Books to Get You Thinking
One of the great mysteries surrounding the functioning of the human body system is the intricacy of how the immune system works - today the study of the human immune system is one of the most important frontiers of medical scientific research. New insights are emerging that have a far reaching impact on how medicine will be practiced in the twenty first century, how clinical decisions will be taken in controlling disease progression. In the years to come, the developing science of immunotherapy holds the promise of identifying new treatments for fatal and debilitating diseases such as cancer, and auto immune diseases such as diabetes and arthritis through enhancing or restricting the activity of the body’s immune system. Available at the Mercer County Library System are several new books encompassing different facets of the immune system – the science underlying its working, the historical origins and advancements in the study of the immune system and today’s cutting edge research in this area as well as poignant personal stories of patients all of which make fascinating, inspiring reads!
An Elegant Defence: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System by Matt Richtel
Matt Richtel, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and New York Times Science reporter, pens this engaging and riveting medical narrative about the scientific discoveries and ongoing pioneering research focused on understanding the mechanics of the human immune system that has changed the way that medicine approaches many of the most serious diseases including cancer. Our immune system plays a critical role in maintaining physical wellness and fighting harmful pathogens entering our bodies through various interactions and activities. One of the remarkable outcomes of new research is the realization that serious diseases like cancer may be treated effectively through stimulating the human immune system. Based on deep seated research as well as numerous interviews with medical doctors and scientists specializing in the study of immunology, the author captures the extraordinary story of how our understanding of the immune system has evolved over the last two hundred years. Richtel interweaves the description of scientific advances with heartbreaking stories of four different patients fighting serious disease. The author provides a multifaceted narrative - at some level deeply personal, exploring the devastating consequences of cancer, HIV or auto immune diseases on the lives of patients; at the same time exploring the intricate mechanics of the immune system processes at a molecular and cellular level, and the ingenuity and grit of researchers who are breaking new grounds through technology and invention. Despite the vast scope of the book, the author through his cohesive writing, provides illuminating insights into one of the most critical scientific discoveries of our times.
The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer by Charles Graeber
Charles Graeber, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Nurse, and winner of the Overseas Club Award for Outstanding International Journalism, writes this timely book about the newly emerging immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The human immune system has evolved over the past five hundred million years as a natural defense against disease. Immune cells find their way into every part of the body, constantly on the lookout for foreign bodies that could lead to illness, then isolating, attacking and killing them - the mystifying question then is why the immune cells fail to detect and destroy cancer cells. Scientific researchers have discovered that the answer lies in mutant cancer cells that successfully trick and hide from the body’s immune system - and it is this discovery that defined a pivotal moment in the war against cancer. It has led to the development of a new class of drugs that are now aimed not at destroying cancer cells but instead focus on triggering the body’s immune system to fight against the cancer cells. The first class of immunotherapy drugs were called checkpoint inhibitors, specifically targeting the points at which cancer cells trick the immune system into not attacking them. At present only a handful of immunotherapies are available and only a small fraction of patients respond to these drugs but there exists immense promise and hope for the future and changed outcomes for cancer patients. The race for a cure continues with about 940 new drugs and 3000 patients in clinical trials as well as another 1,064 new drugs in the preclinical phase. Graeber provides a gripping narrative of the long journey in our fight against a disease that has for long defied us, interwoven with stories of both medical scientists and patients who got us to where we are today.
The Beautiful Cure: The Revolution in Immunology and What It Means for Your Health by Daniel Davis
Daniel Davis, Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester, bases this book on his research in the field, as well as on interviews with many scientists. He interweaves science and human stories to build a lucid analysis of the complexities of the human immune system, and the many discoveries that have the potential of transforming medicine. The immune system is programmed to fight against foreign matter through a multitude of different pattern recognition receptors, specialized cells proteins and hormones that work in perfect harmony such that the system is able to identify different bacteria - both that are harmful and those that are beneficial to the human system. By unlocking the mysteries that surround the working of the human immune system we can counter many diseases through therapies that directly target the working of the immune system. However this involves exact precision in the drugs administered, because if the immune system were to become overactive it would destroy healthy cells and tissues, and conversely if it was under active, the body would become susceptible to all kinds of germs. The book explores the connection between immunity and other factors that include the time of day and exposure to daylight, the amount of sleep and stress levels, ageing as well as the presence of a range of illnesses. The author provides a fascinating timeline of all the research and contributions of the many scientists and physicians that collectively led to the discoveries in immunology. The author also provides an overview of his groundbreaking research on how immune cells react when they make contact with other cells to decide whether they are healthy or diseased. Every research finding has often been a result of a lifetime of dedicated work but just a small piece in the intricate puzzle of how human immunology cells communicate and work together.
- Nita Mathur, West Windsor Branch
An Elegant Defence: The Extraordinary New Science of the Immune System by Matt RichtelMatt Richtel, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and New York Times Science reporter, pens this engaging and riveting medical narrative about the scientific discoveries and ongoing pioneering research focused on understanding the mechanics of the human immune system that has changed the way that medicine approaches many of the most serious diseases including cancer. Our immune system plays a critical role in maintaining physical wellness and fighting harmful pathogens entering our bodies through various interactions and activities. One of the remarkable outcomes of new research is the realization that serious diseases like cancer may be treated effectively through stimulating the human immune system. Based on deep seated research as well as numerous interviews with medical doctors and scientists specializing in the study of immunology, the author captures the extraordinary story of how our understanding of the immune system has evolved over the last two hundred years. Richtel interweaves the description of scientific advances with heartbreaking stories of four different patients fighting serious disease. The author provides a multifaceted narrative - at some level deeply personal, exploring the devastating consequences of cancer, HIV or auto immune diseases on the lives of patients; at the same time exploring the intricate mechanics of the immune system processes at a molecular and cellular level, and the ingenuity and grit of researchers who are breaking new grounds through technology and invention. Despite the vast scope of the book, the author through his cohesive writing, provides illuminating insights into one of the most critical scientific discoveries of our times.
Charles Graeber, the New York Times bestselling author of The Good Nurse, and winner of the Overseas Club Award for Outstanding International Journalism, writes this timely book about the newly emerging immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The human immune system has evolved over the past five hundred million years as a natural defense against disease. Immune cells find their way into every part of the body, constantly on the lookout for foreign bodies that could lead to illness, then isolating, attacking and killing them - the mystifying question then is why the immune cells fail to detect and destroy cancer cells. Scientific researchers have discovered that the answer lies in mutant cancer cells that successfully trick and hide from the body’s immune system - and it is this discovery that defined a pivotal moment in the war against cancer. It has led to the development of a new class of drugs that are now aimed not at destroying cancer cells but instead focus on triggering the body’s immune system to fight against the cancer cells. The first class of immunotherapy drugs were called checkpoint inhibitors, specifically targeting the points at which cancer cells trick the immune system into not attacking them. At present only a handful of immunotherapies are available and only a small fraction of patients respond to these drugs but there exists immense promise and hope for the future and changed outcomes for cancer patients. The race for a cure continues with about 940 new drugs and 3000 patients in clinical trials as well as another 1,064 new drugs in the preclinical phase. Graeber provides a gripping narrative of the long journey in our fight against a disease that has for long defied us, interwoven with stories of both medical scientists and patients who got us to where we are today.
Daniel Davis, Professor of Immunology at the University of Manchester, bases this book on his research in the field, as well as on interviews with many scientists. He interweaves science and human stories to build a lucid analysis of the complexities of the human immune system, and the many discoveries that have the potential of transforming medicine. The immune system is programmed to fight against foreign matter through a multitude of different pattern recognition receptors, specialized cells proteins and hormones that work in perfect harmony such that the system is able to identify different bacteria - both that are harmful and those that are beneficial to the human system. By unlocking the mysteries that surround the working of the human immune system we can counter many diseases through therapies that directly target the working of the immune system. However this involves exact precision in the drugs administered, because if the immune system were to become overactive it would destroy healthy cells and tissues, and conversely if it was under active, the body would become susceptible to all kinds of germs. The book explores the connection between immunity and other factors that include the time of day and exposure to daylight, the amount of sleep and stress levels, ageing as well as the presence of a range of illnesses. The author provides a fascinating timeline of all the research and contributions of the many scientists and physicians that collectively led to the discoveries in immunology. The author also provides an overview of his groundbreaking research on how immune cells react when they make contact with other cells to decide whether they are healthy or diseased. Every research finding has often been a result of a lifetime of dedicated work but just a small piece in the intricate puzzle of how human immunology cells communicate and work together.
- Nita Mathur, West Windsor Branch
Comments
Post a Comment