Information flow as nerve impulses in neuronal circuits is regulated at synapses. The synapse is therefore a key element for information processing in the brain. Much attention has been given to fast synaptic transmission, which predominantly regulates impulse-to-impulse transmission. Slow synaptic transmission and modu lation, however, sometimes have been neglected in considering and attempting to understand brain function. Slow synaptic potentials and modulation occur with a considerable delay in response to the accumulation of synaptic and modulatory inputs. In these contexts, they are plastic in nature and play important roles in information processing in the brain. A symposium titled "Slow Synaptic Responses and Modulation" was held as the satellite symposium to the 75th Annual Meeting of the Physiological Society of Japan on March 30-31, 1998, in Kanazawa. The theme was selected not only for the reason mentioned above, but also because of the considerable involvement of many Japanese scholars in establishing the basic issues. Following the dawn of synaptic physiological research, as Sir John Eccles, Sir Bernard Katz, and Professor Stephen Kuffler carried out pioneer work, Professor Kyozou Koketsu and Professor Benjamin Libet, the students of Sir John Eccles, and their colleagues established the concept of slow synaptic responses and modulation by studying vertebrate sympathetic ganglia. Since then, the concept has been ex panded with detailed investigations of both peripheral and central synapses at the levels of single ion channels, intracellular Ca"+ dynamics, intracellular transduc tion mechanisms, and genes.

F. Schweda and A. Kurtz: Regulation of Renin Release by Local and Systemic Factors M. Krauss and V. Haucke: Shaping Membranes for Endocytosis B.M. Jockusch and P.L. Graumann: The Long Journey: Actin on the Road to Pro- and Eukaryotic Cells B. Colsoul, R. Vennekens and B. Nilius: Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Cation Channels in Pancreatic ss cells

Although cell turnover in normal adult liver is extremely low, hepatic tissue is notorious for its almost infinite capacity to regenerate in cases of viral, toxic or traumatic damage. Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide and causes more than a million deaths per year. The mechanisms governing normal proliferation and malignant transformation of liver cells are of utmost interest for the understanding of regeneration and hepatocarcinogenesis and for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Therefore, the International Falk Workshop held in Halle, Germany, on January 29-30 1998, focused on the issues of normal and malignant liver cell growth. Knowledge in this area of research has expanded rapidly during recent years. This book of proceedings summarizes the latest advances both in basic science and clinical research. Stimulating discussion set the basis for the development of new strategies in diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and for the manipulation of regeneration in cases of acute or chronic loss of functional liver tissue.

Never before has such a history of the pancreas been presented. From antiquity until today, "rediscovery," translation and sequential presentation, in step with cultural changes in society, make this a unique contribution. Only from the perspective of the two octogenarian-authors could such a narrative have been produced. Discoveries resulting either from chance observation or careful scientific inquiry "come alive" as the authors present not only the people who made them but the setting in which they occurred.

Key Features:
*From the pre-Christian era of Asia Minor, to Greece, Rome, Europe and America, to the explosive progress in Japan, the dreams, near-misses and great discoveries have been traced to their sources.
*The great discoveries of the anatomists, WirsA1/4ng, Santorini, Oddi, Vater and their colleagues have been recreated from their original reports.
*Physiology is traced through the discovery of the digestive enzymes; the islets, by the Berlin student for whom they were named; the hormones, beginning with the dramatic discoveries of insulin, gastrin and their fascinating tumors.
*Diseases of the pancreas, particularly pancreatitis and cancer, but also congenital anomalies and trauma, are described from the era preceding the microscope to the dawn of the 21st Century.
*The explosive developments of imaging, diagnosis and pancreatic transplantation are presented, leading to the development of the challenging field of Pancreatology - its science and clinical practice.
*Finally the authors, having spent many years distilling the contribution of the giants of the past and present, present a thought provoking Chapter entitled "Lessons from Historyand their Application to the Future."

What happened along the evolutionary trail that made humans so unique? In his accessible style, Michael Gazzaniga pinpoints the change that made us thinking, sentient humans different from our predecessors. He explores what makes human brains special, the importance of language and art in defining the human condition, the nature of human consciousness, and even artificial intelligence.

ICD therapy has become the standard form of treatment for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. With clinical data showing its efficacy in both secondary and primary prevention of premature sudden death, its use is likely to increase dramatically in the next decade. Technological advancement has been instrumental in simplifying ICD implantation. However, technical additions to the device have also made its scope of functions more complex. In addition to providing rapid and effective therapy for ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, the ICD is now capable of providing a full spectrum dual-chamber pacing as well as therapies for atrial fibrillation. Soon, it will also be able to provide treatment for congestive heart failure using multi-site ventricular pacing and provide continuous hemodynamic monitoring. This book serves as an introductory text to those who are relatively new to this technology. In its manual form, it outlines the pertinent components of ICD functions and the basic differences among the various models. It provides practical points in ICD implantation, and in its programming and trouble-shooting.

Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the discoverer of neurosteroids, and a panel of distinguished scientists and clinical researchers exhaustively and critically review all facets of neurosteroids involved in behavior, stress, memory, depression, anxiety, aging of the brain, and neurodegenerative diseases. These contributors illuminate the role of neurosteroids in brain development and plasticity and detail their neuromodulatory influence on GABAA, ionotropic glutamate receptors, acetylcholine receptors, sigma receptors, and calcium channels. Clearly pointing the way toward novel pharmaceutical agents that may be of significant therapeutic value, particularly with regard to aging mental functions, Neurosteroids: A New Regulatory Function in the Nervous System offers neurobiologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, pharmacologists, and geriatricians the first comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of these important bioactive molecules.

At the Mie International Symposium held in Japan in April 1994, leading scientists reviewed recent advances in the understanding of the contractile mechanism in smooth muscle. The present volume collects the papers presented at the symposium, summarizing the latest advances in smooth muscle function and emphasizing important components of the contraction-relaxation cycle. Topics include a discussion of the smooth muscle cell membrane, with emphasis on its ion channels; the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels and the relationship to force in smooth muscle; aspects of the two key regulatory enzymes involved with myosin phosphorylation-dephosphorylation; the molecular basis for pharmacomechanical coupling in smooth muscle; developments in the basic contractile mechanisms involving the crossbridge cycle of tonic and phasic muscle; the role of myosin light chains; and many others. The approach is broad and presents contemporary opinions in pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry as they relate to smooth muscle function. The book will appeal not only to those working in these disciplines, but to vascular clinicians, obstetric-gynecological physicians, and gastroenterologists as well.

The human immune system is a complex network of tissues and organs dispersed throughout the body. Immunology, as one of the most rapidly evolving fields in bio-medical research, has to date covered the essential cellular and molecular events neces-sary for immune responses to occur. However, it has paid relatively little attention to important developmental processes underlying the formation of the tissues themselves that carry out immune responses in humans and other mammalians. In contrast to the thymus and bone marrow that are the sole tissues for generating mature leukocytes for antigen recognition and han-dling in humans and most mammalian species, the peripheral lymphoid tissues where adaptive immune responses are focused display broad tissue distribution and possess diverse archi-tectural characteristics. These organs develop prior to the individual s exposure to external antigens, and despite their similar functions, their varied appearances indicate a substantial complexity of tissue ontogeny. This volume presents a comprehensive overview of the developmental features of the major peripheral lymphoid organs, thus examining the connection between immunological functionality and structural characteristics utilizing a developmental approach, for an audience ranging from undergraduate students to senior researchers in immunology, histology and clinical medicine."

Over the years there has been growing interest among the scientific community in investigating sleep and how it affects the memory and other brain functions. It is now well established that sleep helps in memory consolidation and induction of neural plasticity, and that short-term deprivation of either total sleep or rapid eye movement sleep alone can induce memory deficits very quickly. Quantitative and qualitative changes in sleep architecture after different training tasks further suggest that discrete memory types may require specific sleep stage/s for optimal memory consolidation, and studies indicate that sleep deprivation alters synaptic plasticity and membrane excitability in the hippocampal neurons and synaptic up-scaling in the cortical neurons. Further, sleep alteration during pregnancy may increase the risk of depression and adversely affect maternal-child relationships, parenting practices, family functioning, and children's development and general wellbeing. This book coherently discusses all these aspects, with a particular focus on the possible role of sleep in memory consolidation and synaptic plasticity. It also highlights the detrimental effects of sleep loss on mental health, the immune system and cognition. This book is a valuable reference resource for students and researchers working in the area of sleep, memory, or neuronal plasticity.

Gain insight on diseases and treatment options for better patient care! Explore human diseases and disorders…from a patient’s perspective! Join the generations of students who have relied on this popular text to introduce them to common human diseases and disorders. Its concise, well-organized approach makes learning about the conditions nearly painless! You’ll better understand your patient’s condition and more easily form a plan of care. And it emphasizes the condition from the perspective of the patient, so you can empathize with the patient as you’re providing care. You’ll want to keep this book long after you’ve finished your program! Access more online. Redeem thecode inside new, printed texts to gain access to a wealth of resources online, including videos, animations, and chapter review podcasts.

This book focuses on cartilage defects and new mesenchymal stem cell-based treatments for their repair and regeneration. Early chapters provide a review of current etiological findings and repair methods of cartilage defects. The next chapters discuss fundamental concepts and features of MSCs, including their proliferation, differentiation, migration and immunomodulatory effects. The discussion also includes clinical applications of MSCs in cartilage tissues, especially with regards to various animal models, biomaterials and transferring techniques. Cartilage Regeneration focuses on the biology of MSCs and their possible applications in cartilage reconstruction, with the goal of bringing new insights into regenerative medicine. It will be essential reading for researchers and clinicians in stem cells, regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering and orthopedic surgery.

The highly successful Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology continue to offer high-quality, in-depth reviews covering the full range of modern physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Leading researchers are specially invited to provide a complete understanding of the key topics in these archetypal multidisciplinary fields. In a form immediately useful to scientists, this periodical aims to filter, highlight and review the latest developments in these rapidly advancing fields.

Short chain fatty acids (SFCA) are synthesized by the colonic microflora primarily from non-absorbed carbohydrate; there is also some limited production from non-absorbed protein. In contrast, SFCA are not normally present in the diet. During the past 15 years SFCA have attracted considerable interest in human nutrition, physiology and pathophysiology as a result of the realization that SFCA represent an important mechanism for carbohydrate and calorie conservation and may play a role in various types of colitides and possibly in colonic neoplasia. In addition, SFCA, produced in large amounts by ruminants and other herbivores, have long been the province of veterinary physiologists. This book is based upon the presentations at the 73rd Falk Symposium held in Strasbourg, France, September 8--10, 1993, which brought together researchers and clinicians from five continents. It provides an excellent statement of the present state-of-the-art knowledge of SFCA.

Unraveling the functional properties of structural elements in the brain is one of the fundamental goals of neuroscientific research. In the cerebral cortex this is no mean feat, since cortical areas are defined microstructurally in post-mortem brains but functionally in living brains with electrophysiological or neuroimaging techniques - and cortical areas vary in their topographical properties across individual brains. Being able to map both microstructure and function in the same brains noninvasively in vivo would represent a huge leap forward. In recent years, high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies with spatial resolution below 0.5 mm have set the stage for this by detecting structural differences within the human cerebral cortex, beyond the Stria of Gennari. This provides the basis for an in vivo microanatomical brain map, with the enormous potential to make direct correlations between microstructure and function in living human brains. This book starts with Brodmann's post-mortem map published in the early 20th century, moves on to the almost forgotten microstructural maps of von Economo and Koskinas and the Vogt-Vogt school, sheds some light on more recent approaches that aim at mapping cortical areas noninvasively in living human brains, and culminates with the concept of "in vivo Brodmann mapping" using high-field MRI, which was introduced in the early 21st century.

Cardiorespiratory function is prominently affected by oxidative stress. Cigarette smoking is the archetype of oxidative and nitrative stress and free radical formation. New adverse effects of smoking keep on propping up in research. The chapters provide the comprehensive view of new developments in this area regarding cardiovascular and lung function and muscle catabolism. Alterations in inflammatory cytokines and proteins as well as degradation of muscle proteins due to smoking, by far unrecognized, caused by oxidative stress also are presented. Much less is known about the effect of cognitive stress on vagally-mediated cardiorespiratory function and surprisingly, on vagal immune pathway. The experimental studies also show that clinically important meconium aspiration syndrome contains an oxidative trait which is amenable to antioxidative treatment. This volume creates a source of information on the damaging role of oxidative stress in cardiorespiratory function that has by far not been available.

This book reviews current understanding of normal muscle tone and how it differs in spastic, thixotropic and hypotonic patients. The book contains practical advice on measuring the postural system and will be of interest to paediatricians and also to physiologists involved in investigating muscle tone.

Lipids are functionally versatile molecules. They have evolved from relatively simple hydrocarbons that serve as depot storages of metabolites and barriers to the permeation of solutes into complex compounds that perform a variety of signalling functions in higher organisms. This volume is devoted to the polar lipids and their constituents. We have omitted the neutral lipids like fats and oils because their function is generally to act as deposits of metabolizable substrates. The sterols are also outside the scope of the present volume and the reader is referred to volume 28 of this series which is the subject of cholesterol. The polar lipids are comprised of fatty acids attached to either glycerol or sphingosine. The fatty acids themselves constitute an important reservoir of substrates for conversion into families of signalling and modulating molecules including the eicosanoids amongst which are the prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leucotrienes. The way fatty acid metabolism is regulated in the liver and how fatty acids are desaturated are subjects considered in the first part of this volume. This section also deals with the modulation of protein function and inflammation by unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives. New insights into the role of fatty acid synthesis and eicosenoid function in tumour progression and metastasis are presented.

Use this set of colorful cards to learn and remember pathophysiology! With 96 full-color cartoons covering pathophysiologic concepts, Mosby's (R) Pathophysiology Memory NoteCards uses humor and mnemonics to make review easier and more fun. These durable, detachable cards are useful in preparing for the NCLEX (R) or classroom exams, as a clinical reference, for writing care plans, or for patient teaching information. This convenient study tool may be used as either a spiral-bound notebook or as individual flashcards. UNIQUE! 96 full-color, illustrated mnemonics cover key pathophysiology concepts. Concise What You Need to Know monographs on each card provide more detailed information and specific nursing implications. UNIQUE! Color highlights emphasize four central topics - serious/life-threatening implications in pink, common clinical findings in blue, important nursing implications in yellow, and patient teaching in green. Colored tabs make it easy to find specific topics. Sturdy, spiral-bound cards offer durability as well as portability. NEW! All-new cartoons cover contemporary and timely pathophysiology topics, including epigenetics and pulmonary immunology.

Substance Abuse and Addiction Research: Methodology, Mechanisms, and Therapeutics is an up-to-date, comprehensive, practical book on research methodologies for substance abuse and addiction that is intended for researchers and consumers of research information at all levels. The book is divided into four major sections, including an Introduction, Research Methodology for clinical trials, animal research and retrospective studies, Mechanisms of Abuse and Addiction, and Investigative Therapeutics: Designing and Measuring Outcomes. It serves a source for addressing all aspects of research design, methods and analysis within the context of the field of opioids, alcohol and other substances. The book covers what is known in the field of quantitative and qualitative research methods, provides future directions, and introduces new models for investigation. It is organized around a translational science framework, with the contents addressing substance use/addiction research in the context of epidemiology, etiology, intervention efficacy and effectiveness, and implementation of evidence-informed interventions.

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the human face, providing fascinating information from biological, cultural, and social perspectives. Our faces identify who we are-not only what we look like and what ethnicities we belong to, but they can also identify what religions we practice and what personal ideologies we have. This one-of-a-kind A-Z reference explores the ways we change, beautify, and adorn our faces to create our personalities and identities. In addition to covering the basics such as the anatomical structure and function of parts of the human face, the entries examine how the face is viewed around the world, allowing students to easily draw connections and differences between various cultures around the world. Readers will learn about a wide variety of topics, including identity in different cultures; religious beliefs; folklore; extreme beautification; the "evil eye;" scarification; facial piercing and facial tattooing masks; social views about beauty including cosmetic surgery and makeup; how gender, class and sexuality play a role in our understanding of the face; and skin, eye, mouth, nose, and ear diseases and disorders. This encyclopedia is ideal for high school and undergraduate students studying anthropology, anatomy, gender, religion, and world cultures. A complete bibliography of sources and index of subjects Includes 100 images, numerous sidebars, and interesting "pop-out" quotes related to the face

Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury will improve readers' understanding of the complexities of diagnosis and management of traumatic brain injuries. Featuring chapters on drug delivery, different treatments, and rehabilitation, this volume discusses in detail the impact early diagnosis and effective management has on the long-term prognosis of these injuries and the lives of those affected. This book will be relevant for neuroscientists, neurologists, clinicians, and anyone working to better understand these injuries.

With the invention of compressed air in the 1840s, human divers could enter previously inaccessible deep water environments and engineers could design underwater mines and monumental bridges that had never been possible before. But a painful, sometimes fatal illness -- decompression sickness, or the bends -- mysteriously afflicted many of those who used compressed air. This book is a wide-ranging history of the wonders compressed air brought about and the suffering its unknown hazards inflicted. John L. Phillips explores the intertwining roles of science, technology, engineering, medicine, and politics in the invention of compressed air, the recognition and identification of decompression sickness, and the hundred-yearlong process of learning to understand and treat the bends.

The book begins with an overview of the biology and chemistry of respiration and a discussion of the steam engine that could generate compressed air. Drawing on previously unpublished letters, diaries, and notes, Phillips tells the story of early uses of compressed air, first observations of decompression sickness, growing awareness of the bends during construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and efforts to understand the pathophysiology of the illness. He then considers employee health and safety issues, the science of diving today, and human limits to exploring the ocean deeps. In the history of compressed air and its illnesses, Phillips finds important lessons for dealing with other diseases yet to be confronted in the modern world.

"Phillips takes an interesting socio-scientific approach in this readable book. He tells the fascinating story of decompression sickness well". -- Peter B. Bennett, Divers AlertNetwork

This book describes the major steps by which the mammalian ear transforms sound into nerve impulses. The author leads us along the pathway followed by an acoustic signal--collected by the outer ear, augmented by the middle ear, then delivered to the inner ear where the minuscule vibrations of the sound waves are transformed into nerve impulses. At each stage, the basic mechanisms are described qualitatively in terms of current theories and illustrated with experimental data. Where appropriate, related mechanisms in the ears of other vertebrates are considered. It is shown that the mammalian ear does an exquisite job of translating sound signals into a very robust nerve-pulse code. The book concludes with descriptions of some common ear impairments and a brief survey of the treatments available for them. The text is integrated with animations of mechanical and neural phenomena available through the Internet.