Sunday, 31 March 2013

Essential Clinical Immunology


The ways in which we can better understand cancer, HIV, and other autoimmune diseases through clinical immunology are of great interest to all scientists, from students to post-graduate practitioners. Designed as an introduction to science students (MD, MD–PhD, PhD) as well as to more advanced PhDs and medical practitioners, this book focuses on the importance of immunological concepts in disease states.

Essential Clinical Immunology begins with the basic concepts and then details the immunological aspects of various disease states involving major organs of the body. The book explores how we can better understand disease and its treatment through clinical immunology. Looking forward, each chapter concludes with patterns for future research.

John B. Zabriskie (M.D., Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons) is Professor Emeritus and former head of the Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at The Rockefeller University, New York, New York. He has written numerous articles on immunology, micro biology, and Neurology.

Clinical Neuroimmunology: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders


Immune activation of the central or peripheral nervous system (CNS or PNS) has been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders. Basic concepts in Clinical Neuroimmunology have changed significantly during the last 10 years, and are constantly evolving. New data has driven treatment concepts for a large number of autoimmune diseases, none more so than multiple sclerosis. As this area of research has become increasingly active and productive, the need for a comprehensive up-to-date handbook has become apparent.

Clinical Neuroimmunology: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders has been written with the clinician in mind and targets residents, fellows, internists, nurse practitioners, as well as general neurologists. The aim of this book is to make recent developments in neuroimmunology accessible to the clinician who feels daunted by such advances, and requires a clear explanation of the scientific and clinical issues. The chapters have been written by experts in their fields. The introduction, Part I is written by Patricia K. Coyle and Lloyd Kasper and provide a logical and straightforward overview of neuroimmunology. Part II consists of eight chapters focused on multiple sclerosis. It includes a chapter on Chronic Cerebrospinal Venous Insufficiency (CCSVI), a topic currently getting a great deal of attention in the media. CCSVI is under investigation for its possible association with MS. Another chapter written by Howard Weiner envisions MS 20 years in the future. Part III has seven chapters and focuses on other CNS inflammatory disorders including neuromyelitis optica, ADEM, CNS infections, and immunological aspects of cancer. Part IV includes two chapters that describe autoimmune disorders of the PNS. The final (V) part includes a single chapter that focuses on various systemic diseases with prominent autoimmune CNS and PNS manifestations such as Behcet’s disease, Sarcoidosis, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosis.