In this book we present recent studies that have been carried out on some widely used medicinal plants. The need for new and alternative treatments stem from the lack of efficiency of existing remedies for certain illnesses. We have compiled information that may be useful to researchers in their quest to develop new drugs.

Over the past 50 years, more than 100,000 scientific papers, not to mention popular articles and books, have been written about Selenium. These publications continue to appear without showing any sign of diminution today. This mass of writing makes it very difficult for anyone, who is not a dedicated and specialized scientist, to get a clear picture of what is now known about the element and its role in human health. The second edition of Selenium in Food and Health takes into account the considerable amount of fresh information that has been published over the past decade, by investigators from a wide range of specialties, not all of which, at first glance, might appear to have much to do with human health. It presents information in an easy-to-follow manner for the general reader who wants to make an informed judgment about the competing claims for and against Selenium's value as a nutritional supplement,

This comprehensive review provides a systematic, unbiased analysis, critique and summary of the available literature and generates novel clinical decision-making algorithms which can aid clinicians and scientists in practice management and research development. Potential mechanisms for the identified drug interactions are deduced from available preclinical and in vitro data which are interpreted in the context of the in vivo findings. Current limitations and gaps in the literature are summarized, and potential future research directions / experimentations are also suggested. In addition to the main objective to review the available clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions associated with WHO-recommended antimalarial drugs on the market today (i.e. chloroquine, amodiaquine, sulfadoxine, pyrimethamine, mefloquine, artemisinin, artemether, artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, artemotil, lumefantrine, primaquine, atovaquone, proguanil, piperaquine and quinine), this book also provides succinct chapter summaries on the epidemiology of malaria infection, diagnosis and therapeutics, in vivo pharmacology and chemistry, preclinical pharmacology, in vitro pharmacodynamics, in vitro reaction phenotyping, and in vitro drug-drug interaction data associated with the identified antimalarial drugs.

The first book was on "Theory and Practice" of antibiotic stewardship in its broadest sense -the how to do it and the do's and don'ts. The second, on "Controlling resistance" was very much on the relationships between use and resistance and beginning to home in on the hospital as the main generator of resistance, but mainly looking at it from a disease/clinical perspective. The last 3 chapters on MRSA, ended where the 3rd book will take off. "Controlling HAI " will concentrate on specific MDR organisms highlighting their roles in the current pandemic of HAI and emphasizing that the big issue is not so much infection control but antibiotic control, in the same way that antibiotic over-reliance/ over-use has caused the problem in the first place. Up 'till now the emphasis for controlling MRSA, C diff and all the other MDROs has very much been on IC, which clearly isn't working. This book will gather all the evidence for the increasingly popular view that much more must be done in the area of antibiotic policies/ stewardship, especially when we are in danger of a "post antibiotic" era, due to a real shortage of new agents in the pipeline.

This book illustrates numerous statistical practices that are commonly used by medical researchers, but which have severe flaws that may not be obvious. For each example, it provides one or more alternative statistical methods that avoid misleading or incorrect inferences being made. The technical level is kept to a minimum to make the book accessible to non-statisticians. At the same time, since many of the examples describe methods used routinely by medical statisticians with formal statistical training, the book appeals to a broad readership in the medical research community.

This book is composed of four major sections: The perception of risk, where authorities from the field of environmental psychology and risk analysis describe the backgrounds and mechanisms of cognitive behavior and the effects of emotional and publicity factors on perception and acceptance of risk. The management of infection-defined risk, the core of public and political anxiety. Here the book illustrates how safe the current blood supply has become over the past decade in at least the majority of industrialized countries in the world. The management of immune-defined risks has been the Cinderella of blood transfusion and transfusion medicine up till now. Risk management in clinical practice: optimal versus maximal is the section where the real virtue of reality comes to life through valuable contributors by authors from the field of clinical blood banking, heavily involved consumers organizations (WFH), the Cochrane Institute of Medical Sciences and National Health Services Center for reviews and dissemination, and international policy makers and regulative bodies like the Council of Europe and the European Commission. When the reader is first confronted with a poem illustrating the reality of virtue, written by one of the editors noted for his talent in anecdotal medical poetry, the scene is set for the virtue of reality in the management of risk in blood transfusion.

This volume provides an up-to-date account of the achievements pertaining to the application of capsaicin and capsaicin-like molecules in the therapy of various human ailments such as pain, non-allergic rhinitis, obesity, tumors and gastrointestinal, dermatologic and urologic disorders. It discusses the basic functionsof the capsaicin receptor (TRPV1), its mechanisms of action and its role in physiological and pathological processes. The text focuses on the most recent progress in the use of capsaicin and capsaicin-like molecules as a therapeutic agent and highlights potential pharmaceutical implications of further TRPV1 research. The chapters are written by noted experts in their fields of endeavor. This book offers both clinicians and researchers valuable resource and reference material on the subject that will stimulate future research. "

Schatzberg's Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology is a meticulously researched, yet down-to-earth guide for practitioners prescribing psychotropic medications to individuals with psychiatric disorders or symptoms mandating treatment. The ninth edition offers up-to-date information on current drugs, interactions, side effects, and dosing guidelines, and retains the strengths and features that have made it a standard text for trainees and practicing clinicians. The authors also include a new chapter on important developments in laboratory-guided pharmacotherapy, including pharmacogenomic testing, neurocognitive testing, quantitative EEG, and neuroimaging. Although the book's primary purpose is to provide the reader-practitioner with basic and practical information regarding the many classes of psychiatric medications, the authors stress that understanding how to select and prescribe psychotropic medications does not obviate the basic need to comprehensively evaluate and understand psychiatric patients. Accordingly, the book draws on the authors' clinical experience, as well as on the scientific literature, resulting in an accessible, yet rigorous text. Features that have helped cement this book's reputation include: * Coverage is not limited to long-standing and newly approved medications, but also includes agents that are likely to receive approval from the FDA in the near future, ensuring that the reader stays up-to-date.* References are provided for key statements, and each chapter is then followed by a list of selected relevant articles and books for readers who want to go beyond the material presented, making for a leaner, more reader-friendly guide.* Dozens of summary tables with key information on classes of psychotropics function as quick-reference guides, promoting learning and serving as convenient resources for overloaded clinicians.* The appendix offers two kinds of suggested readings. The first, for clinicians, is invaluable to trainees, while the second, for patients and families, helps point clinicians to books aimed at a lay audience to supplement information provided to patients. Staying abreast of both new medications and promising treatment protocols is essential in this rapidly evolving field. Schatzberg's Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology delivers authoritative information in a friendly, collegial style, ensuring that both students and practicing clinicians are equipped to provide a superior standard of care.

Comprehensive and state of the art, the second edition of Pharmacotherapy of Depression offers major revisions of every chapter and the addition of new chapters by expert contributors. The first chapter reviews the neurobiology of depression, which lays the groundwork for understanding the mechanisms of action of antidepressants. In the next chapter, a review of the general principles guiding the diagnosis and medication treatment of unipolar depression is provided. The clinical pharmacology of antidepressants is reviewed in some detail, supplemented by tables that provide information on dosing, indications, and metabolism. Augmentation strategies are reviewed, including the use of non-traditional agents. The chapters that follow next address the use of antidepressants in special populations, such as the elderly and depressed individuals with psychosis, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and post traumatic stress disorder. The complex issues involving the diagnosis and treatment of depression during pregnancy is thoroughly reviewed in Chapter 8 and provides a synthesis of the scientific literature in the area, one that is noted for contradictory and controversial findings, as well as guidelines for prescribing. The next chapter then provides an overview of the treatment of depression in the pediatric population, highlighting clinical concerns such as suicide risk. The book concludes with two chapters at the interface of medicine and psychiatry in the treatment of mood disorders: managing depression in primary care settings and depression associated with medical illnesses. The outstanding clinician-scientists who have contributed to this volume are all leaders in their fields and represent a broad spectrum of renowned institutions. A timely contribution to the literature, The Pharmacotherapy of Depression, Second Edition, offers busy clinicians from many disciplines a strong scientific foundation that seamlessly transitions into practical recommendations for clinical practice. The result is another gold-standard guide to the safe and effective use of the latest antidepressant medications.

This volume comprises papers presented at the 40th Erice Course "From Molecules to Medicine: Structure of Biological Macromolecules and Its Relevance in Combating New Diseases and Bioterrorism," May 29 to June 8, 2008. The papers span the breadth of material presented, which emp- size the practical aspects of modern macromolecular crystallography and its applications to medicine. Topics addressed span from the selection of targets, through to structure determination, interpretation and exploitation. A particular theme that emerges is the dependence of modern structural science on multiple experimental and computational techniques. It is both the development of these techniques and their integration that will take us forward in the future. The NATO ASI directors worked alongside, and offer deep gratitude to Prof. Sir Tom Blundell, Director of the International School of Crystal- graphy, Dr Colin Groom, Dr Neera Borkakoti, Dr John Irwin and Prof. Lodovico Riva di Sanseverino, who were in turn supported by a number of local facilitators. The course was financed by NATO as an Advanced Study Institute. Additional support was given by the European Crystallographic Association, the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Int- national Union of Crystallography, the University of Bologna, AstraZeneca, Roche, Merck & Co., Boehringer Ingelheim, Bruker Corporation, Douglas Instruments, Informa UK, the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, TTP Lab Tech, University of California at San Francisco. Joel L. Sussman and Paola Spadon

The very latest information on adverse drug effects from the international literature, compiled by an international team of experts.

New reports are presented of adverse drug effects, critically analysed in context, in terms of clinical relevance and importance, and cross-referring to previous reports where necessary. New adverse effects are reported and evaluated, and previously reported adverse effects are re-evaluated in the light of the most recent information.

Unique features:

Reviews in which selected adverse effects are discussed in depth.

Two separate indexes enhance the use of the book, allowing the reader to access information by drug name or by, adverse effects.

Phospholipases A2: Brain Phospholipases and their Role in Signal Transduction; A.A. Farooqui, et al. Cell Signaling and Essential Fatty Acids: Reciprocal Regulation of Fatty Acid Release in the Brain by GABA and Glutamate; D.L. Birkle Metabolites of Essential Fatty Acids and Other MembraneDerived Second Messengers in Cell Signaling: A Role for the Arachidonic Acid Cascade in Fast Synaptic Modulation A. Volterra, et al. Dietary Supply of Essential Fatty Acids, Synaptogenesis, and Photoreceptor Biogenesis: Network of Signal Transduction Pathways Involving Lipids; R. Bell et al. Essential Fatty Acids, Excitable Membrane Phospholipids, and Pathophysiology: Conservation of Docosahexaenoic Acid in the Retina; R.E. Anderson, et al. Essential Fatty Acids and Excitable Membrane Phospholipids: Disposition Kinetics of Phospholipid Liposomes; P. Palatini 32 additional articles. Index.

"Toxicological Survey of African Medicinal Plants" provides a detailed overview of toxicological studies relating to traditionally used medicinal plants in Africa, with special emphasis on the methodologies and tools used for data collection and interpretation. The book considers the physical parameters of these plants and their effect upon various areas of the body and human health, including chapters dedicated to genotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and specific organs and systems.

Following this discussion of the effects of medicinal plants is a critical review of the guidelines and methods in use for toxicological research as well as the state of toxicology studies in Africa. With up-to-date research provided by a team of experts, "Toxicological Survey of African Medicinal Plants" is an invaluable resource for researchers and students involved in pharmacology, toxicology, phytochemistry, medicine, pharmacognosy, and pharmaceutical biology.
Offersa critical review of the methods used in toxicological survey of medicinal plantsProvides up-to-date toxicological data on African medicinal plants and familiesServes as a resource tool for students and scientists in the various areas of toxicology"

The field of the excitatory amino acids was born when L-glutamate and L-aspartate were found to be potent convulsants (Hayashi, 1954), and were subsequently found to excite neurons directly (Curtis, Phillis, and Watkins, 1959). Although these studies initiated the hypothesis of glutamate-mediated neurotransmission, it was noted that the ubiquitous actions of glutamate could also reflect a general, nonspecific property of glutamate on neuronal mem branes. It was not until 20 years later that pharmacological, physiological, and biochemical studies provided convincing evidence for a neurotransmitter role for glutamate in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). With the critical demonstration that the pharmacologically defined glutamate receptors mediate synaptic currents, glutamate rapidly became widely accepted as a majorneurotransmitter by the mid-1980s. This breakthrough, together with the simultaneous findings that glutamate receptors are involved in many essential, as well as pathological, processes in the CNS, instantly transformed the study of glutamate receptors into one of the fastest-growing and most exciting areas of neuroscience. With the cloning of numerous ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits over the last six years, the field has experienced another dramatic acceleration in the understanding of receptor action and in providing the first clear insights into the molecular bases underlying the wealth of pharmacological and physiological data on these receptors."

If the antibody industry is to achieve its full potential in the next decade, the individual technical potentials must be exploited, the limitations must be addressed, and lessons learned must be applied both to current purification methods and to the new technologies that continue to emerge. This book presents an overview of the current advances applied in the manufacture of monoclonal antibody including:
-concepts in development of manufacturing strategies,
-importance of antibody fragments,
-application of chromatography method development,
-quality control,
-effect of expression on antibody properties,
-virus removal and safety,
-pharmacokinetics,
-regulatory aspects.

Antibodies Volume 1: Production and Purification together with Volume 2: Novel Technologies and Therapeutic Use will be of great value to all of those who are actively working in the field of antibodies.
Volume 2: Novel Technologies and Therapeutic Use brings to the forefront current advances in novel technologies for the manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies and also their extensive clinical importance. Following on from Antibodies Volume 1: Production and Purification, this volume concentrates on:
-new technologies in the manufacture of monoclonal antibodies,
-the application of antibodies in cancer therapy and functional genomic therapy,
-the importance of antibodies and prospects of antibody engineering for the future.

The use of anabolic steroids in sport has become increasingly well documented over recent years. Controversy over nandrolone and EPO, and the suspicions surrounding their testing, continue to keep the subject in the headlines. Concern is growing, however, that the use of anabolic steroids outside competitive sport is becoming more widespread. Acknowledged by the EU as a public health issue, health professionals outside the sporting arena are increasingly being presented with evidence of steroid abuse amongst the general population.
This topical book brings together the key issues surrounding these contentious drugs - their mode of action, side effects, and the physiological and psychological risks and effects of overdose. Outlining the history and social context of these compunds, this book provides a comprehensive profile of the most commonly used steroids. Students and professionals in the fields of sport science, pharmacology, pharmacy, and a whole range of health sciences will find this a concise and engaging appraisal of the current situation regarding anabolic steroid use and abuse.

A mycotoxin is a toxin produced by a fungus under special conditions of moisture and temperature. These fungi are aerobic and microscopic and, moreover, may colonize many kinds of food from the field to the table. Mycotoxins are not only a spoilage issue for food, but in high doses can be a serious health threat for humans. The book will be similar to Weidenborner's previous two books - "Mycotoxins in Feedstuffs" and "Mycotoxins in Foodstuffs" - in that it will be a review of the literature to create a comprehensive reference for mycotoxin levels. It will be his third (and last) book on the topic, this time focusing on the incidence of a mycotoxin in humans and/or animals (natural or artificial incidence). Each entry will include contamination, concentration rate, mean concentration of organs (humans and animals) with a mycotoxin, as well as sample constitution (where possible) and country of origin of the sample.

From the President of the Research Society on Alcoholism In recent years the alcohol research field has matured and is attracting a substantial number of eager and technically sophisticated researchers. There is a feeling of excitement and premonitions of breakthroughs as more and more of alcohol's actions are being detailed. I, however, have at times been sobered by the perception that the lure of parsimonious explanations and the appeal of studying easily demonstrable effects obscure the critical issues re garding alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Central questions regarding (1) the reinforcing properties of ethanol and other factors responsible for inappro priate consumption of alcohol, (2) the heterogenous characteristics (both bi ologic and sociologic) of the alcoholic population, and (3) the differential predisposition of individuals to alcohol-induced medical problems needed to be vigorously pursued. Researchers who used animals as models for the human condition needed to become more intimately aware of the variety of factors that are of importance in the development of alcoholism in an indi vidual. On the other hand, researchers studying humans needed to attempt to more clearly define and categorize diagnostic criteria and characteristics of various alcoholic populations. Such categorization and continued character ization of alcoholism allows not only for a framework of concepts within which proper animal models for studies of biologic mechanisms can be de veloped but also allows for consideration of the most apt treatment approaches."

This volume provides an empirical and conceptual overview of advances in our understanding of impulsivity and impulsive behaviors. Prominent scientists review the range of behavioral phenomena referred to as 'impulsive', as well as the defining features and psychological, neurocognitive and behavioral processes that underlie of the manifestation of impulsive behaviors, focussing on progress made and the questions remaining to be answered.

This advanced text-cum-reference book presents a comprehensive account of the syntheses, reactions, properties and applications of all the most significant classes of heterocyclic compounds. This second volume in the series is an essential tool not only for advanced undergraduates and graduates, but also for academic and industrial researchers in organic, medicinal, pharmaceutical, dye and agricultural chemistry.