This volume contains the proceedings of the Symposium on Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Periimplantation Processes, held July 15 - 18, 1994, in Boston, Massachusetts. Despite considerable research, the molecular and cellular bases of embryo-uterine interactions are still poorly understood. The papers included in this volume address recent advances in several areas in the field of implantation, including uterine receptivity, hormonal regulation, cell-cell interaction, growth factors/cytokines, immunobiology, and trophoblast invasion.

Due to the introduction of molecular and cellular biology approaches, our understanding of ovarian physiology has reached a new level during the last few years. The present volume provides a new perspective on the ovary from molecular and cellular to whole organ levels, from non-mammalian and rodent to human levels and from paracrine, neuroendocrine and endocrine levels as well. These papers represent the proceedings of the Ninth Ovarian Workshop sponsored by Serono Symposia, USA, July 9-11, 1992 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Progress in biomedical science has called for an international discussion of the medical, ethical, and legal problems that confront physicians, medical researchers, infertile couples, pregnant women, and parents of premature or disabled infants. In addition, the unprecedented technological developments in obstetrical, perinatal, and neonatal medicine in recent years have indicated a need for an international forum for interdisciplinary dialogue regarding the definition of early human life, the neurological development of early human life, the value of early human life, the obligations for its protection and prolongation, and the limits to these obligations.

Neuroendocrine Perspectives, Volume 7, is part of an international book series designed to keep clinicians and researchers appraised of important trends and new data in basic and clinical neuroendocrinology. It focuses on four very rapidly evolving major topics: - the role of dopaminergic regulation of the intermediate pituitary lobe in elucidating intracellular signal transaction pathways and other regulatory mechanisms involved in transsynaptic regulation of peptide biosynthesis, post-translational processing, and hormone secretion; - the physiological and clinical implications of corticotropin releasing factor for such areas as diagnosing Cushing's syndrome, defining the hypothalamic and pituitary origins of secondary adrenal insufficiency, and distinguishing Cushing's syndrome from psychiatric states associated with hypercortisolism; - the large number of neurotrophic factors that affect CNS neurons and of neurite promoting factors that modulate neuronal performance, with emphasis on their mechanisms of action and their possible therapeutic applications to peripheral neuropathies and central diseases; - and the many factors that regulate changes in female reproductive cycles during middle age, with careful distinction between neuroendocrine and ovarian components and special attention to the possible cause-and-effect relationship within the cascade of events resulting in acyclicity and infertility.

Bernard (Barney) Berelson had a major influence in the application of social science concepts and methods to population policy during the period from 1962 to 1980. This was the period when concern with population problems spread from a relatively small group of scholars and population activists to a much larger, diverse, international group of political and intellectual leaders and to the general public as well. There was an exponential growth in the number of scholars and service personnel in vari ous population and family specialities in this period. Barney came into the field with his appointment as Director of the Com munication Research Program of The Population Council in 1962. He had no previous training or experience in demography. Frank Notestein, Presi dent of The Population Council at the time, had the wisdom to appreciate the value and relevance of Barney's itTIpressive background in communica tion research and other social science areas, as well as his creative mind and leadership qualities. His influence on the Council's rapidly expanding program was so immediate and impressive that within a year, he was named Vice President. When Frank Notestein retired in 1968, Barney became President, a post he held for 6 very productive years."

Ovulation Induction gives an integrated view of basic ovarian physiology, pathophysiology, and the clinical management of ovulatory disorders. It provides core information upon which specialists can base clinical decisions. The most important feature is the inclusion of newer agents now available for ovulation induction. Newer clinical applications for older medications as well as various treatment combinations (including GnRH analogs) are thoroughly discussed. There is a frank discussion of risks, side effects, and the expense related to ovulation inducing agents. Many of the results in this book have never before been published in book form. Topics examined include the neuroendocrine regulation of the menstrual cycle, ovarian physiology and in vitro fertilization, the diagnosis of ovulation and the role of ultrasound in monitoring the follicular response, the use of clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction, and the role of bromocriptine and related compounds for ovulation induction in hyperprolactinemia.

Einzigartig umfassender evidenzbasierter Leitfaden fur Geburtshilfe und Gynakologie. Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynecology richtet sich an Geburtshelfer, Gynakologen und angehende Facharzte. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der klinischen Praxis in den Bereichen Diagnostik, Untersuchung und Management. Der erste Abschnitt behandelt die evidenzbasierten medizinischen Verfahren fur beide Fachrichtungen. Im zweiten und dritten Abschnitt werden die wesentlichen Erkrankungen erlautert. Dabei beleuchtet jedes Kapitel die besten verfugbaren Behandlungsoptionen nach evidenzbasierten Kriterien. Die Kapitel folgen im Aufbau der EBM-Methodik, nach der sich die relevanten klinischen Fragen aus dem jeweiligen Fall ergeben. Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynecology beschreibt ausfuhrlich abnorme Vaginalblutungen, Eileiterschwangerschaften, Unterleibsschmerzen, Infektionen des unteren Genitaltrakts, Verhutung und Sterilisation, Erkrankungen der Brust, urogynakologische und endokrinologische Erkrankungen, Unfruchtbarkeit, Pubertat und vorzeitige Pubertat, zervikale Dysplasie und Infektionen mit HPV, Gebarmutterhals-, Vaginal-, Gebarmutter- und Eileiterkrebs, Behandlungsverfahren vor einer Empfangnis, pranatale Behandlung und Diagnostik, Medikamente und deren Dosierung wahrend der Schwangerschaft, Komplikationen bei Schwangeren, chronische Hypertonie, Diabetes mellitus, Schilddrusenerkrankungen, neurologische Erkrankungen, psychische Erkrankungen, UEbertragung in der Schwangerschaft, Komplikationen beim Foetus, Praeklampsie u.v.m. - Das erste Fachbuch, das sich evidenzbasiert mit Geburtshilfe und Gynakologie in der klinischen Praxis beschaftigt. - Die evidenzbasierte Medizin ist ein uberzeugender Ansatz fur dieses mit vielen Risiken verbundene Fachgebiet. - Herausgeber ist ein fuhrender Experte aus den USA, der sich fur die evidenzbasierte Medizin engagiert.

This book clearly elucidates many of the key issues found in the disparate literature on sex-based differences in health and illness. It provides primary care clinicians with a practical, up-to-date source of information that can lead to optimal, targeted care for women. Among the topics examined in this comprehensive volume are treating and preventing osteoporosis, diabetes, cervical cancer, eating disorders, and more.

Early Life Origins of Health and Disease is a new book which presents and discusses the many factors that may have impact on normal development. In a concise and readable manner, the authors consider both the proven and suggestive evidence that the high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and, in some populations, kidney disease, may not be all due to genetics or adult environment alone. There is good evidence that stress and more subtle dietary deficiencies, as well as placental malfunction, may increase the risk that the offspring will develop these problems in later life. Finally, new and emerging evidence for other areas of human health and disease such a motor control and mental health is critically reviewed for the first time. The book is a 'must' for all scientists interested in researching these areas, as there is a critical evaluation of the methodology used and suggestions for the 'optimal' way in which to investigate these phenomena.

G. Piekarski appears not to have been brought home to at Forty years have passed since Trussent pub- least some clinicians. Of special importance in lished an important book in the English lan- this connection are T. vaginalis and Pentatri- guage on Trichomonas vaginalis Donne and uro- chomonas hominis (Davaine), the intestinal tri- genital trichomoniasis. During the intervening chomonads of many mammalian species, in- four decades, much information has been accu- cluding humans. Some practitioners still tell mulated on trichomonads parasitic in humans their patients about the possibility of an intesti- and on the diseases they cause. In light of this, nal origin of trichomonal infection of the uro- many parasitologists and clinicians believe that the time has come for a complete review, in genital tract. book form, of various aspects of these parasites Trichomonas vaginalis infection of new- and of the trichomonad parasitemias. This need borns, infants, and young children constitutes has been further reinforced by the finding that, an interesting, although not extensively pur- despite the use of effective anti trichomonal sued, area of investigation. For hitherto incom- drugs during the past years, the prevalence of pletely understood reasons, the period of preg- human urogenital trichomoniasis, the world's nancy appears to favor the increase of most common sexually transmitted disease, has symptomatic trichomoniasis; there is, there- been increasing significantly. As might have fore, little doubt that infants can be infected been expected, therefore, discussion of various during birth.

The purpose of this book is to describe the nature of the materno-fetal immunobiological relationship and to suggest the direction in which the management of reproduction and its failure in man is moving. The several authors, who have written about their special fields of interest, need to be read within a framework designed to blend their contributions into a whole. This preamble provides a part of that framework, by describing the early development of the embryo, that of the placenta and its membranes and their anatomical relationship with maternal tissues: in other words, the stage upon which this materno-fetal dialogue takes place. Professor Maureen Young's 'tour de force', encapsulating the whole of fetal physiology into a single chapter, completes the background information. After Maureen Young's summary of fetal physiology, Matteo Adinolfi describes the development of the immune system in the fetus, including new information that allows more accurate speculation concerning the gestational age at which fetal immune responses of various kinds may begin. Charles Loke examines the nature of antigens which are found in the placenta, concentrating on those which occur on syncytiotrophoblast and suggesting roles for them in fetal development. Arnold Klopper covers the wide range of proteins and hormones which have been studied during pregnancy and found to vary in a potentially significant way. He has been careful to distinguish between observation and hypothesis, as far as any immunomodulating action is concerned, and his analysis is a model of scientific scepticism.

SIDNEY CALLAHAN AND DANIEL CALLAHAN This book, like many other things to do with abortion, is a product of long controversy. Though carried out with cooperation, it was conceived in conflict. The conflict between the coeditors has per sisted for years-in fact, for at least half of their thirty-year marriage. One, Sidney, is prolife; the other, Daniel, is prochoice. Ever since the topic of abortion became of professional interest to us, in the 1960s, we have disagreed. At one time, while Daniel was writing a book on the subject, Abortion: Law, Choice and Morality (1970), we talked about the subject every day for the four years of the book's gestation. On many occasions during the 1970s, prolife articles writ ten by Sidney were passed out at Daniel's lectures in order to refute his pro choice views. Over the years, every argument, every statistic, every historical example cited in the literature has been discussed by the two of us. As Eliza Doolittle says about "words" in My Fair Lady, "There's nota one I haven't heard. " And yet we still disagree. How can it be, we ask ourselves, that intelligent people of goodwill who know all the same facts and all the same arguments still come down on different sides of the con troversy? As we well know, it is possible to agree about many things and have great love and respect for an opponent, and still differ."

For the third time, specialists from all over the world met to present their most recent scientific results and to update their knowledge in the expand ing field of nutrition and, osteoporosis. Major nutrition-al factors, such as calcium and vitamin D, were reexamined, with special attention on the ef fects of calcium, given either as a supplement or in dairy products in chil dren and adolescents, and to vitamin D supplementation in the elderly. The RDA for calcium was questioned, and the calcium requirement was rede fined. Special attention was paid to proteins and their growth promoting action via IGF-l, as well as to the profound effects on calcium and bone metabolism of vegetarian diets or diets rich in acidic or alkaline foods. Although considered an environmental factor influencing the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, nutrition was discussed in relation to genetic conditions, because certain genetic conditions modifY patients' responses to nutritional deficiencies and to supplementary interventions. These proceedings report the wide spectrum of research currently being undertaken and the new perspectives this presents and emphasize the sig nificant and important impact of nutrition on bone health and disease."

Interest in bone densitometry methods has recently experienced a resurgence within the medical community. Physicians have become more interested than ever before in the diagnosis and treatment of degenerative diseases of bone such as osteoporosis. The public perception of osteoporosis and its prevention has been recently heightened. Because osteoporosis is widespread, especially in women, and leads to an increase in fractures in our population, many re searchers and clinicians are strongly motivated in their search for more sensi tive and accurate methods of diagnosis. This book was written for physicians, scientists, engineers, medical phy sicists, and others desiring an introduction or further understanding of this exciting field. Beginning with the early development of x-ray film methods for assessing bone status, the field has steadily grown throughout the years. Novel and interesting devices have been designed for the measurement of bone mass, bone density, cortical thickness, and other parameters of bone changes. Both qualitative and quantitative bone methods are described. The techniques include imaging devices such as CT and radiography as well as fixed point methods in which bone characteristics of a region of interest are analyzed."

Cancer and Pregnancy covers the clinical challenges to diagnosing and treating malignancies in the pregnant patient; however, the book also shows how an understanding of the common features of both processes (rapid cell proliferation) may lead to novel anti-cancer treatment options. The book should be read by obstetricians and gynaecologists, clinical oncologists, reproduction specialists, and those involved in investigation of development, biology, toxicology, immunology, as well as cancer research.

ThisbookcomprisesthescientificproceedingsoftheInternationalWorkshop onDigitalMammography(IWDM),heldinBremen,Germany,fromJune22 toJune25,2002. Sinceitsinceptionin1992,IWDMhasgrownintotheIn- ternationalForumonDigitalMammography. TheuniquenessofIWDMisits attractivenesstoresearchers,medicalpractitioners,andindustrialdevelopers. F6rmerworkshopswereheldinSanJose,USA(1992),York,UK(1994), Chicago,USA(1996),Nijmegen,NL(1998),andToronto,Canada(2000). Each ofthesescientificeventshasbeencombinedwithverysuccessfulandfocused industrialandresearchexhibits,whichdemonstratedthemilestonesofdigital mammographyhard-andsoftware. Now,thatdigitalmammographyisenteringroutineclinicaluse,wewitness itsstrongimpactonscreeninganddiagnosticmammography,computeraided detection,minimallyinvasiveprocedures,andthedevelopmentofsystemicand integrateddisease-orientedbreastcare. Inviewofthis,the2002workshoppro- videdawindowtogiveusaglanceatthefuture,andtheworkwhichwas presentedintalks,postersandexhibitshasdemonstratedthatIWDM2002will takeaspecialplaceintheverysuccessfulsequenceofIWDMevents. Finally,asconferencechair,Iwouldliketothankallwhohavehelpedtopre- pareandrunIWDM2002:theScientificAdvisoryBoardforitsexcellentworkin guaranteeingscientificsignificance,theOrganizationalBoardforitshardworkto accomplishanappropriateframeworkfortheevent,andtheindustrialexhibitors andsponsorsfortheirgeneroussupport. Bremen,January2003 Heinz-Otto Peitgen ConferenceChair ProfessorofMathematicsand BiomedicalSciences VI Scientific Committee SusanAstley UniversityofManchester,UK UlrichBick CharitBerlin,Germany/UniversityofChicago,USA MichaelBrady OxfordUniversity,UK HiroshiFujita GifuUniversity,Japan MaryellenGiger UniversityofChicago,USA NicoKarssemeijer UniversityHospitalNijmegen,TheNetherlands Heinz-OttoPeitgenUniversityofBremen,Germany EttaD. Pisano UniversityofNorthCarolina,USA MartinYaffe UniversityofToronto,Canada IWDM 2002 was supported by (MeViS SIEMENS BreastCare medical I' General Electric ARC-0 Fllmle. . Perfection for DI I JMammography Table of Contents Imaging Systems and Detectors...1 DigitalMammographicApplicationofaSinglePhotonCountingPixel Detector...3 Amendolia SR, Bisogni MG, Delogu P, Fantacci ME, Novelli M, Quattrocchi M, Rosso V, Stefanini A, Zucca S BreastCancerScreeningUsingaDedicatedBreastCTScanner:A FeasibilityStudy...6 Boone JM, Lindfors KK, Seibert JA, Nelson TR PhysicalEvaluationofaPrototypefortheSectraMicrodose MammographySystem...12 Lundqvist M, Bergstrom D, Cederstrom B, Chmill V, Chuntonov A, Danielsson M, Aslund M DoseMeasurementsonaScanningMulti-slitDigitalMammography System...17 Hansson B, Cederstrom B, Danielsson M, Aslund M DigitalMammographyvs. toScreen-FilmMammography:aPhantom Study...20 Heid P, PagliuchiC, Seradour B, Motte N, Langlois L, Kurkdjian S, Piana L MammographyTaxonomyforImprovementofLesionDetectionRates...27 Howard D, Roberts SC, Tabar L AHighResolution(25 p. m)HybridSelenium/CCDSlotScanDetector forDigitalMammography...33 Hunter DM, De CrescenzoG, Mainprize JG, Mawdsley GE, SmithC, Kasap SO, Rowlands JAR, Tumer T, Yin S, Yaffe MJ Co-registeredBreastImagingwith3DX-Raysand3DUltrasound...38 Kapur A, Eberhard JW, Abdalmajeid AM, Thomenius K ImagingCharacteristicsofaDirectConversionFull-FieldDigital MammographyDetectorusingSelenium...4 3 Lee DL, Yorker lG, ling Z, leromin LS SimultaneousAcquisitionofDiffraction,ScatteringandPhase-Contrast ImagesbyMeansofaMulti-LayerEdge-OnMicrostripDetector 48 Olivo A, Arfelli P, Bergamaschi A, Dreossi D, Longo R, Menk RH, Montanari F, Pani S, Poropat P, Rigon L, Vallazza E, Castelli E VIII FullFieldDigitalMammographywithaCCDBasedSlot-Scanned Detector. PhysicalCharacteristicsMeasurements...

This volume includes the latest diagnostic criteria for PCOS and comprises the most up-to-date information about the genetic features and pathogenesis of PCOS. It critically reviews the methodological approaches and the evidence for various PCOS susceptibility genes. The book also discusses additional familial phenotypes of PCOS and their potential genetic basis. All four editors of this title are extremely prominent in the field of PCOS.

"Duplex Sonography" is the first comprehensive text written about this modality. The book offers the reader detailed information about all major uses of duplex and is introduced by a brief chapter on the physical principles of doppler ultrasound as it relates to duplex scanning. "Duplex " "Sonography" is intended to provide relevant information on all aspects of the technique, ranging from the basics of performing the examination to the features of sometimes complex pathological states. The book is intended for anyone interested in non-invasive vascular diagnosis including radiologists, vascular surgeons and ultrasound/peripheral vascular technologists. Other groups may find individual chapters appealing: carotid/cardiac sonography for cardiologists, fetal sonography for obstetricians or carotid sonography for neurologists. Each chapter is not only a guide to duplex evaluation, but also provides valuable information about vascular dynamics of the organ system under discussion. Physicians or technologists reading this book should come away with a well-rounded background in state-of-the-art duplex sonography and will undoubtedly discover new possibilities for using this non-invasive vascular technique.

Sexual mutilation is a global problem that affects 15. 3 million children and young adults annually. In terms of gender, 13. 3 million boys and 2 million girls are involuntarily subjected to sexual mutilation every year. While it is tempting to quantify and compare the amount of tissue removed from either gender, no ethical justification can be made for removing any amount of flesh from the body of another person. The violation of human rights implicit in sexual mutilation is identical for any gender. The violation occurs with the first cut into another person 's body. Although mutilation is a strong term, it precisely and accurately describes a condi tion denoting "any disfigurement or injury by removal or destruction of any conspicuous or essential part of the body. " While such terms as "circumcision" and "genital cutting" are less threatening to our sensitivities, they ultimately do a disservice by masking the fact of what is actually being done to babies and children. Although the courageous example of the survivors of sexual mutilation indicates that humans can certainly live and even re produce without all of their external sexualorgans, this biological phenomenon does not, however, justify subjecting a person to sexual mutilation. The remarkable resilience of the human body is a testament to the importance nature places on reproduction rather than a vindication for surgical practices that compromise this function."

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) cells are the key regulators of reproductive function in all vertebrate organisms. The GnRH molecule is synthesized in a small number of neurons in rostral hypothalamic regions of the brain. In mammals, these neurons release the GnRH decapeptide into the portal capillary system leading to the anterior pituitary gland. There, GnRH causes the release of the gonadotropins, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which in turn act upon the gonads to stimulate their maturation, and to cause synthesis of sex steroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Although each of the levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis is critical for reproductive function, GnRH neurons play the primary role in the control of reproductive maturation and adult reproductive function, and may even play a role in reproductive senescence.

Since its discovery in 1970, there has been intense interest in GnRH-producing neurons, with more than 8000 papers and chapters in the last decade alone. Despite this activity of research in basic and clinical science, there has never been a book written specifically on GnRH neurons. GnRH: The Master Molecule of Reproduction aims to bring together the large and diverse literature of both laboratory and applied research that focuses on these unique cells.

This book will provide basic background into reproductive neuroendocrinology, as well as specifics regarding the role of GnRH neurons in the control of reproduction. Students studying endocrinology, reproduction, neuroendocrinology or molecular endocrinology will benefit from this book. In addition, this book will take a multi-species approach which will be useful both to basic researchers as well as clinicians. Whenever possible, species differences and similarities will be presented, and if possible, studies on humans, or the clinical relevance of basic research findings to humans will be discussed (such as the treatment of reproductive disorders such as abnormalities in pubertal development, or infertility).

There can never be enough material in the public domain about cancers, and particularly breast cancer. This book adds much to the literature. It provides general information on breast cancer management and considers all new methods of diagnosis and therapy. It focuses on nuclear medicine modalities by comparing their results with other diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The coverage provides readers with up-to-date knowledge on breast cancer as well as information on the advances in the field of diagnosis. It also details data on the development of some new modalities and provides a general overview of the available tools for breast cancer treatment.

- With a dramatic increase in knowledge of anorectal physiology and imaging over the last five years, this book provides a comprehensive study of anorectal assessment.

- Explores all the lastest techniques and treatments in the field

- Organized into two, easy to manage, sections

- First book to pull a diverse area together and includes 3-D ultrasound, transperineal ultrasonography and dynamic MRI not found in other texts on anorectal disorders

The only book to deal specifically with constipation for specialists has been updated to include all the new advances since the first edition (1995). These advances include biofeedback, surgery for constipation, sacral nerve stimulation, the use of laparoscopy for rectal prolapse, treament and our understanding of some of the psychological problems of these patients. Innovations also include Professor Norman Williams Malone Procedure and the newer pharmacologic treatments such as nitric oxide and botulinum toxin injections.

This is the first book to specifically deal with hidradenitis suppurativa, a common but overlooked disease that regularly causes significant problems for both patients and doctors. The first section of this book presents the best current knowledge about diagnosis, pathogenesis and complications. The second section offers comprehensive guidelines on diagnosis and therapy. The book will assist doctors in providing a broader range of treatments for their patients. To increase the practical usefulness of the book, a description of the patients' perspective and patient information is included.