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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) currently ranks as the third most common cause of death. As the primary malignancy of the liver is directly related to an underlying liver condition, its incidence and profile are expected to change soon. While effective prevention programs and antiviral therapies for hepatitis B and C will lower the incidence of HCC, emerging socioeconomic issues will deliver new at-risk populations. Moreover, diagnostic techniques and protocols have undergone significant advancements. Reliance on contrast enhanced ultrasound has been re-evaluated, imaging methods being considered as sufficient diagnostic tools. Molecular characterization remains desirable, since chemotherapeutic agents still have limited applicability. In light of recent diagnostic advancements and novel therapeutic solutions, it is our belief that a comprehensive update on recent paradigm shifts and interesting upcoming developments is highly needed.
Endoscopic techniques are widely used for screening, diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers in all groups of patients and for a large spectrum of complaints. The availability of basic iterations of endoscopic techniques made screening programs for various diseases viable in most parts of the world, while the advent of modern techniques opens new perspectives for rapid and correct diagnosis. Going beyond normal human vision, innovative techniques opened the prospect of in-situ pathology. Endoscopic ultrasound has made incredible progress in recent years. Reaching the smaller orifices by endoscopy was a major step forward in the surveillance of previously inaccessible lesions. Investigatory techniques were complemented by advances in therapy, with novel applications in many major areas of medicine.
Hepatitis A is a major health concern throughout the world. Its impact has largely been limited in recent times by the large-scale use of vaccines. It is, however, still rampant in various parts of the world, partly due to lack of medication, poor water access, and contaminated food products. This book provides comprehensive information on various aspects of hepatitis A with a focus on three of the most important biliary diseases: cholestasis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Chapters cover such topics as pathology, epidemiology, at-risk populations, animal research models, and future trends.
There are a lot of important issues related to viral hepatitis studies: molecular biology of viruses, laboratory diagnostics, epidemiology, treatment etc. However, there is a number of special textbooks and monographs on the subject. Considering this fact and rather fast progress in our understanding of the problem this book focuses on the important sections of the problem immune pathogenesis of parenterally transmitted viral hepatitis and some aspects of hepatitis diagnostics. Seven chapters were prepared by several groups of researchers to share information and results of studies with specialists working in the field and persons who are interested to learn about the viral hepatitis issue. The Nobel Prize Committee (the field of physiology and medicine, 2011) awarded Bruce A. Beutler and Jules A. Hoffmann for their discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity whilst Ralph M. Steinman was awarded for his discovery of the dendritic cell and its role in adaptive immunity. We are proud to say that our book is in line with these discoveries, because 3 chapters cover the problems of innate and adaptive immune response in case of viral hepatitis.
As result of progress, endoscopy has became more complex, using more sophisticated devices and has claimed a special form. In this moment, the gastroenterologist performing endoscopy has to be an expert in macroscopic view of the lesions in the gut, with good skills for using standard endoscopes, with good experience in ultrasound (for performing endoscopic ultrasound), with pathology experience for confocal examination. It is compulsory to get experience and to have patience and attention for the follow-up of thousands of images transmitted during capsule endoscopy or to have knowledge in physics necessary for autofluorescence imaging endoscopy. Therefore, the idea of an endoscopist has changed. Examinations mentioned need a special formation, a superior level of instruction, accessible to those who have already gained enough experience in basic diagnostic endoscopy. This is the reason for what these new issues of endoscopy are presented in this book of New techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
This book offers a detailed overview of translational bioinformatics together with real-case applications. Translational bioinformatics integrates the areas of basic bioinformatics, clinical informatics, statistical genetics and informatics in order to further our understanding of the molecular basis of diseases. By analyzing voluminous amounts of molecular and clinical data, it also provides clinical information, which can then be applied. Filling the gap between clinic research and informatics, the book is a valuable resource for human geneticists, clinicians, health educators and policy makers, as well as graduate students majoring in biology, biostatistics, and bioinformatics.
This book is a comprehensive overview of invited contributions on Helicobacter pylori infection in gastritis and gastric carcinogenesis. The first part of the book covers topics related to the pathophysiology of gastric mucosal defense system and gastritis including the gastroprotective function of the mucus, the capsaicin-sensitive afferent nerves and the oxidative stress pathway involved in inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy in H. pylori related gastritis. The next chapters deal with molecular pathogenesis and treatment, which consider the role of neuroendocrine cells in gastric disease, DNA methylation in H. pylori infection, the role of antioxidants and phytotherapy in gastric disease. The final part presents the effects of cancer risk factors associated with H. pylori infection. These chapters discuss the serum pepsinogen test, K-ras mutations, cell kinetics, and H. pylori lipopolysaccharide, as well as the roles of several bacterial genes (cagA, cagT, vacA and dupA) as virulence factors in gastric cancer, and the gastrokine-1 protein in cancer progression.