This streamlined "essential" version of the Molecular Pathology (2009) textbook extracts key information, illustrations and photographs from the main textbook in the same number and organization of chapters. It is aimed at teaching students in courses where the full textbook is not needed, but the concepts included are desirable (such as graduate students in allied health programs or undergraduates). It is also aimed at students who are enrolled in courses that primarily use a traditional pathology textbook, but need the complementary concepts of molecular pathology (such as medical students). Further, the textbook will be valuable for pathology residents and other postdoctoral fellows who desire to advance their understanding of molecular mechanisms of disease beyond what they learned in medical/graduate school.
Offers an essentialintroduction to molecular genetics and the "molecular" aspects of human diseaseTeaches from the perspective of "integrative systems biology," which encompasses the intersection of all molecular aspects of biology, as applied to understanding human diseaseIn-depth presentation of the principles and practice of molecular pathology: molecular pathogenesis, molecular mechanisms of disease, and how the molecular pathogenesis of disease parallels the evolution of the disease using histopathology. "Traditional" pathology section provides state-of-the-art information on the major forms of disease, their pathologies, and the molecular mechanisms that drive these diseases.Explains the practice of "molecular medicine" and the translational aspects of molecular pathology: molecular diagnostics, molecular assessment, and personalized medicineStudent web site hosts "self-assessment" questions; Professor web site hosts all figures from bookEach chapter ends with Key Summary Points and Suggested Readings

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This volume contains 82 chapters that provide detail and understanding to the fields of human and medical virology. The first section describes general features of common human viruses with specialized chapters related to HIV/AIDS. The volume goes on to describe exotic virus infections, including one now eradicated virus (smallpox) and some now controlled by vaccination such as yellow fever. Concepts of medical virology are further developed with entries on viruses associated with oncogenesis and selections of interest to medical virology.
The most comprehensive single-volume source providing an overview of virology issues related to human and medical applications
Bridges the gap between basic undergraduate texts and specialized reviews
Concise and general overviews of important topics within the field will help in preparation of lectures, writing reports, or drafting grant applications

There is little doubt that information technology is a major force in transforming healthcare systems: physicians need to have considerable patient data at hand, even if diagnosis and treatment are relatively straightforward. But data are only as useful as ICT-information communication technology-systems make them. Inefficient handling of data can quickly lead to chaos, and possibly to fatalities. Strategic ICT Planning in Pathology illuminates these problems, as well as their potential solutions, based on a unique body of research from Australia. Focusing on core strategic factors such as laboratory information systems capability and effectiveness, business-IT alignment, strategic spending, research and education, and end-user involvement, the book explains why pathology labs lag behind other hospital departments. Survey and focus group findings pinpoint the importance of Strategic Information System Planning (SISP), and its relationship to quality service delivery and an improved bottom line [ok?]. Among the topics covered: Approaches to SISP and IS effectiveness measurement. The OpenLabs project and pathology practice. Development of a framework for SISP. Focus groups: the view from the hospital laboratory, the private pathology lab, and the experts. Key findings and their implications for strategy, planning, and business outcomes. Future research directions, including reverse SISP. Strategic ICT Planning in Pathology is a go-to resource for healthcare administrators and researchers in healthcare management, health policy, and health services research interested in troubleshooting systems, conducting surveys on IS, or better understanding how quality ICT works.

This issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, entitled Respiratory Viruses in Pediatric and adult Populations, is Guest Edited by Alexander J. McAdam MD, PhD, and includes: Developments in Specimen Collection and Tissue Culture for Respiratory Viruses; Nucleic acid amplification assays for respiratory viruses; Emerging molecular assays for respiratory viruses; Drug Resistance in Influenza Virus; Quantitative assays for adenovirus; RSV vaccine development; Human Metapneumovirus; and Recently discovered coronaviruses.

This volume, derived from Encyclopedia of Virology, provides an overview of the development of virology during the last ten years. Entries detail the nature, origin, phylogeny and evolution of viruses. It then moves into a summary of our understanding of the structure and assembly of virus particles and describes how this knowledge was obtained. Genetic material of viruses and the different mechanisms used by viruses to infect and replicate in their host cells are highlighted. The volume is rounded out with an overview of some major groups of viruses with particular attention being given to our current knowledge of their molecular biology.
The most comprehensive single-volume source providing an overview of virology to non-specialists
Bridges the gap between basic undergraduate texts and specialized reviews
Concise and general overviews of important topics within the field will help when preparing for lectures, writing reports, or drafting grant applications

The importance of chloride ions in cell physiology has not been fully recognized until recently, in spite of the fact that chloride (Cl-), together with bicarbonate, is the most abundant free anion in animal cells, and performs or determines fundamental biological functions in all tissues. For many years it was thought that Cl- was distributed in thermodynamic equilibrium across the plasma membrane of most cells. Research carried out during the last couple of decades has led to a dramatic change in this simplistic view. We now know that most animal cells, neurons included, exhibit a non-equilibrium distribution of Cl- across their plasma membranes. Over the last 10 to 15 years, with the growth of molecular biology and the advent of new optical methods, an enormous amount of exciting new information has become available on the molecular structure and function of Cl- channels and carriers. In nerve cells, Cl- channels and carriers play key functional roles in GABA- and glycine-mediated synaptic inhibition, neuronal growth and development, extracellular potassium scavenging, sensory-transduction, neurotransmitter uptake and cell volume control. Disruption of Cl- homeostasis in neurons underlies pathological conditions such as epilepsy, deafness, imbalance, brain edema and ischemia, pain and neurogenic inflammation. This book is about how chloride ions are regulated and how they cross the plasma membrane of neurons. It spans from molecular structure and function of carriers and channels involved in Cl- transport to their role in various diseases.
* The first comprehensive book on the structure, molecular biology, cell physiology, and role in diseases of chloride transporters / channels in the nervous system in almost 20 years
* Chloride is the most abundant free anion in animal cells. THis book summarizes and integrates for the first time the important research of the past two decades that has shown that Cl- channels and carriers play key functional roles in GABA- and glycine-mediated synaptic inhibition, neuronal growth and development, extracellular potassium scavenging, sensory-transduction, neurotransmitter uptake and cell volume control.
* The first book that systematically discusses the result of disruption of Cl- homeostasis in neurons which underlies pathological conditions such as epilepsy, deafness, imbalance, brain edema and ischemia, pain and neurogenic inflammation.
* Spanning topics from molecular structure and function of carriers and channels involved in Cl- transport to their role in various diseases.
* Involves all of the leading researchers in the field.
* INcludes an extensive introductory section that covers basic thermodynamic and kinetics aspects of Cl- transport, as well as current methods for studying Cl- regulation, spanning from fluorescent dyes in single cells to knock-out models to make the book available for a growing population of graduate students and postdocs entering the field.

This issue presents topics of importance in current point-of-care testing for laboratory medicine professionals. Topics such as POCT: An overview and look to the future; Fine needle aspiration biopsy: POCT in cytopathology; Drugs of abuse; POCT and disaster response; POCT regulatory affairs; Fecal occult blood testing; Tight Glycemic control;Molecular POCT; Information management and connectivity; Alternate QC and EQC; Managing POCT; and Coagulation and D-dimer

The third and final installment of Daniel J. Klionsky's new three-volume treatment of autophagy, this volume focuses on monitoring autophagy with regard to disease connections, and presents methods that can be used to analyze autophagy in clinical samples. Edited by one of the leading authorities in the field, this volume and its companion volumes, Autophagy: Lower Eukaryotes and Autophagy in Mammalian Systems, provide a comprehensive overview of the techniques involved in studying autophagy in eukaryotes and simple animal systems, mammalian cells and non-human animals, and humans.
Particularly in times of stress, like starvation and disease, higher organisms have an internal mechanism in their cells for chewing up and recycling parts of themselves. The process of internal house cleaning in the cell is called autophagy - literally self-eating. In the future, research in this field will help to design clinical approaches that can turn on autophagy and halt tumor growth.
* Provides an overview of autophagy in regards to humans, specifically regarding disease connections and clinical samples.
* Includes methods to evaluate the role of autophagy in the drug-induced cell death of cancer cells in culture
*Presents reliable methods that, in this relatively new field, allow the reader to find appropriate techniques to identify, monitor, and quantify autophagic processes"

First published in 1963, "Advances in Parasitology" contains comprehensive and up-to-date reviews in all areas of interest in contemporary parasitology.
"Advances in Parasitology" includes medical studies on parasites of major influence, such as "Plasmodium falciparum" and trypanosomes. The series also contains reviews of more traditional areas, such as zoology, taxonomy, and life history, which shape current thinking and applications.
Eclectic volumes are supplemented by thematic volumes on various topics, including control of human parasitic diseases and global mapping of infectious diseases.
* Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field
* Contributions from leading authorities and industry experts

This is the first English-language book dedicated to Brazilian sand flies and their medical importance. No other country has so many species of these haematophagous insects as Brazil and their diversity has reached an astonishing level. The book contains comprehensive chapters, written by Brazilian experts on their regional distribution, their ecology and their importance as vectors of pathogens and parasites. Methods for sampling, processing and preserving phlebotomines are reviewed as are perspectives on surveillance and leishmaniasis vector control. A novel classification is presented whose aim is to help investigators identify the species that they are working with more efficiently.

New technologies in urology involves minimal invasion, less recovery time, and organ-sparing techniques. This issue addresses those cutting-edge technologies that are currently being researched and are just entering clinical practice. Therefore, a main goal of this issue is to bring the information about these technologies to all practicing urologists so that they are knowledgeable and equipped to master them. Focus is given to new imaging modalities, like virtual endoscopy, molecular imaging, and image fusion. The issue also presents articles on robotics, laparoscopic surgery and endoscopy, and nanotechnology.

Topics include: Development and Validation of Reverse Phase Protein Microarrays for Personalized Therapy, Imaging Mass Spectrometry for Predictive and Prognostic Medicine, Immunomic Based Profiling for Early Cancer Detection, Antibody Arrays for Clinical Applications, Autoantibody profiling for Cancer Detection, Development and validation of a protein based signature for ovarian cancer detection, Analytical considerations for Mass Spectrometry Profiling in Serum Biomarker Discovery, Salivary Biomarkers for Clinical Applications, Proteomics of Caveolea: Clinical Applications, Clinical opportunities for renal cell cancer managment using proteomics, Cardiovascular Proteomics: implications for clinical applications, Clinical Proteomic Applications from FFPE, Development of high throughput mass spectrometry- based approaches for cancer biomarker discovery and implementation, Proteomics and Diabetic Retinopathy.

In this unique issue, the content is devoted to the socioeconomics of healthcare. Healthcare economics provide the underpinning of urologic practice for today and tomorrow. All of our clinical endeavors are dependent on the economic realties of the twenty-first century. This issue elucidates some of the challenges that are facing patients, physicians, and society. There are two major sections, The Healthcare Landscape: The Big Picture and Urologic Practice: Current Issues and Future Prospects. In the first section, articles address the history and demographics of healthcare and following this, several authors provide different proposals for healthcare reform. These proposals are followed by more parochial urologic issues which include residency training, certification and recertification, urologic research, practice management, and the impact of medical malpractice.

This book will contain a series of solicited chapters that concern with the molecular machines required by viruses to perform various essential functions of virus life cycle. The first three chapters (Introduction, Molecular Machines and Virus Architecture) introduce the reader to the best known molecular machines and to the structure of viruses. The remainder of the book will examine in detail various stages of the viral life cycle. Beginning with the viral entry into a host cell, the book takes the reader through replication of the genome, synthesis and assembly of viral structural components, genome packaging and maturation into an infectious virion. Each chapter will describe the components of the respective machine in molecular or atomic detail, genetic and biochemical analyses, and mechanism. Topics are carefully selected so that the reader is exposed to systems where there is a substantial infusion of new knowledge in recent years, which greatly elevated the fundamental mechanistic understanding of the respective molecular machine. The authors will be encouraged to simplify the detailed knowledge to basic concepts, include provocative new ideas, as well as design colorful graphics, thus making the cutting-edge information accessible to broad audience.

This volume covers a wide range of systems, exemplified by a broad spectrum of micro- and macro-parasites, impacting humans, domestic and wild animals and plants. It illustrates the importance of evolutionary considerations and concepts, both as thinking tools for qualitative understanding or as guiding tools for decision making in major disease control programs.
* Brings together a range of articles from scientists from different fields of research and/or disease control, but with a common interest in studying the biology of a variety of parasitic diseases
* Evolutionary theory has an important role to play in both the interpretation of host and parasitic dynamics and the design and application of disease control programs

This book examines aspects of paediatric infectious diseases written by leading authorities in the field. It is based on a lecture given at the seventh Infection and Immunity in Children (IIC) course held at the end of June 2009 at Keble College, Oxford.

While the basic principles of personalized medicine and pharmacogenomics have been covered by numerous texts, there are none to date that focus on the specific tests themselves that are in current clinical practice and those that are being proposed for implementation in the near future. Pharmacogenomic Testing in Current Clinical Practice: Implementation in the Clinical Laboratory focuses almost entirely on the specifics of each test that is needed to implement these tests into a clinical laboratory. This volume presents the first compilation of the tests currently in routine clinical use. The chapter authors of this unique and invaluable title comprise a range of renowned authorities and investigators who have conducted the essential clinical trials necessary to justify pharmacogenomic testing today. The book is divided into four parts: Basic Concepts, Specific Pharmacogenomic Targets, Drugs that Cause Delayed Hypersensitivity, and Miscellaneous Drugs. Each author provides a pharmacologic background on the target drug, the need for pharmacogenomic testing, and how results can be translated into clinical decisions. Where appropriate, case studies are given to illustrate typical clinical scenarios. An extensive bibliography is provided so that the reader can refer to the original studies. This well-designed resource will appeal to clinical laboratory directors who are contemplating or assigned the task of establishing a pharmacogenomics laboratory and a wide range of clinicians who must interpret results of testing. Focused and immensely useful, Pharmacogenomic Testing in Current Clinical Practice: Implementation in the Clinical Laboratory is a timely and outstanding contribution to the literature and will be instrumental in defining this rapidly growing field.

First published in 1963, " Advances in Parasitology" contains comprehensive and up-to-date reviews in all areas of interest in contemporary parasitology.
"Advances in Parasitology" includes medical studies on parasites of major influence, such as "Plasmodium falciparum" and trypanosomes. The series also contains reviews of more traditional areas, such as zoology, taxonomy, and life history, which shape current thinking and applications.
Eclectic volumes are supplemented by thematic volumes on various topics including Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems in Epidemiology and The Evolution of Parasitism--A phylogenetic perspective.

As a result to the recent significant developments, both in the field of cutaneous pathology and clinical dermatology, many cutaneous neural tumors s are now being diagnosed by specialists like dermatopathologists, and treated by dermatologists or dermatologic surgeons. Cutaneous Neural Neoplasms provides an essential aid in diagnosis by discussing the cardinal clinico-pathologic features of cutaneous tumors relevant to these specialists. It covers detailed pathologic features, and their differential diagnosis. Applicable special diagnostic techniques are extensively illustrated. Whenever relevant, key therapeutic recommendations are provided. Unique topics covered include; Discussion of plexiform neural tumors and their imitators, with special relevance to neurofibromatosis Neoplasms with atypical microscopic features, but benign clinical behavior, which are often misdiagnosed as malignant tumors New developments in cutaneous neural tumor diagnosis and recently described neural tumors The authors approach each entity by presenting clinical and/or gross photographs when relevant with discussion of the clinical features, followed by the tabulated list of key pathologic features with corresponding histopathologic illustrations. Therapeutic recommendations are summarized. This book is intended to fill a major gap in the currently available resources for practicing physicians, and will provide them with an appropriate knowledge base to handle these challenging tumors in the most up-to-date fashion.

After the discovery of milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor-factor 8 (MFG-E8) about two decades ago, a new era of delineating its potential beneficial role in several inflammatory diseases has begun to spout from the bench to translational research. In MFG-E8 and Inflammation, the editor and contributors have gathered a remarkable collection covering novel discoveries on the rapidly growing field of MFG-E8 and Inflammation which includes not only the findings from their individual lobotomies, but also from a host of pioneering researchers of this field. MFG-E8 and Inflammation starts by describing the origin, structure, expression, functions and regulation of MFG-E8, and then continues thoughtfully exploring its potentiality as a marker for apoptotic, stressed and activated cells. The topics cover the cellular and physiological function of MFG-E8, especially its role in efficient phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, intestinal barrier function, blood cell homeostasis and coagulation, and in the maintenance of the intact vascular system. The role of MFG-E8 in macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, dendritic cells, platelets, as well as non-hematopoietic cells is adequately described in the book. The chapters also contain several lucid discussions on the recent discoveries of the roles of MFG-E8 in the autoimmune diseases, sepsis, tissue ischemia-reperfusion, hemorrhage, inflammatory bowel diseases, acute lung injury, asthma, lung fibrosis, stroke, prion diseases and Alzheimer's diseases with the potential focus on elucidating novel mechanistic pathways. MFG-E8 and Inflammation is an indispensable resource for scientists and clinical researchers working on fundamental or applied aspects of MFG-E8 pathobiology. This book explores, dissects and reviews several noteworthy findings and striking future perspectives which not only rewrite the disease pathophysiology, but also update our understanding towards attaining novel therapeutic potentials against various inflammatory diseases.

The aim of this book is to give an in-depth assessment of our current understanding of the Biology of the main fungal pathogens and how they interact with the host 's immune response. Each chapter focuses on a specific fungal pathogen or group of pathogens, and examines their biology and the factors that allow the fungus to colonize and disseminate within the host. The chapters are written by internationally recognized experts in the field.

Many diseases earlier considered to be incurable are now being treated with modern innovations involving fetal tissue transplants and stem cells derived from fetal tissues. Fetal tissues are the richest source of fetal stem cells as well as other varying states of differentiated cells and support or stromal cells. The activity of such stem cells is at their peak provided they are given the correct niche. Stem cells, as we know, are immortal cells with the capacity to regenerate into any kind of differentiated cell as per niche-guidance. As such, fetal tissues have the potential capacity to mend, regenerate and repair damaged cells or tissues in adults, when directly transplanted to the site of injury, or even when transplanted in some other site, because it may have a homing capacity to migrate to the site of the specific injured organ. This is a new area of translational research and needs to be highlighted because of its immense potential. This book will bring together the new work of prominent medical scientists and clinicians who are conducting pioneering research in human fetal tissue transplantation. This will include direct transplant of healthy fetal tissue into mature patients as well as in hosts with genetic diseases. Transplant techniques, donor-host interaction, cell and tissue storage, ethical and legal issues, are some of the many matters which the book will deal with.

This second edition updates the burgeoning field of regeneration in the Central Nervous System (CNS) from molecular, systems, and disease-based perspective. While the book covers numerous areas in detail, special emphasis is given to discussions of movement disorders such as Parkinson s disease, Alzheimer s disease, and spinal cord injury.
* Incorporates information gained from cutting-edge photomicroscopy techniques
* Includes current information on clinical trials
* Presents chapters on stem cells and other novel treatments for diseases of the CNS

Amyloid-forming proteins are implicated in over 30 human diseases. The proteins involved in each disease have unrelated sequences and dissimilar native structures, but they all undergo conformational alterations to form fibrillar polymers. The fibrillar assemblies accumulate progressively into disease-specific lesions in vivo. Substantial evidence suggests these lesions are the end state of aberrant protein folding whereas the actual disease-causing culprits likely are soluble, non-fibrillar assemblies preceding the aggregates. The non-fibrillar protein assemblies range from small, low-order oligomers to spherical, annular, and protofibrillar species. Oligomeric species are believed to mediate various pathogenic mechanisms that lead to cellular dysfunction, cytotoxicity, and cell loss, eventuating in disease-specific degeneration and systemic morbidity. The particular pathologies thus are determined by the afflicted cell types, organs, systems, and the proteins involved. Evidence suggests that the oligomeric species may share structural features and possibly common mechanisms of action. In many cases, the structure function interrelationships amongst the various protein assemblies described in vitro are still elusive. Deciphering these intricate structure function correlations will help understanding a complex array of pathogenic mechanisms, some of which may be common across different diseases albeit affecting different cell types and systems."