This edition of the companion volumes Muscle Pain: Understanding the Mech- isms and Muscle Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment is essential reading for those interested in clinical approaches to acute and chronic pain conditions involving muscle tissues and in the mechanisms underlying these conditions. The volumes cover a very important topic in pain medicine, since muscle pain is very common and can often be dif?cult to diagnose and treat effectively. Furthermore, chronic pain involving muscle and other components of the musculoskeletal system increases with age, such that it is a common complaint of those of us who are middle-aged or older. Indeed, as changing population demographics in "west- nized" countries result in higher proportions of the population living longer and being middle-aged and elderly, chronic muscle pain will likely become even more of a health problem. In the case of acute muscle pain, this can often be very intense, and in the short term can limit or modify the use of components of the musculoskeletal system associated with the sensitive muscle. Chronic muscle pain can also be intense, as well as unpleasant and disabling, and it is in many cases the over-riding symptom of most musculoskeletal disorders that are associated with long-term deleterious changes in musculoskeletal function.

Progress in Drug Research is a prestigious book series (founded in 1959) which provides extensive expert-written reviews on a wide spectrum of highly topical areas in current pharmaceutical and pharmalogical research. Each volume contains fully cross-referencing indexes which link the volumes together, forming a virtually encyclopaedic work. The series thus serves as an important, time-saving source of information for researchers concerned with drug research and all those who need to keep abreast of the many recent developments in the quest for new and better medicines.

Volume 50 in the series includes:

P.N. Kaul: Drug discovery: Past, present and future

M. Rohmer: Isoprenoid biosynthesis via the mevalonate -- independent route, a novel target for antibacterial drugs

G. Edwards and A.H. Weston: Endothelium, -derived hyperpolarizing factor -- a critical appraisal

R.W. Rockhold: Glutamatic involvement in psychomotor stimulant action

J.M. Colacino and K.A. Staschke: The identification and development of antiviral agents for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

T.D. Johnson: Polyamines and cerebral ischemia

Clinical trials have two purposes -- to treat the patients in the trial, and to obtain information which increases our understanding of the disease and especially how patients respond to treatment. Statistical design provides a means to achieve both these aims, while statistical data analysis provides methods for extracting useful information from the trial data. Recent advances in statistical computing have enabled statisticians to implement very rapidly a broad array of methods which previously were either impractical or impossible. Biostatisticians are now able to provide much greater support to medical researchers working in both clinical and laboratory settings. As our collective toolkit of techniques for analyzing data has grown, it has become increasingly difficult for biostatisticians to keep up with all the developments in our own field. Recent Advances in Clinical Trial Design and Analysis brings together biostatisticians doing cutting-edge research and explains some of the more recent developments in biostatistics to clinicians and scientists who work in clinical trials.

This book discusses specific immune cell regulatory pathway(s), immune cell types, or other mechanisms involved in host responses to tuberculosis that can be potentially targeted for host-directed therapy (HDT). The pathways/mechanisms investigated are either protective - thus calling for pathway/factor enhancing drugs - or maladaptive - thus calling for pathway/factor inhibitory drugs. Discovery and development (pre-clinical and clinical) of candidate HDT agents will also be elucidated, as well as approaches for HDT of other diseases. The benefit to the reader will derive from learning about the biology of multiple host pathways involved in health and disease, how these pathways are disrupted or dysregulated during tuberculosis, and which druggable targets exist in these pathways. This book provides the reader with a roadmap of current and future directions of HDT against tuberculosis. Since the host pathways/factors involved in protective or maladaptive responses to tuberculosis are not disease-specific, information learned from the context of tuberculosis likely will be relevant to other infectious and non-infectious diseases.

In this completely updated and expanded edition of a classic bench manual, hands-on experts take advantage of the latest advances in ribozyme, DNAzyme, and RNA interference technologies to describe in detail the exciting and successful methods now available for gene inactivation in vitro and in vivo. Their optimized techniques employ hairpain ribozymes, DNAzymes, hammerhead ribozymes and derivatives, group I intron ribozymes, Rnase P ribozymes, and siRNAs, as well as general methods for RNA structure analysis, delivery of oligonucleotides, and gene therapy. Also provided are novel methods for identifying accessible cellular mRNA sites; group I intron and RNAse P ribozymes protocols for effective design, selection, and therapeutic applications; and the latest RNAi methods for sequencing-specific gene silencing in a wide variety of organisms. Comprehensive and up-to-date, Ribozymes and siRNA Protocols synthesizes for experienced and novice investigators alike the exciting advances in understanding nucleic acid enzymes and demonstrates how they may be used to analyze gene function and target validation, and to productively develop new therapeutics for human diseases.

Vital to academic researchers, the medical field, and especially to biotech and pharmaceutical scientists, metabolomics is a rapidly expanding field that will provide a key link between functional biology (phenotypes) and the inner workings of cells in tissues or whole organisms. In The Handbook of Metabolomics, expert researchers provide readers with the current state of metabolomic development and the integration of metabolomics with transcriptomics and proteomics, illustrated by research efforts related to toxicology and pharmacology. The detailed contributions deal with topics ranging from sample preparation and considerations, both laboratory and clinical, analytical methodologies for metabolite and isotopomer profiling, metabolic flux modeling, database construction, and the integration of 'omics for systems biochemical understanding, amongst other topics. Thorough and authoritative, The Handbook of Metabolomics serves as an ideal reference for all those who wish to further pursue this promising area of study.

CRC Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants is a unique catalog that includes more than 15,000 phytochemical constituents from over 1,000 higher plant species. This volume covers all of the generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS) herbs and at least 250 important food and medicinal plants. Each entry features the scientific name, one or more common names, a listing of phytochemical constituents, a single datum or range of quantitative data (wet-weight to dry-weight in parts per million), two-letter abbreviation identifying the plant part, and three-letter abbreviation(s) indicating the source(s) of the data.

The extraordinary amount of data compiled into an easy-to-use tabular format makes the CRC Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants a volume useful to all pharmacologists, toxicologists, nutritionists, pharmacognicists, and food scientists.

Sage, the Genus Salvia is one of the most famous and used herbs in the world. This volume, containing over twenty chapters written by leading experts in the field, presents a comprehensive coverage on all aspects of Salvia. Topics covered include the presentation of the most known Salvia species (approximately 400 of them), the distribution of the genus, its chemotaxonomy, ecophysiology, cultivation technology and breeding methods, information on the extraction, isolation, characterisation and structure of a large number of bioactive components, the various pharmacological properties of the species, the share of Salvia products in aromatherapy and the natural cosmetics market, biotechnological techniques, and commercial aspects.

This comprehensive volume on Salvia should be of interest to everyone involved in medicinal and aromatic plant applications and research.

This detailed volume covers diverse aspects of P2X7 receptor analysis, ranging from its molecular structure to related pharmacological and immunological tools, via its analysis in heterologous expression systems as well as assays using primary cells and whole animal models. After three introductory chapters that focus on its structure, ligands, and physiological functions, the book details the generation of antibody and nanobody tools for P2X7 receptors, provides protocols for the analysis of expressed P2X7 receptors with a focus on their electrophysiological analysis, as well as protocols for the investigation of P2X7 down-stream signaling in immune cells by flow cytometry. Mouse models and procedures suited to investigate P2X7-mediated effects in other primary cells and in vivo are also explained. 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 practical, The P2X7 Receptor: Methods and Protocols is a valuable reference not only for the growing community fascinated by this unusual ion channel but also for a broad readership interested in ion channels or purinergic receptors.

This volume brings together contributions from experts in the field of Pasteurella research. Its covers areas such as comparative genomics, pathogenic mechanisms, bacterial proteomics, as well as a detailed description and analysis of PMT and its interaction with host tissues, cells, immune system, and signalling pathways.

The Handbook of Pharmaceutical Controlled Release Technology reviews the design, fabrication, methodology, administration, and classifications of various drug delivery systems, including matrices, and membrane controlled reservoir, bioerodible, and pendant chain systems. Contains cutting-edge research on the controlled delivery of biomolecules! Discussing the advantages and limitations of controlled release systems, the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Controlled Release Technology -covers oral, transdermal, parenteral, and implantable delivery of drugs -discusses modification methods to achieve desired release kinetics -highlights constraints of system design for practical clinical application -analyzes diffusion equations and mathematical modeling -considers environmental acceptance and tissue compatibility of biopolymeric systems for biologically active agents -evaluates polymers as drug delivery carriers -describes peptide, protein, micro-, and nanoparticulate release systems -examines the cost, comfort, disease control, side effects, and patient compliance of numerous delivery systems and devices -and more!

Cutting-edge researchers describe their efforts to design, synthesize, and evaluate the biological activities of farensyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs); geranylgeranyltransferase inhibitors (GGTIs) are also discussed as potential anticancer drugs. The authors survey in detail such inhibitors as CAAX box peptidomimetics, FPP mimics, and bisubstrate transition state analogs, and critically review their uses in combination with radiation and other cytotoxic agents, such as gemcitabine, cisplatin, and taxanes. Illuminating and richly detailed, Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy constitutes today's standard reference for the pathbreaking use of FTIs and GGTIs in anticancer therapy and offers basic and clinical investigators a comprehensive treatment of the scientific and medical aspects of farnesyltransferase inhibitors.

The book focuses on novel interpenetrating polymer network (IPN)/semi-IPN technologies for drug delivery and biomedical applications. The dynamism of the design and development of interpenetrating network polymers is based on their ability to provide free volume for the easy encapsulation of drugs in the three-dimensional network structure obtained by cross-linking two or more polymer networks. Natural polymer-based IPNs can deliver drugs at a controlled rate over an extended period of time, while novel IPNs ensure better mechanical strength and sustained/ controlled drug-delivery properties. This book presents an overview of the use of this technology to fabricate nanomedicine, hydrogels, nanoparticles, and microparticles, thereby unlocking IPN's potential in the area of drug delivery and biomedical engineering. It also discusses applications of IPN systems in cancer therapy and tissue engineering, and describes the various IPN systems and their wide usage and applications in drug delivery.

Following reviews on sleep physiology, regulation, pharmacology, and the neuronal networks regulating sleep and awakening, as well as a classification of sleep disorders, this book presents a number of major breakthroughs in the treatment of those disorders. These include recently approved drugs for treating insomnia, such as Doxepin; variations on previously approved molecules, e.g. Zolpidem sublingual preparation; or new chemical entities in advanced stages of clinical development, e.g. Orexin antagonists. Further topics discussed include drugs acting on the GABA receptor, such as Lorediplon and Eszopiclone; the treatment of excessive daytime drowsiness with cell therapy and drugs such as Modafinil, Armodafinil and Sodium oxybate; and the use of Tasimelteon in the treatment of circadian sleep disorders.

This book discusses different approaches for successful pest-management through biotechnological interventions. Pest management is directly associated with the agricultural productivity. The book introduces the reader to various kinds of biopesticides that have been developed and are being developed for field application. Chemical pesticides have been widely used to control pests, and these induce pesticide resistance as well as other environmental problems. This book discusses the necessity to develop alternate pest control strategies, especially environment-friendly and target-specific biopesticides against destructive pests. The book describes important aspects such as microbial biopesticides, plant-based biopesticides, natural products that act against pests and the various other biotechnological advances and limitations of these biopesticides. It provides an in-depth knowledge of the latest research and development in the area of biopesticides. This informative book is meant for students and researchers in the fields of biotechnology, agriculture and applied microbiology.

A reference is needed that addresses the recent progress in aspects of PK/PD methods and developments of nanoparticles for novel drug delivery systems. No other consolidated published reference discusses the PK/PD study of nanoparticle drug delivery systems. This book discusses the advantages of nanoparticle drug delivery systems (NPDDS) in enhancing the pharmacokinetics of many drugs that are not easily metabolized or that obtain the desired therapeutic effect with minimum toxicity. The authors provide an overview of biodistribution with a focus on polymer and lipid nanoparticles. This thorough reference is divided into three parts: Modelling, Specific carries and their potential to treat specific diseases.

This book covers wide areas of animal and human psychopharmacology with clinical utility in the treatment of psychiatric and neurological (e.g Alzheimer's disease) disorders. The main theme is to develop a new paradigm for drug discovery that questions the claim that animal models or assays fail adequately to predict Phase 3 clinical trials. A new paradigm is advocated that stresses the importance of intermediate staging points between these extremes that depend on suitable translation of findings from animal studies to Phase 1 or Phase 2 studies utilising experimental medicine.

The 20th Anniversary of a Learned Society is a momentous event in its af fairs, and it is fitting that, in the Appendix to the Proceedings of the 20th An niversary Meeting, the history of the Society for Drug Research is outlined. The aim of the Society, to encourage an interdisciplinary approach and to act as an organisation freed from any specific scientific branch of knowledge, was achieved and is exemplified by the publication of these proceedings of the Anniversary Meeting held at the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. In only two other cases have the Society's proceedings been published, main taining the original decision and policy to allow membership to enjoy com munications from those who may not have agreed to speak had publication been mandatory. The papers presented at the Anniversary Meeting covered a wide range of scientific disciplines, and it is fitting that work of such calibre should have been published under the able editorship of Stuart and Bryan Walker. They should prove invaluable to those who are interested in Drug Research."

The traditional use of organic colorants is to impart color to a substrate such as textiles, paper, plastics, and leather. However, in the last five years or so organic colorants have become increasingly important in the high technology (hi-tech) industries of electronics and particularly reprographics. In some of these reprographics applications the organic colorant is used in its traditional role of imparting color to a substrate, typically paper or plastic. Examples are dyes for ink-jet printing, thermally transferable dyes for thermal transfer printing, and dyes and pigments for colored toners in photocopiers and laser printers. In other applications it is a special effect of an organic colorant that is utilized, not its color. Examples are electrical effects, such as photoconduction and the electrostatic charging of toners, both of which are essential features for the operation of photocopiers and laser printers, and the selective absorption of infrared radiation, which is utilized in optical data storage. In electronic applications the organic colorant is often employed in a device. Typical examples include liquid crystal dyes, laser dyes, electro chromic dyes, dyes for solar cells, dyes for micro color filters, and dyes for nonlinear optical applications.

Gastric acid plays a primary role in digestion as well as in the sterilization of food and water. Gastric juice contains the most concentrated physiological acid solution (pH~1) as a result + - of H and Cl ion secretion [hydrochloric acid (HCl) production] by parietal cells in the oxyntic mucosa of the stomach. The combined output of the parietal cells leads to the sec- tion of 1-2 l of HCl at a concentration of 150-160 mmol/l into the interior of the stomach. In order to facilitate the production of acid, the parietal cell relies on the generation of a high + concentration of H ions that are transported into the lumen of the gland. This process is fa- + + cilitated by activation of the gastric H ,K -ATPase, which translocates to the apical pole of + - the parietal cell. K as well as ATP hydrolysis and Cl all play critical roles in the activation + + of gastric H ,K -ATPase and are essential for the functioning of the enzyme (Reenstra and Forte 1990). This review will examine the classical proteins that have been linked to acid secretion as well as some recently identi?ed proteins that may modulate gastric acid secretion, in - dition we discuss the known secretagogues, and their receptors including a new receptor, which upon stimulation can lead to acid secretion.

Although the potential for immunomodulation has been recognized for many years there has been an explosion of data in this field with relevance especially to the treatment of chronic airway diseases. Most of the work in this field has been conducted by Japanese investigators but in the last decade there has been a body of work outside of Japan that supports and enhances these findings. The book covers basic research like effects on bacteria, anti-inflammatory and mucoregulatory effects, but also clinical results with up-to-date information for the use of such medications to potentially treat diseases as diverse as chronic airway diseases, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer.
The volume is intended for pulmonary physicians, researchers in inflammation research, and pharmaceutical companies interested in the development of such agents. It provides background information for the clinician as well as in depth exploration of cutting edge science.