Cells are the building blocks of life and some cells (stem cells) have the ability to produce other cells through the processes of cell division and cell differentiation. Stem cell research has now progressed dramatically and there are countless studies published every year in scientific journals. Stem cell technology is being used to create new cell lines with edited genes and to regenerate cell based tissues for biological and medical purposes. This ebook presents a brief snapshot of clinical research in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The concise reference is intended to be an introduction for biology students to current standards and new technologies in these fields.

<i>Vascularization in Tissue Engineering</i> presents a comprehensive picture of blood vessel development and the recent developments on the understanding of the role of angiogenesis in regenerating biological tissues. The first-half of this book, consists of three chapters, emphasizing the fundamental knowledge about cell pathways, growth factors, co-culture strategies, cell interactions, and vascularization in pathological scenarios. The second half takes this knowledge a step further and explains the vascular microenvironment, scaffolds, and related applications in regenerative medicines. This section also provides information about biomaterial scaffolds and stem cell cultures for wound-healing and tissue regeneration. Readers will learn about cutting edge technologies in this field. This volume is a handy reference for students and researchers seeking information about the angiogenic processes and applied biotechnology in tissue engineering.

Diagnosis and Treatment in Rheumatology is a clear and concise handbook of all rheumatic diseases. The book presents organized information about current diagnosis, treatment and statistics (where available) of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, spndyloarthropathies, gout, systemic lupus erythromatosis, osteoarthritis, myositis and much more. This reader friendly format and up to date information is easily accessible for rheumatology residents and medical students, making the book an ideal reference for study and practice.

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease prevalent among the elderly. Its most prominent feature is the progressive destruction of articular cartilage which results in impaired joint motion, severe pain and ultimately disability. Its prevalence and its impact on daily life pose a significant public health problem. Today, a cure for osteoarthritis remains elusive and the management of the disease is largely palliative, focusing on the alleviation of symptoms. Current recommendations include a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The term &ldquo;non-pharmacological&rdquo; includes physical therapy and rehabilitation, but also nutraceuticals. All guidelines on osteoarthritis management highlight the importance of weight loss and physical activity to improve the functional status of patients. A number of alternative therapies are also commonly suggested by physicians and physiotherapists in their daily practice. The efficacy of these therapies is not evidenced by strong clinical trials. This category includes education, information, electrotherapy, ultrasound, electromagnetic field, spa, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, etc. Non Pharmacological Therapies in the Management of Osteoarthritis reviews the clinical relevance of these therapies and the difficulties in conducting high quality trials assessing their efficacy. This e-book presents supportive scientific evidence for their efficacy and explains the mechanism of action of nutraceuticals targeting osteoarthritis. It also includes many example of exercises, mobilization and manipulation techniques directly useful for medical professionals.

Contemporary Endoscopic Spine Surgery brings the reader the most up-to-date information on the endoscopy of the spine. Key opinion leaders from around the world have come together to present the clinical evidence behind their competitive endoscopic spinal surgery protocols. Chapters in the series cover a range of aspects of spine surgery including spinal pain generators, preoperative workup with modern independent predictors of favorable clinical outcomes with endoscopy, anesthesia in an outpatient setting, management of complications, and a fresh look at technology advances in a historical context. The reader will have a first-row seat during the illustrative discussions of expanded surgical indications from herniated disc to more complex clinical problems, including stenosis, instability, and deformity in patients with advanced degenerative disease of the human spine. Contemporary Endoscopic Spine Surgery is divided into three volumes: Cervical Spine, Lumbar Spine, and Advanced Technologies to capture an accurate snapshot in time of this fast-moving field. It is intended as a comprehensive go-to reference text for surgeons in graduate residency and postgraduate fellowship training programs and for practicing spine surgeons interested in looking for the scientific foundation for their practice expansion into endoscopic surgery. This volume (Cervical Spine) covers the following topics Cervical Endoscopy: Historical Perspectives, Present & Future Anesthesia For Minimally Invasive Surgery Of The Cervical Algorithms To Choose Between Anterior And Posterior Cervical Endoscopy Contemporary Clinical Decision Making In Full Endoscopic Cervical Spine Surgery Indications And Outcomes With Endoscopic Posterior Cervical Rhizotomy Anterior Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy Anterior Transcorporeal Approach Of Percutaneous Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy Anterior Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy And Foraminoplasty For Herniated Disc And Lateral Canal Stenosis Posterior Full Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy & Foraminotomy Endoscopic Decompression For Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Essentials of Pediatric Surgery is an introductory reference on basic pediatric medicine and surgery. The book provides the reader the information on which a surgeon relies on in diagnosis and treatment. Chapters start with the physiology of infants before progressing into separate topics about the surgery of different sections including the head and neck, chest, abdomen, reproductive organs, cancers, and the nervous system. Information is presented in a simple manner, which makes the text easy to understand for both students and medical residents. Key Features: - 8 chapters covering introductory topics about pediatric physiology and surgery - Includes chapters which cover specialized domains in the subject based on different parts of the body - Chapters include information about clinical presentations, diagnosis and treatment of different conditions - Simple, structured layout for easy understanding - References for further reading Essentials of Pediatric Surgery is a handy textbook for both medical students studying modules on pediatric surgery and residents in training in pediatric clinics.

This monograph offers the reader an integrated point-of-view about the inflammatory response related to injury, infections and tumors. This integration is based on the hypothesis that the multiple pathophysiological mechanisms making up inflammation represent the re-expression of ontogenic mechanisms during early embryo development as well as the recapitulation of ancestral phylogenetic mechanisms. The relevance of the anti-inflammatory treatments is also highlighted with respect to polytraumatic patients, advances in stem cell research, embryology and the wound healing mechanism. Readers of this book will have the chance of gaining a unique perspective about of the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the multiple inflammatory conditions. This integrative concept about inflammation can be applied in biological investigation, as well as in clinical research and translational medicine.

Oesophago-gastric Surgery is a reference manual which addresses the core knowledge needs of surgical trainees in oesophago-gastric surgery as well as established consultants in oesophago-gastric surgery and other specialties. The book features a practical and user-friendly format for the benefit of undergraduate and professional readers. The editors have carefully included information that aligns with gastroenterology specialization curricula. Chapters in the first part cover all introductory topics about oesophagal and gastric surgery including anaesthesia, perioperative care, nutrition and physiology. This part concludes with details on various disorders of the oesophagus, Barret’s oesophagus, and reflux disease.

Oesophago-gastric Surgery is a reference manual which addresses the core knowledge needs of surgical trainees in oesophago-gastric surgery as well as established consultants in oesophago-gastric surgery and other specialties. The book features a practical and user-friendly format for the benefit of undergraduate and professional readers. The editors have carefully included information that aligns with gastroenterology specialization curricula. Chapters in the second part cover advanced topics about oesophagal and gastric surgery including gastric benign disorders (gastritis, ulcers, dyspepsia, dysphagia), motility disorders, neoplasms, endoscopy and bariatric surgery.

Advances in the science of immunology have improved the success rate of organ transplantations since the mid twentieth century. Organ transplantation is now a lifesaving medical procedure for thousands of patients around the world with end-organ diseases. The lifesaving potential of transplantation has been limited by the number and quality of appropriate organ donors. The evolution of brain death criteria by the Harvard Ad-Hoc Committee Report has opened the door to understanding the importance of medical, legal and ethical challenges of organ donation in support of the growth of the transplant science. The possibility of organ donation from living donors has enhanced organ availability for patients with kidney failure. Modern inotropes and immunosuppression regimens have been critical to the success of other organ transplant procedures. However, the cornerstone of successful transplantation continues to be the appropriate selection, evaluation, preservation of organ tissues and the successful surgical procurement process to mitigate the impact of tissue ischemia and reperfusion.</p> In this textbook, the art and science of organ donation and tissue preservation is examined. Through this authoritative text by leaders in the field, the editors provide a state of the art review of modern preservation techniques, patient selection and screening criteria, as well as best practices for multi-organ procurement. Information presented in the book will familiarize readers with the initial steps of determining organ availability which ultimately enables health care professionals to realize the extraordinary potential of successful multi-organ transplant procedures. This guide is intended to be a fundamental resource for students, residents, faculty and staff for all disciplines allied to health care delivery and organ donation.