Books in the Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine series

"A subject collection from Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine."

"A subject collection from Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine."

Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), is caused by destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas by the body's immune system. It affects hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide, requiring regular insulin injections to control blood glucose levels and avoid severe consequences of

Parkinson's Disease is an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons that leads to slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, and tremors. Insoluble aggregates of proteins such as alpha-synuclein accumulate in the affected neurons, which also appear to be subject to oxidative stress. This collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine discusses recent work that has begun to uncover the molecular mechanisms that underlie the condition, including studies that implicate dysfunction of mitochondrial proteins such as parkin and pink1.

Bacterial pathogens cause numerous human diseases. This collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine surveys the spectrum of bacterial pathogens from Salmonella and Shigella to Heliobacter pylori. It examines the basic biology of these parasites, their virulence mechanisms and the host's response to infection. The effectiveness of antibiotics and vaccine strategies are also covered, along with the novel antimicrobial therapies that are being developed.

The transplantation of organs such as the heart, kidney, and lungs is an important means of replacing seriously damaged or diseased body parts. However, a transplanted organ may fail if the recipient's immune system mounts a response to it. Transplant patients are usually prescribed a life-long course of immunosuppressive medication, but these drugs can have adverse effects, including increased risk of infection and cancer. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine provides a current and comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms behind graft rejection and how they may be overcome. Contributors discuss immunosuppressive drug therapies and tolerance induction strategies, including the use of regulatory T cells, mesenchymal stromal cells, and lymphodepletion. They describe how mouse and non-human primate models have been used to gain insight into the immunobiology of transplantation and to test therapeutic approaches. Clinical considerations, such as donor selection, organ preservation, surgery, and post-operative care, are also covered. This volume includes discussion of the emerging field of regenerative medicine and the bioethical issues surrounding organ transplantation, and provides historical background to the field. It is an essential reference for immunologists, pharmacologists, clinicians, and all who are working to improve this remarkable medical procedure.

Recent work has improved our understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of heart development and function. This book discusses these advances and the implications for diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, including stem cell therapy, tissue engineering, and transplantation.