This issue of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology records the proceedings of a Workshop on the Immunology of Sili cones held at the Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, March 13 and 14, 1995. A large num ber of investigators from North America and Europe met to discuss available data on how the immune system responds to silicones and related materials. Some aspects of this field are controversial. Nonetheless, the meeting was marked by a civil and open ex change of scientific information and divergent interpretations, re flecting the traditions of scientific communication. Each invited participant was asked to submit an article sum marizing his/her presentation. Most of the papers are published as submitted, with only editorial changes to conform with the guide lines given to each contributor or revisions to clarify aspects of the paper. The papers should not be regarded as peer-reviewed publi cations. This preface will attempt to outline some of the immu nological areas of investigation relating to silicones.

The Dow Corning case raised serious questions about the safety of silicone breast implants and about larger issues of medical device testing and patient education. Safety of Silicone Breast Implants presents a well-documented, thoughtful exploration of the safety of these devices, drawing conclusions from the available research base and suggesting further questions to be answered. This book also examines the sensitive issues surrounding women's decisions about implants. In reaching conclusions, the committee reviews: The history of the silicone breast implant and the development of its chemistry. The wide variety of U.S.-made implants and their regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. Frequency and consequences of local complications from implants. The evidence for and against links between implants and autoimmune disorders, connective tissue disease, neurological problems, silicone in breast milk, or a proposed new syndrome. Evidence that implants may be associated with lower frequencies of breast cancer. Safety of Silicone Breast Implants provides a comprehensive, well-organized review of the science behind one of the most significant medical controversies of our time.

Written by an internationally recognized group of editors and contributors, Handbook of Elemental Speciation, Volume 2 provides a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary presentation of the analytical techniques involved in speciation. Comprehensive coverage of key elements and compounds in situ Addresses the analysis and impact of these elements and compounds, e.g. arsenic, lead, copper, iron, halogens, etc., in food, the environment, clinical and occupational health Detailed methodology and data are reported, as well as regulatory limits Includes general introduction on the impact in these key areas

Although there is a current ban in many countries on the injection of liquid silicone, paraffin or polyacrylamide hydrogels or other gel or liquid materials into the breasts for the purpose of increasing size, there are still a large number of non-professionals who use these injections and offer them as a cheap alternative to plastic surgery. The results, at first, may seem cosmetically favorable for the patient, but these injections often lead to painful complications like mastitis (inflammation of the mammary gland) and can make it incredibly difficult to diagnose breast cancer early. Many patients suffer delayed complications that force them to seek expert care for corrective and reconstructive surgery. This book, the culmination of decades of research, aims to serve the surgeon faced with these complications, offering a detailed step-by-step guide of the pathology from clinical diagnosis and imaging studies to the different surgical and reconstructive procedures for reconstruction. As there is no clinical management consensus or international guideline, Injection-Induced Breast Siliconomas: Clinical Implications, Evaluation and Treatment fills the gap in the literature and encourages more research. Previously published in Spanish in 2017 under the title "Siliconomas Mamarios por Inyeccion: Clinica, Diagnostico y Tratamiento", this English translation is a true re-edition of the original version with added updates for the English-speaking audience.

The Mosaic of Autoimmunity: The Novel Factors of Autoimmune Diseases describes the multifactorial origin and diversity of expression of autoimmune diseases in humans. The term implies that different combinations of factors in autoimmunity produce varying and unique clinical pictures in a wide spectrum of autoimmune diseases. Most of the factors involved in autoimmunity can be categorized into four groups: genetic, immune defects, hormonal and environmental factors. In this book, the environmental factors are reviewed, including infectious agents, vaccines as triggers of autoimmunity, smoking and its relationship with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel diseases. An entirely new syndrome, the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), is also included, along with other diseases that are now recognized as having an autoimmune etiopathogenesis.

From the beginning, immunologists have maintained a unique nomenclature that has often mystified and even baffled their colleagues in other fields, causing them to liken immunology to a black box. With more than 1200 illustrations, the Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology, Third Edition provides immunologists and nonimmunologists a single-volume resource for the many terms encountered in contemporary immunological literature. Encyclopedic in scope and including more than 1200 illustrations, the content ranges from photographs of historical figures to molecular structures of recently characterized cytokines, the major histocompatibility complex molecules, immunoglobulins, and molecules of related interest to immunologists. These descriptive illustrations provide a concise and thorough understanding of the subject. To reflect modern advances, the third edition includes entries on immunopharmacology, newly described interleukins, comparative immunology, immunity to infectious diseases, and expanded definitions in all of the immunological subspecialities. Providing unprecedented breadth and detail, this readily accessible book is not only a pictorial reference but also a primary resource.