This detailed volume explores in silico methods for pharmaceutical toxicity by combining the theoretical advanced research with the practical application of the tools. Beginning with a section covering sophisticated models addressing the binding to receptors, pharmacokinetics and adsorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion, the book continues with chapters delving into models for specific toxicological and ecotoxicological endpoints, as well as broad views of the main initiatives and new perspectives which will very likely improve our way of modelling pharmaceuticals. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the kind of detailed implementation advice that is key for achieving successful research results. Authoritative and practical, In Silico Methods for Predicting Drug Toxicity offers the advantage of incorporating data and knowledge from different fields, such as chemistry, biology, -omics, and pharmacology, to achieve goals in this vital area of research.

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) for Pesticide Regulatory Purposes stems from the experience of the EC funded project DEMETRA. This project combined institutes involved in the regulatory process of pesticides, industries of the sector and scientists to develop and offer original software for the prediction of ecotoxicity of pesticides. Then to be used within the dossier preparation for pesticide registration. The basis of this book is more than three-years of research activities, discussions, studies and successful models. This experience represents a useful example not only for the case of pesticides, but also for the prediction of ecotoxicity and toxicity in general.
QSAR is used to link a given property of a chemical compound with some features related to its structure. The theoretical toxicological, chemical and information technology aspects will be treated considering the regulatory issues. Innovative hybrid systems will be described, for the toxicity prediction of pesticides and related compounds, directly useful for pesticide evaluation within the Dossier preparation for pesticide registration. Five endpoints will also be discussed, addressing issues as standardisation, verification, validation, accessibility, reproducibility.
The driving force for Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) for Pesticide Regulatory Purposes is that all the issues of concern for end-users are analysed, discussed and solutions proposed further. An innovative feature is that, in order to offer powerful QSAR models, the book discusses and reports on integrated QSAR models, combined into a unique hybrid system.
* Assesses the needs of regulators for pesticide approval and how these needs affect QSAR models
* Combines theoretical discussion with practical examples, including five worked examples of hybrid systems
* Refers to original software available through the internet

This fully updated book explores all-new and revised protocols involving the use of in silico models, particularly with regard to pharmaceuticals. Divided into five sections, the volume covers the modeling of pharmaceuticals in the body, toxicity data for modeling purposes, in silico models for multiple endpoints, a number of platforms for evaluating pharmaceuticals, as well as an exploration of challenges, both scientific and sociological. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the kind of detail and implementation advice necessary for successful results. Authoritative and comprehensive, In Silico Methods for Predicting Drug Toxicity, Second Edition aims to guide the reader through the correct procedures needed to harness in silico models, a field which now touches a wide variety of research specialties.

This volume of the Springer Lecture Notes in Computer Science series contains the contributions presented at the International Symposium on Knowledge Exploration in Life Science Informatics (KELSI 2004) held in Milan, Italy, 25 26 November 2004. The two main objectives of the symposium were: To explore the symbiosis between information and knowledge technologies and v- ious life science disciplines, such as biochemistry, biology, neuroscience, medical research, social sciences, and so on. To investigate the synergy among different life science informatics areas, including cheminformatics, bioinformatics, neuroinformatics, medical informatics, systems - ology, socionics, and others. Modern life sciences investigate phenomena and systems at the level of molecules, cells, tissues, organisms, and populations. Typical areas of interest include natural e- lution, development, disease, behavior, cognition, and consciousness.This quest is g- eratinganoverwhelmingandfast-growingamountofdata, information, andknowledge, re?ecting living systems at different levels of organization. Future progress of the life sciences will depend on effective and ef?cient management, sharing, and exploitation of these resources by computational means."

This detailed volume explores in silico methods for pharmaceutical toxicity by combining the theoretical advanced research with the practical application of the tools. Beginning with a section covering sophisticated models addressing the binding to receptors, pharmacokinetics and adsorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion, the book continues with chapters delving into models for specific toxicological and ecotoxicological endpoints, as well as broad views of the main initiatives and new perspectives which will very likely improve our way of modelling pharmaceuticals. Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include the kind of detailed implementation advice that is key for achieving successful research results. Authoritative and practical, In Silico Methods for Predicting Drug Toxicity offers the advantage of incorporating data and knowledge from different fields, such as chemistry, biology, -omics, and pharmacology, to achieve goals in this vital area of research.