The emergence of H5N1 avian influenza in 1997 and of the influenza A H1N1 of swine origin in 2009 calls for new, rapid and sustainable solutions for both seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses. During the last ten years, science and technology have made enormous progress, and we are now able to monitor in real time the genetics of viruses while they spread globally, to make more powerful vaccines using novel adjuvants, and to generate viruses in the laboratory using reverse genetics. This volume not only provides state-of-the-art information on the biology of influenza viruses and on influenza vaccines, but is also designed to be a resource to face the present H1N1 pandemic and to plan for long-term global and sustainable solutions.

Doping in sports and the fight against it has gained increasing attention in recent years. The pharmacological basis for a possible performance enhancement in competitive sport through the administration of prohibited substances and methods as well as the analytical disclosure of such practices are comprehensively covered in 21 contributions by outstanding and distinctive authors.

Introductory Immunology: Basic Concepts for Interdisciplinary Applications, Third Edition includes aspects of microbiology and related immune defense mechanisms important in combating disease, as well as critical components related to the field of vaccine development. Knowledge on effector mechanisms addressing components inherent within cellular responses that are either newly discovered or missing from the previous edition are covered. The book puts an extra emphasis on aspects related to mechanisms important in combating microbial agents, with critical sections on how vaccines protect against pathogenic invaders to limit associated pathology. This new edition has been completely updated and revised, offering an expanded concise, conceptual approach to understanding immune systems as a primary defense to maintain health and homeostasis. It is specifically focused towards an educated audience that does not have a deep understanding of medical, biochemical or cellular knowledge.

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.

This comprehensive volume provides current state of the art of the use of corticosteroids in the pediatric patient. It consists of 14 chapters written by leading authors from different countries. The first chapters cover historical notes, general concepts on treatment with corticosteroids with regard to indications and side effects, and basic pharmacologic properties of these compounds. The rest of the book is devoted to the specific use of steroids in the different pediatric subspecialties. Despite advances with newer effective immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids still remain the mainstay of therapy for many disorders. Leading authors in their field have summarized these concepts to provide an authoritative, comprehensive guide to help clinicians safely and effectively use corticosteroids in their pediatric patients.

This book is intended as a scientific resource for cannabinoid researchers carrying out animal and human experiments, and for those who are interested in learning about future directions in cannabinoid research. Additionally, this book may be of value to investigators currently working outside the field of cannabinoid research who have an interest in learning about these compounds and their atypical cannabinoid signalling. This book provides insight into the potential medical application of cannabinoids and their therapeutic development for the treatment of human disease.

Sphingolipids are lipid components of the plasma membrane in eukaryotic cells. They have an important function in signaling mechanisms in the cell. This book on sphingolipids provides insights into the basics of sphingolipid biology and drug development, with a particular emphasis on the sphingolipid derivative ceramide. In the first part basic functions of sphingolipids are described, as well as the genetics of important enzymes, sphingolipid metabolism and synthesis. The second part of this first volume focuses on drug development and pharmacology. The book is intended for scientists in pharmacology, biochemistry and cell biology with a focus on biomedical research as well as for clinicians working in pharmacology, oncology, cardiology, neurology and infectious disease. Together with Volume 216 by the same editors, the collection represents a unique, comprehensive work on sphingolipids, providing information on both sphingolipids basic biology (including synthesis, metabolism and cell biology) and their important function in a (patho-)physiological context."

Diseases associated with impaired tissue repair are common clinical problems. Therefore, the elucidation of the molecular basis of normal and impaired repair will help to define new therapeutic targets to alleviate and eventually cure these illnesses. Furthermore, recent studies have revealed remarkable similarities between tissue repair and cancer at the cellular and molecular level. Thus, the characterization of the mechanisms underlying normal repair processes will also enhance our knowledge on the pathogenesis of cancer and provide the basis for the development of novel cancer therapeutics. In recent years, our understanding on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in tissue repair has strongly increased, and some of the regulatory genes and signalling cascades have been identified. Furthermore, new strategies have been developed for the improvement of organ regeneration involving the use of growth factors or matrix proteins, stem cells and new biomaterials. Molecular Biology and Pharmacology of Tissue Repair summarizes the work of major experts in the tissue repair field. Similarities and differences in repair of different tissues and organs are reviewed, and the parallels between tissue repair and embryonic development, as well as between tissue repair and cancer are reported. Therefore, this volume will be of interest for basic scientists who work on embryonic development, tissue repair and cancer as well as for clinicians of different disciplines. Overview on repair of different tissues and organs Parallels between development and tissue repair Parallels between tissue repair and cancer

The field of pharmacogenomics arose to develop personalized medicine, or medicine that deals with the complexity of the human body. In this book, leading experts present methodical, state-of-the-art contributions covering topics from individual molecules to systemic diseases, examining both fundamental concepts and advanced technologies. The volume begins by exploring cutting-edge technologies used to pursue systems-based pharmacogenomics, followed by extensive chapters on gene-drug interactions and the use of pharmacogenomics in therapeutics of diseases. This book is ideal for scientists striving to transform disease treatment into disease prevention.

This topical volume provides an overview of clinically relevant data on anticancer agents. It is not only intended medical doctors working with cancer patients, and for medical researchers and students. The different classes of anticancer drugs are described by international authorities on the various topics. Apart from new targets for anticancer agents, attention is also focused on improving efficacy and tolerability of existing compounds.

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
*

Pharmaceutics: Basic Principles and Application to Pharmacy Practice, Second Edition is a valuable textbook covering the role and application of pharmaceutics within pharmacy practice. This updated resource is geared toward meeting and incorporating the current curricular guidelines on pharmaceutics and laboratory skills mandated by the American Council for Pharmacy Education. It includes a number of student-friendly features, including chapter objectives and summaries, practical examples, case studies, numerous images and key-concept text boxes. Two new chapters are included, as well as a new end of chapter section covering "critical reflections and practice applications". Divided into three sections – Physical Principles and Properties of Pharmaceutics; Practical Aspects of Pharmaceutics; and Biological Applications of Pharmaceutics – this new edition covers all aspects of pharmaceutics and providing a single and compelling source for students.

Following the testing of therapeutic sera, the quantified evaluation of a pharmaceutical's efficacy became a key feature of medicine in the twentieth century. The case studies in this volume offer comparisons across Europe, from the diphtheria antitoxin in the late 1800s to the introduction of the Salk polio vaccine in the 1950s.

This volume will address an important emergent area within the field of immunomics: the discovery of antigens and adjuvants within the context of reverse vaccinology. Conventional approaches to vaccine design and development requires pathogens to be cultivated in the laboratory and the immunogenic molecules within them to be identifiable. Conventional vaccinology is no longer universally successful, particularly for recalcitrant pathogens. By using genomic information we can study vaccine development in silico: 'reverse vaccinology', can identify candidate subunits vaccines by identifying antigenic proteins and by using equally rational approaches to identify novel immune response-enhancing adjuvants.

Endotoxins are potentially toxic compounds produced by Gram-negative bacteria including some pathogens. Unlike exotoxins, which are secreted in soluble form by live bacteria, endotoxins are comprised of structural components of bacteria. Endotoxins can cause a whole-body inflammatory state, sepsis, leading to low blood pressure, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. This book brings together contributions from researchers in the forefront of these subjects. It is divided into two sections: the first dealing with how endotoxins are synthesized and end up on the bacterial surface. The second discussed how endotoxins activate the Toll-like receptor TLR4 and, in turn, how TLR4 generates the molecular signals leading to infectious and inflammatory diseases. The way endotoxins interact with the host cells is fundamental to understanding the mechanism of sepsis, and recent research on these aspects of endotoxins has served to illuminate previously undescribed functions of the innate immune system. This volume presents a description of endotoxins according to their genetic constitution, structure, function and mode of interaction with host cells.

In this fast moving field the main goal of this volume is to provide up-to-date information on the molecular and functional properties and pharmacology of mammalian TRP channels. Leading experts in the field describe properties of a single TRP protein/channel or portray more general principles of TRP function and important pathological situations linked to mutations of TRP genes or their altered expression. Thereby this volume on Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) Channels provides valuable information for readers with different expectations and backgrounds, for those who are approaching this field of research as well as for those wanting to make a trip to TRPs."

This book seeks to unravel the mysteries of wolfberry, and systematically introduces its mechanisms in preventing aging-associated diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, liver and neurodegenerative diseases. Wolfberry, the dried fruit of Lycium barbarum, is an anti-aging herbal medicine. There have been numerous reports investigating the underlying mechanisms of its anti-aging effects and its role in preventing pathological changes in many aging-associated diseases. Its holistic effects on the body can attenuate liver toxicity and combat the spread of cancer; it also prevents degeneration in the central nervous system, and can even positively affect the skin. As such, wolfberry has become a very popular food supplement around the world. This book will serve as an excellent reference source for researchers and graduate students studying herbal medicine and aging-associated diseases, while also providing insights for the pharmaceutical industry with regard to developing potential drugs for these diseases.

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