This book provides the reader with comprehensive information on the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical features, prevention, and treatment of diabetes with the aim of empowering health care providers in their daily battle against the disease. Diabetes has been identified by WHO and the United Nations as a medical emergency because of the increase in its global prevalence, which may reach one billion in three to four decades if the trend remains unchanged. Despite improved care that is helping to prolong life, diabetes impacts substantially on the quality of...

This book presents the state of the art in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapy of hypothalamic and pituitary disorders. After an introduction devoted to the physiology of the neuroendocrine control of the hypothalamic-pituitary unit, the diverse disorders involving hormonal excess or deficiency are systematically addressed axis by axis. For each disorder, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management are discussed in detail. In addition, individual chapters focus on the neuroendocrinology of energy homeostasis and of bone metabolism, metabolic derangement secondary to...

This book presents the latest advances in knowledge of the pathogenesis of thyroid diseases and describes the state of the art in their diagnosis and treatment, including newly emerging management approaches. After an opening section that addresses thyroid physiology and laboratory evaluation, each of the major thyroid diseases and their subtypes is discussed, covering goiter and thyroid nodule, thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis, and thyroid carcinoma. Other conditions that affect thyroid function or induce thyroid dysfunction are also considered, e.g.,...

This book presents the latest advances in our understanding of the pathophysiologic basis that induces the chronic positive energy balance necessary to progressively store excessive amounts of fat mass. It highlights the clinical complications of obesity, while also focusing on the major scientific advances that have highlighted the role of genetics, adipose tissue endocrinology and the environment in the mechanisms and causes of obesity. Particular attention is given to the consequences of obesity, including an ever -increasing number of other diseases such as type 2 diabetes,...