The importance of polyamines for all living cells has been recognized since spermine was discovered in human semen more than 300 years ago. Polyamine research intensified when analytical methods were developed for their determination, particularly in tissues and biological fluids. Discovering their close correlation with cancer, and that polyamine concentrations change during the cell cycle, gave reason for further research in this topic. Polyamines in Health and Nutrition concentrates on the direction of polyamine research which has the capacity to influence and benefit our health and which can explain some of the discrepancies and failures of earlier research. It is important to recognize the dietary contribution to the polyamine body pool and to investigate how the polyamine content of the diet can be changed, with the ultimate aim of using this information to improve our health.

The overall scope of this new series will be to evolve an understanding of the genetic basis of (1) how early mesoderm commits to cells of a heart lineage that progressively and irreversibly assemble into a segmented, primary heart tube that can be remodeled into a four-chambered organ, and (2) how blood vessels are derived and assembled both in the heart and in the body. Our central aim is to establish a four-dimensional, spatiotemporal foundation for the heart and blood vessels that can be genetically dissected for function and mechanism. Since Robert DeHaan's seminal chapter "Morphogenesis of the Vertebrate Heart" pub lished in Organogenesis (Holt Reinhart & Winston, NY) in 1965, there have been surprisingly few books devoted to the subject of cardiovascular morphogenesis, despite the enormous growth of interest that occurred nationally and internationally. Most writings on the subject have been schol arly compilations of the proceedings of major national or international symposia or multiauthored volumes, often without a specific theme. What is missing are the unifying concepts that can make sense out of a burgeoning database of facts. The Editorial Board of this new series believes the time has come for a book series dedicated to cardiovascular morphogenesis that will serve not only as an important archival and didactic reference source for those who have recently come into the field but also as a guide to the evolution of a field that is clearly coming of age."

This volume presents selected papers presented during the 16th International Conference on Humanizing Work and Work Environment (HWWE 2018). The book presents a confluence of ideas on ergonomics and technology implementation to improve workplace environments and work systems to maximize effectiveness and performance. The volume is thematically arranged, with papers covering different aspects of ergonomics and design. The volume will be of use to researchers, practitioners and students working in different fields of ergonomics.

The Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre was founded in 1994 with the support of a grant from the Danish National Research Foundation. Among the goals for the Centre is the organization of research symposia, with the aim of bringing a limited number ofintemation ally renowned scientists together to discuss the latest developments and perspectives in their field. The first Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre Conference was held in 1995 and dealt with cardiovascular regulation. The Second Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre Confer ence was held from October 23-26, 1997. The topic of the Symposium was Muscle Metabo lism: Regulation, Exercise, and Diabetes. Seventy invited scientists from all over the world discussed their latest research related to skeletal muscle metabolism. The speakers were asked to expand on their presentations and to write short, but comprehensive, chapters about their given topics. The result is 28 peer-reviewed and edited chapters covering many if not all aspects of muscle energy metabolism related to exercise and diabetes. Emphasis is on regulation of glucose and fatty acid metabolism and the mechanisms regulating their use as fuels for the muscle during exercise. In addition, abnormalities in the regulation of glucose metabolism in the diabetic state are described. However, amino acid and protein metabolism are also thoroughly discussed. We believe that this volume brings an unparralleled, up to date, and comprehensive review of the frontiers in muscle metabolism. Erik A."

Nutrients have been recognized as essential for maximum growth, successful reproduction, and infection prevention since the 1940s; since that time, the lion's share of nutrient research has focused on defining their role in these processes. Around 1990, however, a major shift began in the way that researchers viewed some nutrients particularly the vitamins. This shift was motivated by the discovery that modest declines in vitamin nutritional status are associated with an increased risk of ill-health and disease (such as neural tube defects, heart disease, and cancer), especially in those populations or individuals who are genetically predisposed. In an effort to expand upon this new understanding of nutrient action, nutritionists are increasingly turning their focus to the mathematical modeling of nutrient kinetic data. The availability of suitably-tagged (isotope) nutrients (such as B-carotene, vitamin A, folate, among others), sensitive analytical methods to trace them in humans (mass spectrometry and accelerator mass spectrometry), and powerful software (capable of solving and manipulating differential equations efficiently and accurately), has allowed researchers to construct mathematical models aimed at characterizing the dynamic and kinetic behavior of key nutrients in vivo in humans at an unparalleled level of detail."

Upon completion of the human genome project over 800 G protein-coupled receptor 1 (GPCR) genes, subdivided into five categories, were identified. These receptors sense a diverse array of stimuli, including peptides, ions, lipid analogues, light and odour, in a discriminating fashion. Subsequently, they transduce a signal from the ligand-receptor complex into numerous cellular responses. The importance of GPCRs is further reflected in the fact that they constitute the most common target for therapeutic drugs across a 2 wide range of human disorders. Phylogenetic analysis of GPCRs produced the GRAFS classification system, which subdivides GPCRs into five discrete families: glutamate, rhodopsin, adhesion, frizzled/taste2 and secretin receptors. The adhesion-GPCR family 2 can be further subdivided into eight groups. The field of adhesion-GPCR biology has indeed become large enough to require a volume dedicated solely to this field. The contributors to this book have made a courageous effort to address the key concepts of adhesion-GPCR biology, including the evolution and biochemistry of adhesion-GPCRs; there are extensive discussions on the functional nature of these receptors during development, the immune response and tumourgenesis. Finally, there are chapters dedicated to adhesion-GPCR signalling, an area of intense investigation.

Excess of homocysteine, a product of the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine, is associated with poor health, is linked to heart and brain diseases in general human populations, and accelerates mortality in heart disease patients. Neurological and cardiovascular abnormalities occur in patients with severe genetic hyperhomocysteinemia and lead to premature death due to vascular complications. Although it is considered a non-protein amino acid, studies over the past dozen years have discovered mechanisms by which homocysteine becomes a component of proteins. Homocysteine-containing proteins lose their normal biological function and become auto-immunogenic and pro-thrombotic. In this book, the author, a pioneer and a leading contributor to the field, describes up-to date studies of the biological chemistry of homocysteine-containing proteins, as well as pathological consequences and clinical implications of their formation. This is a comprehensive account of the broad range of basic science and medical implications of homocysteine-containing proteins for health and disease.

Primer on the Autonomic Nervous System, Fourth Edition provides a concise and accessible overview of autonomic neuroscience for students, scientists, and clinicians. The book's 142 chapters draw on the expertise of more than 215 basic scientists and clinicians who discuss key information on how the autonomic nervous system controls the body, particularly in response to stress. This new edition also focuses on the translational crossover between basic and clinical research. In addition to comprehensively covering all aspects of autonomic physiology and pathology, topics such as psychopharmacology decoding and modulating nerve function are also explored.

Introduction to Pathophysiology for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals is the most comprehensive visual survey of pathophysiology affecting each body system. Using full colour illustrations, photographs and learning features, this book makes the potentially complex subject of pathophysiology interesting and accessible. Each chapter discusses the common pathologies for each body system, along with the prevalence of the disease in the UK. The text is aimed at students and healthcare professionals who are learning about applied pathophysiology and related pharmacology and is an ideal introduction to the subject, enabling care to be based on a sound foundation of what is going on in the body.

Almost all bodily functions are dependent on activity of the autonomic nervous system - from the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract, the evacuative and sexual organs, to the regulation of temperature, metabolism and tissue defence. Balanced functioning of each aspect of this system is an important basis of our life and well-being. In this long-awaited second edition, the author, a leading figure in this field, provides an up-to-date and detailed description of the cellular and integrative organization of the autonomic nervous system, covering both peripheral and central aspects. The book exposes modern neurobiological concepts that allow us to understand why this system normally runs so smoothly and why its deterioration has such disastrous consequences. This broad overview will appeal to researchers and advanced undergraduate students of the various biological and medical sciences studying how the autonomic nervous system works and to clinicians and physical therapists whose practice involves systems dependent on autonomic functions.

This book is about the theory of Hot and Cold, a mutual fundamental base of traditional medicines all around the world. The theory describes the dynamic balance state of the body on the axis of hot and cold for each individual and proposes the fact that deviation from this equilibrium is a predisposing factor for diseases. Such an approach helps practitioners to provide treatments tailored to the patient's condition, not the disease. This book, for the first time, has gathered native descriptions of Hot and Cold theory in different traditional medicines, including traditional Chinese medicine, Persian (Humoral, Unani) medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and Latin American and Caribbean medicines. After defining the common ground, contemporary research - in nutrition, pharmacology, physiology and systems biology - has been explored using scientific methodology. This work is the result of an international collaboration of more than 30 scientists and scholars with high reputations in their fields. Hot and Cold theory, as a holistic individualized approach in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, can be merged into the novel fast-paced concepts in systems biology and precision medicine. Through this bridge, the authors propose that the Hot and Cold theory should be revisited more deeply by medical scientists, who are the main audience of this book, to pave the way towards integrated holistic personalized medicine.

Most of the progress in cardiac energetics in recent years has been spurred by the pressure-volume area concept, the natural extension into energetics of earlier pioneering work delineating the time-varying elastance framework for ventricular contraction. The book draws together a broad spectrum of researchers - basic, applied and clinical - having a shared interest in the energetics of cardiac muscle and ventricle, providing an overview of the current state of the art.

The problem of the long-term proliferation of cells is a seminal one. It has always been a hot subject in biology, a source of far-reaching hypotheses, even more so now when explanations for the mechanisms of cell prolifera tive mortality or immortality seem within our reach. A question which is still debated is whether an infinite division potential can be a normal trait or is always the result of modifications leading to abnormal cell growth and escape from homeostasis. In general, investigators have been advocates of one of the two extremes, universal limited or unlim ited normal proliferative potential. Since the long-term proliferative potential of cells concerns regulation of development, regeneration of tissues, and homeostatic control of cell growth, in brief survival of living organisms, and since the regulation of these processes is so different along the evolutionary scale, it is not surpris ing that there does not seem to be any universal trait. The question of whether cells are endowed with finite or infinite prolifera tive phenotypes has to be seen using the perspective of comparative biology."

This book describes the recent advancement of basic research on the biology of aging and longevity studies in various organisms, as well as the neurobiology of aging and neurodegeneration mechanisms. Chapters present new findings and conceptual developments concerning the basic mechanisms of aging and longevity determination. As a follow-up volume to the previous book Aging Mechanisms (2015), it overviews the rapid progress of aging research introducing new topics from leading laboratories in Japan. Chapter contributors are selected based on recent scientific achievements on the mechanisms of aging in various model organisms, including yeast, worm (C. elegans), fly (Drosophila), mice, and rats. Chapters are ordered from the discussion on molecular and cellular levels to physiological and systemic levels. The book also provides an overview of aging science in the region and helps readers quickly grasp who is doing what in this research area. As the aging of population becomes an ever more pressing issue in Asia, advancing the understanding of basic mechanisms of organism aging and longevity determination will be crucial to developing more effective therapies and protective strategies. Researchers and graduate students in biomedical aging research will find this as a rich source of information and a stimulus to novel research directions.

Regeneration, the homeostatic ability to maintain tissue structure in the face of normal cell turnover or loss of tissue damaged by trauma or disease, is an essentialdevelopmental process that continues throughout life. As recently as a decade ago, any serious discussion of the possibility of regeneration becoming a practical medical tool in the near future had the air of science fiction or over-optimistic speculation. The term regenerative medicine was certainly on many lips but few actually expected to soon see it applied in a clinical setting. A tidal wave of discovery has changed that and investigating the cellular mechanisms of natural regeneration has become one of the hottest topics in developmental biology and biomedicine in general. Many researchers entering the field find that the regeneration literature is still quite diffuse perhaps owing to the disparate biological systems that have been the object of study including hydra, planaria, newts, axolotls and more recently several mouse strains. The volume editors believe that an attempt to organize or systematize the literature is long overdue. In this volume, respected experts highlight the latest findings in vertebrate (including mammals) wound healing and regeneration. They present eleven reviews that cover a wide range of topics, from wound repair and its relationship to regeneration, through systems including lenticular, neural, and musculoskeletal tissues and limbs, to epigenetics and the role of the cell cycle. Nuclear reprogramming and cellular plasticity, which open the door for potential regenerative medical therapies for injury and degenerativedisease, are recurring themes throughout the book. We are all now part of the regeneration revolution."

This book addresses instruments, methodologies and diagnostic methods used to evaluate and diagnose human movement, locomotion and physical status in general. Starting from historical perspective, the idea of understanding human locomotion by applying technical measurement devices and incorporating measurement data into physical representation of gross body movement is presented and explained, an approach known as inverse dynamics. With this approach as a kind of umbrella concept, components of measurement systems including relevant signal and data processing methods are described. Modern instruments to capture body movement by measuring its kinematics, kinetics and surface electromyography (sEMG) are thus described; all systems being used dominantly-if not exclusively-in a movement analysis laboratory setting. Focusing mainly on human posture and gait, but including also examples of movement patterns from selected kinesiological and sports activities, the book attempts to present essentials of biomechanics and biomedical engineering approach to this subject matter. It illustrates how data collected and elaborated by modern engineering technology can complement traditional expert knowledge of a kinesiologist or a medical doctor. The book is applicable in the fields of sports, physical activities, as well as in medical diagnostics and rehabilitation. The examples of this book's practical application might be in evaluation of efficiency of human gait, in evaluation of skeletal muscle fatigue in physical exercise, in biomechanical diagnostics of traumatological conditions requiring orthopaedic treatment and the like. This book can also be used in planning and executing research endeavours, particularly in a clinical context as a reference for various diagnostics procedures. It presents the lecture notes of a course carrying the same name within Medical Studies in English at the University of Zagreb for more than a decade.

The Encyclopedia of Cell Biology, Four Volume Set offers a broad overview of cell biology, offering reputable, foundational content for researchers and students across the biological and medical sciences. This important work includes 285 articles from domain experts covering every aspect of cell biology, with fully annotated figures, abundant illustrations, videos, and references for further reading. Each entry is built with a layered approach to the content, providing basic information for those new to the area and more detailed material for the more experienced researcher. With authored contributions by experts in the field, the Encyclopedia of Cell Biology provides a fully cross-referenced, one-stop resource for students, researchers, and teaching faculty across the biological and medical sciences.

Gain a foundational understanding of how endocrine and metabolic physiology affects other body systems in health and disease, including the clinical dimensions of reproductive endocrinology. Endocrine and Reproductive Physiology, a volume in the Mosby Physiology Series, explains the fundamentals of this complex subject in a clear and concise manner, while helping you bridge the gap between normal function and disease with pathophysiology content throughout the book. Helps you easily master the material in a systems-based curriculum with learning objectives, Clinical Concept boxes, highlighted key words and concepts, chapter summaries, self-study questions, and a comprehensive exam. Includes nearly 200 clear, 2-color diagrams that simplify complex concepts. Features clinical commentaries that show you how to apply what you've learned to real-life clinical situations. Keeps you current with recent advances in endocrine physiology with expanded material on reproductive endocrinology and metabolism, and many updates at the molecular and cellular level. Covers the latest developments in fertilization, pregnancy, and lactation, as well as fetal development, puberty, and the decline of reproductive function with age. Enhanced eBook version included with purchase. Your enhanced eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices. Complete the Mosby Physiology Series! Systems-based and portable, these titles are ideal for integrated programs. Blaustein, Kao, & Matteson: Cellular Physiology and Neurophysiology Johnson: Gastrointestinal Physiology Koeppen & Stanton: Renal Physiology Cloutier: Respiratory Physiology Pappano & Weir: Cardiovascular Physiology Hudnall: Hematology: A Pathophysiologic Approach

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), known as prion diseases, have been recognized for nearly 300 years in animals and almost 100 years in humans. Modern studies, including the protein-misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), have greatly advanced our understanding of the pathogenesis of prion diseases and facilitated the identification of new prion diseases in animals and humans. In the second edition of Prions and Diseases, more than 60 leading researchers and clinicians worldwide provide an up-to-date discussion of these unique infectious pathogens and their associated diseases. The book provides up-to-date knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, classification, histopathological, and clinical aspects of the full range of animal and human prion diseases. As a result, the book contains by far the most authoritative views about the past, present, and future of prions and prion diseases. The new second edition covers such important emerging topics such as inherited human prion disease, stem-cell models in prion research, human prion disease surveillance, and gene therapy strategies.

This textbook explores the fundamental qualitative and quantitative aspects of human physiology. It approaches biological and physiological processes and phenomena from a quantitative perspective, revealing how physiological problems can be mathematically formulated starting from simple laws of physics. The book addresses a broad range of topics, including: the statics and dynamics of circulation; muscle and sarcomere force-length and force-velocity relations, together with their mechanisms and functional consequences; subdivisions and meaning of the heat produced by muscle; locomotion, statics and dynamics of respiration; diffusion of gases and acid base equilibrium; phonation; general functions of the kidney and of the different sections of the nephron; changes in clearance with a substance's plasmatic concentration; pH regulation and the kidney; Donnan's equilibrium and its consequences; and the Nernst equation. The book offers the ideal learning resource for students of human physiology courses in medicine and biomedicine, as well as biomedical engineering and biophysics graduate students. An elementary grasp of mathematics and physics is sufficient to understand the content.

Immunometabolism has emerged as an intersectional crossroad between metabolism and immune response. Over the past decade, it has become clear that most - if not all - immune cell functions are not separated from cellular metabolism. Although seminal works have addressed the metabolic fate of immune cells during differentiation and function, the physiological status of a given tissue is also dependent on the cell metabolism. The dialogue between immune cells and their microenvironment can also modulate cellular metabolism, which can trigger the onset and progression of a multitude of inflammation-mediated diseases. Thus, uncovering the specific characteristics of the metabolism in different immune cells types and in different conditions, can shed light into the molecular mechanisms of disease and help develop new drugs and therapeutic strategies to treat immune diseases. The edited volume Essentials aspects of Immunometabolism will give the readers a broad view on how metabolic pathways can influence many types of immune cells during activation, differentiation and function, in health and disease. Of note, the structure of the book was created thinking not only on the experienced immunologist but also on undergraduate and graduate students, physicians, and all members of the scientific community interested in this exciting field of research.

There are two main reasons for pursuing research in the Sports Sciences. Firstly, by studying responses to exercise, we learn about the normal function of the tissues and or gans whose function allows exercise to be performed. The genetic endowment of elite ath letes is a major factor in their success, and they represent one end of the continuum of human performance capability: the study of elite athletes also demonstrates the limits of human adaptation because nowhere else is the body subjected to such levels of intensive exercise on a regular basis. The second reason for studying Sports Science is the intrinsic interest and value of the subject itself. Elite performers set levels to which others can as pire, but even among spectators, sport is an important part oflife and society. of top sport and elite performers, there is also another reason Apart from the study for medical and scientific interest in sport. There is no longer any doubt that lack ofphysi cal activity is a major risk factor for many of the diseases that affect people in all coun tries: such diseases include coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. An increased level of recreational physical activity is now an accepted part of the prescription for treatment and prevention of many illnesses, including those with psychological as well as physical causes. An understanding of the normal response to exercise, as well as of the role of exercise in disease prevention, is therefore vital."

In the past few years, the application of proteomics to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying (mal-)functioning of the nervous system and brain disorders has risen steeply, which in many cases has yielded novel insights. As neuroproteomics is a new research field involving the use of a number of high-end analytical instruments and technologies, both promises and pitfalls may not be well appreciated by the researchers, and the design of a proper proteomics experiment may not be obvious. "Neuroproteomics" brings together a collection of detailed protocols written by experienced professionals in the field in order to cover aspects of various dimensions of this new technology, together with some established methods that have supporting roles in the workflow of neuroproteomics. Written for the popular "Neuromethods" series, the chapters in this book contain step-by-step, easy to follow instruction along with practical tips and key implementation advice essential for successful implementation of the techniques.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, "Neuroproteomics" will be of great assistance to all researchers seeking to design and execute their own proteomics experiments in an optimal way and continue moving forward this exciting area of study.

This volume provides a practical guide providing step-by-step protocol to design and develop vaccines for human diseases. Divided into three volumes, Volume 1: Vaccines for Human Diseases guides readers through an introductory section on future challenges for vaccinologists and the immunological mechanism of vaccines. Chapters focus on design of human vaccines for viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases as well as tumor vaccines. Written in the format of the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, lists necessary materials and reagents, includes tips on troubleshooting and known pitfalls, and step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols. Authoritative and practical, Vaccine Design: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition, Volume 1: Vaccines for Human Diseases aims to be a useful practical guide to researchers to help further their study in this field.

Brain Control of Wakefulness and Sleeping explores the history of efforts to understand the nature of waking and sleeping states from a biological point of view. This research represents the synthesis of the work of two individuals who have devoted their careers to investigating the mysterious states of the mind. This landmark book will interest the beginner scientist/researcher as well as the sleep clinician, with chapters on subjects including Neuronal Control of REM Sleep, Motor Systems and the Role of Active Forebrain, and Humoral Systems in Sleep Control. The authors explore the behavioral and physiological events of waking and sleep, analyzing the current realities and the future possibilities of unifying basic studies on anatomy and cellular psychology.