Critical Care Focus 10 Inflammation And Immunity

This issue of the critical care focus series addresses aspects of the immune and inflammatory responses relevant to critical illness. It includes overviews of neutrophil function, apoptosis, metalloproteinases and T cells. In addition, the concept of immune paralysis as a contributor to the mortality of sepsis is discussed, and a comprehensive report on the current thinking regarding glucocorticoid therapy. There is also an interesting chapter describing the 'killer within' - the way in viruses are able to modulate host immune responses to their own benefit.

The Janeway's Immunobiology CD-ROM, Immunobiology Interactive, is included with each book, and can be purchased separately. It contains animations and videos with voiceover narration, as well as the figures from the text for presentation purposes.

Most patients with critical cardiac or thoracic conditions will at some stage pass through the cardiothoracic critical care unit. Critical care presents more complex clinical data than any other area of medicine. Continuous monitoring makes diagnosis easy and further information can be easily obtained via a variety of diagnostic tools. Core Topics in Cardiothoracic Critical Care will guide clinicians from all disciplines in the management of cardiothoracic patients, demystifying the critical care unit and providing the key knowledge in a concise and accessible manner. The central section is a detailed discussion of the management of each physiologic system; additional sections cover admission, general considerations in cardiothoracic critical care, procedure-specific care, discharge and follow-up, structure and organization of the unit, and ethical and legal issues. All aspects of the overall care of the critically ill cardiothoracic patient are explained concisely and comprehensively by experts in the field.

Anaesthesia Science presents the scientific foundations uponwhich the clinical practice of anaesthesia and care of thecritically ill are based. Written on the basis that basic science underlies the practiceof anaesthesia Contributors include some of the world’s most eminentanaesthesiologists Provides coverage on less well appreciated aspects of thesubject, such as the microcirculation, multi-organ failure, and thetheory of pain Thoroughly integrates the clinical practice of anaesthesia withbasic sciences, providing all the information needed in oneconvenient source Based on the Fellowship of the Royal College of Anaesthetists(FRCA) syllabus and aimed at trainee anaesthetists preparing forthe FRCA, the European Diploma of Anaesthesiology and otherequivalent examinations.

This book explains how stress – either psychological or physical – can activate and/or paralyse human innate or adaptive immunity. Adequate immunity is crucial for maintaining health, both on Earth and in space. During space flight, human physiology is specifically challenged by complex environmental stressors, which are most pronounced during lunar or interplanetary missions. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the book identifies the impact of these stressors – the space exposome – on immunity as a result of (dys-)functions of specific cells, organs and organ networks. These conditions (e.g. gravitation changes, radiation, isolation/confinement) affect immunity, but at the same time provide insights that may help to prevent, diagnose and address immune-related health alterations. Written by experts from academia, space agencies and industry, the book is a valuable resource for professionals, researchers and students in the field of medicine, biology and technology. The chapters “The Impact of Everyday Stressors on the Immune System and Health”, “Stress and Radiation Responsiveness” and “Assessment of Radiosensitivity and Biomonitoring of Exposure to Space adiation” are available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.

This book brings together basic scientists or clinicians from a variety of different backgrounds - immunology, infectious diseases or critical care - who share a common interest in understanding the changes that occur in immune responses in sepsis. It provides an up-to-date and unrivalled synthesis of current research in this rapidly developing field.

Translational Inflammation links laboratory and clinical data within primary and secondary care to clinical research data and offers a holistic and innovative approach to chronic inflammation and ageing. Understanding the role of inflammation as a part of clinical disease states is becoming a valuable tool in both direct treatment and the development of therapeutics. Translational Inflammation, the 4th volume in the Perspectives in Translational Cell Biology series, offers content for professors, students and researchers across basic and translational biology. Emphasizes the role of inflammation in disease and therapeutic approaches Integrates broad concepts relating inflammation to other fields Offers a bridge to review literature and primary research on the inflammatory response towards medical application

The world population presents an increased percentage of individuals over 65 years old and the fastest growing subgroup is over 85 years old. The increase in life expectancy observed in the last century has not been synonymous with extra years lived in good health (disability-free years). Population studies have shown that as individuals age, they can present a great heterogeneity of ability and health. Therefore, aging has been associated for some individuals with disabilities and hospitalizations. Deaths related to infectious pathogens are increased in the aging population mainly due to pneumonia and influenza whereas Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, among other viruses seem to contribute to the low-grade inflammatory process observed (inflammaging). Aging is a complex and multifactorial process in which functions of the organism are adjusted (remodelled) in order to deal with damaging events during life. One of the most important changes in aging individuals occurs in the immune system (innate and adaptive responses) with consequences such as poor response to new infections and vaccinations; increased susceptibility to cancer development and autoimmune diseases; frailty, and organ dysfunction. In addition, it has been proposed that immunosenescence not only reflects the aging of the organism but also contributes to this process. Bone marrow presents decreased hematopoiesis, the thymus undergoes involution and lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen) also present reduced functionality. Therefore, cells derived, matured, or residing in these tissues decline in number and function. These changes have been identified in experimental models, in vitro conditions, peripheral blood, and biopsies via biomarkers such as cell phenotype, stimulus-induced proliferation, cytokines and antibodies levels. Telomere length and telomerase activity also decline in bone marrow-derived and peripheral blood cells and have been shown to play a role in immunosenescence. More recently, the investigation of short non-coding RNA molecules (microRNAs; miRNAs) pointed to this system as a possible control of aging-related mechanisms. Data obtained on these markers for aging individuals could lead to the generation of a marker panel for pathology prediction, to indicate interventions, and to evaluate the efficacy of interventions. Interventions such as nutrition supplements, exercise, vaccination (different dose, concentration of antigen, adjuvants) have been proposed to circumvent age-related diseases. Considering the heterogeneity in the aging process, further investigation is vital before the indication of interventions for aging individuals. As the extension of life expectancy is a reality, it is a challenge to understand how the aging population copes with the remodelling of the organism and how interventions could provide longevity in good health.