This volume covers the latest advances in the mechanisms of pathogenesis of the HIV-1 virus on target cells. Its companion volume, Advances in Pharmacology 56, shows how new developments in understanding the virus translate to the clinical setting.

Prescription drugs are a basic and invaluable part of society today, but there is debate surrounding the methods of testing new drugs, the possible misuse of prescription drugs, and the economics of drug production and use. This book examines the evolution of prescription drugs in the United States, as well as the formation of the pharmaceutical industry. It begins with a history of prescription drugs, dating back to their origins, then moves through the Industrial Revolution and into the present day. It also delves into the issues and controversies related to prescription drugs, such as drug costs, regulations, prescription drug abuse, insurance complications, and more. Both implemented and proposed solutions are also discussed. One of the most valuable aspects of the book is that it surveys the history of prescription drugs in a manner that helps the reader identify key issues in an easy-to-understand fashion. Finally, the perspectives chapter allows a broad range of voices to be heard, allowing crucial, diverse perspectives to round out the author's expertise. Provides readers with an understanding of the various types of drugs and how they differ in their effects and possible applications Introduces a detailed review of the steps involved in the preclinical, clinical, and post-clinical stages of testing of a new prescription drug Outlines some major issues in the way experimental drugs are tested, such as gender, age, and racial bias Reviews the current status of prescription drug abuse in the United States Explains issues involved in the pricing of prescription drugs and issues involved in over-pricing

Currently, few drugs are available for the effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent advances in neuroscience research offer hope that future strategies for treating these brain disorders will include neurogenesis and neuroenhancement as therapeutic endpoints. This volume reviews cutting-edge findings related to the pharmacological aspects of neurogenesis and neuroprotection. A broad range of topics are covered from basic lab bench research to drug discovery efforts and important clinical issues. This collection of reviews is a perfect way to become acquainted with these exciting new fields in the space of a single volume. Chapters are written with a general audience in mind, but with enough high-level discussion to appeal to specialists and experts as well. The authors have done an excellent job of challenging current paradigms and pushing the boundaries of exploration in keeping with the pioneering spirit that gave rise to these emerging areas of research. Consequently, this will be an indispensable resource for many years to come.
* Provides state-of-the-art reviews spanning significant emerging fields
* Discusses future directions and questions for future studies
* Includes informative illustrations
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The dictionary will contain terms covering the following fields and subfields: Vitamin Technology: Vitamin biochemistry / Physiology; Origin of vitamins: natural, synthetic; Fat-soluble vitamins; Water-soluble vitamins; Vitamins as antioxidants; Vitamin deficiencies / Hypervitaminosis - Enzymes/Proteins: Biotechnology as applied biological science aimed at industrial exploitation - Hormones: Biochemistry; Physiology - Pharmaceutical Chemistry / Pharmaceutical Technology / Pharmaceutical Processes: Conception of the active principles; Structural analysis; Antibiotics and their way of action; Biochemistry; The Drug / The Medicament: Definition, origin, way of action; Biochemistry - Medical Aspects in the languages English, German, French and Portuguese.
*An important resource for pharmacologists, pharmaceutists and medical doctors
*Includes definitions in several prominent languages (English, German, French, Portuguese)
*Covers subfields of Vitamin Technology, Enzymes/Proteins, Hormones, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Technology, Pharmaceutical Processes, and more

This book presents a comprehensive and up to date account of the chemotherapy of parasitic diseases, both human and veterinary. The book starts with an overview of parasitic diseases. The body of the book is divided into two parts: antihelminthic drugs, and antiprotozoal drugs. Both parts start with chapters highlighting the 'biochemical targets' available for chemotherapeutic interference. Individual chapters deal with one chemical class of compounds and describe their origin, structure-activity relationship, mode of action, and methods of synthesis and their status both in clinical and veterinary practice. The book will be useful to a wide spectrum of readers: students embarking on a research career in parasitic chemotherapy, clinicians (and veterinarians) and clinical pharmacologists desiring detailed information about the drugs currently in use, and pharmaceutical technologists wanting to update their knowledge of the methods of manufacture.

Cancer-Leading Proteases: Structures, Functions, and Inhibition presents a detailed discussion on the role of proteases as drug targets and how they have been utilized to develop anticancer drugs. Proteases possess outstanding diversity in their functions. Because of their unique properties, proteases are a major focus of attention for the pharmaceutical industry as potential drug targets or as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. This book covers the structure and functions of proteases and the chemical and biological rationale of drug design relating to how these proteases can be exploited to find useful chemotherapeutics to fight cancers. In addition, the book encompasses the experimental and theoretical aspects of anticancer drug design based on proteases. It is a useful resource for pharmaceutical scientists, medicinal chemists, biochemists, microbiologists, and cancer researchers working on proteases.

In this book, the author focuses on exploring new organocatalytic transformations under operationally simple and environmentally friendly reaction conditions. Two new types of catalytic reactions promoted by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are described. The oxa- and azacycle-forming reactions of sulfonylalkynols and sulfonylalkynamides are broadly considered to be a new type of activation mode in NHC chemistry, wherein the bond formation with internal O- and N-nucleophiles occurs at the -position of the propargyl sulfones with 1,2-sulfonyl migration. The resulting oxa- and azacycles are core structures in many biologically significant compounds and medicinally important agents. In addition, the book develops the chiral NHC-catalyzed kinetic resolution of -hydroxy carboxylic acid derivatives based on chiral recognition of the substrate-cocatalyst complex. In this carboxylate cocatalyst-assisted chiral acylation, the reaction rate acceleration and selectivity enhancement are interpreted in terms of the reversible complexation of the substrate and carboxylate cocatalyst, which is verified by control experiments and measured using analytical methods. The findings described here reveal a promising new aspect of not only NHC catalysis but also identifying novel catalysis systems.

Medical Empathy, Pharmacological Systems, and Treatment Strategies in Integrative Cardiovascular Chinese Medicine, volume two in the Integrative Cardiovascular Chinese Medicine series, presents sections on holism and humanity in medicine, considering the patient, medical empathy in prescribing, modifying and weaning, an overview of pharmacologic systems, an overview of pharmacology sciences and the cardiovascular drug classes and types as revealed from perspectives of Chinese and Western medicine, including descriptions of pharmaceutical drugs from China and the United States, with current pictures and inpatient directions. Finally, principles and treatments according to disease stages for each cardiovascular disease within the scope of integrative medicine is outlined. This important reference will aid cardiovascular researchers in the study of integrative Chinese and Western medicine and provide a clear, structured base to guide clinical practice and encourage collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine practitioners