Scientific developments in recent years have led to significant strides and advancements within the medical field. By integrating these findings into medical practice, optimal healthcare can be delivered to the public. Emerging Applications, Perspectives, and Discoveries in Cardiovascular Research is a comprehensive reference source for the latest academic material on the exploration of cardiovascular diseases and provides an interdisciplinary examination of novel developments and applications for cardiovascular sciences. Highlighting a range of diverse topics, such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, and alternative medicine, this book is ideally designed for researchers, professionals, practitioners, graduate students, and academics interested in the latest medical advancements.
Due to population aging, calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) has become the most common heart valve disease in Western countries. No therapies exist to slow this disease progression, and surgical valve replacement is the only effective treatment. Calcific Aortic Valve Disease covers the contemporary understanding of basic valve biology and the mechanisms of CAVD, provides novel insights into the genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics of CAVD, depicts new strategies in heart valve tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and explores current treatment approaches. As we are on the verge of understanding the mechanisms of CAVD, we hope that this book will enable readers to comprehend our current knowledge and focus on the possibility of preventing disease progression in the future.
Cancer is a leading cause of death that affects numerous people at every age and their relatives. In recent years, there has been a tremendous advancement in imaging and biotechnology technologies and techniques for aiding in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Emerging Developments and Practices in Oncology provides research on recent advances in oncology aiming to improve early detection and personalized treatment of cancer. While highlighting applied methods of therapy, such as body radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, and immunotherapy, readers learn about the transforming approach to oncology in modern medicine and new technologies used to diagnose and treat cancer. This book is an important resource for medical trainees, graduate students, active practitioners, researchers, and clinical scientists seeking current research on oncology trends and applications.
Stemming from environmental, genetic, and situational factors, chronic disease is a critical concern in modern medicine. Managing treatment and controlling symptoms is imperative to the longevity and quality of life of patients with such diseases. Chronic Illness and Long-Term Care: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice features current research on the diagnosis, monitoring, management, and treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, autoimmune disorders, and many more. Highlighting a range of topics such as medication management, quality-of-life issues, and sustainable health, this publication is an ideal reference source for hospital administrators, healthcare professionals, academicians, researchers, and graduate-level students interested in the latest research on chronic diseases and long-term care.
Yoga has evolved into a popular fitness practice across the globe. With the various schools of practice, it is imperative for practitioners to study both traditional texts and emerging scientific research in this area. Research-Based Perspectives on the Psychophysiology of Yoga is a unique reference source for the latest academic material on the physiological effects of yoga and cultivating a deeper understanding of yoga practice through the intersection of traditional texts and contemporary research. Including a range of topics such as occupational health, neurobiology, and women’s health, this book is ideally designed for professionals, practitioners, students, educators, and academics interested in the effects, challenges, and benefits of yoga practice.
Chronic diseases are common and costly, yet they are also among the most preventable health problems. Comprehensive and accurate disease surveillance systems are needed to implement successful efforts which will reduce the burden of chronic diseases on the U.S. population. A number of sources of surveillance data-including population surveys, cohort studies, disease registries, administrative health data, and vital statistics-contribute critical information about chronic disease. But no central surveillance system provides the information needed to analyze how chronic disease impacts the U.S. population, to identify public health priorities, or to track the progress of preventive efforts. A Nationwide Framework for Surveillance of Cardiovascular and Chronic Lung Diseases outlines a conceptual framework for building a national chronic disease surveillance system focused primarily on cardiovascular and chronic lung diseases. This system should be capable of providing data on disparities in incidence and prevalence of the diseases by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic region, along with data on disease risk factors, clinical care delivery, and functional health outcomes. This coordinated surveillance system is needed to integrate and expand existing information across the multiple levels of decision making in order to generate actionable, timely knowledge for a range of stakeholders at the local, state or regional, and national levels. The recommendations presented in A Nationwide Framework for Surveillance of Cardiovascular and Chronic Lung Diseases focus on data collection, resource allocation, monitoring activities, and implementation. The report also recommends that systems evolve along with new knowledge about emerging risk factors, advancing technologies, and new understanding of the basis for disease. This report will inform decision-making among federal health agencies, especially the Department of Health and Human Services; public health and clinical practitioners; non-governmental organizations; and policy makers, among others.
Is it advisable to go back from bedside to the bench? During the last decade, few topics encountered such a broad interest in bio- gy and medicine as angiogenesis. The amazing ability of the body to restore blood flow by induction of blood vessel growth as part of an adaptive process has alarmed physicians dealing with diseases in which angiogenesis is either exaggerated (as in tumors) or too slow (as in ischemic diseases of heart and brain). Not surprisingly, pro- and antiangiogenic strategies have found their way into clinical trials. For instance, for the USA, the NIH website in early 2004 displayed 38 clinical studies involving either pro- or antiangiogenic th- apies. Given the expected overwhelming wealth of clinical data, the question may be asked whether further exploration of biological mechanisms is required or whether results from the bedside are instructive enough to proceed. This question depends also on the progress of pro- and antiangiogenic clinical trials. In the following, I give a short overview about some of the progress that has been made in this field. Since Judah Folkman proposed antiangiogenic tumor therapy thirty years ago, it has become increasingly evident that agents which interfere with blood vessel formation also block tumor progression. Accordingly, antiangiogenic therapy has gained much attention as a potential adjunct to conventional c- cer therapy.
The diagnosis and treatment of disease is a primary concern for health professionals and all of society. With the growing use of alternative medicine, patients can receive a wider scope of potential treatment options. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Breakthroughs in Research and Practice is a critical reference source for the latest research findings on the application of complementary and alternative medicine in the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases. Highlighting a range of pertinent topics such as herbal remedies, antioxidants, and functional foods, this book is an ideal reference source for medical practitioners, medical professionals, and researchers interested in emerging trends in alternative medicinal practices.
Neurodegeneration is a key feature of several diseases that are referred to as neurodegenerative diseases. The process of neurodegeneration is not well-understood so the diseases that stem from it have, as yet, no cures. As such, studying the effects of these disorders can provide insight into the treatment, prevention, and future opportunities and challenges in this growing field. The Handbook of Research on Critical Examinations of Neurodegenerative Disorders is a critical scholarly resource that provides an extensive explanation of various neurodegenerative disorders based on existing studies to clarify etiology, pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, as well as current status and future opportunities and challenges. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as dementia, mitochondrial dysfunction, and risk factors, this book is geared towards neurobiologists, neuropsychologists, neurophysiologists, neuropathologists, medical professionals, academicians, and researchers seeking research on the complexity of neurodegenerative disorders.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a screening tool called the Listing of Impairments to identify claimants who are so severely impaired that they cannot work at all and thus immediately qualify for benefits. In this report, the IOM makes several recommendations for improving SSA's capacity to determine disability benefits more quickly and efficiently using the Listings.
