Diagnosis and Description

Although, technically, the pathognomonic symptoms of major depressive disorder are low mood and decreased interest or pleasure (anhedonia), from a clinical perspective, the associated symptoms are often those that cause a person 

The diagnostic criteria for Major Depressive Disorder (American Psychiah ic Association, 2000) are  

For the diagnosis of major depressive disorder, a person must have either symptom 1 or 2, plus five out of nine symptoms, and these symptoms must occur most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks. Major depressive disorder is differentiated from other depressive disorders, including minor depression (dysthymia), recurrent brief depression, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood. 

Major depressive disorder has similar prevalence rates in various ethnic, racial, and cultural groups. Some studies have suggested variability of prevalence in some countries, but more transnational and hanscultural research is needed. 

The fifedme population prevalence for maj or depressive disorder in the United States is 5-12% for men, and 10-25% for w omen (Eaton et al., 1989 Blazer et al., 1998). Part of this discrepancy may result from the methods used in the surveys. Large-scale 

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In silico models will aid both the standardisation and individualisation of medical care. Standardisation of diagnoses, drug and device descriptions, procedures, etc. will make relevant information more readily and more widely available. On the other hand, advanced models will allow development of patient-specific procedures for diagnosis and treatment. This will move the focus from the treatment of diseases to the curing of patients. 

Organic acid analysis is one of the most challenging tests apphed to the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism. Several hundreds of compounds are excreted in the urine of individuals free of apparent disease, and the excretion of informative markers could be marginal depending on clinical status. Therefore, pattern recognition and descriptive interpretation are essential for proper utilization of this test. 

The main point to cover in the introduction is the purpose for the investigation. Each clinical study should have a significant purpose that will be fulfilled at the conclusion of the study. No clinical study should ever use a patient population without the specific goal of knowing more about a product and its benefit to the patient. Also included in the introduction is a description of the specific diagnosis and special patient characteristics for each disease to be investigated. 

The first description of zinc deficiency in a patient with alcoholic cirrhosis (B.L. Vallee etaf, 1956) has meanwhile been confirmed by numerous investigations. In cases where zincuria is initially elevated and subsequently reduced, the decreased zinc levels may be used for diagnosis and at the same time indicate therapeutic substitution. 

Huge advances have been made over the last 15 years in the research, development, application, commercialization and understanding of the mechanisms of action of nanoscale drug delivery systems. Many of these advances have had a spectacular impact on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of diseases. This is especially trae in the treatment of many cancers, and it is in the oncology field that the majority of the formulation advances have been made. Pharmaceutically, the most important nanotechnologies are exemplified and discussed below (see Table 39.10 for definitions and descriptions). 

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