In recent years, we have witnessed significant advances in obstetric anesthesia, providing greater safety for the mother and the fetus, as well as an improvement in pain management procedures during labor. This volume presents updates in obstetrics and gynecology that are reflective of the changes in the demographics and associated clinical presentations of gynecological pathologies. It compiles state of the art information on the subject in 20 chapters contributed by more than 50 experts in obstetric anesthesia. The main objective of this volume is to inform and update readers about the different aspects essential to the practice of anesthesia and analgesia during pregnancy, labor, cesarean section and puerperium. The contents also include information about the management of pregnant women with different pathologies and high-risk pregnancies. The authors believe that it is essential for all anesthesiologists to be aware of the latest advances and well-contrasted scientific evidence that will allow them to carry out their usual clinical activity. The volume approaches the subject in a clear and didactic way for the benefit of all professionals involved in this field, including anesthesiologists, gynecologists, obstetricians, surgeons, clinicians and allied healthcare service providers.

Awake thoracic surgery is a new surgical field that is set to expand in the near future. Employing sole epidural or local anaesthesia in fully awake patients renders many thoracic surgical procedures doable with less invasiveness and general anaesthesia related adverse effects can be avoided. This, in turn, facilitates fast track surgery and improves cost-effectiveness of treatment procedures. The book explains issues relevant to awake thoracic surgery including postoperative immunologic and stress-hormone responses, lung volume reduction surgery, pulmonary resections and thymectomy. This Ebook should be useful to readers interested in a comprehensive reference work on this intriguing minimally invasive surgical option.

Although the timeless quote of Alon Winnie (ASRA Founding Father), that regional anesthesia is simply an exercise in applied anatomy, rings true and will continue to ring true for many years to come, we now have a better understanding of the micro- and ultrastructure of the nerves and the anatomical features – membranes, fascia, fascial planes, and barriers – that surround them. With this understanding on an anatomical basis, anesthesiologists can now better appreciate the reasoning behind why pain blocks sometimes fail; or where the “sweet spot” of a nerve is and how to find it; or why epidural blocks are segmental while subarachnoid blocks are not; or why older patients are less prone to postdural puncture headache, and many more issues of regional anesthesia and pain medicine. The Anatomical Foundations of Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine is a textbook which explains the sensory function of each nerve in the human body in detail, including the motor function. The textbook also features detailed information on nerve sonoanatomy. This textbook is written and designed to convey practical working knowledge of the macro-, micro-, sono-, and functional anatomy required for regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine in an accessible manner through the use of detailed illustrations, (anatomical figures, diagrams and tables), with simplified legends and videos that allow readers to understand concepts – such as percutaneuous nerve mapping and nerve blockade access – in a dynamic manner. The extensive reference lists adequately complement the knowledge provided in the text. The book is essential for all medical graduates and training anesthesiologists seeking to understand the basics and detailed nuances of nerve anatomy and regional anesthesia.

The volume is a comprehensive documentation on major infectious diseases from tropical countries which pose a serious threat to global healthcare programs. These include diseases such as tuberculosis, AIDS, leishmaniasis (kala-azar), elephantiasis, malaria, leprosy, various fungal disorders and emergent viral diseases. Due to the widespread use of antibiotics, there is an emergence of drug-resistant pathogens in many regions. Hence, there is a need to search for novel, cost-effective bioactive compounds that demonstrate high efficacy and low toxicity in human cells from unexplored ecosystems to combat emerging drug-resistant pathogens. Chapters of this volume focus on the pathogenesis and etiology of each of the mentioned diseases, updated WHO reports wherever applicable, conventional drugs and their pharmacokinetics as well as new approaches to develop anti-infective agents. <p></p> The authors also present a detailed report on ‘superbugs’ (multi-drug resistant pathogens) and new measures being taken up to eradicate them. Information about new antimicrobials (bioactive peptides and silk protein sericin) and the approaches taken by scientists and healthcare professionals for successful targeting of these molecules for human medicine. This volume is essential for general readers, healthcare professionals, researchers, and academicians actively involved in research on infectious diseases and anti-infective therapeutic drugs. <p></p> [Series Introduction] <p></p> Frontiers in Anti-Infective Agents is a book series that focuses on current and new antibiotics and vaccines. The series highlights the challenges faced by healthcare workers around the globe when facing epidemics caused by life-threatening pathogens along with the measures being taken to combat these challenges. The series is essential reading for all involved in infectious disease research including microbiologists, medical professionals, epidemiologists, and life science researchers.

This volume of Frontiers in Anti-Infective Agents provides updates on the most recent studies about anti-infective agents, their mechanism of action, the relevant molecular targets and their implication in the development of novel antibiotics that have properties similar to their corresponding compounds of natural origin. The initial chapter covers the mode of action of natural antimycobacterial compounds such as nordihydroguaiaretic acid, α-mangostin and allicin, as well as antimicrobial peptides and their role in the innate and adaptive immune response leading to the decrease of microbial resistance. This is followed by updates on tuberculosis treatment concerning the immunological role of cells (airway epithelial cells, macrophages, neutrophils and T cells) along with their products (chemokines, cytokines) and other processes such as autophagy that influence the outcome of the host immune response to the infection. Contributors have also reviewed the latest knowledge in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that trigger a protective, immune response and the identification of the molecular targets for vaccine development, all of which are a key priority to develop control measures against Babesia species like Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Additionally, the neuro-endocrine and neuro-immune mechanisms behind host responses against stress and environmental stimuli during infections are also covered in separate chapters. The volume also provides updates related to Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis. The reviews presented in Anti-infective Research and Development provide timely updates for scholars and professionals associated with the field of antimicrobial research and development.

This concise clinical reference facilitates health consultants and professionals for determining treatment options for some common prenatal and postpartum infections during pregnancy and the puerperium in patients. Key Features - Presents 9 organized, easy to read chapters on anti-infective agents for pregnant patients - Covers pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of relevant anti-infective agents - Includes information on classification and safety of anti-infective agents - Includes treatment of urinary tract infections - Covers medications for sexually transmitted diseases, including a complete section dedicated to HIV medication - Provides information about vulvovaginal infections - Covers the treatment of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy - innovates with information about herbal remedies for infection for patients during pregnancy and breastfeeding Pregnancy and Anti-Infective Agents is therefore, a valuable handbook that enables quick consultation on safe antibiotics for the treatment of a variety of infections in pregnancy.

21st Century Challenges in Antimicrobial Therapy and Stewardship addresses selected topics that are of importance in the practice of infectious disease management. The text starts by illustrating the global landscape of antimicrobial drug resistance, which influences antimicrobial use and therapeutic decisions in the clinic. The contributors explain the reasons for the spread of antibiotic resistance, the pharmacology of antibiotics of different classes, innovative drug delivery methods which can improve the efficacy and safety of new drug candidates and achieve targeted drug delivery as well as drug resistance monitoring techniques and issues in the practice of antimicrobial stewardship and infection control. Key Features: - 14 organized chapters on several aspects of antimicrobial therapy and stewardship - Introductory knowledge on global antimicrobial trends - Coverage of molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance in gram positive, gram negative and fungal microbes - Focused coverage on new developments in antimicrobial drug development, drug delivery, formulation and diagnostic tools - Information on unmet needs of patients and clinicians, including the treatment of difficult infections - Comprehensive coverage of issues in antimicrobial stewardship 21st Century Challenges in Antimicrobial Therapy and Stewardship brings to readers &ndash; healthcare administrators, educators, pharmacists, clinicians and students, alike &ndash; the knowledge of the molecular basis of antimicrobial drug therapy, drug resistance in pathogens and current practices in antimicrobial stewardship programs. This knowledge, in turn, fosters an awareness among healthcare industry participants to collaborate in an interprofessional environment to combat multidrug resistance.

Anti-infective agents are a distinct class of pharmacologically important molecules that has served mankind in different capacities to combat life-threating pathologic conditions. They include antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antituberculosis, antimalarial and urinary anti-infective agents. However, evolutionary changes, adaptations and development of pathogenic microorganisms strains the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs thus limiting their clinical utility over the years. Frontiers in Anti-Infective Agents Volume 5 is a collection of notable research efforts, successful anti-infective drug development programmes and a comprehensive overview of the successes and failures of recent clinical trials in this domain. The volume covers interesting topics: 1) the treatment of acute wounds with the vikut&reg; formula, 2) anti-infective treatment of ocular diseases and 3) sars-cov vaccine development and antimicrobial therapy for SARS symptoms. A chapter summarizing recent anti-infective approaches rounds up the contents of this volume. This volume is a timely reference for postgraduate scholars and researchers seeking updates in specific areas of anti-infective drug development. Allied healthcare professionals (clinical and public healthcare professionals) can also benefit from the information presented within.

Anti-infective agents are a distinct class of pharmacologically important molecules that have served mankind in different capacities to combat life-threatening pathological conditions. They include antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antituberculosis, antimalarial, and urinary anti-infective agents. However, evolutionary changes, adaptations, and the development of new strains of pathogenic microorganisms have reduced the therapeutic efficacy of existing drugs, thus, limiting their clinical utility over the years. Frontiers in Anti-Infective Agents Volume 6 is a collection of notable research efforts, successful anti-infective drug development programs, and a comprehensive overview of successful and unsuccessful clinical trials conducted in this domain. This volume continues from the last one with interesting reviews on 1) “Reverse Vaccinology” for vaccination design using computational data to identify vaccine targets, 2) leptospirosis, 3) phage therapy for bacterial infections, 4) quorum sensing inhibitors from natural products, and 5) nitrogen and oxygen-based heterocyclic compounds that can act as anti-infective agents. The volume, therefore, covers a range of frontier topics on anti-infective research and development. This compilation is a timely reference for postgraduate scholars and researchers seeking updates in specific areas of anti-infective drug development. Allied healthcare professionals (clinical and public healthcare professionals) can also benefit from the information presented within.

Advances in HIV Treatment: HIV Enzyme Inhibitors and Antiretroviral Therapy presents comprehensive and updated information on drug therapies used to treat and manage HIV infection in human patients. The volume is organized in to chapters detailing respective classes of HIV Drugs including HIV entry inhibitors, reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs), integrase strand inhibitors (INSTIs), and protease inhibitors (PIs). Each chapter compiles background information, pharmacology and clinical aspects such as side effects on the specific classes of drugs represented. Available data for ongoing research for new targets, including vaccines is also presented. Readers will also find a useful introduction to HIV virology and pathogenesis as well as a comparison of the availability and activity of these agents in different populations, opening a discussion on the influence of genetics and resources in curbing the HIV epidemic. Advances in HIV Treatment: HIV Enzyme Inhibitors and Antiretroviral Therapy is, therefore, a holistic resource for researchers, healthcare professionals and clinicians interested in understanding antiretroviral drugs and the management of HIV infection/AIDS. The volume is also of interest to undergraduate and graduate students undertaking specialized courses in pharmacology and HIV/AIDS management.