and are imperative in the recovery of acute anaphylaxis, but play little role in chronic treatment of allergic
disorders.
Allergy
136
Immunotherapy
Desensitization or hyposensitization is a treatment in which the patient is gradually vaccinated with progressively
larger doses of the allergen in question. This can either reduce the severity or eliminate hypersensitivity altogether. It
relies on the progressive skewing of IgG antibody production, to block excessive IgE production seen in atopys. In a
sense, the person builds up immunity to increasing amounts of the allergen in question. Studies have demonstrated
the long-term efficacy and the preventive effect of immunotherapy in reducing the development of new allergy.[63]
Meta-analyses have also confirmed efficacy of the treatment in allergic rhinitis in children and in asthma. A review
by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester confirmed the safety and efficacy of allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis
and conjunctivitis, allergic forms of asthma, and stinging insect based on numerous well-designed scientific
studies.[64] In addition, national and international guidelines confirm the clinical efficacy of injection
immunotherapy in rhinitis and asthma, as well as the safety, provided that recommendations are followed.[65]
A second form of immunotherapy involves the intravenous injection of monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies. These bind
to free and B-cell associated IgE; signalling their destruction. They do not bind to IgE already bound to the Fc
receptor on basophils and mast cells, as this would stimulate the allergic inflammatory response. The first agent of
this class is Omalizumab. While this form of immunotherapy is very effective in treating several types of atopy, it
should not be used in treating the majority of people with food allergies.
A third type, Sublingual immunotherapy, is an orally-administered therapy that takes advantage of oral immune
tolerance to non-pathogenic antigens such as foods and resident bacteria. This therapy currently accounts for 40
percent of allergy treatment in Europe. In the United States, sublingual immunotherapy is gaining support among
traditional allergists and is endorsed by doctors treating allergy.
Allergy shot treatment is the closest thing to a cure for allergic symptoms. This therapy requires a long-term
commitment.
Epidemiology
Many diseases related to inflammation such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and allergic diseases hay
fever and asthma have increased in the Western world over the past 2-3 decades.[68] Rapid increases in allergic
asthma and other atopic disorders in industrialized nations, it is estimated, began in the 1960s and 1970s, with further
increases occurring during the 1980s and 1990s,[69] although some suggest that a steady rise in sensitization has been
occurring since the 1920s.[70] The incidence of atopy in developing countries has, in general, remained much
lower.[69]
Allergy
137
Allergic conditions: Statistics and Epidemiology
Allergytype
[71]
United States
[72]
United Kingdom
[73]
[74]
Allergicrhinitis
35.9 million
Asthma
Atopic eczema
Anaphylaxis
Insect venom
Unknown
Drug allergies
Unknown
Food allergies
Multipleallergies
(Asthma, eczema and
allergic rhinitis together)
Unknown
Although genetic factors fundamentally govern susceptibility to atopic disease, increases in atopy have occurred
within too short a time frame to be explained by a genetic change in the population, thus pointing to environmental
or lifestyle changes.[81] Several hypotheses have been identified to explain this increased prevalence; increased
exposure to perennial allergens due to housing changes and increasing time spent indoors, and changes in cleanliness
or hygiene that have resulted in the decreased activation of a common immune control mechanism, coupled with
dietary changes, obesity and decline in physical exercise.[68] The hygiene hypothesis maintains[82] that high living
standards and hygienic conditions exposes children to fewer infections. It is thought that reduced bacterial and viral
infections early in life direct the maturing immune system away from TH1 type responses, leading to unrestrained
TH2 responses that allow for an increase in allergy.[47] [83]
Changes in rates and types of infection alone however, have been unable to explain the observed increase in allergic
disease, and recent evidence has focused attention on the importance of the gastrointestinal microbial environment.
Evidence has shown that exposure to food and fecal-oral pathogens, such as hepatitis A, Toxoplasma gondii, and
Helicobacter pylori (which also tend to be more prevalent in developing countries), can reduce the overall risk of
atopy by more than 60%,[84] and an increased prevalence of parasitic infections has been associated with a decreased
prevalence of asthma.[85] It is speculated that these infections exert their effect by critically altering TH1/TH2
regulation.[86] Important elements of newer hygiene hypotheses also include exposure to endotoxins, exposure to
pets and growing up on a farm.[86]
Allergy
138
History
The concept of "allergy" was originally introduced in 1906 by the Viennese pediatrician Clemens von Pirquet, after
he noted that some of his patients were hypersensitive to normally innocuous entities such as dust, pollen, or certain
foods.[87] Pirquet called this phenomenon "allergy" from the Ancient Greek words allos meaning "other" and
ergon meaning "work".[88] All forms of hypersensitivity used to be classified as allergies, and all were thought
to be caused by an improper activation of the immune system. Later, it became clear that several different disease
mechanisms were implicated, with the common link to a disordered activation of the immune system. In 1963, a new
classification scheme was designed by Philip Gell and Robin Coombs that described four types of hypersensitivity
reactions, known as Type I to Type IV hypersensitivity.[89] With this new classification, the word "allergy" was
restricted to type I hypersensitivities (also called immediate hypersensitivity), which are characterized as rapidly
developing reactions.
A major breakthrough in understanding the mechanisms of allergy was the discovery of the antibody class labeled
immunoglobulin E (IgE) - Kimishige Ishizaka and co-workers were the first to isolate and describe IgE in the
1960s.[90]
Medical specialty
An allergist is a physician specially trained to manage and treat allergies, asthma and the other allergic diseases. In
the United States physicians holding certification by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI) have
successfully completed an accredited educational program and an evaluation process, including a secure, proctored
examination to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and experience to the provision of patient care in allergy and
immunology.[91] Becoming an allergist/immunologist requires completion of at least nine years of training. After
completing medical school and graduating with a medical degree, a physician will then undergo three years of
training in internal medicine (to become an internist) or pediatrics (to become a pediatrician). Once physicians have
finished training in one of these specialties, they must pass the exam of either the American Board of Pediatrics
(ABP) or the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). Internists or pediatricians wishing to focus on the
sub-specialty of allergy-immunology then complete at least an additional two years of study, called a fellowship, in
an allergy/immunology training program. Allergist/immunologists listed as ABAI-certified have successfully passed
the certifying examination of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology (ABAI), following their
fellowship.[92]
In the United Kingdom, allergy is a subspecialty of general medicine or pediatrics. After obtaining postgraduate
exams (MRCP or MRCPCH respectively), a doctor works for several years as a specialist registrar before qualifying
for the General Medical Council specialist register. Allergy services may also be delivered by immunologists. A
2003 Royal College of Physicians report presented a case for improvement of what were felt to be inadequate allergy
services in the UK.[93] In 2006, the House of Lords convened a subcommittee that reported in 2007. It concluded
likewise that allergy services were insufficient to deal with what the Lords referred to as an "allergy epidemic" and
its social cost; it made several other recommendations.[94]
Allergy
139
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[90] Ishizaka K, Ishizaka T, Hornbrook MM (1966). "Physico-chemical properties of human reaginic antibody. IV. Presence of a unique
immunoglobulin as a carrier of reaginic activity". J. Immunol. 97 (1): 7585. PMID4162440.
[91] "ABAI: American Board of Allergy and Immunology" (http:/ / www. abai. org/ training. asp). Archived (http:/ / www. webcitation. org/
5uHp4Xiak) from the original on 2010-11-16. . Retrieved 2007-08-05.
[92] "AAAAI - What is an Allergist?" (http:/ / www. aaaai. org/ media/ resources/ allergist. asp). Archived (http:/ / www. webcitation. org/
5uHp3JDDM) from the original on 2010-11-16. . Retrieved 2007-08-05.
Allergy
142
[93] Royal College of Physicians (2003). Allergy: the unmet need. London, UK: Royal College of Physicians. ISBN 978-1-86016-183-4. PDF
version (http:/ / www. rcplondon. ac. uk/ pubs/ contents/ 81e384d6-0328-4653-9cc2-2aa7baa3c56a. pdf)PDF(1.03MB)
[94] House of Lords - Science and Technology Committee (2007). Allergy - HL 166-I, 6th Report of Session 2006-07 - Volume 1: Report (http:/ /
www. publications. parliament. uk/ pa/ ld200607/ ldselect/ ldsctech/ 166/ 16602. htm). London, UK: TSO (The Stationery Office).
ISBN978-0-10-401149-2. .
External links
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (http://www.aaaai.org)
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics (http://www.aanma.org)
Doctor-patient relationship
The doctor-patient relationship is central to the practice of healthcare and is essential for the delivery of
high-quality health care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. The doctor-patient relationship forms one of the
foundations of contemporary medical ethics. Most universities teach students from the beginning, even before they
set foot in hospitals, to maintain a professional rapport with patients, uphold patients dignity, and respect their
privacy.
Importance
A patient must have confidence in the competence of their physician and must feel that they can confide in him or
her. For most physicians, the establishment of good rapport with a patient is important. Some medical specialties,
such as psychiatry and family medicine, emphasize the physician-patient relationship more than others, such as
pathology or radiology.
The quality of the patient-physician relationship is important to both parties. The better the relationship in terms of
mutual respect, knowledge, trust, shared values and perspectives about disease and life, and time available, the better
will be the amount and quality of information about the patient's disease transferred in both directions, enhancing
accuracy of diagnosis and increasing the patient's knowledge about the disease. Where such a relationship is poor the
physician's ability to make a full assessment is compromised and the patient is more likely to distrust the diagnosis
and proposed treatment, causing decreased compliance to actually follow the medical advice. In these circumstances
and also in cases where there is genuine divergence of medical opinions, a second opinion from another physician
may be sought or the patient may choose to go to another physician.
Michael Balint pioneered the study of the physician patient relationship in the UK with his wife Enid Balint resulting
in the publication of the seminal book "The Doctor, His Patient and the Illness." Balint's work is continued by The
American Balint Society [1] in the United States, The International Balint Federation [2] and other national Balint
societies in other countries.
Doctor-patient relationship
143
Issues
The following issues may complicate or negatively affect the doctor-patient relationship if not taken properly into
consideration.
Physician superiority
The physician may be viewed as superior to the patient, because the physician has the knowledge and credentials,
and is most often the one that is on home ground.
The physician-patient relationship is also complicated by the patient's suffering (patient derives from the Latin
patior, "suffer") and limited ability to relieve it on his/her own, potentially resulting in a state of desperation and
dependency on the physician.
A physician should at least be aware of these disparities in order to establish rapport and optimize communication
with the patient. It may be further beneficial for the doctor-patient relationship to have a form of shared care with
patient empowerment to take a major degree of responsibility for her or his care.
Benefiting or pleasing
A dilemma may arise in situations where determining the most efficient treatment, or encountering avoidance of
treatment, creates a disagreement between the physician and the patient, for any number of reasons. In such cases,
the physician needs strategies for presenting unfavorable treatment options or unwelcome information in such a way
that minimizes strain on the doctor-patient relationship while benefiting the patient's overall physical health and best
interests.
Formal or casual
There may be differences in opinion between the doctor and patient in how formal or casual the doctor-patient
relationship should be.
For instance, according to a Scottish study,[3] patients want to be addressed by their first name more often than is
currently the case. In this study, most of the patients either liked (223) or did not mind (175) being called by their
first names. Only 77 disliked it, most of whom were aged over 65.[3] On the other hand, most patients don't want to
call the doctor by his or her first name.[3]
Some familiarity with the doctor generally makes it easier for patients to talk about intimate issues such as sexual
subjects, but for some patients, a very high degree of familiarity may make the patient reluctant to reveal such
intimate issues.[4]
Transitional care
Transitions of patients between health care practitioners may decrease the quality of care in the time it takes to
reestablish proper doctor-patient relationships. Generally, the doctor-patient relationship is facilitated by continuity
of care in regard to attending personnel. Special strategies of integrated care may be required where multiple health
care providers are involved, including horizontal integration (linking similar levels of care, e.g. multiprofessional
teams) and vertical integration (linking different levels of care, e.g. primary, secondary and tertiary care).[5]
Doctor-patient relationship
144
Bedside manner
A good bedside manner is typically one that reassures and comforts the patient while remaining honest about a
diagnosis. Vocal tones, body language, openness, presence, and concealment of attitude may all affect bedside
manner. Poor bedside manner leaves the patient feeling unsatisfied, worried, frightened, or alone. Bedside manner
becomes difficult when a healthcare professional must explain an unfavorable diagnosis to the patient, while keeping
the patient from being alarmed.
An example of how body language affects patient perception of care is that the time spent with the patient in the
emergency department is perceived as longer if the doctor sits down during the encounter.[6]
Examples in fiction
Dr. Gregory House (of the show House) has a caustic, callous bedside manner. However, this is an extension of
his normal personality.
In Grey's Anatomy, Dr. Burke compliments Dr. George O'Malley's ability to care for Dr. Bailey's baby by saying
"it speaks to a good bedside manner."
Doc Martin from the Doc Martin British TV series is a good example of a doctor with a poor bedside manner.
In Lost, Hurley tells Jack Shephard that his bedside manner "sucks". Later in the episode, Jack is told by his father
to put more hope into his sayings, which he does when operating on his future wife. The comments continue in
other episodes of the series with Benjamin Linus sarcastically telling Jack that his "bedside manner leaves
something to be desired" after Jack gives him a harsh negative diagnosis.
In Closer, Larry, the doctor tells Anna when they first meet that he is famed for his bedside manner.
In Scrubs, J.D is a good example of a doctor with great bedside manner, while Elliot Reid is a doctor with poor or
non-existent bedside manner. Dr. Cox is an interesting subversion, in that his manner is gruff and intense while
still inspiring patients to do their own best to aid in the healing process, akin to a drill sergeant. It is also remarked
on this show that the most amount of time that a doctor needs to be in the presence of the patient before he finds
out everything he needs to know is 18 seconds approx.
In Star Trek: Voyager, the Doctor often compliments himself on the charming bedside manner he developed with
the help of Kes.
In M*A*S*H, Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper John McIntyre, B.J. Hunnicutt, and Sherman Potter all possess a caring
and humorous bedside manner meant to help patients cope with traumatic injuries. Charles Winchester initially
possesses no real bedside manner, acting with detached professionalism, until the rigors of his job help him
develop a sense of compassion for his patients. Frank Burns has a poor bedside manner, constantly minimizing
the seriousness of his patients' injuries, accusing them of cowardice and goading them to return to the front lines.
Doctor-patient relationship
145
References
[1] http:/ / www. americanbalintsociety. org
[2] http:/ / www. balintinternational. com
[3] McKinstry B (October 1990). "Should general practitioners call patients by their first names?". BMJ 301 (6755): 7956.
doi:10.1136/bmj.301.6755.795. PMC1663948. PMID2224269.
[4] 'The Cringe Report' (http:/ / www. medscape. com/ viewarticle/ 743689_3) By Susan Quilliam. Posted: 06/28/2011; J Fam Plann Reprod
Health Care. 2011;37(2):110-112.
[5] Grne, O & Garcia-Barbero, M (2002): Trends in Integrated Care Reflections on Conceptual Issues. World Health Organization,
Copenhagen, 2002, EUR/02/5037864
[6] Simple Tips to Improve Patient Satisfaction (http:/ / www. medscape. com/ viewarticle/ 743875?src=mp& spon=25) By Michael Pulia.
American Academy of Emergency Medicine. 2011;18(1):18-19.
Further information
Alexander GC, Casalino LP, Meltzer DO (August 2003). "Patient-physician communication about out-of-pocket
costs". JAMA 290 (7): 9538. doi:10.1001/jama.290.7.953. PMID12928475.
Alexander GC, Casalino LP, Tseng CW, McFadden D, Meltzer DO (August 2004). "Barriers to patient-physician
communication about out-of-pocket costs". J Gen Intern Med 19 (8): 85660.
doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2004.30249.x. PMC1492500. PMID15242471.
Alexander GC, Casalino LP, Meltzer DO (March 2005). "Physician strategies to reduce patients' out-of-pocket
prescription costs". Arch. Intern. Med. 165 (6): 6336. doi:10.1001/archinte.165.6.633. PMID15795338.
Alexander GC, Lantos JD (2006). "The doctor-patient relationship in the post-managed care era". Am J Bioeth 6
(1): 2932. doi:10.1080/15265160500394556. PMID16423784.
Pham HH, Alexander GC, O'Malley AS (April 2007). "Physician consideration of patients' out-of-pocket costs in
making common clinical decisions". Arch. Intern. Med. 167 (7): 6638. doi:10.1001/archinte.167.7.663.
PMID17420424.
External links
Report of a large summit of patients and physicians, where the ideal patient-physician relationship in the 21st
century was discussed. (http://www.patient-physician.com/docs/PatientPhysician.pdf) Organised by Johns
Hopkins and American Healthways in 2003
Time Magazine article: "When the patient is a Googler" (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/
0,8599,1681838,00.html) - Mary Shomons response I (http://thyroid.about.com/b/2007/11/13/
my-letter-to-the-editor-of-time-magazine-re-dr-haig-and-his-googler-article.htm) II (http://thyroid.about.com/
b/2007/11/13/time-magazines-dr-scott-haig-proves-that-patients-need-to-be-googlers.htm) - Trisha Torreys
response (http://patients.about.com/b/2007/11/24/cnntime-dr-haigs-own-misdiagnosis.htm)
Differential diagnosis
146
Differential diagnosis
Differential
diagnosis
Intervention
MeSH
D003937
[1]
A differential diagnosis (sometimes abbreviated DDx, ddx, DD, D/Dx, or ) is a systematic method used to
identify unknowns. This method, essentially a process of elimination, is used by taxonomists to identify living
organisms, and by physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other trained medical professionals to
diagnose the specific disease in a patient.
Not all medical diagnoses are differential ones: some diagnoses merely name a set of signs and symptoms that may
have more than one possible cause, and some diagnoses are based on intuition or estimations of likelihood.
Process
Differential diagnosis often involves first making a list of possible diagnoses, then attempting to remove diagnoses
from the list until one diagnosis remains. In some cases, there will remain no diagnosis; this suggests the physician
has made an error, or that the true diagnosis is unknown to medicine. Removing diagnoses from the list is done by
making observations and using tests that should have different results, depending on which diagnosis is correct.
Many mnemonics are routinely taught to medical students (for example VINDICATE) to ensure that all possible
pathological processes are considered.
Medicine
In medicine, differential diagnosis is the process whereby a given condition or circumstance, called the presenting
problem or chief complaint, is examined in terms of underlying causal factors and concurrent phenomena as
discerned by appropriate disciplinary perspectives and according to several theoretical paradigms or frames of
reference, and compared to known categories of pathology or exceptionality. Differential diagnosis allows the
physician to:
If the patient's condition does not improve as anticipated when the treatment or therapy for the disease or disorder
has been applied, the diagnosis must be reassessed.
The method of differential diagnosis was first suggested for use in the diagnosis of mental disorders by Emil
Kraepelin. It is more systematic than the old-fashioned method of diagnosis by gestalt (impression).
The method of differential diagnosis is based on the idea that one begins by first considering the most common
diagnosis first: a head cold versus meningitis, for example. As a reminder, medical students are taught the adage,
"When you hear hoofbeats, look for horses, not zebras," which means look for the simplest, most common
explanation first. Only after the simplest diagnosis has been ruled out should the clinician consider more complex or
exotic diagnoses.
Differential diagnosis
147
At one time doctors ordered only particular blood tests, but now a full blood chemistry profile is standard, which can
speed up the process of diagnosis as well as uncover sub-clinical conditions. With the advent of better radiological
studies like MRI and the wider use of nuclear medicine, it has become more likely that unexpected findings will
emerge and will be further studied, though such findings may not be supported by further investigation. Such
findings are a valuable tool but not infallible; often it still takes a physician or medical team to track down either a
more common illness with a rare presentation or a rare illness with symptoms suggestive of many other conditions.
Sometimes a definitive diagnosis might take years.
Differential diagnosis also refers simply to a list of the most common causes of a given symptom, to a list of
disorders similar to a given disorder, or to such lists when they are annotated with advice on how to narrow the list
down (the book French's Index of Differential Diagnosis ISBN 0340810475 is an example). Thus, a differential
diagnosis in this sense is medical information specially organized to aid in diagnosis.
The professional Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy has 11 index entries describing the topic as differential
diagnosis. The topic is mentioned within the body of 125 other separate articles on various medical conditions.
References
[1] http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ cgi/ mesh/ 2011/ MB_cgi?field=uid& term=D003937
[2] Razzouk D, Mari JJ, Shirakawa I, Wainer J, Sigulem D (January 2006). "Decision support system for the diagnosis of schizophrenia
disorders". Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 39 (1): 11928. doi:/S0100-879X2006000100014. PMID16400472.
[3] Hejlesen OK, Olesen KG, Dessau R, Beltoft I, Trangeled M (2005). "Decision support for diagnosis of lyme disease" (http:/ / booksonline.
iospress. nl/ Extern/ EnterMedLine. aspx?ISSN=0926-9630& Volume=116& SPage=205). Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 116:
20510. PMID16160260. .
[4] "Evaluation of a Computer Assisted Decision Support System (DSS) for Diagnosis and Treatment of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
(VAP) in Intensive Care Unit (ICU)." (http:/ / gateway. nlm. nih. gov/ MeetingAbstracts/ ma?f=102248792. html). nih.gov. . Retrieved
2008-10-03.
[5] "DiagnosisPro differential diagnosis reminder tool" (http:/ / en. diagnosispro. com/ ). diagnosispro.com. . Retrieved 2008-10-03.
[6] http:/ / www. visualdx. com
Symptom
148
Symptom
A symptom (from Greek , "accident, misfortune, that which befalls"[1] , from , "I befall", from
- "together, with" + , "I fall") is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient,
indicating the presence of disease or abnormality. A symptom is subjective,[2] observed by the patient,[3] and not
measured.[4]
A symptom may not be a malady, for example symptoms of pregnancy. One could debate, however, that this is an
example of common misuse of a word, as the majority of symptoms and the history of the word are related to
malady. The proper word for such situations would be "indication" or "suggestion" or simply "sign"
Types
Symptoms may be chronic, relapsing or remitting. They also may progressively worsen or progressively become
better (convalescence). Conditions may also be classified as symptomatic (present and demonstrating symptoms) or
asymptomatic (present but without symptoms). Asymptomatic conditions and asymptomatic infections can exist for
many years undiagnosed and may only be found upon medical testing (such as high blood pressure).
Constitutional or general symptoms are those that are related to the systemic effects of a disease (e.g., fever, malaise,
anorexia, weight loss). They affect the entire body rather than a specific organ or location.
The terms "chief complaint", "presenting symptom", or "presenting complaint" are used to describe the initial
concern which brings a patient to a doctor. The symptom that ultimately leads to a diagnosis is called a "cardinal
symptom".
Non-specific symptoms are those self-reported symptoms that do not indicate a specific disease process or involve
an isolated body system. For example, fatigue is a feature of an enormous number of medical conditions, and is a
documented feature of both acute and chronic medical conditions, both physical and mental disorders, and as both a
primary and secondary symptom. Fatigue is also a normal, healthy condition when experienced after exertion or at
the end of a day.
[6]
Positive symptoms are symptoms that most individuals do not normally experience but are present in the disorder.
Examples are hallucinations, delusions, and bizarre behavior.[5]
Negative symptoms are symptoms that are not present or that are diminished in the affected persons but are
normally found in healthy persons. Examples are social withdrawal, apathy, inability to experience pleasure and
defects in attention control.[6]
Possible causes
Some symptoms occur in a wide range of disease processes, whereas other symptoms are fairly specific for a narrow
range of illnesses. For example, a sudden loss of sight in one eye has a significantly smaller number of possible
causes than nausea does.
Some symptoms can be misleading to the patient or the medical practitioner caring for them. For example,
inflammation of the gallbladder often gives rise to pain in the right shoulder, which may understandably lead the
patient to attribute the pain to a non-abdominal cause such as muscle strain.
Symptom
149
References
[1] Sumptoma, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, at Pursues (http:/ / www. perseus. tufts. edu/ cgi-bin/
ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999. 04. 0057:entry=#98870)
[2] Pathology - Glossary (http:/ / www. uwo. ca/ pathol/ glossary. html#S)
[3] eMedicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup! (http:/ / www. emedicine. com/ asp/ dictionary. asp?keyword=symptom)
[4] Devroede G (1992). "Constipation--a sign of a disease to be treated surgically, or a symptom to be deciphered as nonverbal communication?".
J. Clin. Gastroenterol. 15 (3): 18991. doi:10.1097/00004836-199210000-00003. PMID1479160.
[5] Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders: positive symptom (http:/ / www. minddisorders. com/ Ob-Ps/ Positive-symptoms. html)
[6] [http://www.minddisorders.com/Kau-Nu/Negative-symptoms.html Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders: negative symptom
[7] Mental Health: a Report from the Surgeon General (http:/ / www. surgeongeneral. gov/ library/ mentalhealth/ chapter2/ sec2. html)
Medical sign
A medical sign is an objective[1] indication of some medical fact or characteristic that may be detected by a
physician during a physical examination of a patient.[2]
Signs may have no meaning for, and can even go unnoticed by, the patient, but may be full of meaning for the
healthcare provider, and are often significant in assisting a healthcare provider in diagnosis of medical condition(s)
responsible for the patient's symptoms.
Examples include elevated blood pressure, a clubbing of the fingers (which may be a sign of lung disease, or many
other things), and arcus senilis.
The term sign is not to be confused with the term indication, which denotes a valid reason for using some treatment.
Medical sign
150
Eponymous signs
Historically, medical signs were named after the physicians who first described them.[4]
Types of signs
Medical signs may be classified by the type of inference that may be made from their presence,[5] :8081 for example:
Prognostic signs (from progignskein, , "to know beforehand"): signs that indicate the outcome
of the current bodily state of the patient (i.e., rather than indicating the name of the disease). Prognostic signs
always point to the future. Perhaps the most famous prognostic sign is the facies Hippocratica:
"[If the patient's facial] appearance may be described thus: the nose sharp, the eyes sunken, the temples
fallen in, the ears cold and drawn in and their lobes distorted, the skin of the face hard, stretched and
dry, and the colour of the face pale or dusky. and if there is no improvement within [a prescribed
period of time], it must be realized that this sign portends death."[6]
Anamnestic signs (from anamnstiks, , "able to recall to mind"): signs that (taking into account
the current state of a patient's body), indicate the past existence of a certain disease or condition. Anamnestic
signs always point to the past. (Whenever we see a man walking with a particular gait, with one arm paralysed in
a particular way, we say "This man has had a stroke"; and, if we see a woman in her late 50s with one arm
distorted in a particular way, we say "She had polio as a child".)
Diagnostic signs (from diagnstiks, , "able to distinguish"): signs that lead to the recognition and
identification of a disease (i.e., they indicate the name of the disease).
Pathognomonic signs (from pathognomoniks, , "skilled in diagnosis", derived from pthos,
, "suffering, disease", and gnmon, , "judge, indicator"): the particular signs whose presence means,
beyond any doubt, that a particular disease is present. They represent a marked intensification of a diagnostic
Medical sign
151
sign. (An example would be the palmar xanthomata seen on the hands of people suffering from
hyperlipoproteinaemia.) Singular pathognomonic signs are relatively uncommon.
"[Thus] a symptom is a phenomenon, caused by an illness and observable directly in experience. We
may speak of it as a manifestation of illness. When the observer reflects on that phenomenon and uses
it as a base for further inferences, then that symptom is transformed into a sign. As a sign it points
beyond itself perhaps to the present illness, or to the past or to the future. That to which a sign points
is part of its meaning, which may be rich and complex, or scanty, or any gradation in between. In
medicine, then, a sign is thus a phenomenon from which we may get a message, a message that tells us
something about the patient or the disease. A phenomenon or observation that does not convey a
message is not a sign. The distinction between signs and symptom rests on the meaning, and this is not
perceived but inferred."[5] :81
[8] [9]
"The process through which "the physician can assess the state of the underlying lung by sensing the character of vibrations by gentle taps on
[10]
the chest wall [something which] greatly facilitated the diagnosis of pneumonia and other respiratory diseases"
The techniques, which had been first described by the Viennese physician Leopold Auenbrugger (17221809) in
1761, became far more widely known following the publication of Jean-Nicolas Corvisart's translation of
Auenbrugger's work in 1808.
The 1819 introduction by Ren Lannec (17811826) of the technique of auscultation (using a stethoscope to
listen to the circulatory and respiratory functions of the body). Lannec's publication was translated into English,
18211834, by John Forbes.
The 1846 introduction by surgeon John Hutchinson (18111861) of the spirometer, an apparatus for assessing the
mechanical properties of the lungs via measurements of forced exhalation and forced inhalation. (The recorded
lung volumes and air flow rates are used to distinguish between restrictive disease (in which the lung volumes are
decreased: e.g., cystic fibrosis) and obstructive diseases (in which the lung volume is normal but the air flow rate
is impeded; e.g., emphysema).)
The 1851 invention by Hermann von Helmholtz (18211894) of the ophthalmoscope, which allowed physicians
to examine the inside of the human eye.
The 1895 clinical use of X-rays which began almost immediately after they had been discovered that year by
Wilhelm Conrad Rntgen (18451923).
The 1896 introduction of the sphygmomanometer, designed by Scipione Riva-Rocci (18631937), to measure
blood pressure.
Medical sign
152
Signs as tests
In some senses, the process of diagnosis is always a matter of assessing the likelihood that a given condition is
present in the patient. In a patient who presents with haemoptysis (coughing up blood), the haemoptysis is very much
more likely to be caused by respiratory disease than by the patient having broken their toe. Each question in the
history taking allows the medical practitioner to narrow down their view of the cause of the symptom, testing and
building up their hypotheses as they go along.
Examination, which is essentially looking for clinical signs, allows the medical practitioner to see if there is evidence
in the patient's body to support their hypotheses about the disease that might be present.
A patient who has given a good story to support a diagnosis of tuberculosis might be found, on examination, to show
signs that lead the practitioner away from that diagnosis and more towards sarcoidosis, for example. Examination for
signs tests the practitioner's hypotheses, and each time a sign is found that supports a given diagnosis, that diagnosis
becomes more likely.
Special tests (blood tests, radiology, scans, a biopsy, etc.) also allow a hypothesis to be tested. These special tests are
also said to show signs in a clinical sense. Again, a test can be considered pathognonomic for a given disease, but in
that case the test is generally said to be "diagnostic" of that disease rather than pathognonomic. An example would
be a history of a fall from a height, followed by a lot of pain in the leg. The signs (a swollen, tender, distorted lower
leg) are only very strongly suggestive of a fracture; it might not actually be broken, and even if it is, the particular
kind of fracture and its degree of dislocation need to be known, so the practitioner orders an x-ray. The x-ray film
shows a fractured tibia, so the film is said to be diagnostic of the fracture.
Medical sign
153
Examples of signs
Icterus ("jaundice")
Cough
Fever
References
[1] eMedicine/Stedman Medical Dictionary Lookup! (http:/ / www. emedicine. com/ asp/ dictionary. asp?keyword=sign)
[2] Definition (http:/ / www. uwo. ca/ pathol/ glossary. html#S) at University of Western Ontario
[3] Stubbe, H. (Henry Stubbes), The Plus Ultra reduced to a Non Plus: Or, A Specimen of some Animadversions upon the Plus Ultra of Mr.
Glanvill, wherein sundry Errors of some Virtuosi are discovered, the Credit of the Aristotelians in part Re-advanced; and Enquiries made...,
(London), 1670, p. 75
[4] See list of eponymous medical signs, and "Who Named It?" (http:/ / www. whonamedit. com/ azeponyms. cfm) for more information on
eponymous signs.
[5] King, Lester S. (1982). Medical Thinking: A Historical Preface. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN0691082979.
[6] Chadwick, J. & Mann, W.N.(trans.) (1978). Hippocratic writings. Harmondsworth, UK: Penguin. pp.170171. ISBN0-14-044451-3.
[7] Jewson, N. D., " Medical Knowledge and the Patronage System in 18th Century England (http:/ / soc. sagepub. com/ cgi/ content/ abstract/ 8/
3/ 369)", Sociology, Vol.8, No.3, (1974), pp. 369385.
[8] Jewson, N. D., " The Disappearance of the Sick Man from Medical Cosmology, 17701870 (http:/ / soc. sagepub. com/ cgi/ content/ abstract/
10/ 2/ 225)", Sociology, Vol.10, No.2, (1976), pp. 225244.
[9] Tsouyopoulos N (1988). "The mind-body problem in medicine (the crisis of medical anthropology and its historical preconditions)". Hist
Philos Life Sci 10 Suppl: 5574. PMID3413276.
[10] Weatherall, D. (1996). Science and the Quiet Art: The Role of Medical Research in Health Care. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
pp.46. ISBN0-393-31564-9.
External links
Who Named It? (http://www.whonamedit.com/azeponyms.cfm): eponymous signs.
Physical examination
154
Physical examination
Physical examination
Intervention
ICD-9-CM
89.7
MeSH
D010808
[2]
Physical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for
signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history an account of the symptoms as experienced
by the patient. Together with the medical history, the physical examination aids in determining the correct diagnosis
and devising the treatment plan. This data then becomes part of the medical record.
Physical examination
155
Process
During a physical examination, a doctor may check both male and female reproductive organs to make sure there is
not a hernia. For a male, the doctor places his hands on the testes and asks the patient to cough. For females, the
doctor will do a "fingering" sort of process that will test the female's reproductive organs.
Example
Section
Sample text
Comments
General
HEENT:
"Neck" is sometimes split out from "Head". "Good dentition" may be noted.
Resp or
"Chest"
More detailed examinations can include rales, rhonchi, wheezing ("no r/r/w"), and rubs.
Other phrases may include "no cyanosis or clubbing" (if section is labeled "Resp" and not
"Chest"), "fremitus WNL", and "no dullnes to percussion".
CV or
"Heart"
If "CV" is used instead of "heart", peripheral pulses are sometimes included in this
section (otherwise, they may be in the extremities section)
Physical examination
156
Abd
If lower back pain is involved, then the "Back" may become a primary section.
Costovertebral angle tenderness may be included in the abdominal section if there is no
back section. More detailed examinations may report "+psoas sign, +Rovsing's sign,
+obturator sign". If tenderness was present, it might be reported as "Direct and rebound
RLQ tenderness". "NBS" stands for "normal bowel sounds"; alternatives might include
"hypoactive BS" or "hyperactive BS".
Ext
Checking the fingers for clubbing and cyanosis is sometimes considered part of the
pulmonary exam, because it closely involves oxygenation. Examinations of the knee may
involve the McMurray test, Lachman test, and drawer test.
Neuro
Sensation may be expanded to include dull, sharp, vibration, temperature, and position
sense. A mental status exam may be reported at the beginning of the neurologic exam, or
under a distinct "Psych" section.
Depending upon the chief complaint, additional sections may be included. For example, hearing may be evaluated
with a specific Weber test and Rinne test, or it may be more briefly addressed in a cranial nerve exam.
Vital signs
The primary vital signs are:
Temperature recording
Blood pressure
Pulse
Respiratory rate
References
[1] http:/ / icd9cm. chrisendres. com/ index. php?srchtype=procs& srchtext=89. 7& Submit=Search& action=search
[2] http:/ / www. nlm. nih. gov/ cgi/ mesh/ 2011/ MB_cgi?field=uid& term=D010808
[3] Brink, Susan (18 February 2008). "$2,000 physicals for busy execs" (http:/ / articles. latimes. com/ 2008/ feb/ 18/ health/ he-exec18). Los
Angeles Times. . Retrieved 16 July 2009.
[4] Armour, Lawrence A. (21 July 1997). "2,500 executives flock to Rochester, Minn., for a deluxe, soup-to-nuts physical at the Mayo clinic. Our
man went for a tune-up to find out why" (http:/ / money. cnn. com/ magazines/ fortune/ fortune_archive/ 1997/ 07/ 21/ 229208/ index. htm).
CNN.com. . Retrieved 16 July 2009.
[5] "EliteHealth Executive Physical Exam" (http:/ / www. elitehealth. com/ executive_physical_exams. php). .
[6] "John Hopkins Executive Health Program" (http:/ / www. hopkinsmedicine. org/ gim/ clinical/ executive_health/ personalized.
html#standard). .
[7] Flegel KM (November 1999). "Does the physical examination have a future?". Canadian Medical Association Journal 161 (9): 11178.
PMC1230732. PMID10569087.
[8] McAlister FA, Straus SE, Sackett DL (February 2000). "High marks for the physical exam". Canadian Medical Association Journal 162 (4):
493. PMC1231165. PMID10701381.
External links
Video Resource: General Practitioner examination videos by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon (http://tenease.
com/videos)
Connecticut Tutorials Physical Examination Video (http://www.conntutorials.com/)
Physical examination of respiratory system video (http://medicaleducator.co.uk/
medicalstudent-practical-video-guides/)
The Journal of Clinical Examination - A useful online source for evidence-based guidance on physical
examination (http://www.thejce.com/)
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Medical history Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=443783447 Contributors: AED, Adam Slack, Alansohn, Andreas Erick, Andrew Benton, Apers0n, Arcadian, Aviados,
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Chief complaint Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=416215534 Contributors: AED, Adam Slack, Andthu, Arcadian, Boing! said Zebedee, Davidruben, Difu Wu, Graham87,
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History of the present illness Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=416217805 Contributors: Arcadian, Ayman Qasrawi, Captain-n00dle, Davidruben, Difu Wu, Gaius Cornelius,
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Family history (medicine) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=416215780 Contributors: Arcadian, Bookwormben, Bryan Derksen, Ceyockey, David Gerard, Felix Folio
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List of childhood diseases and disorders Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=436624197 Contributors: Addshore, Alansohn, Arcadian, Asphyxia99, Crazydevillady,
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, 790 ,55 anonymous edits
Doctor-patient relationship Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=440828083 Contributors: Aleksd, Andycjp, Avihu, Baronnet, Ccacsmss, Cgalexander, Clicketyclack, DXL,
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Differential diagnosis Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=432049028 Contributors: A.Spotted.Owl, Abelian, Aggie7cutter, Arcadian, ArmadilloFromHell, BD2412, Bdesham,
Bob247, Brendan19, CMacMillan, Calor, Centrx, Cheekywee, Chowbok, Chris Capoccia, CloudNine, Coemgenus, Colonies Chris, Coolstoryhansel, Dcljr, Dctoedt, ESkog, EconomicsGuy,
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Symptom Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=443545518 Contributors: 1297, A Macedonian, A. B., Alansohn, Alphabeta123, Andres, AndrewHowse, Andy M. Wang,
Andy.we, Andycjp, Arcadian, B7T, Ballista, Barticus88, BillC, Brinerustle, Bryan Derksen, Brz7, COMPFUNK2, Caco de vidro, Cgingold, Conti, CrackDragon, Dacoutts, Danny,
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Medical sign Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=443418173 Contributors: Akane700, AlanS1951, Alansohn, Alex.tan, Andthu, Antifamilymang, Antono, Arcadian, Bryan
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Physical examination Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=445523498 Contributors: AED, Abbas73, Aeon1006, Afr77, Amisme, Andrewr47, Anonymaus, Arcadian, Ayman
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