The burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on the public health care system continues to remain significant despite the remarkable progress made in HCV therapeutics in the recent past. There are now almost a dozen oral interferon-free direct-acting antivirals available for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. Despite advances in the treatment of HCV, therapeutic gaps remain that are yet to be fully explored. Researchers and scientists still strive to understand virus-host interactions to map the disease's progression along with extrahepatic manifestations and virus invasion strategies impacting the host's immune system. This book briefly discusses the biology of HCV infection, virus-host interactions, molecular epidemiology of the infection, and the full spectrum of immune responses to hepatitis C. It also provides in-depth information about HCV, clinical diagnostics, and therapeutic knowledge to all stakeholders involved in HCV screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management. Topics covered in the chapters include 1) HCV-host interactions leading to asymptomatic acute infection, 2) the progression of acute HCV infection to chronic disease and subsequent extrahepatic comorbidities, 3) Innate and adaptive immune responses in HCV infections, 4) Consensus-based Approaches for Hepatitis C Screening and Diagnosis, 5) advances in hepatitis C therapy and global management of HCV, and 6) the outcomes of Oral Interferon-free Direct-acting Antivirals as Combination Therapies to Cure Hepatitis C. This book is a valuable addition to undergraduate and postgraduate hepatology students and physicians, clinicians, hepatologists, and health care officials involved in HCV clinical diagnosis and therapeutics.

This handbook provides an introduction to COVID-19 and herbal medications that boost the human immune system against SARS-CoV-2. The topics are covered in 7 chapters starting with an introduction to the disease, followed by notes on nutraceuticals and common herbal medicines that have therapeutic potential by enhancing the patient's immune response. Special topics such as COVID-19 risk factors and Indian traditional medicines are also included to supplement the contents. The editors have taken advantage of the vast body of knowledge accumulated since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Chapters are written in simple language with structured headings to facilitate a quick understanding of the subject. References are provided for scholars interested in further readings. The book is a quick guide on immune boosting medicines for a broad audience that includes general medical practitioners, nurses, caregivers, and public healthcare workers involved in clinics working in local communities.

Mitochondria are multifunctional organelles that actively participate in the immune-inflammatory response in various pathologies. This volume updates readers on knowledge about mitochondria function. The editors have compiled six chapters about inflammation in its broadest sense, with contributions from active groups of cell biologists, infectologists and pathologists. The chapters in this volume focus on research related to five notable diseases: (1) two diseases (one bacterial and one viral) in which the exacerbation of the inflammatory response can lead to neuropathies: leprosy (one of the oldest diseases in the world) and Zika fever (a disease relatively new in Brazil) (2) three diseases (two bacterial and one viral) in which the exacerbation of the inflammatory response can lead to irreversible lung damage that can cause rapid death: tuberculosis, pneumonia and the most recent global disease, COVID- 19. New information about mitochondrial biology is presented, such as the effect of aerobic physical exercise as a stimulator for mitochondria multiplication, and the role of mitochondrial damage in inducing immune-inflammatory responses to pathogens. The contents shed light on mitochondrial biochemical pathways that could serve as potential therapeutic targets. This is an important reference for scholars (cell biologists, microbiologists) in universities, hospitals and scientific research centers working on biological and biomedical problems, and for health professionals involved in infection control.

Occupational disease is an important public health problem of the 21st century. Occupational disease still accounts for many preventable illnesses and injuries in the workplace. It is important to incorporate modern knowledge of disease epidemiology and cutting-edge diagnostic methods and treatment with the most recent developments in the management and prevention methods to better control work-related diseases and injuries. This book covers a selection of the common occupational diseases and injuries. It offers accurate, current information on the history, causes, diagnosis, management and prevention of several occupational diseases. Key features: - 14 chapters contributed by more than 30 experts in occupational and preventive medicine - Comprehensive treatment of the history, causes, diagnosis, management and prevention of many important occupational diseases (including asbestosis, silicosis, work-related asthma, occupational cancer, mesothelioma, arsenic, and other diseases.). - Each chapter highlights the latest research findings and cutting-edge technologies - References for further reading Modern Occupational Diseases: Diagnosis, Epidemiology, Management and Prevention serves as a useful guide for all readers interested in occupational diseases. The suggested readership includes trainees in occupational medicine, general practitioners, medical students, graduate students in public health programs, occupational health nurses, and professionals involved in occupational health and safety roles at public and private levels.

This book focuses on the physiology and molecular biology of the front and back regions of the eye. Specifically, the chapters of this book cover topics that explain currently less understood aspects of retinal health as well as the use of zebrafish models to understand the molecular pathogenesis of associated diseases. This includes retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy ciliopathies in the eye, rhodopsin trafficking and associated disorders, and the biochemistry of cone defects. This book serves as a useful reference for scientists and graduate students seeking to understand protein trafficking mechanisms and metabolic control in retinal diseases.

Today, treatment options for cancer patients typically include surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. While these therapies have saved lives and reduced pain and suffering, cancer still takes millions of lives every year around the world. Researchers are now developing advanced therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination nanotechnology for drug delivery. In addition, the identification of new biomarkers will potentiate early-stage diagnosis. Molecular Targets and Cancer presents information about cancer diagnosis and therapy in a simple way. It covers several aspects of the topic with updated information on par with medical board levels. The book features contributions from experts and includes an overview of cancer from basic biology and pathology, classifications, surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, types of cancer, treatment and prognosis. The first part of this book introduces the reader to cancer epidemiology, genetic alterations in cancer, exogenous and endogenous factors in carcinogenesis, roles for growth factors in cancer progression, cell signaling in cancer, transcription factors in cancer, and cancer genetics and epigenetics. This comprehensive guide is a valuable resource for oncologists, researchers, and all medical professionals who work in cancer care and research.

Today, treatment options for cancer patients typically include surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. While these therapies have saved lives and reduced pain and suffering, cancer still takes millions of lives every year around the world. Researchers are now developing advanced therapeutic strategies such as immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination nanotechnology for drug delivery. In addition, the identification of new biomarkers will potentiate early-stage diagnosis. Molecular Targets and Cancer presents information about cancer diagnosis and therapy in a simple way. It covers several aspects of the topic with updated information on par with medical board levels. The book features contributions from experts and includes an overview of cancer from basic biology and pathology, classifications, surveillance, prevention, diagnosis, types of cancer, treatment and prognosis. The second part of this book discusses specialized topics in clinical oncology which include the pathophysiology of various types of cancer, cancer screening, different types of cancer surgery, cancer stem cell-targeted immunotherapy, nanotechnology for precision medicine applications in cancer and cancer surveillance. This comprehensive guide is a valuable resource for oncologists, researchers, and all medical professionals who work in cancer care and research.

This compendium represents a set of guides to understanding the challenging scientific, epidemiological, clinical, social, and economic phenomenon that is represented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The book explains the mathematical modeling of COVID-19 infection, with emphasis on traditional epidemiological principles. It represents a rigorous, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to a complex phenomenon. The chapters take into account the knowledge arising from different disciplines (epidemiology, pathophysiology, immunology, medicine, biology, vaccine development, etc.). It also covers COVID-19 data analysis, giving the reader a perspective of statistics and data science, and includes a discussion about social and economic issues of the pandemic. Each chapter is devoted to a specific topic, and is contributed by experts in epidemiology. Because of its multidisciplinary nature, this book is intended as a reference on mathematical models and basic immunotherapy for COVID-19 for a broad community of readers, from scholars who have scientific training, to general readers who have an interest in the disease.

Natural Immunomodulators: Promising Therapy for Disease Management discusses the use of natural immunomodulators as a promising therapy for managing various diseases. The book begins with an introduction to the immune system and the ways in which it can be modulated. This is followed by a discussion on the various diseases and disorders associated with the immune system, including autoimmune disorders, allergies, and immune deficiency conditions. The natural sources of immunomodulators, including plants, herbs, and other natural substances is also explained along with the importance of standardizing natural immunomodulator drugs, including the methods used to ensure their quality and consistency. The book also delves into the chemistry and analytical techniques used to study immunomodulators, clinical and pre-clinical bioassays. The next couple of chapters focus on the use of natural immunomodulators in cancer, the therapy of cancer and infectious diseases. Drug delivery and the strategy and regulatory perspective for natural immunomodulators. The final 2 chapters round up the contents with information about synthetic immunomodulators and the future perspective for the use of immunomodulators in disease management. Natural Immunomodulators: Promising Therapy for Disease Management is a comprehensive guide to the use of natural immunomodulators as a therapy for various diseases, and is a valuable resource for professionals and students interested in this topic. The book is aimed at health care professionals such as medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and life science and nutritionist professionals, as well as students.

Recent Trends and the Future of Antimicrobial Agents provides a significantly expanded overview of the topic with updated research in a broader context on the development of alternative approaches against microbial infections. This part primarily describes the use of probiotics, chemically synthesized compounds and nanomaterials as antimicrobial agents. The first chapter describes the potential of probiotics for the restoration of gut microbiomes. Amongst various antimicrobial agents, the use of antibodies has recently been investigated as a potential remedy. A chapter on antibody-based therapy as an alternative to antibiotics has been included. Chemical synthesis has eased the development of target-based prospective drug molecules against microorganisms. Chemically synthesized cationic amphiphiles and amphiphilic nanocarriers as antimicrobial agents have been discussed with sufficient detail in two different chapters. Research and progress in Schiff Base-Metal Complexes and Metal-Organic Frameworks for their antimicrobial applications have also been described in two separate chapters. Independent chapters discussing the design, synthesis and antimicrobial applications of biogenic metal or metalloid nanoparticles, bactericidal QDs and MoS2-based antibacterial nanocomposites have fulfilled the aim of incorporating cutting-edge research in the areas of alternative antimicrobials. Also, a new-age approach to combat microbes, antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT), is discussed in the final chapter of the edited volume. This part intends to provide the readers with an updated and broad view of research and development in alternative remedial approaches against microbial infections. The contents cater to the information needs of professionals and learners in academia, industry and health services who aim to learn the most significant experimental and practical approaches towards finding alternatives to existing antimicrobial therapies.