Published since 1953, "Advances in Virus Research" covers a diverse range of in-depth reviews providing a valuable overview of the current field of virology.
Key features:

* Contributions from leading authorities * Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

This book presents the current state of knowledge on the origin and differentiation of cell lines involved in the development of the vertebrate male and female gonads with particular emphasis on the mouse. It also discusses the processes leading to the testis- and ovary-specific structures and functions. The individual chapters review the origin and differentiation of the somatic cells of the genital ridges; the formation and migration of primordial germ cells in mouse and man; the gonadal supporting cell lineage and mammalian sex determination; differentiation of Sertoli and granulosa cells; mesonephric cell migration into the gonads and vascularization; origin and differentiation of androgen-producing cells in the gonads; germ cell commitment to the oogenic versus spermatogenic pathway and the role of retinoic acid; ovarian folliculogenesis; control of oocyte growth and development by intercellular communication within the follicular niche; biology of the Sertoli cell in the fetal, pubertal and adult mammalian testis; mechanisms regulating spermatogonial differentiation; stem cells in mammalian gonads; the role of microRNAs in cell differentiation during gonad development; human sex development and its disorders; as well as methods for the study of gonadal development.

This entry in the series Pediatric Cancer offers comprehensive information on a variety of cancers, concentrating on brain tumors, the most common solid tumors and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in children. The contents are organized in seven sections: Neuroblastoma, Medulloblastoma, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Rhabdoid, Sarcoma and Miscellaneous Tumors. Coverage includes pediatric medulloblastoma, and treatments including craniospinal radiation followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. The contributors explain diagnosis and chemotherapy of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and diagnosis of bone marrow involvement in pediatric lymphoma patients. Ewing's sarcoma, a highly malignant connective tissue neoplasm formed by the proliferation of mesenchymal cells, receives extensive coverage, including targeting of molecular pathways and chemotherapy and surgical treatment. The roles of apoptotic genes, MYCN gene, MDM2, and SNP309, P13K inhibitors, alternative splicing and microRNAs, activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule and inhibition by alu-like RNA in neuroblastoma are discussed in detail. The book explores the molecular genetics, diagnosis, prognosis and therapy of the atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT). Among the most common malignant neoplasms in children, AT/RT exhibits similarities with other CNS tumors, which can lead to misclassification, as pointed out in the book. The contributors discuss diagnosis of AT/RT type using imaging technology, and describe new strategies, including intensive multimodal therapy and high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation that have shown improved outcomes. Coverage of therapies includes total resection followed by aggressive chemotherapy and radiation. Discussion includes diagnosis and treatment of other pediatric tumors including adrenocortical tumors, supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors, giant midline tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, ependymomas and intramedullary cavernoma. Pediatric Cancer: Diagnosis, Therapy and Prognosis, Volume 4 includes contributions by ninety-one contributors - oncologists, neurosurgeons, physicians, research scientists and pathologists - representing thirteen countries. The editor, M.A. Hayat, is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Kean University, Union, New Jersey, USA.

This volume of "Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science" discusses cutting-edge research of proteasomes and proteasome-associated proteins and cellular systems. The volume is split into two sections. The first part discusses the current knowledge of the structure, function, and regulation of the proteasomal system. The second part describes the role of the proteasome in aging and disease.

Key features:

* Contributions from leading authorities * Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

The Badgastein Lecture.- The Challenge of the 21st Century.- Neurology, Psychiatry.- First Evaluation in Humans of [123I]PE21: A Selective Radioligand for Visualization of the Striatal Dopamine Transporter Density.- Comparison of Iodine-123 labelled Nor-ss-Cit and ss-Cit as Potential Radioligands for Serotonin Transporter Imaging.- Brain Serotonin and Dopamine Transporters in Depressive Children.- Prognostic Potential of Tc-99m-ECD-SPET within 6 Hours after Onset of Stroke Symptoms.- Brain Perfusion in Patients with Severe Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) before and after n-CPAP-Therapy.- Therapy.- Radioimmunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer in Small Volume Disease: Preclinical Evaluation in Comparison To Equitoxic Chemotherapy and Preliminary Results of an Ongoing Phase-I/II Clinical Trial.- Radioimmunotherapy of Glioblastoma by Using I-131 and Y-90 Labeled Anti-tenascin Monoclonal Antibodies.- I-131-Lipiodol Therapy in Liver Neoplasms.- Individualized Dose Estimation for Sr-89 with the Use of Diagnostic Tc-99m MDP Bone Scintigraphy.- Rhenium-186-HEDP and Strontium-89-Chloride in Treatment of Metastatic Bone Pain.- The Development of Chromatographic 188W/188Re Generators for Therapy.- Radiopharmacology.- Evaluation of mRNA Targeting by Labeled Oligonucleotides for Tumor-Diagnosis.- Synthesis and Evaluation of [123I]-Iodoaminoglutethimide, a Ligand for Visualization of the Aromatase Enzyme by SPECT.- Comparative Analysis of Kinetic Models to Study Glucose Metabolism of the Brain.- Bone Scintigraphy and Palliative Therapy with Multibone Kit.- Pharmaosintigraphic Study of Localization in the G.I. Tract of Controlled Release Tablets Using 153Sm as Marker.- Endocrinology, Thyroid.- On the Use of Routine Preoperative Scintigraphy in Thyroid Carcinoma Patients.- The Value of HMPAO SPECT Scanning in Patients with Congenital Hypothyreosis.- Advanced Stage Thyroid Cancer - Treatment with Isotretinoin.- Is SPECT-Technique Necessary for Preoperative Diagnosis of Parathyroid Adenoma ?.- Oncology, Haematology.- Comparison of Interlesionally and Systemically Administered Radiolabelled Monoclonal Antibodies in Implanted Tumours.- Comparison of MRI and Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy (SRS) in Post-surgical Follow-up of Meningioma.- Comparison of Contrast Enhanced MRI, Tc-99m Hydroxymethylene Diphosphonate and Tc-99m Tetrofosmin Scintimammography in Patients with Suspicious Breast Lesions.- Neoadjuvant Treatment of Patients with Breast Cancer under Surveillance of 99mTc-Tetrofosmin Scintigraphy.- 99Tc-Furifosmin Uptake by Melanoma Cells.- Lymphoscintigraphy in Tumors of the Head and Neck Using a Double Tracer Technique.- Clinical PET.- Clinical Application of 18FDG-PET in the Assessment of Head and Neck Tumors.- The Role of FDG-PET and MIBI Investigations in the Restaging of Treated Patients with Malignant Lymphomas.- Assessment of Pulmonary Nodules and Colorectal Cancer Recurrences by FDG Scan on an"Ordinary" Coincidence Gamma Camera (CDET).- Clinical Utility of 18FDG-PET with Molecular Coincidence Detection (MCD) and a Modified SPECT-Camera.- Deoxyglucose Uptake by Apoptosing and Proliferating Colonic Tumour Cells.- Cardiology.- Relation Between Viability, Improvement of LVEF and Heart Failure Symptoms after Revascularization.- Attenuation Corrected Tl-201 SPECT Using a Gd-153 Moving Line Source: Clinical Value and the Impact of Attenuation Correction on the Extent and Severity of Perfusion Abnormalities.- Correlation of EBCT and Tl-201-SPECT Scintigraphy in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease.- Influence of Right Ventricular Stimulation Site on Left Ventricular Function in a Trial Synchronous Pacing.- Varia.- 153Sm-EDTMP for Pain Relief in Malignant and Benign Bone and Joint Diseases.- Tc-99m-Tetrofosmin SPECT Scintigraphy in the Post-operative Follow-up of Microvascular Anastomosed Flaps in Facial Reconstruction.- Long-Term Follow-up Study of Gastric Emptying and Helicobacter Pylori Eradication among Patients with Functional Dyspepsia.- The Valu

This volume explores recent advances in the use of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and adult stem cells (ASCs) in basic and clinical applications. The chapters discuss use of PSCs for drug screening, genome editing, modeling of kidney, motor neuron diseases, and diabetes as well as their application in cancer; ASCs are discussed in the contexts of banking of umbilical cord stem cells, use of multipotential stromal cells (MSCs) for bone repair, cellular interactions during fracture repair stages, and therapeutic applications of neural crest stem cells and lung stem cells. The text is organized by sections dealing with PSCs and ASCs specifically, presenting the reader with a comprehensive examination of both these forms of stem cells. Expertly authored and drawing from a wealth of international perspectives, Recent Advances in Stem Cells: From Basic Research to Clinical Applications presents a succinct yet detailed review of cutting-edge research in this rapidly expanding field. This installment of Springer's Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine series is essential reading for academics, researchers, and clinicians in the fields of cell biology, genetics, nephrology, osteology, oncology, and pulmonology.

As the first primer on the effects of exercise on human hypertension, Effects of Exercise on Hypertension: From Cells to Physiological Systems provides the state-of-the-art effects of exercise on the many possible mechanisms underlying essential hypertension in humans. The book contains chapters by distinguished experts on the effects of exercise on physiological systems known to be involved in hypertension development and maintenance as well as less well known aspects of hypertension such as 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure profile and oxidative stress. An emerging area, the effects of resistance exercise training on blood pressure is also covered. A unique aspect of the book is that it covers the effects of exercise mimetics on vascular cell adaptations in order to begin to elucidate some of the cellular mechanisms that may underlie blood pressure reductions with exercise training. Lastly, the book will end with a chapter on the interactive effects of genes and exercise on blood pressure. Chapters are grouped by physiological system or mechanism. The text begins with two overview chapters; one on the general effects of aerobic exercise training and the second on the general effects of resistance exercise training on blood pressure. Each chapter begins with a bulleted list of key points. Effects of Exercise on Hypertension: From Cells to Physiological Systems will be of great value to professional individuals in cardiovascular medicine, the cardiovascular sciences, allied health care professionals, and medical and graduate students in the cardiovascular sciences and medicine.

Plants and other living organisms have great potential to treat human disease. There are two distinct types of biomedical research that seek to develop this potential. One type of research explores the value of medicinal plants as traditionally used andstudies of these plants have the potential to determine which plants are most potent, optimize dosages and dose forms, and identify safety risks. Another type of research uses bioassays to identify single molecules from plants that have interesting bioactivities in isolation and might be useful lead compounds for the development of pharmaceutical drugs.

This new volume of Advances in Botanical Research covers the recent trends in Medicinal Plants Research over 11 chapters. Topics that are covered include Development of Drugs from Plants - Regulation and Evaluation, Chinese Herbal Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Taxol, camptothecin and beyond for cancer therapy.
Covers the recent trends in medicinal plants research over 11 chaptersTopics that are covered include Development of Drugs from Plants - Regulation and Evaluation, Chinese Herbal Medicines for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Taxol, camptothecin and beyond for cancer therapy"

This book, for the first time, comprehensively assembles and analyzes a large body of information on the role of the fundamental mechanism of the protein biosynthesis pathway, translation, in cancer biology. It systematically explores the function of the translation machinery and its regulation, including cell signaling, in the development, maintenance and progression of human cancer. The work presented here unveils the tremendous potential and applications of this vast and exciting branch of genetic, biochemical and molecular science in cancer medicine and drug development.

Chapters contributed by experts in the field take the reader on a journey that starts with a dissection of the translation machinery and its regulation in norm and cancer. Later chapters characterize etiological and pathogenetic roles that translation plays in specific cancer types. Various aspects of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic significance of the translation machinery and its control in cancer are discussed. Readers will discover the importance of the process of translation and its regulatory mechanisms in physiology and cancer biology.

The chapters and the numerous illustrations included here were contributed by expert scientists and clinicians from renowned academic and clinical establishments in Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany and Australia.

The book conveys information and knowledge that may interest a broad range of students and scholars ranging from basic scientists to clinicians and drug developers seeking to better understand the protein synthesis and its aberrations in cancer biology and cancer medicine.

"Advances in Cancer Research" provides invaluable information on the exciting and fast-moving field of cancer research. Here, once again, outstanding and original reviews are presented on a variety of topics.
113th volume of Advances in Cancer ResearchExpert authorsChapters on topics including microRNA regulatory network, multifaceted oncoprotein tax, and underlying chromosomal translocations

This book describes for researchers in the fields of compiler technology, design and test, and electronic design automation the new area of digital microfluidic biochips (DMBs), and thus offers a new application area for their methods. The authors present a routing-based model of operation execution, along with several associated compilation approaches, which progressively relax the assumption that operations execute inside fixed rectangular modules. Since operations can experience transient faults during the execution of a bioassay, the authors show how to use both offline (design time) and online (runtime) recovery strategies. The book also presents methods for the synthesis of fault-tolerant application-specific DMB architectures. * Presents the current models used for the research on compilation and synthesis techniques of DMBs in a tutorial fashion; * Includes a set of "benchmarks", which are presented in great detail and includes the source code of most of the techniques presented, including solutions to the basic compilation and synthesis problems; * Discusses several new research problems in detail, using numerous examples.

This volume of "Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science" covers the recent advances in the expanding fields of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics. Forty authors from eight countries have contributed to the publication, representing the most cutting-edge research available.

Key features:

* Contributions from leading authorities * Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field

This volume provides protocols that expand on the latest alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) research. The chapters in this book are divided in to three sections: Part I is dedicated to patient-oriented research; part II discusses animal models; and Part III focuses on in vitro studies. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, 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. Cutting-edge and authoritative, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for researchers, students, and clinican-scientists interested in AAT deficiency, as well as anyone working in the fields of pulmonology and hepatology.

This volume explores some of the most exciting recent advances in basic research on nanoparticles in translational science and medicine and how this knowledge is leading to advances in the various fields.
* This series provides a forum for discussion of new discoveries, approaches, and ideas
* Contributions from leading scholars and industry experts
* Reference guide for researchers involved in molecular biology and related fields

This issue of Heart Failure Clinics is dedicated to an in-depth analysis of the conduct of clinical investigation in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). It tackles the difficult questions involved in patient population, trial conduct, surrogate endpoints, clinical endpoints, and statistical considerations.? The purpose of the issue is to provide information that will be?meaningful and useful to help physicians in thinking about the design of clinical trials in this field.

Since scientists began experimenting with green fluorescent proteins in the middle of the 1990s, these proteins have become one of the most important tools available to researchers in modern medicine and biology. By using them to illuminate other proteins that were previously invisible even under microscope, scientists are now able to observe facets of disease that would have otherwise gone undetected. Green fluorescent proteins are a part of over three million experiments a year, and are invaluable for tasks such as tracking HIV, breeding bird flu-resistant chickens, and confirming the existence of cancerous stem cells. In Illuminating Disease, Marc Zimmer introduces us to these revolutionary proteins, acquainting readers both with the researchers responsible for the proteins' discovery as well as their wide utility. The book details the history of genetically modified fluorescent parasites and viruses, which provide scientists with new information about the spread of diseases. Green fluorescent proteins have played crucial roles in the research of malaria, AIDS/HIV, swine and bird flu, dengue, cancer, and chagas. They allow scientists and doctors to understand these diseases better, by quite literally illuminating various microscopic pieces that otherwise would have gone unseen. The book is richly illustrated, showing the many visually striking uses of GFP. Many of these scans have won awards in biological imaging competitions. Illuminating Disease is an accessible and illustrated introduction to one of the most important developments in medical research of the last several decades.

"Omics for Personalized Medicine" will give to its prospective readers the insight of both the current developments and the future potential of personalized medicine. The book brings into light how the pharmacogenomics and omics technologies are bringing a revolution in transforming the medicine and the health care sector for the better. Students of biomedical research and medicine along with medical professionals will benefit tremendously from the book by gaining from the diverse fields of knowledge of new age personalized medicine presented in the highly detailed chapters of the book. The book chapters are divided into two sections for convenient reading with the first section covering the general aspects of pharmaocogenomic technology that includes latest research and development in omics technologies. The first section also highlights the role of omics in modern clinical trials and even discusses the ethical consideration in pharmocogenomics. The second section is focusing on the development of personalized medicine in several areas of human health. The topics covered range from metabolic and neurological disorders to non-communicable as well as infectious diseases, and even explores the role of pharmacogenomics in cell therapy and transplantation technology. Thirty-four chapters of the book cover several aspects of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine and have taken into consideration the varied interest of the readers from different fields of biomedical research and medicine. Advent of pharmacogenomics is the future of modern medicine, which has resulted from culmination of decades of research and now is showing the way forward. The book is an honest endeavour of researchers from all over the world to disseminate the latest knowledge and knowhow in personalized medicine to the community health researchers in particular and the educated public in general.

Reviews in Fluorescence 2016, the tenth volume of the book serial from Springer, serves as a comprehensive collection of current trends and emerging hot topics in the field of fluorescence and closely related disciplines. It summarizes the year's progress in fluorescence and its applications, with authoritative reviews specialized enough to be attractive to professional researchers, yet also appealing to the wider audience of scientists in related disciplines of fluorescence. Reviews in Fluorescence offers an essential reference material for any research lab or company working in the fluorescence field and related areas. All academics, bench scientists, and industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the latest and greatest in the continuously emerging field of fluorescence will find it an invaluable resource.

The use of proteomics to study complex diseases such as cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in developed countries, has grown exponentially in recent years. Proteomics is a rapidly expanding investigation platform in cardiovascular medicine and is becoming integrated and incorporated into cardiovascular research. The proteomics field continues to develop with major improvements in mass spectrometry instrumentation, methodology and data analysis. Heart Proteomics: Methods and Protocols complies a selection of techniques and methods that target the numerous processes implicated in the pathophysiology of heart. Chapters cover protocols and updated methods in the heart proteomic area with a particular focus on MS-based methods of protein and peptide quantification and the analysis of posttranslational modifications as well as descriptions of system biology approaches, which provide a better understanding of normal and pathological processes. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology (TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Heart Proteomics: Methods and Protocols is a representative selection of methods that will prove to be a useful resource for experienced proteomics practitioners and newcomers alike.

Machine learning is concerned with the analysis of large data and multiple variables. However, it is also often more sensitive than traditional statistical methods to analyze small data. The first volume reviewed subjects like optimal scaling, neural networks, factor analysis, partial least squares, discriminant analysis, canonical analysis, and fuzzy modeling. This second volume includes various clustering models, support vector machines, Bayesian networks, discrete wavelet analysis, genetic programming, association rule learning, anomaly detection, correspondence analysis, and other subjects. Both the theoretical bases and the step by step analyses are described for the benefit of non-mathematical readers. Each chapter can be studied without the need to consult other chapters. Traditional statistical tests are, sometimes, priors to machine learning methods, and they are also, sometimes, used as contrast tests. To those wishing to obtain more knowledge of them, we recommend to additionally study (1) Statistics Applied to Clinical Studies 5th Edition 2012, (2) SPSS for Starters Part One and Two 2012, and (3) Statistical Analysis of Clinical Data on a Pocket Calculator Part One and Two 2012, written by the same authors, and edited by Springer, New York.

Strategy and Statistics in Clinical Trials deals with the research processes and the role of statistics in these processes. The book offers real-life case studies and provides a practical, how to guide to biomedical R&D. It describes the statistical building blocks and concepts of clinical trials and promotes effective cooperation between statisticians and important other parties. The discussion is organized around 15 chapters. After providing an overview of clinical development and statistics, the book explores questions when planning clinical trials, along with the attributes of medical products. It then explains how to set research objectives and goes on to consider statistical thinking, estimation, testing procedures, and statistical significance, explanation and prediction. The rest of the book focuses on exploratory and confirmatory clinical trials; hypothesis testing and multiplicity; elements of clinical trial design; choosing trial endpoints; and determination of sample size. This book is for all individuals engaged in clinical research who are interested in a better understanding of statistics, including professional clinical researchers, professors, physicians, and researchers in laboratory. It will also be of interest to corporate and government laboratories, clinical research nurses, members of the allied health professions, and post-doctoral and graduate students.

Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) treat postmenopausal estrogen receptor positive tumours, which constitute the majority of breast cancer patients. This comprehensive volume brings together the current knowledge from different relevant areas, including molecular mechanisms and translational aspects of drug resistance in AIs. Topics covered include research, experimental , and clinical data specifically focused on AI resistance in breast cancer. The volume will include three sections. The first section covers general knowledge about aromatase inhibitors, including regulation of aromatase genes, and structure and function of aromatase protein. The second section provides the detailed mechanisms of resistance to AIs, while the third section explores prediction of resistance and potential strategies to overcome resistance. Breast cancer is the most common female cancer and AIs significantly improve treatments outcomes compatibly to previously used endocrine treatments. However 10-15% of post-operative patients develop a relapse during adjuvant treatment with AIs; about 25-50% of the patients do not respond to AIs in neo-adjuvant or metastatic setting, and the majority of metastatic patients who initially respond develop resistance within 3 years. There is an important need to understand these mechanisms of resistance in order to develop methods of preventing or overcoming the resistance to AIs, which will ensure a more successful outcome in treating breast cancer.

This volume provides a collection of protocols and approaches for the creation of novel ligand binding proteins, compiled and described by many of today's leaders in the field of protein engineering. Chapters focus on modeling protein ligand binding sites, accurate modeling of protein-ligand conformational sampling, scoring of individual docked solutions, structure-based design program such as ROSETTA, protein engineering, and additional methodological approaches. Examples of applications include the design of metal-binding proteins and light-induced ligand binding proteins, the creation of binding proteins that also display catalytic activity, and the binding of larger peptide, protein, DNA and RNA ligands. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, 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.