The chapters in this volume of "Advances in Medicine and Biology," present the latest research in medical research. The first chapter provides a review on the isolation of mitotic chromosomes from HeLa and other cells. Chapter Two discusses many new hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptive approaches for men. Chapter Three studies the risk factors associated with smoking during pregnancy. Chapter Four presents implications of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in cell cultures and bioproducts for human and animal health. Chapter Five reviews the different mechanisms associated with BVDV infection, by which BVDV triggers an impairment of the immune response, with special emphasis on its implication in the development of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRD). Chapters Six and Seven examine the the diagnosis, prognosis, management and emerging treatments for Polycythemia vera (PV). The last chapter reviews evidence from experimental and clinical studies to show the potential effect of tea polyphenols on the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The chapters in this volume of "Advances in Medicine and Biology," present the latest research in medical research. Chapter One provides an overview of molecular biology approaches for Dengue diagnosis and research in Brazil. Chapter Two identifies host factor predictors and clinical determinants associated with Dengue Fever versus Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever in an adult population. Chapter Three summarizes the symptoms, risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children, from a pulmonary perspective. Chapter Four provides a brief overview on the role of some potential dietary natural products in the prevention of GERD and treatment with particular reference to the findings of the latest preclinical investigations or clinical trials. Chapter Five investigates the mechanism of onset of syringomyelia, a disease that produces fluid-containing cavities in the parenchyma of the spinal cord, using an adhesive spinal arachnoiditis model created by injection of kaolin into the subarachnoid space. Chapter Six outlines the approach to syringomyelia that starts with a functionally oriented classification based on the underlying cause of the syrinx and its accompanying specific cavitary pattern, and it also elucidates the main pathophysiological mechanisms involved and suggested in the formation and propagation of the cavitation. Chapter Seven summarizes the prevalence and virulence characteristics of L. pneumophila in aquatic environments including natural and artificially-controlled water environments such as hot springs in Japan. Chapter Eight discusses the basic biomechanical characteristics and forces acting on the ankle under static conditions and their influences on artificial total ankle replacement designs. The authors of Chapter Nine suggest that the adverse tissue reaction to aseptic loosening of arthroplasty can serve as a reliable clinical model, which has a considerable prevalence and adequately represents the toxicity of nanomaterials in the human body. They also discuss how to better make use of previous and ongoing models for nanotoxicology study. Chapter Ten describes the nasal deformities associated with congenital clefting and outlines the timing and techniques used to correct these deformities. Chapter 11 presents the technique and results of augmentation rhinoplasty with silicone implant in Asians. Chapter 12 discusses surgical treatment of resectable, borderline resectable and locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancers. Chapter 13 presents a practically orientated overview of principal problems of diagnostic and therapeutic pitfalls in pulmonary embolism (PE) affecting elderly patients from the point of view of a geriatrician. The final chapter examines the negative side effects of Zolpidem, a medication often used for insomnia.

The chapters in this volume of "Advances in Medicine and Biology," present the latest research in medical research. The book begins with a review of the role of remifentanil in obstetric analgesia. The following chapter examines oculomotor palsy after obstetric anesthesia. Chapter three discusses contemporary diagnostic procedures and the differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian cysts. Chapter four provides a comprehensive overview of available information on dog ovarian cysts. Chapter five examines papain-based carious tissue removal. Chapters six and seven summarise the current understanding of the pathophysiology of pruritis associated with jaundice and the currently available treatment options for the condition, and discuss the rare causes of obstructive jaundice. Chapter eight highlights all aspects that have been studied by various workers affecting the stability of sulfacetamide, particularly, in pharmaceutical systems. Chapter nine examines post-traumatic inflammation of the white matter. Chapter ten reviews the role of dexamethasone before, during and after the surgery, using in vivo and clinical studies. Chapter 11 discusses the 0.7-mg dexamethasone intravitreal implant for the treatment of posterior noninfectious uveitis. The last chapter provides research on the advances and challenges in the structural analysis of milk biomolecules using modern mass spectrometry techniques.

In this next edition of "Advances in Medicine and Biology," chapters include research on the obesity prevention programs for elementary school-age children; foreign body ingestion in children; the use of fluorescent tracer retrograde labeling to identify somatosensory dorsal root ganglia neurons; the contribution of PGE2 induced nociceptor sensitisation and potentiation to chronic pain conditions; ultrasounds for trigeminal neuralgia; postoperative monitoring after free tissue transfers; the mobilisation, collection and transfusion of granulocytes; the defects of granulocytes and granulopoiesis; near infrared spectroscopy in neonatal clinical monitoring and in the food and pharmaceutical industries; and Sarco(endo)Plasmic Reticulum Calcium-ATPases (SERCAs) and MicroRNAs.

In this next edition of "Advances in Medicine and Biology," chapters include research on differential diagnosis, along with potential treatments for insomnia in children and adults; the effectiveness of biobehavioral interventions to relieve joint and muscle dysfunction that occurs in Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders (TMJMD), when they are implemented in community-based clinics; the pharmacological and therapeutic potential of scorpion venom and their toxins; the relief of chemical-induced acute colitis through the use of non-anticoagulant oligosaccharides of enoxaparin; the expression and function of macrophage CXCR7's link to atherosclerosis; the participation of microtubules in intracellular cholesterol transport through cytosolic lipid-protein particles in rat astrocytes; and teeth and amelogenin in xenopus.

This book presents the latest developments in medicine and biology. Chapters include research on trends in the birth prevalence of boys with isolated hypospadias and undescended testis in Hungary during the last 50 years; alleviating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms using a natural factor; neutralization-enhancing RF antibodies; advances in the diagnosis, assessment, management and outcome of Takayasu's arteritis; macronutrients and premenstrual syndrome; pressurised intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC); the control of MAO expression; and what we know about iMAO.

This continuing series gathers and presents original research results on the leading edge of medicine and biology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial topical data across a broad spectrum. Topics discussed in this book include documenting and describing the methods and value of medication therapy management programs; immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in cryptococcal meningitis; growth hormone deficiency in children; the barrier function of retinal pigment epithelium; the use of lateral access in lumbar spondylolisthesis; clinical effects of Yokukansan for tension-type headaches; myocardial hypertrophy and periodontal disease; evaluation of national drug policy in Sudan; mucosally-restricted leishmaniasis in the old and new world; results of pharmacist's intervention in a geriatric outpatient clinics based on potentially inappropriate prescribing criteria; results in patients treated surgically with osteodesis vs bloodless treated with plaster; and a short commentary on an ethical analysis of banning free pharmaceutical samples.

The chapters in this volume present the latest research in medical research. Included are chapters that examine the vascular supply to the skin - the largest organ in the body and thus a major barrier to microorganisms to prevent infection; an analysis of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme according to healthcare professional surveys; new approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and clinical challenges of onychomycosis - the most common nail disease which affects approximately 5% of the population worldwide; platelet-associated regulatory system (PARS); an examination of the production of certain isoprostanes, which notably increases in different cardiovascular pathological conditions or endocrine-metabolic disorders related to endothelial dysfunction; the measles epidemic, its prevalence in Europe and Japan and the importance and impact of providing vaccinations; phospholipase D, a major player in pathophysiological diseases; and finally, an analysis of the the Brazilian Human Milk Banks Network that was established to promote the health of women and children.

This monograph contains six chapters, each of which provides details about recent advancements in the field of medicine and biology. Chapter One describes the discovery of AZQ, a drug specifically designed to shut off genes that cause brain cancer. Chapter Two analyses the structure, stability, adaptation to extreme environments and the catalytic mechanism of I+/--helical membrane proteins. Chapter Three provides an up-to-date overview of artificial intelligence (AI) in assisted reproductive treatment (ART) clinics and explores how AI learns and develops a dataset to provide clinical guidance. Chapter Four consists of a study focused on the etiopathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma using laboratory mice. Chapter Five presents and comments on the current evidence regarding diagnostics in patients with metastatic breast cancer based on circulating tumour cells (CTCs). Lastly, Chapter Six reviews the pathogenetic and clinical features of inner ear involvement in congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV), the most frequent non-genetic cause of permanent sensorineural hearing loss in childhood.

This edited volume contains seven chapters, each detailing recent advancements in medicine and biology. Chapter One presents an overview of drug-related problems in pediatrics. Chapter Two evaluates the role that Maytenus ilicifolia can play in the treatment of melanoma skin cancer. Chapter Three presents a review of biosensors for lipopolysaccharides and assays for studies of lipopolysaccharide binding interactions. Chapter Four presents a literature review of treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome. Chapter Five describes the application of metabolomics, a science that quantifies and qualifies metabolites in an organism, in bio-medical research. Chapter Six presents the results of a systematic screening that was performed to identify macromolecules that are able to induce accumulation of ascitic fluid in rodents. Finally, Chapter Seven describes a study wherein the method of gravitational mass spectroscopy was used to study the long-range order in an ensemble of atomic nuclei clusters in chicken egg yolk before and after adsorption by beet sugar on the chromosomes.

This book includes five chapters, each representing a recent advancement in medicine and biology. Chapter One discusses future aspects of sports medicine and their applications. Chapter Two deals with clinical visual impairment in the elderly population resulting from neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Chapter Three reviews recent promising alternatives to protamine, which is currently used as a heparin antagonist but can cause dangerous side effects. Chapter Four describes the factors responsible for the development of diseases such as SARS, MERS, and Ebola. Finally, Chapter Five discusses the future applications of Drosophila melanogaster in neurobehavioral studies.

This edited monograph includes eight chapters, each discussing recent advancements in the fields of medicine and biology. Chapter One provides information on the mechanisms of polyurethane degradation. Chapter Two reviews the inhibitory effect of chlorogenic acid on metabolic syndrome-related vascular endothelial cell damage, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Chapter Three investigates the development of fatigue of rat skeletal muscle under the action of water-soluble pristine C60 fullerenes as powerful antioxidants. Chapter Four discusses advances in the generation of immune cells from pluripotent stem cells and the potential of chimeric antigen receptor cells in cancer treatment. Chapter Five describes the targeted delivery of immunosuppressants. Chapter Six focuses on the in vitro degradation of biopolymers using enzymes and microorganisms. Chapter Seven reviews the risk factors for hearing loss in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and the management of such patients detected with hearing loss. Finally, Chapter Eight describes recently developed methods and tools used in physiological studies of human sensory neurons induced from human pluripotent stem cells.

In the first chapter, the authors intend to carry on a critical review of the different methods and approaches to determine the biomechanical output of joint stiffness, designated as dynamic joint stiffness by the authors. The second chapter summarizes several preceding articles on invasive procedures applied with questionable clinical indications in the former Soviet Union. The aim of the third chapter is to give information about how to use tacrolimus, in which type of glomerulonephritis and what are the treatment results, especially remission and relapse rates. In the fourth chapter, a ten-week experiment was conducted to assess the effect of supplementing Synechococcus sp. and Synechocystis sp. on the growth performance, haematology, serology and disease resistance in Oreochromis mossambicus. In the final chapter, discussions of the special properties of endothelial cells and their ability to generate the thrombotic microangiopathic syndrome and ARDS are undertaken based upon current knowledge of the capillary endothelial cells. Attempts are made to address the current pathophysiology of non-idiopathic thrombotic microangiopathy.

Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 164 begins by proposing that first-line chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer consensus molecular subtypes appears to be a prognostic factor that is able to provide information about growth rate. The authors go on to review the current and future applications of bioartificial grafts and conduits in the bridging of peripheral nerve defects. Ginsenoside Rb1 and phosphoramidon are studied in the zebrafish model of diabetic retinopathy, a progressive proliferative and non-proliferative disorder of retina with alterations of the blood-retinal barrier. Basic knowledge on the events from follicle development to implantation crucial to achieve successful conception as well as contraception is presented, describing the mechanism of contraceptive action of Chhaya. Hydroxydaunorubicin, also known as doxorubicin, a metabolite of Streptomyces peucetius and a prominent family member of anthracycline antibiotics is studied. The authors also review the possible mechanisms by which doxorubicin provokes concomitant side effects and clinical disorders, as well as the damage-assaying biochemical markers and the metabolites in these conditions. Updated data with a systematic search through the largest medical information databases is used to assess the therapeutic and preventive role in urinary incontinence of pelvic floor rehabilitation in pregnancy and postpartum. In closing, recent studies on the host and lactic acid bacteria as well as probiotic interactions in terms of molecular and cellular mechanisms of action via signaling pathways, apoptosis, and heat shock proteins are reviewed.

Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 163 begins by discussing lipidomics, a newly emerging field of biomedical research that uses a mass spectrometry-based tool for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of complex lipids in the biological system. Following this, the authors analyze basic aspects of the cellular processes involved in olfactory signal transduction, focusing on the neurogenic processes of neuronal stem cells from the olfactory neuroepithelium. Recent information from several experimental studies is presented highlighting the application of CCl4 as an inducer of pathophysiological changes in key organs of the body. The preparation, advantages and multi-functionality of nano emulsions is reviewed in the context of their potential applications in targeted drug delivery. The existing preclinical and clinical studies carried out with sacubitril-valsartan (and other drugs with similar pharmacological mechanisms) in heart failure and hypertensive patients are described. The authors go on to explore monoclonal antibodies targeting multiple myeloma, a plasma cell neoplasia accounting for 10% of hemopoietic neoplasias. The closing study examines the various approaches for mitral valve surgery, comparing and contrasting the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Volume 154 first compares the scleral buckle procedure to pneumatic retinopexy and vitrectomy for the repair of primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment to evaluate patient outcomes, single surgery reattachment rate, and complications. Following this, the authors review recent advances in liver organoids differentiated from pluripotent stem cells and discuss the future directions of organoid technology. Additionally, the authors compare the efficacy of low-level red and infrared laser irradiation for the correction of adverse side effects in the oral mucosa in patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for oral and pharyngeal cancer. In vivo oral mucosa state monitoring is carried out in patients during the course of oral and pharyngeal cancer radiation/chemoradiation therapy using multimodal optical coherence tomography. An overview of the current methods used for diagnosing, classification of fractures, treatment, and prevention of periprosthetic femur fractures following total hip arthroplasty is provided. This collection also investigates the presence of kyphosis in adolescents and the association between the incidence of kyphosis and age, the average duration of the sports training, body mass index, weight, height and pulse in adolescents who have participated in karate, swimming and handball. The authors attempt to describe advancements in the electrochemistry of cytochrome P450 enzymes and study molecular aspects and catalytic behavior of enzymatic electrocatalysis. Moreover, a comprehensive overview of major causes of liver fibrosis, medicinal plants and the role of medicinal plants in combatting liver fibrosis is provided. Lastly, this compilation recapitulates the history of artificial intelligence in Chinese medicine, focusing on the way Chinese medicine is being revolutionized by this state-of-the-art technology, and how healthcare in China is influenced by various artificial intelligence systems.

Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 156 first defines endovascular aortic aneurysm repair as the treating of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by placing a stent graft device over guide wires inside the aneurysmal aorta, with the aim of achieving secure fixation and sealing at non-diseased proximal and distal landing zones. Abdominal aortic aneurysm has an atherosclerotic origin; however, rare cases are immune-related, such as those from IgG4 or infections. Among the infectious agents, the authors discuss tuberculosis bacillus, the Salmonella typhi, but also Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Treponema pallidum. Next, the authors discuss fentanyl, a piperidine derivative opioid analgesic agent that has clinical uses worldwide, originally developed by Janssen and his collegues (Janssen 1959, 309). The systematic name is N-(1-(2-phenethyl)-4-piperidinyl-N-phenylpropanamide. Since its discovery in the heroin supply in 1979, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs have been linked with epidemics of accidental overdose and death. More recently, the increased contamination of heroin with fentanyl and fentanyl analogs has been associated with accelerated national opioid overdose death rates in the United States. Following this, an overview of the systemic and topical corticosteroids used in dermatology is provided, and new classification methods to improve efficacy and minimize side effects are discussed. The authors go on to discuss prostatitis, an infectious disease caused by several bacteria. Approximately 8.2% of men have been affected by prostatitis which damages the ejaculatory ducts, causing infertility. The silver tree, Abies alba Mill. is a monoecious tree from the Pinaceae family. The fir has several uses in food and cosmetic industry, as well as in phototherapy and traditional medicine. As such, the antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of Abies species against some gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and yeasts are explored. The penultimate chapter focuses on arthrosis or osteoarthritis of the knee, a local disease of the knee joint, and presents a clinical manifestation of degenerative changes in affected joints. The authors explore how procedures of physical therapy and rehabilitation alone or in combination with pharmacologic treatment can relieve pain and improve function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The concluding chapter describes current concepts regarding the correlation between tinnitus and cochlear implants. Possible physiopathological mechanisms of tinnitus reduction after cochlear implant may involve several aspects, such as habituation, acoustic masking, direct electrical nerve stimulation and cortical reorganization.

In the opening chapter the authors describe the importance of the response of photon counting detectors, as well as taking into consideration the detectors response when analyzing objects using a multi-pixel-type photon counting detector for medical X-ray imaging. Following this, the authors discuss how the image quality of radionuclide tomography strongly depends on the method of reconstruction, which can be broadly classified into two types: filtered back projection and iterative reconstruction. Vitamin E function, metabolism, nutritional recommendation and the role of biofortification is also addressed. The authors discuss poly(methyl methacrylate), an artificial polymer resin that can be produced through distinct processes, including solution, suspension and emulsion polymerizations. Particularly, poly(methyl methacrylate) is completely amorphous, but presents high tensile strength and excellent dimensional stability due to its rigid polymer chains. Next, the authors highlight the taxonomy, description and characterization tests of carbapenem resistant bacteria in the environment, as well as epidemiology updates and clinical aspects of infections caused by these microorganisms. Nutrient conditions affect the reproductive potential and life span of many organisms through the insulin signaling pathway. Although this is well characterised in female oogenesis, it has been shown that male reproductive organ also acts as a nutrient sensor to optimize fecundity. The closing chapter discusses the Drosophila male accessory gland, as it has functions similar to those of the mammalian prostate gland and the seminal vesicle, and secretes accessory gland proteins into the seminal fluid.

This compilation opens with a review of the structure and life cycle of neuraminidase in influenza A, and also discusses the method of developing neuraminidase inhibitors derived from natural products and peptides. Following this, the authors describe the different uses of chlorhexidine in the medical field, focusing on dental use. Particularly, the authors discuss its: properties, chemistry, forms of presentation, substantivity and cytotoxicity; uses in dentistry: cariology, periodontology, oral surgery and endodontics. Additionally, the authors discuss rufinamide, a novel triazole derivative which differs from commercial antiepileptic drugs. It is used as an adjunctive medicine in children, adults and the elder population, and administered orally. One study discusses antiviral treatment for the avian influenza A virus using neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir and zanamivir. Although both inhibitors show therapeutic and prophylactic activities against the H5N1 strains, it is proposed that treatment should be further developed in order to increase the efficiency of the inhibitors against the strains. Angiogenesis or neovascularization is a global term which indicates the physiological process involving the sprouting of new blood vessels from the pre-existing ones. The development of new blood vessels from differentiating endothelial cells is called vasculogenesis. This collection addresses how these processes are vital for tissue development and wound healing in damaged tissues. The spectrum of spondyloarthritides with inflammatory bowel disease and enteropathic arthritis is examined in an effort to give the reader an insight into the risk factors, treatment and prognosis of this clinically challenging rheumatic disease. Later, the principles of optical coherence tomography-guided femtosecond laser cataract surgery are explored. The combination of femtosecond laser surgery and optical coherence tomography imaging simultaneously guides the development of next-generation femtosecond surgical lasers in cataract surgery and explores femtosecond-laser surgical strategies. The authors present a novel colorimetric method for the assay of XI using a reducing monosaccharide determination. The test solution was mixed with 20-fold volume of the 50 mM Na2SiO3, 600 mM Na2MoO4, and 0.95 M HCl aqueous solution (pH 4.5), in which a yellow molybdosilicate species was formed. The penultimate chapter introduces the origin, preparation, applications of Taiyi Shenzhen (Taiyi Moxa Stick Moxibustion), and reviews the relevant research in the past ten years. The concluding study focuses on the daily foraging of honeybees, which is one of the most well-organized social behaviors that exist among social insects. Honeybees are extensively used model animals in behavioral studies for understanding the time-space learning, landmark use and concept of learning.

Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 155 reviews whether the non-surgical and non-pharmacological interventions commonly used for knee osteoarthritis patients are effective and, if effective, which ones are the most effective. For this, randomized controlled trials were identified through electronic databases. Following this, the authors discuss how the early identification of target subjects who are at high cardiometabolic risk is important for critical lifestyle interventions and pharmacological management strategies. Additionally, they discuss the diversity, biotechnological applications and sustainable bioproduction of chitinases enzyme from Streptomyces origin, as well as their properties, production and potential applications in the industrial and biotechnological spheres. New strategies such as the use of atomic force microscopy, the isolation of cardiomyocytes, primary culturing in different types of substrates as well as transcriptomic studies are enabling the understanding of how these cells can be affected by different pathologies. As such, in this compilation these issues are updated by analyzing how new approaches to basic aspects of the structure and physiology of cardiomyocytes can be of clinical relevance. This collection also discusses chitotriosidase and acidic mammalian chitinase belonging to the chitinase family. This family includes 18 chitinases united by the features of their molecular structure. Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis is a common, multifactorial process also associated with aging, which frequently causes central canal stenosis. Several types of interbody fusion procedures that may treat of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis are examined, particularly lateral lumbar interbody fusion. The final chapter explores the role surgical intervention plays in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

This collection begins by discussing bendamustine, a nitrogen mustard derivative that consists of a meclorethamine group, butyric acid and a benzimidazole ring. Bendamustine has been synthesized in 1963, but in recent years it has been shown to be effective in treating lymphoproliferative diseases and solid tumors. Additionally, the authors present the efficacy of structure variation of bendamustine for the enhancement of the lipid membrane partitioning and tissue penetration, as well as drug-likeness. A total of 10 novel compounds are presented, wherein seven have higher Log P values and three have lower Log P values than that of bendamustine. Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 149 also discusses metabolic syndrome, a growing major clinical challenge for global health resultant from over-consumption of energy and obesity. Following this, the authors address the importance of antimicrobial resistance in human and veterinary medicine, focusing on antimicrobial peptides such as nisin as therapeutic alternatives. A study is presented wherein it is concluded that oligodendrocyte dysfunction in multiple system atrophy significantly affects subcortical anatomical pathways. Moreover, the spatial patterns of the glial cytoplasmic inclusions in multiple system atrophy contrast with those reported for filamentous neuronal inclusions in other neurodegenerative diseases. Next, the authors summarize the recent discoveries expounding how I(2)-cell identity and heterogeneity evolve in diabetes mellitus, discussing a new perspective of I(2)-cell function salvage in diabetes mellitus development. Yeast cell cycle arrest and its consequences are analyzed in the subsequent chapter. Cell cycle arrest results in programmed cell death, such as apoptosis, wherein cells are made to commit suicide. The penultimate study evaluates the effect of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation on cognitive and neurophysiological functions in patients with moderate cognitive impairment. Lastly, to investigate the role of CD44 in the development of allergic respiratory inflammation, a mouse model of airway allergic inflammation induced by transnasal administration of helminthic and mite allergens is used to analyze bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and airway hyper responsiveness.

In this compilation, the authors first describe the combined negatively-biased and unbiased cocaine conditioning procedure, aiming to study the potential influence of the initial spontaneous exploratory bias on subsequent cocaine conditioning. Next, the authors perform a critical review about the efficacy of mirtazapine in the treatment of substance dependence and anxiety and related disorders in order to help clinicians, pharmacists and other healthcare workers. Transurethral drug delivery is reviewed, as well as and the application of ketorolac as an intravesical therapy. Ketorolac tromethamine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and a potent analgesic. The authors go on to discuss current trends in re-innervating functional muscle transfers and the neurophysiological basis for these various techniques. Later, the microglial response to the process of motoneuronal cell death is analysed by using ionised Ca2+ binding adapter molecule-1 and cFms as microglial markers. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrates that the number of anti-Iba1 antibody-staining cells increased in the axotomised facial nucleus during 3-5 days post-insult. In the penultimate chapter, a detailed examination was performed of facial muscle innervation by the terminal branches of the facial nerve, in particular the microanatomical distribution to the orbicularis oculi muscle and orbicularis oris muscle. The final study discusses the advantages and concerns related to the use of biofilm reactors for the production of high-value products, and the current challenges to establish E. coli biofilms as a valuable platform to produce recombinant proteins.

In Volume 146, the authors begin by exploring the mammalian eye lens, a unique transparent organ, with a distinctive cellular architecture and polarity. For more than a century, it has been used as a model to study mechanisms of induction, morphogenesis, differentiation and disease. Following this, the authors discuss guanylate-binding protein-1 (GBP-1), an interferon-inducible large GTPase involved in the epithelial barrier and cell proliferation. Induction of GBP-1 by proinflammatory cytokines is regulated via various signaling pathways and is a reliable marker of interferon-y-activated cells in various diseases. This compilation also examines remifentanil, a synthetic fentanyl derivative and ultra-short acting, selective -opioid receptor agonist. Its chemical structure includes a methyl-ester ring that allows its hydrolysis by non-specific plasma and tissue esterases. The authors suggest that the role of sevoflurane in preventing oxidative damage and inflammatory response to ventilator injury-induced lung injury requires further investigation. Sevoflurane is a halogenated anaesthetic developed in the early 1970s which preserves the hypoxic vasoconstriction reflex, doesn't irritate the airways, and maintains self-regulation of the district circles. Additionally, the current knowledge on immune-checkpoint inhibitors, immune mediated hepatitis and pancreatitis is summarised. Immune-checkpoint inhibitors continue to revolutionise cancer therapy and are expected to be utilized in an increasing number of malignancies in the coming years. The closing chapter discusses vitamin E, a collective term including compounds which are either naturally occurring or synthetic analogues exhibiting the biological activity of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a micronutrient and fat-soluble vitamin which has an important role in human beings, particularly children.