Current Challenges in Complement Diagnostics
Current Challenges in Complement Diagnostics

Author: Erik J.M. Toonen

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-12-14

Total Pages: 364

ISBN-13: 2832540880

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The complement system is an important innate immune surveillance network that has a key role in protecting our bodies against pathogens and other threats. It is a highly complex system consisting of approximately 50 soluble and cell surface-bound proteins that interact to eliminate danger signals. These signals include factors such as invading microorganisms, necrotic cells, and immune complexes. Furthermore, complement can link innate and adaptive immune responses by regulating T cell and B cell responses. The complement system is tightly regulated to avoid uncontrolled activation. Dysregulation of the complement system has been linked to numerous diseases, both rare and common. Uncontrolled or exaggerated activation can lead to life-threatening conditions such as dysregulation of coagulation, fibrinolysis, systemic inflammation and shock, and possible failure of a variety of organs such as the eyes, kidneys, skin, brain, and vascular system. In recent years, the complement system has gained increased interest, especially as a promising candidate for therapeutic intervention. Eculizumab, the first approved complement inhibitor, is highly effective for treating atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Many more drug candidates are currently evaluated in ongoing clinical trials.

Improving Diagnosis in Health Care
Improving Diagnosis in Health Care

Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2015-12-29

Total Pages: 473

ISBN-13: 0309377722

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Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

Health Professions Education
Health Professions Education

Author: Institute of Medicine

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2003-07-01

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13: 030913319X

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The Institute of Medicine study Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001) recommended that an interdisciplinary summit be held to further reform of health professions education in order to enhance quality and patient safety. Health Professions Education: A Bridge to Quality is the follow up to that summit, held in June 2002, where 150 participants across disciplines and occupations developed ideas about how to integrate a core set of competencies into health professions education. These core competencies include patient-centered care, interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics. This book recommends a mix of approaches to health education improvement, including those related to oversight processes, the training environment, research, public reporting, and leadership. Educators, administrators, and health professionals can use this book to help achieve an approach to education that better prepares clinicians to meet both the needs of patients and the requirements of a changing health care system.

Medical Biosensors for Point of Care (POC) Applications
Medical Biosensors for Point of Care (POC) Applications

Author: Roger Narayan

Publisher: Woodhead Publishing

Published: 2016-08-21

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 0081000782

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Medical Biosensors for Point of Care (POC) Applications discusses advances in this important and emerging field which has the potential to transform patient diagnosis and care. Part 1 covers the fundamentals of medical biosensors for point-of-care applications. Chapters in part 2 go on to look at materials and fabrication of medical biosensors while the next part looks at different technologies and operational techniques. The final set of chapters provide an overview of the current applications of this technology. Traditionally medical diagnostics have been dependent on sophisticated technologies which only trained professionals were able to operate. Recent research has focused on creating point-of-care diagnostic tools. These biosensors are miniaturised, portable, and are designed to be used at the point-of-care by untrained individuals, providing real-time and remote health monitoring. - Provides essential knowledge for designers and manufacturers of biosensors for point-of-care applications - Provides comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals, materials, technologies, and applications of medical biosensors for point-of-care applications - Includes contributions from leading international researchers with extensive experience in developing medical biosensors - Discusses advances in this important and emerging field which has the potential to transform patient diagnosis and care

Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis
Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis

Author: Marinos C. Dalakas

Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann

Published: 2013-10-22

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 1483163040

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Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis provides extensive information regarding Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis (PM/DM), which is described as a heterogeneous disease complex. This book is divided into four sections: Part I (Clinical Features) covers the classification of PM/DM, details of the clinical presentation, and the disease's association with the other connective tissue disorders and malignancies. Part II (Etiology and Mechanisms) covers advances in the immunopathology and viral etiology of PM/DM along with a frequently recognized entity: inclusion body myositis. Part III (Diagnosis and Treatment) covers the histologic, muscle enzyme histochemical, electron microscopic, and resin histology features of PM/DM along with those electromyographic features that could help make a more accurate diagnosis. Part IV (Overview) summarizes the issues that may not have been clear and highlights differing and unsettled views or present available data. This text is directed to clinicians in private practice or in academic institutions concerned with PM/DM patients, including neurologists, rheumatologists, pediatricians, dermatologists, physiatrists, and neuromuscular investigators. This book is intended as well for neuromuscular pathologists who interpret muscle biopsy specimens and electromyographers who perform EMG studies to help determine the clinical diagnosis. Researchers in immunology and immunopathology of neuromuscular diseases will find discussions in this book invaluable.

Contemporary Challenges in Immunologic Testing in Clinical and Research Laboratories
Contemporary Challenges in Immunologic Testing in Clinical and Research Laboratories

Author: Pablo Engel

Publisher: Frontiers Media SA

Published: 2023-08-24

Total Pages: 343

ISBN-13: 2832532144

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Along the last several decades, it has been progressively appreciated that immunology plays an overwhelming role in the physiology and pathophysiology of most organs, tissues, and biological systems in multicellular organisms. Accordingly, several immunological parameters are used in research and clinical laboratories with the purpose of investigating, diagnosing, and monitoring a variety of pathological conditions. The rapidly evolving field of laboratory testing in immunology poses several challenges to professionals working in research and clinical laboratories, medical practice, educational activities, in vitro diagnostic industry, and regulatory agencies. Regular analytes, such as albumin, glucose, and insulin, are homogeneous among individuals of the same species. This property represents an advantage when it comes to optimize the determination methods as well as to establish standardization and quality assessment strategies. In contrast, several immunologic analytes present tremendous variability across individuals in the same species. In fact, some are unique at the individual level. For example, the repertoire of immunoglobulins specific for a given pathogen (e.g., rubella) is specific for each individual in terms of the balance of targeted antigens and epitopes, immunoglobulin isotypes, antibody avidity, Fc glycosylation rate, and so on. As a corollary, the panel of anti-rubella antibodies is necessarily different from one to other individual. This also applies to autoantibodies and to IgE to allergens. Polymorphism is prevalent for other immunologic parameters, such as Complement components, cell receptors (cluster differentiation molecules - CD) and downstream signal transduction mediators.

Understanding the Psychic Experience
Understanding the Psychic Experience

Author: Julia Conrad

Publisher: Balboa Press

Published: 2020-07-27

Total Pages: 142

ISBN-13: 1982251271

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Understanding the Psychic Experience......................................................... As you delve into the pages of this book, you are opening the pages to knowledge of other dimensions that are just waiting to be explored by the human psyche. This is the place where self-discovery and the realization that your ordinary life may be more extraordinary than you thought. Where the metaphysical becomes the physical and the extraordinary becomes the ordinary. In these pages, the author really brings forward a level of knowledge and understanding of such an interesting and curious subject matter that everyone from the beginner who is just starting to feed a new level of curiosity within, to the experienced who may be looking for a new discovery of information that fits perfectly into their puzzle, helping to see a broader picture of all that there is, will resonate with this book. This book brings to light a new awareness of the fact that there is so much more going on around us, other than what just the human eye can see.

Rickettsial Diseases
Rickettsial Diseases

Author: Didier Raoult

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2007-04-26

Total Pages: 400

ISBN-13: 142001997X

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The only available reference to comprehensively discuss the common and unusual types of rickettsiosis in over twenty years, this book will offer the reader a full review on the bacteriology, transmission, and pathophysiology of these conditions. Written from experts in the field from Europe, USA, Africa, and Asia, specialists analyze specific patho

Nathan and Oski's Hematology of Infancy and Childhood E-Book
Nathan and Oski's Hematology of Infancy and Childhood E-Book

Author: Stuart H. Orkin

Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences

Published: 2008-12-16

Total Pages: 1868

ISBN-13: 1437721303

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To address the exponential growth in the fields of pediatric hematology and oncology, this classic reference has been separated into two distinct volumes. With this volume, devoted strictly to pediatric hematology, and another to pediatric oncology, you’ll keep you on the cutting-edge of these two specialties. The completely revised 7th edition of Nathan and Oski’s Hematology of Infancy and Childhood is now in full color, and provides you with the most comprehensive, authoritative, up-to-date information for diagnosing and treating children with hematologic disorders. It brings together the pathophysiology of disease with detailed clinical guidance on diagnosis and management for the full range of blood diseases that you encounter in everyday practice. Written by the leading names in pediatric hematology, this resource is an essential tool for anyone involved in caring for children with hematologic disorders. Balances summaries of relevant pathophysiology with clear, practical clinical guidance to help you thoroughly understand the underlying science of diseases. Offers comprehensive coverage of all hematologic disorders, including newly recognized ones, along with the latest breakthroughs in diagnosis and management. Uses many boxes, graphs, and tables to highlight complex clinical diagnostic and management guidelines at a glance. Presents an all-new full-color design that includes clear illustrative examples of relevant science and clinical problems for quick access to the answers you need.