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Everyone has heard of nature's "biological clocks", the phenomenon of periodic activity in plants, animals and humans. But what does chronobiology have to do with modern medicine? This book presents in a concise but comprehensive fashion the basic principles of chronobiology and their application to clinical medicine. The chapters are written by specialists in the field; they summarize the physiology, pathophysiology and pathology of the human time structure and outline the application of chronobiologic principles and techniques for diagnosis and treatment.
Everyone has heard of nature's "biological clocks," the phenomenon of periodic activity in plants, animals and humans. But what does chronobiology have to do with modern medicine? This book presents in a concise but comprehensive fashion the basic principles of chronobiology and their application to clinical medicine. The chapters are written by specialists in the field; they summarize the physiology, pathophysiology and pathology of the human time structure and outline the application of chronobiologic principles and techniques for diagnosis and treatment.
Introducing Biological Rhythms is a primer that serves to introduce individuals to the area of biological rhythms. It describes the major characteristics and discusses the implications and applications of these rhythms, while citing scientific results and references. Also, the primer includes essays that provide in-depth historic and other background information for those interested in more specific topics or concepts. It covers a basic cross-section of the field of chronobiology clearly enough so that it can be understood by a novice, or an undergraduate student, but that it would also be sufficiently technical and detailed for the scientist.
During the past decade many review papers and books have been devoted to descriptions and analyses of biological rhythms (chronobiology) in plants and animals. These contributed greatly to demonstrating the impor tance of bioperiodicities in living beings in general. However, the practi cal aspects of chronobiology with regard to human health and improving the treatment of disease have not yet been a major focus of publication. One of our aims is to establish the relevance of biological rhythms to the practice of medicine. Another is to organize and convey in a simple fashion information pertinent to health- and life-science professionals so that students, researchers, and practitioners can achieve a clear and pre cise understanding of chronobiology. We have limited scientific jargon to unavoidable basic and well-defined terms and we have emphasized illus trative examples of facts and concepts rather than theories or hypotheti cal mechanisms. This volume is divided into seven chapters, each of which is compre hensive in its treatment and includes an extensive bibliography. The book is organized to serve as a textbook and/or reference handbook of modem applied chronobiology. Chapter 1 describes the historical development of chronobiology and reviews why, when, and how major concepts were introduced, accepted, and transformed.
From the moment of conception until death rhythm is as much part of our structure as our bones and flesh. Most of us are dimly aware that we fluctuate in energy, mood, well-being, and performance each day, and that there are longer, more subtle behavioral alterations each week, each month, season, and year. Through studies of biological rhythms, many aspects of human variability - in symptoms of illness, in response to medical treatment, in learning, and job performance - are being illuminated. Already some of our changes of mood and of vulnerabilities to stress and illness, our peaks of strength and productivity, can be anticipated. Moreover, by the end of this decade, much that is still considered unpredictable in health and human performance may become foreseeable through research into the nature of biological time cycles. As a result, timing promises to become an important factor in preventive health programs and medicine. For example, since the effects of drugs depend in part upon the time of administration, timing may be used as a critical aspect of treatment. Evidence now suggests, too, that X-ray treatments, surgery, and even psychotherapy are influenced in their outcome by timing. Research on biological rhythms also promises to have an impact on problems of work performance - including accidents and absenteeism; a new concept of scheduling as part of health may one day influence the determination of work-shifts among transportation and communication personnel, and members of various professions. No corner of medicine - from the laboratory testing of new drugs and procedures to clinical and public health programs - is likely to remain untouched by the new explorations into biological rhythms. These studies are being made by scientists working with support from the National Institute of Mental Health, who have now joined forces with members of various disciplines ranging from biology to entomology and mathematics. The results of their work are provided in this comprehensive report. Contained here is compelling evidence that man is constructed not only of matter, but that he is temporally organized - and that this organization carries with it significant implications for man's mental and physical health. The National Institute of Mental Health has been fortunate to support some of the very few researchers who could lead the way in this new field, thus taking an initiative in an area that is still not widely acknowledged. It is hoped that this report - part of a continuing effort to analyze and evaluate the Institute's programs - will draw the attention of both scientists and laymen to an exciting and promising area of scientific activity. Bertram S. Brown, M.D. Director National Institute of Mental Health
Every aspect of immune function and host defense is dependent upon a proper supply and balance of nutrients. Severe malnutrition can cause significant alteration in immune response, but even subclinical deficits may be associated with an impaired immune response, and an increased risk of infection. Infectious diseases have accounted for more off-duty days during major wars than combat wounds or nonbattle injuries. Combined stressors may reduce the normal ability of soldiers to resist pathogens, increase their susceptibility to biological warfare agents, and reduce the effectiveness of vaccines intended to protect them. There is also a concern with the inappropriate use of dietary supplements. This book, one of a series, examines the impact of various types of stressors and the role of specific dietary nutrients in maintaining immune function of military personnel in the field. It reviews the impact of compromised nutrition status on immune function; the interaction of health, exercise, and stress (both physical and psychological) in immune function; and the role of nutritional supplements and newer biotechnology methods reported to enhance immune function. The first part of the book contains the committee's workshop summary and evaluation of ongoing research by Army scientists on immune status in special forces troops, responses to the Army's questions, conclusions, and recommendations. The rest of the book contains papers contributed by workshop speakers, grouped under such broad topics as an introduction to what is known about immune function, the assessment of immune function, the effect of nutrition, and the relation between the many and varied stresses encountered by military personnel and their effect on health.
The regular alternation of light and dark affects not only human biological systems, but also the social organization of behavior. The effect of such light modes is manifested in periodic changes in physiological functions and biological rhythms exhibited at every level of life. The book discusses some of the specificities of the circadian rhythms in living organisms and mentions aspects of the control of circadian rhythms as well as experimental and clinical cases that are closely related to circadian disruption. This book can evoke interest in many researchers who want to use this information for the advancement of their research towards a better understanding of the biological time structure.
Chronopharmacology is the study of time-dependent variations in the pharmacokinetics, effects, and side and toxic effects of drugs. After three chapters on basic aspects, the remaining 46 contributions cover various types of drugs and discuss the regulatory issues related to circadian mechanisms and the predictive aspects of the science. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Measured by any criteria, research in chronobiology in general and chronopharmacology in particular has expanded rapidly in recent years. This expansion has been paralleled by an increasing recognition by those outside the field of the relevance and significance of recent developments in chronobiology. Advances in two areas have been chiefly responsible. First, application of the full range of modern techniques in behavioral, neurochemical, and molecular biology have greatly improved our understanding of basic clock mechanisms. In several species the genetic basis of the circadian clock is being progressively delineated. A complete picture of the neurochemical and neuroanatomical structure of the mammalian clock is emerging and the complex pattern of control mechanisms involving endogenous clock mechan isms and photic and nonphotic zeitgebers is being built up as a result of behavioral studies. Secondly, in parallel with these exciting developments in basic science, clinical applications are being convincingly demonstrated in the general fields of pharmacology and medicine as well as in specific areas, e.g., jet lag, shiftwork maladaption syndrome, blindness, and cardiovascular system. It is therefore an opportune time to review progress in the field of chronopharmacology and to introduce some of the exciting developments and prospects to a readership beyond the confines of the chronobiological cognoscenti. This volume is therefore aimed primarily at the pharmacologist - whether basic, applied, or clinical-who is not a specialist in chronobiology.