Was ever a foreword requested for God's words? It is not indecent to write a preface for Hugo's "Growing Mandible"? After training in the Jaw's Old Testament, Hugo is writing the New One that he taught for 40 years long. Indeed, the last decade has been fertile in mechanical gadgets which have made diagnosis and surgery easier, such as, accurate CT 3-D images, and absorbable plating or osteodistraction, which brings a fine touch to treatment timing in children. However, all of this does not encompass the intellectual process, basic principles, tactics and procedures.

For 20 years, KIGS (Pfizer International Growth Database) has provided an outstanding tool for monitoring the use, efficacy and safety of growth hormone (GH) treatment in children with short stature of varying origin. This volume offers a comprehensive update of the continuing experiences in KIGS and is based on data from more than 50 countries and more than 60,000 patients. International experts analyse in detail the basic auxological characteristics of patients and their response to GH treatment for a broad spectrum of growth disorders. These include idiopathic GH deficiency, organic GH deficiency due to a variety of causes such as congenital malformations and syndromes, genetic disorders or treatment for leukaemia or central nervous system tumours and short stature in children born small for gestational age, specific syndromes and systemic disorders. Each growth disorder is also covered by a review of relevant published data by international experts. KIGS has also established itself as a primary source of information about adverse events during long-term GH treatment in children. The recent analysis of KIGS data has revealed no new adverse drug reactions since the 10-year follow-up. Therefore, treatment with GH seems a low-risk intervention in children and adolescents with various growth disorders. The process of developing disease-specific growth response prediction models has been ongoing in KIGS for many years. The available models are accurate, precise and have a relatively high degree of predictive power, although further predictors of the growth response remain to be identified. The KIGS prediction models can be applied prospectively to new patients, enabling their GH therapy to be better tailored and monitored to achieve optimal growth, safety and cost outcomes. The future of KIGS within the era of evidence-based medicine will continue to depend upon the quality of the data reported. Therefore, the commitment of participating physicians will continue to be a decisive element. The ongoing recognition of the importance of valid safety and efficacy information in the practice of paediatric endocrinology is exemplified by this valuable international collaboration of clinicians and the pharmaceutical community.

Gigantism and Acromegaly brings together pituitary experts, taking readers from bench research, to genetic analysis, clinical analysis, and new therapeutic approaches. This book serves as a reference for growth hormone over-secretion and its diagnosis and treatment for endocrinologists, pediatricians, internists, and neurosurgeons, and for geneticists. Pharmaceutical companies may use it as a reference for drug development and research. Students, residents and fellows in medicine and endocrinology and genetics will also find it valuable as it provides a single up-to-date review of the molecular biology of gigantism and acromegaly as well as recommended approaches to evaluation and management. Acromegaly is a rare pituitary disorder that slowly changes its adult victim's appearance over time: larger hands and feet, bigger jaw, forehead, nose, and lips. Generally, a benign pituitary tumor is the cause and symptoms of acromegaly can vary from patient to patient, making a diagnosis difficult and prolonging suffering for years. Early detection is key in the management of acromegaly as the pathologic effects of increased growth hormone (GH) production are progressive and can be life-threatening as the result of associated cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory disorders and malignancies. - Accessible, up-to-date overview of the characteristics, state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, and management of acromegaly and gigantism - Provides a unique compendium of endocrinology, genetics, clinical diagnosis and therapeutics - Contains contributions from internationally known experts who have treated patients with acromegaly and gigantism

Understanding how cancer tumours develop and spread is vital for finding treatments and cures. Cancer Modelling and Simulation demonstrates how mathematical modelling and computer simulation techniques are used to discover and gain insight into the dynamics of tumour development and growth. It highlights the benefits of tumour modelling, such as discovering optimal tumour therapy schedules, identifying the most promising candidates for further clinical investigation, and reducing the number of animal experiments. By examining the analytical, mathematical, and biological aspects of tumour growth and modelling, the book provides a common language and knowledge for professionals in several disciplines.

It has been known for over 40 years that GH-deficient-children benefit from replacement with the hormone. But GH, essential for longitudinal growth, also plays a role after completion of final height. With the introduction of biosynthetic human GH 20 years ago, the use of GH was no longer restricted to severe growth retardation in hypopituitary children. This book will take the reader behind the myths of GH and into the real world of clinical endocrinology. The contributions stem from recognized clinicians and scientists who have been working in the field for decades. The contents encompass traditional end points of GH therapy such as body composition, bone biology and physical performance. Attention is also devoted to diagnostic aspects and side effects. Additional features range from clinical epidemiology to quality of life, and novel areas such as the impact of traumatic brain injury on pituitary function are also covered. The present volume of Frontiers of Hormone Research is essential reading for health care professionals interested in clinical endocrinology and GH.