Electroporation gene therapy, or gene electrotransfer, has evolved greatly over the last few decades as a result of the remarkable progress in genetic sequencing, gene array analysis, gene cloning, gene expression detection, DNA manufacture and discovery and synthesis of siRNA. Electroporation Protocols: Preclinical and Clinical Gene Medicine, Second Edition provides in-depth knowledge on the delivery of naked DNA and small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to the targeted cells, tissues, and animals for prevention and treatment of disease. It builds on the success of the first edition and on the progress made in siRNA delivery and DNA vaccines for large animals as well as discovery of electroporation applications for the fragile tissues and for internal organs. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and easily accessible, Electroporation Protocols: Preclinical and Clinical Gene Medicine, Second Edition aims to provide not only comprehensive coverage of the basic theory and practical application of electroporation siRNA therapy, gene therapy, and vaccine, but also elaborates on the most current views from the experts in this field, serving as an invaluable resource for investigators both in and outside of this field.

To celebrate the Center for Perinatal Biology s 40th Anniversary, an illustrious group gathered at Loma Linda University in February 2013. That gathering of experts and this volume of the proceedings are a tribute to the founder of the Center, Lawrence D. Longo, M.D. These chapters present contributions from individuals who in some way or another were influenced by Dr. Longo. Covering a wide range of topics, and illustrating the diversity of thinking and scientific interests, these proceedings address basic science through to clinical problems in the developmental programming of health and disease. "

Animal Endo-SiRNAs: Methods and Protocols presents a variety of approaches to investigate endo-siRNAs. These include protocols applicable to study short RNAs expressed at a low level and model systems that are particularly suitable to investigate specific aspects of endo-siRNAs, their synthesis, their genomics or regulatory role. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Animal Endo-SiRNAs: Methods and Protocols contains practical tips that are absent in standard lab manuals.

Leading researchers examine how behavior genetics provides crucial insights into genetic and environmental influences in the development of biobehavioral disorders. These influences are illustrated by using the examples of cardiovascular disease, obesity and eating disorders, alcohol use and abuse, and smoking behavior. Contributors discuss the relevance of molecular genetic approaches and twin and family designs to the complex field of behavior medicine research.

Our purpose in writing this book was to produce a clinically-oriented, non-multi-au- thored textbook ofcardiac electrophysiology that would be useful to practicing electro- physiologists, cardiologists, fellows in training as well as associated electrophysiology professionals, including nurses and technologists. While all clinical textbooks risk be- coming outdated even before they're published, and few textbooks ofa manageable size can claim to be completely comprehensive, our goal was to produce a book that system- atically presents a thorough discussion ofthe fundamental principles and concepts im- portant to the practice of clinical electrophysiology. We do not discuss basic cellular electrophysiology for its sake alone, but instead include basic science material only when itis helpful in explaining the overlying clinical principles. Cardiac electrophysiology, as with any subspecialty, behaves as a living organism with continuous evolution of its standards and practices. However, even though the details and tools of management (catheters, drugs, devices, etc. ) may change with dazzling speed, the fundamental princi- ples ofdiagnosis and management generally change very little and they remain the criti- cal underpinning ofthe day-to-day management ofpatients with cardiac arrhythmias. In the first third ofthe book we present the principles ofclinical cardiac electrophysiolo- gy as it is currently practiced.

How is the heartbeat generated? What controls the strength of contraction of heart muscle? What are the links between cardiac structure and function? How does our understanding of skeletal and smooth muscle and non-muscle cells influence our thinking about force development in the heart? Are there important species differences in how contraction is regulated in the heart? How do the new molecular data fit together in understanding the heart beat? What goes wrong in ischemia, hypertrophy, and heart failure? This book paints a modern portrait' of how the heart works and in this picture the author shows a close-up of the structural, biochemical, and physiological links between excitation and contraction. The author takes the reader through a series of important, interrelated topics with great clarity and continuity and also includes many useful illustrations and tables. The book starts by considering the cellular structures involved in excitation-contraction coupling and then described the characteristics of the myofilaments as the end effector of excitation-contraction coupling. A general scheme of calcium regulation is described and the possible sources and sinks of calcium are discussed in simple, but quantitative terms. The cardiac action potential and its many underlying currents are reviewed. Then the characteristics of some key calcium transport systems (calcium channels, sodium/calcium exchange and SR calcium uptake and release) are discussed in detail. This is then built into a more integrated picture of calcium regulation in succeeding chapters by detailed discussions of excitation-calcium coupling mechanisms (in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle), the interplay betweencalcium regulatory processes, and finally mechanisms of cardiac inotropy, calcium overload, and dysfunction (e.g., ischemia, hypertrophy, and heart failure). Excitation-Contraction Coupling and Cardiac Contractile Force &endash; Second Edition is an invaluable source of information for anyone who is interested in how the heart beat is controlled and especially suited for students of the cardiovascular system at all levels from medical/graduate students through senior investigators in related fields.

Since the first concepts of gene therapy were formulated, the hemopoietic system has been considered the most natural first target tissue for genetic manipulation. The reasons for this include the fact that a very large number of inherited disorders (including some of the most common disorders, such as the hemoglobinopathies) are disorders of the hemopoietic system, and the large amount of experience in hematopoietic transplantation biology. The consequence of this resulted in the first clinical trial of gene therapy in 1989, where two children suffering from severe combined immune deficiency (ADA-SCID) were transplanted with T-cells express ing adenosine deaminase (the defective enzyme in patients with this disorder). The partial success of this treatment was perhaps responsible for undue optimism among those proposing other gene therapy treatments within the hematopoietic system, and it has since become clear that there are a number of technical and biological difficulties to overcome before hematopoietic gene therapy becomes a mainstream therapeutic strategy. The chapters in this book evaluate the need for gene therapy in the hematopoietic system, discuss how efficient gene transfer and expression can be achieved in the target cells, highlight areas of difficulty to be addressed, and examine a number of potential applications of the gene therapy approach. The book begins with a chapter by Testa and colleagues, discussing the various sources of hematopoietic cells for both transplantation and gene therapy."

This is a photographic atlas of common animal bones, designed for use by the forensic scientist or archaeologist. This volume is the first to focus comparatively on both human and animal osteology. It features more than 300 illustrations of skeletons. Throughout, animal bones are photographed alongside the corresponding human bone, allowing the reader to observe size and shape variations.

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.

Nominated for the 2007 Book Prize by the Council on Anthropology and Reproduction (AAA) Reproductive disruptions, such as infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption, and childhood disability, are among the most distressing experiences in people's lives. Based on research by leading medical anthropologists from around the world, this book examines such issues as local practices detrimental to safe pregnancy and birth; conflicting reproductive goals between women and men; miscommunications between pregnant women and their genetic counselors; cultural anxieties over gamete donation and adoption; the contested meanings of abortion; cultural critiques of hormone replacement therapy; and the globalization of new pharmaceutical and assisted reproductive technologies. This breadth - with its explicit move from the "local" to the "global," from the realm of everyday reproductive practice to international programs and policies - illuminates most effectively the workings of power, the tensions between women's and men's reproductive agency, and various cultural and structural inequalities in reproductive health.

The International Society on Oxygen Transport to Tissue (ISOTT, www. isott. info) is an interdisciplinary society comprising about 250 members worldwide. Its purpose is to further the understanding of all aspects of the processes involved in the transport of oxygen from the air to its ultimate consumption in the cells of the various organs of the body. The annual meeting brings together scientists, engineers, clinicians and mathematicians in a unique int- national forum for the exchange of information and knowledge, the updating of participants on latest developments and techniques, and the discussion of controversial issues within the field of oxygen transport to tissue. Founded in 1973, the society has been the leading platform for the presentation of many of the technological and conceptual developments within the field both at the meetings themselves and in the proceedings of the society. These have been published first by Plenum Publishing (1973), then by Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers and presently by Springer Publishing, all in the Advances In Expe- mental Medicine and Biology Series. The 36th Annual ISOTT conference was held in Sapporo, Japan during August 3-7, 2008. It was the second occasion that the ISOTT meeting was held in Japan; the first one was held in the same place in 1987 organized by Professor Masaji Mochizuki.

This book is the compilation of papers presented at the International Symposium on In Vivo Body Composition Studies, held in Houston, Texas, November 10-12, 1992. The purpose of this conference was to report on the state-of-the-art techniques for in vivo body composition measurements and to present the most recent human data on normal body composition and changes during disease. This conference was the third in a series of meetings on body composition studies held in North America, and follows the successful meetings at Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1986, and the one in Toronto in 1989. A large number of excellent research papers were offered for consideration at this Conference which demonstrates the rapid growth of the field in the last three years. However, we had to limit the presentations to approximately 90 papers which provided a broad spectrum of the applications and recent interest in the subject. The proceedings of the Brookhaven meeting "In Vivo Body Composition Studies," is published by The Institute of Physical Sciences in Medicine, London. The proceedings of the Toronto meeting "In Vivo Body Composition Studies" was published by Plenum Press in its basic life science series. Both these meetings placed more emphasis on technical aspects while the current Houston meeting tried to emphasize more the emerging clinical applications of these techniques. The general sessions used at the Conference for presentations forms the basis of the order of appearance of the papers in this book.

Evolving technologies starting with tracer studies, and more recently with genomics and proteomics, have provided novel information about the molecular properties of cerebral endothelium and astrocytes; however, further studies must be done in animal models of neurological diseases and in humans to get a clearer understanding of the pathogenesis of blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown in nervous system diseases. In The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers: Reviews and Protocols, experts in the field present a series of cutting-edge protocols which can be used to study the barriers. Opening with detailed information on components of the neurovascular unit as well as the blood-cerebrospinal, blood-retinal, and blood-nerve barriers, the book continues with meticulous techniques to image the barriers in humans and experimental animals, followed by cutting-edge molecular techniques to study the BBB and novel models to study the barriers, and it concludes with techniques for the delivery of therapeutic agents across the BBB. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, protocol chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and up-to-date, The Blood-Brain and Other Neural Barriers: Reviews and Protocols will aid the research efforts of not only graduate students but also more experienced investigators and support future studies of these vital systems.

1) Classic anatomical atlases 2) Detailed labeling of the earliest phases of prenatal neorological development 3) Appeals to neuroanatomists, developmental biologists and clinical practioners. 4) Persistent relevance - brain development is not going to change.

This useful work presents a current overview of key genes involved in the control of apoptosis research together with thoughts on future prospects and clinical applications. While there are several books written on apoptosis, this one deals specifically with its regulation.

This book, covering many key aspects of autonomic nervous system maturation, was suggested by the success of a symposium on the developing autonomic nervous system held at the Spring 1982 meeting of the Federation of American Scientists for Experi mental Biology (Federation Proceedings 1983, 42, 1609). It was obvi ous from the F ASEB symposium that there is increasing interest in the developing autonomic nervous system, particularly with respect to its role in regulating visceral function. Some additional topics that were not covered in the F ASEB symposium are also included in this book. The editor feels that the readers of this volume are, in all probability, already cognizant of the state of knowledge of the adult autonomic nervous system. Therefore, a review of classical autonomic physiology, pharmacology, and neuroanatomy is not provided. For a recent detailed discussion of the ontogeny and phylog eny of the developing nervous system, I would recommend the book published not long ago by D. Purves and J. W. Lichtman, Principles of Neural Development (Sinauer, Sunderland, MA, 1985). Another recent book, Autonomic Nerve Funtion in the Vertebrates by F. Nilsson (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1984), presents a compar ative examination of autonomic nervous system function in verte brates. For a summary of recent advances in the many aspects of catecholamines as they bear on autonomic nervous system re search, I would recommend the series of three books edited by E."

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.

Carl Edward Sagan's (1934-1996) one of the famous quotation was "Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people." From past to date, well-known molecules, enzymes, proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are studied in the pathogenesis of several diseases both as a diagnostic/prognostic biomarker and therapeutic agent. The underlying mechanism of unexplained diseases and failure of therapies are frequently studied with well-known biomarkers, but remain unclear in many cases. As Dr. Sagan said other keys are still waiting to be known in some forgotten corner of a body universe, we find strength to propose that one of them can be the growth factor with cytokine activity named "Midkine" This book summarizes the extensive up-to-date literature overeview with the lastest work of experts about midkine in a detailed format that conveys its role as both a pathologic factor and therapeutic agent.

This volume is one of the first to concentrate on positive growth and development in a clinical arena, rather than loss and pathology. In contrast to the general theories and cross-sectional studies of existing adult developmental research, much of this volume looks at the whole-life level of development of adults through case studies. The book unites three compatible approaches to the study of adult development. The first considers the development of whole life. The second approach examines behavior during certain periods in adults' lives by combining clinical and developmental stage perspectives. The third approach examines periods of life following the work of Erikson, Levinson, and Vaillant. The editors of this volume believe that these three approaches form, in their synergy, a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to uniquely difficult problems of late adolescence and early adulthood. It is the unification of these three approches that makes this book unique in its field.

This book covers the statistical models and methods that are used to understand human genetics, following the historical and recent developments of human genetics. Starting with Mendel's first experiments to genome-wide association studies, the book describes how genetic information can be incorporated into statistical models to discover disease genes. All commonly used approaches in statistical genetics (e.g. aggregation analysis, segregation, linkage analysis, etc), are used, but the focus of the book is modern approaches to association analysis. Numerous examples illustrate key points throughout the text, both of Mendelian and complex genetic disorders. The intended audience is statisticians, biostatisticians, epidemiologists and quantitatively- oriented geneticists and health scientists wanting to learn about statistical methods for genetic analysis, whether to better analyze genetic data, or to pursue research in methodology. A background in intermediate level statistical methods is required. The authors include few mathematical derivations, and the exercises provide problems for students with a broad range of skill levels. No background in genetics is assumed.

This volume provides insight into recent developments on experimental and clinical strategies for cancer gene therapy. Gene Therapy of Solid Cancers: Methods and Protocols guides readers through protocols on gene therapeutic strategies in combination with helpful technical notes. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Concise and easy-to-use, Gene Therapy of Solid Cancers: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

Cell Cycle Control and Dysregulation Protocols focuses on emerging methodologies for studying the cell cycle, kinases, and kinase inhibitors. It addresses the issue of gene expression in vivo and in vitro, the analysis of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, protein degradation mediated by the proteosome, the analysis of the transformed cell phenotype, and innovative techniques to detect apoptosis. Because there are already many manuals and protocols available, along with commercial kits and reagents, a variety of the more common techniques have not been included in our book. The protocols described, based on rather sophisticated techniques for in vivo and in vitro studies, consist of molecular biology, biochemistry, and various types of immunoassays. Indeed, the authors have successfully accomplished an arduous task by presenting several topics in the simplest possible manner. We are confident that Cell Cycle Control and Dysregulation Protocols will facilitate and optimize the work of practical scientists involved in researching the cell cycle. We greatly acknowledge the extraordinary contribution of the authors in writing this book.