Kisspeptin has been shown to be both necessary and sufficient for activation of the reproductive axis, during puberty and later in adulthood. This makes kisspeptin a fundamental component of the reproductive axis. Kisspeptin has been deemed the single most potent stimulator of GnRH neurons yet known. The importance of kisspeptin has been documented in humans as well as non-human animal models, ranging from monkeys, sheep, and rodents to numerous fish species, thus signifying a highly conserved nature of its reproductive function. Importantly, kisspeptin neurons seem to mediate many of the regulatory effects of other signals, whether they are metabolic, circadian, hormonal, or stress. This places kisspeptin neurons in a unique position to be key nodal points and conduits for conveying numerous endogenous and exogenous signals to the reproductive axis.

As the preface indicates, this sorely needed tool is more than a dictionary. In addition to defining terms specific to gerontology (circuit breakers, ' Detroit syndrome') and multidisciplinary terms (suicide, ' cholesterol') pertinent to gerontology, in alphabetic order, it provides one to four references for each term. . . . . Highly recommended for upper-division and graduate collections. "Choice"

Because of the different disciplines that gerontology encompasses, the definition it uses can prove bewildering to students, scholars, and practitioners. Diana Harris is the first scholar to deal with this terminology in a comprehensive manner. Reflecting multidisciplinary perspectives and introducing standardization, her dictionary offers hundreds of precisely defined terms and concepts, as well as detailed, up-to-date bibliographic information. Because of the different disciplines that gerontology encompasses, the definitions it uses can prove bewildering to students, scholars, and practitioners. Diana Harris is the first scholar to deal with this terminology in a comprehensive manner. Reflecting multidisciplinary perspectives and introducing standardization, her dictionary offers hundreds of precisely defined terms and concepts, as well as detailed, up-to-date bibliographic information.

"Aging: Oxidative Stress and Dietary Antioxidants" bridges the trans-disciplinary divide and covers in a single volume the science of oxidative stress in aging and the potentially therapeutic use of natural antioxidants in the diet or food matrix. The processes within the science of oxidative stress are described in concert with other processes, such as apoptosis, cell signaling, and receptor mediated responses. This approach recognizes that diseases are often multifactorial, and oxidative stress is a single component of this.

Gerontologists, geriatricians, nutritionists, and dieticians are separated by divergent skills and professional disciplines that need to be bridged in order to advance preventative as well as treatment strategies. While gerontologists and geriatricians may study the underlying processes of aging, they are less likely to be conversant in the science of nutrition and dietetics. On the other hand, nutritionists and dietitians are less conversant with the detailed clinical background and science of gerontology. This book addresses this gap and brings each of these disciplines to bear on the processes inherent in the oxidative stress of aging.
Nutritionists can apply information related to mitochondrial oxidative stress in one disease to diet-related strategies in another unrelated disease Dietitians can prescribe new foods or diets containing anti-oxidants for conditions resistant to conventional pharmacological treatments Dietitians, after learning about the basic biology of oxidative stress, will be able to suggest new treatments to their multidisciplinary teamsNutritionists and dietitians will gain an understanding of cell signaling and be able to suggest new preventative or therapeutic strategies with anti-oxidant rich foods

"The Atlas of Chick Development, Third Edition," a classic work covering all major event of chick development, is extensively updated with new and more detailed photographs, enlargements showing regions of special-interest and complexity, and new illustrations. The revised text and expanded illustrative material describe the intricate changes that take place during development, together with accounts of recent experimental and molecular research that has transformed our understanding of morphogenesis.

These wide-ranging updates make this book an essential resource for developmental biologists, geneticists, molecular biologists, poultry scientists, biochemists, immunologists, and other life scientists who use the chick embryo as their research model. Individuals joining this burgeoning area, ignited by the increased insight into events surrounding organ and tissue differentiation, will find this a valuable tool to help grow a basic knowledge of morphogenesis.
Remains the established standard the only book providing a comprehensive description of chick development from fertilization to hatching
Contains more than 750 photographs and illustrations, including 410 labelled histological sections and 85 new high-quality plates, showing the major anatomical events from the earliest stages to 13 days of incubation
Includes more than 200 labelled and detailed scanning electron micrographs, showing various tissues in great detail
Leads the reader to important reviews on aspects of this rapidly moving field, along with extensive and updated references"

A paradigm-shifting book from an acclaimed Harvard Medical School scientist and one of Time’s most influential people.

It’s a seemingly undeniable truth that aging is inevitable. But what if everything we’ve been taught to believe about aging is wrong? What if we could choose our lifespan?

In this groundbreaking book, Dr. David Sinclair, leading world authority on genetics and longevity, reveals a bold new theory for why we age. As he writes: “Aging is a disease, and that disease is treatable.”

This eye-opening and provocative work takes us to the frontlines of research that is pushing the boundaries on our perceived scientific limitations, revealing incredible breakthroughs—many from Dr. David Sinclair’s own lab at Harvard—that demonstrate how we can slow down, or even reverse, aging. The key is activating newly discovered vitality genes, the descendants of an ancient genetic survival circuit that is both the cause of aging and the key to reversing it. Recent experiments in genetic reprogramming suggest that in the near future we may not just be able to feel younger, but actually become younger.

Through a page-turning narrative, Dr. Sinclair invites you into the process of scientific discovery and reveals the emerging technologies and simple lifestyle changes—such as intermittent fasting, cold exposure, exercising with the right intensity, and eating less meat—that have been shown to help us live younger and healthier for longer. At once a roadmap for taking charge of our own health destiny and a bold new vision for the future of humankind, Lifespan will forever change the way we think about why we age and what we can do about it.

Guest edited by Bonnie Joe, this issue of MRI Clinics covers breast screening protocols, imaging the newly diagnosed cancer patient, imaging to monitor response to therapy, breast MR spectroscopy, and more.

A candid assessment of the pros and cons of delayed motherhood.
Biology does not bend to feminist ideals and science does not work miracles. That is the message of this eye-opening discussion of the consequences of delayed motherhood. Part personal account, part manifesto, Selvaratnam recounts her emotional journey through multiple miscarriages after the age of 37. Her doctor told her she still "had time," but Selvaratnam found little reliable and often conflicting information about a mature woman's biological ability (or inability) to conceive.
Beyond her personal story, the author speaks to women in similar situations around the country, as well as fertility doctors, adoption counselors, reproductive health professionals, celebrities, feminists, journalists, and sociologists. Through in-depth reporting and her own experience, Selvaratnam urges more widespread education and open discussion about delayed motherhood in the hope that long-lasting solutions can take effect. The result is a book full of valuable information that will enable women to make smarter choices about their reproductive futures and to strike a more realistic balance between science, society and personal goals.

The age-friendly community movement is a global phenomenon, currently growing with the support of the WHO and multiple international and national organizations in the field of aging. Drawing on an extensive collection of international case studies, this volume provides an introduction to the movement. The contributors - both researchers and practitioners - touch on a number of current tensions and issues in the movement and offer a wide-ranging set of recommendations for advancing age-friendly community development. The book concludes with a call for a radical transformation of a medical and lifestyle model of aging into a relational model of health and social/individual wellbeing.

This new volume of "Current Topics in Developmental Biology" covers the area of gametogenesis, with contributions from an international board of authors. The chapters provide a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as germline stem cells, signaling modalities during oogenesis in mammals, and genomic imprinting as a parental effect established in mammalian germ cells.
Covers the area of gametogenesisInternational board of authorsProvides a comprehensive set of reviews covering such topics as germline stem cells, signaling modalities during oogenesis in mammals, and genomic imprinting as a parental effect established in mammalian germ cells

Microsurgery for Fertility Specialists is an invaluable resource for physicians who specialize in the surgical treatment of male and female infertility. This practical text explains the basics of microsurgery and provides detailed operative descriptions of surgical procedures such as vasectomy reversal, sperm retrieval, tubal reanastomosis, and penile surgery. An exceptional cadre of reproductive specialists shares valuable knowledge of the current state of microsurgery, its role in infertility procedures, and the latest advances in the field --including some non-infertility microsurgical techniques. The book is an essential educational guide for those with a more advanced knowledge of microsurgical practice as it includes chapters that will help them mentor residents and fellows, and inspire future generations of reproductive surgeons.

How the fear of malpractice affects mothers and reproductive choices Giving birth is a monumental event, not only in the personal life of the woman giving birth, but as a medical process and procedure. In The Business of Birth, Louise Marie Roth explores the process of giving birth, and the ways in which medicine and law interact to shape maternity care. Focusing on the United States, Roth explores how the law creates an environment where medical providers, malpractice attorneys, and others limit women’s rights and choices during birth. She shows how a fear of liability risk often drives the decision-making process of medical providers, who prioritize hospital efficiency over patient safety, to the detriment of mothers themselves. Ultimately, Roth advocates for an approach that protects the reproductive rights of mothers. A comprehensive overview, The Business of Birth provides valuable insight into the impact of the law on mothers, medical providers, maternity care practices, and others in the United States.

This issue of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics covers the Medical and Surgical Management of Common Fertility Issues. Articles include Infertility Evaluation, Ovulation Induction, and problems such as fibroids, endometriosis, and ectopic pregnancy.

For many years, it has been known that when rats and mice are given a reduced amount of food, their life span is increased and they remain healthy and vigorous at advanced ages.

What is the reason for this change in the usual pattern of aging? The evidence is overwhelming that the life extension results from a slowing of aging processes. And the factor responsible is the decrease in caloric intake. The obvious question: How does this factor work? A good question - and the reason that research on the anti-aging action of caloric restriction is today one of the most studied research areas in biological gerontology. For it is felt that if the biological mechanisms of the anti-aging action of caloric restriction can be uncovered, we would gain an understanding of the basic nature of aging processes, which would, in turn, yield possible interventions in human aging. This book aims to provide the growing number of researchers in this field (faculty, postdoctoral trainees, and graduate students) with a detailed knowledge of what is known about caloric restriction within the frame of gerontology, as well as insights on future of this field.

This book presents the current state of knowledge on the origin and differentiation of cell lines involved in the development of the vertebrate male and female gonads with particular emphasis on the mouse. It also discusses the processes leading to the testis- and ovary-specific structures and functions. The individual chapters review the origin and differentiation of the somatic cells of the genital ridges; the formation and migration of primordial germ cells in mouse and man; the gonadal supporting cell lineage and mammalian sex determination; differentiation of Sertoli and granulosa cells; mesonephric cell migration into the gonads and vascularization; origin and differentiation of androgen-producing cells in the gonads; germ cell commitment to the oogenic versus spermatogenic pathway and the role of retinoic acid; ovarian folliculogenesis; control of oocyte growth and development by intercellular communication within the follicular niche; biology of the Sertoli cell in the fetal, pubertal and adult mammalian testis; mechanisms regulating spermatogonial differentiation; stem cells in mammalian gonads; the role of microRNAs in cell differentiation during gonad development; human sex development and its disorders; as well as methods for the study of gonadal development.

This book addresses the impacts of current and future reproductive technologies on our world food production and provides a significant contribution to the importance of research in the area of reproductive physiology that has never been compiled before. It would provide a unique opportunity to separate the impacts of how reproductive technologies have affected different species and their contributions to food production. Lastly, no publication has been compiled that demonstrates the relationship between developments in reproductive management tools and food production that may be used a reference for scientists in addressing future research areas. During the past 50 years assisted reproductive technologies have been developed and refined to increase the number and quality of offspring from genetically superior farm animal livestock species. Artificial insemination (AI), estrous synchronization and fixed-time AI, semen and embryo cryopreservation, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), in vitro fertilization, sex determination of sperm or embryos, and nuclear transfer are technologies that are used to enhance the production efficiency of livestock species.

Reproductive medicine is a growing field with new technology emerging faster than we can assess consumer's perceptions of -the number of cancer survivors are growing and there is a great need to attend to their quality of life-this book addresses the needs of males and females, identifies effective communication strategies and proactive measures for health care professionals and researchers to use as well as identifying gaps in the literature where more research is needed.

There are several types of damage that can be found in the male gamete. Genetic damage in spermatozoa can originate during spermatogenesis, or it can originate during transit in both male and female genital tracts. Damage can also be due to ageing, environmental or iatrogenic conditions, as well as to the protocols to cryopreserve and to select spermatozoa in assisted reproduction techniques. The purpose of this book is to provide a comprehensive resource for all possible DNA damages in sperm, the relation to fertility and infertility, and possible transgenerational heritable effects.

This book combines the most recent knowledge on the maternal, i.e. oocyte/egg-specific, molecules and processes. The volume covers the most recent advances in a plethora of subjects such as: maternal transfer of immunity, localized RNAs functions and mechanisms of RNA localization, transcriptional repression of maternal messages, maternal inheritance and maternal role of CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, chromatin remodeling and epigenetic modifications, maternal function of nucleosomes, maternal mitochondria and energy supply, role of bacterial symbionts and their maternal transmission, acquisition of oocyte polarity and evolution of maternal effect genes, germ plasm and oosome origin and functions, mechanisms of oocyte activation and soma germ cells communication. Currently, no other book on the market combines such a comprehensive list of subjects in one volume. Moreover, the information provided is a cross-section through oocytes from various invertebrate and vertebrate species, which is another unique feature of this book. The readers, therefore, get a completely new and invaluable perspective on all covered subjects.

Rheumatic (or systemic autoimmune) diseases disproportionately affect young women: the female-to-male ratio for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus during the reproductive years is approximately 9:1. In the mid- to late-twentieth century, women with rheumatic disease diagnoses were often advised to avoid pregnancy due to fear of disease exacerbation and adverse outcome. In more recent years, many women with rheumatic disease have deferred childbearing until a later age due to active disease or unsafe therapies. However, with advances in rheumatology therapies, obstetric monitoring, and reproductive medicine technologies, increasing numbers of women with rheumatic diseases are pursuing pregnancy. As a result, obstetricians and rheumatologists need to be aware of the current state of knowledge and the recommendations for management of pregnancy in these patients. Contraception and Pregnancy in Patients with Rheumatic Disease explains the basics of contraception, fertility treatment, and pregnancy in rheumatic disease patients and serves as a guide and reference tool for both rheumatologists and OB/GYNs. Most general rheumatologists and OB/GYNs have limited experience in caring for rheumatic disease patients during pregnancy, and many do not have ready access to expert colleagues in this area. This book summarizes the current state of knowledge and presents a general approach for assessment of the rheumatic disease patient considering pregnancy, hormonal contraception or infertility treatment.

This book is a comprehensive guide to the management of infertility for gynaecologists and trainees. Divided into seven sections, the text begins with initial patient presentation and various diagnostic investigation techniques including transvaginal sonography, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, and semen analysis. The following sections cover different causes of anovulation (lack or absence of ovulation), problems with the uterus and fallopian tubes such as polyps and fibroids, and other conditions including endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and cervical factors. The next section examines male infertility, followed by detailed discussion on the use of IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF (in vitro fertilisation), and when each is the more appropriate treatment method. The third edition of this book has been fully revised to provide clinicians with knowledge of the latest advances and technologies in the field. Key points Comprehensive guide to management of infertility Step by step approach to both basic and advanced procedures Fully revised, third edition providing latest advances in the field Previous edition (9789350905319) published in 2013

Population growth and global health disparities for many reproductive and perinatal outcomes are but a few of the pressing issues facing public health today. Despite growing interest in the field, formal training in reproductive and perinatal epidemiology remains limited, with few available textbooks aimed at providing an overview of the field. In response to this need, faculty from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) and CIHR's Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (IHDCYH) developed an intensive, competitive, Summer Institute in Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology. The curriculum of this Summer Institute has been developed into a textbook to provide students and researchers with a working knowledge of the substantive and methodologic issues underlying reproductive and perinatal epidemiology.
Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology offers a core curriculum that addresses the epidemiology of major reproductive and perinatal outcomes. From human fecundity to birth and neonatal outcomes, the subject is approached from as international a perspective as possible, and the unique methodologic issues underlying each outcome are discussed. Developed by leading researchers in collaboration with their students in response to their needs and concerns, this is the definitive textbook on the subject.

This textbook considers the medical, surgical, legal and ethical aspects of establishing and maintaining an office-based egg donation programme. Chapters discuss: indications and success rates; screening and demographics of recipients and donors; preparation of the endometrium; synchronization of cycles; obstetrical outcomes; risks and complications; gestational carriers; consents and contracts; and ethics.