The prevalence of autoimmune diseases and rheumatic conditions is constantly increasing. Autoimmune diseases affect approximately 7-10% of the population of the United States, while more than 50,000,000 American adults suffer from some type of arthritis. The Heart in Rheumatic, Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases examines the complex mechanisms relating to cardiac diseases from a pathophysiological and clinical point of view. Autoimmune rheumatic diseases can affect the coronary vessels, myocardium, pericardium, heart valves and the conduction system. The diagnosis of these unique cardiac complications necessitates medical awareness and a high index of suspicion. Increased risk of advanced atherosclerosis plays a pivotal role in the development of cardiac diseases in systemic, rheumatic and autoimmune illnesses. Yet, other complex immune medicated mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis. Patients' optimal care requires coordination between the primary caregiver, the rheumatologist, immunologist and cardiologist. Screening for cardiovascular risk factors, recognition of high-risk patients and identification of subclinical cardiac conditions are of great importance. Moreover, regulation of inflammation, as well as abnormal immune responses and the initiation of early treatments should be the focus of patient management. A continuous attempt to identify novel therapeutic targets and change the natural history of the underlying disease and its cardiac manifestations is in progress. The book aims at providing the readers with a state of the art collection of up to date information regarding clinically important topics based on experts' perspectives. This book was a result of an extended coordinated collaboration of one-hundred and fifty-four distinguished scientists from thirty-one countries around the globe.

Medicinal Spices and Vegetables from Africa: Therapeutic Potential against Metabolic, Inflammatory, Infectious and Systemic Diseases provides a detailed look at medicinal spices and vegetables that have proven safe-and-effective for consumption and the treatment of diseases, including infectious diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It provides pharmacological evidence, such as the latest information related to efficacy and safety data, in vitro and in vivo studies, clinical trials, and more, to illustrate the use of these spices and vegetables as both palliative and alternative treatments with the goal of furthering research in this area to produce safer and more effective drugs.

Liver Pathophysiology: Therapies and Antioxidants is a complete volume on morphology, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and treatment of liver diseases. It uses an integral approach towards the role of free radicals in the pathogenesis of hepatic injury, and how their deleterious effects may be abrogated by the use of antioxidants. Written by the most prominent authors in the field, this book will be of use to basic and clinical scientists and clinicians working in the biological sciences, especially those dedicated to the study and treatment of liver pathologies.

T-box Genes in Development and Disease looks at the genes encoding the T-box family of transcription factors function as key regulators of many important decision processes during embryonic and tissue development. The importance of these genes is further underlined by the fact that most members of this gene family have been conserved during evolution from worms to humans. This book brings together the current information on conserved aspects with the evolutionary innovations of the functions of these genes during developmental regulation in various animal species and then discusses their important roles in human disease.

From Michael Greger, M.D., the author of the New York Times bestseller How Not to Die, comes a full-color, fully illustrated cookbook that shares the science of long-term weight-loss success.

Greger offers readers delicious yet healthy options that allow them to ditch the idea of 'dieting' altogether. As outlined in his book How Not to Diet, Greger believes that identifying the twenty-one weight-loss accelerators in our bodies and incorporating new, cutting-edge medical discoveries are integral in putting an end to the all-consuming activity of counting calories and getting involved in expensive juice cleanses and Weight Watchers schemes.

The How Not to Diet Cookbook is a revolutionary addition to the cookbook industry: incredibly effective and designed for everyone looking to make changes to their dietary habits to improve their quality of life.

All recipes in this cookbook have been fully anglicized.

For as much as we know about DNA and gene expression, many more mysteries remain to be solved. Epigenetics and epigenomics seek to study heritable modifications in gene expression that do not involve underlying DNA sequences to further human health changes. Examining the Causal Relationship Between Genes, Epigenetics, and Human Health provides innovative research methods and applications of chemical activation or deactivation of genes without altering the original DNA sequence. While highlighting topics including gene expression, personalized medicine, and public policy, this book is ideal for researchers, geneticists, biologists, medical professionals, students, and academics seeking current research on the expanding fields of genomics, epigenomics, proteomics, pharmacogenomics, and genome-wide association studies.

Pulmonary hypertension is a life-threatening disease with no known cure. Here we provide a concise yet comprehensive review of the current knowledge about the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The underlying signaling mechanisms involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling and the exaggerated vascular contractility, two characteristic features of pulmonary hypertension, are discussed in depth. The roles of inflammation, immunity, and right ventricular function in the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension are discussed. The epidemiology of the five groups of pulmonary hypertension (World Health Organization classification; Nice, 2013) is also briefly described. A clear understanding of our current knowledge about the pathogenesis of PH is essential for further exploration of the underlying mechanisms involved in this disease and for the development of new therapeutic modalities. This book should be of interest to researchers and graduate students, both in basic research and in clinical settings, in the fields of pulmonary vascular biology and pulmonary hypertension.

Lecture provides an overview of the progress made in molecular medicine applying genetics and genomics to the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases. Specifically, the methods for identifying genes involved in human diseases are described. Examples from 10 genes and diseases will be provided, drawing on the author's research. Topics include examples from simple Mendelian diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, inherited cancers, oncogenes activated by chromosomal translocations, host genes involved in infectious disease, genes identified via genomewide association studies, pathogens causing cancer, and gene families contributing to multiple diseases. For each example, historical details will be provided as background for readers to understand the context and process of the discoveries, technologies explained, and current understanding and treatment implications detailed.

Fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines and restless legs syndrome are disorders caused by an inability of the brain to properly regulate pain and sympathetic nervous activity, according to rheumatologist Dr. Clay McCord. Dr. McCord presents evidence that a chemical imbalance in the brain disrupts deep sleep. Therapy that restores this imbalance improves sleep and alleviates symptoms. Failure to recognize these associations has led to misdiagnosis, mistreatment, referrals to multiple specialists and money needlessly wasted. This book attempts to put an end to misunderstandings as they relate to fibromyalgia and dispels myths that the disease either doesn't exist or is all in the patient's mind. No longer should patients suffer unnecessarily or fall victim to charlatans offering nothing more than "junk science." After being frustrated for years watching others profit off discredited theories, Dr. McCord feels revealing the truth is the only way to combat the deception and bring relief to those who suffer. TH Dr. Clay McCord practices medicine in southern California. He graduated from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and is certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Two years after his wife, Jane, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Robert McAllister began a journal, closely documenting the course of Jane's illness, and all that transpired between them. He wrote faithfully for Jane's sake and for his own, always committed to deepening his understanding of the disease and to talking openly with Jane about what was happening. He promised not only to be her sole caretaker till the end, but always to be at her side to help her sort out Alzheimer's devastating consequences from the "essential Jane" who was the love of his life and complete companion for over fifty years. Robert was 92 at the time of Jane's death and the completion of his journal. His graceful writing, emotional honesty, and ability to convey the transformative power of their love and their abiding faith in God makes this book stand as one of the most powerful additions to the Alzheimer's literature.

"Judy is a wonderful physical therapist, who has energy, enthusiasm and the best 'can do' attitude. She has accurately given a description of the major task of 'in-home care' that most people cannot understand. I applaud her efforts; both the monumental task of care for Dean (who was a super guy) and writing this helpful book. Job well done "

-Joyce Dunlevy Cready, RN, BSN, Rehabilitation

"I want to commend Mrs. Jennings on the work done to put together this book. It will be a valuable resource for patients and caregivers, and provides an honest and thoughtful look at her experiences with LBD. It was an honor to care for Dean and I know that her work with him and in this book will help others who are going through the same difficult life journey."

-Andrew P. Duker, MD, Neurology

"This book is medically appropriate and concise. The information has breadth that is not available in other books. I will recommend it to all my patients with Lewy Body Dementia."

-James P. Simcoe, MD, Family Practice

"What an outstanding caregiver and loving wife to share this most personal knowledge, gained from her heartfelt experience with Lewy Body Dementia."

- Peter A. Towne, PT, FAPTA

Linda L. Towne, PT, MEd,

Orthopedic and Neurological Physical Therapy

Blindness A world that both horrifies and fascinates. Imagine you find your eyes aren't working quite right one day. You think you need glasses. Instead, over the next few months, while you lose your vision daily, you discover it is caused by a defect in your mitochondrial DNA. It is hereditary. There is no cure and no way to stop your vision loss. There is no way to predict how much sight you will lose. You could be anywhere from visually impaired to total darkness. You are the first one in your family to be effected so you had no idea this could happen. Typically you are a male at your prime -late teens to early 20's. But, you can be any age or any sex. In this collaboration you will meet a skydiver, lawyer, athlete, sailor, world golf champion, musicians, one who defied death 3 times, people desperate to try anything for a cure, and potentially the first and only person in the world ever cured. There is humor, despair, joy, and the spirit of human nature conquering extreme adversity. Even you may have been born with this genetic bomb - so Welcome to our World.