This book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. ​This handbook synthesizes and analyzes the growing knowledge base on life course health development (LCHD) from the prenatal period through emerging adulthood, with implications for clinical practice and public health. It presents LCHD as an innovative field with a sound theoretical framework for understanding wellness and disease from a lifespan perspective, replacing previous medical, biopsychosocial, and early genomic models of health. Interdisciplinary chapters discuss major health concerns (diabetes, obesity), important less-studied conditions (hearing, kidney health), and large-scale issues (nutrition, adversity) from a lifespan viewpoint. In addition, chapters address methodological approaches and challenges by analyzing existing measures, studies, and surveys. The book concludes with the editors’ research agenda that proposes priorities for future LCHD research and its application to health care practice and health policy. Topics featured in the Handbook include: The prenatal period and its effect on child obesity and metabolic outcomes. Pregnancy complications and their effect on women’s cardiovascular health. A multi-level approach for obesity prevention in children. Application of the LCHD framework to autism spectrum disorder. Socioeconomic disadvantage and its influence on health development across the lifespan. The importance of nutrition to optimal health development across the lifespan. The Handbook of Life Course Health Development is a must-have resource for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in developmental psychology/science; maternal and child health; social work; health economics; educational policy and politics; and medical law as well as many interrelated subdisciplines in psychology, medicine, public health, mental health, education, social welfare, economics, sociology, and law.

This volume discusses the many ways to prevent, identify and control hypertension in African Americans, a common and potent risk factor for virtually all forms of cardiovascular-renal diseases. Comprehensive chapters address modifiable risk factors, such as lifestyle changes, especially sodium restriction, and appropriate combination pharmacotherapy. Emerging devices and evidence-based approaches that may also enhance effective blood pressure control and decrease the disparate cardiovascular disease risks, including MI, stroke, HF, and cardiorenal metabolic syndrome and diabetes are also discussed in detail. Written by a wide-range of experts in the field, Hypertension in High Risk African Americans: Current Concepts, Evidence-based Therapeutics and Future Considerations is a valuable resource for clinicians, researchers, health administrators and public health policy leaders to better understand the best practices and unique aspects of risk assessment and treatment of hypertension and co-morbid conditions in African Americans.

During the past decade, experimental and clinical studies have suggested that dyslipidemia may be an important risk factor for the progression of renal disease. This volume explores in great detail recent advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of this common complication of progressive renal injury. In the experimental investigations presented, emphasis is placed on specific disturbances of lipids that are seen in progressive renal disease including the effects of oxidatively modified lipoproteins and Lp(a) on various functions of the glomerular cells. Clinical studies have identified dyslipidemia as a risk factor for progressive renal disease in diabetes mellitus, various non-diabetic renal diseases, and most recently in patients with progressive renal allograft loss. An emerging interest in the genetics of dyslipidemia has recently arisen and this topic as it specifically relates to progressive renal disease is discussed. The final section of the book offers new insights into the mechanisms of action of antilipemic therapy used in the treatment of dyslipidemia. This volume should be read by all nephrologists caring for patients with progressive renal disease and by physicians interested in the biology of lipids, diabetes and essential hypertension.

An algorithmic approach to interpreting renal pathology, updated in light of recent advances in understanding and new classification schemes.

Chronic kidney disease with a worldwide prevalence of 10% in the general population is emerging as a major public health priority. Renal dysfunction is associated with a high risk for cardiovascular complications. The relationship between renal insufficiency and cardiovascular disease, termed the cardiorenal syndrome exists whether impairment of renal function is a consequence of primary renal parenchymal disease or primary heart disease. Several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been postulated to explain the relationship between renal dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Recent studies indicate an integrated response of the vascular smooth muscles and glomerular mesangial cells to traditional and uremia related cardiovascular risk factors. Traditional risk factors can incite renal impairment and cardiac damage. As renal function deteriorates, uremia-related risk factors play an increasing role both in reduction in glomerular filtration rate and cardiovascular damage. Several uremia related factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, disturbed glucose insulin metabolism, microalbuminuria, phosphate retention, secondary hyperparathyroidism, myocardial and vascular calcification, hypertensive-uremic cardiomyopathy, inflammation, oxidant injury, and neurohormonal dysregulation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the cardiorenal syndrome. Recent data suggest that management of the cardiorenal syndrome requires aggressive control of traditional risk factors as well novel approaches to prevent or reverse uremia –related processes. This book provides a comprehensive update analysis of our current understanding of the cardiorenal syndrome including epidemiology, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and therapeutic approaches.