ALBERT

Description: This book discusses the various therapeutic agents and pathologies that can have a negative impact on liver function. The profound changes such agents may exert on the liver, an essential organ, can severely alter a patient’s metabolism, negatively impacting the course of a disease and thus significantly shortening life expectancy and negatively affecting outcomes. This book provides a comprehensive overview of these selected issues with chapters on epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and treatment options in the context of hepatotoxicity.

Description: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) affects 13–20 people per 100,000 population worldwide. In the United States, approximately 100,000 people have IPF with 30,000–40,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Diagnosis remains a challenge with a significant lag between symptoms onset and diagnosis. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can carry high morbidity and mortality. This book provides concise, easy-to-read, and up-to-date information as it relates to clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of IPF. Despite, adequate treatment, the disease progresses, and a lung transplant is necessary in some cases. This book also discusses the role of lung transplants for IPF and its complications. It is a useful resource for primary care physicians, allied health professionals, hospitalists, and pulmonary physicians who take care of patients with IPF.

Description: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has the highest incidence of all common neurological dysfunctions and is a risk factor for a variety of neurological diseases. TBI is a major public health burden and the care of TBI patients is difficult. This book provides a comprehensive overview of TBI, addressing progress and needs in research as well as challenges in treatment. Chapters address such topics as emergency room airway management in TBI, craniocerebral injury in pediatric patients, traumatic optic neuropathy, and more.

Description: The growth and development of infants during the first two years of life are greatly influenced by nutrition. Meeting basic nutritional requirements is vital for proper and optimal growth and development, both physically and mentally. Many factors have influenced the rate of breastfeeding and the proper timing of complementary feed introduction. Some of these factors include poverty, world wars, the influx of women into the workforce, and the development of commercial infant formula. This book presents a comprehensive overview of infant and young child feeding. Chapters address breastfeeding programs, infant feeding in developing countries, breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the safety and physiological effects of the formula.

Description: This Edited Volume Alzheimer’s Disease is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the field. The book comprises single chapters authored by various researchers and edited by an expert in the field, working on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with cutting-edge technology. All chapters are complete in themselves but united under a common research study topic. This publication aims at providing a thorough overview of the latest research efforts by international authors in this research area, and opening new possible research paths for further novel developments.

Description: This book gives an update on the management of dysphagia due to a variety of disorders. Chapters address management of dysphagia due to corrosive ingestion and following anterior cervical surgery, nutritional, endoscopic, and surgical management of dysphagia, the role of surgery in patients with advanced achalasia, dysphagia in patients with head and neck cancer, and lipofilling and oral neuromuscular treatment.

Description: Melatonin is a powerful hormone and antioxidant with numerous effects on metabolism and human health. Available as a dietary supplement for many years, it is one of the most popular over-the-counter alternative medicines available. Featuring contributions from researchers investigating the role of melatonin in various diseases and physiological conditions, this comprehensive book offers a wide range of expert reviews on the synthesis, regulation, and physiological effects of melatonin as well as its role in various diseases.

Description: Peptic ulcer disease is one of the most common chronic infections in the world. Despite centuries of study, it remains a major digestive disease that affects a lot of people. This book is an update on the latest development in this field. It includes five chapters contributed by scholars from different parts of the world. It discusses the causes, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical care, and treatment options for the disease.

Description: Radiation Oncology provides a comprehensive overview of radiotherapy for cancer treatment. It discusses brachytherapy, external radiation, and photodynamic therapy for different types of cancers, as well as dosimetry audits, which ensure that the accurate therapeutic dose is delivered to patients undergoing radiotherapy. The need of the hour for radiotherapy procedures that provide maximum clinical care with safety and efficacy and also enhance the advantage of treatment and diminish the risks of late complications.

Description: Every cell in our body including red blood cells is covered with special markers called antigens, a substance that triggers the immune system response. Millions of antigens are present on the membrane of red blood cells and are ignored by the immune system because they are self-antigens. However, if a person receives a transfusion of blood that contains different antigens from their own blood, there will be a severe and immediate attack by the cells of the immune system. Therefore, it is important to use the patient’s same blood group for the transfusion. The blood group antigens not only perform a critical role in the function of cells but can also be used by viruses to gain access into the cells. This book includes nine chapters on different blood group antigens and their activities behind the scenes. Chapters address blood antigens and their association with cardiovascular diseases, thromboembolic diseases, malaria, and many other diseases and infections.

Description: Liver transplantation is an exciting field that encompasses a wide range of research areas like transplant immunology, transplant pharmacology, transplant oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and more. This book includes chapters on liver transplantation for acute and chronic liver failure, liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease, and economic considerations of liver transplantation.

Description: The book “Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting” is an excellent update for health care professionals, taking care of patients who are suffering from severe coronary artery disease. The 8 chapters in this book were written by experts in their topics. The first section describes the perioperative management. The second section describes the details of various surgical techniques. The last section discusses the superiority of CABG vs PCI. I believe this book will suffice the interests of our readers.

Description: Auditory System - Function and Disorders presents a concise description of the human auditory system and reviews the molecular biology of hearing loss with input from nine authors. It discusses the structure of the ear and associated malfunctions associated with hearing loss as well as auditory brainstem responses and their various applications. It summarizes various types of hearing loss and describes the roles of nonreceptor protein kinases and phosphatases, highlighting their importance to the function of the auditory system. Also discussed are new advancements in the treatment of hearing loss using implants and prosthetic devices. This book provides up-to-date information and is a useful resource for audiologists and geneticists, among others.

Description: This book discusses the application of bioinformatics in cancer disease management. It covers general aspects of cancer as a disease but also as a success story in the translation of omics data in clinical settings. It provides an overview of the specific applications of bioinformatics tools in cancer epidemiology, prevention, and screening and in the identification of novel genetic and molecular biomarkers involved in cancer development. This is accomplished through the inclusion of numerous examples of the use of bioinformatics in precision oncology.

Description: Sarcopenia is a symptom of aging that contributes to the functional decline of the musculoskeletal system, responsible for impaired gait and balance and a high risk of falls and serious fractures. Nutrition and exercise play a key role in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Due to the multifaceted nature of sarcopenia, the best therapeutic approach is multidisciplinary, requiring collaboration between specialists such as geriatricians, internists, physiatrists, general practitioners, nutritionists, and physiotherapists. This book presents a comprehensive overview of sarcopenia with chapters on physiopathological mechanisms, assessment tools, and rehabilitation activities of the condition in the frail elderly.

Description: The intestine is the largest digestive organ in the human body and one of the largest organs in contact with the outside world. In addition to digesting food to facilitate the absorption of nutrients, it has a variety of other functions, including the transmission of information and regulation of the metabolism. Due to its unique structure, the intestine is constantly exposed to various antigens and microbes. To protect the body from pathogens, while also maintaining a stable environment, the human intestinal tract has evolved unique regional immune characteristics maintained by the mature intestinal mucosal immune system. This intricate system involves intestinal epithelial cells, and intestinal lymphoid tissue composed of Peyer’s patches, isolated lymphoid follicles, mesenteric lymph nodes, and so on. The congenital and adaptive immune mechanisms created by the unique structure, function, and microenvironment of the intestine differ from those of the central and peripheral immune organs forming the regional immunity of the intestine. Intestinal flora also plays an important role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis, altering the structure and function of the immune system, reshaping the immune microenvironment, and promoting interference with the development of specific diseases. In fact, the immune function of the intestinal region directly affects the development of many intestine-specific diseases. However, the integrity of this function depends on the expression of congenital genes and the regulation of the neuroendocrine system. The microenvironment created by intestinal flora and its products also affects the immunity of the intestinal region. In early life, appropriate intestinal colonization by specific microflora stimulates the maturation of the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. If the appropriate intestinal flora fails to form during this life stage, the function of the intestinal immune system becomes impaired, leading to increased incidence and/or morbidity of certain intestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and others.

Description: This book discusses timely topics in the field of neurophysiology ranging from descriptions of nerve cells and glial cells to neural networks, sensory processing, neuroplasticity, neuropathophysiology, and human behavior. As such, all organizational levels of the nervous system are considered in one or more of the book’s twelve chapters. The chapters review or present novel findings and provide the reader with an overview of the current state of the art of neurophysiology research. They discuss research advances in different brain regions and experimental models. In addition, the book contributes to the training of current and future neuroscientists and, hopefully, will lead us on the path to curing some of the biggest challenges in human health.

Description: Many people worldwide suffer from sarcoidosis, which can be cured or controlled via immune system modulation and immunotherapy. This book presents a comprehensive overview of sarcoidosis and related aspects. It discusses the cell signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in sarcoidosis as well as pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and treatment of the disease.

Description: Over the last decades, the growing prevalence of insulin resistance has dramatically contributed to the global epidemic of metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, there is an unmet need for novel nutritional and pharmacological strategies aimed to prevent or treat insulin resistance and its related comorbidities. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology and clinical consequences of insulin resistance in different settings, describing novel diagnostic biomarkers and molecular targets of this condition.

Description: This book aims to foster collaboration between world-class bench scientists and clinicians in the fields of oncology, surgery, and pathology as they come together to highlight the complexity and diversity of soft tissue tumors as well as recent advances in their diagnosis and clinical management.

Description: The pharynx is an incredible structure in the human body. The pharynx moves food or water from the mouth to the esophagus and moves air from the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx or voice box. There are some conditions that can cause the pharynx to not function properly, affecting digestion, respiration, phonation, or sleep. One of the most challenging conditions is pharyngeal cancer. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the pharynx and addresses advances in the treatment of pharyngeal disorders, including surgery and reconstruction techniques.

Description: Macular degeneration is a blinding disease with huge socioeconomic costs. This book presents a comprehensive overview of macular degeneration, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Chapters address such topics as the disease state of macular degeneration, diagnosis and management of AMD, treatment considerations, and vision rehabilitation. It is a useful resource for both novice readers and experts in the field.

Description: This book elucidates the key principles of cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) in three sections. The first section addresses relevant pathophysiological aspects, diagnosis, treatment, and complications of CVDs, the second section examines CVDs in resource-poor settings and the geriatric population, and the final section discusses atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic stroke.

Description: Even 110 years after its discovery, Chagas disease is still an important public health problem, especially in Latin America where it is endemic. The limited effect of current treatments in the chronic phase of the disease, as well as the lack of information about disease progression, are crucial challenges that justify the intense research on this illness. The interaction between the etiological agent Trypanosoma cruzi and its invertebrate and vertebrate hosts involves the regulation of the parasite virulence and host immune responses. T. cruzi presents mechanisms to evade host defenses, including resistance to oxidative species and vesicles secretion, among many others. In this context, a better understanding of the biochemical and molecular features of the parasite’s success inside its hosts could contribute to the development of novel anti-T. cruzi strategies such as prototypes of drugs and vaccines. This book discusses Chagas disease and its etiological agent, including information on relevant clinical aspects such as diagnosis, treatment, biomarkers, and so on. It also presents information about cellular, molecular, and biochemical characteristics of the parasite-host interactions.

Description: Clinicians, scientists, and health care professionals use biomarkers or biological markers as a measure of a person’s present health condition or response to interventions. An ideal -biomarker should have the following criteria: (I) ability to detect fundamental features of the disease, (II) ability to differentiate from other closely related diseases, (III) ability to detect early stages and stages of progression, (IV) the method should be highly reliable, easy to perform and inexpensive, and (V) sample sources should be easily accessible from body. Most of the chapters in this book follow the basic principle of biomarkers.

Description: Although there are thousands of parasites all over the world, Schistosoma spp. are unique in terms of their morphology. Although they have separate bodies as “male” and “female,” they live in such a way that the female resides within the male. Schistosoma spp., classified in the family of trematodes, has about twenty members, five of which cause a disease called schistosomiasis (or bilharzia) in humans. This disease causes a variety of symptoms, ranging from simple skin lesions to a dramatic clinical scenario of bladder carcinoma. Although there are many different diagnostic and therapeutic methods, schistosomiasis is still an important threat to humans and a significant challenge for healthcare professionals. This book discusses the morphology, geographic distribution, and evolution of Schistosoma spp., as well as the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of schistosomiasis.

Description: The recent and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has changed societies and research around the world. As such, this new book examines the latest developments in the field of neuroscience related to these changes. It includes six chapters in two sections: “COVID-19 Effects: Neurology, Neuroimmunology, Neurogenesis” and “Molecular and Cellular Neurochemistry.” The first section includes chapters that address such topics as COVID’s effect on adult neurogenesis, neurological manifestations of COVID-19, and COVID-19 and seizures. Chapters in the second section discuss peripheral biomarkers in multiple sclerosis, amino acids as neurotransmitters, advancements in RNA sequencing technologies, and more.

Description: This book provides the thoracic community and pleura experts with an up-to-date surgical vision of pleura pathology. It provides in-depth knowledge and a better understanding of the indications, positioning techniques, and management of chest drains and indwelling catheters, which are commonly utilized in the management of the pleural disease. The book addresses complex topics such as bronchopleural fistula and postoperative empyema as well as pneumothorax.

Description: Management of hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus is a landmark achievement, especially in patients who take insulin. This book provides a comprehensive overview of hypoglycemia, including its pathophysiology, causes, clinical manifestations, management, and screening. It presents recent findings and research in the field and discusses new advancements in hypoglycemic control, including recently developed point-of-care devices for the home and the clinic.

Description: Thromboembolism is the most common cause of death in autopsied patients. Recently, this disorder has become a topic of interest due to it being a frequent complication of COVID-19 infection. This book discusses pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, such as those with malignancies such as paraneoplastic symptoms or heart and lung diseases.

Description: Atrial Fibrillation - Diagnosis and Management in the 21st Century provides the most up-to-date information about the most common cardiac arrhythmia in humans, atrial fibrillation. In this rapidly developing field of medicine, the book helps to answer the question, “Which treatment should I choose for which patient?” The book also discusses new drugs, applications and interventions in the field. The 12 chapters are written from a variety of viewpoints by authors who use solid, scientific and contemporary approaches to practical questions.

Description: The physiological or pathological variations in the amount or mass of each component of body weight can lead to an increase or a decrease in total body weight, with a potential risk of increased morbidity and mortality. This book presents an overview of current knowledge about different types of body weight changes, with a special emphasis on obesity.

Description: This book is devoted to the state of the art, pitfalls and perspectives in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma – a peculiar malignant tumour arising from mesothelial cells that line the pleura, the pericardium and the peritoneum. Mesothelioma is known for its strong association with asbestos exposure, difficult surgical treatment and dismal prognosis. However, recent years have yielded significant discoveries on, for example, germline mutations in BAP1 gene coding BRCA1-associated protein 1, the pathogenetic role of inflammation, and innovative treatment approaches such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. The volume is intended to summarise classic views and innovations in the pathogenetic concepts, diagnostics, treatment and scientific studies of mesothelioma, resulting in a comprehensive reference work as well as a source of ideas for relevant clinical and basic research.

Description: This book, “Hypertension - An Update”, covers diverse topics, such as an overview of mechanisms, MRI as a diagnostic tool, the role of stem cells in elucidating molecular mechanisms and tools for hypertension research and therapeutics. It also covers epidemiology and the role of Vitamin D in hypertension. These varied subjects will be of keen interest to clinicians and research scientists.

Description: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis that develops in the absence of competing for liver disease etiologies such as alcohol consumption, monogenic hereditary conditions, or iatrogenic causes. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is multifactorial and its understanding is still incomplete. Although knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying disease development and progression has grown significantly in recent years, the exact contribution of environmental and genetic factors as well as that of extrahepatic and intrahepatic events in determining the disease phenotype remains ill defined. This book discusses topics highly correlated with NAFLD such as the regulation of iron metabolism, the role of the enzyme heparanase in liver steatosis, transcriptional regulation by ERR and its role in pathogenesis, hepatic lipid homeostasis, therapeutic approaches to NAFLD, and pathogenesis and significance of HDL as a molecular modifier in NAFLD.

Description: Macrophages were first discovered in 1882 when Elia Metchnikoff recognized them as important phagocytic cells that can engulf any foreign material, including fungal spores. This discovery has proved to be a milestone in establishing the field of innate immunity. Macrophages are still ruling the area after 140 years of their discovery. This book explores the diverse role of macrophages in vertebrate immunity, parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections, regeneration, inflammation, and neurological diseases.

Description: Lifestyle-related diseases are caused by an unbalanced diet and irregular, undesirable lifestyle, leading to a condition called metabolic syndrome. Rather like dominoes falling, these diseases develop one after another. Owing to changes in dietary habits and working environments, the incidence of lifestyle-related diseases, obesity, and metabolic syndrome is increasing globally, resulting in a serious social problem that needs to be solved. This book deals with recent studies on lifestyle-related diseases and metabolic syndrome, and the following three topics are discussed: (1) characteristics of metabolic syndrome and lifestyle-related diseases; (2) the relationship between metabolic syndrome and several diseases; and (3) effective interventions to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. This book provides new ideas for the treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome and lifestyle-related diseases.

Description: Aortic stenosis is one of the most common and serious valvular diseases in the elderly. Its prevalence increases with age and treatment is always surgical. This book provides a comprehensive overview of aortic stenosis diagnosis and treatment. Chapters address such topics as the use of computer tomography in assessing aortic stenosis, role of frozen allografts in aortic valve surgery, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), the Ross procedure, and more.

Description: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis that affects medium- to large-size arteries in which an inflammatory reaction destroys the media of the artery wall with the fragmentation of the elastic lamina, which can result in acute vision loss if not treated in a timely manner. The other common visual symptoms may include diplopia due to cranial nerve palsies and transient visual loss. This book provides a comprehensive overview of GCA, with chapters on epidemiology, cellular and molecular characteristics of the disease, extra-cranial involvement of GCA, medical imaging, and much more.

Description: Over the last 50 years, there have been remarkable developments in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects. This book addresses some of these developments, including the role of echocardiography in improving the prognosis of fetal heart defects, benefits of new echo techniques, cardiac screening of participants in sports, management of premature babies with patent ductus arteriosus, and advantages of stenting the right ventricular outflow tract. It also discusses several types of heart defects, including ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and Ebstein’s anomaly of the tricuspid valve. Finally, the book discusses the treatment of congenital aortic valve disease and issues related to managing congenital heart disease in developing countries.

Description: This book discusses the significance of interferon (INF) in the clinical aspects of the disease. Chapters address the biological, chemical, and physiological aspects of IFN and how IFN can assist various targeted health interventions. The information contained herein is useful for designing IFN gamma–directed strategies for managing various diseases discussed in the text.

Description: Refractive surgery has been gaining popularity worldwide in recent decades. This book provides essential facts about refractive errors, introducing new technologies in keratorefractive surgery, cataract surgery and combined surgery. Options available for complex cases like residual refractive errors after keratoplasty and good refractive results that can be achieved for glaucoma patients are also discussed. This book should be of interest to ophthalmology specialists and trainees studying refractive surgery.

Description: This book presents the latest information in audiological research with a strong emphasis on the vestibular system and the various types of hearing problems associated with otolith dysfunction. It is divided into two sections: “Vestibular Pathophysiological Features” and “Updates on Diagnosis and Therapy.” Section 1 explores the pathophysiology of the vestibular pathways and Section 2 discusses several innovative approaches for a modern evaluation and rehabilitation of vestibular disorders. Chapters address such topics as tinnitus, signal transmission, vestibular testing, rehabilitation, and therapy, and audio-vestibular side effects of COVID-19 treatments.

Description: Ectopic pregnancy is an implantation occurring elsewhere than in the cavity of the uterus. It is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality during the first trimester. While the incidence of extrauterine pregnancy has increased in recent years, the rapid development of multi-omics has also provided an effective method of prenatal diagnosis. This book focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of ectopic pregnancy, fetal malformation, and the different screening methods for prenatal diagnosis.

Description: Recent Advances, New Perspectives and Applications in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer is a review of interesting and clinically important advances in the tumor biology and treatment of ovarian cancer. Major aspects of scientific progress in the treatment of ovarian cancer are covered, focusing on new knowledge due to advances in molecular techniques, understanding of tumor biology and innovative new treatment options. An interesting collection of innovations in the treatment of ovarian cancer and opinions from specialists in this field from around the world are brought together in this book.

Description: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that starts with lesions that appear red, thick, scaly, and itchy with bilateral and symmetrical distribution. The lesions are most often seen in the scalp, elbows, knees, and genitalia. The extent of the lesions is not always limited to these areas, and in some cases, it may involve larger parts of the skin, as well as nails and joints in some cases. This book presents a comprehensive overview of psoriasis, including clinical aspects, differential diagnosis by dermoscopic devices, comorbidities, immune system changes, methotrexate therapy, and topical innovative molecular targeted therapeutics.

Description: This book is an annual collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters authored by various researchers, offering a comprehensive overview of recent studies and developments in the field of Infectious Diseases. It joins work from four areas in this field, Bacterial, Fungal, Parasitic, and Viral Infectious Diseases, each edited by an expert. The global challenges and different living circumstances for people around the globe ask for a deep understanding of various aspects and properties of infectious diseases to ensure a safer and healthier cohabitation of humans and pathogens.

Description: This book provides updated information on helminth infections, with proposals for new treatments and biological factors of risk, the development of vaccines for the control of helminthiasis and explains the latest research on the field. It also delves into multi-omics, diagnosis, immunology, and novel molecule targets. In addition, the book examines topics such as host-parasite interaction. Key Features: • Provides basic and clinical evidence based on molecular interactions to address the risks and benefits of helminthiasis • Presents the results of new vaccine development • Discusses new and old therapeutic approaches in helminth infections • Delves into advances in the molecular and immune response in helminth infection • Proposes a One Health approach to study helminth infections • Analyzes the controversies and confusions in the management, biology, and control strategies of helminth infections • Examines the basic biology of helminth parasites

Description: Many methods, techniques, and tools have been developed and successfully applied to stabilize and control heart rate. Modern implantable devices (pacemakers, defibrillators, tools for continuous monitoring and resynchronization therapy) and treatment methods, including minimally invasive surgery (ablation, implantation), have been developed for managing cardiac rhythm and avoiding heart failure. In addition to electrical pacing, ablation is an effective minimally invasive surgical method for reducing and blocking arrhythmic phenomena, both as an independent treatment method or in conjunction with pacing therapy. This book discusses modern cardiac rhythm management methods and devices as well as some important medical aspects of their use.

Description: Hysterectomy is a common gynaecological procedure. This book presents a comprehensive overview of this surgery, including a brief history of the procedure, the different techniques used, how to choose the appropriate method, and potential complications.

Description: This book discusses RNA viruses and their potential to cause pandemics, such as the coronavirus pandemic the world is currently experiencing. It discusses different types of RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV2, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, HIV, and others. Chapters examine the epidemiology, transmission, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and control using the One Health approach.

Description: Tumor angiogenesis is critical for tumor growth and progression. It is a multistep and complicated process, and the mechanism underlying tumor angiogenesis is not fully elucidated. Recent advances in tumor angiogenesis research have led to improved diagnosis, drug treatment, and clinical management of cancer. However, novel strategies for cancer treatment are urgently needed, especially biomarker discovery for diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy. This book presents the most recent advances in tumor angiogenesis.

Description: Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease leading to a variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms such as chorea, parkinsonism, oculomotor symptoms, cognitive decline, depression, suicidal ideation, and psychosis. Currently, only symptomatic treatment is available. In recent years, there has been a growing number of publications regarding pathophysiology, disease biomarkers, and possible avenues for causal therapy of HD. This book presents an overview of the most important research updates in the pathophysiology and treatment of HD, with particular reference to advances in HD neuropathology, neuroimaging, and biomarkers of HD. We also summarize possible new therapeutic targets, including cannabis-based medicine, cellular, and cell-free therapeutics. Importantly, researchers from different regions of the world have contributed to this volume as we wanted to create a balanced, inclusive, and interdisciplinary review of the topics. We hope that with this book readers will be offered a compact summary of up-to-date trends in HD research which, ultimately, will enable better diagnosis and treatment for HD patients.

Description: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Epidemiological trends suggest an initial rise in the incidence of UC, followed by Crohn’s disease (CD), in areas where IBD is emerging. As understanding of aspects of the disease is evolving, this book covers new perspectives on the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of UC. Genetic predisposition, along with gut dysbiosis and environmental factors, triggers the altered gut permeability and dysregulated immune activation that leads to the development of UC, which can manifest both intestinally and extra-intestinally. Platelets play a significant role in augmenting inflammation. Histological examination is important for accurate diagnosis and for distinguishing mimics. Histological remission is an emerging treatment target strategy in UC. Novel treatments include dietary manipulation with anti-inflammatory dietary components like fermented rice bran. A number of challenges need to be addressed in treating special populations like children and pregnant women. Finally, interventional endoscopy is playing an emerging role in the management of colitis-associated neoplasia and postoperative complications and acting as a bridge between surgery and medical therapy. Ulcerative Colitis - Etiology, Diagnosis, Diet, Special Populations, and the Role of Interventional Endoscopy aims to act as a ready reference for the clinician. It provides indispensable updates on several relevant issues in the diagnosis and management of ulcerative colitis and has benefited from the collaboration of leading experts in various aspects of the disease. It aims to facilitate decision-making by gastroenterologists, IBD specialists, interventional endoscopists, dieticians, pathologists, surgeons, and pediatricians treating UC patients.

Description: Current Challenges in Childbirth provides a comprehensive overview of childbirth. Chapters address such topics as induction of labor, labor progression, intrapartum care, uterotonics, care of the newborn, and more.

Description: Since the first heart transplantation was performed by Dr. Christiaan Barnard in South Africa in 1967, there has been steady progress in terms of recipient selection, donor selection and management, surgical technique, preoperative management, immunosuppression, mechanical circulatory support during waiting for heart transplantation, especially in the last two decades. This book presents recent information in the field of heart transplantation. It includes thirteen chapters that address such topics as novel immunosuppression therapy and the role of transplant pharmacists, donor management and intervention for primary graft failure, mechanical circulatory, diagnostic modalities for cardiac allograft vasculopathy, surgical techniques, pediatric heart transplantation, and gene therapy. We hope that readers will find this book a useful resource because of its summarization of relevant details and issues that will facilitate the acquisition of emerging new information in each area of heart transplantation.

Description: From surgery to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, attempts to conquer colorectal cancer have been ongoing for a century. Due to these efforts, the mortality rate of colorectal cancer has decreased by about 3% per year for the past 10 years. Progress in reducing mortality from colorectal cancer can be accelerated by improving screening and the use of standard care in all populations. In recent years, advanced knowledge and technologies for better efficiency in targeting colorectal cancer have been developed to improve conventional therapeutics or to propose new therapies as standard regimens. This book discusses diagnostics as well as surgical techniques using robotics, immunotherapy, and radiology-based therapy for colorectal cancer. The section on diagnostics provides information on proteomics, organoid culture techniques, and various candidate markers. The section on treatment discusses robotic surgical techniques for rectal cancer care and multidisciplinary approaches for colorectal cancer treatment. The book also examines the latest in supportive care from a nutritional and metabolic point of view.

Description: Squamous cell carcinoma remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. It is a heterogeneous disease with complex molecular abnormalities. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) represent the most frequent human solid tumors and are a major cause of cancer mortality. Highly heterogeneous tumors arise from closely interconnected epithelial cell populations whose intrinsic self-renewal potential is inversely related to the stratified differentiation program. Cancer prevention strategies are theoretically appealing although often difficult to implement, owing to the multifactorial pathogenesis of most cancers. This book focuses on significant variations of squamous cell carcinoma, including squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina, bladder, head and neck.

Description: Keratinocytes have various functions to maintain epidermal homeostasis. Many inflammatory skin diseases can develop due to suppressed or defective anti-inflammatory properties of keratinocytes. This book discusses the structural, biological, and molecular aspects of keratinocytes. Chapters discuss keratins and attachment molecules and their importance in maintaining epidermal homeostasis, skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and aging and skin regeneration.

Description: This book presents a comprehensive overview of sickle cell anemia, with chapters addressing diagnosis and clinical, psychosocial, and pharmacological management of patients with this disease. It is a vital resource for biomedical science and medical students, interns, pediatricians, general physicians, and other healthcare professionals involved in offering care and support to patients with sickle cell disease.

Description: This book examines supportive and palliative care and quality of life in cancer patients. Chapters address such topics as anxiety, depression, and delirium in terminally ill cancer patients, ethics in palliative care, palliative care medications, assisted suicide and euthanasia, and much more.