Asthma is a chronic airway disease affecting over 300 million people worldwide with an expected increase of an additional 100 million by 2025. Past decade has observed a notable increase in asthma prevalence on both national and global levels with highest rates observed in western countries (about 30%). Over the past 40 years, a drastic increase in global prevalence, morbidity, mortality, and economic burden have been observed due to asthma especially in children. The rising numbers of hos...

Chronic lung diseases: pathophysiology and therapeutics provides a much-needed reference tool for pathologists, practicing pulmonologists and researchers who are currently working on lung related diseases. Each chapter addresses a specific lung disease, which it introduces before turning to the disease’s pathophysiology, current treatment and future prospects.Various key lung diseases are covered, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, tuberculosis, chronic p...

This translational text offers in-depth reviews of the metabolic and nutritional disorders that are prevalent in patients with renal disease. Chapter topics address the growing epidemic of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Each chapter integrates basic and clinical approaches, from cell biology and genetics to diagnosis, patient management and treatment. Chapters in sections 4-7 include new illustrative case reports, and all chapters emphasize key concepts with chapter-ending summaries. New ...

Vitamin D, a steroid hormone, has mainly been known for its effects on bone and osteoporosis. The current therapeutic practices expand into such markets as cancer research, pediatrics, nephrology, dermatology, immunology, and genetics. This 3e includes over 100 chapters covering everything from chemistry and metabolism to mechanisms of action, diagnosis and management, new analogs, and emerging therapies. This complete reference works is a must-have resource for anyone working in endocrino...

The 6th edition of a well-known and much used standard text in the field. This book covers all aspects of the biochemical abnormalities caused by various diseases and how they relate to the biochemical changes in the blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, joint fluids, other body fluids and in cells. The purpose is to provide the fundamental bases for understanding the biochemical changes that occur in disease processes and in turn to provide the rationale for applying this understanding to th...

Although inflammation is one of the body's first responses to infection, overactive immune responses can cause chronic inflammatory diseases. Long-term low-grade inflammation has also been identified as a risk factor for other diseases. Diet, immunity and inflammation provides a comprehensive introduction to immunity and inflammation and the role that diet and nutrition play with regard to this key bodily response.Part one, an introductory section, discusses innate and adaptive immunity, m...

Diabetes mellitus affects approximately 20 million people in the US, or nearly 7% of the population. It is expected to increase by 70% within the next 25 years, and numerous epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that type 2 diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is estimated to cost over $92 billion in health care costs and lost productivity. The increased risk is due to the detrimental vascular effects of prolonged exposure to a hyperglycemic, oxidant-...

Human Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease: From Pathogenesis to Therapy is a comprehensive discussion of all the aspects associated with gut microbiota early colonization, its development and maintenance, and its symbiotic relationship with the host to promote health. Chapters illustrate the complex mechanisms and metabolic signalling pathways related to how the gut microbiota maintain proper regulation of glucose, lipid and energy homeostasis and immune response, while mediating inflamma...

The "case study" approach is one of the most used and most effective formats to present medical information and is the foundation for developing evidence-based treatment protocols. Compiled and edited by one of the world's best known clinical endocrinologists, Boris Draznin, MD, PhD, Diabetes Case Studies offers more than 100 actual cases from leading diabetologists, outlining both typical and unusual diabetes cases. Each study will illustrate real life dilemmas w...

Internationally renowned experts present topics related to obesity, nutrition, and liver disease in this issue. In the first article, the epidemiology of obesity and its association with liver disease are covered. The following two articles focus on the roles that visceral adipose tissue and microbiota potentially play in the pathogenesis of obesity-related liver disease. The next article focuses on the hepatic pathology seen in patients with obesity-related liver disease and those with ma...

Research and clinical application of vitamin D has increased dramatically over the past decade stimulated by novel health promotion discoveries and documentation. This book brings together key researchers with their views focusing on the health promotion role of vitamin D. Such information is vital to clinicians, users of vitamin D supplements of all ages and those interested in public policy. The authors document and define many of the key health related roles of vitamin D. Its traditiona...

Bones - General Practice: The Integrative Approach. Bones are complex organs with many important functions, the most obvious being structural. They provide support for the body and the means by which muscles can insert into fixed structures in order to allow movement. They are also important in hearing, through the transduction of sound via the ear’s ossicles, and they protect other soft organs that are easily damaged, such as the brain, eyes, kidneys, lungs and s...