The use of electrical stimulators with medical aims has increased exponentially in the last years. The uses are very different. Though the most widely known are referred to as the approaches performed by neurosurgeons, evidence has recently appeared, supporting its use by many other medical specialties. Electrical stimulation can be applied transcutaneously (TENS) or percutaneously (PENS). The target of electrical stimulation can be a nerve, inducing electric conductivity and finally acting over the innervated structure, which is activated, or starting a reflex with the involvement of the spinal cord. The stimulation can also act directly over a muscle, inducing a contraction. The effects of electrical stimulation are very diverse, ranging from the development of an artificial reflex and consequently activating the stomach, the pancreas or a sphincter, to a continuous muscular contraction, provoking hypertrophia of the structure and hyperfunction, or to the identification of a laryngeal recurrent nerve during a thyroidectomy, avoiding its damage. Moreover, electrical stimulation has been also used to reduce the feeling of pain, as the stimulation of somatic fibers somehow masks the transmission of nociceptive ones. The aim of this book is to revise the actual evidence about the different uses of electrical stimulation by digestive and endocrine surgeons.

Iodine is an essential micronutrient and an integral component of the thyroid hormones, which are required for normal growth and development. The iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) encompass a spectrum of adverse health effects including goiter, cretinism, hypothyroidism, growth retardation, and increased pregnancy loss and infant mortality. This volume summarizes the current understanding of the effects of iodine deficiency as well as iodine excess. It also discusses best practices for salt iodization, the mainstay of global IDD prevention efforts, and other forms of food fortification. The effectiveness of iodine supplementation for vulnerable populations, an evolving strategy in many regions, is also described. Low level environmental exposure to chemicals such as perchlorate and thiocyanate, which competitively block thyroidal iodine uptake, appears to be ubiquitous worldwide. There has been recent concern that such environmental exposures might pose a health hazard by inducing or aggravating underlying thyroid dysfunction. This up-to-date volume explores both the effects of iodine deficiency as well as the best strategies for IDD prevention.

This volume starts with an elementary introduction covering stem cell methodologies used to produce specific types of neurons, possibilities for their therapeutic use, and warnings of technical problems. In addition the authors report successes in achieving the derivation of a specific type of neuron. The dopamine neuron offers an important example and is discussed in more detail. Additional chapters cover problems obviously approachable with cells derived from stem cells, including their need in surgeries for pituitary cancers. The last chapter provides an overview of this particular field of research and presents a vision for its future directions.

Pancreatic islets make up the endocrine pancreas and they contain the only source of insulin in the body, beta cells. Hence, access to high quality preparations of pancreatic islets is fundamental for in vitro studies and to test pre-clinical applications in animal models in vivo. Access to healthy human islets is also crucial to improve transplantation procedures for diabetes. Given the susceptibility of pancreatic islets to the enzymatic digestion and mechanical stress required to obtain them, the isolation of islets is often considered as the delicate "work of a craftsman". This book, which is aimed at beginners and experts alike, is a survey of the current state-of-the-art in this field and it centres on the challenges, pitfalls and peculiarities of pancreatic islet isolation in the different species used in pre-clinical and clinical applications. It explores the similarities and differences between human islets and those from other relevant species (rodents, pigs and non-human primates), and how these influence islet isolation. The ultimate goal of this book is to improve the outcome of islet isolation and transplantation in pre-clinical and clinical applications.

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.

This book offers one of the most comprehensive reviews in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, guiding readers on a journey through the complete digestive tract, while also highlighting related organs and glandular systems. It is not solely limited to organ system physiology, and related disciplines like anatomy and histology, but also examines the molecular and cellular processes that keep the digestive system running. As such, the book provides extensive information on the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels of functions in the GI system. Chapters on the roles of the gut as an endocrine, exocrine and neural organ, as well as its microbiome functions, broaden readers' understanding of the multi-organ networks in the human body. To help illustrate the interconnections between the physiological concepts, principles and clinical presentations, it outlines clinical examples such as pathologies that link basic science with clinical practice in special "clinical correlates" sections. Covering both traditional and contemporary topics, it is a valuable resource for biomedical students, as well as healthcare and scientific professionals.

This volume, in discussing resistance to ibritumomab, will focus on the mechanism, hematological aspects, radiological and nuclear medicine aspects, and medical physics that deal with radiation dosimetry, and will outline future prospects for overcoming resistance and enhancing efficacy of ibritumomab.

Recent years have seen spectacular advances in the field of circadian biology. These have attracted the interest of researchers in many fields, including endocrinology, neurosciences, cancer, and behavior. By integrating a circadian view within the fields of endocrinology and metabolism, researchers will be able to reveal many, yet-unsuspected aspects of how organisms cope with changes in the environment and subsequent control of homeostasis. This field is opening new avenues in our understanding of metabolism and endocrinology. A panel of the most distinguished investigators in the field gathered together to discuss the present state and the future of the field. The editors trust that this volume will be of use to those colleagues who will be picking up the challenge to unravel how the circadian clock can be targeted for the future development of specific pharmacological strategies toward a number of pathologies.

This book presents the state of the art of type 2 diabetes genetics, from the process of genetic discovery to its interpretation and clinical application, and illustrates a model for other complex human phenotypes.The first section explores genome-wide association studies, the extension of this method to less accessible phenotypes and the arrival of next-generation sequencing. A further section goes beyond genetics to illustrate how other data sources can help interpret genetic data, such as leveraging population diversity, the correlation of genetic associations with physiological measurements, gene expression modulation, environmental factors and our microbial commensals. The third section describes advances in elucidating the complex path from association to function using in-depth sequencing and functional studies of the cellular and molecular effects of genes in the loci identified by genetics. The final section links our current understanding with clinically relevant questions, such as prediction, interactions with drugs or nutrients, and disease prevention, and paints a realistic but hopeful vision of the future.

This book examines how post-transcriptional mechanisms control endocrine function. This includes newly identified regulatory mechanisms involved in hormone biosynthesis, control of hormone receptors and the outputs of hormone mediated signal transduction. Chapters address endocrine hormones including protein peptide/peptide, steroid, and non-steroidal hormones. The impacts of these mechanisms on disease and health are covered, providing a novel update to the scientific literature. Post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms play an essential role in controlling dynamic gene expression. The outcome of this regulation includes control of the amount, timing, and location of protein expression. Regulation is mediated by cis-acting RNA sequences and structures and transacting RNA binding proteins and non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs. Recent advances in characterization of these regulatory factors have revealed enormous regulatory potential.

The book provides a reference for years to come, written by world-renowned expert investigators studying sex differences, the role of sex hormones, the systems biology of sex, and the genetic contribution of sex chromosomes to metabolic homeostasis and diseases. In this volume, leaders of the pharmaceutical industry present their views on sex-specific drug discovery. Many of the authors presented at the Keystone Symposium on "Sex and gender factors affecting metabolic homeostasis, diabetes and obesity" to be held in March 2017 in Lake Tahoe, CA. This book will generate new knowledge and ideas on the importance of gender biology and medicine from a molecular standpoint to the population level and to provide the methods to study them. It is intended to be a catalyst leading to gender-specific treatments of metabolic diseases. There are fundamental aspects of metabolic homeostasis that are regulated differently in males and females, and influence both the development of diabetes and obesity and the response to pharmacological intervention. Still, most preclinical researchers avoid studying female rodents due to the added complexity of research plans. The consequence is a generation of data that risks being relevant to only half of the population. This is a timely moment to publish a book on sex differences in diseases as NIH leadership has asked scientists to consider sex as a biological variable in preclinical research, to ensure that women get the same benefit of medical research as men.

This book offers one of the most comprehensive reviews in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, guiding readers on a journey through the complete digestive tract, while also highlighting related organs and glandular systems. It is not solely limited to organ system physiology, and related disciplines like anatomy and histology, but also examines the molecular and cellular processes that keep the digestive system running. As such, the book provides extensive information on the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels of functions in the GI system. Chapters on the roles of the gut as an endocrine, exocrine and neural organ, as well as its microbiome functions, broaden readers' understanding of the multi-organ networks in the human body. To help illustrate the interconnections between the physiological concepts, principles and clinical presentations, it outlines clinical examples such as pathologies that link basic science with clinical practice in special "clinical correlates" sections. Covering both traditional and contemporary topics, it is a valuable resource for biomedical students, as well as healthcare and scientific professionals.

This book reviews important aspects of polycystic kidney diseases, the latest scientific understanding of the diseases and syndromes, along with the therapies being developed. Cystic kidney diseases comprise a spectrum of genetic syndromes defined by renal cyst formation and expansion with variable extrarenal manifestations. The most prevalent disorder is the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). It is the most common monogenetic disorder in humans and accounts for 4.4% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) cases in the U.S. Patients inevitably progress to ESRD and require renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or transplantation. Through advancements in genomics and proteomics approaches, novel genes responsible for cystic diseases have been identified, further expanding our understanding of basic mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. The hallmark among all cystic genetic syndromes is the formation and growth of fluid-filled cysts, which originate from tubular epithelia of nephron segments. Cysts are the disease, and treatment strategies are being developed to target prevention or delay of cyst formation and expansion at an early stage, however no such therapy is currently approved.

This book reviews important aspects of polycystic kidney diseases, the latest scientific understanding of the diseases and syndromes, along with the therapies being developed. Cystic kidney diseases comprise a spectrum of genetic syndromes defined by renal cyst formation and expansion with variable extrarenal manifestations. The most prevalent disorder is the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). It is the most common monogenetic disorder in humans and accounts for 4.4% of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) cases in the U.S. Patients inevitably progress to ESRD and require renal replacement therapy in the form of dialysis or transplantation. Through advancements in genomics and proteomics approaches, novel genes responsible for cystic diseases have been identified, further expanding our understanding of basic mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. The hallmark among all cystic genetic syndromes is the formation and growth of fluid-filled cysts, which originate from tubular epithelia of nephron segments. Cysts are the disease, and treatment strategies are being developed to target prevention or delay of cyst formation and expansion at an early stage, however no such therapy is currently approved.

Due to the resultant health consequences and considerable increase in prevalence, obesity has become a major worldwide health problem. "Obesity and Lipotoxicity" is a comprehensive review of the recent researches to provide a better understanding of the lipotoxicity-related mechanisms of obesity and the potential for the development of new treatment strategies. This book overviews the biochemical pathways leading to obesity-related metabolic disorders that occur subsequent to lipotoxicity. Chapters examine the deleterious effects of nutrient excess at molecular level including the cellular and molecular aspects of breast cancer, resistance to leptin, insulin, adiponectin, and interconnection between the circadian clock and metabolic pathways during high-fat feeding. "Lipotoxicity and Obesity" will be a useful resource for clinicians and basic science researchers, such as biochemists, toxicologists, immunologists, nutritionists, adult and pediatric endocrinologists, cardiologists, as well as students who are thought in this field.

This compendium provides a wide view covering everything from molecular mechanisms and risk factors for neurological disorders to the effects of bariatric surgery on brain function and functional neuroimaging applied to obesity research. The impact of obesity on brain function and the development of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory disorders has been understudied, despite the recent proliferation of obesity research. Among the topics covered are adipose biology, the adipose tissue - gut - brain axis, brain energy metabolism, dementia, cerebrovascular disease, and multiple sclerosis.

This book aims to equip readers with a better understanding of neuroendocrine tumors of the abdomen and explains how to manage them optimally by making use of novel therapeutic options that represent major advances on previous treatments. The most recent advances in epidemiology, genetics, molecular biology, biomarkers, pathology, diagnostics, clinical assessment, medical therapy, and surgical treatment are presented. The information and data provided will stimulate readers to develop their personal opinions on significant issues and assist in decision making in individual patients during routine clinical practice. The book features a multidisciplinary approach and is designed to meet the needs of all physicians seeking comprehensive guidance from experts on the management of patients with neuroendocrine tumors. It will also be of value for researchers wishing to acquaint themselves with the state of the art in the field and emerging research avenues. Abdominal Neuroendocrine Tumors is published in Springer's highly successful Updates in Surgery series, which now comprises more than 20 titles.