This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics provides a comprehensive review of the current state of biomarkers and their role in the asthma diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm.Since the last issue on Biomarkers, which published in 2007, significant research directly targeted at biomarker development and clinical trials with new biologics, using biomarkers such as exhaled nitric oxide, sputum and tissue eosinophilia as endpoints, has occurred.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America, guest edited by Dr. Rohit Katial, is devoted to Severe Asthma. Articles in this issue include: Epidemiology and Pulmonary Physiology of Severe Asthma; Linkage and Genetic Associations in Severe Asthma; Asthma COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS); Biomarkers in Severe Asthma; Imaging in Severe Asthma; Eosinophilic Phenotype; Neutrophilic and Pauci-immune Phenotypes; Role of Sleep Apnea and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Severe Asthm...

Super immunity is a term that describes the state wherein the immune system is functioning as efficiently as possible. Despite modern technological advancement, many people still suffer from weak immune system and are more susceptible to common illness and disease. Knowing how to strengthen your immunity is essential to ensure that every cell in your body is protected from free radicals and toxins that can cause sickness.

Human Parasitology emphasizes a medical perspective while incorporating functional morphology, physiology, biochemistry, and immunology to enhance appreciation of the diverse implications of parasitism. Bridging the gap between classical clinical parasitology texts and traditional encyclopedic treatises, Human Parasitology appeals to students interested in the medical aspects of parasitology and those who require a solid foundation in the biology of parasites. This fourth edition has been ...

A leading figure in immunology takes readers inside the remarkably powerful human immune system.Winner of the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title of the Choice ACRLThe immune system has incredible power to protect us from the ravages of infection. Boosted by vaccines, it can protect us from diseases such as measles. However, the power of the immune system is a double-edged sword: an overactive immune system can wreak havoc, destroying normal tissue and causin...

The word germ is defined as 'a microbe that causes disease'. The vast majority of microbes do not infect us at all: it is pathogens that make us ill. These include bacteria, viruses, protozoa, fungi, worms, and prions. Living with Germs not only looks at all of these in detail, but also at the defence mechanisms by which we come to terms with them, whether by eliminating them, stopping them from eliminating us, or simply learning to live with them. This is thefirst book to look at the subj...

This book has been written keeping in mind the needs of the student and curriculum. The content is exhaustive and cannot be found in any single textbook, Indian or foreign. Its uniqueness is the packaging of the basic and the clinical aspects of immunology in a single book. The goal of creating this book is: • To put forth the concepts involved in immunology in as simplified a manner as possible for the students whose first language is not English • To reduce to the minimum, description of...

The Blood Group Antigen FactsBook — winner of a 2013 Highly Commended BMA Medical Book Award for Internal Medicine — has been an essential resource in the hematology, transfusion and immunogenetics fields since its first publication in the late 1990s.The third edition of The Blood Group Antigen FactsBook has been completely revised, updated and expanded to cover all 33 blood group systems. It blends scientific background and clinical applications and provides busy researchers and clinician...

This text is a review of molecular immunohematology (MI). It draws from analyses and case studies around the world and details many techniques used in many labs. It is aimed at anyone interested in how MI is changing blood bank and transfusion medicine.

Every day many people suffer from intestinal diseases. These disorders can result from pathogens like bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses, but the causes of non-infectious intestinal disorders and colorectal cancers remain to be elucidated. Disturbances to the normal gut flora (the microbiota) are central to the development of many, if not all, of these disorders.Disturbed gut microbiota is a prelude to public health issues like traveller’s-, antibiotic- and Clostridium diff...

Antibodies are indispensable tools for research, diagnosis, and therapy. Recombinant approaches allow the modification and improvement of nearly all antibody properties, such as affinity, valency, specificity, stability, serum half-life, effector functions, and immunogenicity. "Antibody Engineering" provides a comprehensive toolbox covering the well-established basics but also many exciting new techniques. The protocols reflect the latest "hands on" knowledge of key laboratories in this st...

Systemic lupus erythematosus (S.L.E.), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect virtually any organ of the body. In lupus, the body's immune system, which normally functions to protect against foreign invaders, becomes hyperactive, forming antibodies that attack normal tissues and organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and blood. Lupus is characterized by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness, or remission. Beca...