Systemic Lupus Essay -- Health, Diseases

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a fairly common disease identified as episodes of inflammation and damage to joints, tendons, and various organs. The most effected organs are the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, blood vessels, and skin. Lupus affects each individual differently and the effects could be mild to severe depending on the individual. SLE is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the healthy cells and tissues in the body (Ohio State, 2009). The main cause of lupus is unknown, but there are believed to be many factors that could contribute to lupus. Lupus is believed to be genetic for many individuals (Ohio State, 2009). If a mother has SLE, her daughter has a 1:40 chance of developing lupus, whereas, her son has a 1:250 chance (Leber, 2009). Environmental issues could be present where the cause in the environment is unknown. SLE can also be caused by some medications. The disease may be present while taking the medication, but disappear when the individual stops taking the medication. The majority of people who have lupus are women between late teens to forty-five. Females are affected three to ten times more likely than males (Ohio State, 2009). African American women are more likely to develop lupus than Caucasian women (Leber, 2009). Human leukocyte antigens are a group of genes on chromosome six. The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) associated with lupus is called DR2 and DR3. A person who has these antigens is very likely to develop lupus, but individuals with different antigens may also develop SLE (Ohio State, 2009). There are many symptoms of SLE and will vary from individual to individual with the disease. Some common symptoms are inflammation of the joints, Raynaud’s phenomenon1, m... ...ttempt to treat physical symptoms of SLE as well as the psychological symptoms. HRQoL, disease activity, and disease damage are three different components of lupus and should be measured separately for the most accurate results. Measuring the patient’s quality of life will assist in keeping the patient informed about how the disease is affecting them in their daily lives. HRQoL will vary significantly with each individual and is very important to measure patient’s responses to lupus. Fatigue is a widely influential factor in lupus patients and should be included in quality of life studies (McElhone, 2006). Studies found a role of defensins in the pathogenesis of SLE (Froy, 2009). Although, when SLE involves major organ, the disease can be put into remission with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy, these treatments can cause toxic results (Ntali, 2009).

Concluding Case †Custom Coffee & Chocolate Essay

Billions of people across the globe choose to have a cup of coffee each morning to start the day or as a morning work break but coffee has become more than just a drink. Coffee has become an ingrained part of various cultures and coffee shops can be found in most every city around the world. It is little wonder that coffee ranks among the world’s largest commodity markets second only to oil (â€Å"Dangerous Grounds: About the Show†, 2013). Given diversity and competition in the market, the small startup company of Custom Coffee & Chocolate will require a clear mission statement, detailed business analysis, and tactical plans that will help it to increase market share within the Seattle community. A mission statement describes a company’s fundamental purpose and how that company is unique within its product and services offerings. In writing of the company’s mission, each word must be carefully selected for consistency and there must be a commitment from the stakeholders to focus resources in the accomplishment of this mission (Ireland & Hitt, 1992). Bonnie Brewer and Stacy Kim have passed a milestone having developed regular customers within the five months of opening the first coffee house. As a statement for moving forward, â€Å"Custom Coffee & Chocolate’s mission into the community is to provide the highest quality, socially ethical coffee and chocolates while serving to keep the Seattle community connected and invigorated. † The next step towards developing a tactical business plan is to identify internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats. A common challenge among small startup companies is finance. Within the first six months, Brewer and Kim have exhausted both their savings and initial small-business loan placing the company in a precarious position. For further development of the business, these proprietors will need to seek further investment capital through another partner, reduction in salary, or incur more debt with another small-business loan. Being located near a university is a strength that entails a surrounding population that is educated and can appreciate socially and environmentally sustainable coffee and chocolate. Coffeehouses for this type of customers are not only a place to purchase caffeine but also a social gathering place for study and recreation. Many coffeehouses are able to differentiate themselves from larger chains such as Starbucks by creating a more inviting environment that encourages guests to stay longer and experience the ambiance (Grant, 2005). Custom Coffee provides currently provides quality product but needs to improve the service it provides to the area. Companies such as Starbucks, Tully’s, and Seattle’s Best have made their starts in the Seattle community and in some cases grown to be national and multi-national organizations. In some cases such as Tully’s coffee, the competition was too much and have gone into bankruptcy (â€Å"McDreamy’ saves Seattle coffee chain,† 2013). The tactical plan for Custom Coffee & Chocolates will comprise of two milestone events. Within the first year, the company will take out another small-business loan to improve its utilization of technology. The store will install high-speed wireless for its guests as well as invest in improving its website and web search analytics. Brewer and Kim will implement an in-dorm delivery service while also standardizing hiring and training practices for the new, part-time staff that will be required. The hours of operation will be lengthened to better serve students’ late night study habits as well as an increase in marketing to the university clubs and organizations. This will lead into an event schedule that may include coffee and chocolate tastings as well as an open mike night. The goal of these changes will result in the company being financially stable within the first year and better positioned for expanding into a few other locations within the second or third year. In conclusion, a company must identify its reason for existence, analyze the market, and then make a plan based on both that mission and market analysis. The Custom Coffee & Chocolate store has many challenges that lay ahead but with clear vision and planning, it is positioned to become an ingrained part of Seattle’s university communities having successfully passed the first six months of operation. A key to this success will be for the company to focus into a niche where many of the nationally franchised coffee shops lack (Grant, 2005). Custom Coffee will exceed with socially and environmentally responsible products as well as providing a friendly, social gathering point for the local community.

The Things They Carried By Tim O Brien - 1970 Words

Tim O’Brien effectively uses a literary medium to artistically portray the drastically altered realities of men whose lives have been impacted by the experiences of their loyal service to their country. Within the novel The Things They Carried, the reader is exposed to unknown taboo recollections of war tales in which the protagonist and sub characters cannot remove from memory. Moreover, The Things They Carried acts as a medium for the long kept emotional distress of the author and even the protagonist. Throughout the novel the protagonist expresses the perpetual need to share his surreptitious memories and relive his experiences as a soldier in the war as a form of cleansing from the events of the past and a need to conform to†¦show more content†¦From his experience as a newspaper reporter, O’Brien was able to quickly develop his writing skills which paved his way into the field of fiction publications. Currently in his career, Tim O’Brien serves as a visiting professor at the University of Southwest Texas State where he teaches creative writing and is also a member of the advisory board for Ridenhour Prizes. Moreover, the Vietnam War, in which Tim O’Brien was drafted into, was a desperate American struggle against the spread of Communism. Occurring during the Cold War era, America struggled with the Soviet Union in an event called the â€Å"Red Scare† which was a phase of the quickly spreading Communist government. In Vietnam, the war is actually known as the â€Å"American War† due to America’s deep involvement in the war efforts. More than two million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters were killed during the span of the Vietnam War. Overall, the main cause for O’Brien’s opposition to the draft notice was that American involvement in Vietnam progressively became highly unpopular and overtime American citizens began to forget the reasons behind the war effort. Tim O’Brien wa s given a short notice and eventually forced to immediately leave his family in order to begin training and preparation for the war. The draft notice was a large