Comparative Physiology, Natural Animal Models And Clinical Medicine: Insights Into Clinical Medicine From Animal Adaptations

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This book describes a novel and unique approach to the treatment of human diseases based on the study of natural animal models. A natural animal model is defined as an animal group or species that possesses a set of biochemical/physiological characteristics which are natural and adaptive for that animal, but are quite abnormal for humans. For example, how is it that birds can tolerate blood glucose concentrations which in humans are associated with diabetes. The natural animal model is living proof that a biological answer to this question is available. By studying natural animal models, we can gain valuable insights into the treatment of various human clinical disorders. Covering a wide range of disorders, this book describes in detail how medical scientists can take advantage of all the "research" that nature has already performed over billions of years in biological problem solving through extensive animal design testing and selection.

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Comparative Physiology, Natural Animal Models and Clinical Medicine Insights into Clinical Medicine from Animal Adaptations This page intentionally left blank Comparative Physiology, Natural Animal Models and Clinical Medicine Insights into Clinical Medicine from Animal Adaptations Michael A Singer Faculty of Medicine, Queen’s University, Canada ICP Imperial College Press Published by Imperial College Press 57 Shelton Street Covent Garden London WC2H 9HE Distributed by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd. 5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224 USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601 UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, NATURAL ANIMAL MODELS AND CLINICAL MEDICINE Insights into Clinical Medicine from Animal Adaptations Copyright © 2007 by Imperial College Press All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the Publisher. For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher. ISBN-13 978-1-86094-782-7 ISBN-10 1-86094-782-4 Typeset by Stallion Press Email: [email protected] Printed in Singapore. JQuek - ComparativePhysiology.pmd 1 8/29/2007, 3:53 PM June 19, 2007 b484 fm Comparative Physiology, Natural Animal Models and Clinical Medicine This book is dedicated to the late Howard S. Frazier; mentor, teacher and friend. v June 19, 2007 b484 fm Comparative Physiology, Natural Animal Models and Clinical Medicine This page intentionally left blank June 19, 2007 b484 fm Comparative Physiology, Natural Animal Models and Clinical Medicine Contents Acknowledgements xi Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 xiii Diabetes Mellitus Introduction Blood Glucose Values in Birds Do Birds Suffer Adverse Consequences from a High Blood Glucose Concentration Anatomic and Physiologic Design Features Concluding Remarks and Future Research References 5 6 26 31 Chronic Renal Failure Introduction Metabolic Rate and Renal Function Nit