The international symposia on blood transfusion in Groningen have taken place without interruption since 1976. Each year Dr. Smit-Sibinga and his team have not only organized a meeting on timely topics in blood transfusion, but also succeeded in attracting prominent chairmen and speakers. The subject of the 24th Symposium was Molecular Biology in Blood Transfusion and it was chaired by Dr. Harvey G. Klein, National Institutes of Health, USA. In this book of proceedings an extraordinary range of subjects is covered, including diagnostic aspects, virology, quality control, cell and protein processing as well as a section on new horizons in clinical medicine.

Being the crucial components of living cells, ion channels are important targets of therapeutic agents. Historically, it has been challenging to develop drugs on this target class. A major issue with targets based on ion channel drug development is the identification of effective small chemical leads for medicinal chemistry optimization to the clinical candidate status. Thus enough attention has been paid to the study of structure and functions of ion channels and their potential inhibitors. The present book compiles important chapters authored by eminent workers in the field to cover important recent advances in the studies of the structure and functions of ion channels and their inhibitors, such as sodium Ion, potassium Ion, chloride Ion, calcium Ion channel inhibitors. The book may be of great use to the students and scientists working in the area of molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and neurobiology, and medicinal chemistry.

The availability of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) sold over the counter (OTC) to the public without prescription has become an issue of major concern in recent years. The problem has been highlighted in the UK, USA and other countries because of the continuing high rates of cases of poisoning and the concern over the switch for many NSAIDs from prescription-only status to OTC sale, brought about, in large part, by governments and health maintenance organisations (especially in the USA) anxious to save on the costs of these drugs. This Symposium, held at the South San Francisco Conference Center (USA) on March 17, 1997, enabled leading authorities from around the world to come together and discuss the central issues concerning the safety and efficacy of OTC analgesics and NSAIDs at what was a timely period, for the reasons outlined above. The conference opened with a series of presentations on the central themes - overall safety evaluation and assessment of the current status, the clinico-epidemiological evidence of adverse drug reactions from different drugs, pharmacokinetic and pharmacotoxicological mechanisms, and the expanding use of the drugs for pain and other states. Particular interest was addressed to the potential for NSAIDs to be used prophylactically to prevent certain chronic inflammatory/degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's and related dementias, colon cancer). The extensive debate which followed the formal presentations, summarized in the book, was exciting for enabling the core issues to be examined and assessed by experts who have been at the cutting edge of regulatory, medical and scientific evaluations of OTC analgesics/NSAIDs.Audience: General physicians, rheumatologists, pharmacologists, health policy makers.

This volume explores label-free biosensors, advantageous in part because this technology bypasses the need of labels, reporters, and cell engineering, all of which are common to labeled techniques but may introduce artifacts in assay results. Addressing several fundamental and practical aspects as to how to implement label-free methods in the drug discovery process, this book covers a wide range of topics, including binding kinetics determination, fragment screening, antibody epitope mapping, protein-protein interaction profiling and screening, receptor pathway deconvolution, drug pharmacology profiling and screening, target identification, drug toxicity assessment, and physical phenotype profiling and diagnostics based on various cellular processes such as cell adhesion, migration, invasion, infection, and inflammation. As part of the Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series, chapters aim to provide key detail and implementation advice to aid with progress in the lab. Practical and thorough, Label-Free Biosensor Methods in Drug Discovery provides a new avenue for rapid access to a focused collection of highly regarded contributions in the field.

The increasing awareness on the varied consequences of hypogonadism in distinct organs and systems has supported the notion of estrogens as systemic agents. This observation is congruent with the variety of tissues affected by - trogens when used in hormone therapy formulations on hypogonadic women. Apart from the genital tract and the breast, recognized as traditional targets for estrogens, the skeleton, the vascular tree, or the central nervous system, are good examples of territories that have demonstrated sensitivity to estrogens. This evidence has created great interest, as shown by the great amount of lit- ature that has been produced on the bene?ts and risks associated with the use of estrogens. In parallel to the clinical interest, basic research has improved our kno- edge on the complexities involved in estrogen action at the molecular level. Together with effects mediated through speci?c receptors, a concept that has been the mainstay of the interpretation of estrogen action for years, there is enough evidence to hold the notion of receptor-independent effects. The substantial advances in modern technology applied to research have helped in enlightening the particulars of this versatile action of estrogens. This more detailed knowledge on the sophisticated mechanism of action of estrogens has nourished the emergence of multiple hypotheses speculating with the p- sibility of manipulating estrogen action. The notion that a widely extended regulatory system of cell function, as it is the estrogen receptor machinery, might be modulated at wish has arisen as an attractive, although still elusive postulate.

This book covers the tremendous progress in the current understanding of the molecular physiology of voltage-gated calcium channels. This book includes unparalleled insights into structural features of calcium channels due to X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, which in turn yielded critical information into how these channels function under normal and pathophysiological conditions, and how they interact with calcium channel therapeutics. The chapters investigate how, with the advent of high throughput genome sequencing, numerous mutations in various calcium channel genes have been identified in patients with neurological, cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and other disorders. This is further complemented through a much larger in vivo toolkit such as knock-out and knock-in mice. The chapters further discuss the increased complexity of calcium channel physiology that arises from mRNA editing and splicing. Finally, the book also provides an overview of the updated research on calcium channel inhibitors that can be used both in vivo and in vitro, and which may serve as a spring board for new calcium channel therapeutics for human disease. Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels is useful for academic researchers at all levels in neuroscience, biophysics, cell biology and drug discovery.

Drug Safety Evluation Comprehensive and practical guide presenting a roadmap for safety assessment as an integral part of the development of drugs and therapeutics This fourth edition of Drug Safety Evaluation maintains the central objective of presenting an all-inclusive practical guide for those who are responsible for ensuring the safety of drugs and biologics to patients, healthcare providers, those involved in the manufacture of medicinal products, and all those who need to understand how the safety of these products is evaluated and shepherding valuable candidates to market. Individual chapters address specific approaches to evaluation hazards, including problems that are encountered and their solutions. Also covered are the scientific and philosophical bases for evaluation of specific concerns (e.g., carcinogenicity, development toxicity, etc.) to provide both understanding and guidance for approaching the new problems that have come to face both our society and the new challenges they brought. The many changes in regulatory requirements, pharmaceutical development, technology, and the effects of Covid on our society and science have required both extensive revision to every chapter and the addition of four new chapters. Specific sample topics covered in Drug Safety Evaluation include: The drug development process and the global pharmaceutical marketplace and regulation of human pharmaceutical safety Sources of information for consideration in study and program design and in safety evaluation Electronic records, reporting and submission, screens in safety and hazard assessment, and formulations, routes, and dosage regimens Mechanisms and endpoints of drug toxicity, pilot toxicity testing in drug safety evaluation, and repeat dose toxicity Genotoxicity, QSAR tools for drug safety, toxicogenomics, nonrodent animal studies, and developmental and reproductive toxicity testing An appendix which provides an up to date guide to CROs for conducting studies Drug Safety Evaluation was written specifically for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, including scientists, consultants, and academics, to show a utilitarian yet scientifically valid path to the everyday challenges of safety evaluation and the problem solving that is required in drug discovery and development.

This important book introduces pharmacists and pharmacy students to the basics of disaster and emergency management, illustrating not only the different roles that pharmacists can play within any disaster or emergency, but the practical steps they can take to prepare for these events. Starting with the UN-recognised Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, the book introduces the key concepts and models that pharmacists should understand, before detailing the place of pharmacists within each stage of an emergency or disaster. It also includes interviews with experts in disaster management, shedding light not only on the place of pharmacy within disaster and emergency management, but also the challenges and barriers involved in fulfilling this role. Concluding with practical advice and guidance, as well as how the lessons of disaster and emergency management can inform the everyday role of pharmacists within wider community healthcare, this will be essential reading for both professionals and students in the field.

Cell Surface Receptors: A Short Course on Theory and Methods, Second Edition is a primer for the study of cell surface receptors. The simplified discussion of methods and their underlying principles removes the usual intimidation caused by the specialized vocabulary or sophisticated mathematics that characterize many of the primary papers in this field. In this way, the basic concepts become emphasized. This volume is a starting point: a textbook as well as a manual to which the investigator can return for a refresher course, when needed.

Since the pioneering discoveries of Hodgkin, Huxley, and Katz, it has been clear that specific ion conductance pathways underlie electrical act- ity. Over the ensuing 50 years, there has been ever increasing, and occasi- ally explosive, changes in the scope of efforts to understand ion channel behavior. The introduction of patch clamp technology by Erwin Neher and Bert Sakmann about 20 years ago led to the realization of the great variety of novel ion channel species, and the subsequent revolution in cl- ing has revealed an even greater diversity of the underlying molecular entities. Today, advances in the study of ion channel structure and function c- tinue at a high pace, from angstrom resolution imaging of crystallized ch- nels to their genetic manipulations in animals. In this regard, the field is a balanced one that inquires not only what ion channel entities are there, or how they operate, but also where are these molecular electronic switches? However, this balance is not particularly well presented to the general sci- tific audience or to specialists in the field. There are plenty of wonderful and useful books and monographs, as well as conferences and meetings on v- tually every aspect of ion channel structure and function. However, we are unaware that the channel localization theme has been considered in a u- fied forum.

This detailed volume explores the application of multiplex biomarker methods in the critical area of COVID-19 research through state-of-the-art technologies in the fields of genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and imaging. The book features a series of protocols from labs across the globe employing multiplex molecular approaches, which can be applied to accelerate progress in the research of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious illnesses. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and essential, Multiplex Biomarker Techniques: Methods and Applications for COVID-19 Disease Diagnosis and Risk Stratification serves as a vital resource for researchers in the areas of virology, metabolic diseases, respiratory disorders, as well as to clinical scientists, physicians, pharmacologists, and the healthcare services.

In contrast to previous texts focusing on either computational, structural or synthetic methods, this one-of-a-kind guide integrates all three skill sets for a complete picture of contemporary structure-based design.
As a result, this practical book demonstrates how to develop a high-affinity ligand with drug-like properties for any given drug target for which a high-resolution structure exists. The authors, both of whom have successfully designed drug-like molecules that were later developed into marketed drugs, use numerous examples of recently developed drugs to present best practice in structure-based drug design with the novice in mind. By way of a carefully balanced mix of theoretical background and case studies from medicinal chemistry applications, readers will quickly and efficiently master the basic skills of successful drug design.

In the next couple of years the human genome will be fully sequenced. This will provide us with the sequence and overall function of all human genes as well as the complete genome for many micro-organisms. Subsequently it is hoped, by means of powerful bioinformatic tools, to determine the gene variants that contribute to various multifactorial diseases and genes that exist in certain infectious agents but not humans. As a consequence, this will allow us to define the most appropriate levels for drug intervention. It can be expected that the number of potential drug targets will increase, possibly by a factor of 10 or more. Nevertheless, sequencing the human genome or, for that matter, the genome of other species will only be the starting point for the understanding of their biological function. Structural genomics is a likely follow-up, combined with new techniques to validate the therapeutic relevance of such newly discovered targets. Accordingly, it can be expected that in the near future we will witness a substantial increase in novel putative targets for drugs. To address these new targets effectively, we require new approaches and innovative tools. At present, two alternative, yet complementary, techniques are employed: experimental high-throughput screening (HTS) of large compound libraries, increasingly provided by combinatorial chemistry, and computational methods for virtual screening and de novo design. As kind of status report on the maturity of virtual screening as a technique in drug design, the first workshop on new approaches in drug design and discovery was held in March 1999, at Schloss Rauischholzhausen, near Marburg in Germany. More than 80 scientists gathered and discussed their experience with the different techniques. The speakers were invited to summarize their contributions together with their impressions on the present applicability of their approach. Several of the speakers followed this request which is summarized in this publication."

Learn more about psychiatric medications to better understand your clientele! Psychiatric Medication Issues for Social Workers, Counselors, and Psychologists explores a range of issues and dilemmas in psychopharmocology practice that emerge especially for social workers, counselors, and psychologists because of their unique roles and perspectives. This book contains qualitative and quantitative research examining the subjective experience of clients who use psychiatric medication. You'll find unprecedented discussion of clinical and ethical situations that arise when social workers and allied health caregivers collaborate with clients and providers around psychiatric medicine. This book contains creative ideas on how social workers and other allied health providers can be more responsive to both adults and children who take medication. Psychiatric Medication Issues for Social Workers, Counselors, and Psychologists focuses on the meaning of medication for the clients who use them and their positive and negative experiences with them over time. This book serves as an innovative forum and effective springboard for productive discussion among practitioners, scholars and researchers about psychiatric medication's relevance toand interface withsocial work practice. This book is designed to help practitioners: understand how clients manage their psychotropic medications and interpret their effects maximize the chances for successful treatment outcome by understanding the meaning, transference, and countertransference stimulated by the triangle created by the client, social worker, and psychopharmacological provider map the sociocultural context of youth medication management and help youthful clients adopt coping mechanisms for everyday medication treatment confront a variety of ethical dilemmas, such as ambiguities around the knowledge base of practice, appropriate roles of providers, and basic personal and professional values secure informed consent when discussing proposed treatments (including medications) and explain alternative treatments without breaking informed consent laws promote effective and comprehensive helping relationships by being cognizant of alternative practices, herbal preparations, and essential oil and flower essence products that clients could be using on their own This book contains extensive references, suggestions for client-consultation questions, research findings, and interviews with social workers to complement the text. Unique in its focus on the client's point of view, Psychiatric Medication Issues for Social Workers, Counselors, and Psychologists will help you overcome any difficulties of working with clients in drug therapy.

Explains models from natural flash systems Discusses theoretical considerations of flash systems Presents approaches and procedures for designing synthetic flash systems Explores methods for preparing flash systems for specific applications The design of environment-sensitive devices for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications has improved significantly due to recent advances in smart polymer and hydrogel technology. Despite their capacity to carry out functions that previously were unobtainable, smart polymers and hydrogels tend to have painfully slow response times. On the other hand biological systems go through phase changes at an extremely fast rate. This book examines the natural systems that respond almost instantaneously to environmental stimuli, and thus gives the reader an understanding of the mechanisms that govern these responses. The book includes chapters on how to go about designing a synthetic "flash" system based on the naturally occurring systems. It also deals with potential applications of flash systems in biomedical and pharmaceutical areas.

This volume explores the application of Quality by Design (QbD) to biopharmaceutical drug product development. Twenty-eight comprehensive chapters cover dosage forms, liquid and lyophilized drug products. The introductory chapters of this book define key elements of QbD and examine how these elements are integrated into drug product development. These chapters also discuss lessons learned from the FDA Office of Biotechnology Products pilot program. Following chapters demonstrate how QbD is used for formulation development ranging from screening of formulations to developability assessment to development of lyophilized and liquid formats. The next few chapters study the use of small-scale and surrogate models as well as QbD application to drug product processes such as drug substance freezing and thawing, mixing, sterile filtration, filling, lyophilization, inspection and shipping and handling. Later chapters describe more specialized applications of QbD in the drug product realm. This includes the use of QbD in primary containers, devices and combination product development. The volume also explores QbD applied to vaccine development, automation, mathematical modeling and monitoring, and controlling processes and defining control strategies. It concludes with a discussion on the application of QbD to drug product technology transfer as well as overall regulatory considerations and lifecycle management. Quality by Design for Biopharmaceutical Drug Product Development is an authoritative resource for scientists and researchers interested in expanding their knowledge on QbD principles and uses in creating better drugs.

The Essential Reference for Professionals Working with Breastfeeding Mothers - Now Published by Springer Publishing Company Medications & Mothers' Milk is the worldwide-bestselling drug reference on the use of medications in breastfeeding mothers, providing you with the most current, complete, and evidence-based information. Extensively updated throughout, the 17th Edition includes hundreds of new drugs, diseases, vaccines, and syndromes. The appendices provide information on radioactive drugs and tests, and over-the-counter drugs. Written by world-renowned Clinical Pharmacologist, Dr. Thomas Hale, and assisted by Dr. Hilary Rowe, this drug reference provides everything that is known about the transfer of various medications into human milk, the use of radiopharmaceuticals, the use of chemotherapeutic agents, and vaccines in breastfeeding mothers. Features: Updated throughout with new data on 1,115 drugs, syndromes, vaccines, and herbals. Contains new tables to compare the suitability of psychiatric medications and pain medication. Includes many new radiocontrast agents and other diagnostic procedures.

This concise guide to cosmetic active ingredients derived from plant sources will bring scientists, researchers in cosmetic science, and dermatology practitioners up to speed with the basic science and its applications in manufacturing and dermatological practice. It acts as a concise and quick reference from key researchers and an up-to-date guide to translation into practice, providing an easy-to-consult resource on a topic of great current interest.

This book discusses a wide range of health-related mining issues, with particular reference to occupational diseases, metal toxicity, postural injuries in miners, modern fire safety controls, noise-induced hearing loss prevention, and noise mapping. Mining plays a central role in the development of modern civilization. By providing the essential raw materials, mining ensures progress, safety, and comfort of people. However, this necessary activity comes with several woes, the most important of which are occupational health hazards. Mines act as sources of constant danger and risk to the miners irrespective of the scale of mining, such as large-scale industrial mining or small-scale artisanal mining. Not only are there accidents, but continuous exposure to dust, metal toxicity, hazardous gases and fumes, and loud noises, giving rise to a variety of diseases to mine workers. The comprehensive coverage of issues and the case studies will make this book an essential reference and critical reading. Medical geology is a necessary discipline in earth sciences. Unfortunately, not much literature is available on this subject. Therefore, this book is essential for practicing engineers and supervisors in mines, health and safety professionals, researchers, and mining industry students.

This is the third Proceedings book to arise from biennial conferen- ces on the Trace Amines. Since our first meeting in 1983 in Edmonton, Canada, progress has been brisk and, as will be seen from the ensuing pages, it is now possible to include major contributions from inverte- brate neurobiologists as well as receptorologists. In the opening ses- sion we heard about the distribution of the trace amines-now clear- ly a misnomer-in insects and the pharmacological, receptor, and syn- aptic characteristics of octopamine and tryptamine as well as the pos- sibility of monoamines in general being targets for insecticide discov- ery. In mammalian brain the distribution and characterization of the tryptamine receptor has proceeded to the point where two types have been described as well as novel agonists and antagonists, and, for the first time, a binding site for p-tyramine has been described. The com- bination of lesions and pharmacological and metabolic manipulations now permits the mapping of trace aminergic pathways, and the rap- idly accumulating evidence from releasing drugs, in situ microdialy- sis, iontophoresis, and second messenger systems lends credence to the claim that the trace amines possess neuromodulatory functions.

Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon, which continues to remain undertreated in the majority of affected patients thus representing a significant unmet medical need, but the development of cellular, subcellular, and molecular methods of approaching this epidemic of pain shows great promise. In Analgesia: Methods and Protocols, experts in the field present thorough coverage of molecular analgesia research methods from target discovery through target validation and clinical testing to tolerance and dependence, with extensive chapters on emerging receptor classes as targets for analgesic drugs and innovative analgesic strategies. As a volume in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, the chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes sections with tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Comprehensive and essential, Analgesia: Methods and Protocols promises to aid and enrich the research of all those scientists and clinicians who are interested in what the increasingly molecular future has in store for analgesia research, from the molecular research bench through the animal laboratory to the bedside.