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This book presents a comprehensive collection of current knowledge and leading research about the blood-brain barrier. The chapters are organized in four main parts providing basic information and novel insights about the physiology of the blood-brain barrier, the challenges related to finding and developing drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier, experimental methods to study the blood-brain barrier and the role of the blood-brain barrier in disease mechanisms and its consequences for drug development. In the first part the readers will discover the structure, function and developmental aspects of the blood-brain barrier and gain novel insights into the complexity and functionality of the neurovascular unit and energy metabolism of brain endothelial cells. Chapters of the second part focus on translational challenges from the bench to the bedside in CNS drug development, shed light on the importance to understand the brain distribution of drugs related to their efficacy, elaborate on general pharmacokinetic considerations for CNS drugs and introduce current and novel drug delivery strategies to overcome the blood-brain barrier. The experimental part of the book covers mathematical and in vitro models as well as animal and human methods in blood-brain barrier research. Specific emphasis is set on the description of the methods, the role of species differences for data interpretation, novel human models based on stem cells with the potential for personalized medicine and technical considerations and tips helpful for readers interested in working with these models. In the fourth part particular attentions is given to the blood-brain barrier, its changes and participation during disease progression. Chapters summarize alterations of the blood-brain barrier that are present in common disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy and brain tumors. Present therapies will be discussed and the consequences for novel treatment approaches that need to bypass the blood-brain-barrier will be explored. In addition, experts discuss the question in how far changes at the blood-brain barrier are causally linked to disease progressions and consequently could serve as therapeutic targets. This collection is designed to appeal to a wide readership from students through basic and applied scientist to pharmacologists, medical doctors and stakeholders from the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory affairs. Due its comprehensive content the book has the potential to become a standard work in the field of blood-brain barrier research.

This book covers the tremendous progress in the current understanding of the molecular physiology of voltage-gated calcium channels. This book includes unparalleled insights into structural features of calcium channels due to X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, which in turn yielded critical information into how these channels function under normal and pathophysiological conditions, and how they interact with calcium channel therapeutics. The chapters investigate how, with the advent of high throughput genome sequencing, numerous mutations in various calcium channel genes have been identified in patients with neurological, cardiovascular, neuropsychiatric and other disorders. This is further complemented through a much larger in vivo toolkit such as knock-out and knock-in mice. The chapters further discuss the increased complexity of calcium channel physiology that arises from mRNA editing and splicing. Finally, the book also provides an overview of the updated research on calciumchannel inhibitors that can be used both in vivo and in vitro, and which may serve as a spring board for new calcium channel therapeutics for human disease. Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels is useful for academic researchers at all levels in neuroscience, biophysics, cell biology and drug discovery.

This new book is a comprehensive description of human physical growth and development (Auxology) with contributions by 56 internationally reputed experts. The entire spectrum of basic and advanced information on growth tracking, growth prediction, short-term-, catch-up- and rapid growth, nutritional and social factors influencing human growth, and issues related to preventive health care, growth in ethnic minorities and migrants, and growth in developing countries is presented. The text is generously illustrated by 270 colour figures and 89 comprehensive tables. The text also introduces new mathematical approaches to growth modelling and provides practical information on how to use and interpret growth charts. Current national references for height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference for various countries (US, ARG, BRA, CAN, IND, BEL, GER, IT, NL, PL, SW, SWI, TUR, UK, WHO) are provided, as are growth references for twins, preterm infants and syndrome specific growth charts for clinical purposes. The book is of greatest interest to all pediatricians, to medical students and students of human biology, health workers, nutritionists, medical staff and professionals interested in child and adolescent growth and development. Contributors: Ghada M. Anwar, Cairo, Egypt Christian Aßmann, Bamberg, Germany Pavel Blaha, Prague, Czech Republic Barry Bogin, Leicestershire, UK Jesper L. Boldsen, Odense, Denmark Walter Bonfig, München, Germany Marek Brabec, Praha, Czech Republic Fanny Breitman, Buenos Aires, Argentina Stef van Buuren, Leiden, The Netherlands Silvia Caino, Buenos Aires, Argentina Noel Cameron, Leicestershire, UK Tim Cole, London, UK Mortada El-Shabrawi, Cairo, Egypt Mona El Housseiny, Cairo, Egypt Miranda Fredriks, Leiden, The Netherlands Elena Godina, Moscow, Russia Petra Golja, Ljubljana, Slovenia Carl Martin Grewe, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany Komei Hattori, Ibaraki University, Japan Klaus-Peter Herm, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany Michael Hermanussen, Altenhof, Germany Reinhard Holl, Ulm, Germany Eilin Jopp, Hamburg, Germany Maria Kaczmarek, Poznan, Poland Magdalena Skrzypczak, Poznan, Poland Diana Mabel Kelmansky, Buenos Aires, Argentina Andreas Kersting, Bamberg, Germany Sylvia Kirchengast, Vienna, Austria Katja Zdešar Kotnik, Ljubljana, Slovenia Hans Lamecker, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany Andreas Lehmann, Luckenwalde, Germany Horacio Lejarraga, Buenos Aires, Argentina Leslie Sue Lieberman, Oviedo, USA Matthew McIntyre, Orlando, USA Jürgen Meier, München, Germany Christof Meigen, Bonn, Germany Rebekka Mumm, Friedland, Germany Christina Papageorgopoulou, Komotini, Greece Tilman R. Rohrer, Homburg/Saar, Germany Frank J. Rühli, Zurich, Switzerland Emad Salama, Cairo, Egypt Takashi Satake, Matsudo, Chiba, Japan Christiane Scheffler, Potsdam, Germany Mithun Sikdar, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India Kaspar Staub, Zurich, Switzerland Hans Henrik Thodberg, Holte, Denmark Jesus Angel Fernandez-Tresguerres, Madrid, Spain Janina Tutkuviene, Vilnius, Lithuania Stanley Ulijaszek, Oxford, UK Maria Inês Varela-Silva, Leicestershire, UK Jerry K.H. Wales, Sheffield, UK Ulrich Woitek, Zurich, Switzerland Cherie L. Yestrebsky, Orlando, USA Siegfried Zabransky, Homburg/Saar, Germany Stefan Zachow, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany Elzbieta Zadzinska, Lodz, Poland

Ein Lehrbuch für Ärzte in Weiterbildung für das Fach Neurologie, das die pathophysiologischen und die biochemischen Ursachen und Komplikationen neurologischer Erkrankungen verständlich darstellt und sinnvoll in den klinischen Gesamtzusammenhang einordnet. Im Medizinstudium wird die genaue Kenntnis der Neuroanatomie als Grundlage für klinisch-neurologische Diagnostik und Therapie gelehrt. In der klinischen Praxis ist es jedoch relevant, neben dem neurologisch-topischen Wissen auch die pathophysiologischen Grundlagen zu begreifen, um daraus adäquate therapeutische Schritte ableiten zu können. Die Fülle theoretischer Grundlagen erschwert es sowohl Berufsanfängern als auch Studierenden, den Überblick zu behalten. Genau diese Lücke füllt das vorliegende Buch.

This book offers one of the most comprehensive reviews in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, guiding readers on a journey through the complete digestive tract, while also highlighting related organs and glandular systems. It is not solely limited to organ system physiology, and related disciplines like anatomy and histology, but also examines the molecular and cellular processes that keep the digestive system running. As such, the book provides extensive information on the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and system levels of functions in the GI system. Chapters on the roles of the gut as an endocrine, exocrine and neural organ, as well as its microbiome functions, broaden readers'understanding of the multi-organ networks in the human body. To help illustrate the interconnections between the physiological concepts, principles and clinical presentations, it outlines clinical examples such as pathologies that link basic science with clinical practice in special “clinical correlates” sections. Covering both traditional and contemporary topics, it is a valuable resource for biomedical students, as well as healthcare and scientific professionals.

Homeostatic Control of Brain Function offers a broad view of brain health and diverse perspectives for potential treatments, targeting key areas such as mitochondria, the immune system, epigenetic changes, and regulatory molecules such as ions, neuropeptides, and neuromodulators. Loss of homeostasis becomes expressed as a diverse array of neurological disorders. Each disorder has multiple comorbidities - with some crossing over several conditions - and often disease-specific treatments remain elusive. When current pharmacological therapies result in ineffective and inadequate outcomes, therapies to restore and maintain homeostatic functions can help improve brain health, no matter the diagnosis. Employing homeostatic therapies may lead to future cures or treatments that address multiple comorbidities. In an age where brain diseases such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's are ever present, the incorporation of homeostatic techniques could successfully promote better overall brain health. Key Features include · A focus on the homeostatic controls that significantly depend on the way one lives, eats, and drinks. · Highlights from emerging research in non-pharmaceutical therapies including botanical medications, meditation, diet, and exercise. · Incorporation of homeostatic therapies into existing basic and clinical research paradigms. · Extensive scientific basic and clinical research ranging from molecules to disorders. · Emerging practical information for improving homeostasis. · Examples of homeostatic therapies in preventing and delaying dysfunction. Both editors, Detlev Boison and Susan Masino, bring their unique expertise in homeostatic research to the overall scope of this work. This book is accessible to all with an interest in brain health; scientist, clinician, student, and lay reader alike.

This book presents results of current research conducted in the I. Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine (former I. Beritashvili Institute of Physiology, Tbilisi, Georgia) and is devoted to the experimental investigation of systemic, cellular and molecular mechanisms of physiological functions and their disorders in pathology. More precisely, the results of the following studies are described and discussed: The new, original theory of the fourth main state of an organism's vitality; memory impairments following excitotoxic lesions; biologically positive behavioral indices of the transition state, caused by informational stress and their pharmacological regulation; functioning of mechanisms responsible for perception constancy; peculiarities of EEG characteristics in individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of the basic mechanisms for neocortical and hippocampal arousal; changes in learning ability and induction of aggressive behavior caused by manganese loading and ionizing radiation; hippocampal activity during learning in different behavioral paradigms; molecular mechanism of PARP-1 action; significance of the diencephalic GABAergic neurons in normal and pathological activity of the brain; cellular mechanisms of antinociceptive tolerance; thermal stability of model globular protein; kinetic features of transport ATPases; antiseizure drugs and EEG in epileptic patients; effect of depakin on EEG epileptiform elements; how six domains form one enzyme; therapeutic potential of extracellular ubiquitin; effect of toluene chronic exposure on hippocampal structure; and the mechanisms of local hyperthermia caused by morphological changes in cerebral tissue.

T-type calcium channels are prevalent in every organ of the body, and are believed to play a part in a variety of physiological processes, including contraction, shape change, secretion, endo- and exocytosis, cell proliferation and differentiation, modulation of enzyme function, and cell cycle progression. As such, research on the roles of these channels in a wide range of diseases has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The purpose of this book is to present a series of unique and comprehensive reviews of our current understanding of T-type calcium channels at the level of the basic sciences as well as the clinical sciences. For key organ systems, information is provided on the correlation between the molecular, biophysical and pharmacological properties of the channels, their cellular mechanisms, and their potential roles in the pathogenesis of various diseases. The compilation presents both commonplace and less well-known findings on these channels in a format designed to appeal to both casual readers and specialists in basic and clinical research on these transporters.​

Diet and Exercise in Cystic Fibrosis, a unique reference edited by distinguished and internationally recognized nutritionist and immunologist Ronald Ross Watson, fills the gap in the current dietary modalities aimed at controlling cystic fibrosis. Using expert evaluation on the latest studies of the role of food and exercise in lifelong management of cystic fibrosis, this valuable resource shows how to maintain intestinal, hepatic, and pulmonary high quality function for improving quality of life for those with cystic fibrosis. A helpful tool for researchers and clinicians alike, this reference helps refine research targets, and provides the beginning of a structured dietary management scheme for those with cystic fibrosis. - Provides a detailed resource that reviews the health problems occurring in Cystic Fibrosis relative to dietary, complementary, and alternative therapies - Contains expert evaluation on the role of foods and exercise for lifelong management of Cystic Fibrosis to maintain intestinal, hepatic, and pulmonary high quality function for improved quality of life - Defines and evaluates various nutritional and dietary approaches to the unique problems of those with Cystic Fibrosis

Kainic acid is a naturally occurring amino acid that is isolated from red algae and is known to cause amnesic shellfish poisoning via the activation of AMPA and kainate receptors in the hippocampus. Kainic acid is an analogue of glutamate and can modulate the transmission of glutamate. It's neurotoxic potency has been shown to be 30 fold that of glutamate. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that exerts its postsynaptic effects through ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Of the ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs), kainic acid has a high affinity for 5 subtypes (KA1 and KA2, GluR5, GluR6, GluR7). Kainate receptors play a significant role in the physiological functioning and activity of numerous systems in the brain. This book discusses the neurotoxic properties of kainic acid, as well as the biological sources and clinical applications.

Calcium ions represent Mother Nature's ‘ion-of-choice'for regulating fundamental physiological functions, as they initiate a new life at the time of fertilization and guide subsequent developmental and physiological functions of the human body. Calcium channels, which act as gated pathways for the movement of calcium ions across the membranes, play a central part in the initiation of calcium signals, and defects in calcium channel function have been found to result in a plethora of human diseases, referred to as the calcium channelopathies.Pathologies of Calcium Channels brings together leading international experts to discuss our current understanding of human diseases associated with the various calcium channels, from their molecular basis to potential future therapeutic targeting of calcium channels.

The primary cortical areas that we include under the umbrella of the limbic system include the olfactory cortex, amygdala and hippocampal formation, and nearly all parahippocampal cortex and cingulate cortex, but also caudal orbital and medial prefrontal cortex and part of the temporal polar cortex, and the ventral part of the agranular and dysgranular part of the insular cortex. It should be noted that researchers still disagree on how many and which areas exactly comprise the limbic system, however, most agree that it includes the hippocampus, subicular cortex, parahippocampal cortex, cingulate cortex, septal nuclei, basolateral amygdala, mammillary bodies, the anterior thalamic nuclei and their interconnections and connections. Subcortical areas, such as the cortical and central amygdala, the septal nuclei, and diencephalic regions, including the mammillary bodies and the anterior thalamic nuclei, make up the rest of the limbic system. The limbic system is highly interconnected, both by direct connections and by indirect projections through diencephalic regions such as the mammillary bodies and the anterior thalamic nuclei. This book discusses the areas of the limbic system which play a role in epilepsy; chronic musculoskeletal pain; the effects altered gravity may have on the limbic system; and finally, the affects opioid addiction has on the limbic system.

The Springer Handbook of Auditory Research presents a series of com­ prehensive and synthetic reviews of the fundamental topics in modern auditory research. The volumes are aimed at all individuals with interests in hearing research including advanced graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and clinical investigators. The volumes are intended to intro­ duce new investigators to important aspects of hearing science and to help established investigators to better understand the fundamental theories and data in fields of hearing that they may not normally follow closely. Each volume is intended to present a particular topic comprehensively, and each chapter will serve as a synthetic overview and guide to the liter­ ature. As such, the chapters present neither exhaustive data reviews nor original research that has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed journals. The volumes focus on topics that have developed a solid data and conceptual foundation rather than on those for which a literature is only beginning to develop. New research areas will be covered on a timely basis in the series as they begin to mature.

In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of the daily requirements, dietary sources and symptoms of deficiency relating to vitamins A and E. Topics discussed include clinical use studies, medicinal and dietary aspects, and the dietary sources and health consequences of vitamins A and E. Other topics include indigenous vegetables as an excellent source of vitamin A; dietary vitamin E intake by older Japanese adults; vitamin A and other biochemical markers in obese patients with biliopancreatic bypass; and the role of vitamin E in dementia.

Information flow as nerve impulses in neuronal circuits is regulated at synapses. The synapse is therefore a key element for information processing in the brain. Much attention has been given to fast synaptic transmission, which predominantly regulates impulse-to-impulse transmission. Slow synaptic transmission and modu­ lation, however, sometimes have been neglected in considering and attempting to understand brain function. Slow synaptic potentials and modulation occur with a considerable delay in response to the accumulation of synaptic and modulatory inputs. In these contexts, they are plastic in nature and play important roles in information processing in the brain. A symposium titled'Slow Synaptic Responses and Modulation'was held as the satellite symposium to the 75th Annual Meeting of the Physiological Society of Japan on March 30-31, 1998, in Kanazawa. The theme was selected not only for the reason mentioned above, but also because of the considerable involvement of many Japanese scholars in establishing the basic issues. Following the dawn of synaptic physiological research, as Sir John Eccles, Sir Bernard Katz, and Professor Stephen Kuffler carried out pioneer work, Professor Kyozou Koketsu and Professor Benjamin Libet, the students of Sir John Eccles, and their colleagues established the concept of slow synaptic responses and modulation by studying vertebrate sympathetic ganglia. Since then, the concept has been ex­ panded with detailed investigations of both peripheral and central synapses at the levels of single ion channels, intracellular Ca'+ dynamics, intracellular transduc­ tion mechanisms, and genes.

This volume of Progress in Brain Research documents research presented at the 26th International Summer School of Brain Research (Amsterdam, Jun/Jul 2010) and looks at how the oscillations that characterize brain activity vary between task performance - the EEG power and performance modulations, rest - the MRI default mode and other networks, and sleep - the cortical slow oscillations. Studies over the past decade indicate that the study of these slow oscillations is essential for our understanding of plasticity, memory, brain structure from synapse to default mode network, cognition, consciousness and ultimately for our understanding of the mechanisms and functions of sleep and vigilance. - Leading authors review the state-of-the-art in their field of investigation and provide their views and perspectives for future research - Chapters are extensively referenced to provide readers with a comprehensive list of resources on the topics covered - All chapters include comprehensive background information and are written in a clear form that is also accessible to the non-specialist

It has been known for half a century that neurotransmitters are released in preformed quanta, that the quanta represent transmitter-storing vesicles, and that release occurs by exocytosis. The focus of this book is twofold. In the first part, the molecular events of exocytosis are analysed. This includes a discussion of presynaptic calcium channels, the core proteins of the secretory machinery, and the actions of clostridial toxins and a -latrotoxin, famous for their potency as well as their crucial role in the elucidation of the steps of exocytosis. In the book's second part, the presynaptic receptors for endogenous chemical signals are presented that make neurotransmitter release a highly regulated process. These include ligand-gated ion channels and presynaptic G-protein-coupled receptors. The targets of presynaptic receptors within the exocytosis cascade, and their therapeutic potential, are subjects addressed in the majority of chapters.

Description based on print version record.

oltage-gated calcium channels are essential mediators of a range of physiological functions, including the communication between nerve Vcells, the regulation of heart beat, muscle contraction, and secretion of hormones such as insulin. Consequently, these channels are critical phar­ macological targets in the treatment of a variety of disorders, such as epi­ lepsy, hypertension, and pain. Voltage-gated calcium channels have there­ fore been subject to intense study by numerous investigators over the past few decades, and an immense body of work has accumulated. In this book, we provide the first comprehensive overview of our current state of knowl­ edge concerning this exciting field of research. Leading off with a general review of calcium signaling and techniques to measure calcium channel ac­ tivity, the book delves into a provocative overview of the history of the cal­ cium channel field, contributed by one of the key pioneers in the field. Dr. Richard Tsien. This is followed by an in depth review of the biochemical and molecular biological characterization of calcium channel genes by Drs. Catterall and Snutch whose research has resulted in major advances in the calcium channel field. A number of chapters are dedicated towards various aspects of calcium channel structure and function, including channel gat­ ing, permeation, modulation and interactions with members of the exo- totic machinery—contributed by both established leaders and rising stars in the field.

The Nutrition and Health series of books have, as an overriding mission, to provide health professionals with texts that are considered essential because each includes (1) a synthesis of the state of the science; (2) timely, in-depth reviews by the leading research­ ers in their respective fields; (3) extensive, up-to-date, fully annotated reference lists; (4) a detailed index; (5) relevant tab les and figures; (6) identification of paradigm shifts and the consequences; (7) virtually no overlap of information between chapters, but targeted, interchapter referrals; (8) suggestions of areas for future research; and (9) bal­ anced, data-driven answers to patient /health professionals'questions that are based on the totality of evidence rather than the findings of any single study. The series volumes are not the outcome of a symposium. Rather, each editor has been asked to examine a chosen area with a broad perspective, both in subject matter as well as in the choice of chapter authors. The international perspective, especially with regard to public health initiatives, is emphasized where appropriate. The editors, whose trainings are both research- and practice-oriented, have the opportunity to develop a primary objective for their book, define the scope and focus, and then invite the leading authorities from around the world to be part of their initiative. The authors are encouraged to provide an overview of the field, discuss their own research, and relate the research findings to potential human health consequences.

Title from Ebook title screen (viewed Jan. 11, 2007).

Information Processing Underlying Gaze Control covers the proceedings of the Satellite Workshop to the 16th European Neuroscience Association. The book presents materials concerning the computational properties of neuronal circuits underlying gaze control. The book contains 44 papers, which are organized into seven sections. The first section deals with the morphology and physiology of extraocular motor nuclei. Section II tackles the anatomo-functional organization of the saccadic system, and Section III covers the vestibular and otolithic systems. Section IV discusses the optokinetic and smooth pursuit systems, while Section V talks about other sensory systems involved in the control of oculomotor function. Section VI covers the role of cerebellum in the genesis and control of eye movements, and Section VII tackles the coordination of eye, head, and body movements. The text will be of great use to researchers who have an interest in gaze control.

Thalamic Networks for Relay and Modulation is the third in a series that springs from an idea of Giorgio Macchi who wished to establish periodical updates on thalamic research by bringing to Italy investigators who would engage in an international sharing of ideas and experiences. It reflects the renewed interest in the modulation of thalamic relay activity by intrinsic and extrinsic sources, while continuing to underscore the essential role of the thalamus as the gatekeeper of the cerebral cortex and of the pathways to perception. The papers that form the substance of this book were presented at a Symposium held at the Catholic University, Rome, Italy, in September 1992, as a Satellite to the 15th Annual Meeting of the European Neuroscience Association. The volume is organized into four parts. Part I is basically concerned with developmental and evolutionary approaches. Part II highlights relay functions of visual, motor, and somatosensory relay nuclei and relay functions of the intralaminar nuclei. Part III deals primarily with the pharmacology of thalamic neurons. Part IV emphasizes the mechanisms that underlie the functional assembly of thalamic cells into collectively acting ensembles, largely revealed in rhythmic oscillations, and on the behavioral manifestations that accompany them.

Research in neural modeling and neural networks has escalated dramatically in the last decade, acquiring along the way terms and concepts, such as learning, memory, perception, recognition, which are the basis of neuropsychology. Nevertheless, for many, neural modeling remains controversial in its purported ability to describe brain activity. The difficulties in'modeling'are various, but arise principally in identifying those elements that are fundamental for the expression (and description) of superior neural activity. This is complicated by our incomplete knowledge of neural structures and functions, at the cellular and population levels. The first step towards enhanced appreciation of the value of neural modeling and neural networks is to be aware of what has been achieved in this multidisciplinary field of research. This book sets out to create such awareness. Leading experts develop in twelve chapters the key topics of neural structures and functions, dynamics of single neurons, oscillations in groups of neurons, randomness and chaos in neural activity, (statistical) dynamics of neural networks, learning, memory and pattern recognition.