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Hyaluronan: Structure, Biology and Biotechnology (Biology of Extracellular Matrix #14)
by Alberto PassiThis book addresses the structural and biological properties of the extracellular matrix component and glycosaminoglycan polymer hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid, HA).The book discusses various aspects of HA biology, e.g., HA synthesis and degradation, as well as the role of HA in embryogenesis, development, and cell maintenance. The reader will learn about the role of HA in different tissues as well as its biological activities triggered by the interaction with different HA receptors. A closer look is had at the involvement of HA in human pathologies such as cancer, kidney fibrosis and wound healing. Biotechnological and biomedical applications for HA such as scaffold generation and drug delivery, including the novel synthetic sulphated HA are explored.This work will appeal to a wide readership within the extracellular matrix and hyaluronan field. It can serve as an introduction to the field for junior scientists but can also help senior scientists to gain a broader view of the field beyond their area of specialization.The series Biology of Extracellular Matrix is published in collaboration with the American Society for Matrix Biology and the International Society for Matrix Biology.
Hydro Saline Metabolism: Epidemiology, Genetics, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment (Endocrinology)
by Massimiliano Caprio Fabio Luiz Fernandes-RosaThis book provides an overview of endocrine diseases associated with alterations of salt metabolism, with a focus on clinical and pathophysiological aspects. It covers various topics in the endocrine control of salt and water homeostasis, such as neuroendocrine determinants of water balance, adrenal hormone biosynthesis, hormonal function in target renal cells, and dysfunction of hormonal target effectors in the kidney. It also features an update on the clinical management of these diseases, including new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Written by a combination of recognized and emerging experts in the field, this book is intended as a major reference work, not only for endocrinologists and nephrologists, but also for pediatricians, neonatologists, cardiologists, and emergency medicine and intensive care specialists, who can be faced with the management of endocrine diseases responsible of salt and water imbalance. The book is part of the SpringerReference program, which provides access to ‘living editions’ that are constantly updated using a dynamic, peer-review publishing process.
Hydrogen Sulfide in Kidney Diseases: A Novel Pharmacotherapy
by George J. Dugbartey Alp SenerThis book will be the first book that presents the beneficial effects of hydrogen sulfide in the treatment of various kidney pathologies. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas with a distinctive smell of rotten eggs, was known for over three centuries for its toxicity and death at high concentrations especially among agricultural and industrial workers. This is due to its ability to reversibly antagonize complex IV of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. However, studies over the past two decades have shown that H2S has risen above its historic notorious label and has received significant experimental attention as an endogenously produced gaseous signaling molecule that plays an important role in cellular homeostasis and influences a myriad of physiological and pathological processes at low concentrations. Its production is enzymatically regulated and has specific molecular targets. Several recent in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that at low micromolar concentrations, H2S exhibits important therapeutic characteristics that target multiple molecular pathways and thereby preventing the development and progression of several pathologies.This beneficial effect of H2S suggests that it may meet the demand for alternative and/or additional therapeutic agents against various renal pathologies in which reduced levels of renal and plasma H2S were observed. Interestingly, while the distribution of H2S-producing enzymes is tissue-specific, they are abundantly expressed in the glomeruli and in the brush border and cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the renal tubules and in the peritubular capillaries. This makes the kidney a rich source of endogenous H2S production. From pre-clinical and clinical perspectives, this book is topical and timely, and seeks to lay the foundation for future clinical applications of H2S in nephrology.
Hydrogen Sulfide: Chemical Biology Basics, Detection Methods, Therapeutic Applications, and Case Studies (Wiley Series in Drug Discovery and Development)
by Binghe WangHYDROGEN SULFIDE Covers H2S interactions, methods of detection and delivery in biological environments, and a wide range of applications Research on hydrogen sulfide (H2S) spans diverse disciplines including chemistry, biology, and physiology. In recent years, new materials and approaches have been developed to deliver H2S and related reactive sulfur species in various clinical contexts. Although many biological pathways involving H2S are complex, all are governed by fundamental chemical interactions between reactive sulfur species and other molecular entities. Hydrogen Sulfide: Chemical Biology Basics, Detection Methods, Therapeutic Applications, and Case Studies provides the foundation required for understanding the fundamental chemical biology of H2S while highlighting the compound’s therapeutic potential and medicinal applications. This book covers key aspects of H2S chemical biology, including the fundamental chemistry of reactive sulfur species; the measurement, detection, and delivery of H2S in biological environments; and the therapeutic and medicinal uses of exogenous H2S delivery in various pharmacologically relevant systems. Throughout the text, editor Michael Pluth and chapter contributors discuss the opportunities and future of the multidisciplinary field. Provides approaches for delivering H2S with relevance to biological and therapeutic applications Describes complex interactions of H2S with bioinorganic complexes and reactive sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen species Summarizes advances in available tools to detect, measure, and modulate H2S levels in biological environments, such as real-time methods for H2S fluorescence imaging in live cell and animal systems Helps readers understand known systems and make connections to new and undiscovered pathways and mechanisms of action Includes in-depth case studies of different systems in which H2S plays an important role Hydrogen Sulfide: Chemical Biology Basics, Detection Methods, Therapeutic Applications, and Case Studies is an important source of current knowledge for researchers, academics, graduate students, and industrial scientists in the fields of redox biology, hydrogen sulfide research, and medicinal chemistry of small biological molecules.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: Principles and Applications
by Manoj Gupta Indumathi SomasundaramThis book covers the hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in current recommended indications, emphasizing the mechanisms involved in the benefits of supplemental oxygen under high pressure. The physiological changes associated with high pressure and hyperoxic conditions are discussed in initial chapters, along with their physical basis governed by the laws of gas followed by the functioning of hyperbaric chambers and the safety precautions needed in operating them. Utilization of HBOT in indications such as wound healing, severe anemia, and burn injuries is thoroughly explained, along with the recommended protocol for HBOT administration. The final chapters present the contraindications of HBOT and its promising effects on aging and regeneration.This book is helpful to HBOT practitioners in understanding its underlying mechanism and major applications.
Hyperbaric Oxygenation: Mitochondrial Activity and Brain Physiological Functions
by Avraham MayevskyExposure of patients to a high oxygen environment is a standard treatment in a select group of patients. The development of oxygen toxicity must be avoided in those patients. This book describes the effects of normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen treatment of animal models on brain biochemical and physiological responses. This book provides a summary of our knowledge on the effects of hyperbaric oxygenation on mitochondrial activity in vivo, and other functions of the brain. A chapter covering the use of hyperbaric hyperoxia in patients’ brain pathology and care is also included. This is an ideal book for students, research groups, and clinicians studying hyperbaric oxygen and its connection to mitochondrial activity and brain physiological functions.
Hypermobility in Medical Practice (In Clinical Practice)
by Peter Beighton Neuseli LamariThis book provides a clear and concise guide to hypermobility in medicine and physiotherapy. Each chapter is written with a uniform style, including illustrations highlighting the clinical characteristics of manifestations related to hypermobility. Key topics are comprehensively covered throughout the book in the context of both medicine and physiotherapy. This book offers supportive information for practitioners who are seeking as single resource on the topic. Medical professionals, physiotherapists, physical educators, psychologists, nutritionists, occupational therapists, psychomotor therapists, and postgraduate students will find this book to be an essential guide in their daily clinical practice and research in the field.
Hypertension and Heart Failure: Epidemiology, Mechanisms and Treatment (Updates in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection)
by Giuseppe Mancia Guido Grassi Maria Dorobantu Victor Voicu Enrico Agabiti-RoseiThe second edition of this well-received book will offer both new insights into the intimate mechanisms of transition from hypertension to heart failure and clinical practice advice on the prevention and treatment of heart failure in hypertensive population. Heart failure is the result of the hypertension's effects on the heart and it is a growing public health problem, as it affects 20-50% of the adult population in developed countries. In this context the international scientific community is continuously struggling to develop better strategies in screening, diagnosing and treating hypertension and its deleterious effects. Thus, this field is continuously changing, with new important information being added constantly. A part of the book dedicated to diagnostics, comprising a chapter on new perspectives on multimodality imaging and a special chapter on diastolic dysfunction. The arrhythmic complications of hypertensive heart disease are discussed in two chapters on atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias respectively. Readers will also find new chapters regarding hypertension and heart failure in special populations such as cancer patients, young patients, pregnancy and patients with a history of SARS-CoV2 infection. This book is a useful tool for clinicians but also to the research community interested in heart failure and consequences of hypertension on heart who want to be up-to-date with the new developments in the field.
Hypnic Headache: Diagnosis and Treatment
by R. Silva-Néto Dagny Holle-LeeHypnic headache is a rare primary headache that occurs only during sleep with a prevalence of 0.07%. Diagnosis are challenging since patients do not show changes in neurological examinations or exams. This book covers essential topics on clinical aspects of hypnic headache, complemented by differential diagnosis, pathophysiology and treatment. It is based on all reports and case series on hypnic headache that have been described to date, totaling 348 cases. It also brings up-to-date information besides to the diagnostic criteria described in the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3). Written by authors with decades of experience, it’s divided into eleven chapters presenting the Historical aspects, Headaches classification, Epidemiology, Clinical characteristics in adults and children, Pathophysiology, Differential diagnosis, and Treatment. Hypnic Headache - Diagnosis and Treatment will be important not only for headache specialists, neurologists, but also for students and clinical physicians.
Hypnose in Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Medizin: Manual für die Praxis (Psychotherapie: Praxis)
by Dirk Revenstorf Burkhard Peter Björn RaschDas Buch hat sich inzwischen zu einem Standardwerk der modernen Hypnotherapie in allen Anwendungsfeldern entwickelt. Ärzte und Psychotherapeuten erhalten praktische Anleitungen für die hypnotherapeutische Behandlung einzelner Störungen und werden mit den theoretischen Grundlagen vertraut gemacht. Zugleich ist es ein Ausbildungsmanual für klinische und medizinische Hypnose und ist daher für Ausbildungskandidaten und für Praktiker geeignet. Für die Neuauflage wurden alle Kapitel grundlegend aktualisiert und überarbeitet. Aus dem Inhalt: Allgemeine Prinzipien – Induktionen – Allgemeine Methoden – Verhaltensstörungen, Neurosen, Psychosen, Persönlichkeitsstörungen – Schmerz – Psychosomatik – Hypnose bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. Die Herausgeber: Professor Dr. Dirk Revenstorf, Universität Tübingen. Dipl.-Psych. Dr. Burkhard Peter, MEG-Stiftung München. Professor Dr. rer. nat. Björn Rasch, Universität Freiburg/Schweiz.
Hypospadiology: Current Challenges and Future Perspectives
by Tariq AbbasAn increased incidence of hypospadias is found globally, and the current management techniques and research studies of hypospadiology face significant challenges and limitations. This book sheds light on the recent struggles encountered in hypospadias-related clinical practice and research methodologies. Various writings were incorporated by people on different disciplines linked to the overall phases of diagnosis and care of hypospadias patients. Special attention is given to new perspectives from different interrelated disciplines trying to overcome these obstacles. This book fills in a void in the new related discoveries traditionally given scant consideration in the currently dominated literature. It provides a useful source for the recent updates, ongoing controversies, and future research trajectories in hypospadiology, which benefits pediatric, plastic, reconstructive, and urology surgeons and trainees and helps examiners focus on updated materials.
Hypoxia in Cancer: Significance and Impact on Cancer Therapy
by Jagat Rakesh Kanwar Sukhes MukherjeeThis book reviews the central role of hypoxia in cancer initiation and progression. It discusses the mechanisms of hypoxia in chemoresistance, radioresistance, angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, metastasis, metabolic, and genomic instability. It also explores the potential of hypoxia in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The book provides an overview of hypoxia imaging, its biological relevance, and mechanism of action. It helps in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the regulation of senescence by hypoxia. It explores the contribution of hypoxia to immune resistance and immune suppression/tolerance and determines the hypoxia-responsive long non-coding RNAs in regulating hypoxic gene expression at chromatin, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional levels. Further, it presents the functional link between hypoxia and miRNA expressions and hypoxia-regulated miRNAs in cancer cell survival in a low oxygen environment. Lastly, it discusses the applications of tumor-on-a-chip technology for the understanding of hypoxia-tumor microenvironment. This book is a valuable source for oncologists and scientists working to understand the role of hypoxia in cancer and therapeutic approaches.
I Can't Save You: A Memoir
by Anthony Chin-QueeThe raw and gripping memoir of a Black physician who confronts his past mistakes and relationships as he learns to find his own path forward At first glance, Anthony Chin-Quee looks like a traditional success story: a smart, ambitious kid who grew up to become a board-certified otolaryngologist—an ear, nose, and throat surgeon. Yet the truth is more complicated. As a self-described &“not white, mostly Black, and questionably Asian man,&” Chin-Quee knows that he doesn&’t fit easily into any category. Growing up in a family with a background of depression, he struggled with relationships, feelings of inadequacy, and a fear of failure that made it difficult for him to forge lasting bonds with others. To repair that, he began his own unflinching examination of what it means to be both a physician and a Black man today. What saved him and his sanity was not medicine but storytelling: by sharing stories from his life and career, Chin-Quee learned how powerful the truth can be in helping to forgive yourself and others as you chart a new way forward. By turns harrowing and hilarious, honest and human, I Can&’t Save You is the fascinating true story of how looking within can change you and your life for the better.
I Will Leave You Never: A Novel
by Ann PutnamIn the middle of a perilous drought in the Northwest, an arsonist begins setting fires all around. It gives Zoe Penney nightmares about her home—seated right next to tinder-dry woods—rising up in explosions of fire, as well as haunting dreams of a little boy deep in the forest.Winter brings the longed-for rains but also a cancer diagnosis for Zoe&’s husband, Jay, which plunges the family into disbelief and fear. The children lean in close to their parents, can&’t stop touching them. As Jay&’s treatment begins, nature lets loose with strange and startling encounters, while a shadowy figure hovers about the corners of the house.First, Zoe&’s fear turns to anger: How can I love you if I am to lose you? How can I live in joy when the sky is falling? But she gradually learns that it&’s possible to love anything, even terrible things—if you can love them for what they are teaching you.
I'll Leave You With This: A must-read life-affirming story about family, loss and second chances
by Kylie Ladd'Heart-warming, uplifting, inspiring . . . a compelling read' GRAEME SIMSION'Told with warmth, compassion and humanity, I'll Leave You With This drew me in from the first page. Ladd blends depth and pace in this thought-provoking novel that is filled with hope and humour' JOANNA NELLThree years after the death of their beloved brother, all Daniel's sisters have left of him are their memories. They know he's helped others by donating his organs, but as miracles come true for the recipients, his own family are struggling with their devastating loss. When Clare suggests that they find the people Daniel's death saved, her sisters have their doubts. Will meeting them help to bring the sisters back together, or will old tensions and surfacing secrets splinter the fragile family ties forever?'Move over Jodi Picoult. Kylie Ladd creates ethical complications, then shows us both sides with uncanny insight into human nature. I inhaled this book!' FLEUR McDONALD'A page turner from the first to the last - I fell in love with all the characters and was gripped by the plot. Everyone will be reading this fantastic, heart-warming book. This is Kylie Ladd at her very best' SALLY HEPWORTH
I'll Leave You With This: A must-read life-affirming story about family, loss and second chances
by Kylie Ladd'Heart-warming, uplifting, inspiring . . . a compelling read' GRAEME SIMSION'Told with warmth, compassion and humanity, I'll Leave You With This drew me in from the first page. Ladd blends depth and pace in this thought-provoking novel that is filled with hope and humour' JOANNA NELLThree years after the death of their beloved brother, all Daniel's sisters have left of him are their memories. They know he's helped others by donating his organs, but as miracles come true for the recipients, his own family are struggling with their devastating loss. When Clare suggests that they find the people Daniel's death saved, her sisters have their doubts. Will meeting them help to bring the sisters back together, or will old tensions and surfacing secrets splinter the fragile family ties forever?'Move over Jodi Picoult. Kylie Ladd creates ethical complications, then shows us both sides with uncanny insight into human nature. I inhaled this book!' FLEUR McDONALD'A page turner from the first to the last - I fell in love with all the characters and was gripped by the plot. Everyone will be reading this fantastic, heart-warming book. This is Kylie Ladd at her very best' SALLY HEPWORTH
I'll Leave You With This: A totally heartbreaking and gripping page-turner
by Kylie LaddA totally heartbreaking but uplifting story about family, loss and second chances.Three years after Daniel was killed by a senseless act of violence, all his sisters have left of him are their memories - and responsibility for Daniel's mischievous dachshund John Thomas. Daniel donated his organs, his death facilitating life-saving miracles for other families, while his own loved ones struggle to come to terms with their devastating loss, each at a crossroads of her own: It's been twelve years since film director Bridie had a hit, and while she's still invited to glitzy media events, nowadays it is as her successful actor husband's plus one. Clare and her wife Sophie have been through four rounds of IVF and while Clare remains hopeful to keep trying, it may be at the cost of her marriage . . .Conscientious Allison looks after everyone. Her younger siblings, her children and the many patients she treats in her job as Chief Obstetrician at a big teaching hospital. But who's looking out for Allison?Emma is looking for love, but isn't having much luck on dates. And there's something she can't tell anyone, whether romantic prospect or even her family, about the real reason she quietly abandoned a musical career that she loved . . . When Clare suggests that they try to make contact with the recipients of Daniel's organs to honour their brother, not everyone thinks it's a good idea. It's a heart-wrenching process, but will meeting those that their brother saved help to bring the sisters back together, or will old tensions and surfacing secrets splinter the fragile family ties forever?(P) 2022 Penguin Random House Australia
I'm Unvaccinated and That's OK!
by Dr. Shannon KronerI'm Unvaccinated and That's OK! is the story of an unvaccinated child named Nicholas Novaks, who shares the many reasons why his parents have chosen not to vaccinate him. Nicholas explains his parents&’ personal concerns about vaccine injury, the importance of finding a doctor they can trust and openly speak with, the research they did before making this decision, and what life is like for an unvaccinated child who has an older, vaccine-injured sibling. Inspired by the personal stories of vaccine-injured children, which have been shared with Dr. Shannon Kroner over many years of working with special needs families, Dr. Kroner aims to raise awareness of the importance of vaccine choice and the necessity of doing the research before making an important decision such as vaccination. Join Nicholas as he shares what it means to be an unvaccinated child in today&’s world and why one's personal choice regarding vaccination must always be respected.I&’m Unvaccinated and That&’s OK! is published through ICAN PRESS, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing. ICAN (Informed Consent Action Network) is a nonprofit organization investigating the safety of medical procedures, pharmaceutical drugs, and vaccines while advocating for people&’s right to informed consent.
ICD-10-CM 2024: The Complete Official Codebook (ICD-10-CM the Complete Official Codebook)
by American Medical AssociationICD-10-CM 2024: The Complete Official Codebook provides the entire updated code set for diagnostic coding, organized to make the challenge of accurate coding easier. This codebook is the cornerstone for establishing medical necessity, correct documentation, determining coverage and ensuring appropriate reimbursement. Each of the 22 chapters in the Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is organized to provide quick and simple navigation to facilitate accurate coding. The book also contains supplementary appendixes including a coding tutorial, pharmacology listings, a list of valid three-character codes and additional information on Z-codes for long-term drug use and Z-codes that can only be used as a principal diagnosis. Official 2024 coding guidelines are included in this codebook.
IRC-SET 2022: Proceedings of the 8th IRC Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology, August 2022, Singapore
by Weizhi Meng Huaqun Guo Eyasu Getahun Chekole Umayal Lakshmanan Ian McLoughlin Peng Cheng Wang Jiqiang LuThis book highlights contemporary state of research in multi-disciplinary areas in Physics, Biomedical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science/Engineering, Life Sciences, and Healthcare. The accepted submissions to the 8th IRC Conference on Science, Engineering and Technology (IRC-SET 2022) that were presented on 6th August 2022, are published in this conference proceedings. The papers presented here were shortlisted after extensive rounds of rigorous reviews by a panel of esteemed individuals who are pioneers and experts in their respective domains.
Identity as Resilience in Minoritized Communities: Strengths-Based Approaches to Research and Practice (Emerging Issues in Family and Individual Resilience)
by Julie M. Koch Erica E. Townsend-Bell Randolph D. HubachThis book examines strengths-based approaches to understanding and celebrating diverse populations. It centers on understanding the ways in which minoritized group identities and membership in such communities can serve as sources of strength. The volume explores the varied dimensions of minoritized identities and challenges traditional concepts of what it means to be resilient. It presents research-based and innovative strategies to understand more thoroughly the role of resilience and strengths in diverse populations and families. The book addresses the need to consider affirmative, liberation, and strengths-based models of resilience.Key areas of coverage include:Families of transgender and gender diverse people.The role of chosen family in LGBTQ communities.Latinx LGBTQ families.The Indian Child Welfare Act.Celebration of Black girl voices.Homeschooling as a resilience factor for Black families.Black identity and resilience related to mental health.Black resilience in families.Identity as Resilience in Minoritized Communities is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians and related professionals in developmental psychology, family studies, clinical child and school psychology, cultural psychology, social work, and public health as well as education policy and politics, behavioral health, psychiatry, and all related disciplines.
Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis
by Hande Koksal Naim KadoglouIdiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis (IGM) is an uncommon benign chronic inflammatory condition of the breast, occurring most commonly in women of childbearing age with a higher incidence in certain geographical areas. The aetiology is uncertain and diagnosis is difficult; it is usually made by exclusion. The clinical and radiological features often overlap with those of other benign diseases of the breast in women, but also with those of breast cancer, which is why early diagnosis is necessary to allow timely intervention when required. Its evolution is unpredictable and there is currently no consensus on the optimal treatment for these patients.The aim of this book is to provide readers with an overview of the data available to date on this unknown and controversial disease. General surgeons, breast surgeons, general practitioners, internal medicine specialists, pathologists, radiologists, rheumatologists, immunologists and dermatologists will certainly benefit from this practical guide.
If I Betray These Words: Moral Injury in Medicine and Why It's So Hard for Clinicians to Put Patients First
by Wendy Dean Simon TalbotAn incredibly important and captivating book for patients, families, and clinicians detailing how we&’re all hurt by corporate medicine&“Wendy Dean diagnoses the dangerous state of our healthcare system, illustrating the thumbscrews applied to medical professionals by their corporate overlords… Required reading for all stakeholders in healthcare.&” — Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, author of When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical ErrorOffering examples of how to make medicine better for the healers and those they serve, If I Betray These Words profiles clinicians across the country who are tough, resourceful, and resilient, but feel trapped between the patient-first values of their Hippocratic oath and the business imperatives of a broken healthcare system.Doctors face real risks when they stand up for their patients and their oath; they may lose their license, their livelihood, and for some, even their lives.There&’s a growing sense, referred to as moral injury, that doctors have their hands tied – they know what patients need but can&’t get it for them because of constraints imposed by healthcare systems run like big businesses.Workforce distress in healthcare—moral injury—was a crisis long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but COVID highlighted the vulnerabilities in our healthcare systems and made it impossible to ignore the distress, with 1 in 5 American healthcare workers leaving the profession since 2020, and up to 47% of U.S. healthcare workers now planning to leave their positions by 2025.If I Betray These Words confronts the threat and broken promises of moral injury – what it is; where it comes from; how it manifests; and who&’s fighting back against it. We need better healthcare—for patients and for the workforce. It&’s time to act.
If It Sounds Like a Quack...: A Journey to the Fringes of American Medicine
by Matthew Hongoltz-HetlingA Pulitzer Prize finalist's bizarre journalistic journey through the world of fringe medicine, filled with leeches, baking soda IVs, and, according to at least one person, zombies. It's no secret that American health care has become too costly and politicized to help everyone. So where do you turn if you can't afford doctors, or don't trust them? In this book, Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling examines the growing universe of non-traditional treatments -- including some that are really non-traditional. With costs skyrocketing and anti-science sentiment spreading, the so-called "medical freedom" movement has grown. Now it faces its greatest challenge: going mainstream. In these pages you'll meet medical freedom advocates including an international leech smuggler, a gold miner-turned health drink salesman who may or may not be from the Andromeda galaxy, and a man who says he can turn people into zombies with aerosol spray. One by one, these alternative healers find customers, then expand and influence, always seeking the one thing that would take their businesses to the next level--the support and approval of the government. Should the government dictate what is medicine and what isn't? Can we have public health when disagreements over science are this profound? No, seriously, can you turn people into flesh-eating zombies? If It Sounds Like a Quack asks these critical questions while telling the story of how we got to this improbable moment, and wondering where we go from here. Buckle up for a bumpy ride...unless you're against seatbelts.