Computer Information Specialist Essay Example for Free

Computer Information Specialist Essay Computer Information Specialist, Inc. (CIS) filed a protest of the award of a contract to Open Technology Group, Inc. (OTG). CIS responded to a request for proposals (RFP) No. NLM-030101/SAN by the Department of Health and Human Services for telecommunications support services at the agency’s Bethesda, Maryland facility. The solicitation specified a requirements contract with fixed hourly rates for a base year with four 1-year options. The agency intended to award the contract based on â€Å"best value† with several non-price criteria as the most heavily weighted factors. Proposals were to include fully-loaded, fixed hourly rates for labor categories. The agency received numerous proposals and established a competitive range of four firms after initial evaluation. The range included CIS as well as OTG the eventual awardee. Following the contract award to OTG; CIS underwent an agency debrief and subsequently filed a protest asserting that both its proposal and the proposal of OTG were misevaluated. Issues Agencies are required to evaluate proposals based solely on the evaluation factors identified in the solicitation. Furthermore, according to Federal Acquisition Regulations, they must adequately document the reasons for their evaluation conclusions (FAR § 15.308). GAO recommended to the agency was to, at a minimum reevaluate both proposals to ascertain if they were evaluated based on the evaluation factors and to determine if adequate rationale were articulated. Decisions (Holdings) Anthony H. Gamboa, General Counsel wrote the recommendation. The protest was sustained. Reasoning (Rationale)   GAO concluded that the Department of Health and Human Services misevaluated the proposals of both CIS and OTG, contract awardee. In addition, they found that the agency’s misevaluation was prejudicial to CIS, â€Å"since there is a reasonable possibility that, but for the agency’s errors, CIS might have been selected for award notwithstanding its higher price.† Separate Opinions No dissenting opinion was published with GAO’s decision. Analysis GAO analyzed the proposals from both CIS and OTG against the RFP’s stated evaluation criteria. The Department of Health and Human Services’ source selection team consisted of five evaluators. In the case of the proposal by CIS, the initial evaluation criticized the proposal for not offering personnel that met all of the solicitation minimum personnel experience requirements. CIS revised their proposal to cure this deficiency. In further evaluation, four of the five evaluators scored this area higher than the initial proposal. However, the fifth evaluator scored the proposal dramatically differently. In the first evaluation, only cursory notes were provided to support conclusions. In the second evaluation, most evaluators still provided limited support. However, the fifth evaluator provided comments. Many of the comments were either inaccurate or held not relation to evaluation criteria. With regard to the OTG proposal, GAO determined that the solicitation failed to meet two of the evaluation criteria and should not have been accepted in the competitive range. It was also recommended that the agency terminate the contract awarded to OTG for the convenience of the government and make award to the firm found to be in line for award. Furthermore CIS was to be reimbursed all costs associated with the protest to include legal fees.

Athens-Greece Essays -- Ancient Greece Essays

Athens - Greece   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the fifth century of Ancient Greece the city-states of Athens and Sparta represented two very different forms of living. Spartans directed their time towards their military capabilities while the Athenians were interested in comfort and culture. Sparta’s and Athens’ political and environmental differences along with their different views on women caused the two city-states to be very dissimilar.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Two major forms of government existed during Ancient Greece: oligarchy and democracy. The government in Sparta was controlled by an oligarchy in which the power was held by a group of five men called ephors. Working below the ephors was the Council of Elders and an Assembly. Male citizens over age sixty could serve on the Council while anyone, male or female, over the age of twenty could be a member of the Assembly.1 Though the citizens had little say in the decisions made by the government, the system worked effectively. It was the oligarchy in Sparta that put a war-like attitude as its first priority in the city-state. Every man in the army fought with a great deal of passion for his country. The beliefs of Sparta were oriented around the state. The individual lived and died for the state. The government in Athens followed a very different course than that of Sparta. Upper class male citizens over the age of thirty were the only Athenians who held any right to v ote. The democracy in Athens consiste...

Postmenopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy Health And Social Care Essay

In the United Kingdom, about one million post-menopausal adult females use oestrogen entirely or in combination with progestogen, as portion of endocrine replacing therapy ( HRT ) , to handle the symptoms of the climacteric ( WHC, 2010 ) . HRT first became available to adult females in the United Kingdom in 1965 ( Patient UK, 2010 ) , and was traditionally prescribed for its ability to cut down vasomotor symptoms, and its preventive effects against the development of postmenopausal osteoporosis and cardiovascular bosom disease ( WHC, 2010 ) . During 2002 and 2003, two of the biggest epidemiological surveies on HRT, Million Women Study ( an experimental questionnaire ) in the UK and Women ‘s Health Initiative survey ( a clinical randomised test ) in the USA were published. Their consequences presented concerns sing the safety of traditional HRT ; peculiarly in respects to its associated hazards to the cardiovascular system and chest malignant neoplastic disease as a consequence of drawn-out use ( WHI, 2002 ; MWS, 2003 ) . The complicated image presented of the hazards and benefits of HRT has received a considerable sum of scientific and public attending, fuelling wellness anxiousness amongst medical professionals and HRT users likewise. During the period of 2003 and 2007 the figure of adult females utilizing HRT fell by 66 % ( WHC, 2010 ) . This paper presents a reappraisal of scientific literature on the efficaciousness of HRT in the direction of menopausal symptoms and assesses the proficiency of its non-hormonal options.Why a Menopause?At birth, the human ovary contains 1 to 3 – 106 Graafian follicles, with no new gametes formed after this clip ( Kim et al, 1997 ) . This figure regresses to less than 1 – 104 at the clip of climacteric ( physiology text book ) . Menopause is described as a province of oestrogen lack that is brought approximately by the loss of aboriginal follicles in the ovaries doing a failure in oestrogenic end product ( Greendale and Sowers, 1997 ) . Throughout the generative lifetime, ovarian follicles become bit by bit desensitized to gonadtrophin exposure ( physiology text book ) . This leads to the loss of progestin production and a pronounced diminution in endogenous oestrogen degrees ( Greendale and Sowers, 1997 ) .EpidemiologyHarmonizing to the office of National Statistics 2009 figures, there are about 37.8 million adult females in the UK, of whom 13.6 million are aged 45 or over ( ONS, 2010a ) . Statistics indicates that 52 is the mean age of menopausal onset ( NHS Choices, 2010 ) , and so most of these adult females will be in or shortly come ining the post-menopausal province. The current life-expectancy for a new-born miss is 81.9 old ages ( ONS, 2010b ) . Womans can therefore anticipate to populate a 3rd of their lives in a possible oestrogen deficient province ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . Womans are considered to hold reached the climacteric, after a 12 month period of amenorrhoea ( Green dale and Sowers, 1997 ) . The concluding menstruations is so retrospectively designated as the clip of climacteric ; the clip predating this is post-maturity ( Greendale and Sowers, 1997 ) . The climacteric is associated with a assortment of physical and psychological symptoms ( Porter et al, 1996 ) , where vasomotor instability and urogenital wasting are the most normally documented short-run post-menopausal symptoms. Approximately, 75 % to 80 % of all adult females normally experience their first symptoms of the climacteric during the peri-menopausal period ( Bachmann, 1999 ) ; of whom 45 % of adult females will happen the symptoms straitening ( RCPE, 2003 ) .The climacteric in the long-run increases the hazard for the development of cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis ( Iqbal and Zaidi ) ; this is due to the physiological effects caused by the worsening degrees of estrogens in the bosom, liver, encephalon and bone ( Katzenellenbogen, 1996 ) .Vasomotor SymptomsThe vasomotor s ymptoms of the climacteric, ( for illustration hot flowers, dark workout suits, insomnia and palpitations ) ( Howard et al, 1981 ) are the most common ground why menopausal adult females seek medical aid ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . Three quarters of peri-menopausal adult females will see hot flowers ( Howard et al, 1981 ) , where symptoms are normally observed within the first twelvemonth after the concluding menstruations ( Rees and Purdie, 2006 ) . Hot flushes characteristically last between 0.5 and 5.0 old ages after natural climacteric ( Bachmann, 1999 ) , but in 25 % to 50 % of instances can last longer than 5 old ages ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . The frequence of hot flash happenings and its continuance can change from less than daily to several per hr with continuances between a few seconds to 10 proceedingss long ; nevertheless on mean hot flower episodes lasts for around four proceedingss ( Patient UK, 2010 ) . The etiology behind vasomotor symptoms is ill-defined, but it is thoug ht to be due to a combination of hormonal, metabolic, and psychogenetic factors which occur as a consequence of oestrogen backdown ( Bachmann, 1999 ) . In 1986, Sliva et al conducted a survey on rats and established the action of oestrogen in the preoptic country of the hypothalamus, here it was found to modulate the firing rate of thermosensitive nerve cells in response to stimulation. Surveies have shown that oestrogen appears to heighten ?2-adrenergic inhibitory activity ( Bachmann, 1999 ) .Women with hot flowers have higher arteriole sensitiveness to catecholamines ( Bachmann, 1999 ) .The decrease in ?2-adrenergic receptor activity leads to sudden, transient and fickle peripheral vasodilatation in the tegument blood vass, which produces the hot flower ( Bachmann, 1999 ) . Night workout suits ( sleep hyperidrosis ) , is a common job accompaniment with day-time hot flowers ( Porter et al, 1996 ) . Hot flowers and sleep hyperhidrosus can hold a Domino consequence on a patient ‘s overall quality of life ( Bachmann, 1999 ) , as a consequence of weariness, crossness, hapless concentration, and impaired memory ( Porter et al, 1996 ) .Vasomotor TherapyNumerous surveies have documented the effectivity of short-run oestrogen therapy in handling the frequence and badness of hot flowers and dark workout suits caused by climacteric. For illustration, Haas et Al ‘s 2003 double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled survey on 18 menopausal adult females reported that there was no immediate decrease in vasomotor symptoms after induction of oestrogen therapy ( Figure 2 ) . At first both placebo and oestradiol reduced the figure of hot flowers by 27 % and 35 % , severally. The initial placebo consequence, nevertheless, was non sustained throughout the surv ey. In contrast, those patients treated with oestradiol continued to detect a lessening in the figure of hot flowers per hebdomad, until a 74 % maximum decrease was reached after 4 hebdomads of therapy. The frequence of hot flowers fluctuated somewhat at that degree until the terminal 2 hebdomads when the placebo-only period was initiated ( see figure 2 ) . These findings were reiterated in MacLennan at Al ‘s 2004 scientific reappraisal of 24 double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled tests, which assessed unwritten HRT therapy. Consequences demonstrated in nine RCTs, showed a average per centum decrease of about 75 % comparative to placebo in hebdomadal hot flower frequence ( p & A ; lt ; 0.0001 ) correlating to Hass at al earlier 74 % decrease for hebdomadal hot flower episodes for HRT. In adult females randomised to have placebo intervention, a 57.7 % decrease in hot flush frequence was observed by the terminal of the survey. Eight RCTs, found that symptom badness of th ose treated with HRT was besides significantly reduced compared to placebo ( P & A ; lt ; 0.0001 ) . A direct comparing of the effectivity of combined HRT versus oestrogen merely HRT was attempted but did non make statistical significance ( p value = 0.085 ) . There is a little sum of dependable grounds available to rede the continuance of usage for the intervention of vasomotor symptoms. Clinical Knowledge Summaries ( 2010 ) recommend the prescription of uninterrupted combined unwritten or transdermic HRT, for the direction of hot flowers. Treatment for vasomotor symptoms should be continued for at least one twelvemonth ; otherwise, symptoms may repeat ( Rees and Purdie, 2006 ) . This was observed in Haas et Al survey where, during the 2 hebdomad placebo merely period ; the frequence of hot flowers began to return to baseline degrees in the group having oestradiol ( see figure 1 ) . A progressive backdown from intervention therefore is advisable. This is achieved by bit by bit cut downing uninterrupted combined HRT dosage to the lowest strength of tablets or spots, whereby half a tablet day-to-day or half a spot should be used for a farther 1-2 months ( Rees and Purdie, 2006 ) . Menopausal symptoms normally decide within 2-5 old ages ( RC PE, 2003 ) ; the consequence of uninterrupted combined HRT can be sustained for up to three old ages during disposal where, apart from shed blooding, side-effects are non normally reported ( Maclennan et al, 2004 ; Henriksson et Al, 1996 ) . Current research has confirmed the efficaciousness of oestrogen, combined or entirely, in bettering hot flowers and dark workout suits, as its effects are strong. However, farther research is required to distinguish whether combinations of low dose oestrogen and progestin may accomplish the tantamount consequence of a higher dosage of oestrogen when used entirely.Figure 1: Summarises the entire figure of Hot flowers recorded by patients on transdermic estradiol ( N = 10 ) and placebo ( N = 8, foremost seven hebdomad ; N=7, last five hebdomads ) each hebdomad ( adapted from Haas et Al, 1988 ; Bachmann, 1999 )Pre-treatment stage: A 4-week pre-treatment period during which capable eligibility of menopausal position was confirmed. Treatment stage: An active 6 hebdomad survey stage, during which the happenings of Hot flowers between 0.05 mg/ dm3 transdermic estradiol was compared against placebo. Estradiol showed to be well more effectual than placebo in cut downing vasomotor flowers during hebdomads 6 to 10. Placebo stage: Two hebdomad period where patients continued to supervise symptoms while single-blindedly utilizing a placebo spot. An addition in vasomotor flushing towards baseline was observed in estradiol-treated patients.Urogenital AtrophyThe surcease of the catamenial rhythm, consequences non merely in the conventional hot flowers observed in diagnostic menopausal adult females but besides causes alterations to the functional capacity of the urogenital piece of land ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . Urinary incontinency, recurrent lower piece of land infections, vaginal uncomfortableness, dyspareunia, and shed blooding are all symptoms of atrophic vaginitis ( Howard et al, 1981 ; Bachmann and Nevadunsky, 2000 ) . These symptoms occur as a consequence of atrophic alterations caused as a effect of a gradual diminution in go arounding estrogens ( See figure 3a ) . Once degrees fall below the threshold where endometrial proliferation is possible, the vaginal canal begins shortening and there is a loss of rugae in the vaginal wall ( DeMasters J, 2000 ) . The urinary piece of land symptoms observed is a consequence of the urethra and vagina sharing the same embryologic beginning ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . Vaginal symptoms, unlike hot flowers often persist and can worsen with age ( Grady, 2006 ) . In a 2006 survey of the Management of menopausal symptoms, Grady reported up to 30 % prevalence of atrophic vaginitis symptoms amongst adult females during the early postmenopausal period with an in addition to 47 % prevalence during the ulterior postmenopausal period ( Grady, 2006 ) . During the climacteric, the vaginal wall musculuss deteriorate to bring forth a thin, unsmooth, inflamed mucous membrane susceptible both to bacterial infections and petechial hemorrhage caused by mechanical emphasis ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . The destructive effects caused by the diminution in oestrogen degrees are most outstanding in the fundal part of the vagina ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . Hormonal alterations induced by the climacteric, actuate metabolism in the bacterial vegetation and pH of the vagina ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . Before the climacteric the vagina is colonized by lactobacilli which maintain a low vaginal pH, by and large 4.5 or less ( Brizzolara et al, 1999 ) , bring forthing a protective environment aga inst the colonisation of the vagina and urethral tissue by Gram-negative bacteriums ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . After the climacteric lactobilli becomes replaced by faecal-type vegetations which cause postmenopausal adult females to go prone to urinary piece of land infection ( see figure 3b ) . The symptoms of urogenital degeneracy can be categorised into two groups: 1 ) Lower urinary piece of land – for symptoms affecting the urethra and bladder 2 ) Vaginal – for those confined to the vagina and the vulva such as vaginal waterlessness, combustion and itchiness ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . The prevalence of urologic symptoms ‘ ( including urgency, frequence, dysuria, and incontinency ) is a job which increases in badness with age ( Grady, 2006 ) ; this nevertheless can be farther insinuated by the wasting of the urethral mucous membrane caused during the menopausal passage ( Molander, 1990 ) . In postmenopausal adult females, the control of urination becomes progressively reliant on the support of the urogential musculuss to urethrovesical junction, due to widening of the urethra ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . The decrease in oestrogen degrees consequences in the deficient blood supply to the urogenital tissues and hence impedes full muscular functionality ( Molander, 1990 ) . Poor anatomical support to the urethra consequences in the uneffective control of urination ; which consequences in pelvic laxness and emphasis incontinency ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . The diminution in go arounding blood in urogential tissues means there will besides be an damage in the immune system antibod y response to foreign organic structures ( Molander, 1990 ) ; this in add-on to the broadening of the urethra, facilitates the migration of bacteriums into the lower urinary piece of land ( Samsioe, 1995 ) .Pre-menopauseFigure 3a and 3b: Summaries the alterations in the vaginal and urethra observed as the influence of oestrogen lessenings ( adapted from Samsioe, 2005 ; Brizzolara et Al, 1999 )Figure 3a: The diminution in serum oestrogen degree causes a lessening in vaginal blood flow and secernments. As a consequence, lactic acid degrees and animal starch content of the vaginal wall decreases, this causes the hyalinisation of collagen and the impairment of elastic tissue. Atrophy of the vaginal tissues nevertheless, does non get down until endogenously produced estrogens have fallen below the threshold required for endometrial proliferative activity. Therefore the clip period between the start of climacteric and the start of wasting opens a curative window. This has allowed the poss ibility for drugs to be able to aim urogenital wasting without put on the lining endometrial proliferation which can ensue in malignant neoplastic disease, extinguishing the demand for progestin co-medicationFigure 3b: The conventional drawings represent the pre and post-menopausal urethral opening and vaginal wall. The pH of vaginal fluid in postmenopausal adult females elevates to between 6 and 7 ; this facilitates the replacing of lactobacillae with gram negative source vegetations associated with urinary piece of land infection. In healthy vaginal epithelial tissue, parabasal cells are rare and normally represent less than 5 % of the epithelial cell population, this per centum increases to around 20 % after the climacteric.Post-maturityUrogential TreatmentSurveies have shown that estrogens, administered as systemic ( unwritten or transdermic ) or intravaginal estrogens, are extremely effectual at handling vaginal wasting. It is recommended that estrogens, when prescribed with th e purpose of pull offing urogenital symptoms, are given as low-dose readyings to assist understate systemic soaking up ( Grady, 2006 ) : this prevents the additions in oestrogen endogenous degrees that could potentially do estrogenic side effects. When HRT is used at the recommended low-dose and frequence, the add-on of a progestogen for endometrial protection is non necessary ( Figure 3a ) . The physiological alterations that consequences in the decrease of urogenital symptoms observed in oestrogen therapy, suggest that oestrogen lack may lend to this pathogenesis ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . The clinical efficaciousness of low-dose HRT readyings have been demonstrated in a figure of clinical tests. Barnabei et Al followed the menopausal symptoms and the effects of oestrogen and progestogen in the postmenopausal adult females, involved in the Women ‘s Health Initiative for a mean of 5.6 old ages. The consequences from the survey showed a 74 % decrease in vaginal wasting in adult femal es who had received oestrogen plus progestin and 55 % in those who had received placebo entirely. Intravaginal estrogens are besides extremely effectual at handling vaginal wasting ; Suckling et al Cochrane reappraisal found that all intravaginal readyings ( that were administered as picks, diaphragms, intravaginal tablets or the estradiol-releasing vaginal ring ) were every bit effectual and significantly reduced the symptoms of vaginal wasting. It is for this ground and that they by and large have small consequence on the serum oestrogen degrees that intravaginal oestrogens readyings are preferred to systemic oestrogen ( Suckling et al, 2006 ) . Surveies have besides shown that HRT is effectual in forestalling urinary piece of land infections. Cardozo et Al ‘s 1998 survey found that there was a important decrease in the incidences of urinary piece of land infection in adult females who had been treated with systemic oestrogen than those given placebo. Although several positi ons have compared many of the interventions for vaginal wasting, the long-run effects of intervention have non yet been expeditiously examined. Recommendations by regulative governments will hence be more accurate if intervention was assessed over a drawn-out period, such as one to five old ages, so that the unwanted responses to intervention can be farther examined.Menopause induced OsteoporosisOsteoporosis, the most damaging side-effect to wellness associated with the climacteric ( Samsioe, 1995 ) , is a skeletal disease characterised by a lessening in bone denseness and mass ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . The skeleton comprises compact and trabeculate bone ( Kanis, 1996 ) . In the healthy grownup, bone mass is comparatively changeless, this is despite there being considerable bone turnover, of which about 95 % of this is accounted for by the remodelling of bone ( Kanis, 1996 ) . This procedure is altered after the climacteric, where there is a period of rapid bone loss that lasts betwe en 5 to 10 old ages ( Kanis, 1996 ) . This consequences in a negative remodelling instability ( Kanis, 1996 ) . Bone mass reaches its extremum between the ages 30 and 35, after this extremum, bone mass declines at a rate of 1 % per twelvemonth ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . The rate of diminution can lift up to 6 % at the climacteric and history for a loss of a 3rd of bone mass ( Samsioe, 1995 ) , after the perimenopausal period the one-year rate of bone loss returns to the 1 % ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . There is besides grounds that there is an addition in osteoclastic activity ( Kanis, 1996 ) , where high circulating FSH induces increases osteoclast-mediated bone reabsorption which exceeds the formation of new bone ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . Both of these factors in concurrence consequences in the addition bone turnover and porousness that causes the loss of the trabeculate bone model and the cutting of the cerebral mantles ( Kanis, 1996 ; Samsioe, 1995 ) . This pathological procedure finally concludes wi th the break in the bone micro-architecture, which leads to the brickle castanetss that are more susceptible to break ( Kanis, 1996 ) . Womans have a higher cumulative life-time hazard for enduring from osteoporotic breaks about three times greater than in work forces ( Kanis, 1996 ) ; with 50 % of adult females and 20 % of work forces, over the age of 50, enduring from a break. The three most common sites of osteoporotic breaks are the distal radius, the vertebral organic structure and the upper thighbone ( Howard et al, 1981 ; Samsioe, 1995 ) . Hip break is a important cause of mortality and morbidity, where one in four adult females will non last the first twelvemonth following this break ( Samsioe, 1995 ) . Several surveies indicate that early oestrogen therapy intercession can detain or forestall bone loss at the climacteric, nevertheless, grounds back uping the continuation of the good effects after discontinuance remain debatable. A reappraisal by Bagger et Al in 2004, found there was a 4-fold increased hazard of breaks in adult females having placebo than HRT. From this consequence it was concluded that short-run oestrogen replacing therapy initiated in the early postmenopausal phases, can accomplish durable benefits to the skeletal system, in footings of the saving of bone mass and important decreases in the hazard osteoporotic breaks. However another survey by Yates et Al, found grounds that postmenopausal adult females who have discontinued HRT within the past 5 old ages have a hazard for hip break that was similar to adult females who have ne'er used HRT. The latter survey nevertheless has restrictions and is hence non conclusive. Womans who responded to the study tended to be y ounger and better educated about the importance of good wellness than the non-responders ( WHC, 2010 ) . Furthermore, it must besides be taken into consideration that the hazard of osteoporosis additions with increasing age and weight. HRT as a consequence would hold a greater decrease potency in the incidences of hip break in older adult females than in younger adult females. Therefore future surveies will necessitate to be adjusted to take into history these act uponing factors.The findings from the WHI and MWSThe possible relationship between the loss of ovarian map and development of Cardiovascular Disease ( CVD ) has been substantiated by legion case-controlled and laboratory surveies carried out since the 1980s ( Iqbal and Zaidi 2009 ) . These surveies demonstrated the protective effects of estrogens on the cardiovascular system ( Mendelsohn and Karas, 2002 ) ; which encourage the production of lipid profiles that cause vascular distension, prevents coronary artery disease and augmentation of endothelial fix after harm ( Mendelsohn and Karas, 2002 ) . After the oncoming of climacteric, degrees of estrogens begin to equilibrate to that of age-matched work forces ( Iqbal and Zaidi 2009 ) . Up until 2002, HRT was established as the most effectual signifier of intervention when bettering menopausal symptoms. However this was challenged by the publication of the preliminary findings of the WHI and MWS survey, which found the benefits of HRT on CVD to no longer be important when the other possible wellness jeopardies were taken into consideration ( WHI, 2002 ; MWS, 2003 ) . For illustration that the usage of oestrogen, with or without Lipo-Lutin, was found to be associated with an increased hazard for the development of certain signifiers of malignant neoplastic disease ( such as chest, ovarian and uterine malignant neoplastic disease ) ; this hazard was substantiated farther by drawn-out use ( WHI, 2002 ; MWS, 2003 ) . Findingss from the WHI, oestrogen plus p rogestin, test besides indicated that HRT could increase the hazard of CVD, which can take to shots and venous thromboemoblism ( WHI, 2002 ) . The WHI, oestrogen plus progestin, test published in 2002 monitored and compared the HRT related consequence on CVD and other facets of adult females ‘s wellness to that of placebo, in 16, 608 adult females in the United States aged 50 to 79 from 1993 to 2002. Around 50 % of the take parting adult females were randomised to take combined oestrogen and 50 % to take a placebo. The survey ended three old ages premature after the antecedently specified bound for chest malignant neoplastic disease instances, set by the WHI Data and Safety Monitoring Board was exceeded and overall hazards were considered to outweigh benefits. The preliminary findings showed a decreased in the hazard of osteoporotic breaks and colorectal malignant neoplastic disease ( Nelson et al, 2002 ; WHI, 2002 ) , but besides found a little addition in the incidences of coronary events, shot, chest malignant neoplastic disease and venous thromboembolism ( Nelson et al, 2002 ; WHI, 2002 ) . A subsequent reappraisa l of the findings from the WHI Study in 2004, adjusted for other act uponing factors, found different consequences where the apparent higher hazard for chest malignant neoplastic disease appear to be caused by natural factors instead than to HRT ( WHC, 2010 ) . When age was taken into history analysis showed that younger adult females get downing HRT may really be protected in some wellness facets ( WHC, 2010 ) . However those get downing on HRT over 70 did non hold the same benefits and alternatively were vulnerable to certain wellness hazards, nevertheless, this may be due to the associated hazard factors increasing with age.The Million Women Study was conducted from 1996 to 2001, analysed the hazard of chest malignant neoplastic disease and other adult females wellness issues in one million adult females taking HRT in the UK, and compared findings with that received from a sum of 828,923 adult females who were non-users: All take parting adult females were over 50 old ages old. F indingss published in 2003 found a little addition in the hazard of chest, endometrial and ovarian malignant neoplastic disease when oestrogen-only HRT was used. Combined HRT was found to hold a greater addition in the hazard of chest malignant neoplastic disease but was able to cut down the hazard of endometrial malignant neoplastic disease, when compared with oestrogen-only HRT. It was besides established that the hazard of chest malignant neoplastic disease is increased the longer HRT is used ; where the extra hazard for chest malignant neoplastic disease declined to that of ne'er users when intervention ended.Restriction of the surveiesWomen ‘s Health InitiativeThe WHI survey, merely considered the dosage of 0.625 milligram of conjugated equid estrogens and 2.5 milligram Provera acetate each twenty-four hours ; whilst this dose was appropriate for younger menopausal adult females get downing HRT, it was considered by many experts to transcend the sum required for older adu lt females ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . The specification for the adult females in the WHI survey differs from adult females in the MWS. Women in the WHI survey tended to be older ( mean age 63.2 ) than the adult females in MWS ( mean age 56 ) ( MWS, 2003 ) . Therefore two-thirds of adult females in WHI were over the age of 60 and hence had a higher absolute hazard of bosom disease, shot and chest malignant neoplastic disease ( all of which increases with age ) . The mean BMI for adult females in the survey is 28.5, therefore a big proportion of adult females in the survey are overweight and were hence predisposed to bosom disease and certain malignant neoplastic diseases.Million Women StudyThe methodological analysis of MWS has been criticised: Unlike the survey by the WHI, the MWS was non a randomised controlled test. The consequences were based on a self-reporting study where adult females chose whether or non to take HRT. Furthermore the adult females in the MWS were already holding a mammogram so may already hold been at a higher hazard for malignant neoplastic disease e.g. they may hold already suspected a ball. The adult females were followed-up by studies from national malignant neoplastic disease registers, non by subsequent questionnaires, so alternations in HRT usage after initial enrollment were non recorded. Both the surveies analysed the hazard of ovarian malignant neoplastic disease in the long-run surveies and were non meant to turn to the shorter-term usage of HT. Thus, the information from these surveies should be used by adult females sing usage of HT for longer than 3 or 4 old ages.Options to HRTTibolone is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator ( SERM ) , which possesses oestrogenic, progestogenic and androgenic features ( Nelson, 2008 ) . Tibolone is effectual at handling vasomotor symptoms and bettering sexual operation and may be used as an option to combined HRT in post-menopausal adult females ( Nelson, 2008 ; Roberts, 2007 ) . In adult females under 60, the hazards of taking tibolone are tantamount to that of combined HRT ( NHS Choices, 2009 ) . For adult females over 60, the associated hazards begin to outweigh the benefits, due to the increased hazard of chest malignant neoplastic disease, shot and endometrial malignant neoplastic disease ( NHS Choices, 2009 ) . Morris et Al ( 2006 ) conducted a clinical grounds reappraisal of seven RCTs, on the effects of tibolone on vasomotor and urogential symptoms. One test found that after 16 hebdomads of intervention, tibolone reduced vasomotor symptoms by 39 % compared with placebo ( p = 0.001 ) . However, two RCTs produced questionable consequences in respects to its efficaciousness when compared against traditional combined HRT. One test ( n=437 ) found that combined HRT when compared with tibolone, well reduced the frequence of hot flowers over 48 hebdomads ( p = 0.01 ) . However contradictory findings were found in another test of a smaller population ( n=235 ) , whe re no important difference in vasomotor symptoms between combined HRT and Tibolone was established at 52 hebdomads. Due to the rawness of findings another larger adjusted RCT should be conducted to clear up the effectivity of tibolone against combined HRT. Three tests were used to measure the efficaciousness of tibolone in the direction of urogenital symptoms. All of which concluded, with the understanding that tibolone significantly improved vaginal waterlessness, sexual desire and copulatory frequence compared to both placebo and combined HRT interventions. There is besides limited grounds to back up the usage of Catapres, Neurontin, paroxetine, Prozac, citalopram, and venlafaxine as effectual interventions hot flowers ( Nelson et al, 2006 ; Anderson and Redman, 2010 ) . The latest analysis of the hazards based on the findings from the MWS and WHI survey, has concluded with the following revised hazard estimations to help health care professionals appraisal of the hazards and benefits associated with HRT for single adult females:Cardiovascular Disease hazard:There is no addition in the hazard for CHD in adult females less than 10 old ages postmenopausal when given combined HRT ( Currie and Guttinger, 2007 ; Roberts, 2007 ) . Hysterectomised adult females taking oestrogen merely HRT besides showed no increased CHD hazard during the WHI test, alternatively the hazard for both appeared to worsen ( Currie and Guttinger, 2007 ) . However there us a little addition in hazard for adult females who were more than 10 old ages postmenopausal ( Currie and Guttinger, 2007 ) . The grounds to propose a cardiovascular benefit with oestrogen-only or combined HRT is hence weak ( CSM, 2004 ; MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) .Stroke hazardWHI found oestrogen-only and combined HRT increase the hazard of shot compared with placebo ( CSM, 200 ; MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) .Breast Cancer hazard:MWS indicated that a higher hazard of chest malignant neoplastic disease is associated with drawn-out usage ( CSM, 2004 ; MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) . For oestrogen entirely, the hazard is lower than combined HRT ( MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) . Some surveies on the other manus have non shown increased hazard when compared to those who had ne'er antecedently taken HRT ( MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) .Endometrial malignant neoplastic disease hazard:There is a little addition in the hazard of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma with oestrogen-only HRT ; due proliferated effects of oestrogen ( Howard et al, 1981 ) . Oestrogen-only HRT is hence merely recommended for usage by adult females with a womb ( MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) . The add-on of a progestin every twenty-four hours significantly reduces the hazard ( CSM, 2004 ; MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) ; due to its endothelial protective belongings. So when used i n combination with oestrogen it can cut down the hazard of this malignant neoplastic disease to the baseline ( MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) .Ovarian malignant neoplastic disease hazard:Experimental surveies indicate that extended usage of HRT may correlate with a little increased hazard of ovarian malignant neoplastic disease ( CSM, 2004 ) , which returns to baseline a few old ages after halting intervention ( MHRA and CHM, 2007 ) .DecisionDespite the legion contraindications for HRT, they are still by and large regarded as the most effectual short-run intervention for patients enduring from menopausal symptoms, and are recognised for their preventive effects in the development of osteoporosis. The benefits nevertheless from long-run use remain debatable ; research suggests that the potency for inauspicious effects happening additions with age and drawn-out use. Clinical reappraisals hence recommend that HRT should be given cyclically ; utilizing the lowest effectual dosage for its indicate d symptom for the shortest possible clip. A reappraisal and appraisal of any alteration in the balance of hazards and benefits should be done yearly. Womans with moderate hot flowers, particularly those with contraindications or concerns about HRT may take to seek alternate therapies. Tibolone has proven good in the intervention of menopausal symptoms in younger adult females, although its usage in older adult females remains questionable due to the increased hazards to wellness. Surveies of climacteric are vast in figure, but deficient in what they discover. Nevertheless, their consequences inform the recommendations of medical professional administrations and influence criterions of pattern. Therefore an improved apprehension of the menopausal passage, its symptoms, and therapies is needed in order to unknot this epidemiological quandary and license a better conformity from patients towards intervention. This can be achieved by the reevaluating the hazards and benefits of HRT in d ouble blinded tests against a placebo or a validated therapy because of the ample placebo consequence observed in randomized controlled tests.

Case Study Apple s Logo - 1470 Words

Apple’s logo is one of the most recognizable in the world. If asked to describe the picture on the back of an iPhone or a Mac, almost anyone would quickly explain the apple with a bite out of it. With ingenious men behind the brand and a 1984 themed first commercial, it only takes a moment to realize that there is probably a story behind the famous trademark. Despite this seemingly obvious conclusion, there was apparently no premeditated meaning hidden within the apple. Even still, it has developed a life of its own, full of significance. In every aspect of the business, from the technological developments to public displays of the brand, Steve Jobs held complete control; therefore, his choice of the simple logo and his reactions, or lack of reactions, to the theories surrounding it confirm that while none were intended in the design, they became intentional parts of the branding. When Jobs was working on an earlier startup, NeXT, he spent $100,000 on the design of a symbol fr om a highly acclaimed designer, showing that he placed the highest priority on branding (Schlender and Tetzeli 6-7). NeXT could not last, in part due to the money spent on the logo, and Jobs moved on to Apple. For the initial design of the Apple logo, an intricate sketch of Newton with a tree, a glowing apple, and the caption â€Å"Newton — A Mind Forever Voyaging Through Strange Seas of Thought, Alone.† was chosen (Butcher 72). Although Jobs fell in love with this initial design, when the prototypeShow MoreRelatedSamsung Electronics : The Worlds Largest Technology Company1469 Words   |  6 PagesEngineering, Heavy Industries, Hotels and Resorts: all these seem unknown by people as it’s not the main power that resides in people’s mind when they hear Samsung. 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