Biologic Rhythms in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine

An investigation of the basic principles of chronobiology - nature's biological clock - and its application to clinical medicine. The contributors summarize the physiology and pathology of the human time structure and outline chronobiologic techniques for diagnosis and treatment.

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This volume demonstrates how important natural time cycles can be for diagnosis and treatment in today's clinical and laboratory medicine. The editors have gathered a group of specialists to review the role of biological rhythms in the normal and abnormal function of different organ systems. The 20 sections of the book, consisting of 46 chapters, cover everything from basic background information on concepts and methodology to biological rhythms in cells and organs. Important questions addressing practical issues are raised: how do people adapt their normal rhythms to shift work or night work?; how can travellers combat jet lag?; how do physical rhythms work with, or against, drug treatment?; and how can chemotherapy be timed to best combat a tumour?