The eyes are highly diversified photosensitive structures. In all vertebrates, eyes resemble in molecular composition and are predominantly composed of extracellular matrix (ECM). Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 134 explores the dual role of ECM in ocular homeostasis and diseases and discusses how this duality can be used to treat such diseases. The view on ECM biology offered by this work is translational and adress concepts of basic science and clinical-surgical issues.Following this, the authors aim to provide information about the mechanisms of oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis, to provide updates for previous studies update and some of the current paradigms discussed and to provide a basis for future studies. This review highlights the elementary value of apoptosis, including its effect on tissue homeostasis and cellular stress.The aim of the subsequent study was to investigate microcirculation peculiarities of the covering tissues of the limbs and body in patients with orthopedic pathology and in track-and-field athletes having reached high sport mastership.Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a clinical entity in which CSF rhinorrhea occurs in the absence of any inciting event. Spontaneous CSF leaks are associated with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) or underlying idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The authors report on a cohort of patients who have undergone nasal endoscopic repair for spontaneous CSF leaks.Wound healing is a widespread feature of multicellular organisms. Evidence illustrates that apoptosis has very important roles in the various phases of the wound healing process. As such, the authors maintain the importance of keeping up-to-date with studies on apoptosis and its associated mechanisms highlighted in the wound healing process, providing a systematic analysis of recent molecular research in wound healing applications.Despite enormous improvements in supportive and standard care, septic shock and liver failure remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Plasma separation via centrifugation is a common method for therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with liver failure and septic shock. The authors suggest that the use of a centrifugal approach rather than regular plasma filtration enables the transfer of larger particles into the resulting plasma fraction. The possible advantages of using centrifugation in comparison to hemofiltration in blood cleaning techniques are currently hypothetical.The most commonly used staging classification of the classical form of Kaposis sarcoma was presented by Brambilla et al. in 2003. The authors distinguished four stages of the disease based on the morphology of the cutaneous lesions, location of the skin changes, presence of complications and internal organ involvement. The clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of classical Kaposis sarcoma will be discussed in the closing chapter.

The management of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is complex and early intervention is needed to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. The severity of PsA and response to medication should guide the proper treatment modality, as per the recent EULAR and GRAPPA recommendations. In this collection, the authors begin by examining conventional treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Next, the authors examine parasitic nematodes which cause substantial production losses in grazing animals and suffering in humans. Farmers treat animals with anthelmintics, often in an unplanned way. Frequent whole flock and herd treatments have encouraged the development of resistance as all worms in the animals are exposed to anthelmintic. The single largest problem with anthelmintic resistance is persuading farmers to adopt strategies that slow the development and spread of resistance. The authors go on to discuss the role of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in animal diagnostic technologies, molecular tracking techniques using GFP as fusion tags in studying proteinprotein interactions and real time monitoring of host pathogen interactions, as reporter tags in animal viral studies, in in-vitro and in-vivo imaging of transgenic animals for genetic screening and in animal marker vaccines and cancer studies. Following this, the authors provide their understanding of pathogenesis in spinal cord injury (SCI), the current therapeutic efforts and their limitations, and the emerging roles of retinoids in neuroprotection and functional recovery in SCI. Retinoids use retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the cells for modulation of expression of genes that eventually provide neuroprotection in SC. Pap smears detect cytologic abnormalities that indicate the possible presence of a pre-malignant lesion. The cytologic suspicion of a high grade lesion presents the risk of hiding a more severe dysplasia, which has a high risk of progression to invasive neoplastic lesion. Thus, the authors propose that adequate treatment and follow-up should be offered, such as cytology repeat, HPV testing, colposcopy, colposcopy-directed biopsy, or excision of the transformation zone. The subsequent chapter deals with the criteria that can be leant upon to prescribe retinoids for the off-label treatment of dermatological diseases. Exemplary clinical cases are illustrated. The author hopes to inspire creative physicians, and revamp classical, time-honored therapeutic methodologies as well. This book also discusses methods to study bacterial heterogeneity and its influence on phenotypic drug resistance include flow cytometry based approaches, RNA sequencing techniques, microfluidic technology time-lapse microscopy and mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches. These technological advances are powerful tools that enable us to explore and interrogate mechanisms of bacterial heterogeneity in pathogen populations. Lastly, the authors review the effects of how reproductive toxic exposures induce apoptosis of male germ cells by affecting the spermatogenic cells of the developing testis and investigate several possible mechanisms underlying alkylating agent-induced reproductive toxicity. Furthermore, an understanding of how cells cope with DNA damage caused by alkylating agents is valuable in clinical medicine.

Biofilms are complex and dynamic communities of surface-attached microorganisms held together by a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix, forming a highly hydrated structure. It is known that there is considerable heterogeneity within biofilms with respect to local environments, which may result in spatial and temporal patterns of gene expression. Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 132 begins by discussing the use of GFP to explore these microbial communities, presenting the most recent developments associated with GFP variants and novel applications of this molecule in biofilm research. Next, the authors discuss the fibrinolytic and its important role in reproduction. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is one of the primary regulators of the fibrinolytic system and is expressed in various cells including ovarian granulosa and theca cells, endometrial cells and trophoblasts. This overview provides the current knowledge on the role of PAI-1 and PAI-1 gene mutations in reproduction. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) is a bio-luminous fluorescent phosphoprotein which was originally isolated from the luminous organ of the jellyfish Aequorea Victoria. At the molecular level, it is composed of 238 amino acids with an approximate molecular weight of about 27 kDa. The authors discuss the role of GFP in animal diagnostic technologies, molecular tracking techniques using GFP as fusion tags in studying proteinprotein interactions and real time monitoring of host pathogen interactions. In the authors Immunoallergology Department, a recent study of 64 CSU patients treated with omalizumab provided pertinent information. Overall, the patients had a reduction of the UAS7 score of 5.82% per omalizumab administration (pOa) and of the DLQI score of 6.69% pOa (data not published). However, when patients were divided according to their baseline serum total IgE levels (STIgE), patients with higher STIgE had a much faster response to omalizumab. The results of this study are discussed in detail. The subsequent chapter aims to explore the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) that arise from the small bowel in both metastatic and non-metastatic disease. GISTs account for two per cent of all neoplasia of the gastrointestinal tract. They represent the most common GI mesenchymal tumour with a worldwide incidence of 11-15 per million and a median age of presentation of 55-60 years. Diabetes insipidus (DI) is examined as one of the major clinical syndromes characterized by the excretion of copious volumes of diluted urine (polyuria) together with persistent intake of abnormally large volumes of fluid (polydipsia). Investigation of the chronological changes of hyper intensity (HI) distribution over the pituitary stalk and the posterior lobe after transsphenoidal surgery on MR images might enable to predict how frequently postoperative diabetes insipidus occurs and how long it persists, and to elucidate an underlying mechanism for the appearance of the HI in the pituitary stalk. In the following chapter, the authors discuss salient aspects of central nervous system effects of methionine and methionine metabolites in relation to behavioural, neurochemical and possible structural alterations. The possibility of the evolution of conventionally-approved clinical applications of oral methionine, and the potential limitations to its utilisation in such capacity are also considered. Later, this collection considers the functions of Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) in pharmacology and diseases. The authors aim to address what GABA is, how GABA reacts, and what GABA-related diseases and agents exist. GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter of the vertebrate central nervous system, acting at inhibitory synapses in the brain. In the concluding chapter, the authors address how gabapentin, a synthetic analog of GABA, may be an effective analgesic used to treat different types of neuropathic pain syndromes, including diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, painful neuropathy resulting from HIV infection, cancer pain, fibromyalgia, pain after burn injury, and complex regional pain syndrome.

Most venous leg ulcers can be CURED. Not healed temporarily with dressings and compression, only to come back again - but cured. So why is this revolutionary? Because most patients are not given the chance of a cure. Patients with leg ulcers are consigned to a life of dressings and compression - and are not told that they might be cured with local anaesthetic vein treatments, performed as walk-in, walk-out procedures. Professor Mark Whiteley is an internationally renowned venous surgeon who has spent over 20 years researching venous disease and treatments. He performed the first endovenous surgery in the UK (March 1999), invented the TRLOP procedure in 2001 and founded The Whiteley Clinic in 2003 as a specialist venous clinic - now called Whiteley Clinics. This book is aimed at anyone who has a venous leg ulcer, or who deals with patients who have venous leg ulcers - either as a carer or as a healthcare professional. Written simply and well-illustrated, it takes the reader from first principles through the investigation and treatments of venous leg ulcers - showing how compression and dressings can be avoided in most patients who can walk. With the changing face of medical research, new guidelines and litigation, anyone who has a venous leg ulcer, or who works with those that suffer from venous leg ulcers, should be aware of the messages in this book.