A concise and innovative account of clinical neuroendocrine disorders and the key principles underlying their diagnosis and management.

Clinical Neuroendocrinology, a volume in the Handbook of Clinical Neurology Series gives an overview of the current knowledge in the field of clinical neuroendocrinology. It focuses on the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. It integrates a large number of medical disciplines, including clinical endocrinology, pediatrics, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, clinical genetics, and radiotherapy. Psychological consequences of various disorders and therapies, as well as therapeutic controversies, are discussed. It is the first textbook in the field to address all these aspects by a range of international experts. - All contributors are recognized experts in the different fields of clinical neuroendocrinology - The book provides expanded coverage on hypothalamic mechanisms in human pathophysiology - The book includes current perspectives, diagnosis and treatment of pituitary diseases

Clinical Neuroendocrinology covers the clinical significance of the advances made in the understanding of relationships between the actions of neurotransmitters and the hypothalamic control of pituitary secretions. This book contains 24 chapters that examine the interactions of target gland secretions with the effects of hypothalamic and pituitary hormones. This book begins with a discussion of the physiological regulation and clinical applications of thyrotropin-stimulating hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone. The subsequent chapters are devoted to neuroendocrine aspects, secretion, regulation, and analysis of gonadotropin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Other chapters explore the regulations, tests, therapeutic implications, and clinical physiology of growth hormones and prolactin. This text also considers the chemical nature, brain pathways, mode of action, and clinical significance of other hormones, including corticotropin-releasing factor, melanocyte-stimulating hormone release-inhibiting factor, melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and related pituitary peptides. The remaining chapters examine the control mechanisms and pathophysiology of vasopressin, oxytocin, and neurophysins. Clinical neuroendocrinologists and researchers will find this book of great value.

Clinical Neuroendocrinology, Volume II discusses neuroendocrine science and its application to the analysis of human physiology and behavior. This book stresses the importance of the interrelationships between central and peripheral signals, neurotransmitters and neuromodulators, and target glands and peripheral tissues to ensure coordination of somatic and behavioral development and function. The ""centralist"" concepts of the importance of brain hormones are revised in this text, emphasizing that neurohumoral factors isolated from brain tissues, and initially considered to be primarily involved in the central nervous system regulation of the endocrine system, also exist outside the brain and spinal cord. This volume is valuable to neuroendocrinologists, but is also a good source for those involved in basic and clinical research and patient management.

Neuroendocrinology is a discipline which originated about 50 years ago as a branch of Endocrinology and that is now strictly linked to neuroscience. Volumes 181 and 182 of Progress in Brain Research provide a rapid view of the major points presently discussed at biological and clinical levels. The chapters have been written by top scientists who are directly involved in basic or clinical research and who use the most sophisticated biotechnological techniques. The volumes cover of the role of genetics in many endocrine-related events, like neuroendocrinological diseases and endocrine depenedent cancers (prostate, breast, etc,). Interesting information is also provided on possibile treatments of neurodegenerative brain diseases (e.g., Alzheimer and similar syndromes). - The best researchers in the field provide their conclusions in the context of the latest experimental results - Chapters are extensively referenced to provide readers with a comprehensive list of resources on the topics covered - Of great value for researchers and experts, but also for students as a background reference