Endogenous Toxins: Targets for Disease Treatment and Prevention, 2 Volume Set

Contrary to popular belief, a fair number of human diseases are not dependent on outside factors but are caused by molecules generated within our own body. These so-called endogenous toxins come in many varieties and can be due to malnutrition, an imbalanced diet, excessive eating or drinking, or genetic defects. There is now a growing awareness of these ever-present "silent toxins", which largely determine our risk of developing such chronic diseases as diabetes, metabolic syndrome or neurodegeneration.
Designed as a first-stop reference for researchers and professionals in toxicology, pharmacology and medicine, this handbook is the very first to tie together the knowledge from many disciplines that has so far only been available in widely dispersed sources throughout the primary literature. As such, it presents the complete picture on what is currently known about endogenous toxins, including their generation, mode of action, resulting disease condition, and available countermeasures.
Clearly divided into four parts, the first systematically covers important toxic molecule species, including metabolic intermediates and reactive oxygen species. The second discusses the role of genetically determined metabolic malfunctions, such as galactosemia, hyperlipidemia, porphyria, hemochromatosis and related conditions, while part three looks at acquired and chronic diseases caused or exacerbated by endogenous toxins, such as hepatic injury, asthma, rheumatism, colorectal cancer, reperfusion diseases, neurodegeneration and aging. The final part reviews currents strategies to control and minimize the effect of endogenous toxins, either by nutritional or pharmacological interventions.
With its complete coverage integrating molecular and systemic aspects from the biochemical basis to human disease conditions, this is an invaluable reference for toxicologists, biochemists, nutrition specialists and physicians.