E-raamat: Itch: Mechanisms and Treatment

Carstens and Akiyama edit this volume on the physiology, precipitating conditions, and treatment of itch. The leading chapters review the history of models of itch and its epidemiology. Pathogenesis and treatment of a number of pruritic conditions is then discussed, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, renal disease, cholestasis, neuropathy, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The book then turns to fundamental mechanisms, beginning with a chapter on pruriceptors and moving on to neurological and hormonal mediators, including histamine, PAR-2, Mrgprs, interleukins, toll-like receptors, lipids, transient receptor potentials, nerve growth factor, opioids, spinal coding, and glutamate. The last several contributions focus on central processing of itch and sensitization processes. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com) Advances in itch research have elucidated differences between itch and pain but have also blurred the distinction between them. There is a long debate about how somatic sensations including touch, pain, itch, and temperature sensitivity are encoded by the nervous system. Research suggests that each sensory modality is processed along a fixed, direct-line communication system from the skin to the brain.Itch: Mechanisms and Treatment presents a timely update on all aspects of itch research and the clinical treatment of itch that accompanies many dermatological conditions including psoriasis, neuropathic itch, cutaneous t-cells lymphomas, and systemic diseases such as kidney and liver disease and cancer.Composed of contributions from distinguished researchers around the world, the book explores topics such as:Neuropathic itchPeripheral neuronal mechanism of itchThe role of PAR-2 in neuroimmune communication and itchMrgprs as itch receptorsThe role of interleukin-31 and oncostatin M in itch and neuroimmune communicationSpinal coding of itch and painSpinal microcircuits and the regulation of itchExamining new findings on cellular and molecular mechanisms, the book is a compendium of the most current research on itch, its prevalence in society, and the problems associated with treatment.