Gene Therapy For Renal Diseases And Transplantation

Initially conceived as a strategy to remedy inherited genetic disorders, gene therapy has been successfully applied in the last decade to ameliorate the renal function compromised by progressive renal diseases and to prevent kidney allograft rejection in experimental animals. In the present book, world-renowned experts are presenting new insights into viral and non-viral systems used to effect gene delivery, one chapter being dedicated to the new field of RNA interference (RNAi). This latter method may be successfully used in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, trauma and transplantation. In the near future, gene therapy might also prove to be a new strategy to target molecules involved in tissue damage and inflammation processes that underlie ARF. So far, gene transfer has been successfully applied in experimental glomerulonephritis and interstitial fibrosis, and studies in larger animals are keenly awaited. Also covered are issues related to transplantation, which is the therapy of choice in many end-stage organ failures. Transfer of genes whose protein products have immunomodulatory properties have proven beneficial in treating acute and chronic graft rejection, one of the problems not satisfactorily solved by current anti-rejection drugs. Gene therapy thus may become a reality in clinical transplantation once its efficacy in larger animals has been demonstrated. Last but not least, a possible benefit of targeted gene therapy in renal cancer or HIV-associated nephropathy is explored. Covering a wide spectrum of topics, this publication provides a valuable overview of current developments and issues.

This title provides a comprehensive and state-of-the-art summary of current and future immunosuppressive strategies in transplantation, with emphasis on the basic science mechanisms and clinical applicability of these strategies. The uniqueness of this book is the inclusion of up-to-date information on the basic mechanisms of actions of the immunosuppressive drugs as well as a summary of the clinical trials data and the potential use of these drugs in clinical organ transplantation. In addition to describing the various immunosuppressive strategies, the book has three special features, including immunosuppression in xenotransplantation, gene therapy approaches, and transplantation tolerance. A group of outstanding investigators have been assembled to write the chapters. The book is intended for the transplant professional and the specialist who wants to stay abreast of the current status of immunosuppression in organ transplantation. The book is also useful for basic scientists who work in the field of transplantation immunology.

This text, the proceedings of the 32nd International Conference on Transplantation and Clinical Immunology, held in Lyon, France, on May 25-26, 2000, addresses novel issues in terms of changing indications for transplantation in the management of organ failure, whether humans will remain the only source for organ procurement, prospects for engineering in organ replacement, and whether transplantation will remain the most appropriate approach to organ failure. Some promising treatments are approached, such as enzymic and biochemical replacement, gene therapy, tolerance induction, stem cell transplantation, and xenotransplantation.

The contributors include physicians who practise uremia therapy since its conception to more recent graduates, along with surgeons, pioneers and physicians who are patients themselves, thus giving readers the broadest perspective. --

Renal genetic disorders may become apparent at any time in life and recognition of specific renal disorders is important in allowing accurate genetic counselling. Active counselling requires knowledge about the natural history of the disorder, an understanding of the genetic component and mode of inheritance, risk of the disorder in other family members, information about patient attitudes towards family planning and the possibility of pre-natal diagnosis. The Genetics of Renal Disease covers these issues in detail. The book provides a comprehensive account of both the hereditary nephropathies and more generalised disorders which may affect the renal tract. It includes comprehensive guidelines from an international group of authors on renal function and development, choromosomal disorders, dysmorphic syndromes, inherited predisposition to kidney cancer and gene therapy for renal cancer. Specific chapters deal with individual renal tract disorders such as an extensive discussion of Alport's disease, cystic renal diseases, the Bardet-Biedl and Alstrom syndromes. Each section gives a brief description of the clinical and pathological features of a particular disorder, followed by a review of the genetics of the disorder including incidence, inheritance of familial occurrence, genetic linkage and gene assignment, and prenatal diagnosis and carrier detection. Original studies are extensively quoted and are referenced at the end of each section. There are a great many dysmorphic syndromes which involve the urinary tract. These are incorporated within the book. Aimed primarily at clinical and medical geneticists, this book will also appeal to researchers into genetic kidney disease and genetic counsellors as well as nephrologists with an interest in this area.

This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. ​This handbook synthesizes and analyzes the growing knowledge base on life course health development (LCHD) from the prenatal period through emerging adulthood, with implications for clinical practice and public health. It presents LCHD as an innovative field with a sound theoretical framework for understanding wellness and disease from a lifespan perspective, replacing previous medical, biopsychosocial, and early genomic models of health. Interdisciplinary chapters discuss major health concerns (diabetes, obesity), important less-studied conditions (hearing, kidney health), and large-scale issues (nutrition, adversity) from a lifespan viewpoint. In addition, chapters address methodological approaches and challenges by analyzing existing measures, studies, and surveys. The book concludes with the editors’ research agenda that proposes priorities for future LCHD research and its application to health care practice and health policy. Topics featured in the Handbook include: The prenatal period and its effect on child obesity and metabolic outcomes. Pregnancy complications and their effect on women’s cardiovascular health. A multi-level approach for obesity prevention in children. Application of the LCHD framework to autism spectrum disorder. Socioeconomic disadvantage and its influence on health development across the lifespan. The importance of nutrition to optimal health development across the lifespan. The Handbook of Life Course Health Development is a must-have resource for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in developmental psychology/science; maternal and child health; social work; health economics; educational policy and politics; and medical law as well as many interrelated subdisciplines in psychology, medicine, public health, mental health, education, social welfare, economics, sociology, and law.