The immune system, the function of which is to protect against infections, is composed of two branches: a phylogenetically earlier one called innate immunity and a more recently evolved one called adaptive immunity. Innate and adaptive immunity are not two…
Introduction Pediatric rheumatology owes a great debt to meticulous clinical observations. In the 21st century, however, the practice of pediatric rheumatology requires skills beyond obtaining a thorough history and physical examination. In this chapter, we endeavor to build upon the…
Introduction Genetics is the study of the relationships between genetic variation (genotypes) and heritable traits (phenotypes). When these investigations are expanded to explore genotype–phenotype relationships across the entire genome, they are called genomics . Together, genetics and genomics investigations are…
Rheumatic diseases involve abnormalities of multiple organs and systems, but it is predominantly the musculoskeletal system that is affected. The musculoskeletal system consists of bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, and associated connective tissues. This chapter is an overview of…