The AJMS launches new series on 'Pathophysiology in Medicine'

Nov 18 2011

As scientific research delves into the processes underlying human disease, doctors are challenged to integrate these new discoveries into patient care. To help bridge the gap between basic science research and clinical practice, a new series on "Pathophysiology in Medicine" begins this month in The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (The AJMS), official journal of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (SSCI). The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

The November issue of The AJMS presents the initial "Pathophysiology in Medicine" topic: The pathophysiologic consequences of neurohormonal activation in congestive heart failure, authored by Preeti Dube, MD, and Karl T. Weber, MD, of University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis. Dr. Weber will also serve as Section Editor of the new series.

New Series Seeks 'Invigorating Discourse' between Disciplines
The "Pathophysiology in Medicine" series grows out of the SSCI's annual scientific session. This broad-based forum includes input from all internal medicine specialties, providing an interdisciplinary perspective on the pathophysiology of diseases and disorders. "Thinly veiled barriers, often hoisted unintendedly between discourses at specialty meetings, can easily be torn down and replaced with invigorating discourse between disciplines at the SSCI meeting," Dr. Weber notes in an introductory article.

The new series seeks to extend that spirit of cooperation through regular state-of-the art updates by senior clinician scientists. Each entry will present cutting-edge insights into the pathophysiology of a specific disease or disorder: from the latest subcellular- and cellular-level findings, to an understanding of organ-based physiology, to—most importantly—the clinical care provided by physicians.

"The objective of this new series will be to present new scientific insights of fundamental pathophysiology mechanisms as they apply to a clinical disease," comments David W. Ploth, MD, of the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and Editor of The AJMS.

Pathophysiology Discoveries May Lead to New Treatments for Heart Failure
In the first of a two-part article, Drs. Dube and Weber present new data on how examine the pathophysiologic impact of neurohormonal activation—hormonal responses "gone awry," which are responsible for the systemic and progressive nature of congestive heart failure. It's a topic of utmost interest to practicing physicians, as heart failure is the number one reason for admission to U.S. hospitals. "Alarmingly," Dr. Weber points out, "such patients all too often need to be readmitted for a recurrence of the very symptoms and signs that constitute this clinical syndrome and which caused their index hospitalization."

In the second part, appearing in the December issue of The AJMS, Drs. Dube and Weber outline the implications for developing new approaches to heart failure treatment. Understanding the effects of neurohumoral activation opens the "the hitherto unfathomable prospect for recovery" from congestive heart failure— including the possibility of reversing damage to the heart and other affected tissues.

In future months, the editors of The AJMS will invite leading experts to present regular contributions on topics of special interest. Dr. Ploth adds, "These contributions will provide integration of the recent advancements in our understanding of informatics, deranged genetics, or abnormal cellular or molecular physiology relate to disease processes."