Molecular Basis of Health and Disease

Description

The book describes how the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules is related to health and disease. It is suggested that many diseases are initiated and their progress is influenced by inflammatory molecules and a decrease in the production and/or action of anti-inflammatory molecules and this imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules seems to have been initiated in the perinatal period. This implies that strategies to prevent and manage various adult diseases should start in the perinatal period. An alteration in the metaolism of essential fatty acids and their anti-inflammatory molecules such as lipoxins, resolvins, protecitns, maresins and nitrolipids seems to play a major role in the pathobiology of several adult diseases. Based on these concepts, novel therapeutic approaches in the management of insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune diseases are presented. Based on all these evidences, a unified concept that several adult diseases are due to an alteration in the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules is discussed and novel methods of their management are presented. Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Introduction....Pages 1-10 Health and Disease as Two Sides of the Same Coin....Pages 11-13 Inflammation....Pages 15-100 Essential Fatty Acids—Biochemistry, Physiology and Clinical Significance....Pages 101-151 Cell Membrane Organization....Pages 153-173 Low-grade Systemic Inflammation is Present in Common Diseases/Disorders....Pages 175-179 Obesity....Pages 181-238 Hypertension....Pages 239-275 Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolic Syndrome....Pages 277-332 Atherosclerosis....Pages 333-357 Osteoporosis....Pages 359-376 Alzheimer’s Disease, Schizophrenia and Depression....Pages 377-415 Rheumatological Conditions....Pages 417-464 Cancer....Pages 465-489 Aging....Pages 491-512 Adult Diseases and Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation Have Their Origins in the Perinatal Period....Pages 513-549 Clinical Implications....Pages 551-573 Back Matter....Pages 566-566