Brown,+A.

Alex Brown Post #1 December 4th, 2016


 * Wilson's Disease**

While browsing the Internet, I came across a genetic disorder named Wilson Disease. This is a rare genetic condition that affects about one in 30 000 people. This disease goes by other names like; copper storage disease and hepatolenticular degeneration syndrome.

Wilson disease causes a person’s body to store too much of the mineral copper in the liver, brain, eyes and other organs. (picture below). Overtime, the extra copper can lead to organ damage that may cause death.

__Symptoms:__ Symptoms typically begin between the ages of 12 and 23. There is a wide variety of signs and symptoms of Wilson Disease but they are often mistaking for other diseases and conditions. Symptoms vary depending on the parts of the body that are affected. Symptoms may include: Fatigue, lack of appetite or abdominal pain
 * • Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eye
 * • A tendency to bruise easily
 * • Fluid buildup in the legs or abdomen
 * • Problems with speech, swallowing or physical coordination
 * • Uncontrolled movements or muscle stiffness

There are different kinds of test to get diagnosed with Wilson’s disease such as: blood and urine tests, liver biopsy, eye exam, MRI and genetic testing. Urine tests are very simple. The patient pees in a container and the urine gets tested.

Wilson Disease is caused by an inherited autosomal recessive mutation, or change, in the //ATP7B// gene. In an autosomal recessive disease, the child has to inherit the gene mutation from both parents to have an increased likelihood for the disease. For the child to have a chance to inherit the disease, both parents must be carriers or have the disease. In the picture above, it shows that to parents who are carrying the disease have a 25% chance of producing a child who will have the disease. However, the child has a 50% chance of carrying the mutation and a 25% chance of not having the mutation.

A buildup of copper in the eyes makes you develop Kayser-Fleischer Rings. This results in a rusty-brown ring around the edge of the iris.

The following video explains into further detail Wilson’s Disease. media type="youtube" key="SOuzgwSA5Eg" width="560" height="315"

__ Further Reading: __

Here is a personal story about a patient who lives with Wilson Disease. []

To learn more about the disease, you can browse though the Wilson Disease Association website. []

To learn more about personal Wilson Disease stories, you can visit the American Liver Foundation website. []

If you are interested in joining a Wilson Disease support group, go to [] or []

__ Sources Cited: __

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 * Alex Brown**
 * Post #2**
 * January 18th, 2017**


 * Nervous System **

Hit your knee against the table? Stub your toe against the door? Jump in an ice cold pool? Touch a hot stove? These are all things that can activate your nervous system. The nervous system is full of nerves. The body has three types of nerves; The information transmitted throughout your nervous system is transported by a neuron.
 * 1) 1. __Autonomic nerves__, involuntary or partially voluntary activities of your body, including blood pressure, heart rate, digestion and temperature regulation are controlled by there nerves.
 * 2) 2. __Motor nerves__, your movements and actions are controlled by these nerves by passing information from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles.
 * 3) 3. __Sensory nerves__, pain is felt when these nerves transmit information from your skin and muscles back to your spinal cord and brain.

Your nervous system is built around nerve cells named neuron. They are specialized to transmit information throughout the body. The nervous system uses these cells to communicate information in both chemical and electrical forms. We have different types of neurons with different responsibilities. Sensory neurons carry information from the sensory receptor cells throughout the body to the brain. Motor neurons transmit information from the brain to the muscles of the body. These are just a couple examples of neurons in our nervous system.
 * __Neuron__**



Many different conditions can cause nerve pain. It can disrupt your life at home and at work by having a constant burning, pinpricks, or sudden shocks of electricity sent throughout your body. Short term, nerve pain can limit your ability to get around. Long term, nerve pain can cause sleeping problems, anxiety and depression. In dealing with serious conditions such as cancer or HIV, the additional misery from nerve pain can be excruciating. Diabetes and shingles are also other types of diseases that can cause nerve pain.
 * __Nerve Pain__**

After battling with chickenpox, your body doesn’t completely eliminate the VZV (Varicella Zoster Virus) virus. This virus belongs to the family of herpes viruses. The virus is chased into hiding. It attacks the nerve cells deep under the skin. One of three people get effected by the infection again. The virus travels along a nerve onto the skin cause a painful rash. Shingles can cause a stabbing pain, tingling, itching, burning and a stinging sensation.
 * __Shingles__**



The pain caused by nerve pain often forces people to get help from a doctor and receive prescription treatments. There are also unprescribed drugs to help relieve the pain. These drugs may be enough on their own depending on how serious the pain is. There are many kinds of over-the-counter medicines available for the public such as painkillers, supplements and vitamins. Other treatments for nerve pain are acupuncture, physical therapy, massage and assistive devices.
 * __Nerve Pain Treatment__**



The following video explains into further detail the nervous system.

media type="youtube" key="L6w0_j6mWbo" width="560" height="315" To learn more about HIV’s, you can look at the following link.
 * __Further Readings:__**
 * __[]__**

To learn more about cancer, you can browse through the Canadian Cancer Society website. []

If you want to learn more about medication for neuropathic pain, visit the following website.
 * __[]__**

If you would like to join the fight against shingles, you can support the National Shingles Foundation. []


 * __Sources Cited:__**

[|http://www.webmd.com/brain/nerve-pain-and-nerve-damage-symptoms-and-causes#1]

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[|http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/treating-nerve-pain-caused-cancer-hiv#1]

[|http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/features/at-risk-for-shingles-and-postherpetic_neuralgia#1]

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[|http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/nonprescription-treatments-nerve-pain#1]

Alex Brown Post #3 January 20th, 2017


 * __ Evolution of Kicking/Punting Footballs __**

While many football fans focus on skill players (quarterback, wide receiver, running back, cornerback, safety), kickers and punters have slowly become a major factor on deciding who wins or loses a game.

Kickers originally kicked footballs with a straight-on style. Kicking the ball with their toes. In the 1960s, Pete Gogolak was the first player to kick a football like a soccer ball. Soccer styled kick.

Kickers are making further field goals, 50 to 55 yard field goals have become then norm while kicking 60 yard field goals has become impressive. Previously the player named “Mr. Automatic” was known as the most accurate and consistent kicker in the league. Now almost every kicker is called “Mr. Automatic”. They are making field goals at a more consistent rate than ever before. Pete Gogolak (1964-74)58.8% Fred Cox (1963-77)62.0% Garo Yepremian (1966-81)67.1% Jan Stenerud (1967-85)66.8% Toni Fritsch (1971-82)68.0% Eddie Murray (1980-2000)75.5% Morten Andersen (1982-2007)79.7% Gary Anderson (1982-2004)80.1%
 * __ Field Goals __**
 * __ YESTERYEAR’S __**

Blair Walsh (MINN)90.0% Justin Tucker (BALT)90.0% Dan Bailey (DALL)89.3% Robbie Gould (CHI)85.9% Alex Henery (PHI)85.5% Rob Bironas (TENN)85.2% Stephen Gostkowski (NE)85.2% Matt Bryant (ATL)84.7% Kickers have become so good that the NFL is trying to find ways to make it harder for them. In 2015, the league moved the extra points back 13 yards. This results into a 33 yard kick instead of a 20 yard kick.
 * __ TODAY’S BEST __**

Extra point.

Punting has changed over the years. Previously, players just kicked the ball as far as possible without using any technique. Now days, punters kick the ball with a tight spiral and try to direct it to certain spots to help the team. In college football, a lot of rugby players have become punters and kick the ball with a rugby style. Punters are always trying to find new ways to make their kicks go further and higher.
 * __ Punting __**



Football punting technique.

Below you can view a video that demonstrates how to kick a field goal. media type="youtube" key="krI7hVlwhVY" width="560" height="315"

NFL players get paid a lot of money. Over the years, the salary cap has gone up which has allowed teams to pay their players more money. The top kickers and punters have taken advantages and get paid a lot more than previous kickers and punters.
 * __ Kicker/punter salaries __**

For a step by step walkthrough on punting a football, click on the following link. []
 * __ Further readings: __**

To participate in a kicking/punting camp, visit the Kohl’s Kicking website. []

If you are interested in being recruited as a kicker in college or university, browse the following website. []

To buy cleats to be able to play football and become a kicker/punter, visit this link. []


 * __ Sources Cited __**

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