Research has clearly established a link between omega-3 fatty acids and general health, particularly cardiovascular health. "Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Brain and Neurological Health" is the first book to focus exclusively on the role of omega-3 fatty acids on general brain health. The articles in this collection illustrate omega-3 fatty acids' importance in longevity, cognitive impairment, and structure and function of the brain's neurons.

Research has established links between omega-3 fatty acids and the developing brain, aging, dementia, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. This book encompasses some of the most recent research, including the role of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on hippocampal neurogenesis, substantia nigra modulation, migraine headaches, the developing brain in animals, sleep, and neurodegenerative diseases. This collection helps to push research forward toward a complete understanding of omega-3 fatty acids' relationship to brain and neurological health.
The first book-length collection of original research on the connection between omega-3 fatty acids and the brainProvides a comprehensive introduction to the state of research on omega-3 fatty acids and the brain and directions for future researchA foundational collection for neuroscience, neurology, and nutrition research

DESCRIPTION:
Current Topics in Membranes provides a systematic, comprehensive, and rigorous approach to specific topics relevant to the study of cellular membranes. Each volume is a guest edited compendium of membrane biology. Articles in this volume discuss ion transport;
ocular aquaporins and aqueous humor dynamics;
the role of Ggap junction channels in the ciliary body secretory epithelium; regional dependence of inflow; functional modulators linking Iinflow with outflow of aqueous humor; aqueous humor outflow resistance; aqueous humor dynamics; the effects of circulatory events on
aqueous humor inflow and intraocular pressure; retinal ganglion cells and glaucoma; what functional genomics is teaching us about intraocular pressure regulation and glaucoma;
molecular approaches to glaucoma; outflow signaling mechanisms and new therapeutic strategies for the control of intraocular pressure.
*Guest edited by cell membrane experts
*Dynamic and thorough coverage of all aspects of the aqueous humor from inflow to outflow
*Provides the latest teachings on genomics and glaucoma
*Highlights new therapeutic strategies for the control of intraocular pressure

Eye-movement recording has become the method of choice in a wide variety of disciplines investigating how the mind and brain work. This volume brings together recent, high-quality eye-movement research from many different disciplines and, in doing so, presents a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in eye-movement research.
Sections include the history of eye-movement research, physiological and clinical studies of eye movements, transsaccadic integration, computational modelling of eye movements, reading, spoken language processing, attention and scene perception, and eye-movements in natural environments.
* Includes recent research from a variety of disciplines
* Divided into sections based on topic areas, with an overview chapter beginning each section
* Through the study of eye movements we can learn about the human mind, and eye movement recording has become the method of choice in many disciplines

Volume 5 in the series "Advances in Structural Biology" is based upon a selection of articles presented at the Workshop on Molecular Bio-physics of the Cytoskeleton: Microtubule Formation, Structure, Function, and Interactions (August 18-22 1997 at the Banff Conference Centre in Banff, Alberta, Canada). Its main objective was to review the state-of-the-art of the field and stimulate a multidisciplinary investigation into the molecular biology of the cytoskeleton, which is amply manifested in the articles selected and published in this volume.

"BetaSys" uses the example of regulated exocytosis in pancreatic -cells, and its relevance to diabetes, to illustrate the major concepts of systems biology, its methods and applications.

The Myocardium, Second Edition is a comprehensive presentation of cardiac function, including ultrastructure, cellular development and morphogenesis, ion channels, ion transporters, excitation-contraction coupling and calcium compartmentation, mechanics and force production, and energy metabolism. The Second Edition presents the new molecular, subcellular, and cellular developments which have occurred in this rapidly expanding field during the past 22 years.
Key Features
* Comprehensive overview of all aspects of heart function at the cellular, subcellular, and molecular level
* Integrates molecular events to give understanding of global cardiac function
* Includes basis of important pathological states

The human brain contains more than a billion neurons which interconnect to form networks that process, store, and recall sensory information. These neuronal activities are supported by a group of accessory brain cells coll- tively known as neuroglia. Surprisingly, glial cells are ten times more - merous than neurons, and occupy more than half the brain volume (Hyden, 1961). Although long considered a passive, albeit necessary, component of the nervous system, many interesting and unusual functional properties of glial cells are only now being brought to light. As a result, the status of these cellular elements is approaching parity with nerve cells as a subject for experimental study. The term glia (or glue) seems today to be a misnomer in view of the diverse functions attributed to glial cells. Experimental studies in the last three decades have clearly established that the behavior of glial cells is far from passive, and that they are at least as complex as neurons with regard to their membrane properties. In addition, glial cells are of importance in signal processing, cellular metabolism, nervous system development, and the pathophysiology of neurological diseases. The Muller cell of the ver- brate retina provides a splendid example of an accessory cell that exhibits features illustrating every aspect of the complex behavior now associated with glial cells.

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

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.

Unique study of the human foot

Sole perspective on the human foot in the market

With the use of crack on the rise in American cities, there is more need than ever to understand the biological, environmental, and social factors behind cocaine addiction, as well as the pharmacological properties of cocaine that make it such an addictive drug. The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction helps clinicians and researchers analyze research findings and their relevance to the clinical treatment of cocaine dependency. To do this, it looks at the whole spectrum of cocaine use, from trends in cocaine-involved deaths, hospital emergencies, arrests, and treatment admissions to the specific impact the drug has on brain function. The book reports on important findings from positron emission tomography (PET) and a "binge" pattern cocaine administration mode. This will enable you to improve your understanding of how cocaine alters the pleasure/reward system of the brain and creates new instinctual needs that displace the inherent instinctual needs of hunger and sex.By reading The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction, you will sharpen your knowledge of the basic actions of cocaine, the factors related to daily cocaine use, the neurobiological basis of addictive diseases, and drug-induced alterations in normal physiology. You will also learn about: the coexistence of cocaine and heroin addiction cocaine's disruption of the endogenous opioid system QEEG and how it can play a potentially useful role in drug development and planning hypotheses of sensitization in the pathophysiology of cocaine dependence factors that predict daily cocaine use among patients in a methadone maintenance program abnormalities in brain function that persist for up to six months after last cocaine use patterns of cocaine use the importance of prospective data analysis and the limitations of a self-selective study groupClinicians, researchers, psychiatrists, and other professionals in chemical dependency and narcotics rehabilitation will turn the last page of The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction with a better understanding of cocaine's addictive qualities and the characteristics of the individuals who become addicted to it. You will see what headway has been made in research at some of the nation's top laboratories, but you will also see what remains to be done. Hopefully, you will find where you can make a contribution either at the practical level, the research level, or both.

A presentation of the most elementary form of pulsatile flow as an important prerequisite for the study of other flow applications in biological systems. The book provides in a single source a complete treatment of the fluid dynamics of flow with the required mathematics and emphasis on the basis mechanics. The style and level of this book make it accessible to students and researchers in biophysics, biology, medicine, bioengineering and applied mathematics working in theoretical and clinical work on the cardiovascular system, as well as in the design of new instrumentation, medical imaging systems, and artificial organs. With problems and exercises.

This book, the proceedings of the Falk Symposium No. 146 Gut-Liver Interactions: Basic and Clinical Concepts, held in Innsbruck, Austria, on March 11-12, 2005, brings together gastroenterologists and hepatologists both at a clinical and a basic scientific level. Topics have been structured in such a way to be of interest to both clinicians and basic scientists. The main focus of the book is to highlight the role of the immune system in gut and liver diseases and potential interactions of the gut and the liver respectively. Special emphasis is based on the importance of the gut flora in intestinal and also in liver diseases. The role of NOD2 is one of the very best examples demonstrating the importance, not only in inflammatory bowel diseases, but also diseases well beyond this barrier.

Such intense interactions between gastroenterologists and hepatologists, as shown through this book, might boost and stimulate scientific ideas and research in other unexpected areas.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an invaluable diagnostic tool in clinical neurology, not only in the evaluation of inflammatory, degenerative, and malignant diseases of the nervous system, but also in the diagnosis of all forms of cerebral and subarachnoidal bleedings. The CSF can be easily obtained by lumbar puncture and a set of basic analyses can be conducted using relatively simple laboratory methods. By combining different CSF parameters, a wide range of diagnostic entities can be identified. However, properly interpreting the test results requires a high level of expertise and cannot be achieved by just reporting on individual analytic values. This book covers essential aspects of cerebrospinal fluid analysis and its use in the diagnosis of common neurological diseases. The first part addresses preclinical aspects such as the history of CSF, as well as the anatomical, physiological, and biological background of this valuable fluid. In addition, CSF collection, its preanalytical and methodological implications, and the increasing number of disease-specific markers in CSF are discussed in detail. Lastly, CSF analyses are put into context with clinical syndromes, demonstrating their diagnostic value in neurological clinical practice. Cerebrospinal Fluid in Clinical Neurology helps readers understand the preanalytical and analytical aspects of CSF diagnostics and offers a valuable reference guide for interpreting CSF results during the clinical work-up for neurological patients.

The adipokines (also called adipocytokines), are a group of peptides secreted by adipose tissue. They have diverse roles, from the cell to the whole body. The book is designed for health scientists, doctors, physiologists, immunologists, biochemists, college and university teachers and lecturers, undergraduates and graduates. The chapters are written either by experts or specialists in their field.

DHEA and the Brain reviews a range of existing studies regarding DHEA administration to animals and humans. Chapter authors evaluate DHEA metabolism in tissues and organs, explore DHEA effects in the liver that may be of importance to the brain, and discuss recent findings regarding how DHEA is made in the brain. New perspectives about the neuroprotective effects of DHEA are presented, as well as insight related to DHEA metabolism in the brain. A number of health benefits have been associated with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), including anti-cancer, anti-osteoporosis, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-diabetes, immuno-stimulating, and memory-enhancing effects. This has prompted millions of people to take this hormone as a daily nutritional supplement. However, there is some concern that prolonged self-administration may result in future health problems, as well as unease about potential side effects due to the production of steroid derivatives in the tissues. Featuring an esteemed panel of contributors, this volume provides an authoritative overview of the research concerning DHEA and the brain. It presents a variety of innovative approaches and ideas for future investigations into the physiological actions of this hormone.

With the use of crack on the rise in American cities, there is more need than ever to understand the biological, environmental, and social factors behind cocaine addiction, as well as the pharmacological properties of cocaine that make it such an addictive drug. The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction helps clinicians and researchers analyze research findings and their relevance to the clinical treatment of cocaine dependency. To do this, it looks at the whole spectrum of cocaine use, from trends in cocaine-involved deaths, hospital emergencies, arrests, and treatment admissions to the specific impact the drug has on brain function. The book reports on important findings from positron emission tomography (PET) and a "binge" pattern cocaine administration mode. This will enable you to improve your understanding of how cocaine alters the pleasure/reward system of the brain and creates new instinctual needs that displace the inherent instinctual needs of hunger and sex.By reading The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction, you will sharpen your knowledge of the basic actions of cocaine, the factors related to daily cocaine use, the neurobiological basis of addictive diseases, and drug-induced alterations in normal physiology. You will also learn about: the coexistence of cocaine and heroin addiction cocaine's disruption of the endogenous opioid system QEEG and how it can play a potentially useful role in drug development and planning hypotheses of sensitization in the pathophysiology of cocaine dependence factors that predict daily cocaine use among patients in a methadone maintenance program abnormalities in brain function that persist for up to six months after last cocaine use patterns of cocaine use the importance of prospective data analysis and the limitations of a self-selective study groupClinicians, researchers, psychiatrists, and other professionals in chemical dependency and narcotics rehabilitation will turn the last page of The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction with a better understanding of cocaine's addictive qualities and the characteristics of the individuals who become addicted to it. You will see what headway has been made in research at some of the nation's top laboratories, but you will also see what remains to be done. Hopefully, you will find where you can make a contribution either at the practical level, the research level, or both.

Contents:
1. The Brain, a Putative Source and Target of DHEA 2. DHEA Metabolites During the Life Span 3. Postulated Roles of DHEA in the Decline of Neural Function With Age 3. Postulated Roles of DHEA in the Decline of Neural Function With Age 4. DHEA: Hormone of Youth and Resilience - Still a Maverick 5. DHEA Effects on Liver 6. DHEA and Brain Development 7. DHEA Metabolism in the Brain: Production and Effects of the 7a-hydroxylated Derivative 8. DHEA: Biosynthesis, Regulation and Function in the Central Nervous System 9. Cross-talk Between DHEA and Neuropeptides 10. DHEA Effects on Human behaviour and Psychiatric Illness 11. Effects of DHEA on Diabetes Mellitus 12. The Clinician's View of DHEA: An Overview 13. DHEA Replacement and Cognition in Healthy Elderly Humans

Because of developments in powerful computer technology, computational techniques, advances in a wide spectrum of diverse technologies, and other advances coupled with cross disciplinary pursuits between techno logy and its greatly significant applied implications in human body pr ocesses, the field of biomechanics is evolving as a broadly significan t area. Now in four volumes, Biomechanical Systems, Techniques, and Ap plications explores the many areas of significant advances, including dynamics of musculo-skeletal systems; mechanics of hard and soft tissu es, muscles, bone remodeling, hard and soft tissue interfaces, blood f low, air flow, flow-prosthesis interfaces, and impact; cardiovascular and respiratory biomechanics; and dynamics of many machine interaction s.

Systems Biology is a fast moving field. This accessible book uses the example of regulated exocytosis in pancreatic ss-cells, and its relevance to diabetes, to illustrate the major concepts of systems biology, its methods and applications.

The intention of the VIIth International Symposium on the Facial Nerve was to create a platform for an extensive exchange of knowledge and scientific infor mation between clinicians and basic research workers. This aim could only be realized on the basis of a common interest in the facial nerve, which unites the interdisciplinary scientific efforts of otologists, neurosurgeons, facial plastic surgeons, neurologists, neurophysiologists, and neuroanatomists. Therefore, a meeting of this kind remains in its aim to exchange ideas over scientific disciplines which do not come unique together normal conditions. The symposium has been held every four years since 1966. The VIIth sym posium was preceded by symposia in Stockholm (1966), Osaka (1970), ZUrich (1976), Los Angeles (1980), Bordeaux (1984) and Rio de Janeiro (1988), and marked an important milestone in the continuously developing knowledge about the facial nerve, its physiology, disorders, diagnostics and treatment. In contrast to the previous meetings this symposium extended in vitations to both clinicians and basic research workers. More than 350 scientists from 25 different nations met in Cologne, Germany, in June 1992 and their high-level presentations contributed to the overwhelming success of this international meeting. The symposium took place in the vicinity of the old cllthedral of Cologne, itself a vivid symbol of never-ending efforts to create something perfect and lasting."

Gastroenterologists require detailed knowledge regarding the anatomy of the GI system in order to understand the disturbances caused by diseases they diagnose and treat. Gastrointestinal Anatomy and Physiology will bring together the world s leading names to present a comprehensive overview of the anatomical and physiological features of the gastrointestinal tract. Full colour and with excellent anatomical and clinical figures throughout, it will provide succinct, authoritative and didactic anatomic and physiologic information on all the key areas, including GI motility, hepatic structure, GI hormones, gastric secretion and absorption of nutrients. GI trainees will enjoy the self-assessment MCQs, written to the level they will encounter during their Board exams, and the seasoned gastroenterologist will value it as a handy reference book and refresher for re-certification exams

The progression of heart disease is associated with changes in the neurohumoral mechanisms that control cardiac function. The degree to which this neurohumoral remodelling occurs, even before overt signs of cardiac disease become manifest, is important for prognosis. To determine why some patients experience sudden death while others sustain life in the presence of severely compromised cardiac function, the neuronal control of cardiac electrical and mechanical events must be considered. Starting at the level of individual neurons and building upwards, this book describes the synergistic interactions that occur among intrathoracic and CNS feedback loops to permit precise control of regional cardiac behaviour. On this basic science foundation, subsequent clinical chapters explore the remodelling that occurs in this system with ageing, with the evolution of specific cardiac pathologies, and with the psychological concomitants of heart disease. Most importantly, these chapters provide unique insights into how specific therapies like beta-andrenergic receptor blockade not only affect cardiomyocytes directly but also mitigate the adverse neurohumoral changes that accompany disease processes, such as heart failure and essential hypertension. The paradigm advanced in this volume is that heart disease is a multifaceted phenomenon involving the interplay of neurohumoral, cardiomyocyte and structural elements, each of which depends on the other. With our cumulative understanding of these interdependent processes, new avenues for time-appropriate, targeted methods of treating heart diseases can be developed.