scholarly journals Quality of Life Philosophy III. Towards a New Biology: Understanding the Biological Connection between Quality of Life, Disease, and Healing

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1186-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Ventegodt ◽  
Niels Jørgen Andersen ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Living Matter ◽  
A Cell ◽  
New Biology ◽  
Life Philosophy ◽  
The Individual

This paper addresses (in a philosophical way) the complex and enigmatic interface between matter, life, and consciousness in modern medical science. The problem today in understanding living matter is not at the molecular level, but at the macro level where all molecular activities in the individual cell are coordinated, and especially at a higher level, where the activities of all the organism’s cells are coordinated. Although we understand very much of the body’s chemistry, we have only just started to get the gist of the tremendous organization of living matter. We are just beginning to acknowledge the enormous flow of information that is needed to make everything function in a healthy organism, including consciousness, where every cell does exactly what it has to do to make the organs function.A concept that seems to be able to bridge the scientifically very different domains of matter, life, and consciousness seems to be “biological information”. If a cell is seen as a liquid crystal in which the cell’s molecules constantly connect in firm mutual relationships only to dissolve again and become fluid and free, whenever the cell needs it, the backbone of the cell seems to be the information that organizes the cell. For example, in cell motion a cell is able to crawl with the help of a skeleton of fibers that can be created guided by biological information, whenever the cell needs the solidity provided by the fibers. The moment it has finished crawling or intends to crawl in another direction, these fibers will dissolve again. The fibers are made of millions of molecules that connect in an arranged pattern, and they dissolve when these molecules again let go of each other. How the cell precisely regulates such processes is today a complete mystery. How cells cocreate consciousness is also an enigma. All we can do is describe the cell and the organisms arising from its cells as filled with energy and information as well as an unbeatable ability to organize itself way down to the molecular level, where apparently the cell is in control of almost every single molecule.Our understanding today of how the information is stored and how it flows through living matter is still very limited. The source of the qualities (the qualia) characterizing the human being as a whole — like joy, love, motivation, consciousness, free will, wisdom, intuitive competence — is still practically unknown and scientifically unexplained, more than 50 years after science has turned itself towards these fundamental problems. We believe that we need a radically new biology and medicine to give the scientific explanations of the structure, dynamics, and quality of life, and of its consciousness.

scholarly journals Quality of Life Philosophy IV. The Brain and Consciousness

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1199-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Ventegodt ◽  
Niels Jørgen Andersen ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Philosophical Perspective ◽  
Garden Of Eden ◽  
The World ◽  
Life Philosophy ◽  
The Brain

In this article we look at the brain’s structure and function from a philosophical perspective. Although the brain at micro-level, with its trillions of ultra-thin nerve fibers, is one of the most complicated structures in the known universe, you can still grasp its composition if you go up to the level of the cell. How this structure functions is not quite clear. You can understand its function at fiber level, because it is fairly simple, and you can understand it at cell level, but it is already vague. Roughly speaking, you can envision a single nerve cell as a tiny, independent computer whose behavior is dependent on continuous calculations of all input. At organ level, the function can be understood as an extremely complex pattern machine. Finally, the brain’s function can be understood at the cognitive level as what provides consciousness through its ability to keep order in our complicated reality. The superior function of the brain is to connect the real us, our higher self, to the surrounding world.The brain has been developed so that it can create all possible complex patterns. The connectivity seems to imply that the patterns of the human brain are 1000-dimensional. It is our vision that these complicated patterns arise from basic patterns in the quantum matter of which everything is created. In our opinion, our consciousness’ special utilization of a patterned aspect of nature is what lies behind inscrutable statements like “Man is created in God’s image”. We suggest that these patterns in matter are the basic, creative force that influences all living organisms. Unfortunately, science has only just begun to understand these patterns.The Bible’s description of the origin of man is two people eating from the Tree of Knowledge and as punishment they are expelled from the Garden of Eden. What does that mean? It means that, as conscious creatures, we no longer were an unproblematic, harmonious part of the world around us. The great question is why this consciousness about the world, provided by the brain, is not a gift that makes life better instead of getting us expelled from the Garden of Eden. We think that our real problem is the fact that we are still not in control of our consciousness. Instead of it serving us, we have become its slaves. If we come to understand brain and consciousness in order to solve this basic problem of our existence, we shall again be able to become a coherent part of the world, both as individuals and as a species. We share the vision that such an understanding of the problems of consciousness will make medical science holistic and will bring quality of life, health, and the ability to function to its patients.

scholarly journals Quality of Life Theory II. Quality of Life as the Realization of Life Potential: A Biological Theory of Human Being

2003 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1041-1049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soren Ventegodt ◽  
Joav Merrick ◽  
Niels Jorgen Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Meaning In Life ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Living Matter ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Mechanical Models

This review presents one of the eight theories of the quality of life (QOL) used for making the SEQOL (self-evaluation of quality of life) questionnaire or the quality of life as realizing life potential. This theory is strongly inspired by Maslow and the review furthermore serves as an example on how to fulfill the demand for an overall theory of life (or philosophy of life), which we believe is necessary for global and generic quality-of-life research.Whereas traditional medical science has often been inspired by mechanical models in its attempts to understand human beings, this theory takes an explicitly biological starting point. The purpose is to take a close view of life as a unique entity, which mechanical models are unable to do. This means that things considered to be beyond the individual's purely biological nature, notably the quality of life, meaning in life, and aspirations in life, are included under this wider, biological treatise. Our interpretation of the nature of all living matter is intended as an alternative to medical mechanism, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. New ideas such as the notions of the human being as nestled in an evolutionary and ecological context, the spontaneous tendency of self-organizing systems for realization and concord, and the central role of consciousness in interpreting, planning, and expressing human reality are unavoidable today in attempts to scientifically understand all living matter, including human life.

Quality-of-Life Measurement in Advanced Cancer: Assessing the Individual

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3603-3611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dympna Waldron ◽  
Ciaran A. O'Boyle ◽  
Michael Kearney ◽  
Michael Moriarty ◽  
Desmond Carney
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Advanced Cancer ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Incurable Cancer ◽  
Life Measurement ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Very High

PURPOSE: Despite the increasing importance of assessing quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced cancer, relatively little is known about individual patient's perceptions of the issues contributing to their QoL. The Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life (SEIQoL) and the shorter SEIQoL–Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) assess individualized QoL using a semistructured interview technique. Here we report findings from the first administration of the SEIQoL and SEIQoL-DW to patients with advanced incurable cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: QoL was assessed on a single occasion using the SEIQoL and SEIQoL-DW in 80 patients with advanced incurable cancer. RESULTS: All patients were able to complete the SEIQoL-DW, and 78% completed the SEIQoL. Of a possible score of 100, the median QoL global score was as follows: SEIQoL, 61 (range, 24 to 94); SEIQoL-DW, 60.5 (range, 6 to 95). Psychometric data for SEIQoL indicated very high levels of internal consistency (median r = .90) and internal validity (median R2 = 0.88). Patients' judgments of their QoL were unique to the individual. Family concerns were almost universally rated as more important than health, the difference being significant when measured using the SEIQoL-DW (P = .002). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced incurable cancer were very good judges of their QoL, and many patients rated their QoL as good. Judgments were highly individual, with very high levels of consistency and validity. The primacy given to health in many QoL questionnaires may be questioned in this population. The implications of these findings are discussed with regard to clinical assessment and advance directives.

Quality of Life for Children with Persistent Sinonasal Symptoms

2003 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Kay ◽  
Richard M. Rosenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Longitudinal Change ◽  
Good Test ◽  
Routine Clinical Care ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Sinonasal Symptoms

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to validate the SN-5 survey as a measure of longitudinal change in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for children with persistent sinonasal symptoms. DESIGN AND SETTING: We conducted a before and after study of 85 children aged 2 to 12 years in a metropolitan pediatric otolaryngology practice. Caregivers completed the SN-5 survey at entry and at least 4 weeks later. The survey included 5 symptom-cluster items covering the domains of sinus infection, nasal obstruction, allergy symptoms, emotional distress, and activity limitations. RESULTS: Good test-retest reliability ( R = 0.70) was obtained for the overall SN-5 score and the individual survey items ( R ≥ 0.58). The mean baseline SN-5 score was 3.8 (SD, 1.0) of a maximum of 7.0, with higher scores indicating poorer HRQoL. All SN-5 items had adequate correlation ( R ≥ 0.36) with external constructs. The mean change in SN-5 score after routine clinical care was 0.88 (SD, 1.19) with an effect size of 0.74 indicating good responsiveness to longitudinal change. The change scores correlated appropriately with changes in related external constructs ( R ≥ 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: The SN-5 is a valid, reliable, and responsive measure of HRQoL for children with persistent sinonasal symptoms, suitable for use in outcomes studies and routine clinical care.

scholarly journals Quality of Life in Patients with Nasal Obstruction after Septoplasty: A Single Institution Prospective Observational Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Dąbrowska-Bień ◽  
Henryk Skarżyński ◽  
Sebastian Filip Górski ◽  
Piotr Henryk Skarżyński
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Nasal Obstruction ◽  
Prospective Observational Study ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Single Institution ◽  
High Satisfaction ◽  
Symptom Evaluation ◽  
The Individual

Abstract Introduction Nasal obstruction is a common symptom in otorhinolaryngological practice. It can impact significantly on the quality of life of the individual. Objective The primary goal of the present study was to evaluate quality of life after septoplasty in adults with nasal obstruction. A secondary goal was to assess the effectiveness of septoplasty. Methods This was a single institution prospective observational study. Patients had experienced septal deviation and symptomatic nasal obstruction with no benefit from medical treatment. There were 51 patients who completed the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE-POL) scale as well as theVisual Analogue Scale (VAS) before undergoing septoplasty, 3 months later, and finally 7 months after surgery. Patients evaluated changes in their nasal obstruction and changes in their quality of life using the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S). Results There was a significant improvement in nasal obstruction after septoplasty. Before septoplasty, the mean score on NOSE was 60.3 ± 20.4; 3 months after surgery, it was 32.9 ± 16.8; and 7 months after surgery it was 39.6 ± 33.2. The VAS results also proved a significant enhancement in nasal obstruction after septoplasty. Patients reported an improvement in nasal obstruction as well as a positive change in quality of life, confirming the effectiveness of septoplasty. Conclusions In patients with deformed septum, septoplasty contributes to high satisfaction of the patient and a compelling improvement in disease-specific quality of life. The NOSE-POL questionnaire is a useful tool for measuring the outcomes of this procedure.

scholarly journals Quality of Life and Philosophy of Life Determines Physical and Mental Health: Status Over Research Findings From The Quality of Life Research Center, Copenhagen, 1991-2007

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1743-1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Ventegodt ◽  
Isack Kandel ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Individual

Quality of life (QOL) has over the past decade become an important part of health science and also increased public awareness. It has become increasingly apparent that illness is closely related to the individual perception of a good life, and therefore the exploration of indicators related to quality of life appears to be of broad importance for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Identifying, which factors constitute a good life may reveal an understanding about what areas in life should be encouraged, in order to enhance the global quality of life, health, and ability. In this paper we present results from studies initiated in 1989 to examine quality of life in relation to disease. The purpose of this presentation was to assemble the results from the study carried out in the years between 1993 and 1997, examining a total of 11.500 Danes, to show the association between quality of life and a wide series of social indicators.

QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION (LITERATURE REVIEW)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLGA MOSKALENKO ◽  
ROMAN YASKEVICH
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Current Problem ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Quality Of Life Assessment ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Satisfactory Quality

A review of the literature on the current problem of medicine is presented. Arterial hypertension is one of the common chronic diseases for which the current goal of therapy is not recovery, but improvement of circulatory function with a satisfactory quality of life. The study of QOL and the factors influencing it can contribute to an increase in the individual effectiveness of treatment and complex rehabilitation of patients suffering from this pathology.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the roles of HIV co-infection and socio-demographic factors as determinants of Quality of Life among Nigerians with Tuberculosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29
Author(s):  
Peter J Olagunju ◽  
Olukemi O Odukoya ◽  
Andrew T Olagunju ◽  
Mobolanle R Balogun
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical Aspect ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization Quality ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors

Background: Tuberculosis [TB] remains a major global public health problem, and particularly in resource-restricted settings with disproportionately high burden. This study is aimed at assessing quality of life [QoL] and the roles of HIV co-infection along with socio-demographic factors on QoL among subjects with TB.Methodology: This is a multi-center cross-sectional study among 440 participants recruited by multi-stage sampling technique across 40 Directly Observed Treatment Short-course [DOTS] centres. Interviews were done using designed questionnaire to collect information on socio-demographic and clinical details of respondents. Subsequently, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF [WHOQOL-BREF] questionnaire was used to evaluate QoL.Results: Most (61.1%) of the participants was aged between 21 and 40 years, 61.6% were married and 74.5% had a paid job. Majority of the subjects reported fair QoL across all domains. Employment status and monthly income were significantly associated with participants overall QoL and their satisfaction with health (p<0.05). Also, age, gender, marital status, ethnicity and educational status were significantly associated with the social domain of QoL. The HIV co-infection was found to be significantly associated with the physical aspect of their QoL (p<0.05).Conclusion: Optimal treatment of HIV co-infection and incorporation of psychosocial medicine into TB management are indicated for improved QoL. Similarly, routine assessment of QoL is desirable.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(1) 2018 p.21-29

scholarly journals Female aging

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 553-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Cristina Esposito Sorpreso ◽  
José Maria Soares Júnior ◽  
Angela Maggio da Fonseca ◽  
Edmund Chada Baracat
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Functional Capacity ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Natural Process ◽  
More Care ◽  
Female Aging ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Harmful Effects

SUMMARY Female aging is a process that involves hypoestrogenism time, the individual impact on each woman, and what we can do as experts to reduce morbidity and provide quality of life. This natural process in the female life cycle has been of concern to women after menopause. Changes in different biophysical and psychosocial aspects, and their individual experiences, have repercussions on the lives of patients seeking specialized and multidisciplinary support to reduce the harmful effects of prolonged hypoestrogenism. Overweight and obesity, inadequate living habits and the presence of multi-morbidities cause damage to the quality of life and impact the functional capacity. Behavioral prescription and hormone therapy are among the treatments given to ease symptoms and reduce morbidity. A better understanding of these factors can help identify groups that require more care after menopause.

scholarly journals Symptom Experience and Quality of Life of Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy in Bangladesh

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-206
Author(s):  
Mosammat Shamsun Naher Begum ◽  
Wongchan Petpichetchian ◽  
Luppana Kitrungrote
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Medical Science ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Moderate Level ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Symptom Experience ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients

Background: The present study was aimed to the relationships between symptom severity and distress and quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.Objectives and methodology: A total number of 132 patients, attending both In-patient and Out-patient department and fulfilling the recruitment criteria were included in the study. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from the eligible participants by the primary investigator. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: On average, the participants of the study experienced seventeen symptoms with moderate level. The level of QoL of the participants was at moderate level (M=2.02, SD=0.39). Among all the subscales, the physical well-being had the lowest score and social well-being had highest score. Symptom experience and quality of life showed significant negative correlation. Conclusion: The patients with breast cancer would experience high symptoms during a 7-day period after receiving chemotherapy of the previous cycle. Nurses need to perform full measurement of multiple symptoms when care for breast cancer patients after the administration of chemotherapy.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.15(2) 2016 p.201-206

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document