S. Karger, AG

Basics in dermatological laser applications.

Allemann (plastic surgery and hand surgery, U. Hospital Zurich, Switzerland) and Goldberg, a skin laser and surgery specialist, assemble 20 chapters for physicians new to the use of lasers in cosmetic dermatology. Dermatologists and surgeons from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and China discuss the history of lasers in the field; laser principles, tissue reactions, and safety; applications for ablative skin resurfacing, fractional photothermolysis, vascular and benign pigmented lesions, tattoo and hair removal, photoaging, scars, skin tightening, special considerations for darker-skinned patients, and at-home devices; and non-laser technologies and light-based systems like intense pulsed light, light-emitting diodes, and photodynamic therapy. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cartilage and bone development and its disorders.

For physicians, endocrinologists, and pediatric endocrinologists who treat patients with growth disorders, osteoporosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and skeletal dysplasias, Camacho-Hübner et al.(pediatric endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet and U. Hospital, Sweden) compile 11 papers that review bone and cartilage development, growth, and disease, and new treatment strategies, regulatory signals, and molecular mechanisms in relation to diseases affecting them. Contributed by researchers working in developmental biology, endocrinology, pediatrics, and other fields in Europe, the US, and Israel, the papers were drawn from the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology Fourth Advanced Seminar and cover areas such as the local regulation of growth plate cartilage, new perspectives on the use of stem cells and cartilage tissue engineering, chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, growth plate senescence and catch-up growth, endocrine regulation of longitudinal growth, estrogen signaling in growth plate cartilage, and methods to study cartilage and bone development. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Diabetes and the kidney.

The numbers speak: the rising incidence of diabetes means rising numbers of associated pathologies. This volume is devoted to the kidney and includes coverage of clinicopathological features of diabetic nephropathy, pathogenetic mechanisms, therapeutic approaches, and prevention. Editors Kar Neng Lai and Sydney C.W. Tang (both: U. of Hong Kong) have brought together 27 contributed chapters from an international roster of nephrologists. Clinicians and researchers will find discussion of epidemiology, genetics, obesity, progression of proteinuria, advanced glycation end products, angiogenic factors, the Kallifrein-Kinin system, clinical trials for renoprotection, intensive glycemic control and renal outcome, antifibrotic treatment, and kidney regeneration, among other topics (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Endothelin in renal physiology and disease.

For nephrologists, internists and other healthcare professionals, renal physiologists, molecular biologists, researchers, students, and scientists in drug research and development, Barton (molecular internal medicine, U. of Zurich, Switzerland) and Kohan (nephrology, U. of Utah Health Sciences Center) compile 21 articles reviewing experimental concepts, preclinical studies, and clinical data on the association between endothelin and kidney disease. Specialists in pharmacology, molecular biology, physiology, cardiovascular medicine, and nephrology in Europe, the US, and Asia cover the pharmacology, molecular biology, and physiology of endothelin in the kidney; the role of endothelin and endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) in renal disease, including renal inflammation and hypertension, sickle cell disease, and polycystic kidney disease; and the current state of clinical development of ERA therapy in renal medicine, such as for those with resistant hypertension and hypertension nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Healthy agriculture, healthy nutrition, healthy people.

Simopoulos (Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health) brings together 28 selected papers, a keynote speech, and an action plan from the Inaugural Conference of the World Council on Genetics, Nutrition and Fitness for Health on "Healthy Agriculture, Healthy Nutrition, Healthy People," held at Ancient Olympia, Greece, in October 2010. An international group of specialists in health and medicine, nutrition, architecture, and sustainability addresses the importance and benefits of the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio in terms of the evolutionary aspects of diet, various aspects of health and disease, animal models, and specific national diets and dietary recommendations needed so that patterns are consistent with evolutionary aspects. They also discuss genetic variation, physical activity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer and the importance of exercise and nutrition; aspects of global warming and effects on health, including cardiovascular health, nutrition security and food safety, milk quality, and the role of the design community; and the roles of the government, international organizations, and industry. The volume is aimed at scientists in medicine, physiology, genetics, nutrition, dietetics, economics, architecture, and agriculture, and policy makers interested in environmental issues. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

High-performance membrane dialyzers.

Aiming to call attention to these dialyzers on a wider scale, Saito (nephrology and metabolism, Tokai U., Japan) et al. assemble 23 articles on all five classes of high-performance membrane dialyzers in Japan (which are now appearing internationally), their definitions and characteristics, kinetics of solutes, performance, clinical benefits, and basic investigations, as well as historical dialyzers and several membranes with special characteristics not categorized into classes IV or V. They discuss selection guidelines, performance in online hemodiafiltration, the preferred dialysis fluid, required water quality, clinical outcomes, albumin loss, the choice of dialysis modality, various types of membranes, and other topics, along with a table of commercially available dialyzers on the Japanese market. Contributors work in nephrology, engineering, and related fields in Japan and Europe. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Obstructive sleep apnea in adults; relationship with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

For clinicians and scientists in pulmonology, cardiology, endocrinology, and neurology, as well as sleep specialists and general practitioners, Lurie (sleep laboratory, Centre Médico-Chirurgical Ambroise Paré, France) reviews current knowledge on the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adults. He covers the definition, symptoms, and sequelae of OSA; diagnostic and treatment strategies according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; pathogenic mechanisms that may contribute to cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, and the effects of OSA treatment on them, such as inflammation, oxidative stress and thrombosis, obesity, alterations in glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, liver injury, endothelial and autonomic dysfunction, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmias. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)