The book introduces the bioinformatics tools, databases and strategies for the translational research, focuses on the biomarker discovery based on integrative data analysis and systems biological network reconstruction. With the coming of personal genomics era, the biomedical data will be accumulated fast and then it will become reality for the personalized and accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of complex diseases. The book covers both state of the art of bioinformatics methodologies and the examples for the identification of simple or network biomarkers. In addition, bioinformatics software tools and scripts are provided to the practical application in the study of complex diseases. The present state, the future challenges and perspectives were discussed. The book is written for biologists, biomedical informatics scientists and clinicians, etc. Dr. Bairong Shen is Professor and Director of Center for Systems Biology, Soochow University; he is also Director of Taicang Center for Translational Bioinformatics.

More than 180 participants and experts from 31 countries met for the fifth time in 10 years in St. Gallen, Switzerland for a 3-day conference to discuss important current issues of clinical cancer prevention. The meeting was again organized and co-sponsored by St. Gallen Oncology Conferences (SONK). While SONK has been extremely successful in organizing large international c- gresses on "Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer" as well as "Supportive Care in Cancer" for more than 20 years, the idea of promoting interdisciplinary, clinically oriented meetings on cancer prevention is a more recent and not yet generally accepted and w- comed concept in modern oncology. Since today's medical expenses are soaring and me- cal research budgets are stagnating or even being cut, neither politicians nor industry is willing to risk an additional unpredictable channel of expenses, such as that demanded by clinical cancer prevention efforts! In Switzerland-and we fear in many other parts of the globe-some 97%-98% or even a greater percentage of health budgets is spent for curative and palliative/rehabilitative m- icine. Since a meager 2%-3% of national health budgets is for preventive medicine, even less than that proportion is specifically allocated for cancer prevention. When the money for "curing and caring" for the diseased populace runs short, there is likely not much left for partly controversial disease prevention in the (still) healthy part of the population.

This book reports the majority of lectures given during the NATO Advanced Study Institute ASI-982996, which was held at the European Scientific Institute of Archamps (ESI, Archamps - France) from November 15 to November 27, 2007. The ASI course was structured in two parts: the first was dedicated to what is often called "teletherapy", i. e. radiotherapy with external beams, while the second focused on internal radiotherapy, also called "brachytherapy" or "curietherapy" in honour of Madame Curie who initiated the technique about a century ago. This ASI took place after the European School of Medical Physics, which devoted a 3 week period to medical imaging, a subject complementary to the topics of this book. Courses devoted to nuclear medicine and digital imaging techniques are collected in two volumes of the NATO Science Series entitled "Physics for Medical Imaging Applications" (ISBN 978-1-4020-5650-5) and "Molecular imaging: computer reconstruction and practice" (ISBN 978-1-4020- 8751-6). Every year in autumn ESI organises the European School of Medical Physics, which covers a large spectrum of topics ranging from Medical Imaging to Radiotherapy, over a period of 5 weeks. Thanks to the Cooperative Science and Technology sub-programme of the NATO Science Division, weeks four and five were replaced this year by the ASI course dedicated to "Physics of Modern Radiotherapy & Brachytherapy". This allowed the participation of experts and students from 20 different countries, with diverse cultural background and p- fessional experience.

This issue of the Surgical Oncology Clinics will cover the following topics: imaging for pancreatic cancer, EUS staging and novel therapeutics for pancreatic cancer, management of cystic tumors, management of IPMN, laparoscopic surgery for pancreatic tumors, current concepts in the surgical management of pancreatic cancer, management of borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, regionalization of pancreatic surgery, update on adjuvant trials for pancreatic cancer, neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer, novel targets for pancreatic cancer therapy, and new frontiers in pancreatic cancer.

An estimated 234,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, making it one of the most common cancers affecting American men; however, it can be a controversial disease to diagnose and treat now that there is research abounding for both "watchful waiting? and aggressive treatments. Dr. Oh supplies balanced information, with articles on: Prostate Cancer: To Screen or Not To Screen?; High Intensity Focused Ultrasound: Ready for Primetime?; The Case for Open vs. Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy; Primary and Salvage Prostate Cancer Cryotherapy; and? The Case for Open vs. Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy, to name a few. The state-of-the art information presented in this issue make is must-have for all urologists.

A comprehensive review of cancer patient treatment methods in the Intensive Care Unit. Articles include: Admission Criteria and Prognostication in Cancer Patients Admitted to the ICU; Diagnostic Strategies and Management of Acute Respiratory Failure in Cancer Patients Requiring Intensive Care; Mechanical Ventilation in Cancer Patients: Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes; Critical Care of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipient; Critical Issues in Oncological Surgery Patients; and Diagnosis and Management of Infectious Complications in Critically Ill Patients with Cancer.

This two part issue of PET Clinics provides a comprehensive review to the important topic of Breast Cancer. Although the focus of this issue is the use of PET and PET/CT in the diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and follow up for patients with breast cancer, there are also articles providing correlates from other imaging modalities.

Chronic immune thrombocytopenia is a disease in which the immune system destroys platelets (blood cells involved in the clotting process). Patients with ITP have abnormal bruising and bleeding, and severe disease can be life threatening. For many patients, standard drug treatments are not effective, and many of the drugs used may have significant side effects with long-term use. Among the articles in this issue, some focus on the traditional and newer treatments for the disease. Other articles focus on diagnosis and treatment of the disease in pregnancy, lymphoproliferative disorders, in thyroid disease, in rheumatologic disorders, and in children. Also discussed are infectious causes.

Proposed topics for this issue include: Overview of Colorectal Cancer Genetics; Familial Adenomatous Polyposis; MYH Associated Polyposis; Other genetic colorectal cancer syndromes; Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer - emphasis on MSH2/MLH1; Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer - emphasis on PMS2/MSH6; Familial Colorectal Cancer Syndrome Type X; Genome Wide Association Studies and Colorectal Cancer Risk; Genetic Counseling for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer; Genetic Testing for Hereditary Colorectal Cancer; Role of surgery in HNPCC and FAP.

Desmoid Tumors (DT), also called Aggressive Fibromatoses, are a rare fibroblastic proliferative disease, with an incidence of 2 to 4 new cases per million people per year. Despite the absence of a metastatic potential, DT cause significant morbidity and at times mortality due to its locally invasive behaviour. The anatomical locations can be abdominal, extra-abdominal (often in the extremities) and intra-abdominal. This book is the first manuscript dedicated entirely to Desmoid Tumors. Written by prominent clinicians, researchers and advocacy group experts, patients and professionals alike will find this to be a comprehensive review. Clinical presentation, imaging guidelines and treatment paradigms are highlighted. Both the sporadic and heredity forms (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) will be discussed. A thorough discussion on the unique issues in children with DT is included. A portion of the book will address the role of the APC gene, the -catenin protein and the role of mutations in the genesis of DT. Emerging cutting edge research techniques will be revealed. Also included is a thoughtful discussion on the controversial labelling of Desmoid Tumors as benign and the consequences of such a designation. The role of advocacy groups in supporting research and in promoting awareness of rare diseases such as DT will be outlined. This book will serve as basis to prepare clinicians, researchers and patients to embark on the quest for a cure for Desmoid Tumors.

Topics include: Evaluation and initial management of the patient with facial skin cancer; Nonmelanomatous skin cancer; Mohs, Malignant melanoma; Local flaps - bilobed, rhombic, forehead, melolabial; Options for the management of scalp defects; Defects of the nose; Eyelid defects; Ear defects; Defects of the lips; Cheek defects; Secondary procedures to improve flap appearance.

This issue provides a comprehensive overview of imaging of the prostate using PET and PET/CT. In addition to providing correlates from other modalities, this issue also covers treatment planning for radiation therapy and follow-up.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy diagnosed in children, representing nearly one third of all pediatric cancers. The annual incidence of ALL is about 30 cases per million people, with a peak incidence in children aged 2-5 years. Although a few cases are associated with inherited genetic syndromes, the cause of ALL remains largely unknown. This issue presents articles that discuss current thinking on the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Articles specifically emphasize molecular genetics, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and treatments including, clofarabine, nelarabine, rituximab, and PegAsp.

For the first time, the sad story of America's uranium miners and the duplicity of our government is revealed. This expert study examines, in microcosm, the political, legal, social, medical, engineering, and ethical problems that emerged when American leaders developed a nuclear arsenal to contain the Soviet Union without considering the cost this could have on innocent lives. Medical and public health personnel, policymakers and political scientists, lawyers and legal historians, and citizen watchdogs will find this account illuminating. Ball provides the context in the 1940s and 1950s for understanding the Communist hysteria that swept the country and led policymakers to develop risky nuclear technology and to engage in uranium mining and production while assuring Navajo and Mormon miners of their safety. The study analyzes the medical consequences and the etiology of cancer among miners, the politics behind radioactive policy, the miners' long legal battles, and compensatory legislation in 1990. An appendix provides a federal report about three decades of radiation experiences on U.S. citizens. A bibliography points to primary and secondary source material of note.

Methadone and buprenorphine are the only two opioids that are indicated for the management of both pain and opioid-related drug addiction. Both present unique challenges to the general practitioner and pain specialist, requiring a separate analysis from the rest of the drugs in the same family. Handbook of Methadone Prescribing and Buprenorphine Therapy is an invaluable guide to the safe use of these opioids. Authored by clinical and academic leaders from a variety of settings and backgrounds, this book includes chapters on pharmacology, adverse effects, safe rotation from other opioids, cardiac toxicity, prescribing, pharmacokinetics, equianalgesic dose and replacement therapy. This comprehensive text provides clinicians, researchers, policy-makers and academicians a resource for all the relevant points in methadone prescribing and buprenorphine therapy.

This volume, with chapters written by experts in the field of cancerous tumors, details the key factors associated with liquid biopsies in solid tumors: blood-based diagnostics; circulating tumor cells; enumeration and molecular analysis (association with breast cancer); epithelialmesenchymal transition; detection and monitoring; circulating-free tumor DNA; CTCs and ctDNA; and the exosome. The field of blood-based diagnostics is rapidly evolving demonstrating the possibility of real-time molecular analysis of cancer cells and their phenotype and genotype. Circulating Tumor Cell (CTCs) have demonstrated prognostic and predictive value in advanced cancer and represents a source of tumor cells for transcriptome and genomic analysis. Most recently, the detection of genomic abnormalities in the peripheral blood by sensitive and selective PCR methods (liquid biopsy) opened to the option of a comprehensive blood-based tumor analysis. Similar information can be obtained by analysis of exosome, a natural packaging and messaging system being explored in advanced malignancies. The final frontier is the evaluation of immune cells determinant of innate and adaptive immunity.

The last three decades have provided opportunities to explore the potential of treating malignant diseases with antibodies or other targeting molecules labelled with nuclides. While considerable advances have been reported, there is still a signi- cant amount of work left to accomplish before our ambitions can be achieved. It now seems timely to review the accomplishments achieved to date and to clarify the challenges that remain. The choice of radionuclide, the conjugation p- cedure employed, and the selection of suitable targets were early issues that were faced by our field that still persist, however we can now tackle these obstacles with significantly better insight. The expanding array of new targeting molecules (recombinant antibodies, peptides and agents based upon alternate scaffolds) may increase the therapeutic efficacy or even modify the radiation sensitivity of the targeted tumor cell. The title of this book "Targeted Radionuclide Tumour Therapy - Biological Aspects" was selected to reinforce the concept that a major focus of this volume was devoted to understanding the biological effects of targeting and radiation. These important issues have not previously been the primary focus in this context. Furthermore, our rapidly expanding knowledge of different types of cell death and the increasingly likely existence of cancer stem cells suggests to us that even more efficient approaches in targeting might be possible in the future.

Doctors Daya and Spiro concluded the two part series on Cancer Emergencies with articles on: "GI Bleeding," "Hepatic Encephalopathy," "Bleeding diatheses, Disseminated intravascular coagulation," "Hyperviscosity syndrome, Polycythemia, Hyperleukocytosis, Thrombocytosis," and more!

This book would combine chapters written by the most qualified authors around the world whose research encompasses the effect of morphine or other opioids on tumor growth and metastasis. This includes clinicians involved in trials determining which type of post surgical pain management can minimize the risk of recurrence or metastasis, researchers working on animal models and studying the effect of morphine on tumors, and most importantly the mechanism for this effect, and lastly cell biologists. There is currently a lot of research going on trying to reconcile the pro- and anti-cancer aspects of opioids actions.

These proceedings contain the papers selected for presentation at the 23rd Inter- tional Information Security Conference (SEC 2008), co-located with IFIP World Computer Congress (WCC 2008), September 8-10, 2008 in Milan, Italy. In - sponse to the call for papers, 143 papers were submitted to the conference. All - pers were evaluated on the basis of their signi?cance, novelty, and technical quality, and reviewed by at least three members of the program committee. Reviewing was blind meaning that the authors were not told which committee members reviewed which papers. The program committee meeting was held electronically, holding - tensive discussion over a period of three weeks. Of the papers submitted, 42 full papers and 11 short papers were selected for presentation at the conference. A conference like this just does not happen; it depends on the volunteer efforts of a host of individuals. There is a long list of people who volunteered their time and energy to put together the conference and who deserve acknowledgment. We thank all members of the program committee and the external reviewers for their hard work in the paper evaluation. Due to the large number of submissions, p- gram committee members were required to complete their reviews in a short time frame. We are especially thankful to them for the commitment they showed with their active participation in the electronic discussion

This unique, research-based investigation of the U.S. breast cancer movement compares the "pink" and "green" efforts within the movement and documents their use of similar citizen-science alliances, despite the contention over the use of consumer-based activism and pink products. Breast cancer activism is one of the most flourishing research and health advocacy movements in U.S. history. Yet the incidence of breast cancer is continuing to increase. This critical and revealing text investigates breast cancer activism in its two forms-the "pink movement" that focuses on developing awareness of, coping with, and managing breast cancer; and the "green movement" that strives to determine the possible environmental causes of breast cancer-such as pesticides, chemicals, and water and air pollution-and thereby hopes to prevent breast cancer. What caused this new green movement to develop? Will it replace or merge with the pink movement? Does either approach offer more promise for a solution? And how do the two movements differ in their positions or methodology towards a similar goal? With information culled from interviews with more than 50 industry stakeholders, The Green Solution to Breast Cancer: A Promise for Prevention argues that key attributes such as strategy, mission, and branding have led to a greater convergence between the pink and green wings of the movement and presents information that enables readers to consider if either approach might be the shorter route to beating breast cancer. Examines research findings that suggest that the pink and green aspects of the breast cancer movement are no longer separate but in fact are converging towards a focus on environmental prevention Provides an in-depth examination of advocacy organizations and the ways in which an organization's structure and ideology shape its agenda and strategies Looks critically at controversial aspects of the consumerism of the pink movement, the small portion of sales actually given to cancer research, and other shortcomings of this attempt to shop our way out of a nonetheless still-increasing disease Presents valuable information for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in political science within American politics or health politics courses as well as those studying women's and gender studies, sociology, nursing, and non-profit enterprises

This issue focuses on neoplastic hematopathology. Thirteen articles written by leading experts in the field cover a number of specific disease entities including the acute leukemias, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative diseases, multiple myeloma and the chronic lymphoid leukemias. The spectrum of lymphoid cancers and related disorders is also covered, including articles on reactive and atypical lymphoproliferative disorders, Hodgkin lymphoma, small B cell malignancies, the aggressive B cell lymphomas, as well as Burkitt lymphoma and the entire spectrum of peripheral T cell lymphomas. Finally, two more generic articles cover current issues in bone marrow pathology for lymphoma diagnosis and staging and finally a cutting-edge chapter on molecular diagnostics in hematopathology.

Cancer is one of the leading killers in the world and the incidence is increasing, but most cancer patients and cancer survivors suffer much from the disease and its conventional treatments' side effects. In the past, clinical data showed that some complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) possessed anticancer abilities, but some clinicians and scientists have queried about the scientific validity of CAM due to the lack of scientific evidence. There is great demand in the knowledge gap to explore the scientific and evidence-based knowledge of CAM in the anticancer field. With this aim, a book series is needed to structurally deliver the knowledge to readers. There have been a number of publications on materia medica for various cancers in recent years, the scientific and medical community are thrust for up-to-date information that are supported by concrete laboratory evidences or clinical trials. This volume is a specialised book presenting the experimental and clinical evidences of anticancer materia medica for various cancers. This book consists of sixteen chapters, providing concise reviews and expert opinions on the recent progress of materia medica research in fourteen particular cancers from bench to bedside application. In addition, the book also includes a chapter with an overview of evidence-based materia medica for cancer chemoprevention, as well as a chapter discussing on the pharmacokinetics of anticancer materia medica. Gathering international opinion leaders' views, this volume will contribute great to the cancer, academic, and clinical community by providing evidence-based information on the anticancer effects of materia medica for various cancers. Readership Oncologists, cancer researchers, pharmacologists, pharmaceutical specialists, Chinese medicine practitioners, medical educators, postgraduates and advanced undergraduates in biomedical disciplines, cancer caregivers, cancer patients.