Advances in Medicine and Biology

This continuing series gathers and presents original research results on the leading edge of medicine and biology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial topical data across a broad spectrum. Topics discussed include maternal diseases and drug use in birth defects; auto-immunity in the pituitary gland and the pituitary hormones; the effect of exercise on cardiovascular function of individuals with a family history of hypertension; standardisation of colorectal cancer chemotherapy; biological monitoring of cadmium contamination in seabirds; the impact of folic acid fortification in the prevention of neural tube defects and stimulating, measuring, and valorising pharmaceutical innovation in the field of orphan drugs.