The aim of this book is twofold: to promote an awareness of cultural differences in connection with sexual medicine among health care providers, and to demonstrate how such differences are relevant to the care and treatment of patients with sexual issues. Individual sexuality represents the cumulative effects of biological, psychological, and cultural influences. Yet much of the study of sexuality-including issues ranging from sexual identity to sexual response-has been conducted through a Western lens. Although a substantial body of work in anthropology has taken up the study of human sexuality from a cross-cultural perspective, two points are notable. First, this work seldom crosses the desks of medical and psychological health practitioners, and second, the relevance of specific cultural differences is rarely apparent to the typical sexual health practitioner. To address this situation, this book adopts a global perspective, focusing on how cultural practices and values can impact health care, treatment, and outcomes. In this regard, it covers three broad domains: Sexual Identity and Orientation; Sexual Response and Dysfunction; and Sexual Diversity. Each chapter consists of two parts: a general description of the relevant issues, and a discussion of how these issues can be relevant to clinical practice. The book offers a valuable, practical tool for specialists in sexual medicine and sexual psychology, for sexual healthcare givers, and for sexological researchers who want to better serve their patients by developing an awareness of and sensitivity to cultural differences, and by providing a framework for dealing with issues of sexuality and sexual health that takes cultural values into consideration, while adhering to best practices in patient care.

This book is one of the first to evaluate the role of Steroids in autoimmune rheumatic diseases from the basic mechanisms to the clinical involvements and focuses on the importance of steroidal hormones in the pathogenesis and therapeutic management of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. In particular, the chapters analyze the mechanisms of action and the involvement of adrenal steroids (glucocorticoids) in the neuroendocrine immune system, including effects on the elderly.
The perturbations of the HPA axis as a source of altered steroidal synthesis will be discussed and related to some interesting pathological conditions that commonly complicate the autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as psychosis or fibromyalgia. Concerning the role of gonadal steroids (sex hormones), several chapters will discuss clinical and epidemiological evidences of their role, as well as their effects as risk factors in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including a section on pediatrics.
*The premier issue evaluating the role of steroids in autoimmune rheumatic diseases from the basic mechanisms to the clinical involvements
*Documents the latest research and indicate recent and coming new therapeutic-biological approaches to the therapy
*The book will present therapeutic perspectives concerning the new glucocorticoids, and the effects of biological drugs on their synthesis

This book will cover all aspects of hypertension and the manifestations of cardiovascular disease in the Asian population. Asia has the largest population of all the continents, and also has the largest number of people suffering from these diseases. Due to an expanding economy and increasing affluent lifestyles, their incidence is increasing at alarming rates - in fact, this continent is a ticking time bomb for HTN and CVD outbreaks. The book fills a large gap, as there are currently no volumes on this topic - and provides much-needed information for physicians not only in Asia but globally. Not only physicians, but also all related medical professionals and libraries will benefit from this book, to which renowned international experts contributed.

Growth hormone (GH) is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the synthesis, regulation and health implications of growth hormones. Topics include the effect of growth hormone on lipid metabolism; a stability study of somatropin by capillary zone electrophoresis; cardiac effects of growth hormone treatment in paediatric populations; and human growth hormone treatment in patients with Crohn's disease.

Vassopressin, Volume 111, the latest release in the Vitamins and Hormones series, first published in 1943, covers the field of hormone action, vitamin action, X-ray crystal structure, physiology and enzyme mechanisms, with this release focusing on topics relating to hepcidin, bacterial infection, and iron overload, the role of heparan sulfates in hepcidin regulation, hepcidin CDNA and human gene sex hormones, growth factors and hepcidin, HFE gene polymorphisms and hereditary hemochromatosis, hepcidin and il-1beta, hepcidin-ferroportin axis, cardiomyocyte hepcidin, adipocyte iron, leptin and hepcidin, regulators of hepcidin expression, and much more.

Medical emergencies due to disorders of the endocrine system represent a unique category of clinical care. Hypotension, fever, palpitations, confusion, and electrolyte abnormalities are all signs of disparate endocrine emergencies that require immediate diagnoses and treatment. Recognition of endocrine emergencies will frequently lead to rapid improvement and stabilization of the patient. Now in a revised and expanded second edition including the latest clinical guidelines and protocols, Endocrine Emergencies serves as a handy single reference for any endocrinologist, internist, hospitalist, and emergency medicine physician to rapidly identify and initiate treatment. Topics covered include acute adrenal insufficiency, diabetic ketoacidosis, thyroid storm, hyponatremia, and myxedema coma, among many others. Each chapter opens with a precis that provides, in a single page, a presentation of symptoms, workup, and therapy. This serves as a rapid, "off the shelf" cue to immediately begin a differential diagnoses and therapy plan. The remainder of each chapter is an in-depth review of the pathophysiology, diagnoses, and management of the disease process. Book chapters are written by experts in the field and reflect the consensus and standard of care for specific endocrine emergencies. Updated with the latest clinical evidence and treatment options, Endocrine Emergencies remains a valuable resource for practitioners in endocrinology and internal medicine, as well as emergency room physicians, hospital support staff, fellows and residents.

This unique book will serve as a valuable resource for clinicians and researchers interested in prolactin physiology and pathophysiology and those who are involved in the care of patients with related disorders, including hyperprolactinemia and prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas. Timely and up-to-date, it opens with a review of the historical aspects of prolactin research and a discussion of pituitary anatomy and physiology. Several chapters examine basic and translational aspects of prolactin physiology, focusing on recent developments and future directions. The main portion of the book is comprised of chapters presenting the clinical aspects of prolactin excess or deficiency, with particular emphasis placed on prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas and co-secreting tumors. Concluding chapters address prolactin-secreting pituitary adenomas in special populations - women in the preconception period or during pregnancy, children and adolescents, and men - as well as plurihormonal and aggressive adenomas and carcinomas. Written and edited by experts in the field, Prolactin Disorders will be a ready reference for a diverse array of professionals, from basic scientists to clinical investigators and clinicians from several specialties, including specialists in endocrinology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology and neuro-oncology.

Das massgebliche Referenzwerk zur Erkennung und Behandlung von akuten endokrinen und Stoffwechselerkrankungen Die Endokrinologie beschaftigt sich mit den haufigsten Krankheitsbildern und ernsthaften Erkrankungen, mit denen die heutige Medizin zu kampfen hat. Im klinischen Umfeld lassen sich Notfalle zum Grossteil auf Stoerungen des endokrinen Systems und des Stoffwechsels zuruckfuhren. Endocrine and Metabolic Medical Emergencies: A Clinician's Guide ist ein einzigartiges Referenzwerk, unterstutzt Endokrinologen, Notfall- und Allgemeinmediziner in Kliniken, Hospitalisten und Intensivmediziner und Allgemeinmediziner dabei, die Symptome endokriner Notfalle zu erkennen und die Patienten optimal und nach den hoechsten Standards zu versorgen. Die neue 2. Auflage dieses Buches, das bereits als das massgebliche Referenzwerk des Fachgebiets gilt, bietet bei bekannten und ungewoehnlichen endokrinen Notfallen Richtlinien fur die Akutversorgung, erlautert im Detail die Auswirkungen von akutmedizinischen und kritischen Erkrankungen auf den Stoffwechsel und das endokrine System und deren Einfluss auf Untersuchungen des endokrinen Systems, beschreibt besondere Patientenpopulationen, auch den Einfluss des Alterns, von Schwangerschaft, Transplantationen, Spatfolgen, von perioperativen Vorfallen, angeborenen Stoffwechselerkrankungen sowie von HIV/AIDS bei der Vorstellung und dem Management von Patienten. Weiterhin werden die mit dem jeweiligen System verbundenen Erkrankungen ausfuhrlich behandelt, ebenso stoffwechselbedingte Knochenerkrankungen, neuroendokrine Tumore u.v.a. Dieser Leitfaden enthalt unzahlige Fallstudien, Abbildungen und Kapitel, die von renommierten Autoren geschrieben wurden, und eignet sich zum schnellen Nachschlagen und fur das Studium. Behandelt werden Vorstellung, Diagnose, Management und Behandlung von Patienten mit Erkrankungen des endokrinen Systems und des Stoffwechsels auf Intensivstationen. Aktuelle Leitlinien befassen sich mit Themen wie klinische Lipidologie, Glukose, Natrium, Kalzium, Phosphat usw. Dieses unschatzbare Referenzwerk vereint die neuesten wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse mit Ratschlagen fur Klinik und Praxis. Kliniker erhalten alles aktuell Wissenswerte des Fachgebiets an die Hand sowie einen praxisorientierten klinischen Einblick, um Patienten optimal zu versorgen.

The articles comprising this volume were first presented at the World Congress on Neurohypophysial Hormones held in Bordeaux, France on September 8-12, 2001. This conference brought together more than 170 scientists from 18 countries who belong to the different fields of interest representing research in the hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system.

Two neurohypophysial neurohormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, exert a variety of central and peripheral actions and thus involve different scientific domains, which too often, even today, do not always find the appropriate occasion to interact. This volume is composed of chapters dealing with topics varying from basic and clinical neurosciences and neuroendocrinology, to reproductive, renal, cardiovascular physiology and pathology. It encompasses all areas of current neurohypophysial research and should be of vital interest as an integrative reference volume to specialized investigators and as an excellent introductory text to students, scientists and clinicians not yet closely familiar with the field. To ensure novelty and to make sure that all topics of current importance were covered, plenary and symposium speakers as well as poster presentations concentrated on recent advances made in the last few years.

This book presents the latest insights into all the critical aspects of Klinefelter's Syndrome, in order to promote a more homogeneous a medical approach to this condition, leading to better and more "evidence-based" support, and improving patient satisfaction. It offers physicians and all health professionals involved in treating these patients (andrologists, pediatricians, endocrinologists, psychologists) a comprehensive overview and a useful tool for their daily clinical practice.

Cardiovascular disease and mortality risk are significantly increased in people with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of interrelated metabolic disorders including obesity, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. A complex interplay between predisposing and protective factors ultimately determines whether an individual will develop this set of disorders or not. Genetic factors are one of the significant contributors that predispose to, or protect against, each component of the metabolic syndrome. As in other complex diseases and traits, such genetic factors are likely to be multiple and interacting, with individual polymorphisms producing only a moderate effect. The identification of genetic variants influencing the metabolic syndrome is of great importance to understanding pathogenesis, identifying groups of individuals with different relative risk, and developing or improving therapies against this cluster of metabolic disorders. This has greatly stimulated both theoretical and applied genetic research in recent years. A range of new analytical tools has been developed for the dissection of complex traits. Applied genetic analyses have identified large numbers of candidate markers and chromosomal regions (over 600 for obesity, which represents only one of the disorders of this cluster). In this chapter, the authors present a basic overview of the genetic approaches currently used for the identification of candidate genetic factors involved in the metabolic syndrome. The authors also summarise current evidence suggesting that genetic variants within elements of the endocrine system are directly involved in the risk of the metabolic syndrome. The authors focused their attention on endocrine pathways for which candidate genetic variants have been identified, and they introduced the foundations of a new hypothesis which postulates the involvement of a network of endocrine genetic setpoints as a combined contributor to the risk of the metabolic syndrome.

The use of electrical stimulators with medical aims has increased exponentially in the last years. The uses are very different. Though the most widely known are referred to as the approaches performed by neurosurgeons, evidence has recently appeared, supporting its use by many other medical specialties. Electrical stimulation can be applied transcutaneously (TENS) or percutaneously (PENS). The target of electrical stimulation can be a nerve, inducing electric conductivity and finally acting over the innervated structure, which is activated, or starting a reflex with the involvement of the spinal cord. The stimulation can also act directly over a muscle, inducing a contraction. The effects of electrical stimulation are very diverse, ranging from the development of an artificial reflex and consequently activating the stomach, the pancreas or a sphincter, to a continuous muscular contraction, provoking hypertrophia of the structure and hyperfunction, or to the identification of a laryngeal recurrent nerve during a thyroidectomy, avoiding its damage. Moreover, electrical stimulation has been also used to reduce the feeling of pain, as the stimulation of somatic fibers somehow masks the transmission of nociceptive ones. The aim of this book is to revise the actual evidence about the different uses of electrical stimulation by digestive and endocrine surgeons.

The use of model organisms together with the power of genetics has profoundly affected our understanding of the physiology of one organ, the skeleton, in two distinct but complementary ways. Thisis the first translational reference to focus on these major conceptual advances in bone biology and their development in the clinic. Several advances have already been translated into therapies and others are being tested for diseases as different as osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, and hypo-fertility. This book is a timely reference for both basic and clinical researchers in bone biology and endocrinology.
Summarizes the latest research and translational applications of how the varied growth and development of bone affects appetite, metabolism, reproduction, and a wide range of endocrine functions Provides a common language for bone biologists, endocrinologists, osteologists, and other researchers, such as neuroscientists, who study appetite, fuel metabolism and diabetes, to discuss the development of translational research and new therapeutic strategies for bone, metabolic, and neuro-endocrine diseases.

Saves researchers and clinicians time in quickly accessing the very latest details on a broad range of bone research and therapeutics, as opposed to searching through thousands of journal articles "

Now in a revised and expanded second edition including seven brand new chapters, this book compiles and synthesizes the latest research and clinical evidence regarding the intricate relationship between sex hormones and the physical activity level and overall health of the female endocrine system across the lifespan. Expert authors from around the world discuss in detail the impact of sex hormones on energy metabolism, cardiorespiratory system, nervous system, and musculoskeletal health, as well as environmental and psychological factors affecting exercise and sexual health. Considerations of the hormonal and physiological changes to the menstrual cycle and in menopause due to exercise receive chapters of their own. New to this edition are discussions of pregnancy, menopause, aerobic endurance training, the transgender athlete, sports performance, and the future of sports and exercise science relating to the active female. Covering a hot topic in sports medicine and science, Sex Hormones, Exercise and Women, Second Edition will be of interest to researchers, clinicians, exercise scientists, and residents and fellows in these areas.

Now in a revised second edition, this comprehensive text covers all aspects of male hypogonadism from the basic science to clinical management, comprehensively explaining and applying new insights to the treatment of hypogonadal men. Chapters covering neuroendocrine control of testicular function, Leydig cell function, spermatogenesis, and normal and delayed puberty open the book. The focus then turns to the pathophysiology and treatment of hypogonadism and other forms of testicular dysfunction, such as Klinefelter syndrome, cryptorchidism, and disorders of the pituitary, as well as reproductive and endocrine consequences of cancer treatment, environmental factors, obesity and aging. Next are chapters that describe the available options for androgen replacement therapy, and the outcomes when men with hypogonadism of various causes are treated with testosterone, as well as a chapter devoted to current approaches to stimulating spermatogenesis in gonadotropin-deficient men. Highly practical and updated with the latest available data, this second edition of Male Hypogonadism: Basic, Clinical and Therapeutic Principles cogently presents a large body of scientific information on male reproductive endocrinology to provide a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and treatments for disorders that adversely affect testicular function.

Hormones play an integral part in the balance and workings of the body. While many people are broadly aware of their existence, there are many misconceptions and few are aware of the nature and importance of the endocrine system. In this Very Short Introduction, Martin Luck explains what hormones are, what they do, where they come from, and how they work. He explains how the endocrine system operates, highlighting the importance of hormones in the regulation of water and salt in the body, how they affect reproduction and our appetites, and how they help us adjust to different environments, such as travel across time zones. In this fresh and modern treatment, Luck also touches on the ethical and moral issues surrounding research methods, testing on animals, and hormone misuse. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

This book is the first to focus on the range of innovations that have been critical to the emergence of modern endocrine surgery. It provides a state-of-the art review of these developments, providing surgeons a single resource to better understand them. The text is broken into five parts. The first two parts cover the diagnosis and preoperative work-up of thyroid disease and parathyroid disease. Part three and four cover surgical adjuncts and surgical techniques. Finally, part five covers post-operative management and reviews developments that have allowed for ambulatory management to become a standard aspect of endocrine surgery. The book is written by experts that have been the primary proponents of the individual innovations. Chapters discuss the challenges and issues that the innovation address, its current state or use, and potential short- and long-term future directions/advances. Equipped with the knowledge provided by this text, surgeons can assess their own practice and choose to integrate innovations that may improve their patients' outcomes. Innovations in Modern Endocrine Surgery serves as a valuable resource for all physicians and trainees interested in the how and why of performing modern thyroid and parathyroid surgery. It also allows surgeons to measure the state of their current practice against the most progressive techniques and determine if opportunities exist to update their approach.