Evelyn B. Kelly – författare

Every day, newspapers and television news programs present stories on the latest controversies over healthcare and medical advances, but they do not have the space to provide detailed background on the issues. Websites and weblogs provide information from activists and partisans intent on presenting their side of a story. But where can students - or even ordinary citizens - go to obtain unbiased, detailed background on the medical issues affecting their daily lives? This volume in the Health and Medical Issues Today series provides readers and researchers a balanced, in-depth introduction to the medical, scientific, legal, and cultural issues surrounding gene therapy and its import in today's world of healthcare.Gene Therapy is organized to provide researchers with easy access to the information they need. Section 1 provides overview chapters on the background information needed to intelligently understand the issues and controversies surrounding gene therapy, such as the history of theories of the gene and recent developments in clinical trials. Section 2 offers capsule examinations of the contemporary issues and debates that provoke the most heated disagreements and misunderstandings, such as whether or not humans should tinker with genetic material and who pays for genetic therapies. Section 3 includes reference material on stem cells, including primary source documents from important players in the struggle over gene therapy, a timeline of important events, and an annotated bibliography of useful print and electronic resources. This volume in the Health and Medical Issues Today series provides everything a student requires to understand the issues involved in gene therapy and provides a springboard for further research into the issue.

Written for students and general readers, this comprehensive encyclopedia provides entries on the history, theories, symptoms, tests, treatments, and current and future research for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder—and the arguments relative to its diagnosis and treatment—have been prominent in health news for the last twenty years. In 2005, more than 100 physicians signed documentation in the medical community validating ADHD as a mental disorder. The Encyclopedia of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders traces the disorder’s history in detail for students and adults, identifying the people, places, tests, symptoms, treatments, and current and future avenues of research for this disease. Striking young children and with a ratio of 2:1 males to females, the symptoms of ADHD can persist well into adulthood, making education and a career difficult for patients. Whether researching the disease for personal or educational purposes, readers will find this encyclopedia provides a complete foundation in everything related to ADHD.A-Z organization makes it easy for the reader to find necessary information

This book explores what obesity is, its causes and implications for health, and the many issues and controversies surrounding it, both in the medical community and within society as a whole.Obesity is defined as the state of having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30. Although it may be easy to identify what obesity is, however, identifying its causes and effects can be more challenging. Genetic, hormonal, environmental, and behavioral factors all play a role in defining our weight, and the consequences of obesity go far beyond medical complications, to include impacts on psychological well-being and social health, and how we think about and address this growing epidemic has become just as controversial as it is important.This second edition of Obesity offers a wealth of new information and features. Coverage of genetic and hormonal causes of obesity has been greatly expanded, as has discussion of medications and surgical techniques to manage obesity. The book reflects our expanded scientific understanding of obesity and delves into medical and societal debates about weight that have emerged in recent years. Also new in this edition is a collection of case studies, each of which helps to make the topics discussed in the book more accessible to readers.

This accessibly written book explores the different types of stem cells, their current and potential future medical applications, and the many controversies that surround their creation and use.Whether from adults or embryos, stem cells have the potential to develop into many other types of cells—an ability that makes them potentially invaluable for curing a wide variety of diseases and disorders. And while some stem cell treatments are already in use today and have achieved remarkable results, the use of such cells continues to be clouded in controversy.This second edition of Steam Cells offers a wealth of new information and features. Coverage of research breakthroughs in the past decade has been added, including descriptions of recently discovered types of stem cells and stem cell therapies. In addition to addressing ethical and scientific controversies, the book also addresses issues such as the discrepancy between the public's expectations for regenerative medicine and current medical realities. Also new in this edition is a collection of case studies, each of which helps to make the topics discussed in the book more accessible to readers.

"An excellent and concise, yet clear and comprehensive, overview of a common disease." - Library JournalWhile some individuals with asthma consider the condition only a minor nuisance, for others it significantly interferes with daily activities and may even be life-threatening. This book offers readers a broad introduction to this common respiratory issue.Asthma is a respiratory condition marked by spasms, swelling, and excess mucus production in the bronchial passages of the lungs. This triggers coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. While asthma can usually be managed with medications and avoidance of certain triggers, it's a serious – potentially deadly – chronic disease.What You Need to Know about Asthma is part of Bloomsbury's Inside Diseases and Disorders series. This series profiles a variety of physical and psychological conditions, distilling and consolidating vast collections of scientific knowledge into concise, readable volumes. A list of "top 10" essential questions begins each book, providing quick-access answers to readers' most pressing concerns. The text follows a standardized, easy-to-navigate structure, with each chapter exploring a particular facet of the topic. In addition to covering such basics as causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options, books in this series delve into issues that are less commonly addressed but still critically important, such as effects on loved ones and caregivers. Case illustrations highlight key themes discussed in the book and are accompanied by insightful analyses and recommendations.

This book explores serious diseases and disorders that most readers have never heard of, ranging from genetic, infectious, and environmental diseases to autoimmune, idiopathic, and mental disorders.Despite centuries of scientific study and medical research, there are still many human diseases and disorders that remain difficult to manage or are incurable. Some of these maladies are extremely rare, yet, together, they affect a substantial number of people. The 101 Most Unusual Diseases and Disorders examines seldom-seen illnesses, providing high school and college students with an excellent resource for research as well as supplying fascinating reading for general readers interested in diseases and medical science.This book provides clear, easy-to-understand, and scientifically grounded information on the vast number of unusual medical conditions that have been recorded, covering five kinds of diseases and disorders: genetic, infectious, environmental, mental, and "other," which constitutes diseases of autoimmune and unknown origin. Examples of the medical conditions addressed include autoimmune encephalitis, Ebola, kleptomania, Morgellons syndrome, orthorexia, pneumoconiosis, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Selected case studies enable readers to better empathize with the experiences of those who have these disorders and how these afflictions have affected their lives.