Excess of homocysteine, a product of the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine, is associated with poor health, is linked to heart and brain diseases in general human populations, and accelerates mortality in heart disease patients. Neurological and cardiovascular abnormalities occur in patients with severe genetic hyperhomocysteinemia and lead to premature death due to vascular complications. Although it is considered a non-protein amino acid, studies over the past dozen years have discovered mechanisms by which homocysteine becomes a component of proteins. Homocysteine-containing proteins lose their normal biological function and become auto-immunogenic and pro-thrombotic. In this book, the author, a pioneer and a leading contributor to the field, describes up-to date studies of the biological chemistry of homocysteine-containing proteins, as well as pathological consequences and clinical implications of their formation. This is a comprehensive account of the broad range of basic science and medical implications of homocysteine-containing proteins for health and disease.

This book comprehensively describes the association between metabolic syndrome and pancreatic cancer progression, and the mechanism of action and target definition with a view to drug discovery. Metabolic syndrome, which includes adnominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia, has recently been shown to play an important role in the etiology and progression of various cancers. Further, obesity and diabetes have been associated with an increased incidence of gastric cancers. The book reviews the key biological mechanisms underlying the association between metabolic dysregulation, including obesity-associated enhancement of growth factor signaling, inflammation, and perturbation in pancreatic cancer cell growth and metastasis. It also illustrates the role of the inflammatory signaling pathway in metabolic diseases as well as tumor growth and explores the potential of these pathways as the rational targets for pancreatic cancer therapy. Lastly, the book offers a comprehensive description of the challenges associated with diabetes and pancreatic cancer therapy.

Lipids and Women's Health is an up-to-date critical review of pertinent scientific and clinical issues connected with lipid disorders in women. Topics discussed include the public health significance of cardiovascular disease in women, lipoprotein and lipid metabolism, effects of estrogens and progestins on lipid metabolism, metabolic changes of menopause, and the paradox of obesity, a curable disease that is rarely cured, as well as those conceptual advances in our understanding of diabetes mellitus that have clarified diagnosis and may have improved treatment. The relationship of diet and lipid intake to the development of breast and uterine cancer; dietary and drug treatment of lipid disorders; effects of exercise, smoking, and stress; and repercussions of lipid disorders on the family are explored. The volume should prove of use to gynecologists, internists, family practitioners, and pediatricians, as well as to all other professionals with a major concern for the health of female patients.

Metabolic programs of individuals are key determinants for disease susceptibility and immune response. This book, edited by experts in the field, summarizes epigenetic signaling pathways that regulate metabolic programs associated with cancer and cancer-related secondary diseases. The first part of the book highlights key metabolic pathways that are implicated in cancer and provides a comprehensive overview on the carbohydrate, protein, lipid, amino- and nucleic acid metabolic pathways that are deregulated in cancer. Special attention is paid to the altered tumor micro-environment that is influenced by the metabolic milieu. Furthermore, the fundamental relationship between the cellular metabolic environment and cell death-mediated autophagy is discussed. The second part of the book covers our understanding of the fundamental epigenetic regulations that are implicated in controlling the metabolic programs in cancer cells. Many aspects of epigenetic regulation of non-coding RNAs as well as DNA/RNA methylation, which influencing metabolic homeostasis in cancer, are discussed in detail. Special emphasis is placed on the epigenetic regulation of the amino acid, glucose/carbohydrate metabolism and epigenetic regulation during hypoxia and its connection to cancer. Last but not least, the third part of the book covers small molecule modulators of histone modifying enzymes, which can be used as therapeutic tools. The readers learn about the cross-talk between epigenetics and immunometabolims, as well as the epigenetic regulation of oncometabolites to combat cancer. Given its scope, the book will appeal to a broad readership interested in epigenetic, cancer and metabolic research.

Providing a holistic, global approach to all aspects of PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Basic Science to Clinical Advances Across the Lifespan offers authoritative guidance on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of this challenging syndrome. It presents a coherent, evidence-based approach to diagnosis, as well as recommendations for clinical practice grounded in recent advances in basic sciences. Unique in the field, this practical resource provides decision-making tools for endocrinologists, fertility specialists, gynecologists, and internists who diagnose and treat patients with this complex chronic condition. Covers all aspects of PCOS and management across the lifespan, including short- and long-term metabolic, endocrine, and psychological challenges. Offers an integrative approach to the understanding of pathophysiology and management of PCOS in adult women and adolescent girls with a focus on genetics, microRNAs, and risk factors. Includes clinical, hormonal and metabolic features as well as diagnostic criteria and PCOS phenotypes. Presents treatment and management options for common symptoms, hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, and conception planning, including a chapter on subfertility and the male PCOS equivalent. Includes coverage of standard comorbidities, as well as a section on global approaches to patients with PCOS that addresses unique concerns, practices, and stigmas associated with how different cultures approach the disorder. Addresses the use of complementary/alternative medicine, lifestyle modification, and behavioral therapy in managing PCOS. An eBook version is included with purchase. The eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud.

This textbook offers a concise, yet comprehensive account of human nutrition, food and nutrition-related health problems, based on the curricula of top universities around the globe. Nutrition is a multidisciplinary science, and as such, the book discusses various aspects of physiology, biochemistry, pathology, immunology, medicine, food science, and other fields related to nutrition, it focuses on the role of nutrition in the maintenance of health. The various chapters explore highly relevant issues, such as, addiction-related health problems, lifestyle-related disorders, social health problems and poor-maintenance of food hygiene and food safety. It also addresses the role of nutritional therapies for mental disorders, and includes an integrated perspective on cognition, oxidative stress and nutritional interventions in aging. Other topics include, the role of gut microbiota on human health, nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents and ketogenic diets. It also highlights malnutrition (protein energy malnutrition, starvation, malabsorption syndrome, eating disorders and overnutrition/obesity) and adipose tissue as an active endocrine organ. Moreover, it examines key concepts concerning the role of vitamins in the citric acid cycle (gluconeogenesis, ketogenesis, oxidative deamination and transamination) and precursors of coenzymes, as well as calorigenic hormones, appetite-stimulating/appetite-inhibiting hormones, anabolic and catabolic hormones affecting protein metabolism, and lipogenetic/lipolytic hormones.

This thorough volume explores protocols of proteome- and metabolome-wide strategies for the identification of protein-small molecule complexes in different organisms, in order to shed light on these important regulatory interactions. Experimental and computational strategies to characterize protein-metabolite interactions are discussed, and recent advances in enabling technologies are featured as well. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the kind of detail and expert implementation advice to ensure success in future research. Authoritative and practical, Cell-Wide Identification of Metabolite-Protein Interactions will aid researchers seeking a better understanding of the mechanisms of signal transduction occurring in the cell and assessing the effect of complex formation on cell physiology.

For more than 30 years, the highly regarded Secrets Series (R) has provided students and practitioners in all areas of health care with concise, focused, and engaging resources for quick reference and exam review. A new volume in this trusted series, Diabetes Secrets offers practical, up-to-date coverage of the full range of essential topics in this dynamic field. It features the Secrets' popular question-and-answer format that also includes lists, tables, pearls, memory aids, and an easy-to-read style - making inquiry, reference, and review quick, easy, and enjoyable. The proven Secrets Series (R) format gives you the most return for your time - succinct, easy to read, engaging, and highly effective. Up-to-date coverage of the full range of topics in diabetes, including diabetes during pregnancy; diabetes management in cancer patients; diabetes management during exercise, sports, and competition; diabetes management in hospitalized patients, and more. Top 100 Secrets and Key Points boxes provide a fast overview of the secrets you must know for success in practice and on exams. Bulleted lists, mnemonics, practical tips from global leaders in the field - all providing a concise overview of important board-relevant content. Written by global experts and thought leaders in diabetes. Portable size makes it easy to carry with you for quick reference or review anywhere, anytime. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

Chronic disease states of aging should be viewed through the prism of metabolism and biophysical processes at all levels of physiological organization present in the human body. This book describes the building blocks of understanding from a reasonable but not high-level technical language viewpoint, employing the perspective of a clinical physician. It brings together concepts from five specific branches of physics relevant to biology and medicine, namely, biophysics, classical electromagnetism, thermodynamics, systems biology and quantum mechanics. Key Features: Broad and up-to-date overview of the field of metabolism, especially connecting the spectrum of topics that range from modern physical underpinnings with cell biology to clinical practice. Provides a deeper basic science and interdisciplinary understanding of biological systems that broaden the perspectives and therapeutic problem solving. Introduces the concept of the Physiological Fitness Landscape, which is inspired by the physics of phase transitions This first volume in a two-volume set, primarily targets an audience of clinical and science students, biomedical researchers and physicians who would benefit from understanding each other's language.

Broad and up-to-date overview of the field of metabolic aspects of health and chronic disease development, especially connecting the spectrum of topics that range from molecular clocks to stress response to nuclear hormone receptors and the role of microbiota in human health. Provides a deeper basic science and interdisciplinary understanding of biological systems that broaden the perspectives and therapeutic problem solving by elaborating on the usefulness of the Physiological Fitness Landscape. Describes the importance of insulin resistance in metabolic disease, especially diabetes but also includes links to cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Examines the process of aging from the perspective of metabolic decline illustrating it with the Physiological Fitness Landscape.

This book presents an up-to-date survey of the current scientific understanding of obesity and the metabolic syndrome, as well as an overview of the most significant changes to the field over the past 30 years. The book defines obesity and realistically assesses its prevalence. It further examines and evaluates the success of traditional cognitive behavioral treatment. This volume is a thorough reference for obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

As the worldwide prevalence of morbid obesity among adolescents continues to rise, recent years have seen a large increase in the performance of adolescent bariatric surgery. While surgical intervention often becomes necessary when conservative weight-loss therapies have failed, no standards regarding the post-operative regimen and long-term management of adolescent patients have been established. Thus, the treatment of obesity and its co-morbidities requires a multidisciplinary approach, taking into account epidemiological, clinical, nutritional, and genetic aspects of morbid obesity in the pediatric age group. This volume discusses both conventional therapy and surgical options for morbid obesity in the pediatric age group. In the first part, obesity-related diseases, genetics, and psychological factors are analyzed. The second part focuses on current bariatric surgery procedures, including dietary restrictions and guidelines to prevent nutritional deficiencies common after surgery. Therefore, the book will prove an invaluable resource for pediatricians, surgeons, nutritionists, dieticians, and all other health professionals who treat adolescent obesity.

This book offers a step-by-step guide to mental health assessment for bariatric surgery patients. A general introduction explains the concepts of bariatric psychology and psychiatry, their relevance in contemporary bariatric surgery, and reasons to include psychologists and psychiatrists in multidisciplinary teams taking care of bariatric patients. The following four chapters address the aspects of mental health that are investigated by bariatric psychology. The psychological processes analyzed here play a major role in influencing patients' perception of the outcomes of bariatric surgery and in determining their commitment to lifestyle changes and follow-up programs. The second part of the book includes nine chapters addressing the clinical conditions relevant to bariatric psychiatry. For each condition, the major focus is on the impact of psychopathology on bariatric surgery outcomes (weight loss, weight regain, quality of life) and the impact of surgery on its course (remission, worsening, de novo onset). Each chapter in this part includes a discussion of the diagnostic instruments (i.e., structured interviews, clinician-rated tests, and patient-rated tests) that should be used to obtain a valid assessment of the patient's mental status. Separate chapters focus on psychiatric complications (e.g., suicide and addiction transfer) and psychological problems related to quality of life (e.g., body image dissatisfaction) that may emerge postoperatively. Data on these postsurgery conditions has been reported only recently and, therefore, no published book deals with them. The final chapter offers an overview of unsolved issues in bariatric psychology and psychiatry and reviews emerging research findings that are likely to change assessment and care of bariatric patients' mental health in the near future. Given its scope-and its wealth of tables, diagrams, mnemonics, and key fact boxes-the book will be an invaluable reference tool for clinicians.

The field of adipose tissue biology has been expanding at a very rapid pace in the last few years. Numerous advances have been made since publication of the first edition of this book, in terms of basic adipocyte biology, understanding of the determinants of obesity, distribution of body fat and weight loss, as well as the mechanisms linking excess adiposity to various co-morbidities. Adipose Tissue and Adipokines in Health and Disease, Second Edition contains updated chapters from the previous volume but as the field has evolved, some areas covered in the first edition have been refocused to address the new knowledge. The volume is divided in four sections: the first two deal with basic adipose tissue and adipokine biology, while the last two address the problem of obesity and alterations in adipose tissue function from an epidemiological and clinical standpoint. The chapters are written by experts in their fields and include the most up to date scientific information. Adipose Tissue and Adipokines in Health and Disease, Second Edition is a useful resource for physicians interested in adipose tissue biology and basic scientists who want to know more about applied aspects of the field. The book targets endocrinologists, residents and fellows, internists, nutritionists and general practitioners who are exposed to an ever-expanding obese population.

This book on the metabolic aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) reviews the scientific evidence for the key etiological role of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of PCOS. It also presents a new clinical and diagnostic approach and clearly explains the value of insulin-sensitizing agents, or "insulin sensitizers," in reducing hyperandrogenism and improving fertility outcome. Detailed information is provided on the use of insulin sensitizers such as metformin and inositol and suitable therapeutic protocols are described. All too often, PCOS is treated by gynecologists only as an endocrine disorder, without recognition of the very important part that insulin plays in the syndrome. Practitioners will find this book to be a valuable source of information on PCOS as a metabolic syndrome and a comprehensive guide to achieving good treatment results.

This book unravels the role of Point-of-Care (POC) glucose monitoring as an essential part of diabetes management. It provides the reader with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of diabetes management, including: the need for POC glucose monitoring the glucose detection technologies (invasive, noninvasive and continuous) being used in the POC devices the analytical performance, characteristics, pros and cons of the POC devices developed to date the importance and role of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) monitoring for diabetes management the various POC devices and analyzers for the determination of HbA1c. This is the first book to provide complete up-to-date information on POC glucose detection technologies and devices for diabetic monitoring and management. It will be an important reference for healthcare professionals, biomedical engineers, researchers, economists and policy makers. This book also serves as an asset and teaching aid for professionals and researchers in diabetic monitoring and management.

This book describes the surgical bariatric procedures most frequently performed worldwide and examines their evolution in recent years both within Italy and internationally. For each operation, indications, the surgical technique, potential complications, and the outcomes with respect to weight and obesity-associated comorbidities are presented. In view of the significant failure rate revealed by studies on the long-term results of bariatric surgery, the problem of weight regain and revision surgery are also discussed in detail, covering the different types of revision, conversion to other procedures, and the main outcomes. In addition, individual chapters focus on selected topics of importance. The role of bariatric surgery in the cure of type 2 diabetes ("diabetes surgery") is discussed and the debate over the significance of gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia for choice of procedure is summarized. Finally, the most common endoluminal procedures, which have been gaining in importance, are described and other bariatric operations, outlined.