Critical Essay 1800 words

Critical Essay: Smoking “Shock! Horror! Smoking may be good for you.”
It is indisputable that tobacco smoking is one of the biggest causes of disease and death in the 20th Century. Some evidence has indicated that nicotine may be neuroprotective. Discuss this apparent paradox and consider how people are likely to make health decisions when presented with contradictory evidence.

The questions will require students to carry out extensive research for the essay and present the work in a cogent and scientifically sound format.

The essay will assess learning outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 5 and (see module handbook).

1. Describe, using appropriate terminology, the major pathophysiological processes, their underlying mechanisms and how they contribute to the features of disease. Course learning outcome;
2. Discuss the body’s response to stressors and the consequences to physiological systems, the role of the immune system: psychoneuroimmunology;
3. Evaluate the features of frequently encountered inflammatory disorders, degenerative conditions, and neoplasms;
4. Interpret the macroscopic and microscopic changes that occur in pathological conditions and explain the uses of common laboratory investigative and imaging procedures in the diagnosis and monitoring of pathophysiological changes;
5. Selectively and critically appraise literature and information from different sources and fields, and propose solutions to problems arising from the analysis. Course learning outcome

Assessment criteria will be that students:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of pathophysiological processes pertinent to the title;
• Demonstrate the ability to use current, objective material, properly referenced using an appropriate academic writing style.

Smoking
Park, H. J., Lee, P. H., Ahn, Y. W., Choi, Y. J., Lee, G., Lee, D. Y., … & Jin, B. K. (2007). Neuroprotective effect of nicotine on dopaminergic neurons by anti‐inflammatory action. European Journal of Neuroscience, 26(1), 79-89. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1460-9568.2007.05636.x

Hirsch, E.C, Hunot, S. 2009. Neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s Disease: a target for neuroprotection? The Lancet Neurology. 8;4. 382-397. 2009
Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1474442209700626

Akaike, A., Takada-Takatori, Y., Kume, T., & Izumi, Y. (2010). Mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of nicotine and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: role of α4 and α7 receptors in neuroprotection. Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 40(1-2), 211-216.

Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12031-009-9236-1

Webster Ross, G, Petrovitch, H. 2001. Current Evidence for Neuroprotective Effects of Nicotine and Caffeine Against Parkinson’s Disease. Drugs and Aging. 18:11. 797-806. 2001
Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00002512-200118110-00001

Note: Please only use references to peer reviewed publications.