Discuss how decreased plasma oncotic pressure can or can not contribute to interstitial edema.
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
The Relationship Between Decreased Plasma Oncotic Pressure and Interstitial Edema
Introduction
Interstitial edema is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces, the spaces between cells in the body. It can lead to various health issues and impair normal bodily functions. One of the factors that can contribute to interstitial edema is decreased plasma oncotic pressure. In this essay, we will explore the relationship between decreased plasma oncotic pressure and interstitial edema, discussing how it can or cannot contribute to this condition.
Understanding Plasma Oncotic Pressure
Before delving into the relationship between decreased plasma oncotic pressure and interstitial edema, let’s first understand what plasma oncotic pressure is. Plasma oncotic pressure is the osmotic pressure exerted by proteins, primarily albumin, present in the blood plasma. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of fluids between the blood vessels and the surrounding tissues.
The Role of Plasma Oncotic Pressure in Fluid Balance
Plasma oncotic pressure is responsible for attracting and retaining water within the blood vessels. The presence of proteins, particularly albumin, creates an osmotic force that draws water from the interstitial spaces into the capillaries. This process helps maintain the appropriate fluid balance between the intravascular and interstitial compartments.
Decreased Plasma Oncotic Pressure and Interstitial Edema
When the plasma oncotic pressure decreases, it leads to an imbalance in fluid distribution between the blood vessels and the interstitial spaces. This can result in an excess accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces, leading to interstitial edema. There are several ways in which decreased plasma oncotic pressure contributes to this condition:
Loss of Albumin: One of the main causes of decreased plasma oncotic pressure is a decrease in albumin levels. Conditions such as liver disease, kidney diseases, malnutrition, or protein-losing disorders can lead to reduced albumin production or increased loss of albumin from the body. The diminished presence of albumin reduces the oncotic force within blood vessels, impairing the reabsorption of fluid from the interstitium.
Increased Capillary Permeability: Another mechanism through which decreased plasma oncotic pressure can contribute to interstitial edema is by increasing capillary permeability. In certain conditions, such as inflammation or tissue injury, capillaries become more permeable, allowing proteins and fluid to leak into the interstitium. This leakage further decreases plasma oncotic pressure and contributes to interstitial edema.
Lymphatic Dysfunction: Lymphatic vessels play a vital role in draining excess fluid from the interstitial spaces. However, decreased plasma oncotic pressure can impair lymphatic function, leading to inadequate removal of interstitial fluid. This dysfunction further exacerbates interstitial edema.
Conclusion
In conclusion, decreased plasma oncotic pressure can indeed contribute to interstitial edema. A decrease in albumin levels, increased capillary permeability, and lymphatic dysfunction are all mechanisms through which decreased plasma oncotic pressure can disrupt fluid balance and lead to the accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces. Understanding these relationships is crucial for healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat patients with interstitial edema effectively. Further research is needed to develop therapeutic interventions that target the underlying causes of decreased plasma oncotic pressure and mitigate its impact on interstitial edema.
