Topic Editor Dr. Balakumar Chandrasekaran holds patents relating to N-substituted isatin hydrazones as antimycobacterial and antimicrobial agents, and Pharmaceutical Compounds. Topic Editor Dr. Munir Al-Zeer holds a patent relating to Method for the Preparation of an Influenza Virus. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests.
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease caused by a group of enteroviruses, including coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and enterovirus 71 (EV71). Over the last decade, many outbreaks of HFMD have been reported in countries of the Western Pacific Region. HFMD caused by EV71 is of particular concern because of the increased number of deaths associated with infection. Until now, there has been little guidance on HFMD caused by EV71. This publication provides practical support for the treatment, prevention and control of HFMD based on the most recent scientific literature and the current understanding and experiences of international experts. It is intended as a resource for both clinicians working with HFMD cases on a regular basis and for public health personnel who are responsible for preventing and responding to outbreaks of HFMD.
The most recent Ebola epidemic that began in late 2013 alerted the entire world to the gaps in infectious disease emergency preparedness and response. The regional outbreak that progressed to a significant public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in a matter of months killed 11,310 and infected more than 28,616. While this outbreak bears some unique distinctions to past outbreaks, many characteristics remain the same and contributed to tragic loss of human life and unnecessary expenditure of capital: insufficient knowledge of the disease, its reservoirs, and its transmission; delayed prevention efforts and treatment; poor control of the disease in hospital settings; and inadequate community and international responses. Recognizing the opportunity to learn from the countless lessons of this epidemic, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a workshop in March 2015 to discuss the challenges to successful outbreak responses at the scientific, clinical, and global health levels. Workshop participants explored the epidemic from multiple perspectives, identified important questions about Ebola that remained unanswered, and sought to apply this understanding to the broad challenges posed by Ebola and other emerging pathogens, to prevent the international community from being taken by surprise once again in the face of these threats. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop.
The Committee reports on general issues discussed and provides information on the status and development of reference materials for various antibodies, antigens, blood products and related substances, cytokines, growth factors and endocrinological substances. The second part of the report, of particular relevance to manufacturers and national regulatory authorities, contains guidelines on the production and quality control of candidate tetravalent dengue virus vaccines and recommendations for the preparation, characterisation and establishment of international and other biological reference standards.
In the past few decades there has been incredible growth in "bionano"-related research, which has been accompanied by numerous publications in this field. Although various compilations address topics related to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein, there are few books that focus on determining the structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and using RNA as building blocks to construct nanoarchitectures for biomedical and healthcare applications. RNA Nanotechnology is a comprehensive volume that details both the traditional approaches and the latest developments in the field of RNA-related technology. This book targets a wide audience: a broad introduction provides a solid academic background for students, researchers, and scientists who are unfamiliar with the subject, while the in-depth descriptions and discussions are useful for advanced professionals. The book opens with reviews on the basic aspects of RNA biology, computational approaches for predicting RNA structures, and traditional and emerging experimental approaches for probing RNA structures. This section is followed by explorations of the latest research and discoveries in RNA nanotechnology, including the design and construction of RNA-based nanostructures. The final segment of the book includes descriptions and discussions of the potential biological and therapeutic applications of small RNA molecules, such as small/short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), RNA aptamers, and ribozymes.
The past three decades have witnessed the development and regulatory approval of glycoconjugate vaccines against several medically important bacterial pathogens, including Haemophilus influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitides, and Salmonella typhi. Immunologic protection against these and many other bacterial diseases is mediated through opsonophagocytic antibodies directed against the surface carbohydrates that define the bacterial serogroup or serotype and serve as virulence factors. These vaccines are composed of bacterial capsular polysaccharides chemically conjugated to immunogenic carrier proteins. Given that the diseases caused by these bacterial pathogens are most pronounced in infants and young children, the development of the glycoconjugate vaccine technology has had a considerable impact on public health. Many of the chapters in this volume were assembled as a follow-up from a symposium entitled "Carbohydrate-Based Vaccines and Adjuvants" which took place at the 254th American Chemical Society National Meeting held in Washington, DC (August 2017). The symposium was sponsored by Pfizer and the Carbohydrate (CARB) and Biotechnology (BIOT) divisions. This book, therefore, reflects the importance of this field toward design, development, manufacture and licensure of the complex carbohydrate-based (glycoconjugate) vaccines. The book has been organized into thirteen chapters, which cover a comprehensive landscape including the clinical history, design, development, chemistry, manufacturing and control (CMC) aspects, pre-clinical assays, adjuvants and the various approaches used to develop carbohydrate-based vaccines.
In the early nineteenth century China remained almost untouched by British and European powers - but as new technology started to change this balance, foreigners gathered like wolves around the weakening Qing Empire. Would the Chinese suffer the fate of much of the rest of the world, carved into pieces by Europeans? Or could they adapt rapidly enough to maintain their independence? This important and compelling book explains the roots of China's complex relationship with the West by illuminating a dramatic, colourful and sometimes shocking period of the country's history.
How trade imbalances spurred on the global financial crisis and why we aren't out of trouble yet China's economic growth is sputtering, the Euro is under threat, and the United States is combating serious trade disadvantages. Another Great Depression? Not quite. Noted economist and China expert Michael Pettis argues instead that we are undergoing a critical rebalancing of the world economies. Debunking popular misconceptions, Pettis shows that severe trade imbalances spurred on the recent financial crisis and were the result of unfortunate policies that distorted the savings and consumption patterns of certain nations. Pettis examines the reasons behind these destabilizing policies, and he predicts severe economic dislocations that will have long-lasting effects. Demonstrating how economic policies can carry negative repercussions the world over, The Great Rebalancing sheds urgent light on our globally linked economic future.
Toxicological Risk Assessment and Multisystem Health Impacts From Exposure highlights the emerging problems of human and environmental health attributable to cumulative and multiple sources of long-term exposure to environmental toxicants. The book describes the cellular, biological, immunological, endocrinologic, genetic, and epigenetic effects of long-term exposure. It examines how the combined exposure to nanomaterials, metals, pharmaceuticals, multifrequency radiation, dietary mycotoxins, and pesticides accelerates ecotoxicity in humans, animals, plants, and the larger environment. The book goes on to also offer insights into mixture risk assessments, protocols for evaluating the risks, and how this information can serve the regulatory agencies in setting safer exposure limits. The book is a go-to resource for scientists and professionals in the field tackling the current and emerging trends in modern toxicology and risk assessment. - Bridges basic research with clinical, epidemiological, regulatory, and translational research, conveying both an introductory understanding and the latest developments in the field - Evaluates real-life human health risk assessment for long-term exposures to xenobiotic mixtures and the role they play in contributing to chronic disease - Discusses advances in predictive (in silico) toxicology tools and the benefits of using omics technologies in toxicology research
