In 1994 I coedited a book, Molecular Pathology: Ap- efforts. It should be evident that molecular pathology and proaches to Diagnosing Human Disease in the Clinical diagnostics impact almost every conceivable subspecialty Laboratory, that coined the phrase "molecular pathology" in laboratory medicine and, particularly in the case of to refer to applications of molecular biology in the tradi- pharmacogenomics, have led to the development of new tional areas of laboratory medicine. That compilation of areas of investigation. clinical molecular techniques included 11 chapters and an What is less evident is the burden placed upon the epilogue on "New Directions for the Clinical Laboratory. " laboratorians directing these efforts. Issues regarding Chapter headings included: automation, neoplasia, heri- training, certification, continuing education, and re- table diseases, and infectious diseases. bursement (just to name a few) have demanded enormous Three years later, in 1997, Bill Coleman and Greg Tson- time and effort from professional organizations and g- galis edited Molecular Diagnostics: For the Clinical ernmental agencies. In addition, because conventional Laboratorian, which contained 18 chapters and introduced approaches cannot always be applied to molecular di- the new areas of RT-PCR and In Situ PCR, and included nostics, unique solutions for quality assurance and quality a section on gene therapy. Now, ten years after the intro- control must be developed. These challenges have eng- duction of molecular pathology, we are looking at the dered committees, subcommittees, taskforces, and second edition of Bill Coleman and Greg Tsongalis' text.

Diagnostic Molecular Pathology: A Guide to Applied Molecular Testing, Second Edition assembles a group of experts to discuss the molecular basis and mechanisms of major human diseases and disease processes and how the molecular features of disease can be harnessed to develop practical molecular tests for disease detection, diagnosis and prognosis. The book explains how molecular tests are utilized in the treatment of patients in personalized medicine, highlights new technologies and approaches of applied molecular pathology, and discusses how this discovery-based research yields new and useful biomarkers and tests. As it is essential to stay up-to-date on new molecular diagnostics in this changing field, this book covers critically important areas in the practice of personalized medicine and reflects our understanding of the pathology, pathogenesis and pathophysiology of human disease.

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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Diagnostic Molecular Pathology: A Guide to Applied Molecular Testing is organized around disease types (genetic disease, infectious disease, neoplastic disease, among others). In each section, the authors provide background on disease mechanisms and describe how laboratory testing is built on knowledge of these mechanisms. Sections are dedicated to general methodologies employed in testing (to convey the concepts reflected in the methods), and specific description of how these methods can be applied and are applied to specific diseases are described. The book does not present molecular methods in isolation, but considers how other evidence (symptoms, radiology or other imaging, or other clinical tests) is used to guide the selection of molecular tests or how these other data are used in conjunction with molecular tests to make diagnoses (or otherwise contribute to clinical workup). In addition, final chapters look to the future (new technologies, new approaches) of applied molecular pathology and how discovery-based research will yield new and useful biomarkers and tests. Diagnostic Molecular Pathology: A Guide to Applied Molecular Testing contains exercises to test readers on their understanding of how molecular diagnostic tests are utilized and the value of the information that can be obtained in the context of the patient workup. Readers are directed to an ancillary website that contains supplementary materials in the form of exercises where decision trees can be employed to simulate actual clinical decisions.

Essential Concepts in Molecular Pathology, Second Edition, offers an introduction to molecular genetics and the "molecular" aspects of human disease. The book illustrates how pathologists harness their understanding of these entities to develop new diagnostics and treatments for various human diseases. This new edition offers pathology, genetics residents, and molecular pathology fellows an advanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms of disease that goes beyond what they learned in medical and graduate school. By bridging molecular concepts of pathogenesis to the clinical expression of disease in cell, tissue and organ, this fully updated, introductory reference provides the background necessary for an understanding of today's advances in pathology and medicine.

As the molecular basis of human disease becomes better characterized, and the implications for understanding the molecular basis of disease becomes realized through improved diagnostics and treatment, Molecular Pathology, Second Edition stands out as the most comprehensive textbook where molecular mechanisms represent the focus. It is uniquely concerned with the molecular basis of major human diseases and disease processes, presented in the context of traditional pathology, with implications for translational molecular medicine. The Second Edition of Molecular Pathology has been thoroughly updated to reflect seven years of exponential changes in the fields of genetics, molecular, and cell biology which molecular pathology translates in the practice of molecular medicine. The textbook is intended to serve as a multi-use textbook that would be appropriate as a classroom teaching tool for biomedical graduate students, medical students, allied health students, and others (such as advanced undergraduates). Further, this textbook will be valuable for pathology residents and other postdoctoral fellows that desire to advance their understanding of molecular mechanisms of disease beyond what they learned in medical/graduate school. In addition, this textbook is useful as a reference book for practicing basic scientists and physician scientists that perform disease-related basic science and translational research, who require a ready information resource on the molecular basis of various human diseases and disease states.