This book discusses the maximal power and capacity of the three major biochemical pathways - aerobic (oxygen consumption), anaerobic lactic (muscle lactate accumulation in absence of oxygen consumption), and anaerobic alactic (phosphocreatine hydrolysis) metabolism - as well as the factors that limit them. It also discusses the metabolic and cardio-pulmonary mechanisms of the dynamic response to exercise. The way and extent to which the power and capacity of the three major energy metabolisms are affected under a number of different conditions, such as training, hypoxia and microgravity, are also described.

As discussed in this book, a large body of evidence indicates that selenium is a cancer chemopreventive agent. Further evidence points to a role of this element in reducing viral expression, in preventing heart disease, and other cardiovascular and muscle disorders, and in delaying the progression of AIDS in HIV infected patients. Selenium may also have a role in mammalian development, in male fertility, in immune function and in slowing the aging process. The mechanism by which selenium exerts its beneficial effects on health may be through selenium-containing proteins. Selenium is incorporated into protein as the amino acid selenocysteine. Selenocysteine utilizes a specific tRNA, a specific elongation factor, a specific set of signals, and the codeword, UGA, for its cotranslational insertion into protein. It is indeed the 21st naturally occurring amino acid to be incorporated into protein and marks the first and only expansion of the genetic code since the code was deciphered in the mid 1960s.

The role of oxidative stress in human disease has become an area of intense interest. Free radicals, a normal product of metabolism, exist in all aerobic cells in balance with biochemical antioxidants. Environmental stress increases the levels of free radicals drastically, thereby disturbing the equilibrium between free radical production and the antioxidant capability causing oxidative stress. Over the years, ROS has been implicated in the pathologies of various diseases like cancer, neurological disorder, cardiovascular diseases rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes etc. This book provides an in depth critical state-of-art reviews from established investigators on free radicals, ROS associated pathogenesis of human diseases, biomarkers of oxidative damage, antioxidants, phytonutrients and other related health concerns of modern society. The present book is aimed at graduate students, researchers in academia, industry and clinicians with the interest in redox biology. Special attention has been devoted to the topic of ROS signalling, oxidative stress induced human pathologies & antioxidative therapies. The book consists of four parts in specified topics based on the current literatures for the better understanding of the readers with respect to their subject-wise interests. The first section of the book provides an overview about the ROS production and their measuring tools and techniques followed by the mechanisms involved in the oxidative stress in the second section. The third section describes the involvement of oxidative stress in different human diseases and the last section focuses on the different strategies to ameliorate oxidative stress induced stress.

Exploring behaviour through bones has always been a fascinating topic to those that study human remains. Human bodies record and store vast amounts of information about the way we move, where we live, and our experiences of health and socioeconomic circumstances. We see it every day, and experience it, but when it comes to past populations, understanding behaviour is largely mediated by our ability to read it in bones. Behaviour in Our Bones: How Human Behaviour Influences Skeletal Morphology examines how human physical and cultural actions and interactions can be read through careful analyses of skeletal human remains. This book synthesises the latest research on reconstructing behaviour in the past. Each chapter is dedicated to a specific region of the human body, guiding the reader from head to toe and highlighting how evidence found on the skull, shoulder, thorax, spine, pelvis, and the upper and lower limbs has been used to infer patterns of activity and other behaviour. Chapter authors expertly summarise and critically discuss a range of methodological, theoretical, and interpretive approaches used to read skeletal remains and interpret a wide variety of behaviours, including tool use, locomotion, reproduction, health, pathology, and beyond.

The most recent developments in research on hepatic encephalopathy, inborn hyperammonaemic syndromes and nitrogen metabolism, including clinical aspects, were presented by international acknowledged experts in this active research field at the 12th International Symposium on Hepatic Encephalopathy, which was held from June 1 to 4, 2005 in Solingen, Schloss Burg, Germany. This book comprehensively summarizes the most important novel issues on hepatic encephalopathy and nitrogen metabolism and is of interest not only for scientists in the field, but also for interested clinicians. This update of present knowledge will provide a platform for future research in the field of hepatic encephalopathy and nitrogen metabolism.

The nitrogen-containing ring structures are at the hub of metabolism and include ATP, nucleic acids, many coenzymes, metabolic regulators and integrators such as adenosine and GTP, signalling compounds such as cyclic nucleotides and plant cytokinins and biochemically functional pigmets of which haemoglobin, the cytochromes and chlorophyll are examples. This important book collates and integrates current knowledge of all the biologically important N-heterocyclic compounds, covering the relationship between their chemical structures and physiological functions within this key group of compounds. Few biochemical reaction sequences do not involve one of these compounds as a substrate, product or coenzyme and a full understanding of the interrelationship between their structure and function is vital for all those woorking in the field of biochemistry. Professor Eric Brown who has a huge wealth of experience in teaching and research on these compounds has written a very comprehensible and thorough book which will be of great value for advanced students and researchers in biochemistry and those at the interfacing subject areas of chemistry, biology and pharmacology including all those employed in researching biological function within pharmaceutical companies.

Research over the years has demonstrated that free radicals mediated oxidative stress lies at the helm of almost all patho-physiological phenomena. These findings emphasize on the need to understand the underlying molecular mechanism(s) and their critical role in the pathogenesis. This book aims to focus on these areas to provide readers a comprehensive outlook about the major redox sensitive pathways and networks involved in various disease conditions. In the first chapter of the book, basic information about the oxidative stress, its generation, its biomarkers and its role in body are discussed. In the next three chapters, the role of oxidative stress in various pathologies ranging from neurological disorders, to cardiovascular diseases, cancers, metabolic diseases and ageing have been described. Chapter 5 cumulatively describes the most important molecular signaling pathways that are affected by reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are the mechanisms which are common denominators in various pathological states. In the next part of the book, various antioxidant strategies to target and mitigate ROS have been discussed with details on the mechanisms. Selenium, being the research focus and interest of the authors for years, the role of selenium as an antioxidant as part of selenoproteins has been included in the book. Finally, the book culminates with authors' perspective on the future of the redox biology field. Throughout the book, efforts have been made to use simplified language and suitable figures for ease to understand the contents. Although the authors have tried to touch on all the different aspects of oxidative stress in detail, the fact that it is a continuously growing field with updates coming every day, there might be some areas which might not be described in depth. This book is designed for students, young scientists to get acquainted with the redox biology. Overall, this book is a reference to understand the redox regulation of cellular signaling pathways involved in pathogenesis.

Experienced physicians concisely explain the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of endocrine disorders and survey all the latest laboratory diagnostics. Topics range widely from an overview of the diagnosis of diabetes and the long-term monitoring of its complications to the evaluation of menstrual dysfunction. Coverage is also given to the diagnosis of pituitary tumors, Cushing's syndrome, thyroid disease, and hypoglycemia; the evaluation of endocrine-induced hypertension; the assessment of dyslipidemia and obesity; and approaches to diagnosing hyper- and hypocalcemia. There are also discussions of osteoporosis, hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction, and hyperandrogenism in women. The authors each review the complex physiological basis of the relevant endocrine processes and provide richly instructive recommendations for followup and long-term management of patients.

Atherosclerosis leading to coronary heart disease and to cerebrovascular disorders is the number one cause of death in industrialized societies. For the last two decades, great ad vances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis of those disorders. Recent studies have revealed that the earliest event in atherogenesis is the adhesion of circulating leukocytes to the vascular endothelial cells and their migration into the subendothelial space. These cells are known to playa central role in the formation of a fatty streak consist ing of lipid-laden foam cells. As pathological events continue, the lesion is converted to a more fibrous lesion associated with vascular smooth muscle cells. To solve the enigma of this complicated process, intensive studies in molecular biology have disclosed the genes involved in those events. Some of the genes have been verified by creation of novel animal models, which have led to novel therapeutic strategies for subjects with atherosclerosis. This volume contains papers presented at the International Symposium on Lipoprotein Metabolism and Atherogenesis held in Kyoto December 5-8, 1998, supported in part by the Japan Intractable Diseases Research Foundation. The following three topics were the focus of the three-day program: I) The molecular approach to studying risk factors and prevention 2) The creation of novel animal models 3) Lipoprotein disorder as a cause of activation of vascular endothelial cells Thirty distinguished researchers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Finland, Australia, and Japan were invited.

This book discusses the relationship between cellular immunity and tryptophan metabolism, as well as its products, serotonin and melatonin, in the development of several diseases and reappraises the common signal transduction pathways of the neurodegenerative diseases, carcinogenesis, immune tolerance, inflammation, hypersensitivity reactions, neuropsychiatric disorders, in addition to bacterial tryptophan biosynthesis and novel antimicrobials. Tryptophan Metabolism: Implications for Biological Processes, Health and Disease presents fundamental information on tryptophan related metabolic pathways and metabolites, implications of these products for specific biological processes, diseases and conditions. This book focuses on effects of tryptophan metabolites on human health and will appeal to researchers, clinicians and students within this field.

Internationally eminent scientists illuminate the most important scientific aspects of essential fatty acids (EFAs)-from their biochemistry to their physiological consequences in both health and illness. The distinguished contributors integrate a wide range of topics, including the basic biochemistry of EFAs and lipid metabolism, the role of EFAs in the neuronal membrane, the effects of EFAs and lipids in various diseases, and the effects of normal levels and EFA deficiencies on cognition and behavior. The book's consolidation of our knowledge of the biology and metabolism of the EFAs lays the groundwork for dramatic advances in our understanding of these ubiquitous biochemicals and their role in health and illness.

Systems Metabolic Engineering is changing the way microbial cell factories are designed and optimized for industrial production.
Integrating systems biology and biotechnology with new concepts from synthetic biology enables the global analysis and engineering of microorganisms and bioprocesses at super efficiency and versatility otherwise not accessible. Without doubt, systems metabolic engineering is a major driver towards bio-based production of chemicals, materials and fuels from renewables and thus one of the core technologies of global green growth. In this book, Christoph Wittmann and Sang-Yup Lee have assembled the world leaders on systems metabolic engineering and cover the full story from genomes and networks via discovery and design to industrial implementation practises.
This book is a comprehensive resource for students and researchers from academia and industry interested in systems metabolic engineering. It provides us with the fundaments to targeted engineering of microbial cells for sustainable bio-production and stimulates those who are interested to enter this exiting research field.

The metabolic syndrome is a common syndrome affecting about 20 % of the adult population in Europe, and probably the prevalence is of the same magnitude in other industrialised countries worldwide. It is mainly caused by western lifestyle resulting in abdominal obesity, but also a genetic predisposition plays a role. This syndrome, which is linked to leisure lifestyle and overeating/obesity, can develop into type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Therefore, proper treatment and prevention are heavily needed. This book discusses lifestyle intervention and treatment, specifically with pharmacological compounds, in order to formulate a strategy for treating the metabolic syndrome in the daily clinic.

The heart has a very high energy demand but very little energy reserves. In order to sustain contractile function, the heart has to continually produce a large amount of ATP.The heart utilizes free fatty acids mainly and carbohydrates to some extent as substrates for making energy and any change in this energy supply can seriously compromise cardiac function.It has emerged that alterations in cardiac energy metabolism are a major contributor to the development of a number of different forms of heart disease.It is also now known that optimizing energy metabolism in the heart is a viable and important approach to treating various forms of heart disease.

"Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Health and Disease" describes the research advances that have been made in understanding what controls cardiac energy metabolism at molecular, transcriptional and physiological levels.It also describes how alterations in energy metabolism contribute to the development of heart dysfunction and how optimization of energy metabolism can be used to treat heart disease.The topics covered include a discussion of the effects of myocardial ischemia, diabetes, obesity, hypertrophy, heart failure, and genetic disorders of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism on cardiac energetics.The treatment of heart disease by optimizing energy metabolism is also discussed, which includes increasing overall energy production as well as increasing the efficiency of energy production and switching energy substrate preference of the heart. This book will be a valuable source of information to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and investigators in the field of experimental cardiology as well as biochemists, physiologists, pharmacologists, cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other health professionals."

The book focuses on the latest discoveries on calreticulin, calnexin and other endoplasmic reticulum proteins. Calreticulin has been implicated to affect diverse cellular function and play a role in many pathologies including protein folding disorders, cardiac pathologies, cancer and autoimmunity. This book contains contributions from the world leaders in the area of endoplasmic reticulum function, protein folding, Calcium homeostasis and autoimmunity. It raises many intriguing questions about calreticulin, calnexin and the endoplasmic reticulum and gives a unique opportunity to realize the significance of these calcium-binding chaperones. The book is unique in every respect and we are not aware of any other publication focusing on these aspects of endoplasmic reticulum biology. Because of a central role of endoplasmic reticulum, calreticulin and calnexin in virtually all cellular functions, the book should be of interest to everyone in the biological sciences.

The utilization of herbal medicine to treat endocrine and metabolic disorders has garnered much attention within the past few decades. Specifically, the popularity of using dietary supplements for the management of chronic disorders has drastically increased, with a wide variety of these products available over the counter. They represent an attractive adjuvant to traditional therapy for their lower toxicity and their easy accessibility. The identification of such dietary compounds has prompted researchers to explore the vast array of their beneficial effects. However, despite their widespread use, there is still limited data on the safety and efficacy of the products currently on the market. Current research on the side effects and safe usage of herbal medicines is necessary for providing optimal care and counseling for patients. Treating Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders With Herbal Medicines is a comprehensive reference book focused on spreading awareness on the safety, potential harmful effects, and rational use of herbal medicines. The chapters within explore and provide insight on the effectiveness, versatility, and side effects of various herbal medicines across a range of different diseases and conditions. While highlighting herbal medicine in areas such as diabetes, cancer, infertility, and endocrine disorders, this publication is ideally intended for clinical practitioners, pharmaceutical scientists, doctors, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in enhancing their knowledge and awareness in the field of complementary medicine.