In recent years, a number of chronic diseases have been linked, in some cases definitively, to an infectious etiology: peptic ulcer disease with Helicobacter pylori, cervical cancer with several human papillomaviruses, Lyme arthritis and neuroborreliosis with Borrelia burgdorferi, AIDS with the human immunodeficiency virus, liver cancer and cirrhosis with hepatitis B and C viruses, to name a few. The proven and suspected roles of microbes does not stop with physical ailments; infections are increasingly being examined as associated causes of or possible contributors to a variety of serious, chronic neuropsychiatric disorders and to developmental problems, especially in children. The Infectious Etiology of Chronic Diseases: Defining the Relationship, Enhancing the Research, and Mitigating the Effects, summarizes a two-day workshop held by the Institute of Medicine's Forum on Microbial Threats to address this rapidly evolving field. Participants explored factors driving infectious etiologies of chronic diseases of prominence, identified difficulties in linking infectious agents with chronic outcomes, and discussed broad-based strategies and research programs to advance the field.

Persistent Viral Infections Edited by Rafi Ahmed Emory Vaccine Center, Atlanta, USA and Irvin S. Y. Chen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA During the past decade much of our attention has focused on diseases associated with viral persistence. Major breakthroughs in immunology, and the advent of molecular approaches to study pathogenesis have increased our understanding of the complex virus-host interactions that occur during viral persistence. Persistent Viral Infections focuses on: * The pathogenesis and immunology of chronic infections * Animal models that provide, or have the potential to provide, major insights This volume will be essential reading for virologists, immunologists, oncologists and neurologists.

This is the most comprehensive review of the idiotypic network available. All the current knowledge of idiotypes of the various antibodies is incorporated in this volume. The pathogenic role of idiotypes in autoimmunity and cancer is reviewed in depth. The therapeutic part focusses on harnessing anti-idiotypes for treating autoimmunological disorders, and on the employment of idiotypes for vaccines in cancer and infectious diseases, as well as explaining the manipulation of the idiotypic network in autoimmunity and cancer idiotypes and vaccines.

Viral respiratory tract infections are important and common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the past two decades, several novel viral respiratory infections have emerged with epidemic potential that threaten global health security. This Monograph aims to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome and other viral respiratory infections, including seasonal influenza, avian influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus, through six chapters written by authoritative experts from around the globe.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are among the most important factors of disease. Chronic infections, obesity, alcohol and tobacco usage, radiation, environmental pollutants, and high-calorie diets have been recognized as major risk factors for a variety of chronic diseases from cancer to metabolic diseases. All these risk factors are linked to ch

In this Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology on “High Density Lipoproteins – from biological understanding to clinical exploitation” contributing authors (members of COST Action BM0904/HDLnet) summarize in more than 20 chapters our current knowledge on the structure, function, metabolism and regulation of HDL in health and several diseases as well as the status of past and ongoing attempts of therapeutic exploitation. The book is of interest to researchers in academia and industry focusing on lipoprotein metabolism, cardiovascular diseases and immunology as well as clinical pharmacologists, cardiologists, diabetologists, nephrologists and other clinicians interested in metabolic or inflammatory diseases.

This timely, concise title provides an important update on clinical lipid management. Using information from recent clinical trials and in special populations, the book begins by offering an easy-to-read overview of LDL, HDL, and triglyceride metabolism and the genetics of lipid disorders. The link between inflammation and lipids, and how this relates to atherosclerosis development, is also addressed, as are the measures of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with abnormal lipid levels. Lipid abnormalities in children, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations (with an emphasis on ethnicity and childhood obesity), are covered. The treatment goals and approaches for managing lipids in the clinic are thoroughly discussed, emphasizing the important role of statin use and addressing controversies of lipid management in special populations such as heart failure, end stage kidney disease and fatty liver disease. Of special note, an important update on how new HIV medications impact lipid levels is provided. In all, Lipid Management: From Basics to Clinic, is an invaluable, handy resource for understanding changes in lipids in different populations and for sharpening the clinical approach to managing complicated lipid cases.

Hospital-acquired infections are common and often result in life-threatening complications, mostly facing critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Patients with hospital-acquired infections may die from bacteremia/fungal/viral infection or hyperinflammatory complications because of an uncontrolled over-activation of the innate immune system with pathological levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines, or from multiorgan failure. In addition to eliciting a robust inflammatory response, it paradoxically renders the host in an immunocompromised state at the late stage of the disease progression. Severe infectious diseases, including sepsis and septic shock are among the most common reasons for death in hospitals. Sepsis is an infection-induced syndrome characterized by a generalized inflammatory state and represents a frequent complication in surgical patients and in immunocompromised patients. Sepsis is a common, expensive, and frequently associated with a fatal outcome. Every 3 to 4 seconds somebody dies with sepsis, and it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.

Methods in Toxicology, Volume 2: Mitochondrial Dysfunction provides a source of methods, techniques, and experimental approaches for studying the role of abnormal mitochondrial function in cell injury. The book discusses the methods for the preparation and basic functional assessment of mitochondria from liver, kidney, muscle, and brain; the methods for assessing mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo and in intact organs; and the structural aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction are addressed. The text also describes chemical detoxification and metabolism as well as specific metabolic reactions that are especially important targets or indicators of damage. The methods for measurement of alterations in fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism and for the analysis and manipulation of oxidative injury and antioxidant systems are also considered. The book further tackles additional methods on mitochondrial energetics and transport processes; approaches for assessing impaired function of mitochondria; and genetic and developmental aspects of mitochondrial disease and toxicology. The text also looks into mitochondrial DNA synthesis, covalent binding to mitochondrial DNA, DNA repair, and mitochondrial dysfunction in the context of developing individuals and cellular differentiation. Microbiologists, toxicologists, biochemists, and molecular pharmacologists will find the book invaluable.

Practical text focuses on complications in the practice of anesthesia. Divided into sections similar to the thought processes involved in decision-making. Thumb indexing and cross-references are also included. All chapters have a case synopsis, problem analysis, and discussion of management and prevention.