1/27- nytimes

The article I have chosen for this week is entitled "Another Potential Benefit of Cutting Calories: Better Memory." A recently published study shows that caloric intake could very well have a direct effect on retention of information. In this study they had three groups of people, those that cut calories by thirty percent, those that ate healthy fats, and those that made no changes what-so-ever. After three months of following their respective diets they took tests that involved memorizing words, and in this test the low caloric intake group soared above the rest, making on average a 20 percent improvement. The scientists found these results very intriguing due to the high statistical differences. Although these results are not concrete evidence of improved memory, it is just more benefit to a lowered caloric intake. I found this information to be very interesting because I am very interested in fitness and nutrition. Secondly, in college it is important to call upon your retention skills on a day to day basis, and if there is a healthy alternative that works it would be noteworthy. 

Illness narratives: fact or fiction?

First off, I found this essay to be confusing and hard to follow.

In this paper the author begins by explaining the importance of medical narrative in the past, how that was stifled, and how it has found rapid growth in the present, now being seen for its value in the sociological and anthropological sense.  In this writing the author breaks medical narrative down into multiple descriptions " `contingent narratives' which address beliefs about the origins of disease, the proximate causes of an illness episode, and the immediate effects of illness on everyday life; `moral narratives' that provide accounts of (and help to constitute) changes between the person, the illness and social identity, and which help to (re) establish the moral status of the individual or help maintain social distance; and `core narratives' that reveal connections between the lay person's experiences and deeper cultural levels of meaning attached to suffering and illness." He then discusses how these definitions have arisen and each narratives purpose in the life of the patient with the illness. Medical narrative serves many purposes in the life of the terminally ill. They use narrative as a way to explain how they contracted their illness, or what caused their illness, and then use it to explain to others, and verify to themselves. Also, it serves as a description of themselves, because their illness then becomes a part of them, it can also be used as an excuse as to why they are unable to do what they used to do, or makes them seem more heroic when they are still able to do it. Lastly, in the end they attempt to change the story righting past wrongs and trying to improve themselves, so any stories told of them in the future will carry a positive connotation. 

I feel that this paper did well exploring the multiple uses of medical narrative and properly allocating stories to represent their explanations. 

The definition I have drawn from this is, a story cultivated by the sick to explain their condition, glorify their current existence through struggle, and personally define the "self."

The Clash of Meanings: Medical Narrative and Biographical Story at Life's End

This article is concerned with whether or not it is right to artificially preserve a declining life. Back before medical technology was exponentially advanced, when a persons health declined death was almost always inevitable, and you cherished the final moments together, recounting the joyous memories, and paying your respects to your loved one. With medical technology so advanced these days the final days of a persons life are turned into months or even years, where family members are forced to grapple with wether they are making the right decision, plagued with doubt. We have come to a point where we can preserve the physical being, when the soul is long past ready to embark to the heavens. This is a difficult situation for all sides though, because physicians are there to preserve life, and can only offer uncertainties instead of concrete answers. Families don't know what to do with those uncertainties, will they get better, should we at least give them a chance to get better, how can we preserve such a miserable existence it is immoral, is it even an existence being in such a terrible state? And they are forced to make these decision without knowing what their loved one truly wants because they are no longer of sound mind. 

In this article the author takes the stand that "end of life care without technologies for life prolongation will produce a 'dignified' and 'meaningful' death." The author uses medical narrative, citing 2 specific stories, to illustrate the confusion modern day technology has placed on those final days of life. In both cases the patients have lost mental functions and physical functions due to stroke, and the families are put in the representative position of the loved one.

Both stories tug at the heart strings and demonstrate the technologies used to preserve life.

The author gives their own definition of medical narrative, I use the term narrative in a well-recognized sense, meaning accounts from individuals that portray their subjective experience, including a sense of intention, explanation, and emotion. Social scientists have borrowed the concept of narrative from the traditional humanities and view it as an expansive tool through which to articulate how individuals construct meaning and negotiate their worlds."

"Television Drama and Popular Film as Medical Narrative

The author of this article takes a clear stand on the issue of Television Dramas and their effect on society. A position which is clear in the closing paragraph. "Medical narrative in the form of television drama and popular film provides health care decision-makers with an important avenue for moral learning. The visual element of this narrative form enhances the perception of particulars and engages the viewer emotionally as well as cognitively. Moreover, aesthetic distance in the experience of medical drama permits emotional identification accompanied by critical reflection so that medical decision-making for oneself and one's loved ones may become better informed by a consideration of alternative choices and their consequences within the institutional setting."

If I had to describe this article I would describe it as a persuasive, the author takes a position and provides reasons for it, and also takes opposing remarks and refutes them. The author looks at the positive side of medical narrative through television, glorifying it for its informative value to the public. It allows the viewer to visually and emotionally immerse themselves in a fictional situation that may be valid to their life, or could be valid in the future. Although, they get emotional involved in the stories of the show, they aren't actually attached to that situation, and looking at it from an outside perspective can make a more informed decision. In real life situations our emotions take control of us and cloud our decision making processes, but seeing it on T.V. we can make more logical decisions and apply those decisions in the future. The author also promotes the fact that medical dramas promote awareness and can stimulate conversation and preparation among families so they are not dumbfounded by a medical decision in their life. The author advocates televisions depiction of medical narrative as a valuable educational tool in all aspects. Stating, "By providing viewers with accurate information concerning various treatment options and their consequences, important advances may be made toward the empowerment of patients and surrogate decision makers."

After reading this article I believe the definition of medical narrative i can draw from it is, an informative story which evokes emotion, and brings awareness to the reader/viewer through thought stimulation.

1/20 "Science Times"- Mono

The title of the article is "Students Still Getting Mono After All These Years."

I chose this article because over the weekend I went to U of Penn to visit my friend Pete for his birthday and he explained to me that his mother and younger brother both had mono. So I thought it would be interesting to brush up on some facts about the disease, because although I have heard of many people having it I really no nothing about it except how it is contracted.

The main focus in this article is how little consideration the Epstein-Barr virus, "mono", is given in the medical world. Some doctors are concerned that it is not given enough attention, due to the fact that the disease has become "trivialized." There is only so much money out there for medical research and mono is put at the back of the line. It's symptoms include "severe fatigue, fever, sore throats, swollen glands and enlarged spleen." But for many people the virus lays dormant in your system for life never showing any symptoms, another reason why people feel it is not important to research. For some symptoms can be very painful though, and since there is no cure for the disease, your only option is to wait it out and endure the pain. The article features a 13 year old girl who had mono and suffered an inflamed abdomen, and the only thing she got for it was a steroid shot to reduce the inflammation, the rest was an agonizing waiting game. In 99.9 percent of cases patients get better though. Doctors such as Joseph Pagano feel that more research need to be done to develop a cure, but as of now the majority feel it's not important. 

Personally I feel that as the years progress mono will become more and more of an issue, and eventually it will be recognized for its seriousness and allocated funds. With drinking games such as beer pong, and the many card games, mono is no longer a chance encounter, it will eventually become a widespread epidemic.