Translational Autoimmunity: Autoimmune Diseases in Different Clinical Settings addresses autoimmunity and associated conditions, such as aging, infectious diseases, cancer, neurodegeneration, psychological disorders, fertility, inflammatory vascular diseases, and interstitial lung diseases. The book addresses sufficiently basic questions on how the immune system is designed to distinguish self from no self and behave such that it's able to maintain self-tolerance, how does it work in infections, and how it elicits an auto-reactive state and develops self-antigens seen in autoimmune conditions. This is followed by an overview on the genetic and clinical aspects of the spectrum of autoimmune diseases which are broadly categorized into two types of organ specific autoimmune diseases and non-organ specific autoimmune diseases (also known as systemic autoimmune diseases).

Encyclopedia of Infection and Immunity, Four Volume Set provides new insights into the interactions between bacteria, fungi, parasites and their hosts. Specific areas of interest include host cellular and immune response to microbes, molecular mechanisms of action of beneficial microbes or host-associated microbial communities, microbial pathogenesis, virulence factors, experimental models of infection, host resistance or susceptibility, and the generation of innate and adaptive immune responses. Comprised of over 200 chapters written and edited by leading experts in the field, this book will serve as a key resource for students, researchers, academics and industry practitioners in the fields of microbiology, immunology, and infectious diseases. More than 100 years after Robert Koch and Louis Pasteur established the microbial etiology of communicable diseases, the field of microbiology is experiencing a second period of rapid growth and expansion, driven by the realization that changes in host-associated microbial communities might be at the root of a broad spectrum of noncommunicable human diseases. These advances follow on the heels of recent progress in high-throughput sequencing technology, which has provided a wealth of information on the human microbiome and its physiological potential.

Novel AI and Data Science Advancements for Sustainability in the Era of COVID-19 discusses how the role of recent technologies applied to health settings can help fight virus outbreaks. Moreover, it provides guidelines on how governments and institutions should prepare and quickly respond to drastic situations using technology to support their communities in order to maintain life and functional as efficiently as possible. The book discusses topics such as AI-driven histopathology analysis for COVID-19 diagnosis, bioinformatics for subtype rational drug design, deep learning-based treatment evaluation and outcome prediction, sensor informatics for monitoring infected patients, and machine learning for tracking and prediction models. In addition, the book presents AI solutions for hospital management during an epidemic or pandemic, along with real-world solutions and case studies of successful measures to support different types of communities. This is a valuable source for medical informaticians, bioinformaticians, clinicians and other healthcare workers and researchers who are interested in learning more on how recently developed technologies can help us fight and minimize the effects of global pandemics.

Investigating Human Diseases with the Microbiome: Metagenomics Bench to Bedside is a summary of underlying principles for human health and disease studies from a microbiome point-of-view. From birth to old age, microbiomes in fecal, oral/nasal, vaginal, and skin samples contain important information that can predict disease risks in the future. Tissue samples also contain microbes that are relevant for diseases. The microbiome connects genetic and environmental factors and is poised to greatly facilitate precision medicine, including prevention, diagnosis and effective treatment of many complex diseases. Based in traditional microbiology and adding a more wholistic view of the advent of high-throughput sequencing, this reference poses the key questions of the total number of microbial cells and their distribution in the human body while also considering concepts from macroecology and from causal reasoning. An entire chapter is dedicated to methods, providing hands-on information for important considerations when collecting samples for metagenomic studies.

Herbal Bioactive-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Challenges and Opportunities provides a wide-ranging, in-depth resource for herbal bioactives, including detailed discussion of standardization and regulations. The book first explores specific drug delivery systems such as gastrointestinal, ocular, pulmonary, transdermal, and vaginal and rectal. It then discusses novel applications for nano, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, wound healing and cancer treatment. Finally, there is a section focusing on standardization and regulation which includes an enhancement of properties. This book is an essential resource for pharmacologists, pharmaceutical scientists, material scientists, botanists, and all those interested in natural products and drug delivery systems developments.

Women's healthcare regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome remains challenging. Patients often go from one specialist to another trying to fully understand and management the disorder. Women often go years before a diagnosis, seeing three or more doctors before a confirmed diagnosis. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: Challenging Issues in the Modern Era of Individualized Medicine brings together multiple medical disciplines to improve the care of women with PCOS. Such a multidisciplinary clinical and scientific approach integrates obstetrics and gynecology, pediatric and medical endocrinology, internal medicine, genetics, psychology and laboratory medicine into relevant translational clinical and scientific discussions that update both the scientific understanding of PCOS and the diagnosis and management of all aspects of the syndrome. The impact of PCO on the onset of puberty is subdivided in sub sections to get a better understanding of this condition and the management at different stages in a woman's life.

Neurological Complications of Systematic Cancer and Antineoplastic Therapy, Second Edition provides an expanded, updated and in-depth review of common manifestations related to neurology that occur in patients with systemic cancer. These include brain metastases, spinal cord compression, cerebrovascular events, and leptomeningeal disease. The book also discusses neurological complications related to treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy and is an essential reference for the practicing neurologist and oncologist. Sections in this new release cover the pathophysiology and molecular biology of cancer and the metastatic phenotype, Metastatic spread to cranial and peripheral nerves and brachial and lumbosacral plexuses, Metabolic and nutritional disorders, CNS infections, Neurological complications of immunotherapy and bone marrow transplants, Neurological complications of new molecular agents and immuno-modulatory drugs, and more.

Spinal Cord Injury Pain presents the basis for preclinical and clinical investigations, along with strategies for new approaches in the treatment of central neuropathic pain. Contributors from the private sector and academia provide a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art research in this challenging space. Topics include Epidemiology of Chronic Pain Following SCI, experimental models and mechanisms of chronic pain in SCI, and new targets and technologies. This book serves as a resource for continued translational research that will result in novel approaches and treatments that improve function and quality of life for individuals with CNP/SCI. Despite a better understanding of the complexity of mechanisms of CNP/SCI, improved medical and surgical management of SCI, and the subsequent acceleration of the identification of new targets and the development of novel analgesics, there is still a great unmet clinical need in the area of CNP following SCI. Hence, this book is a welcomed addition to current research and developments.

Zones associated with qi (chi or life force) used in the practice of Reflexology are mapped over anatomical illustrations of the surface anatomy of the hands, feet and ear to better locate the zone needed. Many views offer a 360 degree mapping of the zones for reference. Suggested uses: Reflexologists -- use as reference when discussing techniques and the process with clients; Instructors & Students -- a handy go-to reference while learning the zones.

Clinical Pharmacology During Pregnancy, Second Edition is written for clinicians, physicians, midwives, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professionals involved in the care of women during pregnancy. The book focuses on the impact of pregnancy on drug disposition and includes coverage of treatments for diseases of specific body systems as well as essential content on dosing and efficacy. This update includes substantially expanded sections on the ethics of pharmacological research in pregnancy and physiologic changes, along with new sections on patient reported outcomes in pregnancy, delivery and postnatal care, and the use of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic approaches to estimate maternal, placental and fetal dosing. The broad range of this book encompasses analgesics, antiasthmatics, antidepressants, heart and circulatory drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements, and more. Topics in chemotherapy and substance abuse are also covered, as are research issues, including clinical trial design and ethical considerations.

A Molecular Approach to Immunogenetics, Immunogenetics: A Molecular and Clinical Overview, Volume One provides readers with an exclusive, updated overview on the scientific knowledge, achievements and findings in the field of immunogenetics. The book presents readily available, updated information on the molecular and clinical aspects of immunogenetics, from origin and development to clinical applications and future prospects. The breadth of information goes from basics to developments, clinical applications and future prospects. The book's most attractive attribute is its academic and clinical amalgamation that covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of immunogenetics. An additional feature of the book is a special chapter on viral genetics that covers COVID-19. Above all, the book contains chapters that discuss immunogenetics in relation to pharmaco-genomics and immune-toxicology.

Human Biochemistry, Second Edition provides a comprehensive, pragmatic introduction to biochemistry as it relates to human development and disease. Here, Gerald Litwack, award-wining researcher and longtime teacher, discusses the biochemical aspects of organ systems and tissue, cells, proteins, enzymes, insulins and sugars, lipids, nucleic acids, amino acids, polypeptides, steroids, and vitamins and nutrition, among other topics. Fully updated to address recent advances, the new edition features fresh discussions on hypothalamic releasing hormones, DNA editing with CRISPR, new functions of cellular prions, plant-based diet and nutrition, and much more. Grounded in problem-driven learning, this new edition features clinical case studies, applications, chapter summaries, and review-based questions that translate basic biochemistry into clinical practice, thus empowering active clinicians, students and researchers.

Handbook of Hormones: Comparative Endocrinology for Basic and Clinical Research, Second Edition presents a catalog of fundamental information on the structure and function of hormones from basic biology to clinical use, offering a rapid way to obtain specific facts about the chemical and molecular characteristics of hormones, their receptors, signaling pathways, and the biological activities they regulate. The book's stellar editorial board, affiliated with the Japan Society for Comparative Endocrinology, brings together authors that present a compelling structure of each hormone with a consistent presentation that provides a primer surrounding the plethora of hormones that now exist. Comparative endocrinology continues to rapidly expand and new information about hormones is being produced almost daily, making it important to stay up-to-date. Hormone, paracrine, and autocrine factors have been identified as key players in a range of different systems, including immune, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular. Frontiers between disciplines are being blurred and many scientists in fields other than endocrinology are interested in hormones. Scientists now have the unprecedented opportunity to look from invertebrates to vertebrate and identify novel regulatory factors and understand their function and how they determine an organism's physiology and survival.

Bone Cancer: Bone Sarcomas and Bone Metastases - From Bench to Bedside, Third Edition comprehensively investigates key discoveries in the field of bone biology. New aspects of bone cancer biology are treated in new chapters covering exosomes, autophagy, and metabolism. These have led to the development of entirely new areas for investigation, such as therapies which combine surgery and biological approaches. The Third Edition expands on the original overview of bone cancer development (physiology and pathophysiology), with 40% new material. Each chapter has been written by internationally recognized specialists on the bone cancer microenvironment, bone metastases, osteoclast biology in bone cancer, proteomics, bone niche, circulating tumor cells, and clinical trials. Given the global prevalence of breast and prostate cancers, knowledge of bone biology has become essential for everyone within the medical and cancer research communities. Bone Cancer: Bone Sarcomas and Bone Metastases - From Bench to Bedside continues to offer the only translational reference to cover all aspects of primary bone cancer and bone metastases. This revision opens the door to myeloma with two short chapters dedicated to this bone-associated disease.

Healthcare Strategies and Planning for Social Inclusion and Development: Volume One: Health for All - Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare Management examines health care management, particularly in developing countries, along with the key aspects of universal health required to address current global health issues. This new volume begins with an overview of the concept and definition of "Health for All." The book covers how international organizations like the WHO support national health authorities in managing their core healthcare systems, support healthcare workforces, utilize technologies like health information systems, ensure health coverage and funding, and provide primary healthcare education. This volume is a useful resource to graduate students in public health and health care policy, public health professionals, health and social work researchers, and health policy makers interested in global health and primary healthcare services, particularly in developing countries.

History of Modern Clinical Toxicology describes the extraordinary advances in the practice of clinical toxicology within the past 70 years and brings together stories of the people - the champions of clinical toxicology - who contributed to these advances, discovered new therapies and antidotes, and made change happen. This book lays out the poison control system they built and the fascinating story of how they created a new and evolving medical specialty. With the participation of renowned international experts as authors, the book showcases the development of poison control centers around the world and the growth of the professional societies that represent and support them today. This book also tells the stories of the modern-day toxic disasters and recent toxic exposures that gained worldwide attention and notoriety. It outlines the public health responses to such calamities which have led to improvements in our understanding of the science and changes in public health policies and regulations to forestall future such events. Finally, the book covers key policies and agencies affecting poison control centers, addresses the challenges facing clinical toxicologists of today, and predicts advances and future innovations in the field. History of Modern Clinical Toxicology is a unique resource that provides the historical and international perspective that will help students, practitioners, scientists, and health policy makers put current issues and methods in perspective. It will help them understand how infrastructure and processes in clinical toxicology have evolved and why poison control systems are configured as they are.

Progress in Brain Research series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, Second Edition, Six Volume Set explores the key processes of lung diseases and their diagnosis and management. The book dissects the molecular and cellular biology, physiology and immunology that underpin normal lung function, along with the aberrations that occur in respiratory diseases, from common disorders such as asthma and COPD to rarer lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension. Written in at a time when the globe is in the grip of respiratory pandemic, lung disease has never been so prominent in the public and political conscious. This new edition will provide new researchers in respiratory medicine with a solid foundation in unfamiliar topics and will update more experienced researchers seeking to step outside their core areas of research to put their work into a broader context.

Practical Aspects of Vaccine Development provides an academic and industry perspective on vaccine development and manufacturing. With the increasing complexity of vaccine products in development, there is a need for a comprehensive review of the current state of the industry and challenges being encountered. While formulation scientists working in biotherapeutic development may be familiar with proteins, vaccines present unique challenges. Vaccines include a wide range of components including proteins, polysaccharides, protein-polysaccharide conjugates, adjuvants, and more. The container closure system may also be unique, and the product may require freezing storage or lyophilization based on the stability of the vaccine components. Based on the route of delivery, novel technologies and devices may be required. Covering formulation development, manufacture, and delivery considerations of vaccine production, this book is essential to formulation scientists, researchers in vaccine development throughout medical and life sciences, and advanced students.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect virtually any organ of the body. In lupus, the body's immune system, which normally functions to protect against foreign invaders, becomes hyperactive, forming antibodies that attack normal tissues and organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and blood. Lupus is characterized by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness or remission. Because its symptoms come and go and mimic those of other diseases, lupus is difficult to diagnose. There is no single laboratory test that can definitively prove that a person has the complex illness. To date, lupus has no known cause or cure. Early detection and treatment are the key to a better health outcome and can usually lessen the progression and severity of the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarials, and steroids (such as cortisone and others) are often used to treat lupus. Cytotoxic chemotherapies, like those used in the treatment of cancer, are also used to suppress the immune system in lupus patients. A new edition of this established and well-regarded reference combines basic science with clinical science to provide a translational medicine model. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sixth Edition, is a useful reference for specialists in the diagnosis and management of patients with SLE, a tool for measurement of clinical activity for pharmaceutical development and basic research of the disease, and a reference work for hospital libraries.

Dr. Rustgi has assembled the leading experts in the management of Heptatitis B to present the current treatment and clinical course for diagnosis and management of the disease. Articles are devoted to: Drug metabolism in the liver; Mechanism of Liver Damage including the RUCAM scale; Drug-induced acute liver failure; Epidemiology and genetic risk factors; Adverse drug reactions: type A (intrinsic or pharmacological) or type B (idiosyncratic); Pathology of injury including phenotypes; The clinical course of drug-induced liver disease; Environmental factors of drug hepatotoxicity; Newer agents in drug hepatotoxicity; Drug hepatotoxicity: herbal products; Drug hepatotoxicity: models including "human on a chip" and zebrafish; Acute and chronic liver failure from drugs: impact on the kidney; and Management of acute hepatotoxicity including medical agents and liver support systems. Readers will come away with the cutting edge science behind the latest innovations in the treatment of Hepatitis B.

South African playwright Hannah Meade arrives in London for the opening night of her new play. She has arranged to meet Pierre, the student she was in love with when she taught English in Paris. During their time together, they lied their way towards truths they were too young and inexperienced to endure. Perhaps this time they will have a second chance.

As the reader is drawn from contemporary London back to Paris on the eve of the war in Iraq, the mystery of past events is brought to vivid life in a series of dramatic, intriguing and deeply moving encounters. Written in layered, stark prose, The White Room lays bare many of our assumptions about language, identity, memory, loss and love.

‘Craig Higginson is at the vanguard of the latest and most exciting novelists in South Africa, both robust and sensitive, offering a barometer of the best to be expected from the newest wave of writing in the country.’ – André Brink

‘In its conception and execution, The White Room is remarkable ... Evocative and dreamlike, yet all too nightmarishly real, this is a story so moving that it leaves a powerful afterimage on the reader’s imagination.’ – Craig Mackenzie

Environmental and Health Management of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) examines mitigation measures that can be adopted at the time of a novel coronavirus outbreak to lessen environmental contamination and impacts on human health. The book discusses origin, structure and pathogenesis, epidemiology, environmental transmission and the potential spread routes of COVID-19 via surfaces, air, water, wastewater, medical waste and food products. It also covers guidelines and protocols for setting safety conditions to provide adequate health care and reduce the risk of infection in health and non-healthcare settings, along with preventative measures and disinfection technologies. In addition, the book discusses challenges, opportunities and future perspectives, the global crisis, and global consequences on the environment and health. With contributions from experts, this book presents a multidisciplinary reference resource for virologists, microbiologists, public health professionals, environmental health managers and others engaged in the study and mitigation of the environmental and health impacts of the virus.

A quest is never what you expect it to be.

Elizabeth Madeline Martin spends her days in a retirement home in Cape Town, watching the pigeons and squirrels on the branch of a tree outside her window. Bedridden, her memory fading, she can recall her early childhood spent in a small wood-and-iron house in Blackridge on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. Though she remembers the place in detail – dogs, a mango tree, a stream – she has no idea of where exactly it is. ‘My memory is full of blotches,’ she tells her daughter Julia, ‘like ink left about and knocked over.’

Julia resolves to find the Blackridge house: with her mother lonely and confused, would this, perhaps, bring some measure of closure? A journey begins that traverses family history, forgotten documents, old photographs, and the maps that stake out a country’s troubled past – maps whose boundaries nature remains determined to resist. Kind strangers, willing to assist in the search, lead to unexpected discoveries of ancestors and wars and lullabies. Folded into this quest are the tender conversations between a daughter and a mother who does not have long to live.

Taken as one, The Blackridge House is a meditation on belonging, of the stories we tell of home and family, of the precarious footprint of life.