Annotated Bibliography #3

Amita Raj

Abney

6^th Period

November 4^th, 2010

Annotated Bibliography #3

Brody, Jane E. "What to Do Now to Feel Better at 100." New York Times. 25 Oct. 2010. Web. 04 Nov. 2010.

                This article is mainly about how well the body functions after aging. It centers on the idea that the secret to combat aging is to slow down the loss of physiological reserve. One of the scarier complications that accompany aging is that we may lose up to 90% of kidney function and not even realize it. The life expectancy of the country has been increasing, and many elderly people are living past their 100s. The main point Brody is trying to make is that this deterioration of body function occurs way before people reach the age of 60. It is essential that people make exercise programs part of their daily routines. For example, if you have a sedentary lifestyle in your mid 40s then it is more likely you will develop immobility as you age.

                I was interested by this article because one of the patient’s Dr. Venkatesh saw was 103 years old! I was amazed that someone could live for so long despite many complications related to body functions. My mentor described to me how the patient’s kidney diseases were accompanied by other illnesses like diabetes and various physical issues dealing with the bones and muscles. The doctor told me how even though some of the illnesses may not have been avoidable, there may have been a chance to reduce the intensity of symptoms if some precautionary methods were taking during the patient’s mid-life. Examples of these methods include daily walking routines, consuming a healthy diet, and participating in activities that improve physical, social, and emotional well-being. It made me realize how difficult it is for elderly people to maintain their lifestyle without the help of family members and friends. Taking care of your body may sound like a burden in the present, but even the slightest commitment can go miles in the long run.

Annotated Bibliography #2

Amita Raj

Abney

6^th Period

September 15^th, 2010

Annotated Bibliography #2

Tierney, By John. "Salt Wars - NYTimes.com." Social Sciences and Society - TierneyLab Blog - NYTimes.com. 22 Feb. 2010. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. <http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/salt-wars/?scp=2&sq=nephrology&st=cse>.

            Salt intake is one of the major aspects of basic body function. The best way to figure out how much salt the body is taking in is by using a 24-hour urine sample. This particular research conducted contained an unusual amount of conflict of interest. Many of the researches worked independently and communication was hard between the scientists. These are the ‘Salt Wars’. This article was somewhat deviant from my work at the placement, but relevant to the effects of research on nephrology in general. The results of research which is conducted by these scientists are what is used during treatment and diagnoses. The most important electrolyte in kidney function is sodium, and the amount of salt we eat (on two extremes) can eventually lead to kidney failure. This article highlights that even though research is conducted for the purpose of medicine, there are still economical politics that can hinder development. This hindrance may also prevent further diagnoses of unknown conditions. I was able to identify with this article because the more my mentor talked about her private practice, the more I realized that being a physician also involves being a businessman.

Annotated Bibliography #1

Amita Raj

Abney

6^th Period

September 15^th, 2010

Annotated Bibliography #1

Bakalar, Nicholas. "Report Suggests Changing Kidney Tumor Treatment." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 19 Sept. 2006. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/health/19kidn.html?_r=1>.

            New research has shown that a nephrectomy—the removal of the entire kidney, does not improve chances of survival. It is more likely for the patient to develop abrasions (renal cortical tumors) that can become malignant. Partial nephrectomies are harder to perform, and doctors have expressed that there would be less complications with a more major operation, and patients with two working kidneys would not have kidney problems after the surgery. Those who had small tumors already had a history of kidney disease, which makes the patient more at risk after undergoing such an operation. This article was surprising to read, because I had previously thought that the smaller and less radical a surgical procedure would be, the better it is for the patient. However, I learned that sometimes drastic measures prove to be less complicated. A lot of the medical terminology used in this article was familiar to me, after listening to my mentor talk about ‘creatinine’ and other such nephrology- related terms.

Original article can be read here.