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.




Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine


Book Description

Kenneth F. Schaffner compares the practice of biological and medical research and shows how traditional topics in philosophy of science—such as the nature of theories and of explanation—can illuminate the life sciences. While Schaffner pays some attention to the conceptual questions of evolutionary biology, his chief focus is on the examples that immunology, human genetics, neuroscience, and internal medicine provide for examinations of the way scientists develop, examine, test, and apply theories. Although traditional philosophy of science has regarded scientific discovery—the questions of creativity in science—as a subject for psychological rather than philosophical study, Schaffner argues that recent work in cognitive science and artificial intelligence enables researchers to rationally analyze the nature of discovery. As a philosopher of science who holds an M.D., he has examined biomedical work from the inside and uses detailed examples from the entire range of the life sciences to support the semantic approach to scientific theories, addressing whether there are "laws" in the life sciences as there are in the physical sciences. Schaffner's novel use of philosophical tools to deal with scientific research in all of its complexity provides a distinctive angle on basic questions of scientific evaluation and explanation.




Human Biology, Anatomy and Physiology for the Health Sciences


Book Description

The only title written for Canadian pre-health courses, Human Biology, Anatomy, and Physiology for the Health Sciences focuses on human-related biology topics such as cells, metabolism, evolution, and inheritance as well as the physiological systems. Class-tested, this text has been praised by students as clear, concise, and easy to understand. Author Wendi Roscoe has taken care to write a book that is truly engaging and relevant for students, using examples of diseases or conditions that help students understand how normal physiology can go wrong, while not compromising the depth and breadth of content required for an introductory course.




R for Medicine and Biology


Book Description

R is quickly becoming the number one choice for users in the fields of biology, medicine, and bioinformatics as their main means of storing, processing, sharing, and analyzing biomedical data. R for Medicine and Biology is a step-by-step guide through the use of the statistical environment R, as used in a biomedical domain. Ideal for healthcare professionals, scientists, informaticists, and statistical experts, this resource will provide even the novice programmer with the tools necessary to process and analyze their data using the R environment. Introductory chapters guide readers in how to obtain, install, and become familiar with R and provide a clear introduction to the programming language using numerous worked examples. Later chapters outline how R can be used, not just for biomedical data analysis, but also as an environment for the processing, storing, reporting, and sharing of data and results. The remainder of the book explores areas of R application to common domains of biomedical informatics, including imaging, statistical analysis, data mining/modeling, pathology informatics, epidemiology, clinical trials, and metadata usage. R for Medicine and Biology will provide you with a single desk reference for the R environment and its many capabilities.




Introduction to Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences


Book Description

This book aims to demystify fundamental biophysics for students in the health and biosciences required to study physics and to understand the mechanistic behaviour of biosystems. The text is well supplemented by worked conceptual examples that will constitute the main source for the students, while combining conceptual examples and practice problems with more quantitative examples and recent technological advances.




Radiation in Medicine and Biology


Book Description

This book focuses on the conventional and emerging applications of radiations, which include radio waves and ultraviolet and gamma radiations. It discusses new techniques in radiation therapy and the effects of ionizing radiations on biological systems. The applications of radiations in the synthesis and use of nanoparticles along with the effects of hypergravity indicate a new trend. The book offers a concise account of the latest studies carried out so far and shows the new initiatives to be undertaken in the field of medicine and biology. It covers the medical use of radiations, such as ferrous sulfate–benzoic acid–xylenol orange dosimetry, Co-60 tomotherapy, radio-electro-chemotherapy, and fractional radiotherapy, and radiobiological effects, such as the effects of cell phone radiations on human health parameters and the combined effects of radiations and hypergravity on plants.




Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences


Book Description

For courses in Introductory Statistics Real-world applications connect statistical concepts to everyday life. Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences uses a variety of real-world applications to bring statistical theories and methods to life. Through these examples and a friendly writing style, the 2nd Edition ensures that you understand concepts and develop skills in critical thinking, technology, and communication. The result of collaboration between a biological sciences expert and the author of the #1 statistics book in the country, Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences provides an excellent introduction to statistics for readers interested in the biological, life, medical, and health sciences. Also available with MyLab Statistics MyLab(tm) Statistics is an online homework, tutorial, and assessment program designed to work with this text to engage students and improve results. Within its structured environment, students practice what they learn, test their understanding, and pursue a personalized study plan that helps them absorb course material and understand difficult concepts. Note: You are purchasing a standalone product; MyLab(tm) does not come packaged with this content. Students, if interested in purchasing this title with MyLab, ask your instructor for the correct package ISBN and Course ID. Instructors, contact your Pearson representative for more information. If you would like to purchase both the physical text and MyLab, search for: 0134768345 / 9780134768342 Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences Plus MyLab Statistics with Pearson eText -- Title-Specific Access Card Package, 2/e Package consists of: 0134039017 / 9780134039015 Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences 0134748875 / 9780134748870 MyLab Statistics with Pearson eText -- Standalone Access Card -- for Biostatistics for the Biological and Health Sciences




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




Biology of Disease


Book Description

Biology of Disease describes the biology of many of the human disorders and disease that are encountered in a clinical setting. It is designed for first and second year students in biomedical science programs and will also be a highly effective reference for health science professionals as well as being valuable to students beginning medical school. Real cases are used to illustrate the importance of biology in understanding the causes of diseases, as well as in diagnosis and therapy.




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.