Medical Diagnostics, Oncology, and Environmental Science Essentials

Medical Diagnosis and Oncology

Diagnosis: The process of determining the cause of a disease based on symptoms. Methods: Physical examination, laboratory analysis (CBC), diagnostic imaging, and biopsies.

Diagnostic Imaging

Radiology techniques include radiography, CT scans, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET).

Understanding Cancer

Cancer occurs when cells reproduce uncontrollably.

• Benign Tumors: Do not invade surrounding tissues or affect organ function.
• Malignant Tumors: Invade tissues and spread to other body parts; this process is known as metastasis.

Causes: Carcinogens, radiation, viruses, and genetic predisposition.
Treatment: Surgery, chemotherapy (cytostatic drugs that induce apoptosis and prevent reproduction), immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplantation.

Leukemia

A condition characterized by the proliferation of immature leukocytes.

• Symptoms: Intermittent fever, poor appetite, and blood clotting issues.
• Treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation, bone marrow transplantation, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from umbilical cord blood.

Environmental Resources and Sustainability

Energy and Natural Resources

Natural goods used for energy, categorized as renewable or non-renewable.

• Water: Essential for agricultural, energy, industrial, leisure, and domestic use.
• Forest Resources: Vital for biodiversity, biomass, and fuel. Requires sustainable exploitation and reforestation.
• Land Resources: Used for agriculture and livestock. Challenges include intensive farming, overgrazing, water erosion, improper logging, forest fires, and desertification.

Climate and Atmospheric Issues

• Climate Change: Global climate disruption caused by the greenhouse effect (CO2). Effects: Rising sea levels, reduced rainfall, spread of tropical diseases, and coral bleaching.
• Air Pollution: Harmful substances released into the air. Causes: Agricultural practices, forest fires, industrial processes, mining, and transport.
• Ozone Layer: Depleted by CFCs, leading to increased ultraviolet radiation, which impacts agriculture and microorganisms.
• Acid Rain: Precipitation with a pH below 5.6, caused by burning fossil fuels that release sulfur dioxide. Implications: Damage to aquatic ecosystems, human health, and infrastructure.

Geological Hazards

• Seismic Hazard: Determined by hazard, vulnerability, and magnitude. Causes: Tectonic plate movement. Prevention: Earthquake-resistant construction.
• Volcanic Hazards: Occur when magma reaches the crust. Manifestations: Lava flows, volcanic gases, pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, and lahars.