Progression of chronic diseases in general and chronic kidney disease in particular has been traditionally viewed in the light of various contributors to development of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial scarring culminating in renal fibrosis. Indeed, this dogma prevailed for decades underscoring experimental attempts to halt fibrotic processes. Breakthrough investigations of the past few years on stem/progenitor cell involvement in organ regeneration caused a conceptual shift in tackling the mechanisms of nephrosclerosis. It has become clear that the rate of progression of chronic kidney disease is the net sum of the opposing trends: degenerative fibrotic processes and regenerative repair mechanisms. The latter part of this equation has been by and large ignored for years and only recently attracted investigative attention. This book revisits the problem of kidney disease by focusing on regenerative mechanisms in renal repair and on the ways these regenerative processes can become subverted by an intrinsic disease process eventuating in its progression. Cutting-edge investigations are summarized by the most experienced international team of experts.

Since the publication of the first edition of this book in 2010, an explosion of spectacular discoveries in the field of regeneration has compelled the current revisit of the field of Regenerative Nephrology. This second edition features subjects as diverse as age and gender influencing regenerative processes; mechanisms and pathways of premature cell senescence affecting kidney regeneration; the ways intrinsic regenerative processes can become subverted by noxious stressors eventuating in disease progression; novel mechanistic and engineering efforts to recreate functional kidney or its component parts; cell reprogramming and reconditioning as emerging tools of future regenerative efforts; and effects of various biologicals on kidney regeneration. These newer additions to the armamentarium of Regenerative Medicine and Nephrology have become an integral part of the second edition of the book. Cutting-edge investigations are summarized by the constellation of the most experienced contributing authors coming together from around the world under the umbrella of the second edition.

"Rule IV. There is need of a method for finding out the truth. Rule V. Method consists entirely in the order and disposition of the objects toward which our mental vision must be directed if we would find out any truth. We shall comply with it exactly if we reduce involved and obscure propositions step be step to those that are s- pler, and then starting with the intuitive apprehension of all those that are absolutely simple, attempt to ascend to the knowledge of all others by precisely similar steps. " -Rene Descartes, Rules for the Direction of Mind ..".Perhaps he would sooner satisfy himself by resolving light into colours as far as may be done by Art, and then by examining the properties of those colours apart, and afterwards by trying the effects of reconjoyning two or more or all of those, and lastly by separating them again to examine what changes that reconjunction had wrought in them. This will prove a tedious and difficult task to do it as it ought to be done but I could not be satisfied till I had gone through it. " -From Newton's letter, quoted in The Life of Isaac Newton by Richard Westfall. Cambridge University Press, 1993.

A number of remarkable recent breakthroughs have made the study of nitric oxide one of the most exciting fields in physiology and pathophysiology. This authoritative edited volume reviews the progress to date and opens perspectives to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The contributors are leading authorites, in most cases the investigators who have pioneered the ideas explored in the book.

A number of remarkable recent breakthroughs have made the study of nitric oxide one of the most exciting fields in physiology and pathophysiology. This authoritative edited volume reviews the progress to date and opens perspectives to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The contributors are leading authorites, in most cases the investigators who have pioneered the ideas explored in the book.

"Rule IV. There is need of a method for finding out the truth. Rule V. Method consists entirely in the order and disposition of the objects toward which our mental vision must be directed if we would find out any truth. We shall comply with it exactly if we reduce involved and obscure propositions step be step to those that are s- pler, and then starting with the intuitive apprehension of all those that are absolutely simple, attempt to ascend to the knowledge of all others by precisely similar steps. " -Rene Descartes, Rules for the Direction of Mind ..".Perhaps he would sooner satisfy himself by resolving light into colours as far as may be done by Art, and then by examining the properties of those colours apart, and afterwards by trying the effects of reconjoyning two or more or all of those, and lastly by separating them again to examine what changes that reconjunction had wrought in them. This will prove a tedious and difficult task to do it as it ought to be done but I could not be satisfied till I had gone through it. " -From Newton's letter, quoted in The Life of Isaac Newton by Richard Westfall. Cambridge University Press, 1993.