Index of Conference Proceedings


Book Description







Organ Tissue Engineering


Book Description

The notion of being able to engineer complete organs has inspired an entire generation of researchers. While recent years have brought significant progress in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, the immense challenges encountered when trying to engineer an entire organ have to be acknowledged. Despite a good understanding of cell phenotypes, cellular niches and cell-to-biomaterial interactions, the formation of tissues composed of multiple cells remains highly challenging. Only a step-by-step approach will allow the future production of a living tissue construct ready for implantation and to augment organ function. In this book, expert authors present the current state of this approach. It offers a concise overview and serves as a great starting point for anyone interested in the application of tissue engineering or regenerative medicine for organ engineering. Each chapter contains a short overview including physiological and pathological changes as well as the current clinical need. The potential cell sources and suitable biomaterials for each organ type are discussed and possibilities to produce organ-like structures are illustrated. The ultimate goal is for the generated small tissues to unfold their full potential in vivo and to serve as a native tissue equivalent. By integrating and evolving, these implants will form functional tissue in-vivo. This book discusses the desired outcome by focusing on well-defined functional readouts. Each chapter addresses the status of clinical translations and closes with the discussion of current bottlenecks and an outlook for the coming years. A successful regenerative medicine approach could solve organ shortage by providing biological substitutes for clinical use - clearly, this merits a collaborative effort.
















Thoracic Malignancies


Book Description

Thoracic Malignancies: Thoracic Malignancies is the first title in Radiation Medicine Rounds. These tumors take more lives than any others and they are among the most preventable of tumors. Thus it is crucial for the practitioner to be up-to-date on the latest insights regarding their management. Thoracic Malignancies addresses the multi-disciplinary nature of the care of these tumors. There is representation from radiation oncology, medical oncology, and surgery ensuring a well-rounded summarization of current practice. Included are chapters on lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and thymomas providing coverage of the vast majority of thoracic tumors. The multi-disciplinary nature of the articles provides readers with an up-to-date summary and a well-rounded review regarding these tumors and their care. Expert authors provide reviews and assessments of the most recent data and its implications for current clinical practice, along with insights into emerging new trends of importance for the near future. About the Series Radiation Medicine Rounds is an invited review publication providing a thorough analysis of new scientific, technologic, and clinical advances in all areas of radiation medicine. There is an emphasis throughout on multidisciplinary approaches to the specialty, as well as on quality and outcomes analysis. Published three times a year Radiation Medicine Rounds provides authoritative, thorough assessments of a wide range of Ïhot topicsÓ and emerging new data for the entire specialty of radiation medicine. Features of Radiation Medicine Rounds include: Editorial board of nationally recognized experts across the spectrum of radiation medicine In-depth, up-to-date expert reviews and analysis of major new developments in all areas of Radiation Medicine Issues edited by an authority in specific subject area Focuses on major topics in Radiation Medicine with in-depth articles covering advances in radiation science radiation medicine technology, radiation medicine practice, and assessment of recent quality and outcomes studies Emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches to research and practice




Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk


Book Description

Though overall cancer incidence and mortality have continued to decline in recent years, cancer continues to devastate the lives of far too many Americans. In 2009 alone, 1.5 million American men, women, and children were diagnosed with cancer, and 562,000 died from the disease. There is a growing body of evidence linking environmental exposures to cancer. The Pres. Cancer Panel dedicated its 2008¿2009 activities to examining the impact of environmental factors on cancer risk. The Panel considered industrial, occupational, and agricultural exposures as well as exposures related to medical practice, military activities, modern lifestyles, and natural sources. This report presents the Panel¿s recommend. to mitigate or eliminate these barriers. Illus.




Colorectal Cancer in the Elderly


Book Description

As the population ages, clinicians are facing an increasing number of elderly patients with colorectal cancer. These patients pose unique challenges as they have more comorbidities and lower functional reserves. In addition, the treatment goals may differ from those in younger patients. This book discusses in depth the different aspects of management of colorectal cancer in the elderly. After the provision of pertinent background information on the normal physiology of aging, screening and diagnosis are discussed. Subsequent chapters focus on a range of issues associated with the surgical and perioperative care of these patients and with adjuvant treatment and palliative care. Each chapter provides helpful take-home messages in bullet point form, and numerous informative figures and tables are also included. The authors are surgeons, physicians, anesthetists, geriatricians, oncologists, and allied health professionals with extensive experience in the field.