ALBERT

Description: Salmonella is an extremely diversified genus, infecting a range of hosts, and comprised of two species: enterica and bongori. This group is made up of 2579 serovars, making it versatile and fascinating for researchers drawing their attention towards different properties of this microorganism. Salmonella related diseases are a major problem in developed and developing countries resulting in economic losses, as well as problems of zoonoses and food borne illness. Moreover, the emergence of an ever increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance in salmonella makes it prudent to unveil different mechanisms involved. This book is the outcome of a collaboration between various researchers from all over the world. The recent advancements in the field of salmonella research are compiled and presented.

Description: The aim of this book is to cover key aspects of existing problems in the field of development and future perspectives in gene therapy. Contributions consist of basic and translational research, as well as clinical experiences, and they outline functional mechanisms, predictive approaches, patient-related studies and upcoming challenges in this stimulating but also controversial field of gene therapy research. This source will make our doctors become comfortable with the common problems of gene therapy and inspire others to delve a bit more deeply into a topic of interest.

Description: Different types of mutation can vary in size, from structural variants to single base-pair substitutions, but what they all have in common is that their nature, size and location are often determined either by specific characteristics of the local DNA sequence environment or by higher order features of the genomic architecture. The genomes of higher organisms are now known to contain "pervasive architectural flaws" in that certain DNA sequences are inherently mutation prone by virtue of their base composition, sequence repetitivity and/or epigenetic modification. In this volume, a number of different authors from diverse backgrounds describe how the nature, location and frequency of different types of mutation causing inherited disease are shaped in large part, and often in remarkably predictable ways, by the local DNA sequence environment.

Description: The preterm parturition syndrome is one of the major obstetrical complications of our time. Understanding the mechanisms leading to prematurity may assist the clinician to tailor the desired treatment that is suitable to the mechanisms leading to preterm birth in a specific patient. In the first section of this book we present an update on the association of periodontal disease, maternal stress, and activation of the hemostatic system and preterm parturition. The second section of the book deals with short and long term effects of prematurity, with a long term aspect of late preterm birth. This book will expand the dialogue between obstetricians, pediatricians and other disciplines regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of prematurity.

Description: Mineralogy includes thirteen chapters that discuss the methodology of specific mineralogical methods, the composition of minerals from different igneous rocks, and the composition of minerals from different sedimentary rocks.It contains detailed mineralogical studies from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Chapters present different scientific mineralogical methods and detailed descriptions of minerals from different magmatic and sedimentary rocks.

Description: Benzimidazole is a comprehensive survey of the known and new methods of benzimidazole synthesis, the spectral and theoretical aspects of existing benzimidazole derivatives, and the anticancer properties of a new class of benzimidazole derivatives. This book examines aspects and newer mechanisms of benzimidazoles containing heterocyclic moiety. Chapters report on anticancer properties of benzimidazole derivatives, novel methods of synthesis of benzimidazoles, versatile nature of the benzimidazoles, spectral and theoretical studies of benzimidazole derivatives, and medicinal importance and pharmacological aspects of benzimidazole derivatives.

Description: "Flow Cytometry - Recent Perspectives" is a compendium of comprehensive reviews and original scientific papers. The contents illustrate the constantly evolving application of flow cytometry to a multitude of scientific fields and technologies as well as its broad use as demonstrated by the international composition of the contributing author group. The book focuses on the utilization of the technology in basic sciences and covers such diverse areas as marine and plant biology, microbiology, immunology, and biotechnology. It is hoped that it will give novices a valuable introduction to the field, but will also provide experienced flow cytometrists with novel insights and a better understanding of the subject.

Description: This book includes selected peer-reviewed chapters which cover novel aspects of cysticercosis and neurocysticercosis written by well known international researchers, representing the most relevant Working Group for Cysticercosis of Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, most of the Eastern and Southern Africa countries and Europe plus other contributions from Canada and United States of America. Unfortunately, our colleagues from Asia could not participate in this project for several reasons but we hereby acknowledge their contribution to the scientific level reached by the international scientific community. Apart from the classic issue that cannot be missing in any book about cysticercosis/ neurocysticercosis, we introduced a new hypotheses and novel aspects on historical background, clinical descriptions, investigations, and treatment modalities related to this zoonotic parasitic disease as a leading cause of epilepsy in developing countries. We are looking forward with confidence and pride in the vital role that this book will play for a new vision and mission.

Description: Chikungunya, an arbovirus, is a major global threat affecting multiple areas of the world, even Europe, but recently (2014 - 2015) with large epidemics in Latin America, causing an important acute and chronic morbidity with a low, but present, mortality. This book tries to update the significant epidemiological and clinical research in many aspects with a multinational perspective. This book has been organized in two major sections: (I) ''Clinical and Epidemiological Aspects'' and (II) ''Entomology.'' Section I includes topics covering experiences and studies in different countries, including the infection during pregnancy and children, imported cases, ocular manifestations, coinfections, and therapeutics. Section II includes topics on entomological aspects, related to vector control, and new options for biological control of Aedes aegypti.

Description: Encephalitises are a group of inflammatory human and animal diseases of brain caused essentially by different pathogens. In spite of evident success in approaches for prevention, diagnostics and treatment during the last decades, the encephalitises of different etiology still constitute a menace for thousands of people all around the world. In this book the different aspects of encephalitises of different etiology are discussed such as diagnostics, treatment and clinical management of patients. Also, the data on epidemiology, monitoring, pathology and diagnostics of different viral causative agents are discussed.

Description: The continuing AIDS pandemic reminds us that despite the unrelenting quest for knowledge since the early 1980s, we have much to learn about HIV and AIDS. This terrible syndrome represents one of the greatest challenges for science and medicine. The purpose of this book is to aid clinicians, provide a source of inspiration for researchers, and serve as a guide for graduate students in their continued search for a cure of HIV. The first part of this book, "From the laboratory to the clinic," and the second part, "From the clinic to the patients," represent the unique but intertwined mission of this work: to provide basic and clinical knowledge on HIV/AIDS.

Description: The objective of this Genetic Polymorphisms book is to rehighlight and provide few updates on the role of genetic polymorphisms in medicine and agriculture, which void emerging opinion on "full death" of genetic polymorphisms as useful genetic markers. Chapters presented here demonstrate the future benefit of SNPs in many genetic studies as well as prognosis disease and diagnosis.

Description: Green Chemistry - New Perspectives is at the frontiers of this continuously evolving interdisciplinary science, and publishes research that attempts to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. The book covers all aspects of green chemistry, including chemical synthesis, nano synthesis, eco-friendly processes, biomass, extraction techniques, environmental remediation, and energy, making it a unique reference resource. This will continue to encourage scientists around the world to develop novel synthetic methods or improve the existing ones to circumvent some of the problems and favours all aspects of green chemistry. This book is intended for academia, professionals, scientists, as well as graduate and undergraduate students without any geographical limitations.

Description: Malaria is a global disease in the world today but most common in the poorest countries of the world, with 90% of deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. This book provides information on global efforts made by scientist which cuts across the continents of the world. Concerted efforts such as symbiont based malaria control; new applications in avian malaria studies; development of humanized mice to study P.falciparium (the most virulent species of malaria parasite); and current issues in laboratory diagnosis will support the prompt treatment of malaria. Research is ultimately gaining more grounds in the quest to provide vaccine for the prevention of malaria. The book features research aimed to bring a lasting solution to the malaria problem and what we should be doing now to face malaria, which is definitely useful for health policies in the twenty first century.

Description: The main goal in compiling this book was to highlight the situation in Africa in terms of AIDS and opportunistic diseases. Several chapters reveal great poverty, an apocalyptic situation in many parts of Africa. Global migration of people resulted in their exposure to pathogens from all over the world. This fact has to be acknowledged and accepted as African reality. New, unconventional hypotheses, not determined by established dogmas, have been incorporated into the book, although they have not yet been sufficiently validated experimentally. It still applies that any dogma in any area of science, and medicine in particular, has and always will hinder progress. According to some biologists, in the future, AIDS is very likely to occur in a number of variations, as a direct result of the ongoing processes in the global human society. Thus, we urgently need a comprehensive solution for AIDS, in order to be ready to fight other, much more dangerous intruders.

Description: Echinococcosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in certain areas of the world, tropical and non-tropical, particularly in rural settings. This book includes different topics with regard to the epidemiology, biology, clinical manifestations, treatment and prevention of the wide spectrum of diseases caused by the different species of Echinococcus involved in human and animal infection, with an aim to update the most significant research in many of them as well as to offer a multinational perspective on different aspects. The book has been organized into three major sections: (I) Epidemiology; (II) Biological and Clinical Aspects; and (III) Treatment and Prevention. Section I includes topics covering epidemiological studies in Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Tunisia, including molecular biology approaches to the study of parasite species. Section II includes topics covering the biology of some Echinococcus species affecting mainly animals, as also the human clinical manifestations in the central nervous system (CNS), genitourinary tract and other organic typical and atypical locations, as well as radiological manifestations of pulmonary disease. Section III includes topics on the usefulness of immunotherapy for antihelmintic treatment and intervention strategies.

Description: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, and infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been identified as the causal agent for this condition. The natural history of cervical cancer is characterized by slow disease progression, rendering the condition, in essence, preventable and even treatable when diagnosed in early stages. Pap smear and the recently introduced prophylactic vaccines are the most prominent prevention options, but despite the availability of these primary and secondary screening tools, the global burden of disease is unfortunately still very high. This book will focus on epidemiological and fundamental research aspects in the area of HPV, and it will update those working in this fast-progressing field with the latest information.

Description: Chromosomes are vital components of genetic material, and, as such, distruption or changes to the structure of chromosomes can result in different health problems and deficits. This book explains chromosomal abnomalities and their effects on living organisms, including humans and plants. Classical and molecular cytogenetics techniques have a considerable number of potential applications, especially in clinical trials and biomedical diagnosis, making them a strong and insightful complement to other molecular and genomic approaches. Chapters cover topics including Down syndrome, fetal ultrasounds, acute myeloid leukemia, and Phelan-McDermid syndrome, among others.

Description: This book concerns the signatures left behind in chromosomes by the forces that drive DNA code evolution in the form of DNA nucleotide substitutions. Since the genetic code predetermines the molecular basis of life, it could have been about any aspect of biology. As it happens, it is largely about recent adaptation of pathogens and their human host. Nine chapters are medically oriented, two are bioinformatics-oriented and one is technological, describing the state of the art in synthetic point mutagenesis. What stands out in this book is the increasing rate at which DNA data has been amassed in the course of the past decade and how knowledge in this vibrant research field is currently being translated in the medical world.

Description: Sixty years after the "central dogma," great achievements have been developed in molecular biology. We have also learned the important functions of noncoding RNAs and epigenetic regulations. More importantly, whole genome sequencing and transcriptome analyses enabled us to diagnose specific diseases. This book is not only intended for students and researchers working in laboratory but also physicians and pharmacists. This volume consists of 14 chapters, divided into 4 parts. Each chapter is written by experts investigating biological stresses, epigenetic regulation, and functions of transcription factors in human diseases. All articles presented in this volume by excellent investigators provide new insights into the studies in transcriptional control in mammalian cells and will inspire us to develop or establish novel therapeutics against human diseases.

Description: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA double-strand breaks can result from mitochondrial defects and external sources, such as ionizing radiation. If not repaired properly, pathogenic mutations are generated. Human diseases resulting from inherited mitochondrial defects manifest in organs that physiologically require a high level of ATP synthesis. These diseases are clinically challenging, but new experimental clinical therapies include gene editing and mitochondrial transplants. Pathogenic ROS-associated cellular damage includes DNA double-strand breaks, and mouse models are now available to study multiple repair pathways. This book discusses the clinical manifestations of mitochondrial diseases in both the eye and the kidney, and presents new insights into double-strand break repair pathways and developmental phenotypes of g-ray-associated ontogenic mutations of Drosophila melanogaste.

Description: Amyloidosis is an uncommon disorder characterized by the deposition of extracellular amyloid proteins in tissues. Significant advancement has been made recently, which not only provides insight in to the pathophysiology of the disease but also helps to discover new therapies to fight the deadly disease. If accurate diagnosis and typing are made early, effective or even curative therapies are available. Unfortunately, because of the rarity of the disease and its protean clinical manifestations, patients may be misdiagnosed, especially at early stage of the disease, and this could lead to missed opportunities to effective therapy. The aim of the book is to help readers become familiar with the clinical presentation of amyloidosis and to review the latest diagnostic and therapeutic development.

Description: Telomeres, located at the ends of linear chromosomes, are essential for genome stability and integrity. Advances in telomere researches have linked telomere dysfunction with cellular aging and a number of age-related human diseases. Recent studies further expanded our knowledge of telomere functions - telomeres are shown to be important for microbial pathogen virulence and telomere proteins have important non-telomeric cellular functions. This book includes current opinions on selected aspects of telomere research and their implication, in hope to help us focus better on future studies and enhance our research progress.

Description: Numerous studies had been performed to elucidate the mechanisms of aging and to achieve rejuvenation, with some success reported in recent years. However, at present, the findings from those studies are not sufficient to resolve the issue of aging. This book presents an overview of recent topics on cellular aging and rejuvenation. In the early chapters, the molecular mechanisms of aging via the activities of clock and ion channel proteins, in addition to overall aspects, are discussed. In the latter part, the aging of the skin, immune system, and brain is discussed. This book will prove useful for those studying or developing new drugs to counter the aging process and will encourage the development of novel ideas for rejuvenation.

Description: Dengue Fever in a One Health Perspective underlines important aspects of dengue virus, the most prevalent and life-threatening arbovirus in the world. Over three sections, chapters cover such topics as biological and environmental aspects, physiopathology, molecular biology, diagnosis, and control strategies. The first section provides knowledge on basic aspects of dengue virus biology and its emergence and re-emergence associated to environmental changes. The second section includes two chapters on dengue immunopathology, a drawback in disease control and vaccine development. Finally, the third section examines molecular biology tools employed in dengue virus immunopathogenesis studies, diagnosis, drug design, and in the use of vectors as sentinels in surveillance and vector biology studies.

Description: Many infectious agents, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites, can cause inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS). Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain parenchyma, which may result in a more advanced and serious disease meningoencephalitis. To establish accurate diagnosis and develop effective vaccines and drugs to overcome this disease, it is important to understand and elucidate the mechanism of its pathogenesis. This book, which is divided into four sections, provides comprehensive commentaries on encephalitis. The first section (6 chapters) covers diagnosis and clinical symptoms of encephalitis with some neurological disorders. The second section (5 chapters) reviews some virus infections with the outlines of inflammatory and chemokine responses. The third section (7 chapters) deals with the non-viral causative agents of encephalitis. The last section (4 chapters) discusses the experimental model of encephalitis. The different chapters of this book provide valuable and important information not only to the researchers, but also to the physician and health care workers.

Description: The development of technologies that allow targeting of specific cells has progressed substantially in recent years for several types of vectors, particularly viral vectors, which have been used in 70% of gene therapy clinical trials. Particular viruses have been selected as gene delivery vehicles because of their capacities to carry foreign genes and their ability to efficiently deliver these genes associated with efficient gene expression. This book is designed to present the most recent advances in viral gene therapy

Description: This book consists of several selected chapters on important subjects in modern high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The content addresses aspects related to both improvements in the mainstream HPLC/UPLC technology and utilization, as well as developments of exploratory new materials and equipment. The book presents useful details about the presented subjects as well as describes new applications and/or relevant case studies for each subject. It is addressed to a large audience of analytical chemists involved in separation science. Each chapter is authored by scientists with considerable field and academic experience.

Description: Antisense Therapy offers a comprehensive, state-of-the art perspective on the role of antisense therapy in the treatment of human disease, with a special focus on cancer. Use of antisense oligonucleotides is a growing field of pharmaceutical and biotech companies and research programs for treatment of several diseases. This book summarizes and presents the best updates, therapeutic principles, methods, and applications in the field and offers meaningful information to move treatment discovery forward.

Description: Congenital defects in humans are of greater concern, and in that line, cystic fibrosis (CF) has been one of the most complex diseases posing treatment challenge till date. Though it is a chronic condition, CF is closely associated with dysfunction of various organ systems of the human body, which in turn results in secondary infections by microbes. Decades of research by scientists worldwide has narrowed down the cause of CF to a single target gene. But the complexity of the disease is the prime impediment to finding a single-shot cure. Fortunately, the multidisciplinary approach toward understanding and management of the CF condition has certainly increased the level of life expectancy among CF patients. In particular, the "omics" and the "systems biology" approach have greatly widened the focal area for better understanding of the disease. This book includes a collection of interesting chapters contributed by eminent scientists around the world who have been striving to improve the life of those affected by CF.

Description: In the wake of the invitation by InTech, this book was written by a number of prominent researchers in the field. It is set to present a compendium of all necessary and up-to-date data to all who are interested. Schistosomiasis or blood fluke disease, also known as Bilharziasis, is a parasitic disease caused by helminths from a genus of trematodes entitled Schistosoma. It is a snail-borne trematode infection. The disease is among the Neglected Tropical Diseases, catalogued by the Global Plan to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2008-2015 and is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be the second most socioeconomically devastating parasitic disease, next to malaria. WHO demonstrates that schistosomiasis affects at least 200 million people worldwide, more than 700 million people live in endemic areas, and more than 200.000 deaths are reported annually. It leads to the loss of about 4.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

Description: This edited book, “Genotoxicity and Mutagenicity - Mechanisms and Test Methods”, aims to present the latest developments from different fields, highlighting the detrimental influence that mutagenic and genotoxic agents inflict on DNA and how antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic modulators are able to reduce the negative impact of such toxic agents on living species.

Description: Gene expression is dependent on multiple steps, including transcription, RNA processing, and translation. Importantly, recent studies revealed that gene expression is regulated by chromatin structures and non-coding RNA profiles. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms may contribute to the development of novel therapeutics for aging-related diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. This book provides a comprehensive overview of gene expression and its role in human disease. It consists of nine chapters organized into two sections on molecular mechanisms in controlling gene expression and the relationships between transcriptional control and human disease.

Description: Next generation sequencing (NGS) has surpassed the traditional Sanger sequencing method to become the main choice for large-scale, genome-wide sequencing studies with ultra-high-throughput production and a huge reduction in costs. The NGS technologies have had enormous impact on the studies of structural and functional genomics in all the life sciences. In this book, Next Generation Sequencing Advances, Applications and Challenges, the sixteen chapters written by experts cover various aspects of NGS including genomics, transcriptomics and methylomics, the sequencing platforms, and the bioinformatics challenges in processing and analysing huge amounts of sequencing data. Following an overview of the evolution of NGS in the brave new world of omics, the book examines the advances and challenges of NGS applications in basic and applied research on microorganisms, agricultural plants and humans. This book is of value to all who are interested in DNA sequencing and bioinformatics across all fields of the life sciences.

Description: This book, Telomere - A Complex End of a Chromosome, is organized into nine chapters containing the latest aspects of the current knowledge about the structure of telomeres and the crucial role that telomerase plays not only in maintaining chromosomal stability but also in relation to cell immortality, cell instability, and cancer biology. We now appreciate that these unusual complexes of DNA and proteins we all know as "telomeres" are dynamic and key structures that depend on telomerase and other cellular factors for continuance. Regulation of telomere activity is a dynamic area of current research, and new insights into telomeres and their role in aging and cancer, among other biological functions and pathologies, appear regularly in the scientific world. However, one fact is more than understandable in this difficult biological conundrum: the end of the telomere story is far from being totally unraveled.

Description: Epigenetics, which deals with the study of heritable gene expression that takes place independent of changes in DNA sequence, and optogenetics, which deals with the study of genes expressed under the influence of light, are two emerging areas of study and research that have contributed immensely to our current knowledge of mechanisms and disease processes in humans. These disciplines are interrelated in the broader picture of biology and one can be used to change or modify the other. The complexity of the techniques involved in these disciplines often leads to a lack of proper understanding by researchers from other disciplines and the scientific community at large. As such, this book provides simple and easy-to-follow explanations of some of the most exciting areas of research in these disciplines.

Description: Ongoing advances in pharmaceutical biotechnology have paved the way to ground-breaking new biological therapeutic modalities, offering the possibility of a durable curative approach for a number of life-threatening diseases, for which the medical need is as yet unmet. Over the past decades, gene therapy has seen a massive transformation from a proof-of-concept approach to a clinical reality culminating in the regulatory approval of state-of-the-art products in the European Union and in the United States. This book captures some of the scientific progresses notably in gene transfer technologies and translational development of in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy interventions in the treatment of a broad range of complex and debilitating non-inherited and inherited disorders such as: human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection, cancer, cystic fibrosis, hereditary retinopathies, haemophilia B, cardiac diseases, and chronic liver fibrosis.

Description: More than 2,500 serotypes of Salmonella exist. However, only some of these serotypes have been frequently associated with food-borne illnesses. Salmonella is the second most dominant bacterial cause of food-borne gastroenteritis worldwide. Often, most people who suffer from Salmonella infections have temporary gastroenteritis, which usually does not require treatment. However, when infection becomes invasive, antimicrobial treatment is mandatory. Symptoms generally occur 8 to 72 hours after ingestion of the pathogen and can last 3 to 5 days. Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are the most susceptible to salmonellosis infections. The annual economic cost due to food-borne Salmonella infections in the United States alone is estimated at $2.4 billion, with an estimated 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis and more than 500 deaths annually. This book contains nineteen chapters which cover a range of different topics, such as the role of foods in Salmonella infections, food-borne outbreaks caused by Salmonella, biofilm formation, antimicrobial drug resistance of Salmonella isolates, methods for controlling Salmonella in food, and Salmonella isolation and identification methods.

Description: Recent Advances in Chemical Kinetics provides a comprehensive overview of several types of chemical reactions. It includes six chapters that discuss solvent catalysis, customized flow reactors, p-conjugation in kinetics, kinetics of autoxidation, molecular chameleon for cations and anions, and internal clocks of atoms.

Description: DNA replication, the process of copying one double stranded DNA molecule to produce two identical copies, is at the heart of cell proliferation. This book highlights new insights into the replication process in eukaryotes, from the assembly of pre-replication complex and features of DNA replication origins, through polymerization mechanisms, to propagation of epigenetic states. It also covers cell cycle control of replication initiation and includes the latest on mechanisms of replication in prokaryotes. The association between genome replication and transcription is also addressed. We hope that readers will find this book interesting, helpful and inspiring.

Description: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections that are spread primarily through person to person sexual contact. There are more than 30 different sexually transmissible bacteria, viruses and parasites. STIs lead to high morbidity and complications. This book entitled as Sexually Transmitted Infections is not a text book but provides useful information for general reference work for physicians, researchers and students interested in the subject. Each chapter is abundant in tips useful to general readers as well. It also includes the Introductory chapter providing an overview with special emphasis on syndromic approach to the management of STIs in clinical setting.

Description: Epigenetics is one of the most exciting and rapidly developing areas of modern genetics with applications in many disciplines from medicine to agriculture. The most common form of epigenetic modification is DNA methylation, which plays a key role in fundamental developmental processes such as embryogenesis and also in the response of organisms to a wide range of environmental stimuli. Indeed, epigenetics is increasing regarded as one of the major mechanisms used by animals and plants to modulate their genome and its expression to adapt to a wide range of environmental factors. This book brings together a group of experts at the cutting edge of research into DNA methylation and highlights recent advances in methodology and knowledge of underlying mechanisms of this most important of genetic processes. The reader will gain an understanding of the impact, significance and recent advances within the field of epigenetics with a focus on DNA methylation.

Description: The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an RNA virus that is transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitos commonly found in tropical and subtropical countries. In humans, CHIKV causes an infection with symptoms strikingly like those of the dengue virus and Zika disease, both of which are also transmitted to humans by the same genus of mosquitos. This book delves into the history of the disease and the molecular characterization of the virus. It sheds light on modern diagnosis tools that allow unambiguous identification of CHIKV infection. In addition, this book addresses the epidemiology of chikungunya fever, the distribution and spread of the disease, and the promising approaches under consideration for preventing and treating the disease.

Description: Gene therapy is becoming a promising technology for the management of many human diseases. Hereditary and acquired disorders can both be tackled using the technique of gene therapy. This book provides detailed, up-to-date topics addressing basic principles of gene therapy and discussing some of the challenges encountered by scientists in developing this relatively novel technology. The development of new and efficient gene transfer vectors is of utmost importance in the progress of the field of gene therapy. Both viral and non-viral vectors are extensively discussed. A detailed chapter elaborates the problem of host immune rejection of transplanted donor cells or engineered tissue that can be avoided using the encapsulation of transgenic cells, thus avoiding the use of drugs that achieve immunosuppression.

Description: Genetic diversity is the entire amount of genes and genotypes in a group of organisms and is of vital importance for their adaptation to different living conditions. If, for example, all humans were identical, the extinction of the entire kind could happen very fast. Let us care and nourish differences! The goal of this book is to present some of the contemporary thoughts on understandings of the genetic diversity patterns and their altering in a changing world. The book is aimed to the ones inspired to study and contemplate genetic diversity and to the audience beyond any frames.

Description: This book provides an in-depth overview of current knowledge about Osteogenesis, including molecular mechanisms, transcriptional regulators, scaffolds, cell biology, mechanical stimuli, vascularization and osteogenesis related diseases. Hopefully, the publication of this book will help researchers in this field to decide where to focus their future efforts, and provide an overview for surgeons and clinicians who wish to be directed in the developments related to this fascinating subject.

Description: This book captures in a single volume the wealth of information on the plasmid structure, function, and biology of all organisms that have been examined to date. Plasmids exhibit wide variations in size, modes of replication and transmission, host ranges, and the genes they carry and have provided us with a great understanding of basic life principles at the molecular level. Written by experts in the field, this book is a valuable source of up-to-date information, delivering the latest impacts on studies in the areas of plasmid types, genomes, purification analysis, and expression of recombinant proteins in bacteria. Plasmid utilization in the synthesis of plasmid-based vaccines, plasmids as genetic tools, and their applications in ecology and the evolutionary process are also covered. This book is a single source of valuable information for instructors and students in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on plasmids. It will also appeal to researchers seeking to find new relationships between biological processes that are linked by plasmids to the environment.

Description: The Gene Therapy field is living exciting times after more than 20 years of poor results. Scientist and clinicians working in the gene therapy field have encountered many problems in the past that are now starting to be solved. The development of safer and more efficient gene transfer vectors and the advances on the cell therapy field have open new opportunities to tackle different diseases. The aim of this book is to bring together information about the different gene therapy tools, the clinical successes of gene therapy and the future applications.

Description: This book looks at the latest research studies on apoptosis in medicine. It is divided into three sections for convenient and easy reading. The first section which comprises two chapters is an introduction of the subject of apoptosis to the uninitiated. The second section which comprises a single solitary chapter looks at apoptosis in normal physiology during bone resorption under mechanical stress. The third and the final section reviews apoptosis in a number of pathological conditions with an emphasis on cancer.

Description: More than 10,000 patients are hospitalized every year with Legionnaires' disease in the United States alone. Legionnaires' disease is also an important public health topic as it involves environmental and public issues, as far as its spread and prevention are concerned. With an aging population, increasing number of transplants, increasing use of immunosuppressive medications, and compromised immunity due to multiorgan system disease, Legionnaires' disease is emerging as an important disease.

Description: The development of molecular cloning technology in the early 1970s created a revolution in the biological and biomedical sciences that extends to this day. The contributions in this book provide the reader with a perspective on how pervasive the applications of molecular cloning have become. The contributions are organized in sections based on application, and range from cancer biology and immunology to plant and evolutionary biology. The chapters also cover a wide range of technical approaches, such as positional cloning and cutting edge tools for recombinant protein expression. This book should appeal to many researchers, who should find its information useful for advancing their fields.

Description: This book provides a concise yet comprehensive source of current information on Down syndrome. It focuses on exciting areas of research on diseases associated with Down syndrome. Inside, you will find state-of-the-art information on diseases associated with Down syndrome; improvement of cognitive skills in Down syndrome; and research approaches on Down syndrome. Although aimed primarily at research workers on Down syndrome, we hope that the appeal of this book extends beyond the narrow confines of academic interest and reaches a wider audience, especially parents, relatives, and health care providers who work with infants and children with Down syndrome.

Description: Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain tissue associated with clinical evidence of brain dysfunction. The disease is of high public health importance worldwide due to its high morbidity and mortality. Flaviviruses, such as tick-borne encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, Murray Valley encephalitis virus, or St. Louis encephalitis virus, represent important causative agents of encephalitis in humans in various parts of the world. The book Flavivirus Encephalitis provides the most recent information about selected aspects associated with encephalitic flaviviruses. The book contains chapters that cover a wide spectrum of subjects including flavivirus biology, virus-host interactions, role of vectors in disease epidemiology, neurological dengue, and West Nile encephalitis. Special attention is paid to tick-borne encephalitis and Japanese encephalitis viruses. The book uniquely combines up-to-date reviews with cutting-edge original research data, and provides a condensed source of information for clinicians, virologists, pathologists, immunologists, as well as for students of medicine or life sciences.

Description: Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, and infection with Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been identified as the causal agent for this condition. The natural history of cervical cancer is characterized by slow disease progression, rendering the condition, in essence, preventable and even treatable when diagnosed in early stages. Pap smear and the recently introduced prophylactic vaccines are the most prominent prevention options, but despite the availability of these primary and secondary screening tools, the global burden of disease is unfortunately still very high. This book will focus on the clinical aspects of HPV and related disease, highlighting the latest developments in this field.

Description: This edited book, Cytogenetics - Classical and Molecular Strategies for Analysing Heredity Material, presents recent advances in the field of cytogenetics, paying special attention to methodological achievements developed worldwide that have driven the field forward. The contributors clearly discuss several concepts and approaches useful for understanding chromosomal structure and function at its various levels, highlighting chromosomes as visible carriers of heredity material.

Description: Genetic Diversity in Microorganisms presents chapters revealing the magnitude of genetic diversity of microorganisms living in different environmental conditions. The complexity and diversity of microbial populations is by far the highest among all living organisms. The diversity of microbial communities and their ecologic roles are being explored in soil, water, on plants and in animals, and in extreme environments such as the arctic deep-sea vents or high saline lakes. The increasing availability of PCR-based molecular markers allows the detailed analyses and evaluation of genetic diversity in microorganisms. The purpose of the book is to provide a glimpse into the dynamic process of genetic diversity of microorganisms by presenting the thoughts of scientists who are engaged in the generation of new ideas and techniques employed for the assessment of genetic diversity, often from very different perspectives. The book should prove useful to students, researchers, and experts in the area of microbial phylogeny, genetic diversity, and molecular biology.

Description: Since the discovery of the DNA structure researchers have been highly interested in the molecular basis of genome inheritance. This book covers a wide range of aspects and issues related to the field of DNA replication. The association between genome replication, repair and recombination is also addressed, as well as summaries of recent work of the replication cycles of prokaryotic and eukaryotic viruses. The reader will gain an overview of our current understanding of DNA replication and related cellular processes, and useful resources for further reading.

Description: This book gives a comprehensive overview of recent trends in infectious diseases, as well as general concepts of infections, immunopathology, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology and etiology to current clinical recommendations in management of infectious diseases, highlighting the ongoing issues, recent advances, with future directions in diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies. The book focuses on various aspects and properties of infectious diseases whose deep understanding is very important for safeguarding human race from more loss of resources and economies due to pathogens.

Description: Phylogenetics aims to study the evolutionary relatedness of living organisms in our planet. Its application is extended to the key areas such as evolution, classification and taxonomy of living organisms; ecology, diversity, and conservation biology of agrobiocenosis; monitoring of pathogen spread, outbreaks and source of transmissions, forensic analyses, etc. Historically, phylogenetics studies were prevalently based on morphological features of species that helped to classify the 'Tree of Life' on Earth. Modern phylogenetics studies, however, rely more heavily on DNA sequences. In this Phylogenetics book, we aimed to present readers the latest developments in phylogenetics studies that highlight multi-kingdom systems, reticulated evolution and conservation biology of living organisms as well as 'omics'-based phylogenetics advances.

Description: This book provides a concise yet comprehensive source of current information on Down syndrome. Research workers, scientists, medical graduates and paediatricians will find it an excellent source for reference and review. This book has been divided into four sections, beginning with the Genetics and Etiology and ending with Prenatal Diagnosis and Screening. Inside, you will find state-of-the-art information on: 1. Genetics and Etiology 2. Down syndrome Model 3. Neurologic, Urologic, Dental & Allergic disorders 4. Prenatal Diagnosis and Screening Whilst aimed primarily at research workers on Down syndrome, we hope that the appeal of this book will extend beyond the narrow confines of academic interest and be of interest to a wider audience, especially parents and relatives of Down syndrome patients.

Description: This book aims at providing an up-to-date report to cover key aspects of existing problems in the emerging field of targets in gene therapy. With the contributions in various disciplines of gene therapy, the book brings together major approaches: Target Strategy in Gene Therapy, Gene Therapy of Cancer and Gene Therapy of Other Diseases. This source enables clinicians and researchers to select and effectively utilize new translational approaches in gene therapy and analyze the developments in target strategy in gene therapy.

Description: Gene-editing technologies (e.g., ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPRs/Cas9) have been extensively used as tools in basic research. They are further applied in manufacturing agricultural products, food, industrial products, medicinal products, etc. Particularly, the discovery of medicinal products using gene-editing technologies will open a new era for human therapeutics. Though there are still many technical and ethical challenges ahead of us, more and more products based on gene-editing technologies have been approved for marketing. These technologies are promising for multiple applications. Their development and implications should be explored in the broadest context possible. Future research directions should also be highlighted. In this book, the applications, perspectives, and challenges of gene-editing technologies are significantly demonstrated and discussed.

Description: Redox reactions are involved in biochemistry, energy, corrosion, and much more. In both biology and electrochemistry, the redox reaction is complex and varied. For example, redox shuttles in supercapacitors show aspects of molecular electrochemistry applied to electrode porosity. In pseudocapacitors, the formalism associated with their electrochemical response requires investigation and formalism. Similarly, the simple definition of redox potential opens fundamental questions about its measurement in solutions without supporting salts. This book illustrates the variety of redox reactions in its examination of the importance of redox molecules in the development of new electrical energy storage devices.

Description: Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease was first described in 15th century, is caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and occurs worldwide. This book is a collection of chapters presenting the novel knowledge about the T. pallidum and some historical and up to date information about venereal disease and syphilis. The collection of articles includes: immunological aspects recognition of T. pallidum by the pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune; the whole genome analysis of treponemes and new targets for its molecular diagnosis; some historical aspects of venereal diseases treatment; natural history of syphilis including clinical manifestation and epidemiology; a clinical aspects dealing with psychiatric manifestations of neurosyphilis; spatial and temporal patterns of primary syphilis and secondary syphilis described by the spatial and space-time scan statistics; a commonly used methods for laboratorial diagnosis, the serological response to treatment of syphilis and safety in blood transfusion. I hope this book will be useful for students and research fellows as well for the wide audience.

Description: Amyloidoses are a heterogeneous group of diverse etiology diseases. They are characterized by an endogenous production of abnormal proteins called amyloid proteins, which are not hydrosoluble, form depots in various organs and tissue of animals and humans and cause dysfunctions. Despite many decades of research, the origin of the pathogenesis and the molecular determinants involved in amyloid diseases has remained elusive. At present, there is not an effective treatment to prevent protein misfolding in these amyloid diseases. The aim of this book is to present an overview of different aspects of amyloidoses from basic mechanisms and diagnosis to latest advancements in treatment.

Description: Despite significant worldwide progress in fighting rabies, a zoonotic viral disease, it remains an important public health concern, causing approximately 50,000 human cases per year. This book summarizes current knowledge regarding rabies, the prevalence and genetic diversity of the rabies virus, and modern approaches to rabies diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. It is a useful resource for scientists, doctors, and students.

Description: Mitochondria are crucial organelles for any cell type. Mitochondria take responsibility for not only energy production but also regulation of cell death, also called apoptosis; calcium storage; and heat production. Therefore, mitochondrial disease is implicated in the mode of action of many harmful factors for cells such as drugs and environmental contaminants, dysfunction of the oxygen transport system, malnutrition, intense exercise, and genetic variations. This book presents up-to-date knowledge about mitochondrial disease and its complex relation to some diseases such as cardiac failure, cancer, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This book will, therefore, be essential for readers who are interested in life sciences, especially in medicine.

Description: "Clinical Flow Cytometry - Emerging Applications" contains a collection of reviews and original papers that illustrate the relevance of flow cytometry for the study of specific diseases and clinical evaluations. The chapters have been contributed by authors from a wide variety of countries showing the broad application and importance of this technology in medicine. Examples include chapters on autoimmune disease, cancer, and the evaluation of new drugs. The book is intended to give newcomers a helpful introduction, but also to provide experienced flow cytometrists with novel insights and a better understanding of clinical cytometry.

Description: Skeletal muscle is a highly plastic organ that is modulated by various pathways controlling protein turnover. Muscle loss is common in muscular dystrophy, in which marked loss of various proteins such as the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex occurs around muscle fibers. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the various muscular dystrophies, including characteristics, diagnosis, and classification. General treatment of drugs (e.g. corticosteroids) and physical therapy for muscular dystrophies are discussed. In addition, current applications for cell and tissue engineering using muscle stem cells or gene therapy are introduced. This book also deals with the recent advances in appropriate models of drug screening using cell cultures or mammalian organs in vitro in this field.

Description: In the second half of the twentieth century, life expectancy was prolonged, and the number of elderly people increased. The effect of population aging increases in the frequency of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, epilepsy, and stroke. Also, a higher incidence of infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignant cancers is observed in elderly people. The aging process is difficult to define. Are physiological changes in elderly people controlled by specific genes? Is aging process a pathophysiology affecting different organs with different severity? Finding answers to these questions may help prevent age-related diseases and improve the quality of life of old people. This book was made as a compendium on contemporary challenges in senescence.

Description: The studies on genetic disorders have been rapidly advancing in recent years as to be able to understand the reasons why genetic disorders are caused. The first Section of this volume provides readers with background and several methodologies for understanding genetic disorders. Genetic defects, diagnoses and treatments of the respective unifactorial and multifactorial genetic disorders are reviewed in the second and third Sections. Certainly, it is quite difficult or almost impossible to cure a genetic disorder fundamentally at the present time. However, our knowledge of genetic functions has rapidly accumulated since the double-stranded structure of DNA was discovered by Watson and Crick in 1956. Therefore, nowadays it is possible to understand the reasons why genetic disorders are caused. It is probable that the knowledge of genetic disorders described in this book will lead to the discovery of an epoch of new medical treatment and relieve human beings from the genetic disorders of the future.

Description: We are living in a critical time, both for humanity and the planet, which has led us to look for more sustainable formulas to interact with the environment. One of the important changes in the design and operation of chemical processes is the search for environmentally friendly technologies. Supercritical carbon dioxide has been revealed as a promising environmentally friendly solvent that is energy efficient, selective and capable of reducing waste, making it a promising alternative to conventional organic solvents. However, reliable and versatile mathematical models of phase equilibrium thermodynamics are needed for the use of supercritical carbon dioxide in process design and viability studies. This book reviews experimental procedures for obtaining high-pressure phase equilibria data and describes the phase diagrams of binary mixtures and some thermodynamic models capable of determining the conditions of phase equilibria at high pressures. These concepts are applied to the components of the transesterification reaction of rac-2-pentanol with a vinyl ester, which is important in the pharmaceutical industry because (S)-2-pentanol can be obtained as a reaction product. This product is a key intermediate in the synthesis of drugs against Alzheimer’s disease.

Description: 15 chapters on protein phosphorylation and human health written by expert scientists. Covers most important research hot points, such as Akt, AMPK and mTOR. Bridges the basic protein phosphorylation pathways with human health and diseases. Detailed and comprehensive text with excellent figure illustration.

Description: Lung parenchyma has been extensively investigated. Nevertheless, the study of bronchial small airways is much less common. In addition, bronchitis represents, in some occasions, an intermediate process that easily explains the damage in the lung parenchyma. The main target of this book is to provide a bronchial small airways original research from different experts in the field.

Description: The term "chromatin remodelling" is widely used to describe changes in chromatin structure which is controlled by histone-modifying enzymes, chromatin remodelling complexes, non-histone DNA-binding proteins and noncoding RNAs. Many human diseases such as cancer, various genetic syndromes, autism and infectious disease have been linked to the disruption of these control processes by genetic, environmental or microbial factors. Therefore, to unravel the mechanisms by which they operate is one of the most exciting and rapid developing fields of modern biology and will contribute to new ways in treatment of these diseases. The chapters in this book will focus on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms that govern the dynamic structural of chromatin, thereby providing important insights into gene regulation, DNA repair, and human diseases.

Description: Continuous acquisition of new knowledge in Medicine is essential to ensure progression in diagnostics and therapeutics. In the last decade the discipline of Hepatology has achieved critical progress in the treatment of viral hepatitis. The present book has been realized by a team of experts daily facing clinical problems in the prevention and management of liver diseases and has been designed for a global readership to offer some practical tips to physicians who want update their level of practice in the field. Its a practical volume for daily reference but also an instrument for improving expertise in viral hepatology and discovering the unresolved issues. Management of HBV and HCV hepatitis in young and elderly, HEV hepatitis, evaluation of liver fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, vaccine and prevention and patient education are some of the most important topics covered by the authors. In addition, an outstanding chapter on the skin involvement during viral hepatitis and the tools to manage them during triple therapy is included in the book.

Description: The study of DNA advanced human knowledge in a way comparable to the major theories in physics, surpassed only by discoveries such as fire or the number zero. However, it also created conceptual shortcuts, beliefs and misunderstandings that obscure the natural phenomena, hindering its better understanding. The deep conviction that no human knowledge is perfect, but only perfectible, should function as a fair safeguard against scientific dogmatism and enable open discussion. With this aim, this book will offer to its readers 30 chapters on current trends in the field of DNA replication. As several contributions in this book show, the study of DNA will continue for a while to be a leading front of scientific activities.

Description: Polymorphism or variation in DNA sequence can affect individual phenotypes such as color of skin or eyes, susceptibility to diseases, and response to drugs, vaccines, chemicals, and pathogens. Especially, the interfaces between genetics, disease susceptibility, and pharmacogenomics have recently been the subject of intense research activity. This book is a self-contained collection of valuable scholarly papers related to genetic diversity and disease susceptibility, pharmacogenomics, ongoing advances in technology, and analytic methods in this field. The book contains nine chapters that cover the three main topics of genetic polymorphism, genetic diversity, and disease susceptibility and pharmacogenomics. Hence, this book is particularly useful to academics, scientists, physicians, pharmacists, practicing researchers, and postgraduate students whose work relates to genetic polymorphisms.

Description: RNA functions broadly as informational molecule, genome, enzyme and machinery for RNA processing. While these functions reflect ancient activities, they also remain vital components of contemporary biochemical pathways. In eukaryotic cells RNA processing impacts the biogenesis of RNA molecules of essentially every shape and function. The collection of articles in this volume describes the current state of understanding of the broad array of RNA processing events in animal and plant cells, key unanswered questions, and cutting edge approaches available to address these questions. Some questions discussed in this volume include, how viruses subvert the RNA processing machinery of the host cell, how the coordination of co-transcriptional RNA processing is regulated at the level of chromatin, the status of RNA processing in plant organelles, and how micro RNA machinery is biosynthesized and regulated.

Description: Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the pulmonary alveoli that leads to extensive morbidity and mortality. This book presents a comprehensive overview of this disease with chapters on hospital-acquired pneumonia, drug-related problems and hospital readmissions, secondary bacterial infections in viral pneumonia, and iron acquisition in pneumococci.

Description: In recent decades, artificial porous structures have attracted increasing enthusiasm from researchers inspired by the fascinating molecular pores in nature and their unique biological functions. Although substantial achievements in porous materials have been realized, the construction of topologically designed pores is still challenging. Recently, the emergence of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), which are constructed based on organic and polymer chemistry, has made it possible to design artificial pores with controlled pore size, topology and interface properties. COFs are crystalline porous materials constructed by the precise reticulation of organic building blocks via dynamic covalent bonds. Distinct from non-covalent interactions which tend to produce isostructures, covalent bonds enable accurate pore design owing to their predetermined reaction pathways. In addition, the appropriate polycondensation of organic building units enables the formation of extended two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) polymer architectures with periodically ordered skeletons and well-defined pores. With their large surface area, tailorable structures, and tunable chemistry, COFs are regarded as potentially superior candidates for various applications including catalysis, energy storage and conversion, mass transport and biotechnology. This book examines the historic achievement of COFs, providing clear and comprehensive guidance for researchers on their structural design, synthetic protocols and functional exploration.

Description: Alterations in the normal DNA methylation processes are known to have major consequences for embryonic development and are associated with congenital defects, autoimmunity, aging and malignant transformation. The main purpose of this book is to provide information about the importance of methylation mechanisms in human health and disease. The book, covers the basic mechanism of DNA and protein methylation, aiming at the advanced undergraduate and graduate biomedical students and researchers working in the epigenetic area. The textbook chapters provide background as well as advanced information in the methylation area. On the other hand, it provide readers with both classical and relevant recent discoveries that have been made in the field, pointing out pathways where questions remain.

Description: Fluoride covers a continuum of topics that are frequently studied in the broad area of fluoride (F) research. It provides an overview of the primary sources of environmental fluoride in typical high-fluoride environments and demonstrates the transitions and transformations that emerge and culminate in hydro-geochemical interactions that result in fluoride-fouling of large portions of the world’s water and agricultural resources. This way, the book pinpoints the connection between F enrichment of water sources and the prevalence of endemic fluorosis in certain areas of the world. In order to contribute to a better understanding of the global fluoride problem, new fluoride detection and quantification technologies are proposed with an in-depth analysis of emerging trends in the use of portable user-friendly devices in point-of-use measurements of water fluoride. This has been presented against the backdrop of a robust overview of traditional fluoride quantification methodologies that are still in wide application among the scientific communities. In addressing fluoride toxicities, which are not limited to dental and skeletal dilapidations, the authors have explored the role of natural antioxidants in ameliorating physiological fluoride-induced noxious effects in mammalian systems. Nonetheless, since community dependence on high-fluoride water due to a lack of alternative clean water sources remains to be the principal pathway of human fluoride over-exposure, a review chapter on F mitigation techniques applied all over the world is incorporated aiming at providing a succinct overview of water defluoridation techniques and strategies being used to combat the impacts of human F overexposure around the globe. Since every cloud has a silvery lining, the possibility of using ammonium fluorides as a novel reagent in mineral processing has been considered convenient industrial fluorinating agents, which present the possibility of complete regeneration that is not afforded by the reagents presently used in decomposing silicon component of the ores.

Description: Current Progress in Biological Research presents new insights into key topics from different areas of the biological sciences. Some of the topics covered in the book are antibiotic susceptibility, genomic rearrangement, historical biogeography, biogeographic patterns, endemism and the use of microorganisms for pest control. The book is an interesting collection of 16 original research articles written by respected experts in their fields. It is hoped that readers will be stimulated and challenged by the contents of this book.

Description: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteolytic zinc-containing enzymes involved in physiological as well as in pathological processes in the human organism. MMPs play a key role in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Such a process may occur because of tissue homeostasis, morphogenesis, and tissue repair. However, remodeling could also be a part of many pathological states such as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, or impaired development in congenital anomalies. This book overviews the role of MMPs in different pathologies affecting the human body.

Description: This book discusses the chemistry and applications of pyridine derivatives. The library of pyridine derivatives is growing steadily with numerous synthetic analogues already described and the identification of new, naturally occurring pyridine-based compounds. The book includes ten chapters organized into two parts. The first part focuses on the numerous types of reactions that arise from pyridine derivatives. The second part examines the pharmaceutical applications of pyridine derivatives as well as their usefulness as sensors for metal cations and extracting agents for platinum group metals.

Description: The book discusses multiple issues associated with modern dosimetry in physics and treatment planning and how investigators from diverse world centers and institutions approach problem-solving in these important areas. It examines topics including pretreatment validation and factors affecting reference dosimetry. It also addresses unique issues affecting pediatric populations as well as the modern role of thermoluminescence validation. Several chapters discuss intensity modulation, including defining modern problems associated with both treatment planning and the definition of tumor and normal tissue contours. Furthermore, the book examines the role of imaging as both a vehicle to define tumor targets and normal tissue as well as a tool for dose validation.

Description: This book provides an up- to- date summary of many advances in our understanding of anemia, including its causes and pathogenesis, methods of diagnosis, and the morbidity and mortality associated with it. Special attention is paid to the anemia of chronic disease. Nutritional causes of anemia, especially in developing countries, are discussed. Also presented are anemias related to pregnancy, the fetus and the newborn infant. Two common infections that cause anemia in developing countries, malaria and trypanosomiasis are discussed. The genetic diseases sickle cell disease and thalassemia are reviewed as are Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, Fanconi anemia and some anemias caused by toxins. Thus this book provides a wide coverage of anemia which should be useful to those involved in many fields of anemia from basic researchers to epidemiologists to clinical practitioners.

Description: Cancer is a malignant tumor caused by DNA damage, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth. Tumor progression is locally favored by the mitogenic effects of hormones or growth factors, which stimulate the tumor's growth, or the activation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, which induces angiogenesis and leads to metastasis. About 300 out of 25,000 genes that set up the human genome are involved in cancer pathology. These genes are divided into three groups: oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes. Activated oncogenes promote the development of cancer, whereas the tumor suppressor and DNA repair genes have a protective role by respectively inhibiting cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis, or by repairing DNA damage occurring during the cell cycle. This book discusses the issue of tumor suppressor genes through chapters written by experts using advanced biochemistry, cell, and molecular biology tools. The tumor suppressor genes can be used as markers of risk to identify populations with high risk or targets for cancer treatment and therapeutic resistance. We hope that the work provided in this book will be useful for researchers and students and will increase knowledge of the understanding of cancer and improve its treatment.

Description: DNA repair is fundamental to all cell types to maintain genomic stability. A collection of cutting-edge reviews, DNA Repair - On the pathways to fixing DNA damage and errors covers major aspects of the DNA repair processes in a large variety of organisms, emphasizing foremost developments, questions to be solved and new directions in this rapidly evolving area of modern biology. Written by researchers at the vanguard of the DNA repair field, the chapters highlight the importance of the DNA repair mechanisms and their linkage to DNA replication, cell-cycle progression and DNA recombination. Major topics include: base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, mismatch repair, double-strand break repair, with focus on specific inhibitors and key players of DNA repair such as nucleases, ubiquitin-proteasome enzymes, poly ADP-ribose polymerase and factors relevant for DNA repair in mitochondria and embryonic stem cells. This book is a journey into the cosmos of DNA repair and its frontiers.

Description: The book Gene Duplication consists of 21 chapters divided in 3 parts: General Aspects, A Look at Some Gene Families and Examining Bundles of Genes. The importance of the study of Gene Duplication stems from the realization that the dynamic process of duplication is the “sine qua non” underlying the evolution of all living matter. Genes may be altered before or after the duplication process thereby undergoing neofunctionalization, thus creating in time new organisms which populate the Earth.

Description: Each year, malaria kills almost half a million people despite the fact that it is a preventable and curable disease. Malaria has a direct correlation with economic loss due to the need for people to take time off work and the cost of hospital treatments. Undertaking decisive measures to combat malaria is necessary. This book aims to present current approaches in the treatment of malaria. It will be a guide to those working in malaria-endemic regions and cover both diagnosis and treatment. It will also be useful for medical workers in western countries where malaria is not as common. Considering that malaria causes morbidity and mortality, more especially among children below five years of age and pregnant mothers, it is therefore imperative that people from all walks of life should join hands to address this public health problem.

Description: A ubiquitous organism able to infect all mammals and birds, which has been estimated to infect one third of the global human population, Toxoplasma gondii is the most successful parasite on Earth, and toxoplasmosis a major zoonotic disease. A current approach to this zoonosis is the "one health" concept, based on the understanding that a disease occurring between animals and man in a specific environment can only be dealt with at the interface of all "players" involved. This book, composed of a series of articles which integrate human and animal data on toxoplasmosis, by authors from all over the world, offers its readers a view on the current research interests and achievements.

Description: The past decade has seen several changes in HIV prevention, transmission and therapeutic interventions to end the scourge. This book is a collection of expert assays on various aspects of HIV prevention, bioresource deployment, microbicides, host antiviral proteins, antiviral drug responses and novel treatment strategies for which there is evident need for scientific focus and review of the current trend. A visible objective of the book is to provide a wider readership of scientist, clinicians, social workers/HIV caregivers, immunologist, postgraduate students, trainers and vaccine developers an informative and multidisciplinary approach to HIV treatment and intervention strategy by presenting current trends in the development of therapeutic options and its attendant challenges. Practical and informative, the book provides state-of-the-art information on dynamics of HIV distribution, transmission, therapeutic measures and functional cure.

Description: Histoplasma and Histoplasmosis is a book on epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of histoplasmosis. It is an all-inclusive source of knowledge for both specialist and non-specialist mycologists at various levels of training or work experience.Through collaborative efforts of the authors and the editor, this book provides up-to-date information on the global distribution of histoplasmosis, an updated estimation of the burden of histoplasmosis in Asia, and recent advances in laboratory diagnosis and treatment of histoplasma and histoplasmosis. This volume is an invaluable source of knowledge for trainees and practitioners alike.

Description: Meiosis, the process of forming gametes in preparation for sexual reproduction, has long been a focus of intense study. Meiosis has been studied at the cytological, genetic, molecular and cellular levels. Studies in model systems have revealed common underlying mechanisms while in parallel, studies in diverse organisms have revealed the incredible variation in meiotic mechanisms. This book brings together many of the diverse strands of investigation into this fascinating and challenging field of biology.

Description: Aneuploidy means any karyotype that is not euploid, anything that stands outside the norm. Two particular characteristics make the research of aneuploidy challenging. First, it is often hard to distinguish what is a cause and what is a consequence. Secondly, aneuploidy is often associated with a persistent defect in maintenance of genome stability. Thus, working with aneuploid, unstable cells means analyzing an ever changing creature and capturing the features that persist. In the book Aneuploidy in Health and Disease we summarize the recent advances in understanding the causes and consequences of aneuploidy and its link to human pathologies.

Description: Protein aggregation causes malfunction in several biochemical processes. Genetic and spontaneous formations of these transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal to humans and animals. Conformational change of normal form of the protein to misfolded form causes its accumulation. The misfolded infectious protein agent forms the pathogenesis of the disease. This book presents pathology of the disease along with current knowledge of the structure-activity mechanism in the first two sections. Dyshomeostasis of metals is implicated in the pathogenesis of prions, and this influence is discussed further to understand the prion mechanism. Genetic resistance and immunobiology of the disease are elaborated in the following section. Finally, a computational study on the dynamics of the prion propagation provides a structural basis of the mechanism.

Description: This book offers novel insights on topics such as congenital obstructive nephropathy, cerebral-renal salt wasting, and the role of hemoglobin variability in clinical outcomes of CKD which are not very often discussed in the literature. With comprehensive and insightful reviews by eminent clinicians and scientists in the field, this book is a valuable tool for nephrologists.

Description: Senescence is a biological process that causes a progressive deterioration of structure and function of all organs chronologically. Recent studies have revealed the detailed molecular mechanisms of senescence using cell culture system and experimental organisms. It is thought that senescence is a potential cause for the development of various age-related disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. This book discusses in detail senescence and its related diseases by distinguished researchers and practicing clinicians. The cumulative knowledge from the studies could lead to developing new approaches for anti-senescence interventions.