This book will serve as a primer for both laboratory and field scientists who are shaping the emerging field of molecular epidemiology. Molecular epidemiology utilizes the same paradigm as traditional epidemiology but uses biological markers to identify exposure, disease or susceptibility. Schulte and Perera present the epidemiologic methods pertinent to biological markers. The book is also designed to enumerate the considerations necessary for valid field research and provide a resource on the salient and subtle features of biological indicators.

During the last two decades, molecular epidemiology has become an important discipline in cancer research. It has evolved towards the development, validation and application of markers of susceptibility and, more recently, markers of mechanisms of cancer development. This volume on mechanisms of carcinogenesis covers from an interdisciplinary perspective, the contribution of molecular epidemiology to the understanding of mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and represents a further contribution to the development of molecular epidemiology as a major cancer research domain.

Molecular Tools and Infectious Disease Epidemiology examines the opportunities and methodologic challenges in the application of modern molecular genetic and biologic techniques to infectious disease epidemiology. The application of these techniques dramatically improves the measurement of disease and putative risk factors, increasing our ability to detect and track outbreaks, identify risk factors and detect new infectious agents. However, integration of these techniques into epidemiologic studies also poses new challenges in the design, conduct, and analysis. This book presents the key points of consideration when integrating molecular biology and epidemiology; discusses how using molecular tools in epidemiologic research affects program design and conduct; considers the ethical concerns that arise in molecular epidemiologic studies; and provides a context for understanding and interpreting scientific literature as a foundation for subsequent practical experience in the laboratory and in the field. The book is recommended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students studying infectious disease epidemiology and molecular epidemiology; and for the epidemiologist wishing to integrate molecular techniques into his or her studies. - Presents the key points of consideration when integrating molecular biology and epidemiology - Discusses how using molecular tools in epidemiologic research affects program design and conduct - Considers the ethical concerns that arise in molecular epidemiologic studies - Provides a context for understanding and interpreting scientific literature as a foundation for subsequent practical experience in the laboratory and in the field

Molecular epidemiology has taken advantage of the emergence of technological advances collectively identified as "-omics" (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomic, metabonomics) and their usage in epidemiological studies has heralded a revolution in the design implementation, and interpretation of studies on disease causation. Not the least, molecular epidemiology has brought together scientists of all disciplines to interact into very large, often multi-national networks, fostering consortia that have the size and power to address diseases as a global challenge. This book captures these fascinating developments and provides an extended, forward-looking vision of the principles, practice and impact of molecular epidemiology. Written and coordinated by world leaders in the field, the book covers, in a systematic way, the major conceptual advances, with a strong emphasis on study design and on how to incorporate biomarker studies into epidemiology practice. While providing a cornerstone for specialists, the book is also a teaching and training manual for public health, biology and medical students at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. With its strong insistence on interdisciplinarity and its focus on translating complex concepts into information that can be shared across the borders of scientific disciplines, the book will be a door-opener for researchers whose work is being attracted by the potent magnet of molecular epidemiology.

Epidemiology of Brain and Spinal Tumors provides a single volume resource on imaging methods and neuroepidemiology of both brain and spinal tumors. The book covers a variety of imaging techniques, including computed tomography (CT), MRI, positron emission tomography (PET), and other laboratory tests used in diagnosis and treatment. Detailed epidemiology, various imaging methods, and clinical considerations of tumors of the CNS make this an ideal reference for users who will also find diverse information about structures and functions, cytology, epidemiology (including molecular epidemiology), diagnosis and treatment. This book is appropriate for neuroscience researchers, medical professionals and anyone interested in a complete guide to visualizing and understanding CNS tumors. - Provides the most up-to-date information surrounding the epidemiology, biology and imaging techniques for brain and spinal tumors, including CT, MRI, PET, and others - Includes full color figures, photos, tables, graphs and radioimaging - Contains information that will be valuable to anyone interested in the field of neurooncology and the treatment of patients with brain and spinal tumors - Serves as a source of background information for basic scientists and pharmaceutical researchers who have an interest in imaging and treatment

Designed as both a textbook and a reference, this book outlines the principles, methods, and application of this new discipline of public health. Techniques used in the field of molecular biology have been recognized as critical tools in solving infectious disease problems. This introductory volume, distinguishing molecular epidemiology from taxonomy and phylogeny, will familiarize epidemiologists with molecular biology and molecular biologists with epidemiology, and presents vocabulary and concepts of both fields to infectious disease clinicians.

This edition is the most updated since its inception, is the essential text for students and professionals working in and around epidemiology or using its methods. It covers subject areas - genetics, clinical epidemiology, public health practice/policy, preventive medicine, health promotion, social sciences and methods for clinical research.

The thoroughly revised and updated Third Edition of the acclaimed Modern Epidemiology reflects both the conceptual development of this evolving science and the increasingly focal role that epidemiology plays in dealing with public health and medical problems. Coauthored by three leading epidemiologists, with sixteen additional contributors, this Third Edition is the most comprehensive and cohesive text on the principles and methods of epidemiologic research. The book covers a broad range of concepts and methods, such as basic measures of disease frequency and associations, study design, field methods, threats to validity, and assessing precision. It also covers advanced topics in data analysis such as Bayesian analysis, bias analysis, and hierarchical regression. Chapters examine specific areas of research such as disease surveillance, ecologic studies, social epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, genetic and molecular epidemiology, nutritional epidemiology, environmental epidemiology, reproductive epidemiology, and clinical epidemiology.

Focusing on improving the diagnosis, prognosis, and management of human disease, this book takes on the issues of research design, measurement, and evaluation which are critical to clinical epidemiology. This second edition of Clinical Epidemiology: Practice and Methods opens with how best to frame a clinical research question, the ethics associated with doing a research project in humans, and the definition of various biases that occur in clinical research. From there, it continues by examining issues of design, measurement, and analysis associated with various research designs, including determination of risk in longitudinal studies, assessment of therapy in randomized controlled clinical trials, and evaluation of diagnostic tests, and then delves into the more specialized area of clinical genetic research, before concluding with basic methods used in evidence-based decision making including critical appraisal, aggregation of multiple studies using meta-analysis, health technology assessment, clinical practice guidelines, development of health policy, translational research, how to utilize administrative databases, and knowledge translation. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the kind of detail and practical advice to ensure real world success. Comprehensive and authoritative, Clinical Epidemiology: Practice and Methods, Second Edition is intended to educate researchers on how to undertake clinical research and should be helpful not only to medical practitioners but also to basic scientists who want to extend their work to humans, to allied health professionals interested in scientific evaluation, and to trainees in clinical epidemiology.

Recently, rapid developments have occurred in the field of viral gastroenteritis. This book is an update of fundamental and practical aspects of viral gastroenteritis. Among the various agents that cause viral gastroenteritis, group A rotaviruses and caliciviruses are the focus of this volume because of their clinical impact and the significance of new findings about them.