COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black Americans.

by | Oct 28, 2024 | Health

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Black Americans. To understand how institutionalized racism impacts our lives it is useful to look at some data collected throughout the pandemic on race based disparities and COVID. Below are some resources for you to explore in order to see how various forms of institutionalized racism reinforce each other and interconnect/overlap to maintain inequalities. For example, a history of discrimination in the labor market has produced race-based economic inequalities and vulnerabilities that put specific groups more at risk for transmitting and contracting the virus.

1. Explain how specific groups were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due to institutionalized racism. You must include some data that supports your response.

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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

A Thorough Literature Review on the Molecular Pathophysiology of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by episodes of reversible airway obstruction, bronchospasm, and airway hyperresponsiveness. While the exact mechanisms of asthma are complex and not fully understood, significant advancements in molecular biology have unveiled critical insights into its pathophysiology. This literature review explores the key molecular players and pathways involved in asthma development and progression.

1. Genetics and Environmental Triggers:

  • Genetic Predisposition: Asthma has a strong genetic component, with numerous susceptibility genes identified. These genes primarily influence the development of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, making individuals more susceptible to environmental triggers. (1, 2)

  • Environmental Triggers: While genetics play a role, environmental factors are crucial in triggering asthma. Common triggers include:

A Thorough Literature Review on the Molecular Pathophysiology of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by episodes of reversible airway obstruction, bronchospasm, and airway hyperresponsiveness. While the exact mechanisms of asthma are complex and not fully understood, significant advancements in molecular biology have unveiled critical insights into its pathophysiology. This literature review explores the key molecular players and pathways involved in asthma development and progression.

1. Genetics and Environmental Triggers:

  • Genetic Predisposition: Asthma has a strong genetic component, with numerous susceptibility genes identified. These genes primarily influence the development of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, making individuals more susceptible to environmental triggers. (1, 2)

  • Environmental Triggers: While genetics play a role, environmental factors are crucial in triggering asthma. Common triggers include:

    • Allergens: Dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold stimulate IgE antibody production, triggering mast cell degranulation and release of inflammatory mediators like histamine and leukotrienes. (3)

    • Viral Infections: Respiratory viruses like rhinovirus can induce airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, contributing to asthma exacerbations. (4)

    • Air Pollution: Particulate matter and ozone can cause oxidative stress and inflammation in the airways, leading to airway hyperresponsiveness. (5)

    • Occupational Exposures: Chemicals and irritants in workplaces can trigger asthma in susceptible individuals. (6)

2. Airway Inflammation and Remodeling:

  • Inflammatory Cascade: Upon exposure to triggers, the airway initiates a complex inflammatory cascade. Key players include:

    • Mast cells: Degranulate upon allergen exposure, releasing histamine, leukotrienes, and other inflammatory mediators. (7)

    • Eosinophils: Contribute to airway inflammation through the release of cytotoxic proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines. (8)

    • T lymphocytes (T cells): Play a crucial role in orchestrating the inflammatory response, with Th2 cells being particularly implicated in asthma. (9)

  • Airway Remodeling: Chronic inflammation leads to structural changes in the airways, contributing to airway hyperresponsiveness and irreversible airflow obstruction. This involves:

    • Smooth muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia: Increases airway constriction.

    • Goblet cell hyperplasia: Increased mucus production.

    • Sub-epithelial fibrosis: Thickening of the basement membrane, further narrowing the airways. (10)

3. Airway Hyperresponsiveness:

  • Increased Bronchial Reactivity: Asthmatic airways exhibit increased reactivity to stimuli, leading to exaggerated bronchospasm and airflow obstruction.

  • Role of Inflammatory Mediators: Histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins released during inflammation contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness by promoting smooth muscle contraction, mucus secretion, and vasodilation. (11)

  • Neural Mechanisms: The autonomic nervous system plays a role in regulating airway tone. In asthma, cholinergic nerves are hyperactive, contributing to bronchospasm. (12)

4. Role of Cytokines and Chemokines:

  • Th2 Cytokines: Th2 cells release cytokines like IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, which are critical in driving airway inflammation and eosinophil recruitment. (13)

  • Chemokines: These proteins attract specific inflammatory cells to the airways, contributing to the inflammatory process. CCL11 (eotaxin) is particularly important in attracting eosinophils. (14)

5. Emerging Molecular Targets for Asthma Therapies:

  • Targeting Inflammatory Mediators: Drugs that block histamine (antihistamines), leukotrienes (leukotriene antagonists), or prostaglandins (NSAIDs) can effectively manage asthma symptoms. (15)

  • Targeting Immune Cells: Monoclonal antibodies against IgE (omalizumab) or IL-5 (mepolizumab, benralizumab) can effectively reduce airway inflammation and eosinophil levels. (16)

  • Targeting Airway Remodeling: Current therapies are limited in addressing airway remodeling. However, research is exploring novel therapies that target specific pathways involved in fibrosis and smooth muscle hyperplasia. (17)

6. Future Directions:

  • Personalized Medicine: Identifying genetic and environmental factors that contribute to asthma can lead to more personalized treatment strategies.

  • Precision Medicine: Developing targeted therapies that address specific molecular pathways involved in asthma pathogenesis can offer more effective and individualized treatments.

  • Biomarkers: Identifying reliable biomarkers for asthma severity and disease progression can aid in early diagnosis, effective monitoring, and personalized treatment. (18)

Conclusion:

Understanding the molecular pathophysiology of asthma is crucial for developing effective treatments and preventing disease progression. While significant progress has been made, further research is necessary to fully elucidate the complex mechanisms involved. The identification of new molecular targets and the development of personalized and precision medicine approaches hold immense promise for improving the lives of millions affected by asthma.

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