Millions of tons of municipal solid wastes (MSW) comprising a great proportion of 'food & green garden wastes' generated from homes and institutions are ending up in the landfills everyday, creating extraordinary economic problems for the local government and environmental problems for the society due to increasingly high cost of landfill construction, waste disposal and monitoring for emission of powerful 'greenhouse gases', 'toxic gases' and discharge of 'leachate' with serious risk of polluting groundwater. Studies indicate that vermi-composting of food and garden wastes by waste-eater earthworms is more efficient over the conventional aerobic systems. This book explores the possibilities of management in this area.

Earthworm's vermicompost is a nutritive organic fertiliser rich in NKP, micronutrients, and beneficial soil microbes. They are scientifically proven to be excellent growth promoters and protectors for crop plants. In experiments with corn and wheat crops it displayed excellent growth performances in terms of height of plants, colour and texture of leaves, as well as the appearance of fruiting structures. There is also less incidences of pest and disease attack and reduced demand of water for irrigation. This book discusses and presents data which suggest that the vermicompost of earthworms contributes to an increase in the yield of crops when used as a fertiliser.

Over the past 30 years, there has been increasing recognition of psoriatic arthritis as a distinct clinical entity. Psoriatic arthritis occurs mostly in patients with psoriasis and may affect up to 1% of the general population. It has many similarities to other forms of spondyloarthritis, and must be differentiated from related conditions. Given that most patients with psoriatic arthritis have skin and musculoskeletal diseases that significantly affect their quality of life and function, patients are ideally managed in a multidisciplinary clinic with rheumatologists, dermatologists and a nurse specialist, physical therapist and occupational therapist. Psoriatic Arthritis covers the epidemiology and diagnostic and classification criteria, describing the clinical features of the disease, including skin and nail involvement, articular, and other extra-articular manifestations. Laboratory features and imaging characteristics are covered in detail, along with co-morbidities and their impact. A comprehensive review of skin disease therapy is also provided, along with the various treatment options for joint disease, including traditional disease modifying therapy and newer biologic agents . This comprehensive yet concise and practical volume is the perfect guide to psoriatic arthritis for the busy practitioner, and will be of interest to trainees and specialists in rheumatology and dermatology.

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis. It is characterised by swelling and inflammation in and around the joints as well as inflammation of the skin. While there is currently no cure for psoriatic arthritis, several new treatments are emerging that offer new hope to patients. In this guide for patients, the authors draw on their experience from one of the largest clinics in the world that is dedicated to understanding and managing patients with psoriatic arthritis, and highlight what is know about the causes and clinical features, along with the emotional impact that this condition has on peoples lives and how to manage it.