Disease is an ever-present threat faced by all human societies. Today, this concept has become an influential area of study known as the global burden of disease, which encompasses contemporary health concerns such as the economic costs of disease, the societal impact of illness in developing nations, and infectious diseases resulting from lifestyle exposures. Before we can ease this global burden, it is essential to establish an accurate view of the current status of human health and disease around the world. Addressing key areas that reflect our understanding of disease, The Changing Face of Disease: Implications for Society explores the evolution of disease, the implications for human societies, its ecology, and the current human response. This volume aims to broaden our view of disease at the dawn of the 21st century through topics such as epidemiological transition, mathematical modeling of disease evolution, parasitic disease, urban pollution and illness, and under-nutrition and obesity. Contributions to the text reflect the authors' diverse perspectives and studies on human population biology, biological anthropology, and biomedical and public health issues. This authoritative volume traces the evolution of modern disease and explores contemporary health challenges resulting from genetic, environmental, economic, and lifestyle factors. Through many levels of analysis, it provides a clear picture of the present state of health and disease and reminds us of the global burdens that have yet to be remedied.

Seizures are frightening events. They frighten the patients who experience them; they frighten those who witness them; they also frighten many physicians who have to deal with them. Most individuals with seizures present to family physicians or to emergency room physicians. However, despite the fact that seizures are among the most common neurological conditions, most general practitioners, family practice specialists, and intemists do not see large numbers of patients with seizures. Given the apoplectic appearance of generalized tonic clonic convulsions, it is not difficult to understand why they arouse such emotional responses in those that experience them, those that witness them, and those whose care is sought for them. Seizures are symptoms of something wrong with the brain. Many different kinds of perturbations in brain anatomy, chemistry, or physiology can produce seizures. For many individuals, seizures occur in the context of an acute illness and will not recur once that illness is treated. These individuals do not have epilepsy. They have transient disturbances in brain function attributable to systemic medical conditions. It is important to recognize these issues, because, first, the seizure may be the initial, or even only, manifestation of the underlying medical problem and this needs to be recognized.

This acclaimed text has comprehensive coverage of pathologies affecting the toes and finger nails. This latest edition contains new material on podiatry and investigation techniques including histopathology, ultrasonography and MRI, and dermatoscopy making this an invaluable diagnosis aid for dermatologists and podiatrists.

Obesity is a chronic, stigmatized disease that is increasing in prevalance. Therapeutic options are limited in their effectiveness and frustration often leads to the discontinuation of any therapy. An Atlas of Obesity and Weight Control is a clearly written, beautifully illustrated color atlas on obesity, including its etiology, development and treatment. The book contains nearly 150 clinical pictures of obesity and its related conditions, as well as many pertinent clinical guidelines and up-to-the-minute data on assessment and treatment. The main chapters cover assessment and prevalence, how obesity develops and how it becomes a health hazard, classification and clinical types of obesity, evaluation and introduction to treatment, behavior modification, diet, exercise, drug treatment and surgical treatment and provide a timely and much-needed overview of current knowledge and practice in the treatment of obesity. The volume concludes with bibliographic references and an index. Nutritionists, internists, bariatric physicians, dieticians, endocrinologists, and medical and academic professionals will find An Atlas of Obesity and Weight Control is an essential reference.

Restorative justice has developed rapidly from being a barely known term to occupying a central role in debates on the future of criminal justice. But as it has become part of the mainstream of debate, so new tensions and issues have emerged. One of the most crucial issues is to find an appropriate combination of restorative justice, based essentially on informal deliberation, and the law. The purpose of this book is to analyse the several dimensions to this issue. It explores the social and ethical foundations of restorative justice, seeks to position it in relation to both rehabilitation and punishment, and examines the possibility of developing and incorporating restorative justice as the mainstream response to crime in terms of the principles of constitutional democracy. Amongst the questions it addresses are the following: How are informal processes to be juxtaposed with formal procedures? What is the appropriate relationship between voluntarism and coercion? How can the procedures and practices of restorative justice be combined with legal standards, safeguards and precepts? How can one balance restorative responses with legally sanctioned punishment? In this book a distinguished team of contributors consider this crucial set of relationships between restorative justice and the law, building upon papers and discussions at the fifth international restorative justice conference in Leuven, Belgium, in September 2001. restorative justice has grown rapidly throughout the worldthis book addresses the central issue of relationship of restorative justice to existing law and legal systemschapters from world leading authorities

If the word "cure" intrigues you, this book will also. High doses of vitamins have been known to cure serious illnesses for nearly 80 years.

Claus Jungeblut, M.D., prevented and treated polio in the mid-1930s, using a vitamin. Chest specialist Frederick Klenner, M.D., was curing multiple sclerosis and polio back in the 1940s, also using vitamins. William Kaufman, M.D., cured arthritis, also in the 1940s. In the 1950s, Drs. Wilfrid and Evan Shute were curing various forms of cardiovascular disease with a vitamin. At the same time, psychiatrist Abram Hoffer was using niacin to cure schizophrenia, psychosis, and depression. In the 1960s, Robert Cathcart, M.D., cured influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis. In the 1970s, Hugh D. Riordan, M.D., was obtaining cures of cancer with intravenous vitamin C. Dr. Harold Foster and colleagues arrested and reversed full-blown AIDS with nutrient therapy, and in just the last few years, Atsuo Yanagasawa, M.D., Ph.D., has shown that vitamin therapy can prevent and reverse sickness caused by exposure to nuclear radiation. Since 1968, much of this research has been published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. This book brings forward important material selected from over forty-five years of JOM directly to the reader.

The Orthomolecular Treatment of Chronic Disease is a very large book, but it is also a very practical book. If you want to know which illnesses best respond to nutrition therapy, and how and why that therapy works, this is the book for you. Part One presents the principles of orthomolecular medicine and the science behind them. Part Two is devoted to orthomolecular pioneers, presenting an introduction to maverick doctors and nutrition scientists in a reader-friendly way that brings the subject to life. Part Three brings together extraordinary clinical and experimental evidence from expert researchers and clinicians.

The Orthomolecular Treatment of Chronic Disease shows exactly how innovative physicians have gotten outstanding results with high-dose nutrient therapy. Their work is here for you to see and decide for yourself.

Stresses molecular and biochemical studies of opportunistic and frank fungal pathogens
This book gives a comprehensive overview of human pathogenic fungi that offers a current and concise survey of virulence factors, host responses and recognition, treatment and diagnosis of infections, invasive enzymes, intracellular survival, morphogenesis, adaptation, and properties of major fungal pathogens that contribute to disease.
Focuses on human fungal infections, including candidiasis, pneumocystosis, aspergillosis, and cryptococcosis.
With over 3700 references to accommodate continuing study, Fungal Pathogenesis
covers natural and acquired immunity, vaccine development, and immune reconstitution
outlines rapid identification of major mycoses utilizing antigen capture and molecular assays
details signaling and phenotypic switching
discusses the value of genomics in validation
highlights state-of-the-art molecular methodologies to study disease-causing organisms
describes available and potential antifungal drug targets and drug development
considers predicting the consequences of drug resistance on patient management
presents topical observations on strain typing and variation
and more
Containing research into the virulence, immunity, diagnosis, and therapy of most common fungal infections, Fungal Pathogenesis is an unparalleled reference for microbiologists, virologists, pathologists and phytopathologists, infectious disease specialists, molecular and cell biologists, biochemists, immunologists, medical mycologists, biotechnologists, and geneticists, and an exceptional text for upper-level undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students in these disciplines.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is one of the most enigmatic medical disorders of our time, striking adults most often in their most productive years. With the controversial debate over cause and treatment of the illness in mind, the authors seek to unravel many of the questions surrounding the disorder and its features and characteristics.
Integrating an overview of the latest research with patients' personal experiences, they look at CFS in relation to:
* clinical features
* personal and economic implications
* biological and psychosocial factors
* experiencing symptoms
* coping with the illness.
This book will provide hope for people with chronic fatigue syndrome and will assist health professionals in working with people with CFS to improve their quality of life.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that certain diseases occur at higher frequencies in different ethnic groups (e.g. Afro-Caribbeans and sickle-cell anaemia). The causes for such differences are only just being investigated and the factors involved are clearly both genetic and non-genetic. The biological complexity lies in the interaction of genetic variation and lifestyle differences. Cultural differences range from diet to traditional remedies, from religious beliefs to marriage patterns and much more.
This multidisciplinary volume discusses these factors, with contributions from geneticists, medics, anthropologists, epidemiologists and social scientists. Anyone considering variation in health experience due to ethnic factors would be enriched by reading the different perspectives presented in this volume.

Authoritative clinicians present up-to-date, concise, and practical advice on the diagnosis and treatment of the most common sleep disorders encountered in general practice. They not only review such problems as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and narcolepsy, but they also discuss such important topics as pediatric sleep disorders, the pharmacology of sleep medicines, diagnostic testing and technology, and the use of bright light therapy in sleep disorders and depression. Throughout, the emphasis is on obtaining an appropriate patient history and carefully analyzing the available diagnostic and treatment strategies to determine appropriate therapeutic regimens.

This book is a how-to manual for practicing physicians and health care providers, nurse educators, nutritionists, and physicians in training in the management of persons with diabetes mellitus. Experts with strong clinical and teaching backgrounds provide up-to-date recom-mendations and rationale of the most effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to diabetes mellitus and its multiorgan micro- and macrovascular complications for patients of all ages. Gives five practical guidelines for nutrition therapy that supplies realistic recommendations! With contributions from nearly 60 clinicians who reveal a constellation of disorders with different signs, symptoms, clinical characteristics, and therapies, Medical Management of Diabetes Mellitus -reviews the autoimmune process and genetics of type 1 and type 2 diabetes -offers an overview of the medications that impair glucose metabolism causing hypo- or hyperglycemia -covers pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and diagnosis with specialized laboratory tests -surveys therapeutic modalities, their mechanisms of action, and rationale for use -focuses on outcomes and how they are tracked -stresses early detection and therapy of end-organ complications -discusses the effect of intensive diabetes management on reducing retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy -considers incorporating psychiatric techniques into the treatment of diabetes -compares and contrasts diabetes in children, adults, and the elderly -and more! Containing over 850 references, tables, drawings, and photographs, Medical Management of Diabetes Mellitus is a cross-disciplinary reference perfect for family practice physicians, internists, pediatricians, endocrinologists, pharmacologists, nutritionists, physiologists, dietitians, obesity specialists, psychiatrists, and medical school students in these disciplines.

Investigates how our ideas of health and disease are linked to moral and immoral notions of sex. Beginning in the 1830s Frank Mort relates historical narratives to the sexual choices and possibilities facing us now.

Raising a child with a neuromuscular disorder can be a overwhelming experience for even the strongest parent or grandparent. Dr. Charlotte Thompson, a leading authority in pediatric neuromuscular disorders, draws on her 38 years of experience treating children with muscular dystrophy, spinal atrophy, congenital and mitochondrial myopathies, Charchot-Marie-Tooth, and all the childhood neuromuscular disorders. Her book provides not only medical facts but much practical advice on how to cope with the many challenges of day-to-day parenting a child with neuromuscular disease. Dr. Thompson discusses how to cope with the initial diagnosis of a neuromuscular disorder and then suggests ways to get beyond the shock, numbness, and anger that may occur. She describes each of the principal diseases giving the history, signs and symptoms, the usual course, outcome, genetics, and any possible treatments. Subsequent chapters offer advice on when to ask for a second opinion about the diagnosis, how to navigate the medical maze and work with a child's medical team. Tips on finding the most appropriate school placement and developing an individual education program (IEP) are invaluable. Dr. Thompson stresses the importance of taking one day at a time and insists that parents must care for themselves. She offers suggestions for developing family closeness and even how to make time for fun. Wise advice from parents of children with neuromuscular disease is inserted in boxes throughout the chapters. A large appendix gives resources state by state and country by country. There is no training that prepares you to be the parent of a child with a disability, but Raising a Child with a Neuromuscular Disorder should be a great help to parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares for a child or young person.

Poor adherence or compliance to treatment has major medical, psychological and economic consequences. This monographs provides comprehensive coverage of issues and research in the area of adherence and treatment in medical conditions. It covers all aspects within this field and includes chapters on the role of doctor-patient communications; memory; adherence in specific groups, such as children and the elderly; adherence to different treatments, such as diet and exercise; and reviews of adherence in specific conditions, such as diabetes and asthma.

The harmful consequences of alcoholism for the unborn child are still largely unknown. This book presents a detailed description of fetal alcohol syndrome as well as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders with respect to their clinical presentation, diagnosis, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. It also includes detailed considerations of underlying psychopathology, prevention, and therapy as well as the social consequences and impacts to patients.

This work presents an examination of Crohn's disease (CD), from an historical evaluation of the field to future developments of aetiopathogenesis, diagnostic evaluation and therapeutic management. It reviews possible aetiologic agents, the various ways in which CD progresses, novel diagnostic techniques and standard and innovative therapies. The application of recent advances in basic research to clinical management of the disease is emphasized.

This collection of essays examines obesity not as an objective medical or psychological problem, but as a subjective social and cultural phenomenon. The contributors take a cross-cultural perspective, examining both the negative casting of obesity in developed countries and the traditional view of obesity as a positive characteristic in subsistence societies which is threatened by the dominance of Western culture.

Emphasizing the clinical problems surrounding urogenital tract dysfunction, this up-to-date reference details the basic science, differential diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of neurourological conditions.
Covering recent advances in the neurobiology of the pelvic organs, the Handbook of Neuro-Urology
reviews the neural control processes that govern pelvic organs
discusses the pathogenic mechanisms behind neurological and smooth muscle disorders that produce bladder dysfunction
describes the management of impaired bladder, bowel, and sexual function after brain damage and spinal cord injury
examines various conditions that affect the autonomic nervous system and specifically result in bladder and sexual dysfunction
investigates lower urinary tract function in the elderly
suggests practical measures to manage urinary incontinence such as the use of pads, underpants, and appliances
and more!

This book provides a comprehensive compilation of the evidence available regarding the role of genetic differences in the etiology of human obesities and their health and metabolic implications. It also identifies the most promising research areas, methods, and strategies for use in future efforts to understand the genetic basis of obesities and their consequences on human health. Leading researchers in their respective fields present contributed chapters on such topics as etiology and the prevalence of obesities, nongenetic determinants of obesity and fat topography, and animal models and molecular biological technology used to delineate the genetic basis of human obesities. A major portion of the book is devoted to human genetic research and clinical observations encompassing adoption studies, twin studies, family studies, single gene effects, temporal trends and etiology heterogeneity, energy intake and food preference, energy expenditure, and susceptibility to metabolic derangements in the obese state. Future directions of research in the field are covered in the book as well.

This volume is a first of its kind, addressed principally to the professional reader. While it is not intended to be exhaustive, its aim is to sketch a broad picture of some of the nondrug and nonsurgical treatment strategies with a demonstrated basis in conventional scientific method. Likewise, though it does not include all those who have contributed to the emergence of this exciting new field, it assembles those authors whose seminal work has earned them international reputations.
This volume's declared purpose is to provide a state-of-the-art guide to methods and techniques in the behavioral treatment of epilepsy and to their basis in theory. The editors hope that it will catalyze the evolution of their acceptance as standard elements, where appropriate, in the clinical activities of independent practitioners, clinics, and agencies that service those with convulsive disorders.

This study discusses cultural change among the Ainu, Japan's indigenous people, its specificity and the circumstances which have led to it. The book focuses on strategies in response to change, laying bare the multiple nature of agency that characterizes the interaction between the Ainu, the larger society and the state. The stress is on cultural aspects of Ainu's contemporary activities and how they have been incorporated into the larger society. The Japanese pursue a policy of assimilating the Ainu but this policy has not been successful, resulting in a resurgence among the Ainu. This is characterized by its emphasis on ethnic features, distinguishing them from the majority of the population who do not recognize the existence of ethnic groups but view them instead as social classes or casts. For the Ainu this strategy serves to firmly define their own position in the larger system, challenging the pre-established social and cultural context of Japanese society.

How do men react to diagnosis of male infertility and how, if at all, are all their lives affected by it? Male infertility is commonplace yet the male experience of it has been woefully neglected. "Male Infertility - Men Talking" explores these issues by gathering together men's stories and seeing what common strands, if any, exist between them. Mary-Claire Mason explores the past and present medical management of male infertility as this forms an essential backdrop to the men's stories but the main emphasis is on how men's lives are affected. In the first half of this book, the discovery of sperm and the man's role in reproduction is considered together with a review of how the past affects the present medical management of male infertility and the problems that bedevil it. The male voice predominates in the second half, speaking of painful events and relationships with families and friends, their feeling of isolation, their medical experiences, the importance of biological fatherhood, and their hopes for the future.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic condition that has a number of long-term complications and creates certain short-term problems for the sufferer. Michael Kelly, himself a sufferer, describes the experience of ulcerative colitis from the perspective of men and women who have had the disease and examines the social and psychological issues surrounding the condition. This book should be of interest to professionals in training and practice in the fields of medicine, nursing, medical sociology and social medicine.

For many women breast cancer is one of the most distressing of all diseases. This guide focuses on experiences of the disease from the woman's perspective. Drawing on 1000 in-depth interviews, the book makes extensive use of verbatim accounts by women of their own experiences during different stages - from the discovery of the lump, through to diagnosis, treatment, and possible recurrence and death. These extracts illustrate the meaning that a diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment has for different women. A practical, introductory chapter fully describes the medical aspects of the disease. The women's perceptions and insights are interspersed with relevant findings and theories from recent scientific literature. The authors are well-known for their contributions to cancer research and especially for their work on the psychosocial aspects of breast cancer and their effect on the quality of life.