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The Pfizer Papers features new reports written by WarRoom/DailyClout research volunteers, which are based on the primary source Pfizer clinical trial documents released under court order and on related medical literature. The book shows in high relief that Pfizer's mRNA COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial was deeply flawed and that the pharmaceutical company knew by November 2020 that its vaccine was neither safe nor effective. The reports detail vaccine-induced harms throughout the human body, including to the reproductive system; show that women suffer vaccine-related adverse events at a 3:1 ratio; expose that vaccine-induced myocarditis is not rare, mild, or transient; and, shockingly, demonstrate that the mRNA vaccines have created a new category of multi-system, multi-organ disease, which is being called “CoVax Disease.” Despite the fact that Pfizer committed in its own clinical trial protocol to follow the placebo arm of its trial for twenty-four months, Pfizer vaccinated approximately 95 percent of placebo recipients by March 2021, thus eliminating the trial's control group and making it impossible for comparative safety determinations to be made. Just as importantly, The Pfizer Papers makes it clear that the US Food and Drug Administration knew about the shortfalls of Pfizer's clinical trial as well as the harms caused by the company's mRNA COVID vaccine product, thus highlighting the FDA's abject failure to fulfill its mission to “[protect] the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices.” The Pfizer Papers offers an in-depth look at how Big Pharma, the US government, and healthcare entities stand protected behind the broad legal immunity provided by the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) when creating, prescribing, and administering vaccines; and, under that shield of protection, do what is best for their bottom lines rather than for the health and well-being of Americans.

The increasing incidence and prevalence of allergic disease worldwide is one of the most remarkable phenomena of the past 50 years. One in three people in developed countries will experience an allergic condition at some point in their lives and advances in understanding the causes of this trend, and in allergy treatment and care, have captured the imagination of scientists, clinicians and the public. Landmark Papers in Allergy is a definitive collection of over 90 papers charting key discoveries and scientific advances in relation to allergy and the development of treatment and care for allergic disorders. Comprehensive in its coverage, the book includes the first clear descriptions of allergic diseases; the major advances in treatments, such as the discovery of antihistamines, cortisone, biological therapies and immunotherapy; the great immunological advances, such as the discovery of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and leukotrienes; the possible factors behind the increase in allergy, such as the house dust mite, changes in hygiene and diet; and the growing understanding of the social, psychological and quality-of-life consequences of allergy. Including authoritative commentaries from leading international experts providing reflections on the historical importance and current relevance of each landmark paper, Landmark papers in Allergy is essential reading for any clinician or academic with an interest in allergy.

Milestones in Immunology: Based on Collected Papers contains scientific milestones relating to the history of medicine over the past two centuries. The book highlights the contributions of pioneering scientists whose discoveries have paved the way for researchers working in the field of immunology. As the science of immunology grew from knowledge that survivors of common infectious diseases rarely contracted them again, the book uses this as a central thesis, helping readers understand how the adaptive immune system aids in defense against pathogens. In addition, the book covers special fields, such as immunohistochemistry, immunogenetics and immunopathology. For the past century, immunology has fascinated and inspired some of the greatest scientists of our time. Numerous Nobel Prizes have been awarded for fundamental discoveries in immunology, from Paul Ehrlich'work on antibodies (1908) to the studies of Zinkernagel and Doherty (1986) elucidating mechanisms of cell-mediated immunity. - Provides on update on developments since the publication of Nobel prize winning research for fundamental discoveries in immunology - Discusses the changing theories and technologies that guided the field - Lists all the important discoveries and books in the field - Explains, in detail, the many Nobel prize-winning contributions of immunologists - Provides recognition of the scientists who were pioneers of landmark discoveries in immunology

This book contains the proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Languages, Methodologies and Development Tools for Multi-agent Systems (LADS 2009), which took place during September 7–9, 2009 in Turin, Italy. As in its 2007 edition, this workshop was a part of MALLOW, a federation of workshops on Multi-Agent Logics, Languages, and Organizations. The LADS 2009 workshop addressed both theoretical and practical issues related to developing and deploying multi-agent systems. It constituted a rich forum where leading researchers from both academia and industry could share their experiencesonformalapproaches,programminglanguages,methodologies, tools andtechniques supporting the developmentanddeploymentof multi-agent systems.Fromatheoreticalpointofview,LADS2009aimedataddressingissues related to theories, methodologies, models and approaches that are needed to facilitate the development of multi-agent systems ensuring their predictability andveri?cation.Formaldeclarativemodelsandapproacheshavethe potentialof o?ering solutions for the speci?cation and design of multi-agent systems. From a practical point of view, LADS 2009 aimed at stimulating research and d- cussion on how multi-agent system speci?cations and designs can be e?ectively implemented and tested. This book is the result of a strict selection and review process. From 14 papers originally submitted to LADS 2009, and after 2 rounds of reviews, we selected 10 high-quality papers covering important topics related to multi-agent programming technology, such as: agent architectures, programming languages andmethodologies,socialinteractionmodels,developmenttoolsandapplications of multi-agent systems.

In 2020 we lost Noel Rose, co-editor of the classic Infection and Autoimmunity. To honor and respect his work, a group of experts in the field have taken the initiative to make this book perpetual. The third edition of Infection and Autoimmunity updates all the recent and leading papers on infection and autoimmunity, in addition to a dedicated section on to the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 infection and autoimmunity. From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous papers have been published, including studies conducted by the editors and authors of the book, on COVID-19 and autoimmunity, and therefore this knowledge has been incorporated into this new edition. The addition and extended coverage on SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and autoimmunity are pivotal for the third edition of the book due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical students and practitioners, as well as academic staff in medical schools globally, are enthusiastic in searching for better understanding of the correlation between infection and autoimmunity in general, and the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 on the immunce system in particular, especially in terms of autoimmunity related to the virus. - Fully revised and updated by a global group of experts, dedicated to and in honor of Noel Rose - Includes 52 completely updated chapters with the latest developments in the field - Is the only book directed specifically at the interactions between infectious agents and autoimmunity - Describes the prevalence and incidence of global issues and current therapeutic approaches - Addresses in full, details of the mechanisms behind the emergence of autoimmune diseases secondary to infections - Brings the reader up-to-date and allows easy access to individual topics in one place

First published in 1993, Psychoimmunology: CNS-Immune Interactions is based on papers presented at the Second International Scientific Meeting of the Australian Behavioral Immunology Group, held at the University of Newcastle in Australia on March 7 and 8, 1992. Information featured in the volume confirms the longstanding perception that state of mind and behavioral patterns have an impact on general health. Clinicians discuss correlations between lifestyle, stress, and disease, while scientists reveal their findings on ways in which deliberate manipulations of the central nervous systems and behavioral patterns are reflected in changes in immunological outcome. Other papers present findings regarding the mediators of these interactions, which include cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Psychoimmunology: CNS-Immune Interactions will be a useful reference for psychoimmunologists, immunologists, psychologists, microbiologists, and all medical and behavioral scientists interested in the links between brain behavior and disease.

First publishe din 1992: Find out by reading Behavior and Immunity, a new volume that consists of papers presented at the Scientific Meeting of the Australian Behavioral Immunology Group (ABIG) held in November, 1990, at the University of Newcastle, Australia. The ABIG was established in response to the need to provide a forum for the presentation of data and exchange of ideas regarding the concept of brain, behavior, and immunity. The papers presented in this volume represent the state of the art in a number of areas where these interactions have been studied. Information is presented regarding the biochemistry, neurophysiology, and endocrinology of nervous system/immune system interactions; the role of behavioral conditioning in immunity; the effects of sleep and biological rhythms on immune function; the role of lifestyle, life events, and exercise in immunity; and the impact of psychoimmunology in clinical medicine. Researchers in immunology, psychology, neurology; physicians; and lay people with an interest in the interaction between lifestyle and health will find a wealth of information in this stimulating volume.

Differentiation and Immunology is a collection of papers that deals with molecular specificity—the link between immunology and differentiation. One paper reviews the status of regulation in bacteria or viruses, and extends the results to animal cells. The paper also investigates a single aspect of the control of immunoglobulin through the use of plasmacytomas. Another paper discusses the role of macrophages in the minimum theory to possibly account for the energetics of the reaction with receptors, or to the frequency of antigen-sensitive cells. Some papers investigate the immunogenic function of macrophages, the transition from monocyte to macrophage, the factors influencing the formation of macrophage lysosomes, and the origin of macrophage lysosomes. Other papers also discuss the immune response as a model system for studies on cellular differentiation, as well as the differentiation for collagen synthesis in cultured cells. One paper suggests that in differentiation, the changes that can occur in the properties of protozoan cells, perpetuated for long periods, are reversible, and can be a means for survival—as every cell line is also capable of being a germ line. This collection can prove valuable to bio-chemists, cellular biologists, micro-biologists, developmental biologists, and scientists involved in immunology research.

This volume represents a collection of pioneering papers introducing immunochemical techniques to the aquatic sciences. It is the product of a workshop entitled'Immunochemical Approaches to Coastal, Estuarine and Oceanographic Questions'held at the University of Southern Maine, Portland, Oct. 5-7, 1986. Funding from many sources made this workshop possible, and is gratefully acknowledged. The reader will note great variability in both the quality and scope of the papers which we have divided'into four sections: I. Background material on the immune system (borrowed from a recent NIH publication) II. Background material related to aquatic sciences III. Techniques IV. Applications Readers familiar with terminology are directed to start with the original contributions related to aquatic sciences, page 21. Some of the contributions are abstracts only. Others are preliminary, for which we are grateful to the authors for their willingness to share recent sometimes tentative findings with a broader community. Some offer novel and tempting insights, but as they exist, lack adequate standards and controls. Others are thorough and represent major scientific contributions. The promise rests in generating and working with reagents of great specificity enabling orders of magnitude improvements in the sensitivity of our measurements. Authors also address the problems and limitations. We thank the numerous authors and reviewers. In support of every successful endeavor is someone of unusual savvy. For us, this has been David A. Phinney. His leadership, wisdom and wit have been important to the introduction of flow cytometry/sorting and immunochemistry into aquatic research.

In this book the most important papers presented at the 5th Symposium in Immunology, held April 7 - 8, 1995 in Strasbourg, France, are published. Theses papers are from leading experts in the fields covering topics ranging from basic mechanisms, such as the molecular anatomy of autoimmune diseases, to data relevant to the modern diagnosis, therapy, treatment, and prevention of viral infections. By collecting such a wide-range of papers the organizers of the meeting succeeded in compiling an integrated overview of current research, clinical studies, epidemiological data, and their interrelationship.

The World Health Organization estimates that at least five million people worldwide are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Of these about 100,000 are in Asia and Oceania, 500,000 in Europe, 2 million in the Americas and 2.5 million in Africa (Mann, 1989). The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is characterized by a derangement in cell-mediated immunity leading to opportunistic infections with for example Mycobacterium spp., Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium. The third symposium on'Topics in Mycology'brought together 265 experts from 32 countries to discuss the epidemiology, immmunological and pathogenetic aspects of AIDS and its opportunistic infections in general and fungal infections in particular. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is by far the commonest opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. The nature and classification of P. carinii is still controversial. In search for its true taxonomic affinities an introductory paper formulates a number of key questions. Candidosis is another frequent opportunistic infection. A number of papers discuss the possibility that selective pressures may operate on Candida albicans within the AIDS population and influence its nature: this might have an impact on prophylaxis and curative and/or suppressive therapy.

This volume contains papers presented at a symposium on'The Role of Lympho­ cytes and Macrophages in the Immunological Response'at the XIII International Congress of Haematology, Munich, August 1970. This symposium was designed to highlight current work submitted to the Haemato­ logy Congress which related to the role of cellular cooperation in induction and expression of the immune response. The symposium was divided into two parts. The morning session consisted of invited papers dealing with various general aspects of the field (papers 1 to 5) which were relevant to the afternoon session, which con­ sisted of free communications submitted to the Congress. In the discussion it was emphasized that whereas lymphocyte activIty ultimately underlies all immune induction, the cellular and humoral manifestations of the immune response are governed by distinct yet interacting compartments of the ly.mphoid system. Much interest centred on the role of thymus-derived lymphocytes as cooperator cells in antibody formation; and the mechanisms by which macro­ phages assist antibody production. The discussion brought together work on lympho­ cyte activation, the generation of lymphocyte activation products (lymphokine factors) and the cellular events underlying the induction and expression of the Immune response. The helpful cooperation of Springer-Verlag has enabled rapid publication of the papers presented at this symposium. London, February 1971 D. C. DUMONDE Symposium Moderator Contents The Spectrum of Thymus Dependency. E. LEUCHARS 1 The Flow of Information during Primary Antibody Synthesis. D. ]ACHERTS.

Salmonella infections of man and animals continue to be a distressing health problem worldwide. Far from disappearing, the incidence of typhoid fever in developing countries may be far higher than we had imagined. Salmonella food poisoning has increased to one of the major causes of gastroenteritis in the developed world, in itself also an indication that animal salmonellosis is still a major cause for concern. The situation requires a concerted multidisciplinary research effort in order to generate the new information and technology needed to assist in the control of these diseases. This concept was the driving force behind the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on'Biology of Salmonella'held at Portorosa, Messina, Italy, May 11-15, 1992. With additional support from the University of Messina, Medeva Group Research (UK) and the Swiss Serum and Vaccine Research Institute, the meeting brought together epidemiologists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, immunologists and clinicians. All the participants were actively working on different but related aspects of Salmonella and salmonellosis, with most of the leading laboratories worldwide being represented. The workshop provided an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary consultation; it is not often that the topic of Salmonella and salmonellosis is covered to such breadth and depth in one extended meeting. Keynote addresses by invited speakers were interspersed with offered papers, many by younger members of the scientific community, and this volume presents the collated manuscripts of the lectures and extended summaries of the offered papers.

This issue of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology records the proceedings of a Workshop on the Immunology of Sili­ cones held at the Natcher Conference Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, March 13 and 14, 1995. A large num­ ber of investigators from North America and Europe met to discuss available data on how the immune system responds to silicones and related materials. Some aspects of this field are controversial. Nonetheless, the meeting was marked by a civil and open ex­ change of scientific information and divergent interpretations, re­ flecting the traditions of scientific communication. Each invited participant was asked to submit an article sum­ marizing his/her presentation. Most of the papers are published as submitted, with only editorial changes to conform with the guide­ lines given to each contributor or revisions to clarify aspects of the paper. The papers should not be regarded as peer-reviewed publi­ cations. This preface will attempt to outline some of the immu­ nological areas of investigation relating to silicones.

This book contains a selection of the papers presented at the meeting'Between Clone and Clinic'which was organised in March 1990 in Amsterdam by the dutch Organisation for Applied Research, TNO, and the University of Utrecht. The scope of this meeting was the development of biotechnological pharmaceuticals mainly made by recombinant DNA technology or monoclonal antibody techniques. All aspects concerning the development of the products after host cells producing them are obtained where discussed. The meeting was attended by twohundred specialists from all over the globe, including phar­ macologists, toxicologists, registration experts, Quality Assurence managers, production en­ gineers and physicians. Biotechnological pharmaceuticals are in general large and complex protein molecules. Bringing these products to the market poses other problems than encountered with the classical chemical drugs. The source of biotechnological pharmaceuticals are living cells. The function of cells are depend­ ent on many factors and the stability of production may be a problem. Good Laboratory and Manufactory Practices with Quality Control (GLP and GMP) are of paramount importance and are discussed in a number of papers. The products of the new biotechnology are often highly specific and only active in the human species. Also the side effects can only be studied in the clinical setting. Even when the product is active in animals there is the problem of antigenicity. During treatment the animals will produce antibodies which neutralise the activity. So safety testing may prove difficult.

The aim of this publication is to present the up-to-date views of the many eminent immunologists who contributed to the scientific program of the 5th European Immunology Meeting held in Istanbul in June 1982. Recent Advances in Immunology is intended for immunol­ ogists both in the basic sciences and in clinical medicine. It provides under one cover an assemblage of information about funda­ mental problems in immunology and clinical applications. The book opens with Prof. E. A. Kabat's review of the problems in understanding the structural basis of antibody complementarity. The succeeding four papers deal with the role of macrophages in the various stages of immune phenomena. The first of the two articles on T cells reports a product necessary for suppressor activity and the second describes an analysis of precursors of cytotoxic T lym­ phocytes. The articles dealing with immunogenetics start with the description of new loci in HLA by Prof. J. J. van Rood and co-workers followed by a paper describing the molecular cloning of H-2 class I genes. Prof. P. J. Lachmann begins the discussion on the genetics of the complement system. There are three stimulating articles on the chemistry and genetics of the complement components and their asso­ ciations with disease. After a review of artificial antigens and synthetic vaccines, papers on immunomodulation describe strategies for improving immunogenicity, immunomodulation in tumor systems and by xenobiotics.

The articles in this volume represent papers delivered by invited speakers at the 7th International Symposium on the Immunobiology of Proteins and Peptides. In addition, a few of the abstracts submitted by participants were scheduled for minisymposia and some of the authors, whose presentations were judged by the Scientific Council to be of high quality, were invited to submit papers for publication in this volume. This symposium was established in 1976 for the purpose of bringing together, once every two or three years, active investigators in the forefront of contemporary immunology, to present their findings and discuss their significance in the light of current concepts and to identify important new directions of investigation. The founding of the symposium was stimulated by the achievement of major breakthroughs in the understanding of the immune recognition of proteins and peptides. We believed that these breakthroughs will lead to the creation of a new generation of peptide reagents which should have enormous potential in biological, therapeutic, and basic applications. This anticipated explosion has in fact since occurred and many applications of these peptides are now being realized. The seventh symposium focused on immune responses that have undesirable effects on the host, hence we named them unwanted immune responses. Two major aspects of unwanted immune responses were discussed at the symposium: Allergy and Autoimmunity.

This volume summarizes the proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium on the Immunobiology of Proteins and Peptides which was held on November 16-20 in Rio Rico, Arizona. The articles represent papers by invited speakers as well as papers selected by the Scientific Council, from among those submitted by the participants, on the basis of quality and timeliness. This symposium series was established in 1976 for the purpose of bringing together, once every two or three years, active investigators in the forefront of contemporary immunology, to present their findings, discuss their significance in the light of current concepts and identify important new directions of investigation. The founding of the symposium was stimulated by the achievement of major breakthroughs in the understanding of the immune recognition of proteins and peptides. We believed that these breakthroughs would lead to the creation of a new generation of peptide reagents, which could have enormous potential in biological, therapeutic, and basic applications. This anticipated explosion has since occurred and many applications ofthese peptides are now being realized. The eighth symposium focused on the manipulation or modulation of the immune response. This volume broadly covers the areas of adjuvants, cytokines, vaccines, and the use of intravenous immunoglobulins for disease management. There is a clear need to identify methods for improving vaccine efficacy and guiding the host to respond with a particular type of immune response.

In 1996, the National Bladder Foundation (NBF) was founded by a dedicated group of physicians and researchers propeIled by the urgent need to find better treatments for bladder disease. Committed to increasing bladder disease research and to supporting its research community, the NBF coordinates and sponsors the International Bladder Symposium (IBS) in Washington, DC. Now considered to be a premier scientific assembly, the IBS brings together international leaders in bladder disease research to present and discuss their findings. It is the only international conference where all areas of bladder disease research are exclusively covered and where bladder disease researchers are provided with a unique opportunity to share their results and theories. IBS participants contributed the research papers included in this publication in 2000 and 2001. AIl substantial areas of bladder disease research are addressed, including oncology and ceIlular biology, neurophysiology, neurogenic bladder andincontinence, immunology, inflammation and infection, muscle, matrix and obstruction, and new frontiers and therapies of the bladder. Assembled in one publication, these papers and their findings demonstrate the high scientific caliber of the dedicated researchers in this field and the potential for significant discoveries in treatment options in the next decade.

1. 1 Historical Aspects and Terminology Granulated metrial gland (GMG) cells are readily identified by their cytoplasmic granules and were observed a number of years before the term'metrial gland'was introduced. A series of papers by Duval in 1891 provided a comprehensive description and a critical review of earlier studies of the placenta of rodents, but it was not until 1902 that the first convincing illustrations of GMG cells appeared in the literature (Jenkinson 1902). Jenkinson described'maternal glycogen cells'in the pregnant mouse uterus and noted that they contained cytoplasmic granules which stained with a variety of dyes. From his detailed description of the appearance and distribution of these maternal glycogen cells it is clear that he had observed what are now called granulated metrial gland cells. In 1911 Ancel and Bouin used the phrase une glande myometriale endocrine to describe a structure appearing between the muscle layers of the uterus at the insertion site of the placenta in rabbits. They described one of the cell types present in the glande myometriale as having the characteristics of glandular cells and noted their content of safraninophilic cytoplasmic granules. A glande myometriale endo­ crine was also described in the pregnant rat uterus by Weill (1919). He reported that the cellules granuleuses contained acidophilic inclusions and despite the absence of any illustrations in his paper it is apparent that he also had observed GMG cells.

The international symposium'New Trends in Allergy', held in Munich from July 13 to 15, 1990, brought together for the third time since 1980 some of the most experienced researchers working in the field of allergy. This volume comprises the papers presented at this meeting. All over the world, and not merely in the industrialized countries, allergy is becoming a cause of evermore serious diseases. In recent years, research in the field of allergy has provided numerous impor­ tant and fascinating results extending our knowledge considerably. Despite the new insights into basic mechanisms of allergic reactions, improved diagnostic methods, and new therapeutic approaches, how­ ever, many questions remain to be answered, including: Are allergies really increasing in frequency? If so, what are the reasons? Especially, does environmental pollution playa role? Which factors influence IgE synthesis? Can the IgE immune response be switched off? Does the nervous system interact with allergic reactions? If so, what are the mechanisms? Are new approaches in allergy prophylaxis and allergy therapy effi­ cient? What measures have proven useful and deserve to be employed in daily practice? In this volume, these questions and other current topics are dealt with. As each issue is covered by authors competent in the respective fields, the result is an extensive and critical review of the state of the art. Going through these papers, one comes to the conviction that allergy research is a multifacetted, explosively expanding, most stimulating field of work.

The articles in this volume represent papers delivered by invited speakers at the 6th International Symposium on the Immunobiology of Proteins and Peptides. In addition, a few of the abstracts submitted by participants were scheduled for minisymposia and some of the authors, whose presentations were judged by the Scientific Council to be of high quality, were invited to submit papers for publication in this volume. This symposium was established in 1976 for the purpose of bringing together, once every two or three years, active investigators in the forefront of contemporary immunology, to present their findings and discuss t heir significance in the light of current concepts and to identify important new directions of investigation. The founding of the symposium was stimulated by the achievement of major breakthroughs in the understanding of the immune recognition of proteins and peptides. We believed that these breakthroughs will lead to the creation of a new generation of peptide reagents which should have enormous potential in biological, therapeutic and basic applications. This anticipated explosion has in fact since occurred and many applications of these pep tides are now being realized.

Evolutionary computation (EC) techniques are e?cient, nature-inspired me- ods based on the principles of natural evolution and genetics. Due to their - ciency and simple underlying principles, these methods can be used for a diverse rangeofactivitiesincludingproblemsolving,optimization,machinelearningand pattern recognition. A large and continuously increasing number of researchers and professionals make use of EC techniques in various application domains. This volume presents a careful selection of relevant EC examples combined with a thorough examination of the techniques used in EC. The papers in the volume illustrate the current state of the art in the application of EC and should help and inspire researchers and professionals to develop e?cient EC methods for design and problem solving. All papers in this book were presented during EvoApplications 2010, which included a range of events on application-oriented aspects of EC. Since 1998, EvoApplications — formerly known as EvoWorkshops — has provided a unique opportunity for EC researchers to meet and discuss application aspects of EC and has been an important link between EC research and its application in a variety of domains. During these 12 years, new events have arisen, some have disappeared,whileothershavematuredtobecomeconferencesoftheirown,such as EuroGP in 2000, EvoCOP in 2004, and EvoBIO in 2007. And from this year, EvoApplications has become a conference as well.

This book offers an insightful exploration into the relationship between diet and Multiple Sclerosis (MS), aiming to address a crucial question: Can dietary interventions serve as effective preventative and therapeutic measures for patients with MS? Delving into this question, the book examines various nutritional components and regimens, shedding light on their potential impacts on the progression, relapse rate, and development of MS. It offers readers valuable insights into how dietary choices can influence the management of this condition. Backed up by evidence gathered from review and clinical trial papers, the book discusses the role of vitamins such as A, B, and D, as well as dietary supplements like caffeine, carnitine, and lipoic acid in benefiting patients with MS. Particular attention is given to the significance of vitamin D in lowering the risk of developing MS and its immunomodulatory effects on the inflammatory processes associated with the disease. In parallel, the book also addresses the detrimental effects of diets such as the Western or high salt diet (HSD) on MS prognosis, emphasizing how these dietary regimens can harm the gut microbiome and exacerbate inflammatory responses, ultimately promoting demyelination of the central nervous system (CNS). The book then explores alternative dietary approaches that confer a protective effect on the gut microbiome and the CNS, including whole grain, fasting, Mediterranean, and ketogenic diets. This comprehensive resource is an essential reading for patients with MS seeking to understand the potential impacts of diet on their overall health, as well as healthcare professionals and researchers interested in exploring dietary interventions for MS management.

This special issue of Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology includes much of the research presented at the recent Second International Tissue Engineering Conference. Held in Crete, Greece, as part of the Aegean Conference Series, the Second International Tissue Engineering Conference was organized by Dr. Kiki Hellman of the Hellman Group, Dr. John Jansen of the Nijmegen University Medical Center, and Dr. Antonios Mikos of Rice University. The conference brought over 150 researchers from around the world to the Knossos Royal Village Conference Center in Crete from May 22 to 27, 2005. Following along the lines of the conference program, this volume is divided into seven sections, focusing on stem cells, signals, scaffolds, applied technologies, animal models, regulatory issues, as well as specific tissue engineering strategies. Both original research papers and review papers are presented. The chapters reflect a diverse group of authors, including both clinicians and academicians. Furthermore, the issue contains - pers from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America, demonstrating the international component of the conference. The intended audience for this issue includes researchers, advanced students, and - dustrial investigators. This issue should be a useful reference for tissue engineering courses as well as for researchers developing engineered tissues for clinical applications.

This curated collection of scientific papers on the origin and global spread of COVID-19 is a unique project that offers explanations at odds with mainstream views as the theme mainly focuses on Panspermia (viruses, microorganisms and their spores, and cometary arrival of even more complex cellular organisms).No other scientific group has paid attention to the temporal unfolding scientific order at the many required levels of understanding — astrobiological and astrophysical, geographical and the temporal order of global proportions, yet regional epidemics, the immunologic dimensions to the infection and epidemic data, the genetics of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it adapted, varied and appeared in different human populations in the crucial first few months of the pandemic. This in-depth analysis, over a two-year period, allows a better understanding of what engulfed the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, how it happened and the most plausible way.There are many lessons for future generations that can be distilled from the contributions found in this book.

The relation between psychiatric disorders and general medical conditions is currently a topic of much interest. This volume includes a broad range of papers dealing with psychosocial issues in the morbidity of asthma, depressive symptoms which appear to be more common in asthma patients than in the general population, the link between asthma and anxiety disorders, or side effects of corticosteroid therapy. Furthermore, one paper looks at problems with adherence to treatment and the interaction between patient and provider and another one presents a model of changing human health behavior. Emotional disturbances contributing to several primarily psychogenic illnesses that mimic asthma are also covered. Each chapter includes an overview of the field for those with minimal knowledge of the topic. This book is written by experts for clinicians, general practitioners, mental health professionals, allergists, pulmonologists, and primary care practitioners involved in treating asthma patients especially with a view to the psychological aspects and their influence on the disease.

This edited volume comprehensively highlights recent advances in the metabolism, nutrition, physiology, and pathobiology of amino acids in all the systems of humans and other animals (including livestock, poultry, companion animals, and fish). It enables readers to understand the crucial roles of amino acids and their metabolites in the health and diseases of the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory, skeletal, and urinary systems, as well as the sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue). Readers will learn that amino acids are not only the building blocks of protein, but are also signalling molecules, as well as regulators of gene expression, metabolic processes and developmental changes in the body. This knowledge will guide nutritional practices to improve the growth, development and health of humans and other animals, as well as prevent and treat chronic (e.g., obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders) and infectious (e.g., bacterial, fungal, parasite, and viral) diseases. Editor of this volume is an internationally recognized expert in nutritional biochemistry. He has over 38 years of experience with research and teaching at world-class universities in the area of amino acid biochemistry, nutrition, and physiology. He has published more than 625 papers in peer-reviewed journals, 62 chapters in books, and authored two text/reference books, with an H-index of 117 and more than 55,000 citations in Google Scholar. This publication is a useful reference for professionals as well as undergraduate and graduate students in animal science, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, biology, human medicine, food science, kinesiology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacology, physiology, toxicology, veterinary medicine, and other related disciplines. In addition, all chapters provide general and specific references to amino acids in systems health for researchers and practitioners in biomedicine, animal and plant agriculture, and aquaculture, and for government policy makers.

Based on papers presented at the XI International Congress for Tropical Medicine and Malaria, this publication provides an authoritative evaluation of treatment and control of helminth parasite infections. A section on leprosy and a brief review of malaria vaccination are included. A comprehensive review of the history of schistosomiasis control programs presents information unavailable elsewhere. This book is of special interest to professionals concerned with health problems of less developed countries and in particular to public health officials, epidemiologists and clinicians dealing with patients in or returning from the tropics.

A new scientific discipline, acknowledged 65 years after its discovery, was the focus of the first Conference on Neuroimmune Biology in Canada. The papers presented at the conference, and in this volume, are dedicated to Dr. Hans Selye who is recognized as discovering the existence of a hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-thymus axis. This axis plays an important role in the adaptation of higher animals and man to various physical, chemical, biological and emotional challenges.The conference and participants also honored Dr. Andor Szentivanyi whose opening paper,'Studies on the hypothalamic regulation of histamine synthesis', is contained in the introduction to this book. Dr. Szentivanyi has dedicated his long research career to the clarification of the role of the central nervous system in immune and inflammatory reactions, and his experimental results are presented here.With an ultimate goal to achieve a more thorough understanding of higher organisms in their entire complexity, this book, the first in the series http://serval.elsevier.com/locate/series/nibNeuroImmune Biology presents a coordinated and integrated view of the growing body of knowledge rapidly accumulating in this area.

The concept of expressing acidity as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration was defined and termed pH in the beginning of the 20th century. The general usefulness of the pH concept for life science was recognized and later gained importance to analytical research. Reports on results of pH measurements from living skin established the term acid mantle – the skin's own protective shield that maintains a naturally acid pH. It is invisible to the eye but crucial to the overall wellbeing of skin. Chronic alkalization can throw this acid mantle out of balance, leading to inflammation, dermatitis, and atopic skin diseases. It is therefore no surprise, that skin pH shifts have been observed in various skin pathologies. It is also obvious that the pH in topically applied preparations may play an important role. Optimal pH and buffer capacity within topical preparations not only support stability of active ingredients and auxiliary materials, but may also increase absorption of the non-ionized species of an acidic or a basic active ingredient. They may even open up opportunities to modify and “correct” skin pH and hence accelerate barrier recovery and maintain or enhance barrier integrity. Further efforts are needed to standardize and improve pH measurements in biological media or pharmaceutical/cosmetic vehicles to increase and ensure quality, comparability, and relevance of research data. In this volume, we present a unique collection of papers that address past, present and future issues of the pH of healthy and diseased skin. It is hoped that this collection will foster future efforts in clinical and experimental skin research.

This book offers comprehensive information on all aspects of ELISA, starting with the fundamentals of the immune system. It also reviews the history of analytical assays prior to the advent of ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and addresses the materials of choice for the fabrication of the platforms, possible biomolecular interactions, different protocols, and evaluation parameters. The book guides readers through the respective steps of the analytical assay, while also familiarizing them with the possible sources of error in the assay. It offers detailed insights into the immobilization techniques used for protein attachment, as well as methods for evaluating the assay and calculating the key parameters, such as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and limit of detection. In addition, the book explores the advantages and shortcomings of the conventional ELISA, as well as various approaches to improving its performance. In this regard, merging and integrating other technologieswith widely known ELISAs have opened new avenues for the advancement of this immunoassay. Accordingly, the book provides cutting-edge information on integrated platforms such as ELISpot, plasmonic ELISAs, sphere-/bead-based ELISAs, paper-/fiber-based ELISAs and ELISA in micro-devices.

Neuropsychiatric manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the most recalcitrant complications of the disease. According to the 1999 ACR nomenclature and case definitions, diffuse psychiatric/neuropsychological syndromes in NPSLE (anxiety disorder, acute confusional state, cognitive dysfunction, mood disorder, psychosis) (diffuse NPSLE) present psychiatric manifestations unlike neurologic syndromes (focal NPSLE) originating from focal CNS lesions, such as cerebrovascular disease, demyelinating syndrome, headache, aseptic meningitis, chorea, seizures and myelopathy. A number of studies have reported that diffuse NPSLE is usually associated with the presence of autoantibodies against neuronal cells in serum as well as in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Moreover, IL-6 has been shown to be elevated in CSF of patients with diffuse NPSLE.Recently, it has been demonstrated that the severity of blood-brain barrier damages plays a crucial role in the development of acute confusional state, the severest form of diffuse NPSLE through the accelerated entry of larger amounts of autoantibodies to NMDA receptor subunit NR2 into the CNS. Since the importance of autoantibodies in the NPSLE has been now evident, such an aggressive treatment, especially B cell depleting therapy, would make sense in that it would reduce the levels of pathogenic autoantibodies, leading to a better prognosis of NPSLE.As far as we know, no single book specifically dedicated to NPSLE alone has been published as yet. As mentioned above, NPSLE constitutes a vastly expanding field of research with increasing numbers of papers published annually. Therefore, we believe that an effort to collect and critically review these publications is invaluable. Such an effort will provide an important contribution to basic researchers as well as clinicians working in the field of neurology, rheumatology, psychiatry and internal medicine fields.

Immerse Yourself in Nature and Nourish Your Microbiome for Optimal Health For too long our bodies have been viewed as capsules, sealed off and protected from'bugs'by our immune systems and an arsenal of antibiotics, pesticides, processed foods, and antibacterial soaps. The more insulated from nature, the better. The Secret Life of Your Microbiome shatters this deeply held myth, presenting a revolutionary new paradigm, backed by vast science; we're deeply connected to the biodiversity of nature through our microbiomes, the rich microbial ecosystem of our guts and skin, and this connection is essential to health and happiness. From sugar-rich diets wiping out good gut bacteria and exacerbating depression, to microbes mediating phytonutrient absorption in the brain, to inflammation and cancer, the influence of biodiversity on our bodies is everywhere. The great communicator is our immune system, a'mobile brain'that interacts with micro-organisms in and around us with profound health consequences. Written with pace, clarity, and humor by world-renowned scientists in immunology, nutrition, and environmental health, The Secret Life of Your Microbiome makes the irrefutable case that health and happiness depends fundamentally on the health of biodiversity, and shows how we can nurture this nature. Dr. Susan L. Prescott, MD, PhD is an internationally acclaimed immunologist and pediatrician. She has authored 250 scientific papers and The Allergy Epidemic, The Calling, and Origins. Dr. Alan C. Logan ND is a naturopathic doctor and researcher, a trusted media commentator, and co-author of Your Brain on Nature and The Clear Skin Diet. He and Prescott live in New York and Perth, Australia.

Workshops on the mechanisms of B cell neoplasia have been organized alternatively in Bethesda and Basel since 1983. Prog­ ress in our understanding of the development and responses of B lymphocytes is presented and discussed with the aim and hope to understand what might go wrong when B lymphocytes are transformed into malignant cells. Such knowledge might lead to better diagnosis, prevention and even cure of these terri­ ble diseases. The presentations at the Bethesda workshops are published as papers in volumes of Current Topics in Microbiol­ ogy and Immunology, while the presentations and discussions in Basel were transcribed and published in Editions Roche. For the first time, a Basel workshop (held 4th-6th October 1998) that has been recorded and, in part, transcribed is being published as papers and discussions within Current Topics. This volume is the latest of a long series which documents the excitements of ground-breaking discoveries as well as the frustrations of our inability to fully understand the mechanisms leading to B cell neoplasia. The papers at the workshop are presented when possible in the sequence in which they were given. However, to facilitate the organization and reading of the book and to highlight gen­ eral topics and themes, the papers are organized into five sec­ tions: I B Cell and Plasma Cell Development II Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors III Chromosomal Translocations, DNA Rearrangements and Somatic Hypermutations IV Biology of Lymphomagenesis, B-CLL, Autoimmunity V Myeloma, Plasmacytomas and Related Subjects.

This volume is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Department of Otolaryngology of the Sapporo Medical University. It commemorates this landmark event and honors the department's rich tradition of excellence. Chapters feature results of clinical and basic research conducted at the university. The carefully selected articles – ten clinical reviews, ten original research papers, and one case report – reflect the wide range of specialty fields within the department. Topics covered include otology, allergy and rhinology, oncology, sleep medicine, and tonsils. This book is a comprehensive, inspiring contribution to the celebration of one of the oldest departments within the Sapporo Medical University. It contains valuable information for new and experienced otolaryngologists, neurotologists, allergologists, and head and neck surgeons.

This volume is composed of chapters that review important fundamental aspects of HCV biology and disease pathogenesis including, for example, the discovery and identification of the HCV genome, early virus-cell interactions including identification of various cellular receptors, HCV gene expression studied using the HCV replicon system, identification and characterization of HCV structural- and non-structural HCV proteins, HCV replication in cultured cells, and host factors involved in viral replication. This volume also contains chapters dealing with immunity to HCV infection and pathogenesis. This is particularly important in understanding hepatitis C because HCV infection alone is not cell lytic. Mechanisms underlying the persistent nature of HCV infection are also discussed in these chapters. Many of the authors published articles that were listed among the “top 10 papers” published in the 24 years since HCV was discovered in 1989. Their citations are above 1,000 (Web of Science). The authors describe the background and significance of their contributions to the field in the context of findings from other research groups.

This book contains the refereed contributions from the 42nd annual meeting of ISOTT. The annual meetings of ISOTT bring together scientists from various fields (medicine, physiology, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, etc.) in a unique international forum. ISOTT conferences are a place where an atmosphere of interaction is created, where many questions are asked after each presentation and lively discussions occur at a high scientific level. This vivid interaction is the main motivation for members to participate and gain new ideas and knowledge in the broad field of oxygen transport to tissue. The papers in this volume summarize some of the outstanding contributions from the 42nd annual meeting, which included sessions on: cellular hypoxia and mitochondria; blood substitutes and oxygen therapeutics; oxygen transport in critical care medicine and disease; muscle oxygenation; multi modal imaging techniques; brain oxygenation and imaging; optical techniques for oxygen measurement; microcirculation; mathematical modelling of oxygen transport; and cancer metabolism.

Basic research on the pharmacology of itch has exploded in the wake of two very influential papers that were published in Nature (2007) and Science (2009). Long overlooked as a milder form of pain, itching has rapidly gained a new appreciation in both research and clinical communities because of its complexity and its negative effects on the quality of life of the distressed patients. Like pain, not all itches are the same. Unlike pain, there are no standard drugs equivalent to aspirin and morphine. Epidemiological studies emphasize the high incidence and economic costs of itch (pruritus). It is the most prevalent symptom of a wide variety of allergic and inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis), is associated with several systemic diseases (e.g., chronic kidney and liver disease), and occurs in patients undergoing hemodialysis, spinal administration of opioids, and in those suffering from AIDS. The reader will learn about the multiple pathways for itch and their interactions with pain. The relationship between these closely related, yet distinct sensory phenomena, will be emphasized. Both itch and pain use several common molecules to send signals to the brain. Thus, drugs that have been, and are being, developed as analgesics may also attenuate intractable itch. This has been an exciting and very necessary turn of events since traditional H-1 receptor antagonists are ineffective in blocking the pruritus associated with kidney failure and cholestasis. The clinical chapters will provide insights into contemporary treatment regimens for pruritus in different human scenarios.

While first accounts of food allergy date back to antiquity, only in recent years has food allergy become recognized as one of the major allergic diseases. During the last decade the output of research papers on food allergy increased tremendously, and today, issues related to food allergies still attract a lot of attention among academics and the general public. Featuring contributions by world-renowned experts, this book presents the current concept, practice and recent advances in the field of food allergy. A comprehensive background section provides a historical retrospective and information on the immunological basis and epidemiology of food allergies. Main topics discussed include clinical aspects, diagnosis and management, allergen-based food allergies, and disease-based food allergies. Furthermore, nutritional aspects and diets, public policy and educational programs are covered as well as recent hot topics such as molecular-based allergen diagnosis, eosinophilic gastrointestinal food allergies and oral immunotherapy. Allergists, pediatricians, internists, dermatologists and general practitioners will find this publication an essential source of information as it provides in-depth insights into food allergies from childhood to adulthood.

Aspects of Developmental and Comparative Immunology contains the proceedings of the 1st Congress of Developmental and Comparative Immunology, held from July 27 to August 1, 1980 in Aberdeen, Scotland. The papers explore various aspects of developmental and comparative immunology and cover topics ranging from the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and membrane immunoglobulins to idiotypes and diversity, comparative ontogeny, and evolution of lymphoid organ function. Comprised of 105 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of how the host immune system utilizes polymorphic MHC antigens as the principal tool for pseudo-self versus true self distinction. The reader is then introduced to the immunology of earthworms, membrane immunoglobulins, idiotypes, and diversity. Subsequent chapters focus on the evolution of lymphoid organs in vertebrates; differentiation clocks in comparative immunology of mammals and birds; immunorecognition in invertebrates such as insects and gastropods; and the phylogeny of leucocytes in vertebrates and invertebrates. The remaining sections deal with stem cells, immune responses of gut-associated lymphoepithelial tissue, and the ontogeny of resistance to infection as well as the ontogeny of killer cells. Finally, the immunology of fish, amphibians, reptiles, chickens, and mammals is examined. This monograph will be of interest to immunobiologists.

Progress in Immunology: First International Congress of Immunology is a collection of papers and summaries of the workshops conducted at the First International Congress of Immunology. The proceedings review significant advances that have been made in the field of immunology and covers topics ranging from the structure and genetics of antibodies to lymphocyte membranes and the role of antibodies and complexes in immune tissue damage. Cell cooperation in the immune response is also examined. This volume is organized into 15 sections and begins with a discussion on the structure of immunoglobulins and results of experiments which support the domain hypothesis and the evolution of immunoglobulins by gene duplication, along with the presence of genetic markers in V regions. The reader is then introduced to expansion and contraction in the evolution of immunoglobulin gene pools; receptors for C3 on B lymphocytes and their possible role in the immune response; and subpopulations of thymus cells and thymus-derived lymphocytes. Tne remaining sections focus on effector mechahisms of cell-mediated immunity; genetic control of immune responsiveness; immune disorders in humans such as glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis; and viruses involved in immunopathology. This book is dedicated to immunologists.

IgG4-related disease is a new systemic disease that has only recently been identified and characterized. However, most clinical practitioners are not yet familiar with it and thus are likely to misdiagnose it. The purpose of this book is to raise awareness of this disease and its diagnostic pitfalls. A wealth of radiological and histopathological images helps clinicians to understand its characteristics in various organs as well as their clinical and basic medical backgrounds. All of the authors are experts who have published numerous important papers in the field. This book will be useful to physicians in various disciplines such as gastroenterology, rheumatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, urology, hematology, and respiratory medicine, not only as a textbook but as an authoritative and comprehensive reference work as well.

This book contains the refereed contributions from the 41st annual meeting of ISOTT. The annual meetings of ISOTT bring together scientists from various fields (medicine, physiology, mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, etc.) in a unique international forum. Traditionally, ISOTT conferences are a place, where an atmosphere of interaction is created, where many questions are asked after each presentation and lively discussions occur at a high scientific level. This vivid interaction is the main motivation for members to participate and gain new ideas and knowledge in the broad field of oxygen transport to tissue. The papers in this volume summarize some of the outstanding contributions from the 41st annual meeting. Special features in this volume include invited presentations from senior members of ISOTT for the theme “the wisdom of ISOTT” in which founders, past presidents and prize winners from previous meetings provided both cutting edge new knowledge and integratedoverviews of critical aspects of the field. The presentations and manuscripts also include those provided by the special opportunity provided by having part of the ISOTT meeting overlap with the EPR-2013 meeting where both focused on preclinical and clinical measurements of oxygen, with a particular emphasis on cancer.Chapters 22, 24, 25 and 26 are open access under a CC BY 4.0 license via link.springer.com.

The authors reviewed a wide number of microbiological and medical papers outlining the profile of different probiotic strains in the immune-modulating activity related to major and minor clinical impairment of soluble and cell-mediated immunity. Starting from in vitro and experimental animal studies, a good number of clinical trials are reported, enclosing an update of the side effects of the probiotic long-term administration. Conclusively, the biological therapies are currently oriented to direct delivery of cytokines and molecules involved in the immune process enhancement. Using probiotics to sustain the immune response and to rescue the suppressed immunity is still a very modern approach, being also cheap and practical. This review highlights the rationale for this probiotic therapeutic indication which is largely safe and reliable.

Mycology, the study of fungi, originated as a subdiscipline of botany and was a descriptive discipline, largely neglected as an experimental science until the early years of this century. A seminal paper by Blakeslee in 1904 provided evidence for self-incompatibility, termed'heterothallism', and stimulated interest in studies related to the control of sexual reproduction in fungi by mating-type specificities. Soon to follow was the demonstration that sexually reproducing fungi exhibit Mendelian inheritance and that it was possible to conduct formal genetic analysis with fungi. The names Burgeff, Kniep and Lindegren are all associated with this early period of fungal genetics research. These studies and the discovery of penicillin by Fleming, who shared a Nobel Prize in 1945, provided further impetus for experimental research with fungi. Thus began a period of interest in mutation induction and analysis of mutants for bio­ chemical traits. Such fundamental research, conducted largely with Neurospora crassa, led to the one gene: one enzyme hypothesis and to a second Nobel Prize for fungal research awarded to Beadle and Tatum in 1958. Fundamental research in biochemical genetics was extended to other fungi, especially to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and by the mid-1960s fungal systems were much favored for studies in eukaryotic molecular biology and were soon able to compete with bacterial systems in the molecular arena.

The skin allograft has been used as the test tool since the beginning of investiga­ tions of the fate of skin transplanted between two individuals of ordinary genetic diversity. This monograph is designed to furnish the transplantation work­ er with a review of the significant papers in which skin allografts and xeno­ grafts, applied to experimental animals and man, have played a role in acquiring a body of knowledge concerning the behavior and fate of these transplants and the reaction of the body to their presence. Skin, an essential organ for survival, a barrier between the'milieu inte­ rieur'of Claude Bernard and the'milieu exterieur,'will remain the most frequently used transplant in transplantation research. Because it is highly antigenic, the final solution of the problem of acceptance of allografts of various tissues and organs will probably depend upon the achievement of a permanent survival of skin allografts. My personal interest in transplantation, which originated during my surgi­ cal training, was rekindled when I met Peter Medawar (today Sir Peter) in England during World War II. I had joined, in 1940, an American Volunteer Surgical Unit (The American Hospital in Britain), organized and headed by Dr.

Starting in 1986, the European School of Oncology has expanded its activities in post­ graduate teaching, which consisted mainly of traditional disease-orientated courses, by promoting new educational initiatives. One of these is the cloister seminars, short meet­ ings intended for highly qualified oncologists and dealing with specific, controversial aspects of clinical practice and research. Another is the institution of permanent study groups, also called task forces, where a limited number of leading experts are invited to meet once a year with the aim of defining the state of the art and possibly reaching a consensus on developments and treatment in specific fields of oncology. This series of ESO Monographs was designed with the specific purpose of disseminat­ ing the results of the most interesting of the seminars and study groups, and providing concise and updated reviews of the subjects discussed. It was decided to keep the layout very simple in order to keep costs to a minimum and make the monographs available in the shortest possible time, thus overcoming a com­ mon problem in medical literature: that of the material being outdated even before publication. Umberto Veronesi Chairman, Scientific Committee European School of Oncology Position Paper on the Application of Human Tumour Xenografts as a Model for Preclinical Phase'Studies in the Evaluation of New Anticancer Compounds Outcome of a seminar on Human Tumour Xenografts organised by the European School of Oncology, Milan, 26th-27th May, 1986.