The UK has a deservedly strong reputation for work on understanding social inequalities in health. But there is some way to go in ensuring that research and other types of knowledge are used to reduce inequalities in child health. This revised and updated edition of an important report looks at macro public policy interventions, community interventions, and individual level interventions in a variety of settings, and for a range of populations: infancy, early years, childhood and adolescence, and those with particular needs including looked after children. It considers 'what works' in practice. There are new case studies, updated research, and reference to cost effectiveness - particularly relevant for doing the right thing in a climate of austerity. Drawing on evidence from the UK and beyond, the book presents these in an accessible form not just for those who make decisions now, but also for the students of today who are the decision makers of tomorrow.

Headache: Through the Centuries illuminates the history of headaches with a particular interest in how the disorder has been understood and treated since the earliest recorded accounts, dating from around 4000 BC. Different types of headache were being recognized as early as the 2nd century AD. Over the years, though, the classification of types of headache has changed so that headache patterns described in the past are often difficult to relate to present-day types of headache. Since that time, a great deal of material on the topic has become available, the full gamut of manifestations of the disorder has been described, and considerable insight into its mechanisms has been obtained, though no completely satisfactory explanation of the disorder has yet become available. Providing an extensive history and the development of our understanding of headache over the course of six millennia, Headache: Through the Centuries is thought-provoking and relevant reading for neurologists, medical historians, and anyone interested in headaches.

The effective sterilisation of any material or device to be implanted in or used in close contact with the human body is essential for the elimination of harmful agents such as bacteria. Sterilisation of biomaterials and medical devices reviews established and commonly used technologies alongside new and emerging processes.
Following an introduction to the key concepts and challenges involved in sterilisation, the sterilisation of biomaterials and medical devices using steam and dry heat, ionising radiation and ethylene oxide is reviewed. A range of non-traditional sterilisation techniques, such as hydrogen peroxide gas plasma, ozone and steam formaldehyde, is then discussed together with research in sterilisation and decontamination of surfaces by plasma discharges. Sterilisation techniques for polymers, drug-device products and tissue allografts are then reviewed, together with antimicrobial coatings for self-sterilisation and the challenge presented by prions and endotoxins in the sterilisation of reusable medical devices. The book concludes with a discussion of future trends in the sterilisation of biomaterials and medical devices.
With its distinguished editors and expert team of international contributors, Sterilisation of biomaterials and medical devices is an essential reference for all materials scientists, engineers and researchers within the medical devices industry. It also provides a thorough overview for academics and clinicians working in this area.
Reviews established and commonly used technologies alongside new and emerging processesIntroduces and reviews the key concepts and challenges involved in sterilisationDiscusses future trends in the sterilisation of biomaterials and medical devices"

Medical devices play an important role in the field of medical and health technology, and encompass a wide range of health care products. Directive 2007/47/EC defines a medical device as any instrument, apparatus, appliance, software, material or other article, whether used alone or in combination, including the software intended by its manufacturer to be used specifically for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes and necessary for its proper application, intended by the manufacturer to be used for human beings. The design and manufacture of medical devices brings together a range of articles and case studies dealing with medical device R&D. Chapters in the book cover materials used in medical implants, such as Titanium Oxide, polyurethane, and advanced polymers; devices for specific applications such as spinal and craniofacial implants, and other issues related to medical devices, such as precision machining and integrated telemedicine systems.
Contains articles on a diverse range of subjects within the field, with internationally renowned specialists discussing each medical deviceOffers a practical approach to recent developments in the design and manufacture of medical devicesPresents a topic that is the focus of research in many important universities and centres of research worldwide

The philosopher Henry Richardson's short book is a defense of a position on a neglected topic in medical research ethics. Clinical research ethics has been a longstanding area of study, dating back to the aftermath of the Nazi death-camp doctors and the Tuskegee syphilis study. Most ethical regulations and institutions (such as Institutional Review Boards) have developed in response to those past abuses, including the stress on obtaining informed consent from the subject. Richardson points out that that these ethical regulations do not address one of the key dilemmas faced by medical researchers - whether or not they have obligations towards subjects who need care not directly related to the purpose of the study, termed 'ancillary care obligations'. Does a researcher testing an HIV vaccine in Africa have an obligation to provide anti-retrovirals to those who become HIV positive during the trial? Should a researcher studying a volunteer's brain scan, who sees a possible tumor, do more than simply refer him or her to a specialist? While most would agree that some special obligation does exist in these cases, what is the basis of this obligation, and what are its limits? Richardson's analysis of those key questions and the development of his own position are at the heart of this book, which will appeal to bioethicists studying research ethics, to policy makers, and to political and moral philosophers interested in the obligations of beneficence, one of the key issues in moral theory.

Insects are the most ecologically important multicellular heterotrophs in terrestrial systems. They play critical roles in ecological food webs, remain devastating agricultural and medical pests, and represent the most diverse group of eukaryotes in terms of species numbers. Their dominant role among terrestrial heterotrophs arises from a number of key physiological traits, and in particular by the developmental and evolutionary plasticity of these traits. Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Insects presents a current and comprehensive overview of how the key physiological traits of insects respond to environmental variation. It forges conceptual links from molecular biology through organismal function to population and community ecology. As with other books in the Series, the emphasis is on the unique physiological characteristics of the insects, but with applications to questions of broad relevance in physiological ecology. As an aid to new researchers on insects, it also includes introductory chapters on the basics and techniques of insect physiology ecology.

With a rising population and the increasing range of textiles for medical products, the need to understand and improve medical textiles is gaining in importance. The Handbook of medical textiles provides an overview of the different types of medical textiles currently available as well as specific information on more specialised topics and applications.
In part one, the types and properties of medical textiles are discussed, with chapters covering topics including reusable textiles, textiles for implants and textiles with cosmetic effects. Part two focuses on the interaction of textiles with the skin, examining key issues such as contact sensations, allergies and mechanical irritation. Chapters in part three provide information on the latest developments in textiles for hygiene and infection control, while part four provides a range of applications and case studies, including improvements in medical occupational clothing, medical filters and superabsorbent fibres.
With its expert editor and contributions from some of the world s leading authorities, the Handbook of medical textiles is a standard reference for designers and manufacturers of medical textile products, as well as for biomaterials scientists and medical professionals.
Explores the different types of medical textiles currently available as well as specific information on more specialised areas and applicationsChapters cover topics such as reusable textiles, textiles for implants and interaction of textiles with the skinIs a standard reference for designers and manufacturers of medical textile products, as well as for biomaterials scientists and medical professionals"

Understanding and improving hygiene and healthcare products is essential for improving infection prevention. Continuing Woodhead Publishing s series of specialised medical textile books, Textiles for hygiene and infection control provides readers with the latest developments in healthcare materials for hygiene and infection applications.
Part one offers an insight into design and production techniques for hygiene textiles. Chapters discuss nanotechnology and it s applications in hygiene textiles, knitted spacer fabrics, innovative and sustainable packaging and biodegradable hygiene products. Part two explores design and production techniques for infection control textiles. Chapters examine micro-organisms, infection and the role of textiles, the creation of barrier textiles through plasma processing and methods for ensuring fabrics survive sterilisation. Part three concludes by investigating the variety of available hygiene and infection control products. Chapters consider washable textile-based absorbent products for incontinence, coated textiles for skin infections and antimicrobial treatments of textiles for hygiene and infection control applications from an industrial perspective.
Textiles for hygiene and infection control is an essential reference for manufacturers, designers, engineers and producers of hygiene and infection control products. It is also a useful tool for medical scientists, surgeons and nurses.
Offers insight into design and production techniques for hygiene textilesChapters discuss a range of applications, such as the use of textiles for incontinenceAn essential reference for manufacturers, designers, engineers and producers of hygiene and infection control products"

In this book, the authors have placed culture in the forefront of their approach to study pain in an integrative manner. Culture should not be considered solely for knowing more about patients' values, beliefs, and practices. It should be studied with the purpose of unveiling its effects upon biological systems and the pain neuromatrix. The book discusses how a multidisciplinary and integrative approach to pain and analgesia should be considered. Some familiarity with the cultural background of patients and awareness of the provider's own cultural characteristics will allow the pain practitioner to better understand patients' values, attitudes and preferences. Knowledge of patients' cultural practices will allow determining the impact of culture on biological processes, including the origin and development of pain-related disease, and the patients' response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Acknowledging the interactions of molecules, genes and culture could yield a more appropriate and effective personalized pain medicine. Furthermore, this approach has the potential to transform the way pain medicine is taught to young students and future pain professionals, and in so doing meet the need of trained clinicians who are versed in multiple disciplines and are able to use an integrative approach to diagnose and treat pain. A personalized medicine will have non-negligible positive effects in improving doctor patient relationships, patient satisfaction, adherence to treatment plans, and health outcomes and inequities. It is hoped that the material in this volume will appeal to a broad cross-section of health practitioners, students and academicians, including pain medicine specialists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health, community and public health workers, health policy makers, and health administrators.

The biological function of clusterin (CLU, also known as ApoJ, SGP2, TRPM2, CLI) has been puzzling researchers since its discovery and characterization in the early 1980s. Approaches such as cloning, expression and functional characterization of the different protein products generated by the CLU gene have now produced a critical mass of information of tremendous biological importance that are teaching us an important lesson in molecular biology of gene expression regulation. This volume brings together the contributions of top researchers in the field, providing an overview and synthesis of the latest thought and findings relating to CLU.

The rapidly expanding world of nutrition, functional foods and nutraceuticals, is increasingly complex. This Guide to Nutritional Supplements provides a concise and complete reference to the most common nutritionally significant elements. Including dietary guidelines, intake measurements and other contextual information, this Guide is the ideal reference for nutritionsts and dieticians facing an increasing public awareness of supplements and who many be augmenting their diets with OTC supplements.

Focused on the nutritional values, impacts and interactions of supplements

Provides a science-based approach to determining the appropriate selection and application of supplements for improved diet and nutrition

Written by an immunologist, this book traces the concept of immunity from ancient times up to the present day, examining how changing concepts and technologies have affected the course of the science. It shows how the personalities of scientists and even political and social factors influenced both theory and practice in the field. With fascinating stories of scientific disputes and shifting scientific trends, each chapter examines an important facet of this discipline that has been so central to the development of modern biomedicine. With its biographical dictionary of important scientists and its lists of significant discoveries and books, this volume will provide the most complete historical reference in the field.
Written in an elegant style by long-time practicing immunologist
Discusses the changing theories and technologies that guided the field
Tells of the exciting disputes among prominent scientists
Lists all the important discoveries and books in the field
Explains in detail the many Nobel prize-winning contributions of immunologists"

The role of women in Iran has commonly been viewed solely through the lens of religion, symbolized by veiled females subordinated by society. In this work, Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet, an Iranian-American historian, aims to explain how the role of women has been central to national political debates in Iran. Spanning the 19th and 20th centuries, the book examines issues impacting women's lives under successive regimes, including hygiene campaigns that cast mothers as custodians of a healthy civilization; debates over female education, employment, and political rights; conflicts between religion and secularism; the politics of dress; and government policies on contraception and population control. Among the topics she will examine are the development of a women's movement in Iran, perhaps most publicly expressed by Nobel Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. The narrative comes up to the present, looking at reproductive rights, the spread of AIDS, and fashion since the Iranian Revolution.

This book provides a foundation for understanding the fundamentals of biomedical informatics, which deals with the storage, retrieval, and use of biomedical data for biological problem solving and medical decision making. It covers the application of these principles to the three main biomedical domains of basic biology, clinical medicine, and public health. The author offers a coherent summary, focusing on the three core concept areas of biomedical data and knowledge representation, biomedical information access, biomedical decision making, and information and technology use in biomedical contexts.
* Develops principles and methods for representing biomedical data, using information in context and in decision making, and accessing information to assist the medical community in using data to its full potential
* Provides a series of principles for expressing biomedical data and ideas in a computable form to integrate biological, clinical, and public health applications
* Includes a discussion of user interfaces, interactive graphics, and knowledge resources and reference material on programming languages to provide medical informatics programmers with the technical tools to develop systems

Ernest Starling (1866-1927) was pre-eminent in the golden age of British Physiology. His name is usually associated with his ???Law of the Heart, ??? but his discovery of secretin (the first hormone whose mode of action was explained) and his work on capillaries were more important contributions. He coined the word 'hormone' one hundred years ago. His analysis of capillary function demonstrated that equal and opposite forces move across the capillary wall--an outward (hydrostatic) force and an inward (osmotic) force derived from plasma proteins.
Starling??'s contributions include:
*Developing the "Frank-Starling Law of the Heart," presented in 1915 and modified in 1919.
*The Starling equation, describing fluid shifts in the body (1896)
*The discovery of secretin, the first hormone, with Bayliss (1902) and the introduction of the concept of hormones (1905).

Globalization is breaking down economic, political, cultural, demographic, and social barriers across the world at an astonishing pace. The topic of globalization can arouse passionate debate in many circles including academic journals, the popular media, and even on the streets. This new world order is marked by new actors, new rules of governance, new forms of communication, and the global movement of populations. Health is an exquisitely sensitive mirror of social conditions, and the authors of this book argue that the assessment of health is an important criterion for evaluating and monitoring the progress of globalization.
This book provides an analysis of the most serious global threats to health, the tools that can be used to evaluate them, and the international agencies established to respond to them. Medical threats such as infectious diseases, obesity, tobacco use, and global climate change are discussed, but the authors also expand their scope to include socio-political health impacts such as economic inequality. The complex role of organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank is also analyzed, as is the increasing interconnectedness of health and non-health actors. Is this blurring of boundaries really beneficial to the public's health, or have these actors abandoned health issues for power politics? By drawing together an international group of health experts, Globalization and Health provides a comprehensive account of the successes and failures, as well as the challenges and opportunities of globalization for public health.

Learn biostatistics the easy way. This outstanding resource presents the key concepts you need to understand biostatistics and how to apply them in clinical medicine. Easy-to-understand examples and analogies explain complex concepts, and practical applications provide you with real tools for use in daily practice. The book's organization is intuitive, so that concepts build upon one another, maximizing understanding. This book will give you the confidence to appraise the existing literature - and the vocabulary you need to discuss it. Uses an easy-to-understand presentation and writing style to make the material easily accessible. Places its emphasis on concepts, not formulas, for more clinical-based guidance. Focuses on practical applications of biostatistics to medical practice to give you a better understanding of how and why research is conducted. Presents concise but comprehensive coverage to create easily accessible yet complete information. Provides examples, analogies, and memorization tips to make the material easier to absorb.

A first in Midwifery publishing! No other book advises midwives on the special needs of mothers with disabilities. Although an increasing number of women with disabilities are having children, the needs of this minority group are not always being effectively met. Disability in Pregnancy and Childbirth provides essential practical information to healthcare professionals working with this group. The first book on maternity care for women with additional or alternative needs A practical resource for all working with pregnant women and mothers Reflects the lived experiences of women with disabilities Written by experts in the field Holistic content Looks at professional attitudes as well as the woman's needs

Drawing on clinical experience dating from the birth of the NHS in 1948, Julian Tudor Hart, a politically active GP in a Welsh coal mining community, charts the progress of the NHS from its 19th century origins in workers' mutual aid societies, to its current forced return to the market. His starting point is a detailed analysis of how clinical decisions are made. He explores the changing social relationships in the NHS as a gift economy, how these may be affected by reducing care to commodity status, and the new directions they might take if the NHS resumed progress independently from the market. This new edition of this bestselling book has been entirely rewritten with two new chapters, and includes new material on resistance to that world-wide process. The essential principle in the book is that patients need to develop as active citizens and co-producers of health gain in a humanising society and the author's aim is to promote it wherever people recognise that pursuit of profit may be a brake on rational progress.

A first in patient safety! Fatal accidents occur with medical devices every year. This is the first book for people who use medical equipment, rather than for engineers or technicians. It will help personnel within healthcare to avoid accidents by bridging the gap between the design principles and the user. The book encourages safe use of a wide range of equipment, from simple thermometers and blood-pressure cuffs to complex equipment such as pacemakers, ventilators and patient monitors. Simple explanations of basic medical devices Case histories of real-life accidents to highlight risk areas Clear, attractive illustrations "Tips" boxes identify particular problems "Basic Facts" boxes supply fundamental information needed by all readers "Technology" boxes provide more-advanced explanations for interested or experienced readers

An invaluable desk reference for busy public health practitioners,
The Dictionary of Public Health is an alphabetical listing of almost 5,000 words and phrases used in public health science and practice. It offers definitions, discussion, and an occasional brief commentary on the relevance of each term to people and their health. This volume is a trusted resource for answers to questions that arise in the course of public health practice, whether in the office or in the field, in interactions with the public or with the media.
The book contains cross-referenced definitions and discussions of related terms and concepts. For easy reference, users will find similarly worked definitions and discussions of important related concepts listed under each of the commonly used keywords. A variety of website links make it easy to find further information at the users fingertips. Covering all aspects of public health, this book serves as both a quick and handy reference tool and a vehicle for more leisurely browsing.

The onset of the quadruple burden of disease in South Africa, the challenges faced by the medical establishment to curtail the rapid growth of multiple epidemics, the inadequate response by the state to various inequities in the health system, and the public debates associated with it, have all combined to draw attention to the sociological aspects of health and disease. Sociology as a resource of knowledge and a unique analytical and conceptual perspective can be used to understand, explain and positively influence the course of health and disease in South African society and our responses to it. As a health practitioner or scholar you must be equipped with the skills to critically evaluate research and debates in your profession, be able to adapt to changes and contribute to the development of knowledge and best practice. This reader will familiarise you with relevant content and assist you to develop the analytical capacity and conceptual skills you will need. Society, Health and Disease in South Africa is authored by experienced educators and researchers in the fi elds of sociology, social work, anthropology, healthcare policy and practice.

The authors of this book argue that there is a great divide between species that makes extrapolation of biochemical research from one group to another utterly invalid. In their previous book, "Sacred Cows and Golden Geese: The Human Cost of Experiments on Animals", the Greeks showed how an amorphous but insidious network of drug manufacturers, researchers dependent on government grants to earn their living, even cage-manufacurers - among others benefiting from "white-coat welfare" - have perpetuated animal research in spite of its total unpredictability when applied to humans. (Cancer in mice, for example, has long been cured. Chimps live long and relatively healthy lives with AIDS. There is no animal form of Alzheimer's disease.) In doing so, the Greeks aimed to blow the lid off the "specious science" we have been culturally conditioned to accept. Taking these revelations one step further, this book uses accessible language to provide the scientific underpinning for the Greeks' philosophy of "do no harm to any animal, human or not," by examining paediatrics, diseases of the brain, new surgical techniques, in vitro research, the Human Genome and Proteome Projects, an array of scien

This book focuses specifically on the importance of managing and supporting people in health care services. Human resources are the most significant aspect of health care budgets and the attraction and retention of quality staff remains a pressing concern. This book addresses this issue directly and provides both a theoretical framework and extensive practical guidance in this vital aspect of health care management.Up-to date information on the context of health services today and the business agenda Relevant - Specifically aimed at nurses and nursing Practical - readers reflect on real life examples to see how they can use their skills in practice

This is a text which provides a contemporary approach to the use of lifestyle, herbal and nutritional interventions in health care. While conventional health care has long classified many nutritional and herbal remedies as folklore, there is increasing scientific evidence to support a number of 'old wives tales'. This book demonstrates the biological plausibility of using supplements in clinical care and supports the scientific validity of such interventions by referring to clinical trials. It provides the health professional with therapeutic protocols that can be used to manage or support other treatment regimes in promoting health, preventing and treating disease. The book is divided in to 3 parts. Part 1 considers the principles of nutritional intervention. Part 2 list prevalent diseases and provides a therapeutic protocol for their management. Part 3 lists nutrients (and some frequently used herbs) and seeks to catalogue the indications, doses, interactions and side effects that require consideration when providing safe and effective clinical care. The text will provide readers with:A grasp of how natural measures can be incorporated into scientifically acceptable clinical practice An understanding of the biological plausibility underlying the use of certain natural interventions in disease An appreciation of the level of scientific validation supporting various natural interventions Enhanced understanding of guidelines for the safe use of nutrients Therapeutic protocols using lifestyle, nutritional and herbal intervention for the prevention and management of various conditions. Increased awareness of natural options that deserve trialing in particular clinical situations