Pharmaceutical companies are spending increasing amounts of money on drug discovery and development. Nevertheless, attrition rates in clinical development are still very high, and up to 90% of new compounds fail in clinical phase I - III trials, which is partially due to lack of clinical efficacy. This indicates a strong need for highly predictive in vitro and in vivo models. The "50th International Workshop of the Ernst Schering Research Foundation" focussed on "Animal Models of T Cell-Mediated Skin Diseases". Such animal models should have impact not only on inflammatory dermatoses but also on other inflammatory disorders due to their model character. The current volume summarises recent advances in animal research that are important for anti-inflammatory drug discovery.

Because autoimmune disorders can wreak havoc in both humans and animals, these disorders are now the objects of intense and focused research. This book details specific animal models for a variety of autoimmune disorders. The contributors are recognized authorities who deal with the panoply of experimentally induced autoimmune disorders, including encephalomyelitis, allergic neuritis, uveoretinitis, myocarditis, and hepatitis. Also included are discussions of spontaneously appearing diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Many other disorders are also covered in this comprehensive guide. Certain to be an aid in the planning of individual experiments and broader research programs, this book will be a valuable addition to the library of all practicing immunologists interested in immune system function and dysfunction.

Handbook of Mouse Mutations with Skin and Hair Abnormalities presents 48 mouse mutations that are all available to the biomedical community. Many of the mouse mutations with dermatological diseases are reviewed and illustrated in detail. This popular reference book gives you a single source to use when determining which mouse mutation will best serve your needs as a biomedical tool for sophisticated research projects. The book also includes an overview of domestic animal genodermatoses to provide alternatives to mouse models that do not exist or to complement those that do. A detailed section written by renowned experts compares the biology of human and mouse skin and skin diseases in the areas of development and the use of animal models, mammalian genetics, keratin biochemistry, epidermal and hair follicle cycles and kinetics, cytokines and growth factors, keratinocyte culture systems, cutaneous carcinogenesis, cutaneous immune system, and skin changes associated with mutations of the endocrine system.

Practical and user-friendly, this is the ideal guide to the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis, helping you navigate a logical management pathway through a complex maze of possibilities. Psoriasis is a cruel disease that can seriously affect the sufferer’s quality and length of life. It is also highly idiosyncratic, with features that vary greatly from patient to patient; this being mirrored in the highly variable response to treatment. It is increasingly recognized that psoriasis is not a discrete disease and that many patients suffer two or three comorbid conditions that can complicate the efforts of doctors treating patients. Psoriasis: Diagnosis and Management will provide dermatologists of all levels with a practical, well-illustrated approach to fully understanding the disease, including clear, clinical guidance to enable best-practice and effective management of patients. In full color throughout and excellently illustrated, key highlights include: easily understandable description of the psoriasis pathogenesis; a strong emphasis on the clinical features of psoriasis; careful consideration of comorbid conditions as part of the psoriatic spectrum to be managed; coverage of both traditional and contemporary management approaches; plenty of diagnostic algorithms and management protocols to aid the daily practical care of patients. Brought to you by several of the world’s leading authorities on the subject, Psoriasis: Diagnosis and Management is an essential purchase for the dermatologist.

Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis provides extensive information regarding Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis (PM/DM), which is described as a heterogeneous disease complex. This book is divided into four sections: Part I (Clinical Features) covers the classification of PM/DM, details of the clinical presentation, and the disease's association with the other connective tissue disorders and malignancies. Part II (Etiology and Mechanisms) covers advances in the immunopathology and viral etiology of PM/DM along with a frequently recognized entity: inclusion body myositis. Part III (Diagnosis and Treatment) covers the histologic, muscle enzyme histochemical, electron microscopic, and resin histology features of PM/DM along with those electromyographic features that could help make a more accurate diagnosis. Part IV (Overview) summarizes the issues that may not have been clear and highlights differing and unsettled views or present available data. This text is directed to clinicians in private practice or in academic institutions concerned with PM/DM patients, including neurologists, rheumatologists, pediatricians, dermatologists, physiatrists, and neuromuscular investigators. This book is intended as well for neuromuscular pathologists who interpret muscle biopsy specimens and electromyographers who perform EMG studies to help determine the clinical diagnosis. Researchers in immunology and immunopathology of neuromuscular diseases will find discussions in this book invaluable.

A major objective of this open access book is to summarize the current status of Buruli Ulcer (BU) research for the first time. It will identify gaps in our knowledge, stimulate research and support control of the disease by providing insight into approaches for surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of Buruli Ulcer. Book chapters will cover the history, epidemiology diagnosis, treatment and disease burden of BU and provide insight into the microbiology, genomics, transmission and virulence of Mycobacterium ulcerans.