This compilation arises from contributions made to the seventh postgraduate course in paediatric neurology held in Pavia, Italy under the auspices of the Mariani Foundation in co-operation with the National Neurologic Institute of Milan. The course concentrated on three main areas: the impact of molecular biology and molecular genetics on aetiology, advances in our understanding pathogenesis, and finally therapy. The choice of the subject was suggested by the remarkable progress has been made in this field during the last decade, mostly due to the recent advances in genetics which now enable a new nosographic approach as well as different diagnostic strategies. Part of this work is dedicated to the rehabilitation of patients affected by neuromuscular diseases.

Infertility Counseling: A Comprehensive Handbook for Clinicians, 2nd edition, is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary textbook for all health professionals providing care for individuals facing reproductive health issues. It is the most thorough and extensive book currently available for clinicians in the field of infertility counseling, providing an exhaustive and comprehensive review of topics. It addresses both the medical and psychological aspects of infertility, reviewing assessment approaches, treatment strategies, counseling for medical conditions impacting fertility, third-party reproduction, alternative family building and post infertility counseling issues. Each chapter follows the same format: introduction, historical overview, literature review, theoretical framework, identification of clinical issues, suggestions for therapeutic interventions, and future implication. This edition also includes extensive appendixes of clinical tools useful to the clinician, including an Internet database of resources and an extensive glossary of terminology.

Cosa si prova a non poter avere un figlio? Quanto e difficile comunicare alla coppia una diagnosi di sterilita? Come affrontare il 70% dei fallimenti delle tecniche di PMA? Come una legge puo' incidere sul futuro di un embrione? Il testo, nato dalla fusione multidisciplinare medica, psicologica e sociologica, vuole riflettere su queste domande e accompagnare il lettore in una nuova forma mentis sulle criticita nella fecondazione assistita. La trama scientifica si accompagna a un linguaggio diretto dove hanno un posto rilevante le emozioni, cosi' centrali in campi quali la ginecologia, la riproduzione e la psicologia dell'infertilita, che vanno al cuore del bisogno psico-sessuale piu forte e arcaico: quello riproduttivo. Al centro del volume e la relazione medico-paziente che, nel campo dell'infertilita, e caratterizzata dall'attivazione di forti echi emotivi da parte di entrambi. Il volume, a tale riguardo, propone il protocollo SAHARAI che comprende due metodi inediti (il questionario e il nurse-ring) capaci di intervenire, rispettivamente, nella fase diagnostica e in quella terapeutica della fecondazione. I metodi e le riflessioni proposti sono volti alla riduzione dei disagi psicologici delle coppie e al riequilibrio del rapporto medico-paziente. Dal testo emerge forte una nuova idea di formazione per gli operatori dei centri di fecondazione assistita e un percorso di qualificazione per le nuove figure professionali (gli psicologi addetti alla PMA) in accordo con le nuove direttive della legge."

Reproductive technology is typically discussed in the future tense. Yet doctors have always treated involuntary childlessness. This book looks at the recent history of infertility and the different ways medicine has treated it. It traces the reluctance to allow infertility a past to a new tension that has emerged between utopian and anti-utopian fears about the growth rate and composition of population.

"The Stork and the Syringe" argues that although doctors' approach to infertility is formed in response to the exigencies of the political economy of medical practice, it also accommodates a persistent gender bias: the tendency to regard women's bodies as inviting intervention and men's as demanding caution. This bias is manifest in relation to gametes (eggs and sperm), sex hormones, in the form of medical investigations and treatment, and the frequency and enthusiasm with which the latter are carried out. Departures from this theme are rare and controversial, as the history of artificial insemination using donor semen demonstrates.

This book is a major contribution to the history and sociology of reproduction, fertility, population and medicine.

The maximum life span of multicellular organisms varies greatly: for a fruitfly it is about 30 days, for a dog about 20 years, and for a human about 100 years. Despite these differences, all animals show a similar pattern of their life spans - growth, adulthood, and aging, followed by death. The basic cause of aging in multicellular organisms (eukaryotes) lies at the level of the genes, although nutrition and various types of stresses do influence the rate and pattern of aging. This book reviews the molecular biology of the gene in relation to aging. Until about a decade ago it was not possible to probe into the types of changes that occur in eukaryotic genes, due to their enormous complexity. The use of genetic engineering techniques, however, is beginning to unravel the changes that occur in the genes as an organism ages: such as the changing expression of specific genes under normal conditions and under various types of stress, the changes in the regulatory roles of the sequences in the promotor regions of genes, conformational changes that may occur in genes during aging, and the protein factors that are involved in the aging process. The author presents basic information on eukaryotic genes and follows this with details of the changes that occur in their structure and function during aging. He reviews the latest studies being carried out in various laboratories, outlines the gaps and deficiencies in our present knowledge and suggests the most profitable future areas of research. Genes and Aging is for all students and researchers interested in the molecular biology of aging.

This is a practical guide to the optimal clinical management of preterm labour, using the best available evidence. Preterm labour remains a challenge today, even with the latest developments summarised here. The editors and authors (mostly practising clinicians) are all actively involved in research into the mechanisms, aetiology, treatment and associated outcomes of preterm labour. The chapters are based on common clinical scenarios and each provides a comprehensive literature review followed by evidence-based recommendations on appropriate management. A summary of the pathophysiology of parturition is provided, and the obstetric scenarios cover management of threatened preterm labour, management of preterm premature ruptured membranes and management of preterm labour with specific complications (such as intrauterine growth restriction). Other chapters include the epidemiology, the prediction and the prevention of preterm labour. Anaesthetic and paediatric issues are explored in depth, and there are chapters on legal and organisational issues around preterm labour.

Selecting good-quality sperm for use in in-vitro fertilization is a key step in assisted reproduction. For many years purely morphological attributes have been used to assess suitability, but increasingly biochemical and molecular biological techniques are now identifying sperm with the best chances of producing viable and healthy embryos. Focusing on modern sperm function testing, this manual provides technical details of commonly used tests and gives an overview of the laboratory techniques used to evaluate sperm samples. Covering a variety of testing methods in detail, from manual and computer-assisted semen analysis to zona pellucida binding assays, and tests assessing sperm DNA damage such as the TUNEL assay. Describing the underlying science, practical advice for performing the tests is given, including tips for optimizing outcomes and trouble-shooting. This is an essential guide for reproductive medicine specialists, clinical andrologists, urologists and gynecologists working with sub-fertile men.

This book presents an anatomical overview of the changing form and structure of the human body. Although biomechanical embryology can be traced back to the 19th century, up until recently the most commonly accepted framework for the study of human ontogeny (development of the individual) was molecular biology, which all too frequently relied on findings from animal experiments that remained untested for humans. German embryologist and anatomist Erich Blechschmidt's research concentrates on the evidence presented by the human embryo itself. He offers a new approach to the study of early human growth as a way to shed light on the development of body build, instincts, gestures, language, mathematics, tools, and dress.

A basic understanding of human genetics is vital for all those working in the field of assisted human reproduction. Genetic makeup can hamper reproduction and insight into this is making genetic diagnosis and counselling increasingly important. This fully updated textbook continues the clear structure of the original edition, beginning with a chapter on the basics of genetics and cytogenetics. Genetic causes of infertility and the effect of epigenetics and transposons on fertility are discussed in detail. Several new chapters are included in this edition, reflecting the advances of the field, including preconception genetic analysis and screening in IVF and mitochondrial genetics. Combining genetics, reproductive biology and medicine, this is an essential text for practitioners in reproductive medicine and geneticists involved in the field looking to improve their knowledge of the subject and provide outstanding patient care.

In addition to covering clinical topics and surgical procedures, this essential textbook provides detailed commentary on the contemporary social, psychological and economic issues that affect women's health. Acknowledged authorities in respective research fields have contributed specific sections to address the topics of women's mental health, genetics, prescribing for women, health promotion, hormones throughout the life cycle, psychological and behavioral issues.

Scientists investigating germ cells have, over the past 15 years, originated discoveries and innovations that give us valuable insights into the mechanisms that regulate not just stem cell function, but human development in its widest sense. With contributions from some of the leading researchers in the field, Male Germline Stem Cells: Developmental and Regenerative Potential assesses the implications of these discoveries for understanding the fundamental biology of germline stem cells as well as their potential for human stem cell-based therapies. This monograph covers many of the fundamental issues now being explored by today's generation of stem cell researchers, including the field's potential for regenerative medicine. Ranging from an assessment of the pluripotency of primordial germ cells and their possible applications in treating testicular cancer, to the recovery of once-mordant fertilization-competent sperm, this volume has it all. It is a reference point for any scientist involved in related research as well as being a timely summation of what could prove to be a hugely exciting and very fruitful area of inquiry.

Asserting that there are many more organic codes in nature than just the genetic code, Marcello Barbieri states that the existence of these codes and their corresponding organic memories can be used to explain the key steps in the evolutionary history of life. With major events corresponding to the appearance of new codes, the organic codes and their corresponding organic memories can also shed new light on the problems of epigenesis and how embryos generate their own complexity.

Women's reproductive tract infections and other gynecological disorders are an enormous global health burden. This significant book helps focus research in this important, neglected area. It is a vital tool for doctors, epidemiologists and public health professionals to formulate effective ways of evaluating the scale of this problem within the local community. The book takes an international perspective and recognizes that gathering gynecological information in different societies requires a sensitive and multidisciplinary approach. This research highlights the social significance of these disorders for women's health and casts new light on effective medical and behavioral interventions.

This insightful and thought-provoking collection of chapters describes the rapid advances that have revolutionized reproductive medicine. From oogenesis and spermatogenesis, through to fertilization, embryogenesis, and cloning, this volume looks at cutting-edge technologies and scientific advances. Subsequent chapters focus on infertility and its diagnosis and treatment using the full armory of assisted reproductive technologies. A concluding section surveys the impact of these developments on the provision, regulation, and financing of reproductive health care in the global community.

This well-illustrated new publication provides concise yet comprehensive practical information on the modern-day approach to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. The author explains basic principles of reproductive physiology, before moving on to the medical causes of infertility. The full armory of techniques from IVF to ICSI and even newer technologies used to treat infertility in all its manifestations is described and detailed. The aim throughout is to explain issues clearly, simply, and directly in a way that will be understood by doctors, scientists, and nurses alike. By combining basic science and medical aspects, along with "how it is done" descriptions of techniques and medical interventions, this book offers an unsurpassed introductory account of this fast moving area.

This book focuses on four of the hallmarks of aging: aspartic acid racemization, advanced glycation end products, telomere shortening and mitochondrial mutations; describing their role in aging and diseases; and their application to age-at-death estimation in forensic sciences in greater depth, displaying the interconnecting pathways among these processes. An additional chapter related to Epigenetics and its role in aging, diseases, and forensic age estimation is also included. This book is aimed at a broad audience: from students being introduced to aging, diseases, and forensic science research to scientists in biomedicine and forensics complementing their knowledge in their respective fields while also increasing their knowledge in other disciplines.

This practical and concise guide provides a step-by-step approach to every aspect of the interpretation of semen analysis results. While other books focus on basic semen analysis protocol and techniques, few books then go on to actually interpret these results and provide useful guidance on the significance of different results for infertility assessment. This guide takes a systematic, hands-on approach to identification of the ranges of abnormality that contribute to male subfertility. It also defines basic concepts, provides clinically essential reference values, and elucidates the often subtle relationships among many sperm characteristics. Once conclusions are reached, the guide offers recommendations for appropriate referral and additional options. Inclusion of vignettes from a wide range of real-life case reports based on the author's own experiences help to illustrate key points. This practical guide is an invaluable resource for all clinicians, scientists, and laboratory professionals working with infertile patients.

As we enter the twenty-first century, a number of medical, environmental, and social changes have profoundly affected human reproduction. This book discusses some of the more dramatic changes in an accessible manner, illustrating the ways in which human biology and culture can affect fertility. It provides a unique interdisciplinary perspective on the subject. Topics of discussion include medical technological advances that equip us with potential cures for many causes of infertility; diseases, such as AIDS, that have a devastating impact on the reproductive and social lives of humans; increasing industrialization and the development of fabricated materials that pollute our environment in unforeseen ways with possibly devastating effects on human health and fertility; and social revolutions that profoundly alter human relationships, such as nonmarital unions between heterosexual couples, same-sex relationships, and adoption and surrogacy.

In recent years, the treatment of male infertility has been revolutionized by advances in assisted reproductive technology. Prepared by an authoritative international panel of experts, this concise and structured account provides a consensus on the most effective and logical approach to the investigation and management of male infertility. The manual focuses attention on three key areas: history taking, clinical assessment of male fertility, and objective criteria for diagnostic categories. This approach complements the areas covered in the companion volume WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction (CUP, fourth edition, 1999) and significantly expands on the section on male infertility discussed in the previous volume on the infertile couple, WHO Manual for the Standardized Investigation and Diagnosis of the Infertile Couple (CUP, 1993). This new, practical consensus will be an indispensable guide to good clinical management of all forms of male infertility.

'It is very hard to produce a timely book about a subject that changes as quickly as technologically assisted reproduction, but John Harris and Soren Holm have managed to do exactly that. The fourteen essays in this small volume provide an extremely useful and highly readable overview of the key moral, legal, and social themes raised by new ways of making babies. . . . The book is unique in that it offers perspectives on all these topics from a variety of disciplines and professions as well as from a broad range of national and cultural perspectives.' Arthur Caplan, British Medical Journal

Die moderne Reproduktionsmedizin wird oftmals als letzte Chance von Partnern ausgewahlt, um ihren starken, bisher unerfullten Wunsch nach einem eigenen Kind einzuloesen - ungeachtet dessen, dass sie oeffentlich sehr kontrovers diskutiert werden und haufig auf grosse Ablehnung stossen. Die Teilnahme an einer Reproduktionsbehandlung ist kostenintensiv: Zusatzlich zu den finanziellen Kosten der medizinischen Behandlung kommen noch weitere subjektive Kosten hinzu, so z.B. ein erheblicher Zeitaufwand wahrend der Fertilisierungstherapien oder aber auch das Ertragen koerperlicher und psychischer Belastungen. Die vorliegende Arbeit erforscht die Einstellung der Betroffenen zur Reproduktionsmedizin und was sie mit einem Kind verbinden. Daruber hinaus wird erforscht, wie die ungewollt kinderlosen Partner die koerperlichen, psychischen und finanziellen Belastungen erleben und bewerten.

The Fourth Edition of Knobil & Neill will continue to serve as a reference aid for research, to provide the historical context to current research, and most importantly as an aid for graduate teaching on a broad range of topics in human and comparative reproduction. In the decade since the publication of the last edition, the study of reproductive physiology has undergone monumental changes. Chief among these advances are in the areas of stem cell development, signaling pathways, the role of inflammation in the regulatory processes in the various tissues, and the integration of new animal models which have led to a greater understanding of human disease. This new edition will seek to synthesize all of this new information at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels of organization and present modern physiology a more understandable and comparative context.
*The leading comprehensive work on the physiology of reproduction
*Edited and authored by the world's leading scientists in the field
*Is a synthesis of the molecular, cellular, and organismic levels of organization
*Bibliogrpahics of chapters are extensive and cover all the relevant literature