Lowell T. Duncan 
Advances in Health and Disease. Volume 26 

Advances in Health and Disease. Volume 26 opens with a deep insight into the effects of probiotics on humans, animals and plants, the proposed mechanism of action and their applications. Following this, the authors focus on the pathophysiology of iron metabolism and hepcidin, their regulation with ferroportin, matripatase-2, as well as the factors involved in causing iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia. A review is provided on interleukin 6, a small glycoprotein and pleiotropic cytokine produced during chronic inflammation by monocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, keratinocytes, astrocytes and several malignant cells. The authors examine the protection of people and the environment from radiation in the event of nuclear accidents, maintaining that in disasters with widespread contamination, the protection system must rely on experts’ ethical values. To achieve global commitments on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the concluding study necessitates enhancing different intervention measures, including strengthening laboratory facilities in different health institutes for early detection.