The aim of Bladder Research Congress, San Francisco, California, April 23-25, 1998, was to provide a forum for authoritative investigators who are actively involved in the various disciplines which define the leading edges of bladder research. It is important for such investigators to continue to meet regularly for the purpose of discussing the latest developments in their individual fields, to analyze the significance of current research, to discuss new tactics for unresolved problems, to critically evaluate current theories, and to develop new theories and approaches as needed. The two and a half day meeting was organized into five half day sessions, with each session encompassing one of five topics: (1) Epithelial-Mesenchymal Interactions; (2) Ex tracellular Matrix and Muscle; (3) Nerves and Pharmacology; (4) Infection and Immunol ogy; and (5) Oncology. Each session was introduced by a moderator followed by five to six invited expert speakers with time for extensive interaction from the participants. Two late-afternoon poster sessions allowed further interactions between investigators. This book documents the proceedings of the Bladder Research Congress. It is organ ized into the five half-day sessions of the meeting with moderators overview and an edited transcription of discussions that followed each presentation. I would like to thank Sarah Burke and the Office of Continuing Medical Education, USCF; Joanne Hayward, Editorial Assistant; and Miriam Escamilla, Administrative Assis tant. I hope you find this resource useful. Laurence S. Baskin, M.D."

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a disease that only affects males, with an incidence of around 1 in 3500 new-born baby boys. Its relentless progress is charterized by loss of the ability to walk by around the age of 10 or 11, leading to a wheelchair life, and dealth from cardiac and respiratory problems usually around the late teens or early twenties.
Edward Meryon was the first person to give a full and detailed clinical description of what later research knows as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. His research identified many facets of the condition which we now take for granted, for example that it only affects males, that it is an inherited condition carried in female genes, that it is a disease of the muscle system, and its causes. Until recently, Meryon has not been given credit for his contribution to the subject. In this book, the history of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is traced in detail, and is interwoven with a commentary of Meryon's research which has led to our current understanding of the disease, will full refences and informative, historically relevant illustrations.
This book concludes with a summary of the current position regarding diagnosis, prevention through counselling and prenatal diagnosis, and new encouraging approaches to treatment through molecular genetics.

This contributed volume provides a complete overview of Neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD), one of the most serious manifestations of Behcet's disease. It serves as a comprehensive and critical review of the current scientific literature regarding NBD, covering the epidemiology, pathology, prognosis, and treatment of the disease. This book is an essential resource for both researchers and physicians working on neurology, rheumatology, and internal medicine fields.

Despite great advances in prevention and in improving outcomes, heart disease remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in the Western world and, increasingly, in developing countries. The emotional impact of a diagnosis of heart disease can be significant, often increasing cardiac symptoms such as chest pain or palpitations. This addition to The Facts series stresses the importance and feasibility of primary prevention by appropriate life-style changes, whilst helping the reader to understand and cope with existing heart disease. The book is structured to provide information on topics ranging from basic cardiovascular anatomy and physiology - as needed to understand the various pathologies discussed - to symptoms, clinical situations, investigations and available treatments. Beside medical information, the reader will find practical advice on how to communicate with the cardiologist, and how to prepare for certain tests. A glossary with commonly encountered medical terms is also included. Although targeted mainly at cardiac patients with heart disease and their families, this book will also be useful for paramedics, specialist nurses, support groups, GPs and all those involved in treating heart patients in the community.

Epilepsy has a fascinating history. To the medical historian Oswei Temkin it was 'the paradigm of the suffering of both body and soul in disease'. It is justifiably considered a window on brain function. And yet its story is more than simply a medical narrative, but one influenced also by scientific, societal and personal themes. Written for a medical and non-medical readership, this book describes the major developments in epilepsy between 1860-2020, a turbulent era in which science dominated as an explanatory model, medical theories and practices steered an erratic course, and societal attitudes and approaches to epilepsy fluctuated dramatically. In the middle of this maelstrom was the person with epilepsy at the mercy of social attitudes and legislation, and at times harmed as well as helped by medicine and science. So entangled is the history that intriguingly, as an entity, epilepsy may now be thought not even to exist.

This up-to-date reference book discusses the synthesis, production, and application of various microbial enzymes and metabolites for health. Microorganisms like bacteria (lactic acid bacteria, Bacillus species), yeasts, and filamentous fungi have been globally exploited for their biotechnological applications. This book discusses ways to use them commercially. Chapters include the production of fibrinolytic enzymes, microbial lipases, bacteriocin production by lactic acid bacteria, and bioactives produced. It also covers microbial synthesis of alkaloids, terpenoids, and steroids. The book is useful for researchers, academicians, and industry experts in microbiology and biotechnology.

Severe pain, debilitating fatigue, sleep disruption, severe gastrointestinal distress a" these hallmarks of chronic illness complicate treatment as surely as they disrupt patientsa (TM) lives, in no small part because of the overlap between biological pathology and resulting psychological distress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Illness and Disability cuts across formal diagnostic categories to apply proven therapeutic techniques to potentially devastating conditions, from first assessment to end of treatment.

Four extended clinical case examples of patients with chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, inoperable cancer, and Crohna (TM)s disease are used throughout the book to demonstrate how cognitive-behavioral interventions can be used to effectively address ongoing medical stressors and their attendant depression, anxiety, and quality-of-life concerns. At the same time, they highlight specific patient and therapist challenges commonly associated with chronic conditions.

From implementing core CBT strategies to ensuring medication compliance, Renee Taylor offers professionals insights for synthesizing therapeutic knowledge with practical understanding of chronic disease. Her nuanced client portraits also show how individual patients can varya "even within themselves.

This book offers clinicians invaluable help with

- Conceptualizing patient problems

- Developing the therapeutic relationship

- Pacing of therapy

- Cognitive restructuring

- Behavioral modification

- Problem solving

- Fostering coping and adapting skills

Taylora (TM)s coverage is both clean and hands-on, with helpful assessments and therapyworksheets for quick reference. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Illness and Disability gives practitioners of CBT new insights into this population and provides newer practitioners with vital tools and tactics. All therapists will benefit as their clients can gain new confidence and regain control of their lives.

A handy manual for cornea specialists, this book provides detailed practical information about a complex, sight-threatening disease that can be challenging to diagnose and manage. This text features chapters dedicated to outlining all facets of diagnosis and management while covering both medical and surgical treatment options. Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis, supplemented with useful references and appendices to provide simple step by step algorithms, is written by internationally renowned authors who are experts in the field.Including practical tips and guidelines for diagnosis and therapy of these disorders, Peripheral Ulcerative Keratitis is designed to serve as a guide for comprehensive ophthalmologists and should find itself on the bookshelves of ophthalmology clinics, corneal practices and training programs across the country.

In the United States alone, roughly 300,000 children suffer from some form of arthritis or rheumatic disease, and millions more are at risk of developing one of these diseases. In this marvelously down-to-earth guide, Thomas Lehman--the head of one of the leading pediatric rheumatology programs in the world--offers a gold mine of expert advice invaluable for pediatricians who want to become more proficient in understanding, diagnosing, and treating rheumatic disease in children. Dr. Lehman helps pediatricians interpret their patients' complaints and determine whether and what type of medical attention is needed, explaining what symptoms to look for, what questions to ask, what tests to run, and what to expect when treatment begins. Using illustrative anecdotes, this book sheds light on a wide range of rheumatic disorders--including juvenile arthritis, Lyme disease, lupus, Kawasaki disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome--and it addresses such crucial topics as drug safety, genetic considerations, the potential risks to children posed by medications, the difficulty of family life when a child has a chronic disease, and much more.
A Clinician's Guide to Rheumatic Diseases in Children captures the expertise of a dedicated physician with over thirty years of hands-on experience helping children lead normal, happy lives. It will help pediatricians make sure that patients achieve the best possible outcome.

In this up-to-date survey and critical assessment of transgenic and knockout models in neuropsychiatry and behavior, a panel of leading researchers comprehensively assesses how and whether the genetic abnormalities produced from these models manifest the neuropsychiatric disorders to which they correspond. The authors focus on transgenic and knockout models of neurocognitive dysfunction and neuropsychiatric dysfunction. The discussion of neurobiological problems covers mental retardation, polyglutamate, and speech disorders, as well as disorders that involve cognitive, social, speech, and language dysfunction. The neuropsychiatric dysfunctions examined include psychosis and schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Medicinal Chemistry Approaches to Malaria and Other Tropical Disease, Volume 53 in the Annual Reports in Medicinal Chemistry series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

The Motoneurone and its Muscle Fibres presents a state-of-the-art summary of knowledge concerning the motoneurones, vital for innervating and commanding skeletal muscles. No muscle action would be possible without motoneurones. These cells are therefore absolutely essential for the execution of normal behaviour and for life support. It is their degeneration that leads to various kinds of motoneurone disease (e.g. ALS) that are often ultimately lethal. However, the study of motoneurones is also important for general insights as to how neurones work, because the motoneurone is probably the best understood kind of nerve cell so far in neuroscience. Motoneurones of the spinal cord were the first type of central nerve cell to be subjected to detailed physiological measurements, and much is known about how their activity is regulated by synapses from other central neurones. For most of the individual neurones within the central nervous system, the precise functional tasks are difficult to define. However, for motoneurones much is now known about their short- and long-term interactions with their main targets, the skeletal muscle fibres. Functions of neurones must be analyzed in relation to the response properties of their target cells. Therefore, this book deals with both, summarizing classical as well as recent knowledge concerning the motoneurone and its muscle fibres. This is the first time that so many aspects of this broad subject matter are treated in one comprehensive monograph.

This up-to-date reference book compiles the recent developments, innovations, and perspectives on second and third-generation bioplastics. It discusses the main commercialized bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Chapters include the use of alternative raw materials and innovations in bioplastic production processes to reduce costs and decrease environmental impacts. It covers bioplastic production from lignocellulosic biomass, sugars, or oils produced by microbes and municipal waste material. It also includes techno-economic aspects. The book is meant for researchers and industry experts in biotechnology, environmental sciences, and applied microbiology.

This book is an amalgamation of knowledge, experience, and expertise in various aspects of nanotechnology, by experts who are proficient in designing of novel nanoformulations that are used in the treatment of various challenging and prevalent diseases. It is an exhaustive compilation of the multi-faceted arena of nanoformulations and the healthcare system that caters to the needs of academicians, scholars, researchers etc. The most important aspect of the book covers various types of nanoformulations and their applications in treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Each chapter focuses on a particular nanoformulation as well as a disease including the pathophysiology of the disease, the current treatment modalities of diseases, the role of nanoformulation in treatment and other future aspects and directions for further work. Coverage includes neuropathic pain, colon targeting, nose-to-brain drug delivery, skin cancer, arthritis and tuberculosis.

Stroke is a major cause of death and the major cause of adult neurological disability in most of the world. Despite its importance on a population basis, research into the genetics of stroke has lagged behind that of many other disorders. However, the situation is now changing. An increasing number of single gene disorders causing stroke are being described, and there is growing evidence that polygenic factors are important in the risk of apparently "sporadic" stroke.

Stroke Genetics provides an up-to-date review of the area, suitable for clinicians treating stroke patients, and both clinical and non-clinical researchers in the field of cerebrovascular disease. The full range of monogenic stroke disorders causing cerebrovascular disease, including ischaemic stroke, intracerebral haemorrhage, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, are covered. For each, clinical features, diagnosis, and genetics are described. Increasing evidence suggest that genetic factors are also important for the much more common multifactorial stroke; this evidence is reviewed along with the results of genetic studies in this area. Optimal and novel strategies for investigating multifactorial stroke, including the use of intermediate phenotypes such as intima-media thickness and MRI detected small vessel disease are reviewed. The book concludes by describing a practical approach to investigating patients with stroke for underlying genetic disorders. Also included is a list of useful websites.

The disorders induced by iodine deficiency affect at least one billion people. Because ofits effects on brain development, iodinedeficiency is the single most preventable cause of mental retardation in the world. Therefore, the United Nations and the Heads of State of almost all the world's countries represented at the Summit for Children in 1990 adopted resolutions to eradicate the disorders induced by iodine deficiency (IDD) by the year 2000. For geological and socio-economic reasons, most of the populations affected by iodine deficiency disorders live in isolated and usually mountainous areas, in pre industrialized parts ofthe world. The problem of iodine deficiency in Europe has been greatly underestimated in the last decades. After the remarkable studies on the effects of iodine deficiency and their prevention and correction in Switzerland, IDD was generally considered no longer a significant public health problem in Europe. However, surveys carried out in the early 1980's under the auspices of the European Thyroid Association, clearly demonstrated the persistence of moderately or even severely affected areas. These surveys also highlighted the lack ofinformation about large parts ofEurope, especially its eastern part. It is only quite recently, following major changes in international relations and thanks to the support of UNICEF, WHO, the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and the European Thyroid Association, that more extensive surveys have been conducted in several parts of Europe hitherto almost unexplored. These surveys showed that most European countries were iodine deficient."

Subcortical Stroke is a new and fully revised edition of Lacunar and Other Subcortical Infarctions (OUP, 1995).

Stroke is one of the most common causes of death and subcortical stroke accounts for 20-30% of all cerebrovascular infarctions. Our understanding of stroke processes in general, and subcortical stroke in particular, has advanced considerably in recent years. Research findings from the fields of neurochemistry, imaging and genetics have provided insight and input to our understanding of this condition, and this new edition provides an opportunity to describe these advances, and to relate the findings to the clinical expression, neural mechanism, prognosis and treatment of subcortical stroke. In addition, new subcortical syndromes such as CADASIL are covered, as is subcortical haemorrhage.

This book presents a comprehensive and authoritative review of the field with contributions from the leading international experts.

Subcortical Stroke is for stroke physicians, neurologists and those researching cerebrovascular diseases.

Respiratory function is a major determinant of the overall quality of health and well-being of an individual. This book runs the gamut of chapters devoted to chronic cough-related conditions in children and adults, health care quality and safety, environmental pollution health effects, efficiency of therapeutic approaches and a mutual dependence of respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses. An integrated approach to the investigation and treatment of sleep disordered breathing as well as the use of new and more efficient diagnostic strategies for pleural tuberculosis are presented. Chapters focus on translating science into practice, with an eye on presymptomatic identification of serious ailments for which there could be more effective therapy, leading to improved general health outcomes. This book includes chapters about disorders which will be of interest to clinicians, family practitioners and medical researchers.

Challenging the concept that since the discovery of the plague bacillus in 1894 the study of the disease was dominated by bacteriology, Ethnographic Plague argues for the role of ethnography as a vital contributor to the configuration of plague at the turn of the nineteenth century. With a focus on research on the Chinese-Russian frontier, where a series of pneumonic plague epidemics shook the Chinese, Russian and Japanese Empires, this book examines how native Mongols and Buryats came to be understood as holding a traditional knowledge of the disease. Exploring the forging and consequences of this alluring theory, this book seeks to understand medical fascination with culture, so as to underline the limitations of the employment of the latter as an explanatory category in the context of infectious disease epidemics, such as the recent SARS and Ebola outbreaks.