Medicinal Chemistry: Fundaments presents the cycle of the life of drugs, their physico-chemical properties, and consequences that arise in development. The fundamental concepts of Medicinal Chemistry (pharmacophore, prodrugs, Lipinsky rules) are also presented, including discussions on specific concerns of the European Pharmacopeia - the industrialist's bible - its role, and a description of the monographs of active principles.

Clinical research is heavily regulated and involves coordination of numerous pharmaceutical-related disciplines. Each individual trial involves contractual, regulatory, and ethics approval at each site and in each country. Clinical trials have become so complex and government requirements so stringent that researchers often approach trials too cautiously, convinced that the process is bound to be insurmountably complicated and riddled with roadblocks. A step back is needed, an objective examination of the drug development process as a whole, and recommendations made for streamlining the process at all stages. With Intelligent Drug Development, Michael Tansey systematically addresses the key elements that affect the quality, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of the drug-development process, and identifies steps that can be adjusted and made more efficient. Tansey uses his own experiences conducting clinical trials to create a guide that provides flexible, adaptable ways of implementing the necessary processes of development. Moreover, the processes described in the book are not dependent either on a particular company structure or on any specific technology; thus, Tansey's approach can be implemented at any company, regardless of size. The book includes specific examples that illustrate some of the ways in which the principles can be applied, as well as suggestions for providing a better context in which the changes can be implemented. The protocols for drug development and clinical research have grown increasingly complex in recent years, making Intelligent Drug Development a needed examination of the pharmaceutical process.

Progress in Drug Research is a prestigious book series which provides extensive expert-written reviews on a wide spectrum of highly topical areas in current pharmaceutical and pharmacological research. Founded in 1959 by its current editor, the series has moved from its initial focus on medicinal chemistry to a much wider scope. Today it encompasses all fields concerned with the development of new therapeutic drugs and the elucidation of their mechanisms of action, reflecting the increasingly complex nature of modern drug research. Invited authors present their biological, chemical, biochemical, physiological, immunological, pharmaceutical, toxicological, pharmacological and clinical expertise in carefully written reviews and provide the newcomer and the specialist alike with an up-to-date comprehensive list of prime references. Each volume of Progress in Drug Research contains fully cross-referencing indices which link the books 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.

This essential methods manual for immunohematologists (or hematologists and immunohematologists) provides information on genes that encode antigens on red blood cells, platelets and neutrophils. The book begins by covering general concepts in molecular biology and specific protocols such as DNA preparation, PCR-RFLP and allele-specific PCR. Information on the erythrocyte, platelet and neutrophil antigen systems and the molecular basis of polymorphisms are presented clearly in a gene facts sheet format. Database accession numbers and useful adjuncts such as Request forms, worksheets for PCR/enzyme digests also serve to benefit the user. The information is clearly presented and easily accessible and is complemented by the excellent diagrams and tabular material. This book is invaluable for both new and experienced researchers in the field and other related disciplines.
Key Features
* Essential for hematologists and those involoved in tissue typing and the study of human genetic polymorphisms
* Presents clearly and concisely the information on a particular variant and the technique used to detect it
* Organized by antigen and provides sequences of polymorphisms and primers
* Details the general concepts and critical information on genes, their products, and sources of relevant nucleic acids
* Includes protocols that allow investigators to set up assays with minimal effort (protocols include primers, reagents, reaction conditions, sizes of amplified products, restriction fragment digests, and the relevant safety information)
* Provides information that helps interpret results in clinical settings
* Contains additional sources of information (e.g., key references, web site addresses, glossary, Database accession numbers, request
forms, and worksheets for PCR/enzyme digests)

Psychiatry today is a barren tundra, writes medical historian Edward Shorter, where drugs that don't work are used to treat diseases that don't exist. In this provocative volume, Shorter illuminates this dismal landscape, in a revealing account of why psychiatry is "losing ground" in the struggle to treat depression.
Naturally, the book looks at such culprits as the pharmaceutical industry, which is not inclined to market drugs once the patent expires, leading to the endless introduction of new--but not necessarily better--drugs. But the heart of the book focuses on an unexpected villain: the FDA, the very agency charged with ensuring drug safety and effectiveness. Shorter describes how the FDA permits companies to test new products only against placebo. If you can beat sugar pills, you get your drug licensed, whether or not it is actually better than (or even as good as) current medications, thus sweeping from the shelves drugs that may be superior but have lost patent protection. The book also examines the FDA's early power struggles against the drug industry, an influence-grab that had little to do with science, and which left barbiturates, opiates, and amphetamines all underprescribed, despite the fact that under careful supervision they are better at treating depression, with fewer side effects, than the newer drugs in the Prozac family. Shorter also castigates academia, showing how two forms of depression, melancholia and nonmelancholia--"as different from each other as chalk and cheese"--became squeezed into one dubious classification, major depression, which was essentially a political artifact born of academic infighting.
An astonishing and troubling look at modern psychiatry, Losing Ground is a book that is sure to spark controversy for years to come.

Drug Targeting and Stimuli Sensitive Drug Delivery Systems covers recent advances in the area of stimuli sensitive drug delivery systems, providing an up-to-date overview of the physical, chemical, biological and multistimuli-responsive nanosystems. In addition, the book presents an analysis of clinical status for different types of nanoplatforms. Written by an internationally diverse group of researchers, it is an important reference resource for both biomaterials scientists and those working in the pharmaceutical industry who are looking to help create more effective drug delivery systems.

The book deals with the subject of depression and its causes and answers a number of questions that should be of interest to any and every patient regarding the health-care system and the society in general. Why has the diagnosis of depression increased over the past two decades? Are treatments offered to patients by their primary care physicians and psychiatrists justified and evidence based? Why do patients use nutritional and herbal supplements and are attracted to other complementary therapies? How do pharmaceutical companies exploit the health-care system and influence physicians to prescribe not the most effective but most expensive medicines? What is St. John's wort, and who has been using this unassuming weed for health benefits? The effectiveness of antidepressant drugs, both typical and newer drug classes, like SSRIs and SNRIs, and their adverse effects have been presented. The author has made head-to-head comparisons of scientific studies of St. John's wort with SSRIs, such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, for their effectiveness, adverse effects, and potentials for drug interactions in cogent and easily understood manner. The author leaves the reader with a take-home message as he concludes this book.

Lipid Nanocarriers for Drug Targeting presents recent advances in the area of lipid nanocarriers. The book focuses on cationic lipid nanocarriers, solid lipid nanocarriers, liposomes, thermosensitive vesicles, and cubosomes, with applications in phototherapy, cosmetic and others. As the first book related to lipid nanocarriers and their direct implication in pharmaceutical nanotechnology, this important reference resource is ideal for biomaterials scientists and those working in the medical and pharmaceutical industries that want to learn more on how lipids can be used to create more effective drug delivery systems.

Providing optimal care to patients is a primary concern in the healthcare field. By utilizing the latest resources and research in biomedical applications, the needs and expectations of patients can be successfully exceeded. Novel Approaches for Drug Delivery is an authoritative reference source for the latest scholarly research on emerging developments within the pharmaceutical industry, examining the current state and future directions of drug delivery systems. Highlighting therapeutic applications, predictive toxicology, and risk assessment perspectives, this book is ideally designed for medical practitioners, pharmacists, graduate-level students, scientists, and researchers.

Organic Materials as Smart Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery presents the latest developments in the area of organic frameworks used in pharmaceutical nanotechnology. An up-to-date overview of organic smart nanocarriers is explored, along with the different types of nanocarriers, including polymeric micelles, cyclodextrins, hydrogels, lipid nanoparticles and nanoemlusions. Written by a diverse range of international academics, this book is a valuable reference for researchers in biomaterials, the pharmaceutical industry, and those who want to learn more about the current applications of organic smart nanocarriers.

Handbook of Animal Models of Infection is a complete revision of a three-volume text that was published in 1986. It incorporates the major advances in the field during the past decade, in particular those concerning molecular biological procedures and new models that have been developed. It focuses on both methods and techniques, which makes it an essential and comprehensive reference as well as a benchtop manual. The Handbook will help investigators save time and effort in formulating an approach to test a new potential therapeutic agent or combination of agents for "in vivo" efficacy and to position the therapy for specific infections where it may have therapeutic promise. The book is divided into five sections; the first covering the general methodologies, followed by sections describing experimental bacterial, mycotic, parasitic, and viral infections.
Key Features
* Discusses ethical and safety aspects in an introductory background section
* Covers principles of animal care and current techniques appropriate for the use of animal models of infection
* Details a wide range of animals including rodents, rabbits, cats, and primates
* Provides hands-on descriptions of how to set up the model
* Discusses the major advantages and limitations of each model
* Ensures full coverage of bacterial, fungal, viral, and parasitic infections

Natural Products and Drug Discovery: An Integrated Approach provides an applied overview of the field, from traditional medicinal targets, to cutting-edge molecular techniques. Natural products have always been of key importance to drug discovery, but as modern techniques and technologies have allowed researchers to identify, isolate, extract and synthesize their active compounds in new ways, they are once again coming to the forefront of drug discovery. Combining the potential of traditional medicine with the refinement of modern chemical technology, the use of natural products as the basis for drugs can help in the development of more environmentally sound, economical, and effective drug discovery processes. Natural Products & Drug Discovery: An Integrated Approach reflects on the current changes in this field, giving context to the current shift and using supportive case studies to highlight the challenges and successes faced by researchers in integrating traditional medicinal sources with modern chemical technologies. It therefore acts as a useful reference to medicinal chemists, phytochemists, biochemists, pharma R&D professionals, and drug discovery students and researchers.

Nanostructures for the Engineering of Cells: Tissues and Organs showcases recent advances in pharmaceutical nanotechnology, with particular emphasis on tissue engineering, organ and cell applications. The book provides an up-to-date overview of organ targeting and cell targeting using nanotechnology. In addition, tissue engineering applications, such as skin regeneration are also discussed. Written by a diverse range of international academics, this book is a valuable research resource for researchers working in the biomaterials, medical and pharmaceutical industries.

We have specialists catering to every aspect of our life except the poison that we pump into our body as drugs; all specialists are in control of their destiny except pharmacists that are treated like children in their supposed area of jurisdiction; pharmacists are overeducated, underutilized and marginalized medical practitioners; drugs are chemicals and chemicals are poisons. The drugs we pump into our body at dawn can send us to our grave at dusk instead of ameliorating our condition. It is in light of these facts that this book was written to buttress the plight of pharmacists, pharmacy profession and the need to liberate the profession from slavery for the benefit of mankind. The book debits an accurate historical account of pharmacy, its slavery status, subservience, topsy-turvy fame, service to humanity and awesome contribution to the healthcare system of US/World. It also elaborates the history and shortcomings of other branches of medicine. Dean Grossman of LIU School of Pharmacy, Drug Topics survey of drug manufacturing company executives, research studies in the book, study upon study, and others vindicate clinical pharmacists as the most knowledgeable medical practitioners about drugs/medications in the medical field yet they have to obtain permission for drug usage from other branches of medicine that do not know as much about the profession as the practitioners. Something must be inherently wrong in a system that relegates or subjugates the best at the altar of tradition and societal indoctrination. These issues contained in the book were evident everywhere during my tour of the sic habitable continents of the world (China and India in Asia, Nigeria in Africa, Australia, UK and France in Europe, Brazil in South America and US in North America). Pharmacy/pharmacist is a branch of medicine and not an errand boy of medicine.

This book contains the selected papers presented at the seventh International Symposium on Blood Substitutes (7th ISBS) held at the International Conference Center of Waseda University in Tokyo on 7-10 September 1997. In keeping with the scientific design of the 7th ISBS Symposium, chapters have been carefully selected and organized to showcase the advancements in recent research. This book includes up-to-date clinical results of leading companies which are manufacturing hemoglobin-based or fluorocarbon-based blood substitutes, and covers issues of hemoglobin toxicity and side effects such as vasoconstriction in more detail using carefully designed in vivo and ex vivo techniques. This book is also a collection of various new types of red cell substitutes such as recombinant Hbs, recombinant albumine-lipidheme complex, modified red blood cells, and perfluorochemicals using material science and molecular engineering.

In the early eighties when the H3 receptor was identified, many thought that an H3 ligand, an agonist or an antagonist, would become available as a therapeutic agent. This has not occurred. The reason for this could be the fact that many investigators consider histamine mainly, if not only, as a mediator present in for example mast cells being released during allergic events. However, it has become apparent that histamine is an important neurotransmitter. Its role in the nervous system, especially in the central part of it, is rather extensive.

The H3 receptor is mainly found as a presynaptic one, both on histaminergic neurons (the auto-type) and on other neuronal systems (the hetero-type). Both the H3 agonist and the H3 antagonist cause important pharmacological effects. Several ligands have become available now, including radiolabelled analogues.

In this book, the current state of affairs with regards to the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of the H3 receptor and the several ligands available are presented by a number of experts in the field. The book presents an extended review of what has happened since the first H3 paper appeared. The editors hope that publication of this work will lead to an increase in interest of both academia and industry for the H3 receptor, especially as a target for drug development.