Bücher der Reihe Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

This book introduces readers to the latest technological advances in the emerging field of intelligent orthopaedics. Artificial intelligence and smart instrumentation techniques are now revolutionizing every area of our lives, including medicine. The applications of these techniques in orthopaedic interventions offer a number of potential benefits, e.g. reduced incision size and scarring, minimized soft tissue damage, and decreased risk of misalignment. Consequently, these techniques have become indispensable for various orthopaedic interventions, which has led to the emerging field of intelligent orthopaedics. Addressing key technologies and applications, this book offers a valuable guide for all researchers and clinicians who need an update on both the principles and practice of intelligent orthopaedics, and for graduate students embarking on a career in this field.¿

This book explores in depth a wide range of new biomaterials that hold great promise for applications in regenerative medicine. The opening two sections are devoted to biomaterials designed to direct stem cell fate and regulate signaling pathways. Diverse novel functional biomaterials, including injectable nanocomposite hydrogels, electrosprayed nanoparticles, and waterborne polyurethane-based materials, are then discussed. The fourth section focuses on inorganic biomaterials, such as nanobioceramics, hydroxyapatite, and titanium dioxide. Finally, up-to-date information is provided on a wide range of smart natural biomaterials, ranging from silk fibroin-based scaffolds and collagen type I to chitosan, mussel-inspired biomaterials, and natural polymeric scaffolds. This is one of two books to be based on contributions from leading experts that were delivered at the 2018 Asia University Symposium on Biomedical Engineering in Seoul, Korea - the companion book examines in depth the latest enabling technologies for regenerative medicine.

This book explores in depth the latest enabling technologies for regenerative medicine. The opening section examines advances in 3D bioprinting and the fabrication of electrospun and electrosprayed scaffolds. The potential applications of intelligent nanocomposites are then considered, covering, for example, graphene-based nanocomposites, intrinsically conductive polymer nanocomposites, and smart diagnostic contact lens systems. The third section is devoted to various drug delivery systems and strategies for regenerative medicine. Finally, a wide range of future enabling technologies are discussed. Examples include temperature-responsive cell culture surfaces, nanopatterned scaffolds for neural tissue engineering, and process system engineering methodologies for application in tissue development. This is one of two books to be based on contributions from leading experts that were delivered at the 2018 Asia University Symposium on Biomedical Engineering in Seoul, Korea - the companion book examines in depth novel biomaterials for regenerative medicine.

Besides bringing together researchers and clinicians from various disciplines to share their scope of research on the seminal role of mitochondria in human disease, this original volume of the book has a broader appeal by exploring the health and disease of mitochondria, with specific emphasis on how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the development of various neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic disorders. The book also provides a foundational overview of the mitochondrial pathogenic or genetic variants and highlights various analytical tools used in the field of mitochondrial genetics; mitochondrial replacement therapy and strategies geared towards shifting heteroplasmy in individuals with mitochondrial disease; how state-of-the-art omics technologies (proteomics, functional genomics) have been employed to study mitochondrial biology in healthy and disease states; post-translational modifications in the regulation of mitochondrial proteins; and the role of mitochondriain host-pathogen interactions. Current approaches taken to study steady-state characteristics of mitochondrial structure and function in live mammalian cells in the contexts of normal and diseased states, and most recent research efforts to develop compounds with anti-cancer potential by targeting mitochondrial proteases or advances in therapeutic approaches towards mitochondrial disease were also explored. By covering this broad range of topics, our hope is to disseminate a wealth of knowledge on the critical role of mitochondria, and how to probe its function in health and in sickness.

This book gathers relatively recent and significant topics in the field of ion channel research. Ion channels form the molecular basis for membrane excitability in cells present in the cardiovascular and nervous systems. In many non-excitable cells, ion channels contribute to diverse physiological functions, including the secretion of signaling compounds like hormones and insulin, cell volume regulation, intracellular signaling, especially Ca2+ signaling, etc. Many human diseases have been attributed to abnormal channel functions and defective membrane expression of channel proteins. On the other hand, ion channels are excellent models for studying protein biophysics, especially the allosteric regulation of protein function by miscellaneous stimuli. Therefore, research on ion channels carries significant meaning for the understanding of basic protein biophysics and diverse physiological functions. Such vital information also assists in developing novel and effective treatments for related human diseases. This book provides graduates and scientists in both basic and clinical levels a comprehensive understanding of cutting-edge advances and a useful and stimulating platform for tackling their own questions about ion channels.

This book focuses on the important discoveries of the small molecule-, peptide-, and protein-based virus entry inhibitors and discusses advance of the development of different type of virus entry inhibitors as a novel class of antiviral drugs for treatment and prevention of viral infection. It includes entry inhibitors of HIV,HeV, NiV, RSV, EBOV, HCoV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HPV, flavivirus and influenza virus, so on. This book aims at providing an updated knowledge on virus entry inhibitors.

Cytokines had been characterized in the early eighties as communication mole- cules between immune cells, and between immunocytes and other peripheral cells, such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. They play a key role in the regulation of the immune response and the coordination of the host response to infection. Based on these biological properties, nobody would have predicted that one decade later cytokines would burst upon neurosciences and permeate into several avenues of current research. In neurology, the connection between cytokines and inflammation, and the demonstration of a pivotal role of some of these molecules in cell death by apoptosis, prompted the investigation of their involvement in several neurological diseases involving an inflammatory component, including multiple sclerosis, brain trauma, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. This movement started in the late eighties, and the corresponding field of research, known as neuroimmunology, is presently booming. In psychiatry, however, the relationship between cytokines and mental disorders was much less evident and took longer to materialize. The first indication that cytokines might be involved in psychopathology came from cancerology and internal medicine.

Numerous studies have pointed to the key role of complement in the pathogenesis of retinal disease, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Reports about new gene associations and links to other physiological pathways are emerging almost on a weekly base. Several promising clinical candidates covering a wide area of potential treatment applications are in the pipelines of both industrial and academic groups. This indicates an increasing interest in complement as a therapeutic target. In view of these exciting discoveries, scientists from around the world convened at the First Aegean Conferences Conference on Inflammation and Retinal Disease: Complement Biology and Pathology (June 10-17, 2007) in Crete, Greece, to discuss recent advances in this rapidly-evolving field. This volume represents a collection of topics on the functions of complement in eye diseases, pathophysiology, protein structures, and complement therapeutics discussed during the conference. Our sincere thanks to the contributing authors for the time and effort they have devoted to writing what I consider exceptionally informative chapters in a book that will have a significant impact on the complement field. We would also like to express my thanks to Rodanthi Lambris for her assistance in collating the chapters and preparing the documents for publication and I gratefully acknowledge the generous help provided by Dimitrios Lambris in managing the organization of this meeting. Finally, I also thank Andrea Macaluso of Springer Publishers for her supervision in this book's production. John D. Lambris Anthony P.

This book, Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Enteric Diseases 2, is an out- come of the Second International Rushmore Conference on Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Enteric Diseases, held September 3D-October 3, 1998 in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA. Its chapters represent many of the reviews and papers presented at the conference. The meeting was organized by members of the North-Central Regional Research Committee "e;NC-62"e;, a consortium of researchers of bovine and swine enteric diseases from land-grant institutions supported by the United States Department of Agriculture. The Rushmore Conferences were conceived as a forum for an interdiscipli- nary discussion of mechanisms of infectious enteric diseases. It was intended that such a discussion would stimulate cross-pollination of ideas, and nurture synergistic collabora- tions among scientists who might otherwise not interact. Enteric diseases are caused by widely divergent pathogens and parasites in broadly different settings, and affect multi- ple organ systems. Some enteric diseases affect a single species, while others may affect multiple species, perhaps including human beings. Some enteric diseases were present in antiquity, while others have recently emerged. Knowledge regarding a particular disease or pathogen has frequently proven useful in understanding another disease or pathogen, because common themes in pathogenesis exist. As this knowledge base grows,strategies in the prevention and control of various enteric diseases often converge. Cross-discipli- nary discussions and collaborations facilitate growth of this knowledge base, as well as development of tools for disease interdiction.

This contributed volume discusses the most important physiological aspects of phosphate metabolism, and how its pathological dysregulation can induce organ damage, which includes but is not limited to blood vessels, kidney, bone and tumor. The editor has selected a varied group of world renowned experts to provide a basic understanding of normal phosphate regulation, to then move on to explain the complex molecular mechanisms of abnormal phosphate regulation, also shedding some light on the downstream clinical consequences owing to phosphate toxicity. Each chapter clearly presents the biochemically important problems related to phosphate dysregulation with the necessary illustrations. Readers will be able to use the proposed book as a quick reference for updated information on phosphate metabolism, ranging from cellular system to physiology, from pathology to toxicity, also including the associated clinical consequences, without much prior acquaintance with the field.