Genetic disease contributes to a major portion of our health care costs. While most of the human genetic burden is transmitted from generation to generation, environmental chemicals capable of reacting with germ cell DNA could produce new mutations, resulting in an even greater genetic liability for the next generation. The potential impact of environmental mutagens on the health and viability of other living things is important to consider as well. Methods for Genetic Risk Assessment features contributions from international experts to provide a comprehensive review of the current status of genetic risk assessment. You'll learn about various methods and strategies for when and how to conduct genetic risk assessments on human populations. You will also learn about the potential effects of environmental genotoxins on nonhuman organisms.

Colorectal cancer is one of the major malignancies affecting westernized societies, both in terms of incidence and as a cause of mortality: it is, however, a preventable and a detectable disease. Although most countries do not actively promote preventive policies for their general population, this trend is gradually changing. In line with this current development, Colorectal Cancer in Clinical Practice examines prevention and early detection of this disease, as well as discussion of management issues. It will provide the clinician with an accessible and up-to-date guide on the primary and secondary prevention of colorectal cancer, and will be of particular interest to primary care physicians and specialists in gastroenterology, oncology and surgery.

Advances in the practice of psychiatry have occurred in "fits and starts" over the last several decades. These advances are evident to anyone long affiliated with the field and are best appreciated through direct experience of living through the times. These advances can also be gleaned from historical overviews in textbooks or the recollections of one's teachers and mentors. Returning to the original papers that have ushered in these changes is rarely done for various, mostly practical, reasons. Filtering through thousands of articles in psychiatry may prove daunting, access to the manuscripts may be limited (especially for papers not available electronically), and understanding their impact requires a broader context. Moreover, with so much active research currently occurring in various branches of psychiatry, current practitioners or trainees may find their attention focused on the present, and this is reinforced by electronic search algorithms, which return articles in reverse chronological order. Not surprisingly, citations for articles in virtually all fields decline precipitously for articles over five years old. As scholars and professionals, we are losing touch with our academic heritage. Yet navigating the future of psychiatry requires a firm understanding of its past. This resource serves as a guide for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of psychiatry as a scientific discipline. It does so by summarizing over 100 landmark papers in psychiatry and placing their scientific contributions within a historical context. An introductory section sets the stage for the major theoretical constructs within the field, with chapters devoted to ontology and nosology. Subsequent sections examine major facets of the theory and practice of psychiatry, such as pathogenesis of psychiatric illness, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and somatic treatments. These sections are divided logically into chapters addressing important contributions to the understanding and treatment of specific disorders. A final section explores ethical considerations within each field. This framework echoes the complexity of psychiatry, which cannot be reduced to a single set of diagnoses or subspecialty categories. Highlighting the research trajectory of psychiatry, this resource will appeal to academics, trainees, and practitioners who desire a comprehensive, easy-to-read, up-to-date collection of psychiatry's pivotal moments. By understanding the challenges, inspirations, and insights from the past, readers will be better poised to address new and ongoing challenges within the field.

This important book explores recent research by experts in the field pertaining to the role played by genetic factors in human pathology. A range of perspectives creates a well-rounded picture, including: host-pathogen interactions causal relationships between genes and the environment the effects of environmental chemicals on gene expression DNA methylation The book also covers the analysis and provides models for understanding the epigenetics-pathology connection. This book is designed for use by senior undergraduate and graduate students from several disciplines such as general, molecular, cellular biology, genetics, genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. It will also serve as a reference book for existing researchers and new investigators entering this rather unexplored field.

The available parenteral and oral anticoagulants have a large clinical use. Understanding biochemistry of anticoagulants may help to improve therapeutic strategies. Resistance to vitamin K antagonist drugs might be a problem for rodent populations. Patients who have thrombogenic risk factors should be anticoagulated. The need for cardiac implantable electronic devices is increasing, and there is a substantial number of patients who are on oral anticoagulant therapy. Prothrombin complex concentrate and other plasma concentrates are useful to deal with over-coagulated situations. The efficacy and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants have been proven in large phase III trials. The real-world data suggest even better outcomes with these agents compared to vitamin K antagonists.

In Explaining Cancer, Anya Plutynski addresses a variety of philosophical questions that arise in the context of cancer science and medicine. She begins with the following concerns: · How do scientists classify cancer? Do these classifications reflect nature's "joints"? · How do cancer scientists identify and classify early stage cancers? · What does it mean to say that cancer is a "genetic" disease? What role do genes play in "mechanisms for" cancer? · What are the most important environmental causes of cancer, and how do epidemiologists investigate these causes? · How exactly has our evolutionary history made us vulnerable to cancer? Explaining Cancer uses these questions as an entrée into a family of philosophical debates. It uses case studies of scientific practice to reframe philosophical debates about natural classification in science and medicine, the problem of drawing the line between disease and health, mechanistic reasoning in science, pragmatics and evidence, the roles of models and modeling in science, and the nature of scientific explanation.

Epigenetics and Dermatology explores the role of epigenetics in the pathogenesis of autoimmune-related skin diseases and skin cancer. Leading contributors cover common and uncommon skin conditions in which extensive epigenetic research has been done. They explain how environmental exposures (chemicals, drugs, sunlight, diet, stress, smoking, infection, etc.) in all stages of life (from a fetus in-utero to an elderly person) may result in epigenetic changes that lead to development of some skin diseases in life. They also discuss the possibilities of new and emergent epigenetic treatments which are gradually being adopted in management of various skin diseases. Chapters follow a conventional structure, covering fundamental biology of the disease condition, etiology and pathogenesis, diagnosis, commonly available treatments, and epigenetic therapy where applicable. Discusses the basic biology of skin diseases and skin cancers induced or aggravated by aberrant epigenetic changes Evaluates how to approach autoimmune-related skin diseases from a therapeutic perspective using the wealth of emergent epigenetic clinical trials Offers a coherent and structured table of contents with basic epigenetic biology followed by discussion of the spectrum of rheumatologic through neoplastic skin diseases, finally ending with a discourse on epigenetic therapy

Neurogenetics is a growing field, providing a clear link between clinical characteristics of phenotypes and exact molecular tests to reach a specific diagnosis. Neurogenetics for the Practitioner provides clinicians with a navigation tool to help diagnose and treat patients with neurological disorders using neurogenetics. The first section introduces the reader to an overview of genetic principles, including practical applications in relation to diagnosis and current limitations. Additional chapters highlight how to workup patients presenting with certain features including cerebral palsy/intellectual disability, congenital muscular dystrophy, cognitive decline/dementia, peripheral neuropathy, and paroxysmal disorder. The final section explores therapeutic strategies based on genetic interventions and genetic counselling options. Internationally contributed, this book will become the essential reference guide for neurologist. - Reviews genetic testing for diagnostic confirmation, including carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis - Explores various therapeutic strategies based on genetic interventions - Discusses when a neurologic problem may have an underlying genetic cause