Hormonal influences, both natural and iatrogenic, are implicated in the most frequent health issues of women. Endometrial cancer is now the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States and the industrialized world. This cancer is strongly related to hormonal and metabolic factors. In addition, breast cancer treated with hormone therapy (Tamoxifen) may, in some cases, be associated with uterine pathology. Hormone therapy is used to improve the physiological effects and counteract abnormal and deleterious effects of "natural" hormonal activity. Millions of women receive hormone therapy at some point of their life: using oral contraceptives, reproductive technology, treatment for post-menopausal symptoms, among other uses. This book addresses a range of women's health issues, from fertility to neoplasms, and their relationship with natural and iatrogenic hormonal effects. Chapters include clinical and pathological descriptions, theoretical and practical medical issues, and original studies and cases. Controversial issues in certain hormone therapies are presented with updated concepts based on clinical studies and novel statistical methods. The book will be useful for specialized and general physicians, oncologists, endocrinologists, researchers, medical students, and others in the field of women's health.

Between 1935 and 1944 the field of microbiology, and by implication medicine as a whole, underwent dramatic advancement. The discovery of the extraordinary antibacterial properties of sulphonamides, penicillin, and streptomycin triggered a frantic hunt for more antimicrobial drugs that was to yield an abundant harvest in a very short space of time. By the early 1960s more than 50 antibacterial agents were available to the prescribing physician and, largely by a process of chemical modification of existing compounds, that number has more than tripled today. We have become so used to the ready availability of these relatively safe and highly effective 'miracle drugs' that it is now hard to grasp how they transformed the treatment of infection.
This book documents the progress made from the first tentative search for an elusive 'chemotherapy' of infection in the early days of the twentieth century, to the development of effective antiviral agents for the management of HIV as the millennium drew to a close. It also offers a celebration of the individuals and groups that made this miracle happen, as well as examining the inexorable rise of the global pharmaceutical industry, and, most intriguingly, the essential input of luck.
Infection still maintains a high profile in both medicine and the media, with the current threats of 'superbugs' such as MRSA acquired in hospital, and a potential resistance to antibiotics. This book tracks the history of antimicrobial drugs, a remarkable medical triumph that has provided doctors with an amazing armoury of safe and effective drugs that ensure that reversion to the helpless state of the fight against infection witnessed in the early 1900s isextremely unlikely. This timely compendium acknowledges the agents that have surely led to the relief of more human and animal suffering than any other class of drugs in the history of medical endeavour.

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a serious global pandemic in just eight months. Nearly every country and territory in the world has been affected by the virus. The virulence and infection rate of the virus are profound, and has required extreme social distancing measures across the globe in order to prevent overwhelming the healthcare services and hospitals. COVID-19 appears to have the greatest effects on elderly individuals and those who have co-morbid diseases, such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. As the peak begins to slow in many countries, the death rates remain high amidst justified fears of a second wave. A rapid worldwide mobilization has begun to identify effective treatments and develop vaccines. This new volume will increase readers' understanding of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through a series of chapters that address these concerns. Leading experts will discuss the effects of the virus in cases of co-morbidities, new treatment approaches, mental health aspects of the pandemic, and convey the results of survey studies. The book will be an excellent resource for researchers studying virology, metabolic diseases, respiratory disorders, and clinical scientists, physicians, drug companies, and healthcare services and workers.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Agriculture: Perspective, Policy and Mitigation is a valuable industrial resource that addresses complex, multi-factorial topics regarding farm, wild, companion animals, fish, and how the environment plays an important role in amplification and transmission of resistant bugs into the human food chain. Information of phenotypical and genotypical properties of each bacterial genus associated with antimicrobial resistance, transmission dynamics from different reservoirs (food animals, poultry, fishes) and control measures with alternative therapy, such as phytobiotics and nanomaterials are provided. Researchers, scientists and practitioners will find this an essential resource on the judicial use of antibiotics in animals and humans.

This book provides an up-to-date review of fasciolosis, a disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, including its biology, transmission, epidemiology, host distribution, economic impact, and novel approaches for its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. It first offers a brief overview of the history of the disease, the genetic diversity of the parasite and its distribution, and the ecology of the vector snail, which belongs to the Lymnaeidae/Planorbidae family. It also examines the current strategies and novel approaches for controlling the parasite, diagnosing infections and vaccine development. Importantly, it highlights issues relating to the control of fasciolosis, including drug resistance, lack of effective diagnostics, and the parasite's long-term survival strategies based on regulation and modulation of the host immune system. Lastly, it discusses the novel control snail vectors using bait formulations, and synergetic and phototherapy treatment with chlorophyllin, which does not kill the vector.

Revolutionary research is revealing how the trillions of microbes living on and in our bodies can keep us healthy . . . or make us sick Suddenly, research findings require a paradigm shift in our view of the microbial world. The Human Microbiome Project at the National Institutes of Health is well under way, and unprecedented scientific technology now allows the censusing of trillions of microbes inside and on our bodies as well as in the places where we live, work, and play. This intriguing, up-to-the-minute book for scientists and nonscientists alike explains what researchers are discovering about the microbe world and what the implications are for modern science and medicine. Rob DeSalle and Susan Perkins illuminate the long, intertwined evolution of humans and microbes. They discuss how novel DNA sequencing has shed entirely new light on the complexity of microbe-human interactions, and they examine the potential benefits to human health: amazing possibilities for pinpoint treatment of infections and other illnesses without upsetting the vital balance of an individual microbiome. This book has been inspired by an exhibition, The Secret World Inside You: The Microbiome, at the American Museum of Natural History, which will open in New York in early November 2015 and run until August 2016. It will then travel to other museums in the United States and abroad.

Molecular and Translational Vascular Medicine will serve as a state-of-the-art resource for physicians and translational medical researchers alike who are interested in the rapidly evolving field of vascular medicine. The text provides new insight into the basic mechanisms of classic vascular pathophysiologic processes like angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vasculitis. Furthermore, it covers new areas of investigation including the role of the ubiquitin proteasome system in vascular disease, endothelial progenitor cells for disease treatment, and the genetic basis of thoracic aortic aneurysms. Lastly, this volume includes sections on the newly emerging field of therapeutic angiogenesis, and the developing technology of nanoparticle-based imaging and therapeutic treatment of the diseased vasculature. All chapters are written by established experts in their fields, including pathologists, cardiovascular surgeons, and internists as well as translational biomedical researchers in a wide range of disciplines. While comprehensive, the material is presented in a manner that simplifies the complex pathophysiologic mechanisms that underlie common vascular diseases. Molecular and Translational Vascular Medicine will be of great value to a broad audience including internists, cardiovascular and vascular surgeons, pathologists, residents and fellows, as well as translational biomedical researchers.

Part of the in-depth and practical Pattern Recognition series, Practical Surgical Soft Tissue Pathology, 2nd Edition, helps you arrive at an accurate diagnosis by using a proven pattern-based approach. Leading diagnosticians guide you through the most common patterns seen in soft tissue pathology, applying appropriate immunohistochemistry and molecular testing, avoiding pitfalls, and making the best diagnosis. High-quality illustrations capture key morphologic patterns for a full range of common and rare tumor types, and a "visual index" at the beginning of the book directs you to the exact location of in-depth diagnostic guidance. A consistent chapter organization by histologic pattern considers soft tissue tumors the way you approach them in daily practice, helping you arrive at a quick and accurate diagnosis. A user-friendly design color-codes patterns to specific entities, and key points are summarized in tables and text boxes, so you can quickly and easily find what you are looking for. Sweeping content updates keep you at the forefront of recent findings regarding all major neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of the soft tissues. Improved pattern call-outs are now linked directly within the chapter, reinforcing the patterns for more efficient and complete understanding. Expert ConsultT eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience allows you to search all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

This is an insider's account of 50 years of genetic studies of the soil-inhabiting microbes that produce most of the antibiotics used to treat infections, as well as anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and immunosuppressant drugs. The book begins by describing how these microbes - the actinomycetes - were discovered in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but remained a 'Cinderella' group until, in the 1940s, they shot to prominence with the discovery of streptomycin, the first effective treatment for tuberculosis and only the second antibiotic after penicillin to become a medical marvel. There followed a massive effort over several decades to find further treatments for infectious diseases and cancer, tempered by the rise of antibiotic resistance consequent on antibiotic misuse and over-use. The book goes on to describe the discovery of gene exchange in the actinomycetes in the context of the rise of microbial genetics in the mid-20th century, leading to determination of the complete DNA sequence of a model member of the group at the turn of the millennium. There follow chapters in which the intricate molecular machinery that adapts the organisms' metabolism and development to life in the soil, including antibiotic production, is illuminated by the DNA blueprint. Then comes an up-to-the minute account of the use of genetic engineering to make novel, hybrid antibiotics and a topical description of techniques to learn the roles of the thousands of genes in a genome sequence, throwing a powerful light on the biology of the organisms and their harnessing for increasing antibiotic prductivity. In the final chapter we return to the mycobacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy, the first actinomycetes to be discovered, and how methodology, in part derived from the study of the streptomycetes, is being applied to understand and control these still deadly pathogens.

'The Maternal Sepsis Intervention has had a profound impact on maternal mortality and antibiotic use whilst also reducing hospital costs. The Ministry of Health is keen to explore opportunities to extending the lessons learnt and integrate them in national policy-making.' -Dr. Richard Mugahi, Ministry of Health, Uganda. This open access book provides an accessible introduction to the mechanics of international development and global health text for policy-makers and students across a wide range of disciplines. Antimicrobial resistance is a major threat to the well-being of patients and health systems the world over. In fragile health systems so challenged, on a day-today basis, by the overwhelming burden of both infectious and non-communicable disease, it is easy to overlook the impacts of AMR. The Maternal Sepsis Intervention, focusing on a primary cause of maternal death in Uganda, demonstrates the systemic nature of AMR and the gains that can be made through improved Infection Prevention Control and direct engagement of laboratory testing in antibiotic prescribing.

For courses in Microbiology Lab and Nursing and Allied Health Microbiology Lab A Flexible Approach to the Modern Microbiology Lab Easy to adapt for almost any microbiology lab course, this versatile, comprehensive, and clearly written manual is competitively priced and can be paired with any undergraduate microbiology text. Known for its thorough coverage, straightforward procedures, and minimal equipment requirements, the Eleventh Edition incorporates current safety protocols from governing bodies such as the EPA, ASM, and AOAC. The new edition also includes alternate organisms for experiments for easy customisation in Biosafety Level 1 and 2 labs. New lab exercises have been added on Food Safety and revised experiments, and include options for alternate media, making the experiments affordable and accessible to all lab programs. Ample introductory material, engaging clinical applications, and laboratory safety instructions are provided for each experiment along with easy-to-follow procedures and flexible lab reports with review and critical thinking questions.

Regional Network for Asian Schistosomiasis and Other Helminthic Zoonoses, Volume 105, the latest release in the Advances in Parasitology series, captures the journey of RNAS+ from its early beginnings, to its current state, marking its accomplishments and impacts in research. Sections in this updated volume include Milestones of networking and global engagements for the RNAS+, Priorities and outcomes of collaborative researches for the RNAS+, Needs and coordination mechanism for capacity building by the RNAS+, Translational research and contributions to country control, Multi-disciplinary integration of networking through the RNAS+, Impact assessment of RNAS+ outcomes, and more.

This book focuses on the application of nanotechnology in medicine and drug delivery, including diagnosis and therapy. Nanomedicine can contribute to the development of a personalized medicine both for diagnosis and therapy. By interacting with biological molecules at nanoscale level, nanotechnology opens up an immense field of research and applications. Interactions between artificial molecular assemblies or nanodevices and biomolecules can be understood both in the extracellular medium and inside human cells. Operating at nanoscale allows exploitation of physical properties different from those observed at microscale, such as the volume to surface area ratio. A number of clinical applications of nanobiotechnology, such as disease diagnosis, target-specific drug delivery, and molecular imaging are being investigated. Some promising new products are also undergoing clinical trials. Such advanced applications of this approach to biological systems will undoubtedly transform the foundations of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease in the future. Nanomedicine sales reached $16 billion in 2015, with a minimum of $3.8 billion in nanotechnology R&D being invested each year. Global funding for emerging nanotechnology increased by 45% per year in recent years, with product sales exceeding $1 trillion in 2013. As the nanomedicine industry continues to grow, it is expected to have a significant impact on the global economy. This book provides clear, colorful and simple illustrations, tables, and case studies to clearly convey the content to a general audience and reader. This book also discusses the development of nanobiomaterials from biogenic (biological sources) systems for healthcare and disease therapies. This book, therefore, is useful for researchers and academicians in the fields of nanotechnology, medicine, nano-biotechnology and pharmacology.

Infection in the cancer patient is extremely common, either precipitated by the cancer itself or occuring as a consequence of cancer therapies. Virtually all cancer patients develop an infection during their illness, many of which are life-threatening and require urgent treatment. There are also the wider health implications of antibiotic resistance and hospital acquired infections. This book provides a practical guide to all the infections a practising clinician and members of the multi-disciplinary team will meet in their care of a cancer patient. An overview of the problem of infection in the cancer patient is provided, covering the immunology of cancer and the infection sequelae. This is then developed by site specific chapters, each describing the organisms responsible for the infection, its presentation, appropriate investigations, and finally management advice. Unique groups explored include viral infections such as HIV and infections in paediatrics. Infections in end of life care are specifically addressed. Written by an international team of contributors recognised in their field, this book is the first to concentrate on what is a major issue for anyone involved in the care of the oncology patient.

Virus Entry, Volume 104, the latest release in the Advances in Virus Research series, highlights new advances in the field, with this new volume presenting interesting chapters on plant virus cell-to-cell entry, plant virus entry via insect transmission, VSV/Rabies virus entry, Papovavirus entry, New approaches to study fusion proteins, Hantavirus receptors, Gamma Herpesvirus entry, and many other interesting topics.

This volume details the most updated concepts and experimental protocols developed by leading researchers in the field. Chapters guide readers through methods on bioinformatics tools, hepatitis c virus(HCV) cloning, culture, and purification, HCV life cycle, host immune responses, and small animal models. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Hepatitis C Virus Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

The book provides detailed information on breast cancer and covers all the aspects of this rapidly spreading disease, such as applied anatomy and physiology, causative factors, various Investigations to reach a concise, definitive and complete diagnosis. The management of breast cancer involves multi-modality treatment and the book describes all the modalities in a very clear manner. It also discusses in a very lucid and practical way. the multi-prong treatment that the patient requires . Additionally, the book covers lesser-known areas of the subject like rehabilitation, management of lymphoedema, Extravasation of chemo-Infusion, organization of breast cancer management group, breast cancer awareness and patient education, follow up of the patient, and psychological support to these patients who have undergone mutilation of their organ. Edited by experts the chapters are contributed by renowned onco-sugeons from high volume and reputed centers in India such as, PGIMER, Chandigarh, AIIMS, New Delhi, and TMH, Mumbai among others. The book serves as a useful resource for surgeons, medical oncologists, radiotherapists, pathologists, radiologists and many other specialists interested in the field of breast cancer and actively working in this area. It is useful for practitioners and residents as well as for those who want to learn the different aspects of this disease.

Of the 758 species of hard ticks (family Ixodidae) currently known to science, 137 (18%) are found in the Neotropical Zoogeographic Region, an area that extends from the eastern and western flanks of the Mexican Plateau southward to southern Argentina and Chile and that also includes the Greater and Lesser Antilles and the Galapagos Islands. This vast and biotically rich region has long attracted natural scientists, with the result that the literature on Neotropical ticks, which are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of human disease and are of paramount veterinary importance, is enormous, diffuse, and often inaccessible to non-specialists. In this book, three leading authorities on the Ixodidae have combined their talents to produce a summary of essential information for every Neotropical tick species. Under each species name, readers will find an account of the original taxonomic description and subsequent redescriptions, followed by an overview of its geographic distribution and host relationships, including a discussion of human parasitism. Additional sections provide detailed analyses of tick distribution by country and zoogeographic subregion (the Caribbean, southern Mexico and Central America, South America, and the Galapagos Islands), together with a review of the phenomenon of invasive tick species and examination of the many valid and invalid names that have appeared in the Neotropical tick literature. The text concludes with an unprecedented tabulation of all known hosts of Neotropical Ixodidae, including the tick life history stages collected from each host. This book is an invaluable reference for biologists and biomedical personnel seeking to familiarize themselves with the Neotropical tick fauna.

#10 on Amazon Charts, USA Today Bestseller "This book is my best attempt to tell the truth about my research, the culture in science today which is hostile to new ideas, and what science can really do if allowed to pursue promising areas of inquiries."-Dr. Judy Mikovits, PhD This is a story for anybody interested in the peril and promise of science at the very highest levels in our country. On July 22, 2009, a special meeting was held with twenty-four leading scientists at the National Institutes of Health to discuss early findings that a newly discovered retrovirus was linked to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), prostate cancer, lymphoma, and eventually neurodevelopmental disorders in children. When Dr. Judy Mikovits finished her presentation, the room was silent for a moment, then one of the scientists said, "Oh my God!" The resulting investigation would be like no other in science. For Dr. Mikovits, a twenty-year veteran of the National Cancer Institute, this was the midpoint of a five-year journey that would start with the founding of the Whittemore-Peterson Institute for Neuro-Immune Disease at the University of Nevada, Reno, and end with her as a witness for the federal government against her former employer, Harvey Whittemore, for illegal campaign contributions to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. On this journey Dr. Mikovits would face the scientific prejudices against CFS, wander into the minefield that is autism, and through it all struggle to maintain her faith in God and the profession to which she had dedicated her life.

This volume focuses on the transport of medically relevant bacterial protein toxins into mammalian cells, and on novel pharmacological strategies to inhibit toxin uptake. The first chapters review our current understanding of the cell-surface receptors and cellular transport processes of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins, Clostridium botulinum C3 toxin, Clostridium difficile toxins, binary clostridial enterotoxins, anthrax toxins and diphtheria toxin. In brief, specific binding/transport (B) subunits deliver the enzyme (A) subunits into the cytosol, where the latter modify their substrates, producing cytotoxic effects and the characteristic toxin-associated diseases. Key mechanisms for the transport of the A subunits from endosomes into the cytosol and the role of trans-membrane pores formed by the B subunits and host cell chaperones for this process are reviewed. The book's closing chapters focus on compounds which inhibit the transport of the A subunits from endosomes into the cytosol and therefore might lead to novel therapeutic strategies for toxin-associated diseases. These substances include pharmacological inhibitors of the host cell chaperones involved, as well as multivalent and heterocyclic molecules that specifically block the toxins' translocation channels. This volume offers an up-to-date resource for scientists.

Both communicable and noncommunicable diseases of the respiratory system are an increasing healthcare problem despite medical advances. This book aims at unraveling the mechanisms and improving the treatment of pulmonary pathologies, ranging from such common conditions like influenza and related viral infections, functional lung dysfunction, to lung lesions and others. Chapters present late-breaking findings in the diagnostics, pharmacotherapy, and clinical evidence-based decision-making to provide results that can be used to improve healthcare and quality of life. Extending new knowledge and exploring recent medical advances, the book will hopefully help enrich research and clinical experience regarding important respiratory issues. The book is intended for general practitioners and all professionals engaged in the pulmonary field, from basic scientists to clinical investigators.

Master Medicine: Microbiology and Infection is brief and accessible, approached from the point of view of what you will need to know in order to understand the clinical work you will eventually be doing. It includes a wide range of self-assessment material, ideal for testing your understanding, and helping you to prepare for your exams. Concise synoptic (not telegraphic text). Appropriate self-assessment material. Only covers core, so student knows the whole book is essential. Includes key objectives. Contains simple and memorable diagrams for reproduction in exams. Ideal for learning as well as examination review, specifically trying to stimulate the student into assessing his/her own knowledge. The books in the series both complement other available major texts, but also contain enough material to stand in the own right. Provides examination practice. Part of co-ordinated series. Contents refined to reflect 'core knowledge' Major revision of self-assessment material to match change in exam styles (more Extended Matching Questions and OSC-style questions)

Aimed at students, researchers, nutritionists, and developers in food technology, this research text addresses the nascent field of metabiotics. Metabiotics are products based on components of cells, metabolites, and signaling molecules released by probiotic strains, engineered to optimize host-specific physiological functions in a way that traditional probiotics cannot. This book examines the history, processes, design, classifications, and functions of metabiotics. It includes an overview of the composition and function of the gut microbiota, and discusses development of target-specific metabiotics. Further coverage includes comparisons to traditional probiotics, as well as probiotic safety and side-effects. Metabiotics: Present State, Challenges and Perspectives provides a complete history and understanding of this new field, the next phase of the probiotic industry.

A follow-up to Emerging Issues and Controversies in Infectious Diseases, this volume provides a comprehensive review of topical issues in infectious diseases, highlighting the controversies related to the newest findings and recommendations. Coverage includes trends and debates in HIV research, community-acquired pneumonia, H. pylori, progress in Hepatitis C treatment paired with the lack of progress on Hepatitis B, and the effects of climate change on infectious disease epidemiology, among others. This is an essential resource for practicing and academic physicians, investigators, residents, and fellows focused on infectious diseases, infection control, public health, and global health.

This book provides a comprehensive review of the major barriers to HIV cure and vaccine. It covers the fundamental virology and immunology leading to HIV transmission, protection from infection and long term HIV persistence on antiretroviral therapy. In addition, strategies being tested to eliminate persistent HIV and the rational design of vaccines to induce protective immunity are covered. This book also discusses the challenges related to the design of clinical trials for testing the safety and efficacy of these innovative approaches. This book will provide a systematic overview and also discuss controversial issues for researchers in virology and immunology, as well as practicing physicians, and scientists in the pharmaceutical industry.