Accurate assessment of hand function is critical to any treatment regimen of the hand compromised patient. Hand Function is a practical, clinical book which provides the knowledge needed to distinguish the different dimensions of hand function, particularly impairment, disability and handicap. Beginning with an overview of basic principles and examination, subsequent chapters evaluate the hand function in specific afflicted populations, including the rheumatoid patient, the stroke patient, the trauma patient, the geriatric patient and the pediatric patient, as well as special populations such as diabetes mellitus patients and musicians. An appendix containing hand function scales essential to the assessment of disability is also included. Rheumatologists, physiatrists, hand surgeons, orthopedists, occupational therapists and physical therapists will all find Hand Function a useful and valuable addition to their clinical references.

This book, besides reviewing basic and clinical aspects of Behcet's disease, covers the latest findings, including genetic studies and treatment with biologics for the disease. Although the cause of Behcet's disease is still unknown, it is well known that genetic factors, such as HLA-B51, are involved in its development. Recently, novel susceptibility loci including IL10, IL23R-IL12RB2, and endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 have been identified, providing new insights into the pathogenesis of the disease. In addition to basic research, the beneficial efficacy of anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies has also been suggested for not only uveitis associated with the disease but also other subtypes of the disease such as entero-, vasculo-, and neuro- Behcet's disease. Behcet's Disease: From Genetics to Therapies provides essential information both for basic researchers working in the fields of immunology, inflammation, and genetics, and for clinical physicians who are interested in Behcet's disease, such as ophthalmologists, rheumatologists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, and vascular surgeons.

This book discusses both the beneficial and harmful aspects of NO in biology and medicine, and also introduces the emerging discovery of artemisinin in antitumor, antibacterial infection, anti-inflammation, and antiaging contexts. In 1992 nitric oxide (NO) was voted "Molecule of the Year" by Science magazine, and the discovery of its physiological roles has led to Nobel Prize-winning work in neuroscience, physiology and immunology. The book explains why we should maintain a steady-state NO level that is derived from neuronal or epithelial NO synthase, and avoid the extremely high NO level resulting from inducible NO synthase. The book offers a valuable resource for medical chemists, clinicians, biologists and all those interested in health and disease.

Primary Sjoegren's syndrome is a rheumatic disease affecting around 0.1-0.2% of the adult female population and can result in significant disability without adequate therapy. Diagnosis is often delayed and suggested therapies may not be optimal, and a multidisciplinary approach that includes rheumatologists, ophthalmologists, oral medicine physicians, and others is important to patient management. This volume summarises current understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease, including advances in the genetics of Sjoegren's syndrome. Chapters cover disease mechanisms, clinical diagnosis and assessment, secondary Sjoegren's syndrome, the role of laboratory investigations, and imaging. A therapy-based section covers topical oral and ocular therapies, and the role of steroids and biologics are also addressed. Sjoegren's Syndrome is a practical concise pocketbook featuring key points and illustrations showing important mechanisms of disease and pathways of care. The book will be of interest to trainees in rheumatology, ophthalmology, and oral medicine/surgery; specialist practitioners and therapists involved in the care of patients with Sjoegren's syndrome; and primary care physicians, dentists, and other specialists such as ENT physicians.

This book focuses on clinical presentation, diagnostic processes and current management of systematic vasculitis, and for this second edition the Editors have updated the treatment approach and nomenclature in line with current practice. Systemic vasculitides are a group of disorders which are of increasing importance. Many of these conditions are only rarely encountered by general physicians and often present significant diagnostic challenges. The Editors aim to provide easily accessible information in a pocket sized format. In doing so they hope to help both the generalist but also rheumatologists who only encounter these problems occasionally.

Ibuprofen is one of the most successful drugs used worldwide for the treatment of mild to moderate pain and various inflammatory conditions. Over the past 40 years, ibuprofen has been proven to be as safe or even safer and also as effective as the established non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and the coxibs. This well-written book reviews the pharmacology, clinical uses and the various adverse effects of Ibuprofen, the disposition and unique modes of action in relation to clinical effects of the drug as well as various formulations. The use of combinations with other drugs (e.g. paracetamol, codeine, caffeine) are critically assessed and the impact of natural products and Chinese Medicines on the safety of ibuprofen.

This next volume in our established series proposes to systematically review the basic science and clinical knowledge of the role of free radicals and antioxidants, collectively known as "oxidative stress", in the pathology of arthritis and other joint diseases. It will describe the most current diagnostic tools , laboratory methods and technology, to suggest ways of prevention and treatment and to emphasize the concept of the bench-to-bedside approach. The book will also provide specific coverage on emerging technology and medical applications including discussions of biomarkers and antioxidants as therapeutic agents and several more relevant aspects. In addition, the book will promote the concept of using biomarkers representative of oxidative stress reactions and free radical damage , as well as describe the effect of antioxidants in treating disease in clinical trials. The content will be valuable to researchers studying the development of arthritis/joint disease, and clinicians treating patients with these diagnoses.

Challenging Cases in Rheumatology and Diseases of the Immune System is the latest title in a growing collection of thought-provoking case-based titles from Massoud Mahmoudi, D.O., Ph.D. Like his three preceding titles, Challenging Cases in Allergy and Immunology (2009), Challenging Cases in Allergic and Immunologic Diseases of the Skin (2010), and Challenging Cases in Pulmonology (2011), this easy-to-read title presents the topic in a challenging and enjoyable case-based format. Developed by 30 distinguished contributors, the book consists of six parts and 16 chapters, with each chapter presenting two cases. The style of this title follows the previous books: each topic begins with an abstract, followed by a case presentation, working diagnosis, data, final diagnosis, and discussion. In addition, to enhance a review of the subject and stimulate critical thinking, there are 5 to 10 multiple choice questions and answers in each chapter. Challenging Cases in Rheumatology and Diseases of the Immune System is an indispensable resource for all clinicians who care for patients with rheumatic and immunologic disorders.

Both scientifically and socially the Vlth International Symposium on Amyloidosis, August 5 - 8, 1990 in Oslo was a great success. There were three and a half intensive days. It started with the Opening Ceremony, particularly highlighted with the Norway-Norway multi media show by David Cochron, and ended with a visit to the Edvard Munch museuro and the Farewell Salmon Dinner on the evening of August 8 (not to forget the "happy birthday" song for Dorothea Zucker-Franklin at the breakfast table the following morning). In between was the intellectual penetration into the science of amyloidosis and amyloid proteins, and a deepening of many friendships among young and old "amyloidologists", together with some of the cultural and historical features of Oslo and Norway. Among the numerous Ietters of thanks and gratitude that we have received, the senior organizer of the previous meeting, Takashi lsobe said it briefly and eloquently: "You have overwhelmed us, you have performed a drama with joy and cheer, you have hosted so nicely with lovely secretariat, you have arranged impressive hospitality in every respect, you certainly did for all of us" Now we are left with the proceedings book for the three coming years until the next symposium in Kingston, Canada, which will be organized by Drs. Robert Kisilevsky and Thomas Muckle from the Department of Pathology at Queens University in 1993. The scientific contributions herein cover all the sessions of the meeting.

This volume features contributions from participants of the ESRF symposium on Immunotherapy in 2020-Visions and Trends for Targeting Inflammatory Diseases held in Potsdam near Berlin, Germany, in October 2006. The symposium presentations covered the main mechanisms of immunoregulation.

Phagocytosis has been at the forefront of cell biology for more than a century. Initially, phagocytosis, which comes from Greek words meaning "devouring cells," was discovered in the late 19th century by Ilya Metchnikoff, who was awarded, together with Paul Ehrlich, the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1908 "in recognition of their work on immunity." At that time Metchnikoff had already identified a function for phagocytes not only in host defense but also as scavengers of degenerating host cells during metamorphosis of tadpoles, thus providing one of the first descriptions of apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages (Kaufmann 2008). Since then, much has been learned about phagocytosis, and the previous several decades have witnessed outstanding progress in understanding the functions and the molecular mechanisms of phagocytosis. Two main types of targets are cleared by phagocytosis: microbial pathogens and dying cells. Rapid recognition and clearance of dying cells by phagocytes plays a pivotal role in development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis, control of immune responses, and resolution of inflammation. Clearance of dying cells can be divided into several stages, including sensing, r- ognition, binding and signaling, internalization, and immunological responses. In this book, our contributors address these different stages of dead cell cle- ance and examine how impaired clearance of dying cells may lead to human d- eases. We have attempted to provide sufficient cross-referencing and indexing to enable the reader to easily locate the ideas elaborated in the different chapters.

Autoimmune Diseases: Acute and Complex Situations provides a detailed overview of conditions associated with autoimmune diseases that are considered either life-threatening or requiring complex management. These include abdominal pain, arthritis, cutaneous ulcers, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, epilepsy, pancreatitis, stroke and white-matter CNS lesions. Autoimmune Diseases: Acute and Complex Situations addresses the latest clinical and immunological prognostic factors that may help to identify patients at higher risk of developing potentially life-threatening involvement. This book comprehensively helps the reader to diagnose these patients, in whom an early therapeutic approach is essential. Autoimmune Diseases: Acute and Complex Situations is a valuable reference tool for rheumatologists, internists, immunologists, and all the specialists involved in the multidisciplinary care of patient with rheumatic and systemic autoimmune diseases.

Atlas of Rheumatoid Arthritis is a high-quality educational initiative, written by leaders in the field of rheumatology, containing a collection of approximately 150 relevant images, with extended descriptive captions and a comprehensive bibliography. The Atlas of Rheumatoid Arthritis will provide clinicians with a visual guide to rheumatoid arthritis, focusing on assessment, diagnosis and treatment, including newer research into the signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of RA, before focusing on the treatment of RA. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common and most serious of the inflammatory arthritic disorders, and it dominates clinical rheumatological practice. Effective, early treatment is vital as this can slow the course of the disease and reduce joint damage. RA is usually treated using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), most commonly methotrexate. The newest treatments target the disease-causing immune elements specifically and directly.

Case Studies in Systemic Sclerosis deals specifically with Systemic Sclerosis in a case study format. Each case presentation includes illustrative figures, a discussion of the pathophysiology relevant to the case, a discussion of management that is both evidence-based and expert opinion-based and several key references for further reading. With its easy-to-use format, this book presents multiple different manifestations of Systemic Sclerosis to a wide range of readers. Because this disease has a broad range of systemic features, Case Studies in Systemic Sclerosis is a valuable reference tool not only to the community of rheumatologists (trainees, academic and private practice rheumatologists) and dermatologists, but also potentially to internists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, cardiologists and nephrologists.

Often considered the prototypic autoimmune disease, Lupus is characterized by protean manifestations and affects a wide range of organ systems. Despite widespread availability of anti nuclear antibody testing and other technological diagnostic advances, the diagnosis of lupus can be elusive, difficult, and inexact. Treatment of the disease can also be challenging. Advances in immunology and biotechnology have led to a burgeoning world of new therapies in development that offer patients the real possibility of new therapies and physicians and scientists novel insights into the pathogenesis of this complicated immunological disease. Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical Evaluation and Treatment summarizes the clinical aspects of lupus facing the general clinician in the 21st century. In this invaluable, practical book, the reader will find introductory chapters regarding general diagnostic and treatment principles, followed by chapters addressing the lupus-specific organ manifestations. Special topics regarding pregnancy and comorbidities are also presented. Written by highly experienced physicians with special expertise in lupus, Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical Evaluation and Treatment is an indispensable reference for the common and not so common problems affecting patients with lupus.

The International Congress on Antiphospholipid Antibodies is held every three years to discuss the recent advances and future directions in Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS). This volume collects the scientific highlights and new findings about APS that were generated from the most recent 13th Congress, held in Galveston, Texas in 2010. Chapters were written by an internationally-distinguished group of scientists from the point-of-view of multiple specialty areas. Each chapter was written in a uniform and systematic basis to present the latest evidence-based research, including the basic science of APS, task force reports from the Congress on controversial aspects of APS, and future directions of APS research. This book will appeal to all clinicians involved in the treatment and management of APS patients, to residents in a variety of medical subspecialties, and to research scientists interested in a better understanding of this complex and evolving disease.

This edition of the companion volumes Muscle Pain: Understanding the Mech- isms and Muscle Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment is essential reading for those interested in clinical approaches to acute and chronic pain conditions involving muscle tissues and in the mechanisms underlying these conditions. The volumes cover a very important topic in pain medicine, since muscle pain is very common and can often be dif?cult to diagnose and treat effectively. Furthermore, chronic pain involving muscle and other components of the musculoskeletal system increases with age, such that it is a common complaint of those of us who are middle-aged or older. Indeed, as changing population demographics in "west- nized" countries result in higher proportions of the population living longer and being middle-aged and elderly, chronic muscle pain will likely become even more of a health problem. In the case of acute muscle pain, this can often be very intense, and in the short term can limit or modify the use of components of the musculoskeletal system associated with the sensitive muscle. Chronic muscle pain can also be intense, as well as unpleasant and disabling, and it is in many cases the over-riding symptom of most musculoskeletal disorders that are associated with long-term deleterious changes in musculoskeletal function.

This edition of the companion volumes Muscle Pain: Understanding the Mech- isms and Muscle Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment is essential reading for those interested in clinical approaches to acute and chronic pain conditions involving muscle tissues and in the mechanisms underlying these conditions. The volumes cover a very important topic in pain medicine, since muscle pain is very common and can often be dif?cult to diagnose and treat effectively. Furthermore, chronic pain involving muscle and other components of the musculoskeletal system increases with age, such that it is a common complaint of those of us who are middle-aged or older. Indeed, as changing population demographics in "west- nized" countries result in higher proportions of the population living longer and being middle-aged and elderly, chronic muscle pain will likely become even more of a health problem. In the case of acute muscle pain, this can often be very intense, and in the short term can limit or modify the use of components of the musculoskeletal system associated with the sensitive muscle. Chronic muscle pain can also be intense, as well as unpleasant and disabling, and it is in many cases the over-riding symptom of most musculoskeletal disorders that are associated with long-term deleterious changes in musculoskeletal function.

Biomaterials are used in many areas of medicine, particularly in surgery and d- tistry. In orthopedic surgery, total hip arthroplasty has been extremely successful, and has been called 'the operation of the 20th century'. Total hip arthroplasty is r- tinely performed every day in most orthopedic departments. Over the last decades, many efforts have been made to better integrate the components within the recipient bones, to decrease the friction at the prosthetic interface, and to minimize wear. Minimally invasive procedures have been developed, and various designs are inte- ed to preserve as much as possible of the bone stock of young patients. By contrast, the clinical results have been less favorable after various hand and wrist joint replacements. Many early designs have failed, the clinical data of the current pr- theses are frequently quite limited, and there is often insufficient biomechanical information available, although trapezio-metacarpal arthroplasty in particular has become quite popular in recent years. In order to promote progress in hand and wrist arthroplasty, Antonio Merolli and Thomas J. Joyce have edited this lovely book, whose chapters discuss current research and recent advances in hand and wrist arthroplasty. The problems of metacarpophalangeal joint prostheses are particularly developed.

This book presents the development and experimental validation of the structural test strategy called Oscillation-Based Test - OBT in short. The results presented here assert, not only from a theoretical point of view, but also based on a wide experimental support, that OBT is an efficient defect-oriented test solution, complementing the existing functional test techniques for mixed-signal circuits.

A comprehensive reference work: This looseleaf work is an authoritative compilation of methods for the detection of autoantibodies (Section A: Methods of Autoantibody Detection); the structure, function, and molecular and biochemical concepts of autoantigens (Section B: Autoantigens); and the clinical significance of measuring autoantibodies in patients with rheumatic, connective tissue and autoimmune diseases (Section C: Clinical Significance of Autoantibodies). This unique work brings together all the molecular and medical information - very difficult to retrieve otherwise - in ONE publication. The Editors and contributors are leading experts in the immunological, molecular biological, and clinical fields. The format of this looseleaf publication allows regular updating of data as well as inclusion of new advances in research on autoimmunity. Until now, the work (Basic work including Supplement 1) included Section A, and the larger part of Section B, both in an attractive and robust ringbinder. Audience: By nature and design of this exciting reference work, it is especially aimed at scientists, including immunologists, pathologists and molecular biologists, and clinical chemists, as well as clinicians specializing in rheumatic diseases and autoimmune disorders, inflammation or clinical immunology. Supplement 2: This supplement primarily contains Section C (Clinical Significance of Autoantibodies). As in the other sections, the contents are presented in a consistently structured manner, beautifully illustrated with photos and schematic figures. Extensive literature references are provided. Also, this supplement includes an addition to Section B (Autoantigens), being chapter B.1.5: The Antigens Defined by Antikeratin Antibodies (AKA).

In this text atlas of neuroimaging the author provides a review of the pathologies and diseases that affect the head, brain, skull base, face, spine, and cord. The case presentation format of this handbook covers the important clinical and neuropathological aspects of the disease process. The book contains 350 selected pathologies, represented in 750 high resolution MR images. It also covers the aspects of neurological disorders and the fundamental aspects of the physics of magnetic resonance, spectroscopy, as well as a review of MR techniques. Given its scope, this book is of interest to radiologists involved in MR interpretation, neuroradiologists seeking an up-to-date review, and all workers in the field of diagnostic and therapeutic neurology.

Osteoporosis is one of the most important diseases facing the ageing population because of the high prevalence of fractures, the enormous costs in health care funds required to deal with the consequence of these fractures, and the substantial effect in terms of suffering and disability. One-third of women over age 65 will have vertebral fractures, and the li fe-time risk ofhip fracture in white women (15%) is as great as that ofbreast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer combined. The life-time risk of hip fracture in men (5%) is as great as the risk of prostate cancer. Hip fracture is fatal in up to 20% of cases. One-half of survivors are unable to walk unassisted and 25% are confined to long-term ca re in nursing hornes. The recent awareness that osteo porosis is a treatable and partly preventable disease of the elderly, and not just the inevitable consequence of ageing, comes at a time of rapid progress in measurement of bone mass and in a better understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of bone cell function."

Autoimmunity, characterized by autoreactive lymphocytes and autoantibodies, is the consequence of a failure to discriminate between self and non-self, and autoimmune diseases are an increasing threat to people living in the industrialized countries. Autoimmune disorders are treatable, but not curable, and patients can face disability at later stages of the disease. Thus, there is a medical and economic need for new concepts and treatments in autoimmune disorders. New concepts and treatments can only be achieved by an interdisciplinary approach bringing together expertise, technologies, and clinical experience. The workshop focused on multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and type I diabetes, and discussed conventional drug therapies, gene therapy, cell and tissue transplantation therapies, and first treatments using blood stem cells for reprogramming the patients' immune system.