This book focuses on hormones, and on how they are produced in very diverse regions of the body in humans and animals. But hormones can be found not only in vertebrates, but also in insects, shellfish, spiders, mollusks, even at the origin of metazoan diversification and exhibit the same pathways of synthesis. The book addresses the different classes of hormones: protein/peptides hormones, steroids and juvenile hormones and hormones like catecholamines, thyroid hormones and melatonin. It also discusses the types of hormone receptors, the majority of which are heptahelical G-protein coupled receptors or nuclear receptors. Particular attention is paid to the organs where hormones are created, with specifics on hormonal production and release, while a dedicated chapter details hormonal regulation from very simple to highly complex schemes. The remarkable kinetics of hormones production are also shown, before the book is rounded out by chapters on evolution in the endocrine system, the genetics of endocrine diseases and doping.

Leading researchers are specially invited to provide a complete understanding of a key topic within the multidisciplinary fields of physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. In a form immediately useful to scientists, this periodical aims to filter, highlight and review the latest developments in these rapidly advancing fields.

This timely volume explores the impact of autophagy in various human diseases, emphasizing the cell biological aspects and focusing on therapeutic approaches to these diseases. The chapters cover autophagy and its potential applications on diseases ranging from obesity, osteoarthritis, pulmonary fibrosis, and inflammation, through ALS, Parkinson's, retinal degeneration, breast cancer, alcoholic liver disease and more. The final chapters round out the book with a discussion of autophagy in drug discovery and 'bench to bedside'. Chapters are contributed by leading authorities and describe the general concepts of autophagy in health and disease, marrying cell biology and pharmacology and covering: studies derived from preclinical experiments, manufacturing considerations,and regulatory requirements pertaining to drug discovery and manufacturing and production. This volume will be useful for basic scientists as well as already practicing clinicians and advanced graduate students.

This text covers the basic principles of mitochondrial dynamics in cardiovascular medicine, with particular emphasis on their functional roles in physiology and disease. The book will include articles pertaining to mitochondrial fitness on a global basis, providing therefore an update on the progress made in several aspects in the field. Thus, it will assist scientists and clinicians alike in furthering basic and translational research. Organized in sections focusing on: basic science, mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiac disorders, in vascular disorders, in metabolic disorders, in kidney disease, therapeutic challenges and options, this essential volume fills imperative gaps in understanding and potentially treating several cardiovascular disorders.

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.

AMPK has emerged as an important integrator of signals that control energy balance through the regulation of multiple biochemical pathways in eukaryotes. This book focuses on the implications of AMPK as a master metabolic regulator in diseases, including new methods and animal models. The contributions are written by leading experts in the field and give an extensive overview of the current knowledge of AMPK biology and the role of AMPK in health and disease.

This book reviews the growing literature that is consistent with the hypothesis that hormones can regulate auditory physiology and perception across a broad range of animal taxa, including humans. Understanding how hormones modulate auditory function has far reaching implications for advancing our knowledge in the basic biomedical sciences and in understanding the evolution of acoustic communication systems. A fundamental goal of neuroscience is to understand how hormones modulate neural circuits and behavior. For example, steroids such as estrogens and androgens are well-known regulators of vocal motor behaviors used during social acoustic communication. Recent studies have shown that these same hormones can also greatly influence the reception of social acoustic signals, leading to the more efficient exchange of acoustic information.

This book aims to equip readers with a better understanding of neuroendocrine tumors of the abdomen and explains how to manage them optimally by making use of novel therapeutic options that represent major advances on previous treatments. The most recent advances in epidemiology, genetics, molecular biology, biomarkers, pathology, diagnostics, clinical assessment, medical therapy, and surgical treatment are presented. The information and data provided will stimulate readers to develop their personal opinions on significant issues and assist in decision making in individual patients during routine clinical practice. The book features a multidisciplinary approach and is designed to meet the needs of all physicians seeking comprehensive guidance from experts on the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors. It will also be of value for researchers wishing to acquaint themselves with the state of the art in the field and emerging research avenues. Abdominal Neuroendocrine Tumors is published in Springer's highly successful Updates in Surgery series, which now comprises more than 20 titles.

JIMD Reports publishes case and short research reports in the area of inherited metabolic disorders. Case reports highlight some unusual or previously unrecorded feature relevant to the disorder, or serve as an important reminder of clinical or biochemical features of a Mendelian disorder.

This book provides a concise, focused and clinically relevant summary of complications and emergencies related to bariatric surgery. The first section of the text addresses general complications related to anesthesia and the stress of surgery, including issues such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, hemorrhage, pneumonia and cardiac complications. Additionally, this section addresses the workup of the bariatric patient with abdominal pain. The second portion of the text focuses on gastric bypass and sleeve-specific complications, including staple line and anastomotic leaks, internal hernia, marginal ulceration, GI obstruction, hernia formation and gallstone disease. The third portion of the book examines metabolic, nutritional and psychological complications after bariatric surgery. The text also covers management of weight loss failure. Bariatric Surgery Complications and Emergencies serves as a very useful resource for physicians and surgeons who are involved in any parts of evaluation or management of bariatric patients suffering from postoperative complications or emergencies including bariatric surgeons who perform these operations on a regular basis, non-bariatric general surgeons who cover such patients when on-call, surgical trainees, and primary care physicians.

Recent years have seen spectacular advances in the field of circadian biology. These have attracted the interest of researchers in many fields, including endocrinology, neurosciences, cancer, and behavior. By integrating a circadian view within the fields of endocrinology and metabolism, researchers will be able to reveal many, yet-unsuspected aspects of how organisms cope with changes in the environment and subsequent control of homeostasis. This field is opening new avenues in our understanding of metabolism and endocrinology. A panel of the most distinguished investigators in the field gathered together to discuss the present state and the future of the field. The editors trust that this volume will be of use to those colleagues who will be picking up the challenge to unravel how the circadian clock can be targeted for the future development of specific pharmacological strategies toward a number of pathologies.

This timely volume provides an overview to the causes, effects on systems and clinical approaches of metabolic acidosis. Beginning with a basic understanding of the physiology, pathophysiology and development of this disease, subsequent chapters cover the characteristics and context of the processes that can cause it and a thorough presentation of management strategies. Recommended treatments include those carried out by the health care provider as well as the individual patient, such as dietary management. Clinicians and healthcare professionals will find the tools needed to recognize, work up and manage patients with metabolic acidosis in this practical and concise resource.

Lifestyle - the manner in which people live - is fundamental to health, wellness, and prevention of disease. It follows that attention to lifestyle is critically important to effective and successful health care. But here's the challenge: health care professionals receive very little, if any, formal training about lifestyle counseling and therefore are ill equipped to incorporate lifestyle issues into clinical practice. In response, "Lifestyle Medicine" is evolving as a means to fill this knowledge gap. Lifestyle medicine approaches health and wellness by harnessing the power of lifestyle-related behaviors and influencing the environment we live in. It is a formal approach that promises to enhance and strengthen a re-invigorated health care system that is still outpaced by the epidemic proportions and complexity of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, depression, hypertension, and cancer, among others. Lifestyle Medicine: A Manual for Clinical Practice presents this formal approach in a pragmatic context. This unique and practical manual provides clear and succinct guidance on nearly all aspects of lifestyle medicine. The approach is both explanatory and pragmatic, providing case studies and bulleted translation of academic information into clinical practice recommendations. There is an emphasis on scientific evidence wherever possible as well as opinions by the expert chapter authors who practice lifestyle medicine. There is a "how-to" rationality to the book, consistent with a premise that any and all health care professionals should, and perhaps must, incorporate lifestyle medicine. A valuable checklist is included at the close of the book that summarizes key points and provides a practical tool for routine patient encounters.

This volume starts with an elementary introduction covering stem cell methodologies used to produce specific types of neurons, possibilities for their therapeutic use, and warnings of technical problems. In addition the authors report successes in achieving the derivation of a specific type of neuron. The dopamine neuron offers an important example and is discussed in more detail. Additional chapters cover problems obviously approachable with cells derived from stem cells, including their need in surgeries for pituitary cancers. The last chapter provides an overview of this particular field of research and presents a vision for its future directions.

Presenting the most current and relevant information on the diagnosis and management of primary ovarian insufficiency, also known as premature ovarian failure (POI/POF), this book presents two equally important voices. The first is the scientific, evidence-based voice discussing the latest information on POI/POF in a concise and logical fashion: etiologies, symptoms, genetics, mechanisms, associated conditions, as well as psychological and lifestyle considerations. The second voice presents the first-person stories of affected women, who are often faced with a diagnosis of irreversible infertility at a very young age and who somehow learn to live with great uncertainty about their ability to create a family - a core identity issue for many women. It is thus not simply a clinical, case-based presentation, but a more collaborative effort between clinicians who are well-versed in the field and women who have POI/POF. Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: A Clinical Guide to Early Menopause will therefore be an excellent practical yet personal reference for OB/GYNs, reproductive medicine specialists, and any clinician, nurse or health care worker treating women living with POI/POF.

This book examines how post-transcriptional mechanisms control endocrine function. This includes newly identified regulatory mechanisms involved in hormone biosynthesis, control of hormone receptors and the outputs of hormone mediated signal transduction. Chapters address endocrine hormones including protein peptide/peptide, steroid, and non-steroidal hormones. The impacts of these mechanisms on disease and health are covered, providing a novel update to the scientific literature. Post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms play an essential role in controlling dynamic gene expression. The outcome of this regulation includes control of the amount, timing, and location of protein expression. Regulation is mediated by cis-acting RNA sequences and structures and transacting RNA binding proteins and non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs. Recent advances in characterization of these regulatory factors have revealed enormous regulatory potential.

This book presents the state of the art of type 2 diabetes genetics, from the process of genetic discovery to its interpretation and clinical application, and illustrates a model for other complex human phenotypes.The first section explores genome-wide association studies, the extension of this method to less accessible phenotypes and the arrival of next-generation sequencing. A further section goes beyond genetics to illustrate how other data sources can help interpret genetic data, such as leveraging population diversity, the correlation of genetic associations with physiological measurements, gene expression modulation, environmental factors and our microbial commensals. The third section describes advances in elucidating the complex path from association to function using in-depth sequencing and functional studies of the cellular and molecular effects of genes in the loci identified by genetics. The final section links our current understanding with clinically relevant questions, such as prediction, interactions with drugs or nutrients, and disease prevention, and paints a realistic but hopeful vision of the future.

Providing the latest evidence-based information on etiology, evaluation and treatment, this unique text provides an in-depth, comprehensive discussion of the epidemiology, genetic and endocrinologic factors and medical and surgical management of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Taking a multidisciplinary approach including psychological treatment and patient perspectives, all aspects of current RPL prevention and treatment are elucidated. Detailed chapters provide real-world illustrative material and cover the set-up and management of RPL clinics and databases, containing practical tips. Recurrent Pregnancy Loss will be an excellent resource for OB-GYN specialists, general and reproductive endocrinologists, radiologists, hematologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and any other investigators or clinicians treating patients confronted with this emotionally and physically trying condition.

This long overdue title provides a comprehensive, up-to-date, state-of-the art review of approved biologic therapies, with coverage of mechanisms of action, Indications for therapy, immunogenicity and a detailed examination of adverse effects and safety of the many and diverse therapeutic agents presented in a total of 13 chapters. It is predicted that by 2016, biologics will make up half of the world's 20 top-selling drugs and by 2018, biologic medicine sales will account for almost half of the world's 100 biggest selling drugs. Recombinant proteins dominate the growing list of the more than 200 approved biotherapeutic agents with targeted antibodies, fusion proteins and receptors; cytokines; hormones; enzymes; proteins involved in blood-clotting, homeostasis and thrombosis; vaccines; botulinum neurotoxins; and, more recently, biosimilar preparations, comprising the majority of approved biologics. Written with clinicians, other health care professionals, and researchers in mind, Safety of Biologics Therapy examines, in a single volume, the full range of issues surrounding the safety of approved biologic therapies. A good understanding of the risks and safety issues of modern biologics therapy is increasingly being demanded of all those connected with their development, handling, prescribing, administration and subsequent patient management. In addition to being of great value to clinicians in all branches of medicine, and to nurses, pharmacists and researchers, this book will prove invaluable for students taking undergraduate and graduate courses in the above disciplines and in the biomedical sciences.

The Nutrition and Health series of books have had great success because each volume has the consistent overriding mission of providing health professionals with texts that are essential because each includes (1) a synthesis of the state of the science, (2) timely, in-depth reviews by the leading researchers in their respective ?elds, (3) extensive, up-to-date fully annotated ref- ence lists, (4) a detailed index, (5) relevant tables and ?gures, (6) identi?cation of paradigm shifts and the consequences, (7) virtually no overlap of information between chapters, but targeted, inter-chapter referrals, (8) suggestions of areas for future research, and (9) balanced, data-driven answers to patient as well as health professionals questions which are based upon the totality of evidence rather than the ?ndings of any single study. The series volumes are not the outcome of a symposium. Rather, each editor has the potential to examine a chosen area with a broad perspective, both in subject matter and in the choice of chapter authors. The editor(s), whose training(s) is (are) both research and practice oriented, has(ve) the opportunity to develop a primary objective for their book, de?ne the scope and focus, and then invite the leading authorities to be part of their initiative. The authors are encouraged to provide an overview of the ?eld, discuss their own research, and relate the research ?ndings to potential human health consequences.

This book brings a comprehensive treatise about obesity, examining the measures that can be taken to stop and even reduce obesity if these right measures are taken in time. Recent studies show that obesity is on the increase at an alarming rate, especially in the industrialized and affluent countries. A number of reasons have been put forward for this increase, including life style choices, over-eating, over-use of commercially processed food, addiction for fast food, high caloric diet specially containing high levels of sugar and fat, lack of exercise and sedentary life style. Also genetic make up has been associated with obesity. Obesity can lead to a variety of lethal diseases, notably coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These diseases account for the highest number of human death amongst all other causes. There are also a number of other side effects associated with obesity including increased stress, loss of intelligentsia, pancreatitis, premature birth and osteoarthritis. In recent years media have been playing important roles in highlighting the lethality and damage caused by obesity, nevertheless no significant effects can be seen in the population and obesity remains on the increase, especially amongst children. The editors believe that it is important that more education, campaign and research are used to stop this increasing disease.

This book focuses on the state of the art in fully grasping precocious puberty and its consequences, incorporating advances in the areas of endocrinology, genetics, imaging and therapeutics to offer an indispensable tool for all physicians interested in the latest advances in this field. The authors present the latest findings on early puberty in girls and boys. The dynamic process of maturation is influenced by many signals and reshapes growing children's role within their environment. Readers will benefit from the educational value and level of depth of the individual chapters; written by respected experts and in a self-contained format, they can also be read separately to address specific interests.

Recent research, which Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators expands on, has added new support to the idea that bone not only serves as a support system, but also functions as an integrating organ, with a significant regulatory role for lipid and energy metabolism. Links between physical activity and the skeleton are also becoming increasingly clear. This fully illustrated volume contains up-to-date information on the metabolic role of the skeleton and what this can mean for the treatment of metabolic as well as skeletal and auditory diseases. Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators is of particular interest to clinician scientists, clinical and basic bone researchers, orthopedists, endocrinologists, internists, dentists, nurse practitioners, medical and dental residents and physiotherapists as well as students of the musculoskeletal system. Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators is the seventh volume in the series Topics in Bone Biology, edited by Felix Bronner and Mary C. Farach-Carson. Other titles in this series:- Bone Formation Bone Resorption Engineering of Functional Skeletal Tissues Bone and Osteoarthritis Bone and Cancer Bone and Development Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators is of particular interest to clinician scientists, clinical and basic bone researchers, orthopedists, endocrinologists, internists, dentists, nurse practitioners, medical and dental residents and physiotherapists as well as students of the musculoskeletal system. Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators is the seventh volume in the series Topics in Bone Biology, edited by Felix Bronner and Mary C. Farach-Carson. Other titles in this series:- Bone Formation Bone Resorption Engineering of Functional Skeletal Tissues Bone and Osteoarthritis Bone and Cancer Bone and Development Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators is of particular interest to clinician scientists, clinical and basic bone researchers, orthopedists, endocrinologists, internists, dentists, nurse practitioners, medical and dental residents and physiotherapists as well as students of the musculoskeletal system. Bone- Metabolic Function and Modulators is the seventh volume in the series Topics in Bone Biology, edited by Felix Bronner and Mary C. Farach-Carson. Other titles in this series:- Bone Formation Bone Resorption Engineering of Functional Skeletal Tissues Bone and Osteoarthritis Bone and Cancer Bone and Development

JIMD Reports publishes case and short research reports in the area of inherited metabolic disorders. Case reports highlight some unusual or previously unrecorded feature relevant to the disorder, or serve as an important reminder of clinical or biochemical features of a Mendelian disorder.