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In the forty years since melatonin's isolation and characterization, a large and multifaceted database has accrued. This book documents the diverse research contributions of most of the major laboratories in the field of melatonin research, as presented in a special conference to mark the 40 year anniversary of the isolation and chemical identification of this hormone. In addition, many chapters by younger scientists provide an exciting glimpse of where melatonin research is heading in the future.
The role of parasites and pathogens in the evolution of life history traits is of increasing interest to both ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Immunology, which was once studied almost exclusively by immunologists, has become an important area of proximate investigation to animal physiologists as a means for understanding changes in disease susceptibility and the neural and neuroendocrine mechanisms that mediate these changes. The coalescence of these different perspectives has given rise to the field of ecological immunology, an interdisciplinary research field that examines interactions among host physiology and disease ecology in a wide range of environmentally relevant contexts. T...
Immunoregulation is one of the areas which has witnessed the most explosive advances of immunology during the past decade. It is in this area that the current view of the immune system has arisen and developed. There is indeed little doubt that immune reactions are primarily determined by messages which are genera ted within the immune system and passed among different types of immunologie cells. This cell communication not only determines the type, intensity and duration of the response after perturbation of the immune system by exogenous antigens, but it is also essential for preventing autoimmune reactions and their clinical conse quences. In order to assure aperfect balance within the en...
This volume contains the proceedings of the Ninth Meeting of the "International Study Group for Tryptophan Research" (lSTRY), held at the University of Hamburg, Germany, from October 10 to 14, 1998. At this meeting the recent developments in the field of tryptophan research were presented by leading researchers from all over the world in 81 oral and 48 poster contri butions. Research on tryptophan and its derivatives provides an inexhaustible subject. At the conference we tried to compose a multifacetted picture of the recent investiga tions through contributions from the major disciplines involved. Thus, we tried to strike a balance between basic research topics and clinical, nutritional or...
When the first edition of this book published in 1994, the psychoimmunology of cancer was still emerging as a topic for serious scientific study. Now, less than ten years later, there is a huge quantity of academic literature about the relationships between psychological variables, the immune system and cancer growth, accompanied by a lively popular interest. In this new edition leading specialists have provided broad critical reviews of the different aspects. Part I, which presents the biological background, will be of particular interest to those with technical knowledge of the relevant laboratory based disciplines. It covers mechanisms mediating the effects of psychological status in the ...
The study of neuroendocrine-immune interactions has become a highly visible and fast-growing segment of mainstream immunology. This book provides an overview of the immune system and in-depth coverage of the many different areas that make up neuroendocrine-immune research. The main emphasis is on the physiology of the processes involved, stressing an integrated approach to immunology. The text is organized in seven sections, beginning with an introduction to the immune system. Section II outlines how the central nervous system (CNS) communicates with central and peripheral lymphoid organs. Section III provides information on factors from the immune system that act as messengers to the CNS. T...
Arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints and surrounding tissues. As the disease develops it can cause severe pain and disability. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful, degenerative joint disease that often involves the hips, knees, neck, lower back, or the small joints of the hands. Treatment usually includes analgesics, topical creams, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (known as NSAIDs); appropriate exercises or physical therapy; joint splinting; or joint replacement surgery for seriously damaged larger joints, such as the knee or hip. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that usually involves the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, feet, or ankles. Focus on Arthritis Research brings together leading research in the field.
Progress in Basic and Clinical Immunology is a result of the 14th European Immunology Meeting - EFIS 2000, held in Poznan, Poland, on 23-27 September 2000. EFIS 2000 gathered over 1400 immunologists from all over the world. It was an exceptionally memorable meeting for a number of reasons: 1) it was held in the last year of the century and the millennium, thus provoking conclusions of past achievements of immunology and projections for the future; 2) it was held in Poland, a country that is a symbol of struggle for freedom for a large number of scientists originating from the `Eastern Bloc' countries; and 3) EFIS celebrated its 25th anniversary at this occasion. This comprehensive volume contains 62 chapters grouped into 11 sections: T-cells, Immune Receptors, Antigen Presentation/Dendritic Cells, Cytokines, Immunodeficiencies, Autoimmunity, Allergy/Inflammation, Immunotherapy, Vaccines, Tumor Immunology, and Cancer Immunotherapy.
Since the first suffering supplicant offered a prayer to his god or the first mother cradled an ailing child in her caring arms, we have witnessed how human health and healing goes beyond any inventory of parts and infusion of chemicals. We humans are a complex melding of thought, emotion, spirit, and energy and each of those components is as critical to our well-being as our physiological status. Even if we are just beginning to quantify and document these seemingly intangible aspects, to ignore them in the practice of medicine is neglect and an invitation to do harm. Now in its second edition, The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine continues to provide doctors and other health practi...
The discipline of neuroimmunomodulation is devoted to interactions between the immune nervous systems at all levels and includes observation on brain, pituitary, peripheral nervous system and immune cells. Nitric oxide synthase is contained within neurons in the brain and modifies behavioural and hormonal responses by acting on other neurons and on release of peptides and other transmitters through activation of guanylate cyclase and cyclooxygenase. Increases in this and in expression of proinflammatory cytokines can contribute to damage in patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonism, meningitis, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease.