Etienne-Emile Baulieu, the discoverer of neurosteroids, and a panel of distinguished scientists and clinical researchers exhaustively and critically review all facets of neurosteroids involved in behavior, stress, memory, depression, anxiety, aging of the brain, and neurodegenerative diseases. These contributors illuminate the role of neurosteroids in brain development and plasticity and detail their neuromodulatory influence on GABAA, ionotropic glutamate receptors, acetylcholine receptors, sigma receptors, and calcium channels. Clearly pointing the way toward novel pharmaceutical agents that may be of significant therapeutic value, particularly with regard to aging mental functions, Neurosteroids: A New Regulatory Function in the Nervous System offers neurobiologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, pharmacologists, and geriatricians the first comprehensive, state-of-the-art review of these important bioactive molecules.

At the Mie International Symposium held in Japan in April 1994, leading scientists reviewed recent advances in the understanding of the contractile mechanism in smooth muscle. The present volume collects the papers presented at the symposium, summarizing the latest advances in smooth muscle function and emphasizing important components of the contraction-relaxation cycle. Topics include a discussion of the smooth muscle cell membrane, with emphasis on its ion channels; the regulation of cytosolic Ca2+ levels and the relationship to force in smooth muscle; aspects of the two key regulatory enzymes involved with myosin phosphorylation-dephosphorylation; the molecular basis for pharmacomechanical coupling in smooth muscle; developments in the basic contractile mechanisms involving the crossbridge cycle of tonic and phasic muscle; the role of myosin light chains; and many others. The approach is broad and presents contemporary opinions in pharmacology, physiology, and biochemistry as they relate to smooth muscle function. The book will appeal not only to those working in these disciplines, but to vascular clinicians, obstetric-gynecological physicians, and gastroenterologists as well.

Autotrophic and methylotrophic microorganisms are able to grow at the expense of one-carbon compounds (e.g. carbon dioxide, formaldehyde) as the principal carbon sources for the synthesis of cell material, using light, inorganic compounds or one-carbon compounds as energy sources. The study of the special adaptations required in aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms to sustain an autotrophic or methylotrophic mode of life is a fascinating field of research for scientists from various disciplines. Current research efforts not only focus on fundamental aspects, i.e. metabolic pathways and their regulation, ecology, energy conversion and genetics, but also the possible application of these organisms, in waste water treatment, degradation of xenobiotics, single-cell protein production, as biocatalysts for the production of fine chemicals, draws strong attention. The aim of this series is to provide annual reviews on the biochemistry, physiology, ecology, genetics, and application of microbial autotrophs and methylotrophs. The scope of the series includes all aspects of the biology of these microbes, and will deal with phototrophic and chemolithotrophic prokaryotic autotrophs, carboxydobacteria, acetogenic-, methanogenic- and methylotrophic bacteria, as well as methylotrophic eukaryotes. The exciting advances made in recent years in the study of these organisms is reflected in the chapters of this first volume which have been written by experts in the field. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the contributors for their stimulating and comprehensive chapters.

The human immune system is a complex network of tissues and organs dispersed throughout the body. Immunology, as one of the most rapidly evolving fields in bio-medical research, has to date covered the essential cellular and molecular events neces-sary for immune responses to occur. However, it has paid relatively little attention to important developmental processes underlying the formation of the tissues themselves that carry out immune responses in humans and other mammalians. In contrast to the thymus and bone marrow that are the sole tissues for generating mature leukocytes for antigen recognition and han-dling in humans and most mammalian species, the peripheral lymphoid tissues where adaptive immune responses are focused display broad tissue distribution and possess diverse archi-tectural characteristics. These organs develop prior to the individual s exposure to external antigens, and despite their similar functions, their varied appearances indicate a substantial complexity of tissue ontogeny. This volume presents a comprehensive overview of the developmental features of the major peripheral lymphoid organs, thus examining the connection between immunological functionality and structural characteristics utilizing a developmental approach, for an audience ranging from undergraduate students to senior researchers in immunology, histology and clinical medicine."

Leading academic and biomedical researchers comprehensively review the status of essential fatty acids (EFA) in nutrition, medicine, psychology, and pharmacology. Topics range from a discussion of EFA basic mechanisms to their effects on individual psychiatry and behavior, and include extensive coverage of pathology, DHA in CNS development, and phospholipid and fatty acid composition and metabolism. Comprehensive and forward-looking, Fatty Acids: Physiological and Behavioral Functions reviews and critically evaluates our current knowledge of EFA, setting the stage for oncoming wave of discovery about the biochemical and molecular functions of essential fatty acids, as well as their critical role in human physiology, immunology, and behavior.

Unraveling the functional properties of structural elements in the brain is one of the fundamental goals of neuroscientific research. In the cerebral cortex this is no mean feat, since cortical areas are defined microstructurally in post-mortem brains but functionally in living brains with electrophysiological or neuroimaging techniques - and cortical areas vary in their topographical properties across individual brains. Being able to map both microstructure and function in the same brains noninvasively in vivo would represent a huge leap forward. In recent years, high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies with spatial resolution below 0.5 mm have set the stage for this by detecting structural differences within the human cerebral cortex, beyond the Stria of Gennari. This provides the basis for an in vivo microanatomical brain map, with the enormous potential to make direct correlations between microstructure and function in living human brains. This book starts with Brodmann's post-mortem map published in the early 20th century, moves on to the almost forgotten microstructural maps of von Economo and Koskinas and the Vogt-Vogt school, sheds some light on more recent approaches that aim at mapping cortical areas noninvasively in living human brains, and culminates with the concept of "in vivo Brodmann mapping" using high-field MRI, which was introduced in the early 21st century.

Cardiorespiratory function is prominently affected by oxidative stress. Cigarette smoking is the archetype of oxidative and nitrative stress and free radical formation. New adverse effects of smoking keep on propping up in research. The chapters provide the comprehensive view of new developments in this area regarding cardiovascular and lung function and muscle catabolism. Alterations in inflammatory cytokines and proteins as well as degradation of muscle proteins due to smoking, by far unrecognized, caused by oxidative stress also are presented. Much less is known about the effect of cognitive stress on vagally-mediated cardiorespiratory function and surprisingly, on vagal immune pathway. The experimental studies also show that clinically important meconium aspiration syndrome contains an oxidative trait which is amenable to antioxidative treatment. This volume creates a source of information on the damaging role of oxidative stress in cardiorespiratory function that has by far not been available.

This book focuses on cartilage defects and new mesenchymal stem cell-based treatments for their repair and regeneration. Early chapters provide a review of current etiological findings and repair methods of cartilage defects. The next chapters discuss fundamental concepts and features of MSCs, including their proliferation, differentiation, migration and immunomodulatory effects. The discussion also includes clinical applications of MSCs in cartilage tissues, especially with regards to various animal models, biomaterials and transferring techniques. Cartilage Regeneration focuses on the biology of MSCs and their possible applications in cartilage reconstruction, with the goal of bringing new insights into regenerative medicine. It will be essential reading for researchers and clinicians in stem cells, regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering and orthopedic surgery.

The highly successful Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology continue to offer high-quality, in-depth reviews covering the full range of modern physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Leading researchers are specially invited to provide a complete understanding of the key topics in these archetypal multidisciplinary fields. In a form immediately useful to scientists, this periodical aims to filter, highlight and review the latest developments in these rapidly advancing fields.

This book reviews current understanding of normal muscle tone and how it differs in spastic, thixotropic and hypotonic patients. The book contains practical advice on measuring the postural system and will be of interest to paediatricians and also to physiologists involved in investigating muscle tone.

Short chain fatty acids (SFCA) are synthesized by the colonic microflora primarily from non-absorbed carbohydrate; there is also some limited production from non-absorbed protein. In contrast, SFCA are not normally present in the diet. During the past 15 years SFCA have attracted considerable interest in human nutrition, physiology and pathophysiology as a result of the realization that SFCA represent an important mechanism for carbohydrate and calorie conservation and may play a role in various types of colitides and possibly in colonic neoplasia. In addition, SFCA, produced in large amounts by ruminants and other herbivores, have long been the province of veterinary physiologists. This book is based upon the presentations at the 73rd Falk Symposium held in Strasbourg, France, September 8--10, 1993, which brought together researchers and clinicians from five continents. It provides an excellent statement of the present state-of-the-art knowledge of SFCA.

Atrial Fibrillation from an Engineering Perspective provides an up-to-date overview of techniques developed for acquisition, modeling, and analysis of noninvasive, bioelectrical signals reflecting this common arrhythmia. Special emphasis is put on emerging technologies for monitoring of atrial fibrillation in connection with ischemic stroke, interventional ablation procedures, and pharmacological treatment, applications which all depend on the availability of techniques for detecting and characterizing episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Detectors exploring both rhythm and morphology are described, as well as detectors confined to rhythm and better suited for low power implementation. A wide variety of approaches to modeling and characterization of atrial activity are described, emanating from a statistical and deterministic starting points. This book is suitable for graduate students, researchers, and engineers who want a comprehensive treatise of atrial fibrillation from an engineering perspective. It may be used for self-study, as a supplement to courses in signal processing, or as a modern monograph by researchers in the field of atrial fibrillation.

Lipids are functionally versatile molecules. They have evolved from relatively simple hydrocarbons that serve as depot storages of metabolites and barriers to the permeation of solutes into complex compounds that perform a variety of signalling functions in higher organisms. This volume is devoted to the polar lipids and their constituents. We have omitted the neutral lipids like fats and oils because their function is generally to act as deposits of metabolizable substrates. The sterols are also outside the scope of the present volume and the reader is referred to volume 28 of this series which is the subject of cholesterol. The polar lipids are comprised of fatty acids attached to either glycerol or sphingosine. The fatty acids themselves constitute an important reservoir of substrates for conversion into families of signalling and modulating molecules including the eicosanoids amongst which are the prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leucotrienes. The way fatty acid metabolism is regulated in the liver and how fatty acids are desaturated are subjects considered in the first part of this volume. This section also deals with the modulation of protein function and inflammation by unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives. New insights into the role of fatty acid synthesis and eicosenoid function in tumour progression and metastasis are presented.

Electrodermal activity is one of the most frequently used psychophysiological evaluations in psychology research. Based on the 1992 edition of this work Electrodermal Activity covers advances in the field since the first publication in 1992. The current volume includes updated information on brain imaging techniques such as PET and fMRI, which provide further insight into the brain mechanisms underlying EDA. In addition, this volume is able to describe more reliably hypotheses that have been successfully tested since the first publication.

This is an edited collection of peer-reviewed papers presented at the Ninth International Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Defined as the relationship between human body structure and function, kinanthropometry is an area of growing interest, and these proceedings will be of use to students, academics and professionals in the areas of ergonomics, sports science, nutrition, health, and other allied fields. The assembled works represent the latest research findings across kinanthropometry, moving the discipline forward and promoting good practice and the exchange of expertise.

Aging: From Fundamental Biology to Societal Impact examines the interconnection of the cellular and molecular basis of aging and societal-based challenges and innovative interventions. Sections take a societal-based angle on aging, describing several flagship initiatives for healthy living and active aging in different regions, cover the biology of aging which includes the hallmarks of aging, explain the pathophysiology of aging, describing different comorbidities associated with aging and possible interventions to decrease the impact of aging, and envision future and innovative measures to tackle aging-related morbidities. Contributions from an interdisciplinary panel of experts cover such topics as the biology of aging to physical activity, nutrition, psychology, pharmacology, health care, social care and urban planning.

In vertebrates, the integrin family includes 24 members. As the alpha-chains were sequenced, some were observed to have an inserted domain similar to the A domain in several matrix and complement proteins. This inserted ligand binding domain is interactive and was called the I domain in integrins. More recently structural data have shown that an integrin beta-chain also contains an I domain. Nine of the currently known 18 alpha-chains contain an I domain.
This book systematically goes through the current knowledge about these integrins, including the newest additions to the integrin family, the collagen-binding alpha10beta1 and alpha11beta1 integrins. The book discusses ligand binding, signalling properties, knock-out phenotypes and possible involvement in disease. This book comprehensively reviews the current knowledge about I domains in integrins and will serve as a useful reference book for scientists in this field.

This textbook presents concise chapters written by internationally respected experts on various important aspects of cancer-associated metabolism, offering a comprehensive overview of the central features of this exciting research field. The discovery that tumor cells display characteristic alterations of metabolic pathways has significantly changed our understanding of cancer: while the first description of tumor-specific changes in cellular energetics was published more than 90 years ago, the causal significance of this observation for the pathogenesis of cancer was only discovered in the post-genome era. The first 10 years of the twenty-first century were characterized by rapid advances in our grasp of the functional role of cancer-specific metabolism as well as the underlying molecular pathways. Various unanticipated interrelations between metabolic alterations and cancer-driving pathways were identified and currently await translation into diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Yet the speed, quantity, and complexity of these new discoveries make it difficult for researchers to keep up to date with the latest developments, an issue this book helps to remedy.

With the invention of compressed air in the 1840s, human divers could enter previously inaccessible deep water environments and engineers could design underwater mines and monumental bridges that had never been possible before. But a painful, sometimes fatal illness -- decompression sickness, or the bends -- mysteriously afflicted many of those who used compressed air. This book is a wide-ranging history of the wonders compressed air brought about and the suffering its unknown hazards inflicted. John L. Phillips explores the intertwining roles of science, technology, engineering, medicine, and politics in the invention of compressed air, the recognition and identification of decompression sickness, and the hundred-yearlong process of learning to understand and treat the bends.

The book begins with an overview of the biology and chemistry of respiration and a discussion of the steam engine that could generate compressed air. Drawing on previously unpublished letters, diaries, and notes, Phillips tells the story of early uses of compressed air, first observations of decompression sickness, growing awareness of the bends during construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, and efforts to understand the pathophysiology of the illness. He then considers employee health and safety issues, the science of diving today, and human limits to exploring the ocean deeps. In the history of compressed air and its illnesses, Phillips finds important lessons for dealing with other diseases yet to be confronted in the modern world.

"Phillips takes an interesting socio-scientific approach in this readable book. He tells the fascinating story of decompression sickness well". -- Peter B. Bennett, Divers AlertNetwork

The Routledge Handbook of Biomechanics and Human Movement Science is a landmark work of reference. Now available in a concise paperback edition, it offers a comprehensive and in-depth survey of current theory, research and practice in sports, exercise and clinical biomechanics, in both established and emerging contexts. Including contributions from many of the world's leading biomechanists, the book is arranged into five thematic sections: biomechanics in sports injury, orthopedics and rehabilitation health and rehabilitation training, learning and coaching methodologies and systems of measurement. Drawing explicit connections between the theoretical, investigative and applied components of sports science research, this book is both a definitive subject guide and an important contribution to the contemporary research agenda in biomechanics and human movement science. It is essential reading for all students, scholars and researchers working in sports biomechanics, kinesiology, ergonomics, sports engineering, orthopaedics and physical therapy.

This book covers the latest developments in the therapeutic implications of angiogenesis, ranging from angiogenesis in the brain, angiogenesis in cancer, angiogenesis' role in atherosclerosis and heart disease as well as metabolic disorders and peripheral vascular disease. The book is comprehensive in its coverage of angiogenesis in a diverse set of diseases and examines the role of cellular and subcellular structures during the development of angiogenesis. Well-organized and thorough, this is an ideal book for researchers and biomedical engineers working in the field of therapeutic implications of angiogenesis. This book also: Covers the basics of the physiology of angiogenesis, including VEGF pathways in angiogenesis, integr ins in angiogenesis, angiogenesis and exercise physiology, and more Details the role of angiogenesis in atherosclerosis and heart disease, including vascular endothelial growth factor and atherosclerotic plaque progression as well as angiogenesis and heart failure Illustrates in detail brain angiogenesis after stroke and the relationship between angiogenesis and Alzheimer's disease