Human Physiology Assignment: Critical Thinking Question Set

Question

Task: These questions require you to draw on knowledge gained in this module, and the assigned readings, to help you construct your answer. These questions have been designed to make you think about the subjects covered.
You should select 4 of the 6 questions to answer. Each question contributes 25% to the overall assessment mark. Each answer should be approximately 400 words (not including citations and figure legends) and written in appropriate scientific English.

You are reminded that you should not plagiarise – please ensure all answers are you own.

• Stephen likes going to the gym however, he feels very inadequate when he compares himself to the regulars. Their muscles, gleaming like an oiled Adonis in the flickering, fluorescent lights of the gym (If lecturing doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll write the next best seller…) make him feel like a bit of a weakling. Enter William who is a bit of a bad egg and offers Stephen some steroids. After a while of taking these anabolic steroids Stephen begins to notice his muscle mass increasing but also a few less desirable physical and mental side-effects kicking in. Discuss the role of endogenous androgenic steroids in human physiology and what are the potential adverse effects from anabolic steroid miss-use and what is the physiological reason behind this?
• A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has recently been reported in China. As of January 21^st 2020 it is thought to have infected 1700 individuals and killed 4. The virus is believed to have originated in livestock and transmission is currently limited to individuals who have had significant contact with animals. There is significant concern that this virus will soon adapt to become proficient at spreading from person to person. When infected individuals develop a severe respiratory infection which can progress to a fatal pneumonia. Discuss the features of modern life which will both aid and hinder the spread of this novel virus.
• In January 2020 a new discovery was announced in which scientists from Cardiff University have been able to reprogram immune system cells to target cancer. Previous chemotherapies have largely been un-targeted and as a result can cause significant harm to the patient. An example of a cancer which can be treated with the new method is metastatic prostate cancer. Discuss the screening methods currently used to identify prostate cancer and how various treatment strategies (i.e. surgery, chemotherapy, immune-modulating agents etc.) have improved patient prognosis.
• Dylan has a peptic ulcer. Discuss the likely cause of this ulcer and some of the treatments which could be used to manage the condition.
• The combined oral contraceptive pill has revolutionised many aspects of society by allowing individuals to control their reproductive cycles, indeed it is widely believed to have played a large role in increasing the levels of female educational and economic engagement. Discuss how the combined oral contraceptive pill is able to regulate fertility with reference to the regular menstrual cycle. Include in your answer a brief explanation about why many women are concerned about the risk of blood clots when on the pill.
• Wendy, an otherwise fit lady in her 30s, was out at dinner with some friends when she experienced agonising pain in her abdomen which radiated up to her shoulder-blades. She was rushed to hospital where clinicians soon diagnosed her as having gallstones and operated on her using key-hole surgery to remove her gall-bladder. Within 48 hours she was home and with doctor’s orders to avoid eating fatty foods, none the less she was feeling a bit down so she treated herself to some Ben and Jerrys (Cookie dough if anyone is interested!). Shortly after finishing the pot (honestly, who leaves a pot half finished?) she experienced severe diarrhoea. Discuss briefly the role of the gall bladder in healthy physiology and why Wendy experienced digestive distress after the removal of her organ. In your answer include a reflection on the biology of stone formation and why she was discharged from hospital so quickly following her laproscopic surgery.

Answer

Answer 1
The concept of an endogenous androgenic steroid explored in the human physiology assignment is seen to have played a long role in the human physiology by helping them develop the type of physique they want. The use of this steroid has both negative as well as positive impact on the user depending on the level of intake of such steroids. The steroid is used by both men and women for their physiological development by circulating the levels of androgens in their body. It is most commonly used drug in fitness training to develop a good physique (Kam and Yarrow 2005). They are anabolic steroids and help in increasing protein with the cells such as the skeletal muscles and create effects like development of facial and body hairs. It has been found in this human physiology assignment that in the presence of effective diet, such steroids helps in increasing body weight and gain of muscle strengths through high intensity exercises just like in Stephens case where his muscle mass increased after he consumed steroid. It is known for impacting the structure of human physiology and commonly used as performance enhancing drugs (Bahrke et al. 1990). As stated in the human physiology assignment, it is also used to treat many physiological issues in human such as late puberty in adolescent boys, breast cancer, anemia, weight loss disease hypogonadism, and others.

The miss-use of anabolic steroid that lead to adverse impact on the human physiology such as severe acne, growing of body and facial hairs, Liver disease, mood alteration, heart disease, high blood pressure, menstrual irregularities and others. Just in the case of Stephen undertook to develop this human physiology assignment where he noticed physiological and mental side effects. Addiction of such steroids may also need medication treatment as the adverse impacts are high in such persons. There are physiological reasons behind such adverse effect caused by the misuse of this steroid. Using steroid is seen to be a type of drug that brings unusual changes in different parts of the body leading to adverse impact (Oberlander et al. 2012). In case of cardiovascular diseases or heart diseases it is seen that such steroids alter the serum lipids that directly attack the heart. The ventricular hypertrophy is seen to cause impairment in isovolumetric relaxation, diastolic dysfunction and fractional shortening leading to cardio arrest. Further, the study developed in the human physiology assignment signifies that the steroid causes an increase in myocardial fibrosis that outstrips the blood supply in it causing cardio disease and high blood pressure. Further, the steroid increases the serum such as cholestasis, peliosis and others that report liver dysfunctions (Hoffman and Ratamess 2006). The steroid also reduces the secretion of follicular stimulating hormones that leads to decrease in testicular size in male and masculinization and menstrual irregularities in female.

Answer 2
Coronavirus has been found in China and has infected a lot of people in the country in short period. The virus has involved from livestock and has become an emergency in the country as it will soon adapt to become able to spread from one person to another. This has made it important for analyzing various features of modern life that can either aid or hinder the spread of this virus. There are some habits or ways that can aid or encourage the spread of coronavirus if not diagnosed properly. Some of the trends in modern life such as consuming excessive meat, shortages of surgical face masks, use of international or Chinese made goods, unhygienic lifestyle and others can help spread the coronavuris easily due to high chances of contact between the virus infected things and the people (Wang et al. 2018). However, these features can also be a hindrance to the virus if efforts are taken to restrict some of the behaviors of modern life.

As it is seen in the human physiology assignment that the virus is caused from the livestock and is a contagious disease it is important that the features of modern life that is putting a restriction in travel and socializing with the people or things of other countries, especially with china. Traveling is one of the most important feature or trend of modern life where people tend to lie highly on foreign countries for business as well as personal purposes. Thus, putting a restriction in this modern life trend is important to hinder the importing of international things and people in the country (Fehr and Perlman 2015). This will also prevent the infected people to come in touch with each other.

Further, it is seen that seventy percent of the infectious disease or virus is seen to originate from the animal kingdom. Most of the viruses are seen to be caused from the spillover events from animals to the humans. Thus, it is clear in the context of this human physiology assignment that on this basis the people should do proper inspection of animal hygiene from the place they purchase animal meat for consumption or other purposes. Moreover, the trend of consuming meat of animals should be limited or reduced and there should be a shift in eating habits to the consumption of better green vegetables. This will help in restricting the spread of coronavirus to the humans (Fehr and Perlman 2015). As per the research on human physiology assignment it can be stated that wearing masks and disposing off used masks can also hinder the spread of such virus from one person to another in future.

Answer 3
Prostate cancer is considered as one of the life threatening disease or disorders seen in male that has led to an increase in male mortality. In the past decades various types of treatments and diagnosis has come up along with the new development of 2020 by scientists of Cardiff University that has lowered the rate of such cancer, however, such treatments are not enough owing to the related mortality. The initial step is to screen the patient affected with prostate cancer with the help of screening processes that help them know about the cancer even before the symptoms and signs (Chen and Zhao 2013). This helps to determine the stage in which the cancer is and decide whether it can be treated or not.

At present context of human physiology assignment the screening method that is being used to identify prostate cancer are digital rectal inspection and prostate detailed antigen blood test. The digital rectal examination is a test in which the doctor inserts a gloved finger covered with lubricant into the rectum area of the man and check the prostate in the bowel walls to know if there is any irregularities. The irregularity found in the wall is a sign of a cancer. The US Preventive Service Task Force stated in 2018 that they do not recommend the use of this screening method as it lacks evidence on its efficiency and benefits (Leyh-Bannurah et al. 2017). The PSA blood test is best for detecting early stage prostate cancer in which the men can be given treatment before the cancer spread and grows. It also helps in finding condition that are not cancer such as BPH. This helps in saving patients from surgery and other treatments if the severity of cancer is not high.

There are various treatment strategies mentioned in this segment of human physiology assignment that has helped in improving the diagnosis of the patients affected with prostate cancer such as surgery, radiation therapy, focal therapy and systemic treatments. There are various types of surgery being done in such cancer that has improved the diagnosis process such as Radical prostatectomy, robotic prostatectomy, bilateral orchiectomy and transurethral resection of the prostate. Radiation therapy being given is external beam radiation, brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy. The most recent systematic treatments include testosterone suppression therapy, immunotherapy, radiopharmaceutical and modification of the bone drugs (Nevedomskaya et al. 2018). According to the investigation on human physiology assignment, in 2020 scientists of Cardiff University has reprogram immune system cells to target cancer that helps in exploiting the natural immune system of the patients and treat the prostate cancer through immunomodulatory and antigen-targeted immunotherapy. The major focus of the current prostate cancer treatment includes vaccines which fall in the antigen-targeted group.

Answer 4
Peptic ulcer is a type of sores that advances in the inside layer of the stomach and in the upper portion of the small intestine. One of the major symptoms of peptic ulcer includes stomach pain. The most common causes of peptic ulcer are bacterium, regular use and consumption of pain reliever tablets and other medications such as steroids, low-dose aspirin and others. A type of bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori bacteria is one of the commonly present bacteria in the mucous layer of the stomach and small intestine. This bacteria noted herein the human physiology assignment causes no health issues, however, it can create some amount of inflammation in the inner layer of the stomach causing ulcer. Further, intake of regular pain relievers and medications cause heat in the inner portion of the stomach causing ulcer (Lanas and Chan 2017). Thus, most of the causes is due to irresponsible and careless behavior among people in their daily lives.

There are treatments and medication found in the medical industry to treat such ulcer and helped in management of such condition from becoming worse. The medication treatment for treating peptic ulcer is Proton pump inhibitors that help in reducing the acid in the ulcer and allow it to heal. Antibiotics are also given for treatment that helps heal such ulcer within a week. Some ulcer becomes severe and cannot be treated easily with the help of such medication and need proper treatment (Mahima et al. 2018). Two types of treatment mentioned in the human physiology assignment that are present are endoscopy and surgery. Endoscopy can be used to treat bleeding ulcer. Surgery is needed when the ulcer is seen to create a hole in the wall of the stomach or there is excessive bleeding caused. This helps in treating ulcer easily and from the root. Some of the doctors are also seen to use Histamine receptor blockers that help in blocking the histamine in the stomach that is a type of chemical helping the stomach to produce acid. Thus, blocking it helps in controlling the spread of ulcer or making it worse. Other than this, there are different types of therapy that has come up to treat such ulcer such as triple therapy, quadruple therapy and sequential therapy that gives different dosage of medicine and treatment to the patients (Lanas and Chan 2017). However, in some cases it has caused side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vaginal infections and others.

References
Bahrke, M.S., Yesalis, C.E. and Wright, J.E., 1990. Psychological and behavioural effects of endogenous testosterone levels and anabolic-androgenic steroids among males. Human physiology assignment Sports Medicine, 10(5), pp.303-337.

Chen, F.Z. and Zhao, X.K., 2013. Prostate cancer: current treatment and prevention strategies. Iranian Red Crescent medical journal, 15(4), p.279.

Fehr, A.R. and Perlman, S., 2015. Coronaviruses: an overview of their replication and pathogenesis. In Coronaviruses (pp. 1-23). Humana Press, New York, NY.

Hoffman, J.R. and Ratamess, N.A., 2006. Medical issues associated with anabolic steroid use: are they exaggerated?. Journal of sports science & medicine, 5(2), p.182.

Kam, P.C.A. and Yarrow, M., 2005. Anabolic steroid abuse: physiological and anaesthetic considerations. Anaesthesia, 60(7), pp.685-692.

Lanas, A. and Chan, F.K., 2017. Peptic ulcer disease. The Lancet, 390(10094), pp.613-624.

Leyh-Bannurah, S.R., Gazdovich, S., Budäus, L., Zaffuto, E., Briganti, A., Abdollah, F., Montorsi, F., Schiffmann, J., Menon, M., Shariat, S.F. and Fisch, M., 2017. Local therapy improves survival in metastatic prostate cancer. Human physiology assignment European urology, 72(1), pp.118-124.

Mahima, M., Bhavesh, S. and Kumar, G.P., 2018. A REVIEW ON PEPTIC ULCER, ITS CAUSES AND TREATMENT.

Nevedomskaya, E., Baumgart, S.J. and Haendler, B., 2018. Recent advances in prostate cancer treatment and drug discovery. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(5), p.1359.

Oberlander, J.G., Porter, D.M., Penatti, C.A. and Henderson, L.P., 2012. Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse: multiple mechanisms of regulation of GABAergic synapses in neuroendocrine control regions of the rodent forebrain. Journal of neuroendocrinology, 24(1), pp.202-214.

Wang, Y., Sun, J., Zhu, A., Zhao, J. and Zhao, J., 2018. Current understanding of middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in human and animal models. Human physiology assignment Journal of thoracic disease, 10(Suppl 19), p.S2260.