J.D. is a 37 years old white woman who presents to her gynecologist complaining of a 2-month history of intermenstrual bleeding, menorrhagia, increased urinary frequency, mild incontinence, extreme fatigue, and weakness. Her menstrual period occurs every 28 days and lately there have been 6 days of heavy flow and cramping. She denies abdominal distension, back-ache, and constipation. She has not had her usual energy levels since before her last pregnancy.

Past Medical History (PMH):
Upon reviewing her past medical history, the gynecologist notes that her patient is a G5P5with four pregnancies within four years, the last infant having been delivered vaginally four months ago. All five pregnancies were unremarkable and without delivery complications. All infants were born healthy. Patient history also reveals a 3-year history of osteoarthritis in the left knee, probably the result of sustaining significant trauma to her knee in an MVA when she was 9 years old. When asked what OTC medications she is currently taking for her pain and for how long she has been taking them, she reveals that she started taking ibuprofen, three tablets each day, about 2.5 years ago for her left knee. Due to a slowly progressive increase in pain and a loss of adequate relief with three tablets, she doubled the daily dose of ibuprofen. Upon the recommendation from her nurse practitioner and because long-term ibuprofen use can cause peptic ulcers, she began taking OTC omeprazole on a regular basis to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding. Patient history also reveals a 3-year history of HTN for which she is now being treated with a diuretic and a centrally acting antihypertensive drug. She has had no previous surgeries.

Case Study Questions

Name the contributing factors on J.D that might put her at risk to develop iron deficiency anemia.
Within the case study, describe the reasons why J.D. might be presenting constipation and or dehydration.
Why Vitamin B12 and folic acid are important on the erythropoiesis? What abnormalities their deficiency might cause on the red blood cells?
The gynecologist is suspecting that J.D. might be experiencing iron deficiency anemia.
In order to support the diagnosis, list and describe the clinical symptoms that J.D. might have positive for Iron deficiency anemia.
If the patient is diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, what do you expect to find as signs of this type of anemia? List and describe.
Labs results came back for the patient. Hb 10.2 g/dL; Hct 30.8%; Ferritin 9 ng/dL; red blood cells are smaller and paler in color than normal. Research list and describe for appropriate recommendations and treatments for J.D.
Cardiovascular
Mr. W.G. is a 53-year-old white man who began to experience chest discomfort while playing tennis with a friend. At first, he attributed his discomfort to the heat and having had a large breakfast. Gradually, however, discomfort intensified to a crushing sensation in the sternal area and the pain seemed to spread upward into his neck and lower jaw. The nature of the pain did not seem to change with deep breathing. When Mr. G. complained of feeling nauseated and began rubbing his chest, his tennis partner was concerned that his friend was having a heart attack and called 911 on his cell phone. The patient was transported to the ED of the nearest hospital and arrived within 30 minutes of the onset of chest pain. In route to the hospital, the patient was placed on nasal cannula and an IV D5W was started. Mr. G. received aspirin (325 mg po) and 2 mg/IV morphine. He is allergic to meperidine (rash). His pain has eased slightly in the last 15 minutes but is still significant; was 9/10 in severity; now7/10. In the ED, chest pain was not relieved by 3 SL NTG tablets. He denies chills.

Case Study Questions

For patients at risk of developing coronary artery disease and patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarct, describe the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
What would you expect to see on Mr. W.G. EKG and which findings described on the case are compatible with the acute coronary event?
Having only the opportunity to choose one laboratory test to confirm the acute myocardial infarct, which would be the most specific laboratory test you would choose and why?
How do you explain that Mr. W.G temperature has increased after his Myocardial Infarct, when that can be observed and for how long? Base your answer on the pathophysiology of the event.
Explain to Mr. W.G. why he was experiencing pain during his Myocardial Infarct. Elaborate and support your answer.

 

Sample solution

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.

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 Studies4(8), 487.

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

J.D. – Iron Deficiency Anemia

  1. Contributing Factors for Iron Deficiency Anemia:

    • Menorrhagia: Heavy menstrual bleeding leads to significant iron loss.
    • Frequent Pregnancies: Multiple pregnancies within a short period deplete iron stores.
    • Postpartum Period: Iron stores are often low after pregnancy and delivery.
    • Ibuprofen Use: Long-term use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, contributing to iron loss.
  2. Constipation and Dehydration:

    • Dehydration: Menorrhagia and increased urinary frequency can lead to fluid loss and dehydration.
    • Medications: Diuretics used for HTN can also contribute to dehydration.
    • Iron Supplements: If iron supplements are prescribed, they are well known to cause constipation.
  3. Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Erythropoiesis:

    • Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid: These vitamins are essential for DNA synthesis and red blood cell maturation.

J.D. – Iron Deficiency Anemia

  1. Contributing Factors for Iron Deficiency Anemia:

    • Menorrhagia: Heavy menstrual bleeding leads to significant iron loss.
    • Frequent Pregnancies: Multiple pregnancies within a short period deplete iron stores.
    • Postpartum Period: Iron stores are often low after pregnancy and delivery.
    • Ibuprofen Use: Long-term use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, contributing to iron loss.
  2. Constipation and Dehydration:

    • Dehydration: Menorrhagia and increased urinary frequency can lead to fluid loss and dehydration.
    • Medications: Diuretics used for HTN can also contribute to dehydration.
    • Iron Supplements: If iron supplements are prescribed, they are well known to cause constipation.
  3. Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid in Erythropoiesis:

    • Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid: These vitamins are essential for DNA synthesis and red blood cell maturation.
    • Deficiency Abnormalities: Deficiencies can lead to macrocytic anemia, characterized by abnormally large and immature red blood cells (megaloblasts). This results in decreased oxygen-carrying capacity.
  1. Clinical Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia:

    • Fatigue and Weakness
    • Intermenstrual Bleeding and Menorrhagia
    • Increased Urinary Frequency and Incontinence
    • Pallor
    • Shortness of Breath
  2. Signs of Iron Deficiency Anemia:

    • Pallor
    • Tachycardia
    • Tachypnea
    • Koilonychia (spoon-shaped nails)
    • Atrophic Glossitis (smooth, red tongue)
  3. Recommendations and Treatments:

    • Iron Supplementation: Oral iron supplements (ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate) are the first-line treatment.
    • Dietary Changes: Increase intake of iron-rich foods (red meat, leafy greens, fortified cereals).
    • Vitamin C: Take iron supplements with vitamin C to enhance absorption.
    • Address Underlying Causes: Treat menorrhagia (e.g., hormonal therapy, surgery if necessary) and manage ibuprofen use (consider alternative pain management).
    • Monitor for GI Bleeding: Due to the long term use of NSAIDs.
    • Monitor Hgb, Hct, and Ferritin: To evaluate treatment effectiveness.
    • In severe cases: IV iron or blood transfusions may be necessary.

Mr. W.G. – Myocardial Infarction (MI)

  1. Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease and MI:

    • Non-Modifiable:
      • Age
      • Male gender
      • Family history of coronary artery disease
    • Modifiable:
      • Smoking
      • Hypertension
      • Hyperlipidemia
      • Diabetes mellitus
      • Obesity
      • Sedentary lifestyle
      • Stress
  2. Expected EKG Findings and Compatible Symptoms:

    • EKG Findings: ST-segment elevation, T-wave inversion, or Q-wave formation.
    • Compatible Symptoms: Crushing sternal chest pain radiating to the neck and jaw, nausea.
  3. Most Specific Laboratory Test:

    • Troponin: Troponin is a cardiac-specific protein released into the bloodstream when myocardial damage occurs. It is highly sensitive and specific for MI.
  4. Increased Temperature After MI:

    • Pathophysiology: Myocardial tissue necrosis triggers an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response releases cytokines, which cause a systemic inflammatory response, including fever.
    • Observation and Duration: The temperature increase typically occurs within 24 to 72 hours of the MI and may last for several days.
  5. Pain During MI:

    • Explanation: Myocardial ischemia (lack of blood flow) occurs when a coronary artery is blocked, leading to oxygen deprivation of the heart muscle.
    • Elaboration: The ischemic heart muscle releases chemical mediators (e.g., bradykinin, histamine) that stimulate pain receptors. The intense chest pain is a result of these chemical mediators and the stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system. The pain radiating to the neck and jaw is due to referred pain pathways. The crushing sensation is a result of the pressure from the lack of oxygen on the heart muscle.

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