Publisher's Synopsis
The concept of physiology as the integrating force in biomedicine is apparent throughout this state-of-the-art book. The topics addressed range from the interdependence of hypothalamic functions and the nervous and immune systems to the prevention of inhibitory effects of anaesthesia on the maintenance of homoeothermia. Also discussed are the roles played by various modulators such as cytokines and neuropeptides and the effects of classical hormones and transmitters. Further important aspects include the actions of drugs on membrane permeability and on intracellular signal transfer, neuroendocrine effects of anaesthesia and thermoregulatory threshold changes in surgery, fever, menopause and diseases. The clinician will be particularly interested in recent progress in our understanding of fever.;This collection of reviewed contributions brings together the latest in biomedical research and clinical investigation. Primarily intended for research workers in the basic biomedical sciences, this volume should also be of interest to clinicians, particularly internists, immunologists, anaesthesiologists and surgeons.
