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=Wikipost #3- Body System =

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder in which the death of brain cells cause memory loss and cognitive decline. It is one of the most common diseases in the world.

General Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders. This disease causes memory loss and interference with intellectual abilities which is problematic. Most people think Alzheimer’s is the result of aging, however it’s not just a disease of old age. It is known to be a greatest risk factor of increasing age, and majority of patients are 65 and over, but up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s, when someone is in their 40s or 50s.

Biological Definition of Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s is characterized by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the loss of connections between nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain, and the death of these nerve cells. There are two kinds of Alzheimer’s-early-onset and late-onset. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease occurs in people age 30 to 60. Most cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s are inherited, known as familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD). FAD is caused by any one of a number of different single-gene mutations on chromosomes 1, 14, and 21. Each of these mutations causes abnormal proteins to be formed. Researchers have found that each of these mutations plays a role in the breakdown of abnormal amyloid precursor protein (APP). This breakdown is part of a process that generates harmful forms of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of the disease. If a child’s parent carries a genetic mutation for FAD, there’s a 50/50 chance of inheriting that mutation, and the child will most likely to develop FAD. Besides early-onset Alzheimer’s, there is another type, late-onset Alzheimer’s. There isn’t any one specific cause of late-onset Alzheimer’s but few expected causes include a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Researchers had a hard time finding one specific gene that causes the late-onset Alzheimer’s, however, one genetic risk factor appeared to increase a person’s risk of developing the disease, which is related to the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene found on chromosome 19. APOE contains the instructions for making a protein that helps carry cholesterol and other types of fat in the bloodstream. There are three forms of APOE- APOE ε2, APOE ε3, APOE ε4. APOE ε4 is known as a risk-factor gene since it increases a person’s risk of developing the disease. 

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. As time goes by, memory loss reaches the max. Individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. There are 10 symptoms leading this specific disease. 1. Your daily life will get disrupted by memory loss, especially what you recently learned. 2. You’ll have troubles when planning or solving problems. 3. You’ll have difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, or at work. 4. You’ll lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. 5. You’ll have vision problem, which means you may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color. 6. You’ll have trouble following or joining a conversation. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">7. You’ll put things in unusual places. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">8. You’ll experience changes in judgment or decision-making. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">9. You’ll start to remove yourself from hobbies, social activities, and sports. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">10. You’ll experience changes in mood and personality.



<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Prevention
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Although there isn’t exact current medications that’ll cure 100 % of Alzheimer’s, there are few medications they may help lessen symptoms, such as memory loss and confusion, for a limited time.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of medications-cholinesterase inhibitors, and memantine- to treat the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. How these medications work is that the chemicals in those medications carry messages among the brain’s nerve cells to not lose track of memory.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Cholinesterase inhibitors are usually used to treat Alzheimer’s symptoms in early to moderate stages. They prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a chemical messenger important for learning and memory. This supports communication among nerve cells by keeping acetylcholine levels high. They also delay worsening of symptoms for 6 to 12 months, on average. Some of the side effects include nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite, but they are generally well tolerated. Donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are three commonly used cholinesterase inhibitors.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Memantine is prescribed for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. It can be used either alone or with a cholinesterase inhibitor. Memantine regulates the activity of glutamate, a different messenger chemical involved in learning and memory. It delays worsening of symptoms for some people temporarily. Many researchers consider its benefits similar to those of cholinesterase inhibitors. It can also cause side effects, including headache, constipation, confusion, and dizziness.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Other than these two medications, doctors sometimes prescribe vitamin E to treat cognitive Alzheimer’s, however, no one should take vitamin E except under the supervision of a physician because it can negatively interact with other medications, including those prescribed to keep blood from clotting or to lower cholesterol. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">media type="youtube" key="9Wv9jrk-gXc" width="560" height="315"

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;">Further Reading
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. Researchers have discovered that antidepressant can reduce production of Alzheimer's brain plaques. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://www.doctortipster.com/21242-antidepressant-may-slow-down-alzheimers-disease-symptoms.html

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. Researchers have found that vaccinating before the onset of the disease could wipe out plaques that stop the brain from signalling. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/10873506/Prevent-Alzheimers-by-vaccinating-at-40-scientist-suggests.html

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3.Light therapy will increase circadian stimulation during the day has benefits for patients with Alzheimer's disease. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/826350?src=rss

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">4.Scientist have found that apple is a super fruit for Alzheimer's disease. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-fruit-that-fights-alzheimers-disease.html

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">References
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/159442.php <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2. http://www.alz.org/research/science/alzheimers_prevention_and_risk.asp <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">3. http://www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers/publication/alzheimers-disease-genetics-fact-sheet <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">4. http://www.helpguide.org/elder/alzheimers_prevention_slowing_down_treatment.htm = = = = = = =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 80%; vertical-align: sub;">Wikipost #2- Evolution = <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 190%;">Natural Selection

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">People tend to adapt to the environment around them so each individuals have different characteristics. In evolutionary theory, we see a similar process, which is called natural selection. = = = = = = == __**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">What is natural selection? **__ <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">- It is the process whereby organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This theory was first fully explained by Charles Darwin and is now known as the main process of evolution. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">- Darwin pointed out how organisms exhibit individual variation in appearance and behaviour. Those variations include body size, hair color, voice properties, or number of offspring. He also discovered how some traits of organisms are passed on from parent to offspring. Such traits are heritable, whereas other traits are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and show different characteristics. Furthermore, Darwin mentioned how most populations have more offspring each year which reflects on rate of population growth. Individuals possess traits that are suitable for the struggle in environment, and the survival of organism impacts more reproduction to the next generation.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">What are the four components of Darwin’s process of natural selection? __**

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">- Historians and biologists, who analyzed Darwin’s work, have identified five theories from Darwin’s book, On the Origin of Species, that sums up the evolution.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">What other theories did Darwin come up with? __**


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Evolution: The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the earth.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Common descent: Organisms are descended from one, or more several common ancestors and have diversified from this original stock.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Species multiplication: Populations of one species diverge until they reach the diversification of life, becoming two separate species. This has occurred many times on earth.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Gradualism: Gradual changes within populations influence evolutionary change, which is contrary to sudden creation of new species.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Natural selection: Evolutionary change occurs through variation between individuals; some variants give the individual an extra survival probability.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">- Prior to 1800, the typical moth of the species had a light pattern, and dark colored moths were rare. However, during the Industrial Revolution, when England became polluted by new industrialization in the nineteenth century, smoke killed lichens growing on trees and blackened their bark. The light-colored morph of the moth became rare and the dark morph became plentiful. The cause of this change was assumed to be selective predation by birds, which favored camouflage coloration in the moth. Evidently, the moths had evolved by natural selection. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">- Another example is rat snake, which shows a variety of coloring depends on what type of terrain it lives in.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">What are the evidences of natural selection? __**



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__**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Further Reading: **__ <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">1. A genetic analysis of Siberians finds three genes that have evolved to help the people to adapt to cold weather. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/34194/title/Humans-Adapt-to-Icy-Life/

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">2. Research on an 18th and 19th century Finnish population suggests that human evolution is still ongoing by reference of agriculture and monogamy. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/32047/title/Are-Humans-Still-Evolving-/

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">3. In last 4 years, over 400 new species have been discovered. This could the evidence of continuous evolution. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38639/title/New-Species-Abound/

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">4. The researchers have found the possible reason for zebra's striped coat. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/31715/title/How-the-Zebra-Got-Its-Stripes/ = = <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">1. http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/selection/selection.html
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">References: __**

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">2. http://darwin200.christs.cam.ac.uk/pages/index.php?page_id=d3

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">3. http://www.truthinscience.org.uk/tis2/index.php/evidence-for-evolution-mainmenu-65/127-the-peppered-moth.html

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">4. http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples/examples-of-natural-selection.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Wikipost #1= =<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%; vertical-align: sub;">Newborn Screening =



<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Nowadays, many different kinds of disorder are developing constantly so parents become more protective about their children's health condition. One of the most successful public health program, Newborn Screening helps parents to relieve their worries and prevents approaching severe diseases. __**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">What is Newborn Screening? **__ <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - Newborn screening is a blood test done shortly after birth to test for treatable diseases that are not common during the newborn period. The babies should be screened within 24 hours after being born. The method of this process is that a doctor or nurse collects a small blood sample from the heel of the baby’s foot, and that sample is sent to the laboratory, where it is tested for a number of disorders. Early detection helps the infants to reduce the possibilities of get worse with those diseases, even saving a life. Recently, the newborn screening added the hearing test which examines if people might have hearing loss. It is a brief test and the test can be done while babies are asleep. All babies should be screened for hearing loss no later than 1 month of age.

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - The American microbiologist, Robert Guthire created a method of newborn screening in late 1960s. His first experiment was screening phenylketonuria, which is a genetic disorder that is present from birth. This specific disorder makes bodies unable to break a substance called phenylalanine, which builds up in the blood and brain. When there are high levels of phenylalanine existing in the body, it could lead to learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties, and epilepsy. Robert Guthire’s second disease discovery was congenital hypothyroidism, which is a condition where a newborn has absent thyroid function and reduces thyroid hormones that regulate growth and development through the rate of metabolism. The infants who are born with this disease usually have symptoms of exaggerated jaundice (yellowing of the skin) and umbilical hernia (expanded navel, or belly button). Since this disease is caused by the lack of thyroid hormones, the treatment consists of a daily dose of thyroid hormones (thyroxine) by mouth. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace; line-height: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;">
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">History of Newborn Screening __**

__**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">List of targeted disorders **__ <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;"> - Newborn screening has expanded since the discovery of phenylketonuria test done by Robert Guthire, but the number of disorders that are screened can vary greatly between countries. The reason for difference of screening between countries is that the newborn screening is based on the legal requirements for screening programs, prevalence of certain diseases within a population, and the availability of resources for both testing and follow-up of identified patients. The common targeted disorders from newborn screening involves amino acid disorder such as phenylketonuria, endocrinopathies such as congenital hypothyroidism, hemoglobinopathies, cystic fibrosis, urea cycle disorders, hearing loss, and more.

__**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Controversy **__ <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">- Although New Screening has renowned for a successful detection, there has been a controversy with this health program. One of the examples is that each province (state), or country has different types of disorder that can be screened. In 2003, two California babies, Zachary Wyvill and Zachary Black, were both born with Glutaric acidemia type I. Wyvill's birth hospital only tested for the four diseases mandated by state law, while Black was born at a hospital that was participating in an expanded testing pilot program. Black's disease was treated with diet and vitamins; Wyvill's disease went undetected for over six months, and during that time the damage from the enzyme deficiency became irreversible. Birth-defects lobbyists pushing for broader and more universal standards for newborn testing cite this as an example of how much of an impact testing can have. It’s understandable why they only have certain disorders that can be screened due to the difference of regulations in each province. However, there are numerous babies that are exposed to diseases but don’t notice it until they get evident symptoms, and end up living with that disease for their entire lives.

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__**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">Further Reading: **__ <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">1. Former American football player Jim Kelly's passion for universal newborn screening:

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://news.wbfo.org/post/jim-kelly-and-hunters-hope-families-push-universal-newborn-screening

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">2. Importance of newborn screening (how it caught fatal heart defects):

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.wibw.com/home/headlines/Simple-Newborn-Screening-Could-Catch-Potentially-Fatal-Heart-Defects-245478801.html

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">3. How delayed result of newborn screening could affect baby's health so negatively:

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.jsonline.com/multimedia/video/?bctid=2836492114001

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">4. Radioactive fallout from Fukushima has affected the thyroids of California babies:

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://sfbayview.com/2014/a-global-threat-fukushima-fallout-damaged-the-thyroids-of-california-babies/

__**<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">References: **__

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">1. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.cdc.gov/Features/NewbornScreening/

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">2. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/phenylketonuria/Pages/Introduction.aspx

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">3. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://online.wsj.com/ad/article/philips/SB108741631056839034.html

<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">4. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Console',Monaco,monospace;">http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/medical/newborn_screening_tests.html#