Pathophysiology & Clinical Findings of the Disease
1. Are the spirometry results consistent with obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease? What is the most likely pulmonary diagnosis for this patient?
2. Explain the pathophysiology associated with the chosen pulmonary disease.
3. Identify at least three subjective findings from the case which support the chosen diagnosis.
4. Identify at least three objective findings from the case which support the chosen diagnosis
Management of the Disease
*Utilize the required Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) to support your treatment recommendations.
1. Classify the patient’s disease severity. Is this considered stable or unstable?
2. Identify two (2) “Evidence A” recommended medication classes for the treatment of this condition and provide an example (drug name) for each.
3. Describe the mechanism of action for each of the medication classes identified above.
4. Identify two (2) “Evidence A” recommended non-pharmacological treatment options for this patient.
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 Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Pathophysiology and Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Pathophysiology of COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The most common form of COPD is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In chronic bronchitis, there is inflammation and narrowing of the airways due to excessive mucus production, leading to cough and sputum production. Emphysema involves destruction of the alveolar walls, reducing the surface area available for gas exchange and causing airflow limitation.
Clinical Findings
1. Spirometry Results: Consistent with obstructive pulmonary disease due to decreased FEV1/FVC ratio. Most likely pulmonary diagnosis: COPD.
2. Subjective Findings:
– Chronic cough with sputum production
– Dyspnea on exertion
– History of smoking
3. Objective Findings:
– Decreased breath sounds on auscultation
– Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest (barrel chest)
– Increased residual volume on pulmonary function tests
Management of COPD
Disease Severity:
The patient’s disease severity can be classified as moderate based on their symptoms and spirometry results. It is considered stable at the current presentation.
Medication Classes:
1. Bronchodilators (e.g., Albuterol): These medications are recommended as first-line treatment for COPD to improve airflow by relaxing the smooth muscles of the airways.
2. Inhaled Corticosteroids (e.g., Fluticasone): Used in combination with bronchodilators for moderate to severe COPD to reduce inflammation and exacerbations.
Mechanism of Action:
– Bronchodilators: Stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors in the airways, leading to relaxation of bronchial smooth muscles and bronchodilation.
– Inhaled Corticosteroids: Reduce airway inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators.
Non-Pharmacological Treatments:
1. Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Includes exercise training, education, and psychosocial support to improve quality of life and functional capacity.
2. Oxygen Therapy: Supplemental oxygen is recommended for patients with severe COPD and chronic hypoxemia to improve oxygenation.
