Morphological and functional studies revealed a complex system of primary sensory neurons which parallels the autonomic nervous system not only in its extent, but probably also in its significance. Neuropeptides released from activated nociceptive afferent nerves play a pivotal role in inflammatory reactions and pain, significantly modulate cardiac, vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and immune functions and influence the protective, restorative and trophic functions of somatic and visceral tissues. Several chapters of the book deal with the therapeutic potential of a new class of putative pain relieving agents acting through TRPV1, the capsaicin/vanilloid receptor, a specific ion channel which transmits pain.
*Neurogenic inflammation in historical perspective
*Cardiac protection by nociceptive afferents
*Molecular mechanisms of nociception
*Sensory mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology
*Vagal signalling of visceral inflammation
*Neurogenic mechanisms in arthritis
*Therapeutic implications of vanilloid-type compounds

Pharmacogenetics is becoming increasingly relevant in the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of cancer patients. A major problem facing oncologists is the outstanding varied efficacy of treatment. Promising advances in pharmacogenetics have allowed the development of effective agents which will enable personalized cancer chemotherapy to become routine for the clinical practice.

Written by experts in the field and combining information that is unable to be found in a single source volume, Pharmacogenetics of Breast Cancer

• combines a complete overview of pharmacogenetics and how it relates to breast oncology for diagnosis, treatment, and the recovery of patients using an individualized therapy model
• is the first single source reference demonstrating the application of pharmacogenetics in the care of breast cancer patients
• enables physicians a coherent interpretation of the emerging science of pharmacogenetics, aiding them to incorporate individual therapies in their own practice
• gives practical guidance on various forms of specimen collection, tissue selection, and handling procedures

Recent advances in immunology and biology have opened new horizons in cancer therapy, included in the expanding array of cancer treatment options, which are immunotherapies, or cancer vaccines, for both solid and blood borne cancers. Cancer Vaccines: Challenges and Opportunities in Translation is the first text in the field to bring immunotherapy treatments from the laboratory trial to the bedside for the practicing oncologist. Cancer Vaccines: Challenges and Opportunities in Translation: Critically analyzes the most promising classes of investigational immunotherapies, integrating their scientific rationale and clinical potential Discusses "theranostics" as pertaining to immunotherapy, i.e., using molecular diagnostics to identify patients that would most likely benefit from a therapy Presents the new paradigm of biomarker guided R&D and clinical development in immunotherapy of cancer Reviews bottlenecks in translational process of immunotherapies and offers strategies to resolve them

Written with a broader perspective and knowledge, Cancer Supportive Care: Advances in Therapeutic Strategies presents state-of-the-art management options for the full range of symptoms, toxicities, and complications experienced by cancer patients. In addition to "bread and butter" topics such as pain control and nausea and vomiting, the book contains unique, ground-breaking discussions of symptom measurement, the role of growth factors, and late effects and cancer survivorship. Written by key opinion leaders in the field, Cancer Supportive Care: Advances in Therapeutic Strategies: assembles and synthesizes state-of-the-art information into one convenient resource, helping busy clinicians learn the most effective supportive care strategies available discusses emerging therapies and approaches covers topics not included in other cancer supportive care books, such as measurement of symptoms, growth factors, thromboembolism, skeletal complications, fatigue, the elderly cancer patient, cancer survivorship, and alternative and integrative therapies

Fainting, the sudden and often unpredictable loss of consciousness, can be a frightening experience. While often benign, fainting can sometimes be the sign of serious illness. Recurrent fainting can significantly disrupt a person's life, and make them prone to injury and, on occasion, death.

"The Fainting Phenomenon, "Second Edition is a valuable information resource for anyone whose life is affected by fainting.

Written for the layperson, this book will help you:
Understand the different reasons why people faint and their significance
Seek proper medical attention and treatment
Deal with related conditions such as Postural Tachycardia Syndrome and Orthostatic Hypertension

This is an indispensable and reassuring guide for parents, families and care givers.

Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent hematological malignancy, with over 55,000 new cases diagnosed each year. This exciting new text, edited by lauded authorities on the topic, stands as the only available reference to assemble, review, and synthesizes the latest studies on translational therapies and clearly explains the impact of molecular pathogenesis, biology, and prognostic factors on the diagnosis, prognosis, and individualization of treatment and the development of novel therapeutic options for patients with myeloma. Moving from the bench to the bedside to the forefront of therapeutic development, this source: helps clinicians and researchers effectively deploy therapeutic strategies into clinical practice reflects trends in the use of agents which target both the tumor cell and its bone marrow microenvironment to overcome resistance to conventional therapies considers the critical role of the bone marrow microenvironment in the regulation of growth, survival, and homing of multiple myeloma discusses novel therapies in phase I and phase II trials, focusing specifically on therapeutic options for patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma addresses novel therapies for other plasma cell disorders, and provides the framework for the design of next generation agents and combination therapies covers the entire scope of translational work in multiple myeloma, from advances in molecular pathogenesis, to prognostic factors, immunotherapy, and new options for newly diagnosed and relapsed multiple myeloma patients

Considering the impact of translational breakthroughs on the early detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer, this all-encompassing guide collects cutting-edge research on the most promising strategies and agents likely to impact the management and long-term outcomes of women with breast cancer. This book will provide current information on rapidly evolving translational therapies, as well as improved strategies for the selection of patients for these treatments.

Emphasizing new and emerging therapies in each chapter, this reference provides essential information for clinicians to provide accurate diagnoses and select the most appropriate treatment regimens for patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors and neurological complications of cancer. Edited by a leading cast of authorities on the topic-including the Chief and Associate Editors of the Journal of Neuro-oncology-this easily-accessible guide reviews the epidemiology, identification, and management of brain tumors while exploring the latest advances in this increasingly diverse field.

Scientists have reached a critical point in the development of new therapies for prostate cancer. The information gleaned from the Human Genome Project, alongside the emergence of new technologies for the use of genetic data has expanded the physician's understanding of disease progression and widened his armamentarium for prostate cancer prevention and control. This expertly-written reference thoroughly analyzes the scientific principles and methodologies behind the most recent translational therapies and provides the necessary context, data, and studies for practitioners to select appropriate candidates for treatment and effectively apply new therapies in clinical practice.

This book, besides reviewing basic and clinical aspects of Behcet's disease, covers the latest findings, including genetic studies and treatment with biologics for the disease. Although the cause of Behcet's disease is still unknown, it is well known that genetic factors, such as HLA-B51, are involved in its development. Recently, novel susceptibility loci including IL10, IL23R-IL12RB2, and endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 have been identified, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of the disease. In addition to basic research, the beneficial efficacy of anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies has also been suggested for not only uveitis associated with the disease but also other subtypes of the disease such as entero-, vasculo-, and neuro- Behcet's disease. Behcet's Disease: From Genetics to Therapies provides essential information both for basic researchers working in the fields of immunology, inflammation, and genetics, and for clinical physicians who are interested in Behcet's disease, such as ophthalmologists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, and vascular surgeons.

After half a century of doubt and debate, dyslipidemia has at last been accepted by cardiologists and the medical community at large as a major, treatable cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Written by a general practitioner, an epidemiologist, and a lipidologist, this updated second edition provides a broad, cutting-edge perspective of dyslipidemia, presenting the very latest information on lipid disorders from etiology to management. Clear, concise and highly illustrated, this user-friendly work: details normal lipid metabolism; describes the genetic and acquired causes of excessively high cholesterol disorders; reviews the evidence that dyslipidemia is a risk factor for vascular disease; and includes chapters summarising current US, British and European guidelines, the importance of diet and the role of lipid-lowering drugs. A highly practical text providing sound advice on screening, risk assessment and the management of dyslipidaemia, this second edition of Dyslipidemia in Clinical Practice is essential reading for a wide range of specialists who are increasingly dealing with patients with excessively high cholesterol disorders.

The current interest in prion diseases has been fueled by the panic that originated from the appearance of a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and the evidence linking it to human exposure to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. Peer-reviewed to assure accuracy, this book describes the science, concepts, hypothesis, and mechanisms of prion disease transmission. It covers human and animal prion diseases, their incidence, prevalence, origin, and clinical and neuropathologic characteristics. The author provides scientific facts and a clear explanation of the relevance and implications of the findings for science in general.

What is it about the challenges and stresses of midlife that disrupts equilibrium and promotes a sense of despair, even of crisis? Why does this stage of the life cycle give rise to new mental and physical symptoms that, for some, lead to chronic unhappiness to the point of dysfunction? Of course, there are common midlife events that account for the special narcissistic vulnerabilities of this period of life, and Eda Goldstein ably reviews these events and the theoretical perspectives commonly brought to bear on them. In When the Bubble Bursts, however, Goldstein's special concern is those individuals who come to midlife with heightened narcissistic vulnerabilities that make the navigation of this stage of life more difficult still. In understanding the latter such patients and devising a treatment approach appropriate to their self issues, Goldstein adopts a broadly self-psychological frame of reference. It is a matter, she finds again and again, of understanding how current stressors frustrate healthy self needs and trigger narcissistic vulnerabilities. purview, embraces modalities that are, to varying degrees, supportive, psychodynamic, and psychoanalytic, reworks and strengthens self structures in helping patients find new ways of affirming their sense of self. Her substantive case studies, which accompany the reader through all the chapters in her study, draw on personal and supervisory experiences to illustrate crucial foci of the treatment process with a range of midlife patients in psychotherapy. It is a striking that, amid a voluminous literature on psychodynamic psychotherapy, so little attention has been paid to the narcissistic vulnerabilities of midlife and the manner in which they enter into the psychotherapy of midlife patients. Eda Goldstein remedies this glaring lacuna in the literature with a study that comprises an admirable blend of theoretical astuteness, clinical wisdom, and personal honesty. balanced discussion of theoretical perspectives on adult development and her concluding consideration of the countertransference issues elicited by midlife patient in their midlife therapists, is an edifying and ingratiating contribution to the literatures of psychodynamic psychotherapy, self psychology, and adult development.

This reference analyzes the cellular and molecular biology and mechanisms of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and presents the most recent studies on the role of the BBB in the development and initiation of a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions affecting the central nervous system.

An award-winning memoir and instant "New York Times" bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, "Brain on Fire" is the powerful account of one woman's struggle to recapture her identity.
When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she'd gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened?
In a swift and breathtaking narrative, Susannah tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family's inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that nearly didn't happen. "A fascinating look at the disease that . . . could have cost this vibrant, vital young woman her life" ("People"), "Brain on Fire" is an unforgettable exploration of memory and identity, faith and love, and a profoundly compelling tale of survival and perseverance that is destined to become a classic.

With a greater emphasis on the basic principles, practical recommendations, and economics of phototherapy, the Third Edition remains the standard source on the UV treatment of skin disease-presenting an expanded number of case studies, clinical solutions, and treatment protocols for a clear understanding of the present and future state of phototherapy, photochemotherapy, and phototesting in the dermatologic arena.

The increased incidence of pancreatic cancer in the Western world and its grave prognosis has resulted in an urgency for research in this area. Until now the available data on toxicology of the pancreas has been few and fragmentary, scattered throughout the literature. A benchmark volume, Toxicology of the Pancreas pulls together information in this neglected area of toxicological research and highlights fundamental research performed in the last ten years. Leaders in the field discuss important structures, the detoxification and toxification process at the cellular and sub-cellular level, the distribution of phase 1 and phase 2 drug-metabolizing enzymes and their role in pancreatic disease, and the role of diet and toxicants on pancreatic disease. The book also covers the role of altered genes in the integrity of the pancreas and explores comparative toxicology in humans and in the lab species used in testing. Illustrated with histological, electron microscopical, and immunohistochemical formats, this book provides a comprehensive and novel presentation of biological and toxicological data. It stands alone as a reliable resource of information easily accessible to professionals in different disciplines.

The book shows how mathematical and computational models can be used to study cancer biology. It introduces the concept of mathematical modeling and then applies it to a variety of topics in cancer biology. These include aspects of cancer initiation and progression, such as the somatic evolution of cells, genetic instability, and angiogenesis. The book also discusses the use of mathematical models for the analysis of therapeutic approaches such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and the use of oncolytic viruses.

This reference discusses state-of-the-art methods for the management of children with conditions affecting the nervous system-providing over 80 chapters that outline direct, logical approaches to numerous pediatric neurologic disorders using clear tables, algorithms, and figures for quick reference to key material.

This publication provides a state-of-the-art overview of key issues related to antimicrobial resistance, including a focus on key pathogens causing common healthcare-associated and community-acquired infections. The epidemiology and therapeutic considerations of these antimicrobial resistant organisms are discussed, as well as the clinical and health economic impact of infections caused by them. This progressive reference also provides a dedicated section covering the clinical programmatic strategies used to minimize the growing antimicrobial resistance problem, including practical information related to interventional concepts and their implementation. In addition to antimicrobial resistance in the context of traditionally discussed problematic bacterial pathogens, emerging data related to clinically important fungal pathogens and Clostridium difficile are also covered.

Parenteral nutrition is the standard of care for patients who are unable to maintain nutritional status via the gastrointestinal tract. New techniques in this therapy are giving patients with intestinal failure the time they need to achieve maximal intestinal rehabilitation and return to a more normal and productive life. Edited and written by an international group of experts in the field, Intestinal Failure and Rehabilitation: A Clinical Guide presents the most current information regarding the prevention, diagnosis, care, and management of patients with intestinal failure. Organized in a logical manner, the book opens with a review of the basic principles and concepts, and progresses into discussions on diagnostic evaluation using a variety of techniques, and treatment plan formulation. The next section addresses dietary modifications, medical management, the use of trophic substances, enteral and parenteral nutrition, surgery, and transplantation. Following a discussion of special considerations, such as pediatrics and enterostomaltherapy, the text concludes with outcomes and future directions for research. This volume is devoted solely to intestinal failure and all of the information is supported by evidence-based medicine. It greatly enhances understanding of this area and aids in the care and rehabilitation of individuals with intestinal insufficiency.

Approximately 500,000 people in North America and Western Europe die from obesity-related diseases every year. This figure can only increase as efforts to stem this tide lag behind the rise of the overweight population. In the West especially, though by no means exclusively, the associated cost in human lives and suffering is accompanied by an increased strain on healthcare budgets. Partly for this reason, the biomedical community is looking beyond lifestyle changes to search for a drug or drugs that can tackle the problem. A number of potential candidates have come and gone, and still the current level of research into the pharmacotherapy of obesity is unprecedented. Pharmacotherapy of Obesity looks at the drugs currently available and those in development, exploring their mechanisms of action and their best use in the patient. However, this volume also looks at non-drug therapies, exercise regimes, surgery, behavioral treatment and alternative techniques such as acupuncture. The book closes with a look at the contribution that genomics is making to the search for new drugs, and looks ahead to what such drugs might be like. Produced by leading experts in the field, Pharmacotherapy of Obesity provides an essential, multi-disciplinary view of the treatment of obesity. It is ideal for anyone involved in obesity management, whether clinical or research-based, and for researchers in pharmacology, physiology, or the pharmaceutical industry.

This book is the result of a "State-of-the-Art-Conference" held at the University of Georgia dedicated to the evidence-based treatment of stuttering. An international group of prominent fluency researchers and clinicians were invited to present and discuss current data and issues related to the treatment of stuttering. The topic was defined to include evidence about stuttering, evidence about stuttering treatment, and discussions of how that evidence should guide the continuing research and practice. The explicit link between empirical evidence and suggestions for clinical practice is the goal of the book. The book begins by addressing the notion of "evidence-based practice" and considers its implications for stuttering treatment. Part II presents the intersection of the nature of stuttering; the theories of stuttering; and the implications of nature, theory, and other knowledge for stuttering treatment decisions. Part III provides two of the many measurement issues facing stuttering treatment followed by Part IV, which is devoted to the quality of treatment research evidence, for specific treatments and in terms of some more general methodological and professional issues. The final part summarizes the clinical recommendations made throughout the book and discusses evidence-based, outcomes-focused clinical decisions for stuttering. These chapters are intended to provide "state-of-the-art" information to researchers, clinicians, and students who are interested in developing, identifying, or using the best possible evidence-based treatments for stuttering.

Learn how a patient's behavior can factor into the prognosis of medically unexplainable illness! The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes examines the link between mental illness and physical syndromes that lack organic disease explanations, including chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, premenstrual dysphoria, irritable bowel, and Gulf War illness. The author has evaluated the best research work of the past 20 years to determine the association between psychopathology and functional illness, the biological gradient between somatic and psychological symptoms, and the manifestations of dysfunctional coping. The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes challenges recent conceptualizations of functional somatic syndromes as brain disorders connected to affective spectrum disorder, serotonin deficiency, cerebral hypoperfusion or abnormal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function and highlights the importance of abnormal illness behavior, sexual victimization, and maladaptive coping for the production and maintenance of these disorders. The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes explores observations on the neurobiology and the personality abnormalities of patients made from structured data collected over a period of several years. It describes modern perceptions of functional somatic syndromes and how they have evolved into a tightly knit family of self-standing syndromes with a common core. The book examines the correlation between the burden of psychopathology and the physical features of these illnesses; reviews advances made in the appraisal of the neuroanatomy, neuropsychology, and neurochemistry of functional syndromes; and focuses on the connection between measurable dimensions of personality, coping, and illness behavior and the prognosis of medically unexplainable illnesses. The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes examines: psychiatric morbidity brain perfusion post-traumatic stress in Gulf War illness the spectrum of mood disorders the hypothalamatic-pituitary-adrenal axis the sexual victimization of patients and much more! The Psychopathology of Functional Somatic Syndromes is an essential resource for psychiatrists and psychologists working in outpatient practice.