Reflections #1

My Immunology class has been going on for almost three weeks now and I thought it was a perfect time to reflect. This class is very valuable for my future career in medical laboratory science (MLS). As a medical laboratory scientist, I will be a part of the diagnostic team. I will be the one running laboratory tests and reporting the laboratory findings such as any diseases or abnormalities found to doctors. Medical laboratory scientists are important because doctors base most of their decisions, like the type of treatment the patient will receive, off of the laboratory findings. In the first lab, I had a glimpse of what medical laboratory scientists do. We had the opportunity to count different leukocytes in a blood smear. Last week we also did a case study, we were assigned a medical scenario where we had to diagnose what the problem was. It was my first case study and it really made you think.

Although the class is very fascinating, I am having a little difficulty trying to keep up at the moment. I also find the class pace a little on the fast side. However, this could be because I did not have much of a background that is why I wish I was able to take Histology because it would have helped me at least with the basics. However, it is only the beginning of the semester and I will get back on track. I am looking forward to what this class has in store this semester. 

For more information on medical laboratory science click on the following link: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-and-clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm

Encounters #1

          When I use the Internet I usually check the current news on my CNN.com homepage. This past Wednesday, while I was at home, I was browsing through the different headlines and articles on my laptop when I found an article that caught my eye. This article is about a woman named Leslie who miscarried her baby due to the flu. According to the article, Leslie and her husband were misinformed by different sources. They ended up believing that women should avoid taking a flu vaccine in the first trimester of their pregnancy. As a result, neither of them took a flu vaccine, which would later prove to be a costly mistake. What started out to be a simple flu with symptoms such as nausea, aches, and fever, grew gradually worse. Sadly, Leslie’s right lung collapsed and surgery was performed right after to replace her collapsed lung with an artificial lung. Her husband was able to fully recover from the flu. What the couple did not know was that it is highly recommended that women who are pregnant, especially during the flu season, get a flu shot. Some women do not know that they can get a flu shot at any time of pregnancy.

          I learned that the flu increases the risk of miscarriages, premature birth, and low birth rate. In addition, I learned that flu shots are safe for pregnant women because before I thought that it would cause harm to the baby. When a person gets a flu shot, there is still a possibility that they still might get the flu. However, I learned that it would not be as severe compared to the people who did not get a flu shot. This unfortunate event is related to immunology because it is dealing with vaccines that contain an attenuated strain that provides immunity against a particular disease. This article shows the importance of vaccination and how it helps the immune system fight against diseases.

Unfortunately, Leslie is currently on a ventilator and is still trying to recover.

I pray that she may have a fast recovery and strength for her family that is going through a difficult time.

To read more about the story, click on the following link: 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/22/health/flu-pregnant-miscarriage/

My Dictionary #1

1. Herd Immunity: When the majority of the population is immune to an infectious agent, thus significantly reducing the pathogen reservoir due to the low chance of a susceptible individual contacting an infected individual.

2. a) Endosteal Niche: Microenvironment in the bone marrow that fosters the development of hematopoietic stem cells and is postulated to associate specifically with self-renewing, long-term hematopoietic stem cells. The area directly surrounding the bone and in contact with bone-producing osteoblasts. 

    b) Vascular Niche: Microenvironment in the bone marrow that fosters the development of hematopoietic stem cells and is postulated to associate specifically with hematopoietic stem cells that have begun to differentiate into mature blood cells. The area directly surrounding the blood vessels and in contact with endothelial cells. 

3. Lamina Propia: Layer of loose connective tissue under the intestinal epithelium where immune cells are organized. The site of the GALT and part of the mucosal immune system. It contains a large number of B cells, plasma cells, activated T cells, and macrophages in loose clusters.