Connections Between Rocks And Diseases

1 - Describe the rock cycle and identify the three different types of rocks produced on earth by origin.

ROA’s situation is defined largely by recent financials. They have demonstrated year over year decline in revenue, profit, and net income since 2003 as demonstrated in Figure 1 (below). (MSN Money, 2008)

1. Why does this film begin with a view of the clouds from the cockpit of an airplane? What might this image symbolize?

Weaker rocks erode easily and is a less resistant rock for example, clay and sand. Clay is an example of impermeable rock and is formed at wet lowland areas.

Stroke is a world wide common disease with its occurrence depending on multiple risk factors involved, one of which is high blood cholesterol and LDL level, it is thought that lower cholesterol level decreases the incidence of cerebrovascular ischemia (doc3.pdf) which has been concluded from many clinical trials conducted for the purpose of understanding the adverse effects of statins, drugs that have been manufactured primarily for the purpose of controlling blood cholesterol level, statins are defined as a family of drugs that control and inhibit cholesterol production by acting through binding to 3-hydroxymethyl-3-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, by this mechanism the end result will be a lower LDL level in the blood which in turn benefits the outcome of many states of disease including cardiovascular disease and stroke (doc1.pdf-[1])

St. Peter sandstone was formed in Pacific, Missouri. St. Peter dates back to the 1870s and is still existent today and is located in the northern and the southern perimeter of the state. Positioned throughout various locations, St. Peter reluctantly lies west of one of the world’s major rivers, the Mississippi River.

Hypertension has become an emerging epidemic and important worldwide public-health challenge, because it is one of the most common chronic disorders (Alderman and Ogihara, 2007). Evidence has been provided that activation of the vascular endothelial cells in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors promotes oxidative stress and vascular inflammatory response. These cardiovascular risk factors include smoking, aging, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, family history of premature atherosclerotic disease, obesity, elevated C-reactive protein and chronic systemic infection. The results are acceleration of atherosclerotic vascular disease (Hadi et al., 2005).

In the Old Stone Age (30,000 to 7000 BCE), individual small groups of hunters and gatherers led a nomadic existence rather than living in larger groups with other people. This lifestyle and the absence of domesticated animals limited the spread of disease. Most infections in this period occurred as a result of one of several distinct factors: trauma, zoonotic diseases, and animal diseases that spread to humans; or infections acquired by eating, being injured by, or having contact with wild animals and their excreta. In addition, some diseases would have been contracted from the soil, such as anaerobic bacteria that penetrate the skin, and tapeworms (Arnott 2008). The New Stone Age occurred in Europe and the Near East from approximately

Integrin Signaling in Endothelial Cell Activation. In quiescent vessels, the endothelial layer regulates vascular tone, provides an anti-thrombotic surface, and forms a tight barrier to restrict the passage of blood components into surrounding tissue [39]. Activation of the endothelial cell layer during inflammatory responses involves a phenotypic transition that increases vascular permeability and enhances the expression of leukocyte counter-receptors (e.g. ICAM-1, VCAM-1), proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-1B (IL-1β)), and pro-coagulant molecules (tissue factor (TF)) [39]. Molecularly, endothelial activation represents the first discernable sign of local atherosclerotic susceptibility and is maintained during subsequent stages of atherosclerotic progression [40]. Several stimuli promote endothelial activation, including mechanical stress, oxidized LDL (oxLDL), proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. TNFα, IL-1β), and the bacterial endotoxin LPS [39]. Much of the reprogramming in endothelial gene expression can be attributed to the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) [41, 42]. The NF-B family of homodimeric and heterodimeric transcription factors is maintained in an inactive state in the cytoplasm but translocates to the nucleus upon activation in response to a variety of endothelial cell activators

Meis1 is a key regulatory protein for cardiac differentiation during embryonic development and using siRNA against Mesi1 can increase the proliferation of cardiomyocytes about threefold [145]. Additionally, siRNA administration against PLB, a key regulator of cardiac Ca2+ homeostasis, can improve cardiac function in heart failure. It was suggested from this study that down-regulation of PLB can enhance the activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump (SERCA2a) and therefore can improve the cardiac function [149-151]. Another strategy for heart regeneration is targeting the inflammatory reactions in infarcted area of myocardium. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the key factors in inflammatory reactions and provoking heart regeneration (i.e. cardiomyocytes apoptosis, fibroblast proliferation and myocyte hypertrophy). NADPH (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase is a major source for superoxide production in infarcted myocardium that contains a catalytic subunit, Nox2

Outward remodeling is initiated with increased shear stress caused by high flow. The shear stress signals endothelial cell proliferation and production of nitric oxide by endothelial cells (17, 20). Nitric oxide induces metalloproteinases, degradation of extracellular matrix, inhibit proliferation of smooth muscle cells and promote apoptosis of smooth muscle cells (20). Normal endothelium is resistant to adhesion by monocytes; however, when exposed to shear stress, monocytes can attach to endothelium (10). The recruited monocytes or macrophages, the mature form of monocytes, also play a key role in remodeling by producing matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) among other tissues that produce MMPs (10, 20). At least 13 different MMPs have been identified and MMP-2 and MMP-9 are noted to cleave elastin (1). The matrix proteolytic activity or the breakdown of extracellular matrix is necessary as it provides additional space for enlarging vessel (20) and also fragments of elastin allows for smooth muscle proliferation (10). The outward remodeling is reversible if the shear stress is decreased for a prolonged period

The metamorphic rock I chose to research is Gneiss which is foliated.The protolith for this rock is schist and granite. It can be identified by its streaks, bands, and lenses. This rock is known for its strength, and hardness,it is also rough to the touch, the color varies, from dark and light bands. Gneiss rocks is a very diverse group that includes igneous rocks and metamorphosed sedimentary rocks.This rock is formed by regional metamorphism takes place when the materials and substances are deep under the ground. It is a high-grade metamorphic rock which means it recrystallizes under intense heat and pressure. This transformation makes the size of the mineral grains bigger and segregates them into many different bands, this formation also

Upon entering the Hall of Gems and Mineral, you are plunged into the deep recesses of space where meteorites, the gems of space, rule. The roof of the Moon, Meteorites, and the Solar System gallery section was painted pitch black like the night sky. Along the roof, there were lights on tracks so that they could be moved to highlight specific pieces in the exhibit. These lights also seem to represent stars in the night sky, because they were bright, you could see them, but they were out of reach. The lights on the roof of this section that were pointing to meteors had shades over them, I believe this was to protect the specimens from light damage. There were also large cases the held meteor specimens that were not to be touched. These cases had light attics. The lights

Stimulating the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) up-regulates PGI2 formation. Deletion of the PGI2 receptor removed the atheroprotective effect of estrogen. An increased risk of cardiovascular events has been associated with the use of COX-2 selective inhibitors. Cox-2 gene is expressed on both endothelial and macrophage cells and activation of this gene increases prostaglandins production especially PGI2, which prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

One of the best-studied biomarker of inflammation process is the acute-phase reactant CRP. Some studies found that cells within human coronary arteries can also elaborate CRP. Many trial showed that CRP, predicts risk of cerebrovascular, CAD, peripheral arterial disease among apparently healthy persons, even if LDL cholesterol levels are not high.38