This book is a direct result of 10 years of the well-known "Autoimmunity Days" in Israel, which are increasingly becoming an international focal point for autoimmunity scientists. Top researchers provide coverage of the most important knowledge generated during the last decade. The volume can therefore be seen almost as a textbook on autoimmunity, projecting from the last decade to the next millennium.
A variety of different subjects in autoimmunity, from etiology to pathogenesis, from postulated mechanisms to innovative therapeutic modalities, is handled by noted contributors, while additional authors contribute top papers which significantly enhance a better understanding of autoimmunity.
An excellent treatise on the subject, and a worthwhile addition to both clinical and research libraries.

Histamine is an important mediator of allergic diseases such as hay fever and bronchial asthma, food allergies, urticaria, and drug hypersensitivity. Knowledge of histamine as a cause of numerous non-allergic symptoms and signs is, however, limited. In fact, histamine intolerance can be responsible for conditions as diverse as seasickness, headaches and migraine, tachycardia, gastric disorders, diarrhea, intolerance to contrast media, parodontosis, period pains, nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, atopic dermatitis, and osteoporosis. This book offers wide-ranging coverage of histamine intolerance. There is extensive background discussion of the origin of histamine, its content in food and alcoholic beverages, and intolerance to red wine. Diagnosis of histamine intolerance is explained, and the various symptoms of histamine intolerance are clearly described. Subsequent chapters cover the conditions mentioned above and also consider the relation of histamine to vitamin B6 and the specific immunotherapy of allergies. This book will prove of value in clinical practice by facilitating differential diagnosis, which is by no means straightforward given the multiplicity of symptoms of histamine intolerance, and by assisting in the selection of therapeutic measures.

Two decades have passed since the mechanisms of protein synthesis became well enough understood to permit the genetic modification oforganisms. An impressive amount of new knowledge has emerged from the new technology, but much ofthe promise of20years ago has notyet been fulfilled. In biotechnology, efforts to increase the yields of commercially valuable metabolites have been less successful than ex pected, and when they have succeeded it has often been as much from selective breeding as from new methods. The cell is more complicated than what is presented in the classical teaching of biochemistry, it contains more structure than was dreamed of 20 years ago, and the behaviour ofany systemofenzymes is more elaborate than can be explained in terms ofa single supposedly rate-limiting enzyme. Even if classical enzymology and meta bolism may have seemed rather unfashionable during the rise ofmolecular biology, they remain central to any modification ofthe metabolic behaviour oforganisms. As such modification is essential in much ofbiotechnology and drug development, bio technologists can only ignore these topics at their peril."

The name "AIDS" is an accusation. It implies punishment for sin--homosexuality and promiscuity. AIDS is a moral judgement masquerading as a scientific name, which is at the very heart of discrimination against the infected. At the bottom are drug users, victims of the War On Drugs, condemned to contract AIDS by using contaminated syringes necessitated by scarcity resulting from restrictive policies. A rational way to control HIV is to liberalize drug paraphernalia policies as in Europe. The U.S. has not taken this simple step, thus unleashing the AIDS epidemic among drug users, their sexual partners, and neonates. While this policy neglect can be understood in the context of AIDS prevention dominated by moral, political, and religious ideologies rather than epidemiological facts, there are critical racial implications. The ethnic divide separating the white researchers and the infected who belong to minorities has fuelled comparisons of AIDS with the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study and some preventive strategies have been called genocidal plots. Recent research indicating the ineffectiveness of bleach to disinfect paraphernalia has exposed the deadly consequences of a nonchalant attitude to research and compromises for political expediency.

This book incorporates the latest advances in immunopharmacological treatment. One objective has been to provide appropriate bridges between the basic sciences of immunology and pharmacology on the one hand and clinical medicine on the other. A further intention has been to emphasize those advances in immunology and pharmacology that are of clinical importance while retaining those facts that, while not new, remain clinically useful. The immunology section provides the necessary background for immunopharmacologi cal treatment. The chapters on individual cell types include normal surface markers, mode of activation, and activation markers and functions in health and disease. The chapters on pharmacology give comprehensive information on immunosuppressive drugs in regular use today, their biochemical and cellular mechanisms of action, pharmaco kinetics, dosage regimens, therapeutic responses, adverse reactions, and drug interactions and tolerance. In addition, certain therapeutic principles that are still in an experimental phase are described, for example, immunotoxins, thymic hormones, and interleukins. The book presents comprehensive information on various autoimmune diseases, the etiopathogenetic immune mechanisms where these are known, and the current possibilities for immunopharmacological intervention. The specific disease section also covers rare situations, fluctuations in disease patterns, and subgroups of patients and immunophar macological treatment in these situations. Altogether, the book represents a practical textbook for clinicians and advanced students who want to be updated on therapeutic principles with regard to autoimmune diseases and transplantation."

Theodosius Dobzhansky's statement that nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution, also applies to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This book presents up-to-date, state-of-the-art reviews on diverse topics pertinent to MHC evolution, including the organization of the MHC in humans and other model vertebrates, the nature and origin of MHC polymorphism, MHC-parasite co-evolution, and the origin of the adaptive immune system. The book will be of interest not only for immunologists, geneticists, and evolutionary biologists, but also for other specialists who want to keep abreast of the latest developments in this rapidly expanding field.

Despite wide recognition as a serious public health problem, anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity reactions remain under-recognized and under-diagnosed. This book fills the gaps in our understanding of the identification of triggers, recognition of clinical presentations, understanding of the natural history of these reactions, and selection of treatment strategies including those focused on cellular and molecular targets. The book provides a detailed examination of disease etiology, pathogenesis, and pathophysiology and their correlation to clinical practice. Forefront knowledge of the mediators and mechanisms of anaphylaxis is covered with an emphasis on how new discoveries shape our current and emerging therapies.

This monograph covers the entire field of blood group serology, with its main emphasis on the chemical and biochemical basis of blood group specificity. Full consideration is given to molecular biology investigations, in particular to studies on the structure of blood group genes and the molecular biological basis of alleles and rare blood group variants, whereby relevant literature up to the year 2000 is covered. The text is supplemented by numerous illustrations and tables, and detailed reference lists.

Whereas plant and insect infections are commonly caused by fungi, only a small minority of the vast diversity of fungal species is pathogenic to humans. Despite this, fungal infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. This volume is dedicated to the biology, clinical presentation and management of invasive fungal infections. Major pathogenic fungi are introduced by world-leading experts and the basic principles of fungal virulence are reviewed in the light of new results and experimental technologies that offer unprecedented insights into invasive infections caused by "Aspergillus," "Candida," "Cryptococcus," "Pneumocystis" and "Mucorales." In parallel, the clinical presentation of invasive fungal infections and current approaches to their diagnosis and treatment are summarized to provide an overview of human pathogenic fungi, linking pathogen biology to the clinical presentation of disease.

This book discusses the Indian scenario concerning dust allergy, presenting case studies that reveal the practical aspects of allergies. A gradual increase in the incidence and prevalence of different allergic manifestations has been reported from various parts of the world including several developing countries like India, where the problem has recently surfaced due to the unplanned urbanization, rapid industrialization, metamorphic changes in the environment, and increased air pollution, as well as changes in life style, particularly the adoption of Western life styles and eating habits in the name of so-called modern living. The book is divided into the following chapters: Allergy - what is it?, Allergy - Fact File; Possible allergens in our surroundings; Mechanism of allergic reaction; House dust allergy - an environmental enigma ; The mighty mites; Dermatophagoides - the potent indoor allergen ; Dust mite allergy - evaluation procedure; House dust allergy - an Indian perspective ; House dust allergy in Kolkata - a case study; Allergy & heredity; Allergic manifestations; Diagnostic procedures; and Treatment & prevention.

This well-illustrated book synthesizes all aspects of allergy, asthma, and related fields such as aerobiology and immunology. Appropriate for allergy practitioners and medical students seeking the latest information on allergy and asthma, it covers aeroallergens and their source plants all over the world.The book focuses on allergies caused by pollen and environmental pollution as well as skin disorders stemming from latex allergies. It contains the latest methods of diagnosis and treatment of allergy and asthma releveant to applied clinical immunology.

This volume provides an up-to-date account of the achievements pertaining to the application of capsaicin and capsaicin-like molecules in the therapy of various human ailments such as pain, non-allergic rhinitis, obesity, tumors and gastrointestinal, dermatologic and urologic disorders. It discusses the basic functionsof the capsaicin receptor (TRPV1), its mechanisms of action and its role in physiological and pathological processes. The text focuses on the most recent progress in the use of capsaicin and capsaicin-like molecules as a therapeutic agent and highlights potential pharmaceutical implications of further TRPV1 research. The chapters are written by noted experts in their fields of endeavor. This book offers both clinicians and researchers valuable resource and reference material on the subject that will stimulate future research. "

Integrative Rheumatology offers a new and much-needed perspective in disease and symptom management, blending conventional medicine with alternative approaches not typically included in a Western medical practice. While conventional treatments can provide considerable symptomatic relief and can even slow the progression of many rheumatologic conditions, integrative treatment incorporating lifestyle interventions, mind-body approaches, and practices such as acupuncture and meditation into conventional medical therapies can improve quality of life, reduce medication dosages, and are generally better tolerated. In this book, researchers and clinicians highlight specific gaps in conventional rheumatologic care and examine how alternative approaches may be ideally suited to address these missed opportunities. Here, the authors introduce topics not typically addressed in conventional rheumatology texts, including nutritional therapies, exercise, herbal medicine, mind/body approaches, Ayurveda, and energy medicine. The contributors, all of whom have a background in academic medicine, share the approaches that they have found most effective in their own practices, basing their work on the best scientific evidence available. Ultimately, an understanding of complementary and alternative approaches to healing can help clinicians care for their patients using the best proven therapies to modify disease progress and relieve pain and disability.

This volume examines all facets of the complex biology of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies, which play an essential role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and immunity to parasites. It highlights the unique mechanisms involved in the regulation of IgE production at both the molecular and cellular level. Furthermore, it discusses in detail novel findings on how the affinity, specificity and cross-reactivity of IgE can fine-tune mast cell responses to allergens. The book also explores the beneficial roles of IgE antibodies in immunity to helminthes and protection against tumors, and how the properties of IgE-mediated immunity are employed in the development of IgE therapeutic antibodies. All chapters were written by respected experts in their fields and will appeal to scientists and clinicians alike.

To some, food allergies seem like fabricated cries for attention. To others, they pose a dangerous health threat. Food allergies are bound up with so many personal and ideological concerns that it is difficult to determine what is medical and what is myth. Another Person's Poison parses the political, economic, cultural, and genuine health factors of a phenomenon that dominates our interactions with others and our understanding of ourselves. For most of the twentieth century, food allergies were considered a fad or junk science. While many physicians and clinicians argued that certain foods could cause a range of chronic problems, from asthma and eczema to migraines and hyperactivity, others believed that allergies were psychosomatic. 'This book traces the trajectory of this debate and its effect on public-health policy and the production, manufacture, and consumption of food. Are rising allergy rates purely the result of effective lobbying and a booming industry built on self-diagnosis and expensive remedies? Or should physicians become more flexible in their approach to food allergies and more careful in their diagnoses? Exploring the issue from scientific, political, economic, social, and patient-centered perspectives, this book is the first to engage fully with the history of a major modern affliction, illuminating society's troubled relationship with food, disease, nature, and the creation of medical knowledge.

Presents classic and recent findings on immunological dysfunctions caused by food allergies-coordinating the most advanced clinical techniques and assessment methods with practical insights for treatment and patient care.

Provides a detailed survey of new therapies for autoimmune diseases, exploring the rationale for their use and clinical data regarding their potential benefit. The book emphasizes biological interventions based on the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, ranging from altering tolerance to modifying cytokines and changing lymphocyte function.

When I entered the field of allergy in the early 1970s, the standard textbook was a few hundred pages, and the specialty was so compact that texts were often authored entirely by a single individual and were never larger than one volume. Compare this with Allergy Frontiers: Epigenetics, Allergens, and Risk Factors, the present s- volume text with well over 150 contributors from throughout the world. This book captures the explosive growth of our specialty since the single-author textbooks referred to above. The unprecedented format of this work lies in its meticulous attention to detail yet comprehensive scope. For example, great detail is seen in manuscripts dealing with topics such as "Exosomes, naturally occurring minimal antigen presenting units" and "Neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1), an asthma susceptibility gene." The scope is exemplified by the unique approach to disease entities normally dealt with in a single chapter in most texts. For example, anaphylaxis, a topic usually confined to one chapter in most textbooks, is given five chapters in Allergy Frontiers. This approach allows the text to employ multiple contributors for a single topic, giving the reader the advantage of being introduced to more than one vi- point regarding a single disease.

In this commonsense book, Dr. Gershwin and Dr. Klingelhofer offer sensible, practical strategies for identifying the substances that cause allergies (allergens), the symptoms they cause, ways exposure to allergens can be avoided or reduced, and ways you can relieve the symptoms. Living Allergy Free also treats some reactions that are commonly assumed to be allergies, but are really sensitivity or irritant reactions, shows how they can be distinguished from true allergies, and tells you what to do about them. If you suffer from allergies-or if you think you do-Living Allergy Free is just what the doctor would order!

Lucille Cholerton is a specialist in gluten sensitivity and coeliac disease. She and her three grown children all suffer from gluten sensitivity. Read her story in Spotlight on Gluten: New symptoms for the new millennium? Or long-standing symptoms now being recognized? "Age is very pertinent to the subject of gluten sensitivity. This disorder should really be diagnosed in childhood, but if the diagnosis is missed, people can suffer for many years with unexplained symptoms, when something that they are eating every day could be the root cause of their ill health." This book covers the symptoms that Cholerton and her children suffered, and how they improved their health dramatically on a gluten-free diet. The author's research spans twenty years. "In my research I discovered that gluten may be responsible for many autoimmune disorders, of which there are some eighty-eight documented. My doctors knew nothing about this, so I really had to be my own "guinea pig." A former teacher, Lucille Cholerton is now a nutrition counselor and is writing her next books on gluten sensitivity. "There is a dire need for better diagnosis and understanding of this disorder." She is married and lives in Durban, South Africa. She started the Gluten Intolerance/Coeliac Support Group in Durban in 1995. For more information about gluten, visit http://www.allergysa.org . Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/LucilleCholerton Author's Website: http://spotlightongluten.com

The term "autoimmunity" has been used to categorize a number of different diseases of unknown etiology. The term as applied to many of these diseases would probably be interpreted best as "autoreactivity," as the clinical phenotypes are often characterized by an inflammatory-like accumulation of activated cells of the immune system at sites of obvious damage of normal cells and/or tissue. The reasons as to why an immune system should attack itself are far from clear, although the association with specific infectious diseases in genetically susceptible people remains perhaps our best lead. The input of the biotechnological revolution has enabled us to attempt to readdress many of the fundamental questions raised by clinical and serological associations with autoimmune disease. The ability to dissect the immune response to these infectious agents which are associated with autoimmune features (as well as the facility to identify new agents, e. g. HIV), in addition to the ability to clone and sequence immune response genes, has enabled a much better understanding, at least of the complexity of "autoimmunity" to be gleaned. This volume contains the chapters that summarize the plenary presentations given at The Impact of Biotechnology on AUTOIMMUNI1Y meeting in Florence, Italy in June 1993. They cover all aspects from pathogenesis to treatment. The association with infectious diseases and autoimmunity is comprehensively covered by David Isenberg who reviews major issues, such as the association of autoantibodies appearing after infectious disease and antibacterial antibodies associated with autoimmune disease.

Respiratory allergy is constantly encountered and is sharply on the rise, particularly in the two most vulnerable age-groups: young children and seniors. Allergy results in airway hyperactivity and increased airway resistance, with all inflammatory sequelae being ensued. The chapters show how respiratory allergy research is interconnected with other disciplines by discussing neurotransmitter, membrane receptor, and ionic channel mechanisms of allergy and by giving diagnostic and pharmacological cues on desensitization and therapy.

This volume details a collection of laboratory protocols to study asthma in mice and humans. Chapters cover animal models of asthma, methods to measure asthma-related molecules, protocols to detect, isolate, culture and stimulate cells that contribute to asthma in mice and humans, methods to deplete these cells in vivo and study responses of intact airway tissues ex vivo. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Asthma: Methods and Protocols aims to be a foundation for future studies and to be a source of inspiration for new investigations in the field.

With insight and research from world-renowned experts, this book provides specific approaches to diagnosis and treatment, addressing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic management. Specific conditions examined include asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis, anaphylaxis, atopic and contact dermatitis, urticaria and angioedema, hereditary angioedema, drug allergies, and primary immune deficiency. An overview of obstetric management of the high risk asthmatic and allergic patient is provided, and the book concludes with a discussion of the prevention of asthma and allergic diseases during childhood.