Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health


Book Description

It's obvious why only men develop prostate cancer and why only women get ovarian cancer. But it is not obvious why women are more likely to recover language ability after a stroke than men or why women are more apt to develop autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Sex differences in health throughout the lifespan have been documented. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health begins to snap the pieces of the puzzle into place so that this knowledge can be used to improve health for both sexes. From behavior and cognition to metabolism and response to chemicals and infectious organisms, this book explores the health impact of sex (being male or female, according to reproductive organs and chromosomes) and gender (one's sense of self as male or female in society). Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health discusses basic biochemical differences in the cells of males and females and health variability between the sexes from conception throughout life. The book identifies key research needs and opportunities and addresses barriers to research. Exploring the Biological Contributions to Human Health will be important to health policy makers, basic, applied, and clinical researchers, educators, providers, and journalists-while being very accessible to interested lay readers.




Fundamentals of Human Biology and Health (Fourth Edition)


Book Description

Fundamentals of Human Biology and Health gives students a solid understanding of how human cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and whole organisms operate. Designed to be used on its own or as a supplement to other texts, the material includes clear, concise information covering the main physiological systems in the human body, their interconnections, and what individuals can do to maintain healthy bodies and lifestyles. The text explores how and why we study biology, and where human beings fit into the amazing diversity of life. There is also coverage of basic chemistry as it relates to the study of biology. After a tour of the typical human cell, the text provides information on different tissues and organ systems. This includes relevant disorders, diseases, drugs, nutrition, and various health issues. Subsequent material addresses genetics, evolution, ecology, and conservation. Fundamentals of Human Biology and Health provides basic information in an accessible way. This text can be used in any introductory general or human biology course. The accessible language is appropriate for both high school and college level students. It can also be used in courses on anatomy and physiology.




Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental Health


Book Description

Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental Health uses a systems biological perspective to detail the most recent findings that link environmental exposures to human disease, providing an overview of molecular pathways that are essential for cellular survival after exposure to environmental toxicants, recent findings on gene-environment interactions influencing environmental agent-induced diseases, and the development of computational methods to predict susceptibility to environmental agents. Introductory chapters on molecular and cellular biology, toxicology and computational biology are included as well as an assessment of systems-based tools used to evaluate environmental health risks. Further topics include research on environmental toxicants relevant to human health and disease, various high-throughput technologies and computational methods, along with descriptions of the biological pathways associated with disease and the developmental origins of disease as they relate to environmental contaminants. Systems Biology in Toxicology and Environmental Health is an essential reference for undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers looking for an introduction in the use of systems biology approaches to assess environmental exposures and their impacts on human health. - Provides the first reference of its kind, demonstrating the application of systems biology in environmental health and toxicology - Includes introductions to the diverse fields of molecular and cellular biology, toxicology, and computational biology - Presents a foundation that helps users understand the connections between the environment and health effects, and the biological mechanisms that link them




Regenerative Biology and Medicine


Book Description

Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Second Edition — Winner of a 2013 Highly Commended BMA Medical Book Award for Medicine — discusses the fundamentals of regenerative biology and medicine. It provides a comprehensive overview, which integrates old and new data into an ever-clearer global picture. The book is organized into three parts. Part I discusses the mechanisms and the basic biology of regeneration, while Part II deals with the strategies of regenerative medicine developed for restoring tissue, organ, and appendage structures. Part III reflects on the achievements of regenerative biology and medicine; future challenges; bioethical issues that need to be addressed; and the most promising developments in regenerative medicine. The book is designed for multiple audiences: undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students and postdoctoral fellows, and research investigators interested in an overall synthesis of this field. It will also appeal to investigators from fields not directly related to regenerative biology and medicine, such as chemistry, informatics, computer science, mathematics, physics, and engineering. - Highly Commended 2013 BMA Medical Book Award for Medicine - Includes coverage of skin, hair, teeth, cornea, and central neural tissues - Provides description of regenetive medicine in digestive, respiratory, urogenital, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems - Includes amphibians as powerful research models with discussion of appendage regeneration in amphibians and mammals




The HLA Complex in Biology and Medicine


Book Description

A comprehensive guide to the HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) system for immunologists and clinicians, this book contains up-to-date information on the MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) and its role in the immune response and in various diseases. The book explores the biological significance and role of the HLA system in organ and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation management. This volume is an invaluable guide to the full spectrum of HLA-related science while also serving as a conceptual and technical resource for those involved in HLA-related research and in clinical or surgical practice. In addition, it will be a primary point of contact for individuals working in other areas who suddenly find that their research is drawing them into the complexities of HLA genetics.




Human Biology


Book Description

Intended for non-majors, this textbook describes the structure and functions of each human body system, explores the body processes that regulate chemical levels in the blood and body temperature, and overviews genetics, human reproduction, and evolution. The fifth edition trims the overall length by 20% while adding short essays on past scientific




Human Biology and Health Studies


Book Description

This text is of use to all students following the GCSE and GNVQ courses in the post 16 year old category and covers the body, its maintenance in good health, the life cycle and the human being and the environment.




The Biology of Exercise


Book Description

Exercise training provokes widespread transformations in the human body, requiring coordinated changes in muscle composition, blood flow, neuronal and hormonal signaling, and metabolism. These changes enhance physical performance, improve mental health, and delay the onset of aging and disease. Understanding the molecular basis of these changes is therefore important for optimizing athletic ability and for developing drugs that elicit therapeutic effects. Written and edited by experts in the field, this collection from Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine examines the biological basis of exercise from the molecular to the systemic levels. Contributors discuss how transcriptional regulation, cytokine and hormonal signaling, glucose metabolism, epigenetic modifications, microRNA profiles, and mitochondrial and ribosomal functions are altered in response to exercise training, leading to improved skeletal muscle, hippocampal, and cardiovascular function. Cross talk among the pathways underlying tissue-specific and systemic responses to exercise is also considered. The authors also discuss how the understanding of such molecular mechanisms may lead to the development of drugs that mitigate aging and disease. This volume will therefore serve as a vital reference for all involved in the fields of sports science and medicine, as well as anyone seeking to understand the molecular mechanisms by which exercise promotes whole-body health.




How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease


Book Description

This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.




Essentials of Public Health Biology


Book Description

Essentials of Public Health Biology explores the biologic mechanisms of diseases in both developed and developing countries. A detailed examination of the reciprocal relationships of genetic, environmental, and behavioral determinants of health and disease prepares students to analyze, discuss, and communicate biologic principles of disease.