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Never Bet Against Occam: Mast Cell Activation Disease and the Modern Epidemics of Chronic Illness and Medical Complexity
Contributor(s): Afrin, Lawrence B. (Author), Neilsen Myles, Kendra (Editor), Posival, Kristi
ISBN: 0997319607     ISBN-13: 9780997319606
Publisher: Sistersmedia, LLC
OUR PRICE:   $40.80  
Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats
Published: March 2016
Qty:
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Medical | Diseases
- Medical | Diagnosis
- Medical | Hematology
Physical Information: 1" H x 7" W x 10" (2.27 lbs) 472 pages
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

Dr. Afrin earned a B.S. in computer science at Clemson University in 1984 and then an M.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 1988, where he also pursued internal medicine residency and hematology/oncology clinical and research fellowships. While on faculty at MUSC from 1995-2014, he was active in undergraduate and graduate medical education, educational and information technology administration, and practice and research in hematology/oncology and medical informatics. Since the mid-'00s, his clinical work has increasingly focused in hematology, especially mast cell disease. In 2008 Dr. Afrin started coming to understand that a newly recognized type of mast cell disease, now called mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), was the underlying diagnosis in many patients he was seeing who were each suffering large assortments -- quite different from one patient to the next -- of chronic multisystem inflammatory illnesses of unclear cause. Dr. Afrin soon gained experience that MCAS is far more prevalent than the only mast cell disease previously known to medicine (the rare disease of mastocytosis) and that most MCAS patients, once accurately diagnosed, can eventually find significantly helpful medications targeted at the disease. The frequency and magnitude of the improvements Dr. Afrin has seen -- even the relief that comes from finally having a unifying diagnosis other than "psychosomatism" -- have spurred him to focus in this area, not only tending to the needs of his patients but also pursuing research to advance our understanding of the disease and helping to educate other professionals who in turn can help even more of the many people who have long been suffering not only the symptoms of the disease but also the natural concern of not understanding why one would be so "unlucky" to have acquired so many medical problems. As it turns out, such patients are not so unlucky and truly have just one root issue (and a very common one at that) which has the biological capability to develop, directly or indirectly, into most or all their previously diagnosed problems. There is a great deal yet to learn about this, but even with just the present very limited understanding, the opportunity to diagnose and help patients with MCAS seems to be enormous and Dr. Afrin felt a description of the disease, written for the general public, might help lead some MCAS patients on a journey to diagnosis and improvement sooner rather than later. He joined the University of Minnesota in 2014 to further his interests in this area. He has an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications and has spoken widely in his areas of interest.

If you have questions pertaining to Dr. Afrin's book, or would like more information, please email info@mastcellresearch.com.

You can also visit www.mastcellresearch.com. Or, find us on Facebook @facebook.com/mastcellresearch/, and Twitter @MastCellHelp.


Contributor Bio(s): Neilsen Myles, Kendra: - "Kendra Neilsen Myles holds a BS in Public Health from the University of Maryland. She worked for Johnson & Johnson as a territory manager for their Ortho-McNeil Women's Healthcare division. Kendra remained in her position for 6 years, earning numerous top sales awards during her tenure, until she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) in 2005. Kendra's desire to help the EDS community, coupled with her education in public health, experience working in medical device and pharmaceutical sales led her to speak about Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and its related comorbidities from a patient's perspective to several organizations, coordinate fundraisers to promote EDS awareness and support EDS non-profit organizations, and launch Strength/Flexibility/Health/EDS.com - an online magazine for those living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other chronic illnesses. For the last 4 1/2 years, Kendra has served as the volunteer coordinator for the Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation HelpLine (EDNF.org). It was through Kendra's life and professional experiences, that she first founded Mediterina Medical Solutons, LLC, and then EDS Wellness, Inc. -- an integrative wellness non-profit organization focused on organizing integrative wellness events and conferences, and on disseminating health education resources and materials for those living with heritable disorders and diseases of the connective tissue, and other chronic illnesses. Kendra's love for reading and writing stems from a childhood surrounded by books, spending much of her life in her mother's bookstores. The granddaughter of a former House and Garden magazine publisher, she combined her passion for serving the chronic illness community, with her strength in medical writing and interest in publishing, to co-author the first Ehlers-Danlos syndrome anthology, Our Stories of Strength - Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Subsequently, Kendra founded Sisters Media, LLC - a media company focused on photography and design projects, as well as the publishing of digital and print materials in fields of health, medical, and wellness fields, including non-fiction books and anthologies. Kendra is active on several social media platforms and can be found at Kendra N Myles on Facebook, @KNMyles on Twitter, and Strength/Flexibility/Health/EDS on Instagram. Contact: Kendra@sistersmedia.com"Afrin M. D., Lawrence B.: - Dr. Afrin earned a B.S. in computer science at Clemson University in 1984 and then an M.D. at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 1988, where he also pursued internal medicine residency and hematology/oncology clinical and research fellowships. While on faculty at MUSC from 1995-2014, he was active in undergraduate and graduate medical education, educational and information technology administration, and practice and research in hematology/oncology and medical informatics. Since the mid-'00s, his clinical work has increasingly focused in hematology, especially mast cell disease.