Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance


Book Description

Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance: Synergistic Tools to Better Investigate Drug Safety examines the role of pharmacoepidemiologic studies in drug development and its use as a prevention tool in pharmacovigilance activities. The book introduces the various epidemiologic tools and study designs commonly used for the surveillance of drug-related adverse effects and reviews the strengths and weaknesses of each. Criticisms surrounding pharmacoepidemiologic research and issues that often interfere or complicate the conduct and interpretation of these studies are also explored. Case studies illustrate the passive and active surveillance of adverse drug reactions in clinical situations, covering important pharmacoepidemiologic concepts like health risk management and safety. The book helps pharmaceutical industry groups engaged in drug safety, clinical investigators, medical evaluators and those seeking regulatory approval enhance the safety of the drug development process for all patient populations. - Describes the main prevention tools for the passive and active surveillance of adverse effects associated with drugs - Provides examples of diseases in various contexts related to clinical studies and the analysis of adverse drug reactions - Offers case studies that illustrate real-life clinical situations - Discusses important concepts related to pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance




Nucleic Acids in Innate Immunity


Book Description

Until recently, innate immunity was regarded as a relatively nonspecific system designed to engulf and destroy pathogens. However, new studies show that the innate immune system is highly developed in its ability to discriminate between self and foreign entities. Understanding this mechanism can lead to therapeutic strategies based on manipulation




Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis


Book Description

This book presents the current trends and practices in breast imaging. Topics include mammographic interpretation; breast ultrasound; breast MRI; management of the symptomatic breast in young, pregnant and lactating women; breast intervention with imaging pathological correlation; the postoperative breast and current and emerging technologies in breast imaging. It emphasizes the importance of fostering a multidisciplinary approach in the diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases. Featuring more than 800 high-resolution images and showcasing contributions from leading authorities in the screening, diagnosis and management of the breast cancer patient, Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis is a valuable resource for radiologists, oncologists and surgeons.




Better Doctors, Better Patients, Better Decisions


Book Description

How eliminating “risk illiteracy” among doctors and patients will lead to better health care decision making. Contrary to popular opinion, one of the main problems in providing uniformly excellent health care is not lack of money but lack of knowledge—on the part of both doctors and patients. The studies in this book show that many doctors and most patients do not understand the available medical evidence. Both patients and doctors are “risk illiterate”—frequently unable to tell the difference between actual risk and relative risk. Further, unwarranted disparity in treatment decisions is the rule rather than the exception in the United States and Europe. All of this contributes to much wasted spending in health care. The contributors to Better Doctors, Better Patients, Better Decisions investigate the roots of the problem, from the emphasis in medical research on technology and blockbuster drugs to the lack of education for both doctors and patients. They call for a new, more enlightened health care, with better medical education, journals that report study outcomes completely and transparently, and patients in control of their personal medical records, not afraid of statistics but able to use them to make informed decisions about their treatments.