Birth Complications...

After birth there are many complications that may arise, some life threatening to the newborn. One such illness is jaundice, which affects 60% of newborns (Gross, 2008). Jaundice is a symptom of the liver not fully being able to break down red blood cells thus causing yellowing of the eyes and skin (Gross, 2008). Physiological jaundice, as this is named, occurs more often in preterm and breastfed babies and lasts only about ten days (Gross, 2008). Pathological jaundice, however, is much more serious and occurs within twenty four hours after birth (Gross, 2008). This type of jaundice can lead to brain dame or death if left untreated (Gross, 2008). Typically mild cases of jaundice do not require treatment, but for the more severe, phototherapy with ultraviolet light is utilized (Gross, 2008).

Cerebral palsy is also a disorder which may present itself after birth. Cerebral Palsy is brain damage that occurs before, during, or immediately after the birth process and is recognized by decreased muscle tone, decreased coordination, speech and language impairments, etc. (Berk, 2008). Cerebral Palsy occurs in one in five hundred North American births and can rage in severity from mild to serious (Berk, 2008). Ten percent of all cases of cerebral palsy are the result of anoxia (Berk, 2008). After the initial anoxia, cell death can continue to occur even hours later, known as the secondary damage (Berk, 2008) There are several contributors of anoxia such as the separation of the placenta occurring too soon, or placenta abrutio (Berk, 2008). This condition is often related to teratogens being exposed during the prenatal period such as tobacco, alcohol, drugs, etc (Berk, 2008). Placenta Previa is another cause in which the blastocyte is attached so low in the uterus that it actually covers the cervical opening, thus when the cervix dilates; the placenta detaches too early (Berk, 2008). The baby may also fail to breathe after birth due to prenatal injury or impairment to respiratory system during development (Berk, 2008). Etiology of Cerebral Palsy aside, this is most often a condition the parent is not prepared for or expecting upon birth, and may not be detected immediately.

Valerie Poling

References:

Berk, L. E. (2008). Foundations of Development. In L. E. Berk, Infants, Children and Adolescents (pp. 129-145). Allyn and Bacon.
Gross, D. (2008). Physical Growth Health and Nutrition. In D. Gross, Infancy: Development from Birth to Age 3 (pp. 156-160). Pearson Education, Inc: Allyn and Bacon.

Advances in Gene Therapy- Sickle Cell Anemia PKU

With the advances in technology, treatments have become available for some genetic diseases. New knowledge and understanding in the genetic link to specific disorders allows science to decrease the effects of the disease, assist in the treatment, decrease the mortality rate associated with the diseases, and the potential to actually cure or prevent the diseases.

Genetics are not the only character influencing the emergence of specific diseases and disorders. The developmental stage and the environment also play a role in the expression (Gauvin, 2009). Testing can indicate the likelihood of the emergence of certain diseases, such as PKU. One test, AFP assay, or Alpha fetoprotein assay, is a maternal blood tests that reveals if the PKU recessive allele is present (Gauvin, 2009). The detection of these recessive alleles can be conducted before and after birth (Gauvin, 2009).

Women who are found to carry the PKU recessive allele are recommended to take a special diet, typically for life, but at the very least, during pregnancy (Gauvin, 2009). Failure to follow this diet may lead to miscarriage or the the increased risk of the baby having significant mental retardation (Gauvin, 2009). After the baby has been born, the testing can also occur. Babies are tested to determine if the phenylalanine is decreased and preventing the build up of toxins that lead to mental retardation (Gauvin, 2009). If detected, a special PKU diet must immediately be implemented and continued until the nervous system of the infant matures (Gauvin, 2009).

Another disease, sickle cell anemia, is finding hope in the strides of gene therapy and testing measures resulting from the research in genetic disorders and genetically linked diseases. Sickle cell anemia is more prominent in African American populations and 8% of African Americans carry the recessive gene for Sickle Cell Anemia (Gauvin, 2009). Sickle Cell Anemia results when 2 recessive alleles are expressed in combination with each other (Gauvin, 2009). With this disease, the red blood cells decrease in oxygen, resulting in the disfiguration of the cell into an elongated shape which gets caught in blood vessels leading to pain, tissue damage, chronic anemia, and possibility of death (Gauvin, 2009).

Historically, the only treatments available were blood transfusions (Gauvin, 2009). Some pharmaceuticals have been found to help with the symptoms by increasing the activity of dormant hemoglobin genes (Gauvin, 2009). The progress in gene therapy has led to hope for more effective and life saving treatments. Gene therapy involves using normal alleles to compensate for the dysfunctional alleles that lead to the disorder or disease (Gauvin, 2009). In Utero treatments that have been tried utilized bone marrow cells from the father being injected into the fetus through the mother’s abdomen (Gauvin, 2009). Safety is always a concern, even though the use of ultrasound serves as a guide (Gauvin, 2009). Another measure used is the removal of the target cells and then fusing them with the new genes, and then re-inserting them into their target place within the body (Gauvin, 2009).
Obviously medical procedures and science is moving forward quickly. The benefits of these measures include preventing diseases, curing disease, and the possibility of eventually eliminating such diseases. Genetic counseling continues to play a significant role in determining the presence of these defective alleles and determining the risks they present to the infant.

It is important to slow down, though, and consider the negative impacts of such zealous measures. Do these defective alleles have a purpose within the human development realm? Sickle cells, for example, have been found to have a positive purpose for the survival of humans. Sickle cells have been determined to also fight malaria, as their unique formation is genetically resistant to the disease that kills thousands every year (Gauvin, 2009). So, science needs to explore all of the possible outcomes of genetically altering the human cells, even if the intent is to preserve life and prevent suffering.

Valerie Poling

References:

Gauvin, P. (2009). Child Psychology: A Contemporary Viewpoint, 7th ed. In C. U. HASOP, Psychology Human Prenatal Development (pp. 3-36). McGraw-Hill Primis.


To my readers? What do you think? Are these advances, "Playing God"- are we altering human nature? Are we ridding society of unique and individual characteristics? Are we stigmatizing those that do present themself with a special characteristic such as mental retardation? Obviously no one wants their child to suffer or feel pain, but as with sickle cell, is there a higher purpose for these characteristics that we may not know?

I would love to hear your take on these advances, gene therapy, etc. I have not personally had to undergo or utilize such testing, so it has not touched me personally, but for some of you- maybe it has... Please share your thoughts and enlighten someone else to a different point of view...

The Homeopathic Approach...

etting Started with Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an alternative form of medicine that has been used for thousands of years to treat everything from life threatening illnesses to the common cold. While many people used to modern medicine may find it suspicious, it is still one of the most used types of medical treatment worldwide and is steadily gaining popularity in the western world.

Homeopathic medicine is based on three basic principles. The biggest principle of homeopathy is that like treats like. Instead of treating based on the disease doctors think you have, treatment is done based on the symptoms you know you have. The second principle is that there is only one treatment, not two or even ten like a traditional doctor might give you. The third principle is that everything is given in extremely small doses.

To treat yourself homeopathically, you must figure out all the symptoms. Once you know your symptoms, you find a substance that causes the exact same set of symptoms and take a small amount of it. Because you are only taking a very small amount, the substance not only doesn’t harm you, it’s said to cure you, generally long term or even permanently.

When most people hear about homeopathy, their initial reaction is “no way!” Treating symptoms with something that causes your symptoms seems totally counterintuitive, but it’s a concept that’s used in modern medicine as well as more ancient cures. Shots commonly used to treat allergies contain a small amount of whatever you’re allergic to. Many vaccines contain a small amount of the disease they’re designed to protect against.

While homeopathic medicine is not only considered effective, it has many benefits over modern medicine. Like many other natural medical treatments, most homeopathic remedies are totally natural. While this doesn’t necessarily make them safe, these remedies tend to cause fewer side effects, have little drug interactions, and are generally better for your overall health.

Homeopathic medications are also considered better for your body because they work with it. Many modern medicines work to suppress symptoms like fever or coughing. These symptoms are the body’s natural ways to get rid of disease. Instead of suppressing symptoms, homeopathic medicine works to cure the problem itself while addressing the specific symptoms.

When the right treatment is found, homeopathy is considered very effective. The big problem is that just like there are thousands of prescriptions and over the counter drugs, there are also thousands of homeopathic remedies as well. And if you don’t pick exactly the right one, it won’t work.

While you can buy homeopathic remedies over the counter, just like herbal and other alternative medicines, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% safe to treat yourself. If you’re serious about this treatment you should speak to a doctor who has experience in alternative medicine or even see a specialist in the area.

Want more like this? Check this out: Herbs Article Bundle