1. Introduction Respiratory conditions, characterized by chronic airway inflammation and obstruction, represent a significant global health burden. Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the most prevalent obstructive lung diseases, affecting hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide and contributing substantially to morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditure. The pharmacological management of these conditions is a … Read more
1. Introduction Obesity is defined as a complex, chronic, relapsing disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that impairs health. The condition represents a major global public health challenge, with its prevalence having reached epidemic proportions in many nations. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving intricate interactions between genetic predisposition, environmental influences, neuroendocrine regulation, … Read more
1. Introduction Arthritis, derived from the Greek words arthron (joint) and -itis (inflammation), represents a heterogeneous group of over one hundred conditions characterized by joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and functional impairment. Joint pain, or arthralgia, is the cardinal symptom driving clinical presentation and therapeutic intervention. The clinical and pharmacological management of these conditions constitutes a … Read more
1. Introduction Back pain represents one of the most prevalent and economically significant musculoskeletal complaints encountered in clinical practice. It is a symptom rather than a discrete diagnosis, arising from a heterogeneous group of pathologies affecting the structural and functional integrity of the spine. The spine, a complex osteoligamentous structure housing and protecting the spinal … Read more
1. Introduction The kidneys are vital organs responsible for maintaining homeostasis through the regulation of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance, the excretion of metabolic waste products, and the production of hormones such as erythropoietin and renin. Disorders affecting renal function, encompassing both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI), represent a significant global … Read more
1. Introduction Thyroid disorders represent a prevalent category of endocrine dysfunction with profound systemic implications. The thyroid gland, through the synthesis and secretion of the iodothyronine hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), regulates fundamental metabolic processes in virtually every tissue. Disorders of thyroid function, which primarily manifest as hormone deficiency (hypothyroidism) or excess (hyperthyroidism), are … Read more
1. Introduction Among the most common and disabling types of mental illness seen in practice are anxiety and depressive disorders. Regardless of specialty, all practitioners need to have a basic understanding of these disorders, which are frequently comorbid, and their neurobiological consequences. This chapter reviews these disorders from a neurobiological and clinical pharmacologic perspective to … Read more
1. Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), represents one of the most significant global public health crises in modern history. First identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, the virus rapidly disseminated worldwide, leading the World Health Organization to declare a pandemic in … Read more
1. Introduction Cardiovascular disease represents a spectrum of disorders affecting the heart and vasculature, constituting the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. The conceptual framework encompasses conditions such as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and venous thromboembolism. The pharmacological and medical management of these conditions … Read more
1. Introduction Cancer represents a collection of related diseases characterized by the uncontrolled division and spread of abnormal cells. This pathological process, known as carcinogenesis, involves genetic alterations that confer a survival and proliferative advantage to a clone of cells, enabling them to evade normal regulatory mechanisms such as apoptosis and contact inhibition. The global … Read more