Hyperandrogenism profoundly affects women’s lives from lowering self-esteem to changing cognition and affective motivation. The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common androgen excess disorder worldwide. While it is not the focus of this book, some aspects are discussed. The aim of this book is to improve understanding of androgen excess and its impact on several conditions. Topics include development of adipose tissue in females, insulin sensitivity, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and Cushing’s disease/syndrome. There is also a discussion of PCOS with emphasis on in utero origins and specific genetic and epigenetic factors. This book provides a wealth of relevant information for every endocrinologist and gynecologist who wants to broaden their knowledge of androgens in various conditions.
It is well known that acute, severe hyponatremia is a life-threatening situation. However, there is growing evidence that mild and chronic hyponatremia may also have negative consequences. Gait disturbances, attention deficits, falls and fractures, and bone loss have all been reported, with increased mortality in almost every disease state if the patient is hyponatremic. This book has been written by key opinion leaders in the field and covers a spectrum of crucial aspects of hyponatremia, including a historical perspective, physiology and pathophysiology of water homeostasis, epidemiology of hyponatremia, and clinical features. A detailed description of all available therapies has been incorporated, with a guide to a clinician’s approach to key therapeutic situations. Hyponatremia is a topic that encompasses all areas of medicine, so this book will be of interest to specialists such as endocrinologists, nephrologists and internists, but will also be a valuable resource for all clinicians who manage patients with hyponatremia.
This book is devoted exclusively to hyper- and hypoparathyroidism with a focus on clinical practice guidelines explained by experts in the field. The clinical, genetic, biochemical, and pharmacological aspects of the most common parathyroid conditions are discussed comprehensively. The 15 chapters review the various forms of hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism and present data derived from widely diverse sources. New therapeutic approaches for chronic hypoparathyroidism continue to pique interest in parathyroid diseases and show that more research must be done to optimize care. The aim of this book is to serve as a practical guide to clinical management of common parathyroid conditions and to disseminate knowledge useful to the clinic, both for specialists and general practitioners. Also, under- and postgraduates, specialist nurses, and non-experts in the field will find this book to be a valuable source of current information.
Hormonal dysfunction can have a major and often complex impact on all key components of the metabolic syndrome. This book comprises state-of-the-art reviews on the subject written by recognized experts in the field of endocrinology. Each chapter covers specific manifestations associated with the metabolic syndrome in classic endocrine diseases. Compelling questions are highlighted and future directions presented. The topics covered include hypopituitarism, adrenal insufficiency, acromegaly, glucocorticoid excess, androgen excess, hypogonadism, prolactin, and thyroid and parathyroid hormone abnormalities. This book is meant to inspire subsequent research related to metabolic complications in endocrine diseases, thus enabling early detection as well as prompt and appropriate management.
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent today not only among the elderly but pervasively throughout all ages of life.This is due, in part, to systemic diseases that affect vitamin D metabolism, to changes in lifestyle, such as insufficient exposure to sunlight, and to increased use of sunscreen. Apart from the obvious effects of vitamin D deficiency on skeletal metabolism, the problem is assuming even greater significance because observational and interventional studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. This book addresses a variety of important issues that have emerged from this fast-moving area of clinical medicine. The topics include assays of vitamin D and its binding protein, effects on aging and associated complications, primary and secondary states of altered parathyroid hormone secretion, vitamin D in the growing years of children and adolescents, nutritional requirements, and vitamin D as it relates to systemic disorders such as diabetes mellitus. Vitamin D in Clinical Medicine aims to offer new insights, in an evidence-based way, on important issues related to vitamin D. It is written for general practitioners and internists, as well as for endocrinologists, nutritionists, pulmonologists, cardiologists, and oncologists.