Mast Cells And Mastocytosis

Mast cell activation is a central event in development of allergic disorders and contribute to pathogenesis of many other inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. Improved understanding of normal and pathologic mechanisms regulating mast cell differentiation, survival and activation may therefore lead to development of new therapies for these disorders. A number of important breakthroughs have recently been realized in our understanding of mastocytosis, a disorder characterized by pathologic mast cell growth and activation. Significant advances were made in such key areas as uncovering genetic basis of disease, establishment of objective diagnostic criteria, and emergence of novel treatment concepts based on its molecular pathogenesis. This issue of the Clinics brings together many of the experts who made these breakthroughs in mast cell biology and mastocytosis possible.

This unique book offers an in-depth, best-practices guide to diagnosis and management of mastocytosis, a too-often underdiagnosed disease. Mastocytosis: A Comprehensive Guide will open with a general overview and discussion of mast cell biology, addressing tryptase and other diagnostic markers in detail. Comprehensive diagnostic criteria and classification will follow, with special emphasis on commonly-seen related manifestations: skin disease, pediatric mastocytosis, gastrointestinal indicators, osteoporosis, anaphylaxis, venom and drug allergy, and pregnancy. Mastocytosis will be an ideal resource for not only the allergist confronted with this condition, but for a growing, multi-disciplinary audience of hematologists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, pediatricians, primary care providers and other clinicians who encounter this disease in their patients.

This book covers the most important aspects of Mast Cell Biology. It enables the reader to immerse in the new aspects of Mast Cells biology, which are no longer seen as an immunological effector cell, but a multi-functional efector cell. One which have roles that expands beyond the immunological realm and shows deep implications in the pathophysiology of several human disorders as well as transforming into a very important and promising target for therapy development in cancer, neurodegerative disorders, angiogenesis, inflammation and allergy. Across twelve chapter on Mast Cells Research, starting from the discovery and characterization of Mast Cells until the lastest findings and translational perspectives, the reader will get a complete view and a profound insight on the fundamental and applied aspects of Mast Cells Biology. The chapters are written in a clear and concise way in order to help navigating through complex biological scenarios. The author, Domenico Ribatti, Full professor of the University of Bari, is an expert in the field of Mast Cells with more than 800 publications.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics, guest edited by Mariana C. Castells, MD, is devoted to Mastocytosis. Articles in this issue include: New Insight into Clonal Mast Cell Disorders Including Mastocytosis; Cutaneous Mastocytosis in Adults and Children: New Classification and Prognostic Factors; Hymenoptera Anaphylaxis as a Clonal Mast Cell Disorder; Non Clonal Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: A growing body of evidence; Familial Tryptasemia Syndromes: Genotyping and Symptoms; POTS and EDS: Entities Associated to Mast Cell Activation; KIT Mutations: New Insight and Diagnostic Value; Patients’ Perceptions in Mast Cell Activation Disorders; Mast Cell Mediators of Significance in Clinical Practice; Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition in Mast Cell Activation Disorders; Gastrointestinal Involvement in Mast Cell Activation Disorders; Bone Marrow Expression of Mast Cell Disorders; Genomics and Proteonomics in Clonal Mast Cell Disorders; and Pediatric Expression of Mast Cell Activation Disorders.

Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine, Ninth Edition, offers a balanced view of the most current knowledge of cancer science and clinical oncology practice. This all-new edition is the consummate reference source for medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, internists, surgical oncologists, and others who treat cancer patients. A translational perspective throughout, integrating cancer biology with cancer management providing an in depth understanding of the disease An emphasis on multidisciplinary, research-driven patient care to improve outcomes and optimal use of all appropriate therapies Cutting-edge coverage of personalized cancer care, including molecular diagnostics and therapeutics Concise, readable, clinically relevant text with algorithms, guidelines and insight into the use of both conventional and novel drugs Includes free access to the Wiley Digital Edition providing search across the book, the full reference list with web links, illustrations and photographs, and post-publication updates

A cutting-edge collection of readily reproducible techniques for the isolation, culture, and study of activation and signaling in human mast cells. These methods take advantage of the latest advances in molecular biology, technology, and information science. They include methods for the identification of mast cells, the development of mast cells in vitro, the study of mast cell signaling and gene expression, and the measurement of mast cell expression of inflammatory mediators. Additional chapters cover methods for studying mast cell interactions with other cell types (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and B cells), the roles of mast cells in host defense, and mast cell apoptosis.