Complement Regulatory Proteins

Complement Regulatory Proteins

Author: B. Paul Morgan

Publisher: Academic Press

Published: 1999-02-18

Total Pages: 397

ISBN-13: 0080529569

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From small beginnings in the early 1970s, the study of complement regulatory proteins has grown in the last decade to the point where it dominates the complement field. This growth has been fueled by the discovery of new regulators, the cloning of old and new regulators, the discovery that many of the regulators are structurally and evolutionarily related to each other and the development of recombinant forms for use in therapy. There are now more proteins known to be involved in controlling the complement system than there are components of the system and the list continues to grow. The time is ripe for a comprehensive review of our current knowledge of these intriguing proteins. This book does just that. The first few chapters discuss the "nuts-and-bolts" of the complement regulators, describing their structures, functional roles and modes of action. The roles of the complement regulators in vivo are then described, focusing on the consequences of deficiency, roles in the reproductive system, interactions with pathogens and exploitation for therapy. The interesting developments in defining the complement regulators expressed in other species are also discussed. The book is written as a monograph, albeit by two people. The text is as readable as possible without compromising on scientific accuracy and completeness. The conversational style very evident in some sections is deliberate! Placing all references in a single bibliography at the end of the text further improves readability. The reader will go to the book to discover a specific fact but be persuaded to read more and derive pleasure from the process. The authors' enthusiasm for the subject comes over strongly in the text, and this enthusiasm proves infectious. - Complement regulators--structure, functional roles and mode of action - Comprehensive reviews of each of the individual regulators - Roles of Complement regulators in vivo,in health and disease: - Consequences of deficiency - Roles in the reproductive system - Interactions with pathogens - Exploitation for therapy - Complement regulators in other species


Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States

Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2005-04-13

Total Pages: 360

ISBN-13: 0309133424

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Integration of complementary and alternative medicine therapies (CAM) with conventional medicine is occurring in hospitals and physicians offices, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are covering CAM therapies, insurance coverage for CAM is increasing, and integrative medicine centers and clinics are being established, many with close ties to medical schools and teaching hospitals. In determining what care to provide, the goal should be comprehensive care that uses the best scientific evidence available regarding benefits and harm, encourages a focus on healing, recognizes the importance of compassion and caring, emphasizes the centrality of relationship-based care, encourages patients to share in decision making about therapeutic options, and promotes choices in care that can include complementary therapies where appropriate. Numerous approaches to delivering integrative medicine have evolved. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States identifies an urgent need for health systems research that focuses on identifying the elements of these models, the outcomes of care delivered in these models, and whether these models are cost-effective when compared to conventional practice settings. It outlines areas of research in convention and CAM therapies, ways of integrating these therapies, development of curriculum that provides further education to health professionals, and an amendment of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act to improve quality, accurate labeling, research into use of supplements, incentives for privately funded research into their efficacy, and consumer protection against all potential hazards.


Janeway's Immunobiology

Janeway's Immunobiology

Author: Kenneth Murphy

Publisher: Garland Science

Published: 2010-06-22

Total Pages:

ISBN-13: 9780815344575

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The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.


The Interface Between Innate and Acquired Immunity

The Interface Between Innate and Acquired Immunity

Author: M.D. Cooper

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2002-03-26

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13: 9783540428947

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All multicellular organisms may possess innate immunity mediated by defense mechanisms with which the organism is born. In recent years much has been learned about the diversity of innate immune mechanisms. A large array of naturally produced antimicrobial peptides has been de fined. A variety of cell surface receptors that recognize common patterns displayed by infectious organisms have been identified along with the intracellular pathways that these receptors use to activate cellular defense functions. Cell surface receptors on natural killer (NK) cells have been shown to sense microbial invasion in neighboring cells, thereby setting into motion their elimination by cy totoxic mechanisms. Other receptors have been found to facilitate phagocytosis and intracellular killing of microbes by phagocytic cells. These and other natural defense mechanisms have traditionally been viewed as the first line of body defense in vertebrate species that also possess the capacity for acquired or adaptive immunity. Sharks and all of the other jawed vertebrates generate large repertoires of T and B lymphocyte clones that display different antigen specific receptors in the form ofT cell receptors (TCR) and immunoglobulins (Ig) that allow them to recognize and respond to antigens in collaboration with antigen-present ing cells. Memory T and B cells are then generated to allow faster and heightened cellular and humoral immune re sponses on secondary antigen encounter. In recent years it has also become obvious that innate immune responses can directly influence adaptive immune responses in ways that will enhance body defense.


Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries

Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries

Author: Dean T. Jamison

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2006-04-02

Total Pages: 1449

ISBN-13: 0821361805

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Based on careful analysis of burden of disease and the costs ofinterventions, this second edition of 'Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, 2nd edition' highlights achievable priorities; measures progresstoward providing efficient, equitable care; promotes cost-effectiveinterventions to targeted populations; and encourages integrated effortsto optimize health. Nearly 500 experts - scientists, epidemiologists, health economists,academicians, and public health practitioners - from around the worldcontributed to the data sources and methodologies, and identifiedchallenges and priorities, resulting in this integrated, comprehensivereference volume on the state of health in developing countries.


Global Health

Global Health

Author: Kevin McCracken

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 354

ISBN-13: 0415557577

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The health of human populations around the world is constantly changing and the health profiles of most nations in the early twenty-first century global health landscape are unrecognizable compared with those of just a century ago. This book examines and explains these health changes and considers likely future patterns and changes. While the overall picture charted is one of progress and improvement, certain unfortunate regressions and stubbornly persistent health inequalities are equally shown to be part of the evolving patterns of global health. The chapters of the book are organized in three major parts: The first part introduces readers to the principal concepts of global health, and to the idea of populations having distinctive health profiles. In particular, it explores how those profiles can be measured, and how they change, using the umbrella concepts and theories of epidemiological and health transition. Building on the first section, the second part focuses on the evolution of health states, as well as paying particular attention to the reasons for the many subnational inequalities in global health. It also examines health challenges such as the continuing infectious disease burden and current emerging 'epidemics'. The final part transports readers from the current health scene to future possible and probable health scenarios, acknowledging the challenges presented by global environmental change, as well as issues centred around geopolitics and human security. Using clear and original explanations of complex issues, this text makes extensive use of boxed case studies and international examples, with thought-provoking discussion questions posed for readers at the end of each chapter. Global Health is essential reading for students of global health, public health and development studies.


The Human Complement System in Health and Disease

The Human Complement System in Health and Disease

Author: John E. Volanakis

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 1998-02-25

Total Pages: 672

ISBN-13: 9780824798987

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This authoritative, single-source reference provides comprehensive examinations of the complement system-offering recent findings in basic science on the structure, biology, physiology, and pathophysiology of complement proteins and the latest therapeutic approaches towards the control of complement-mediated diseases. Written by over 40 international experts from North America, Europe, and Asia, The Human Complement System in Health and Disease describes the molecular architecture of the complement system details the structure of complement genes discusses gene organization as well as the topology and chemistry of ligand-binding sites and catalytic centers of complement proteins analyzes complement organization and activation, including phylogeny and the newly discovered lectin pathway elucidates the regulation of complement gene expression and the structure and function of bioactive peptides explicates opsonic and immunoregulatory properties of complement fragments, endothelial responses, and interactions with viruses and bacteria and more!


An Integrative Metaregression Framework for Descriptive Epidemiology

An Integrative Metaregression Framework for Descriptive Epidemiology

Author: Abraham D. Flaxman

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780295991849

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To provide the tools and knowledge needed in efforts to improve the health of the world's populations, researchers collaborated on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2010. The study produced comprehensive estimates of over 200 diseases and health risk factors in 187 countries over two decades, results that will be used by governments and non-governmental agencies to inform priorities for global health research, policies, and funding. Integrated Meta-Regression Framework for Descriptive Epidemiology is the first book-length treatment of model-based meta-analytic methods for descriptive epidemiology used in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. In addition to collecting the prior work on compartmental modeling of disease, this book significantly extends the model, by formally connecting the system dynamics model of disease progression to a statistical model of epidemiological rates and demonstrates how the two models were combined to allow researchers to integrate relevant data. Practical applications of the model to meta-analysis of more than a dozen different diseases complement the theoretical foundations of the integrative systems modeling of disease in populations. The book concludes with a detailed description of the future directions for research in model-based meta-analysis of descriptive epidemiological data. Abraham Flaxman is assistant professor of global health in the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.