Question

1-Muscular dystrophy - What are the symptoms, cause, and treatment options for a patient with muscular dystrophy (MD)?

2- Multiple Sclerosis - Discuss the cellular nature of multiple sclerosis (MS). What are some current hypotheses about what causes this disease? What are typical treatments for dealing with the disease?

3- Hearing loss - There are two general types of hearing loss: sensory neural and obstructive (e.g., ear-wax build up). What simple clinical tests can be done to differentiate between these types? Furthermore, how can the results be explained anatomically and physiologically?

4- Hormones across the ages - List and elaborate on some of the problems that elderly people might have as a result of decreasing hormone production.

5- Bone mass and structure changes with age - Compare a young adult skeleton to that of an extremely aged person relative to bone mass in general and the bony structures of the skull, thorax, and vertebral column in particular.

Answer 1

1) Muscular dystrophy is a group of conditions that leads to muscle weakness and degeneration of muscles. It leads to difficulty in movement with the progress of the disease.

Symptoms of muscular dystrophy-:

a) pain and stiffness in the muscles.

b) difficulty in sitting or standing.

c) frequent falls and difficulty with running and jumping.

d) a waddling gait.

e) learning disabilities.

f) difficulty to walk.

g) curvature of the spine, breathing problems,weakening of the heart muscles and difficulty in swallowing.

Causes-:

It is caused due to the mutation on the X chromosome. Such mutations in the X chromosome in different types of mutation prevents the body from producing the protein dystrophin which is vital for the repair and building of muscles.

Treatment-:

At present, there is no complete cure for muscular dystrophy. However, certain medications and therapies can help slow the progression of the disease.

Common medications that are given includes corticosteroids and beta blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors are given for the heart.

Sometimes physical therapies are also given to the patient to improve the movement of the muscles.

Ans-2) Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the CNS( Central Nervous System). It destroys the myelinated axons of the nerve cells of the CNS. Here, the immune system starts attacking the healthy tissues and destroys it. Myelin sheath protects and supports the nerve fibers and also help in conduction of nerve impulses quickly and effectively. If the myelin sheath is destroyed, then these functions are also affected to a large extent.

Causes-:

The exact causes are not known but the risk factors include-:

a) The age as most people develop this disorder between age 20 to 40.

b) It affects women more commonly than women.

c) Exposure to viruses may lead to infection that causes this disorder.

d) People who smoke tend to have more lesions and shrinkage of the brain.

e) Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiency can lead to this disorder.

Treatment-:

There is no cure for Multiple sclerosis, although certain treatment can slow the progression of the disorder and relieve some symptoms.These include-:

Injectable, oral and infused medications. Sometimes corticosteroids are also given.

Physical therapies and walking devices are also provided.

Acupuncture is also provided for pain and gait.

Quitting harmful habits like smoking and eating healthy diets can help in improvement.