The concept of 'Elderly' is a normal, inevitable and universal phenomenon in the life of every individual irrespective of caste, gender, race, ethnicity, society or culture. The individual, who has born on this earth, has to grow and become old during some point of his life. Elderly period or phase is a multidimensional phenomenon which includes the changes in the various aspects of human life like biological, psychological and sociological. And elderly (old age) is a critical phase in the life of individual as much as similar to childhood or adolescence.

Articles, most previously published.

Ocular allergy is the most frequently diagnosed immune disorder of the eye. This book examines the immunologic reactions of ocular allergy in comparison to allergic skin diseases, reviews recent advances in the pathophysiology of ocular allergy and summarizes current clinical knowledge and treatment strategies. Key Points - Explains the epidemiology of ocular allergy, the role of the environment in allergy, and the clinical manifestation of dermal and ocular allergic disorders. - In-depth coverage of vernal and atopic keratoconjunctivitis, seasonal conjunctivitis, urticaria, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, hypersensitivity vasculitis, contact dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. - Thoroughly explains the immune cells involved in allergic reactions, including detailed chapters on basophils, mast cells, and B-cells. In addition, the allergic immune response in the asthmatic lung is covered. - Up-to-date coverage of treatment strategies for ocular allergy: mast cell stabilizing drugs, antihistamines, systemic immune therapy and immunomodulatory strategies.

Ranging in time and locale, these essays, which combine theoretical argument with empirical observation, are based on research in historical and cultural settings. The contributors accept the notion that all knowledge is socially and culturally constructed and examine the contexts in which that knowledge is produced and practiced in medicine, psychiatry, epidemiology, and anthropology. -- from publisher description.

Insect protein production through ‘mini-livestock farming’ has enormous potential to reduce the level of malnutrition in critical areas across the world. It has been estimated that insect eating is practised regularly by over two billion people, mostly in China and in most tropical countries in Africa, South America, and Asia. However, eating insects has been taboo in many western nations. Reasons for this are discussed in this book with examples from Finland and the UK. The enormous boom of insect farming in Finland started in September 2017 when the business type was legalized. However, a large part of the population found the insect food too expensive and exotic. UK research outlines a multitude of promising strategies to overcome ‘western’ resistance to eating insects. This book also includes a chapter on the potential of insect farming to increase global food security. It shows that Africa is a hotspot of edible insect biodiversity and there more than 500 species consumed daily. We have several examples of viable insect farming businesses that can fight poverty and malnutrition in developing countries and provide profit and wealth to rural farmers. The chapters of the book cover countries such as Cameroon, Ecuador, Finland, Ghana, India, Mexico, the UK, and the US.

Hariti is the ancient Indian goddess of childbirth and women healers, known at one time throughout South and Southeast Asia from India to Nepal and Bali. Daughters of Hariti looks at her 'daughters' today, female midwives and healers in many different cultures across the region. It also traces the transformation of childbirth in these cultures under the impact of Western biomedical technology, national and international health policies and the wider factors of social and economic change. The authors ask what can be done to improve the high rates of maternal and infant deaths and illnesses still associated with childbirth in most societies in this area and whether the wholesale replacement of indigenous knowledge by Western biomedical technology is necessarily a good thing.