Traumatic injuries of the spinal cord continue to be the most common cause of permanent paralysis in young adults in the United States. New information has emerged on the response of spinal neurons to injury of either the spinal cord or peripheral nerves demonstrating that dendrites of injured motoneurons take on characteristics of axons. These and other new developments have helped to promote an exciting new era in the study of spinal cord neurobiology.

Motor Neurobiology of the Spinal Cord provides a description of the recent conceptual and technical advances in the field. It provides a description of the new experimental tools available for investigating the neuronal properties that allow populations of spinal cord neurons to control muscles responsible for limb movements and posture. It covers topics ranging from genetics to kinematics and examines cells, tissues, or whole animals in species ranging from fish to humans that are normal, injured, or diseased.

By integrating data derived from many new approaches, you'll learn about how spinal cord circuits operate under a variety conditions and about new and exciting inroads being made in motor neurobiology of the spinal cord. Motor Neurobiology of the Spinal Cord elucidates concepts and principles relevant to function and structure throughout the nervous system and presents information about changes induced by injury and disease.

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.

Treatment for the chronically ill has traditionally focused on physical factors and symptoms, despite the fact that chronic illness also affects life in an emotional and spiritual way. The approach toward treatment described in this volume addresses all aspects of a patient's life, including their interpersonal experiences and relationships, presenting family therapists and family physicians as part of the same treatment team. This volume thus provides a foundation for understanding the role illness plays in family systems. The meaning an individual gives to an illness is profoundly influenced by and influences that person's social world. In turn, social culture and social networks both shape and are shaped by the individual's experiences. Exploring how the meaning of chronic illness is defined tells us much about the individual's interpersonal relations and the resultant meaning given to the person's illness. As a consequence, family therapy must be an integral part of the treatment plan for chronically ill patients . Family Therapy and Chronic Illness approaches chronic illness from a leading-edge perspective. This approach enables therapists to listen attentively to complicated narratives. Because these stories, feelings, and emotions are difficult to describe, the clients have demanding "telling" tasks while therapists have demanding "listening" tasks. This book sends an important message not just about the chronically ill, but also about their families, therapists, and doctors, and how they can work together to develop the best treatment plan possible.

Chronic diseases have become predominant in Western societies and in many developing countries. They affect quality of life and daily activities and require regular medical care. This unique monograph will bring readers up to date with chronic disease research, with a focus on health-related quality of life and patient perception of the impact of the diseases and health intervention, as well as psychological adaptation to the disease. It considers the application of concepts and measures in medical and psychological clinical practice and in public health policies. Informed by theory, philosophy, history and empirical research, chapters will indicate how readers might advance their own thinking, learning, practice and research. The book is intended to be provocative and challenging to enhance discussion about theory as a key component of research and practice. Perceived Health and Adaptation in Chronic Disease will be of interest to researchers and academics alike. It boasts a wide range of contributions from leading international specialists from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the UK and the USA. This has also allowed the book to provide readers with a multidisciplinary approach.

Microbes are in our midst soon after birth. Thankfully, the number of harmless (and often beneficial) microbes far out number those that would do us harm. Our ability to ward-off pathogens in our environment, including those that can colonize our exterior and/or interior surfaces, depends on the integrative action of the innate and adaptive immunity systems. This volume of CTMI, entitled Antimicrobial Peptides and Human Disease, is dedicated to the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the innate host defense system of homo sapiens.

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.

Following the boom in population databases in recent years there has been sustained and intense international debate about political processes and legal and ethical issues surrounding the protection and use of genetic data. As a result, several national and international organizations and committees have published widely differing guidelines and statements concerning genetic databases and biobanks. Ethical Issues of Human Genetic Databases compares the new area of biobanking with the tradition of ethically accepted classical research and highlights the distinctive features of existing databases and guidelines. The volume identifies areas of consensus and controversy while investigating the challenges posed to classical health research ethics by the existence of genetic databases, analyzing the reasons for such varying guidelines. The book will be essential to academics, biobankers, policy-makers and researchers in the field of medical ethics.