Magnesium in the Central Nervous System

Magnesium in the Central Nervous System
Author: Robert Vink
Publisher: University of Adelaide Press
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2011
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0987073052

The brain is the most complex organ in our body. Indeed, it is perhaps the most complex structure we have ever encountered in nature. Both structurally and functionally, there are many peculiarities that differentiate the brain from all other organs. The brain is our connection to the world around us and by governing nervous system and higher function, any disturbance induces severe neurological and psychiatric disorders that can have a devastating effect on quality of life. Our understanding of the physiology and biochemistry of the brain has improved dramatically in the last two decades. In particular, the critical role of cations, including magnesium, has become evident, even if incompletely understood at a mechanistic level. The exact role and regulation of magnesium, in particular, remains elusive, largely because intracellular levels are so difficult to routinely quantify. Nonetheless, the importance of magnesium to normal central nervous system activity is self-evident given the complicated homeostatic mechanisms that maintain the concentration of this cation within strict limits essential for normal physiology and metabolism. There is also considerable accumulating evidence to suggest alterations to some brain functions in both normal and pathological conditions may be linked to alterations in local magnesium concentration. This book, containing chapters written by some of the foremost experts in the field of magnesium research, brings together the latest in experimental and clinical magnesium research as it relates to the central nervous system. It offers a complete and updated view of magnesiums involvement in central nervous system function and in so doing, brings together two main pillars of contemporary neuroscience research, namely providing an explanation for the molecular mechanisms involved in brain function, and emphasizing the connections between the molecular changes and behavior. It is the untiring efforts of those magnesium researchers who have dedicated their lives to unraveling the mysteries of magnesiums role in biological systems that has inspired the collation of this volume of work.

Voltage Gated Sodium Channels

Voltage Gated Sodium Channels
Author: Peter C. Ruben
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2014-04-15
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3642415881

A number of techniques to study ion channels have been developed since the electrical basis of excitability was first discovered. Ion channel biophysicists have at their disposal a rich and ever-growing array of instruments and reagents to explore the biophysical and structural basis of sodium channel behavior. Armed with these tools, researchers have made increasingly dramatic discoveries about sodium channels, culminating most recently in crystal structures of voltage-gated sodium channels from bacteria. These structures, along with those from other channels, give unprecedented insight into the structural basis of sodium channel function. This volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology will explore sodium channels from the perspectives of their biophysical behavior, their structure, the drugs and toxins with which they are known to interact, acquired and inherited diseases that affect sodium channels and the techniques with which their biophysical and structural properties are studied.

Mitochondria and Cancer

Mitochondria and Cancer
Author: Keshav Singh
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 294
Release: 2009-04-05
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0387848355

Nearly a century of scientific research has revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the most common and consistent phenotypes of cancer cells. A number of notable differences in the mitochondria of normal and cancer cells have been described. These include differences in mitochondrial metabolic activity, molecular composition of mitochondria and mtDNA sequence, as well as in alteration of nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. This book, Mitochondria and Cancer, edited by Keshav K. Singh and Leslie C. Costello, presents thorough analyses of mitochondrial dysfunction as one of the hallmarks of cancer, discusses the clinical implications of mitochondrial defects in cancer, and as unique cellular targets for novel and selective anti-cancer therapy.

Necrotic Cell Death

Necrotic Cell Death
Author: Han-Ming Shen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 402
Release: 2014-03-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1461482208

Starting with discussion of basic concepts and the molecular mechanisms of necrosis, this book looks first at several forms of necrotic cell death that have been identified, including necroptosis, autophagic cell death, and PARP-mediated cell death. As necrotic cell death is increasingly known to play a critical role in many physiological processes, the next chapters discuss its effect on metabolism, inflammation, immunity, and development. Necrotic cell death is closely implicated in human diseases like cancer, so the next chapters examine its relevance to human diseases, and final chapters cover methodologies for measuring necrosis. This book presents comprehensive coverage of necrosis from recognized experts from leading academic and medical institutions around the world. ​In contrast to apoptosis, well-defined as a form of programmed cell death, necrosis used to be considered as accidental (i.e., non-programmed) cell death, usually in response to a severe injury. Accumulating evidence now suggests, however, that necrosis is also programmed and controlled by distinctive "death machinery" in response to various stimuli like oxidative stress or DNA damage.

Autophagy and Cancer

Autophagy and Cancer
Author: Hong-Gang Wang
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 267
Release: 2013-03-30
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1461465613

With the explosion of information on autophagy in cancer, this is an opportune time to speed the efforts to translate our current knowledge about autophagy regulation into better understanding of its role in cancer. This book will cover the latest advances in this area from the basics, such as the molecular machinery for autophagy induction and regulation, up to the current areas of interest such as modulation of autophagy and drug discovery for cancer prevention and treatment. The text will include an explanation on how autophagy can function in both oncogenesis and tumor suppression and a description of its function in tumor development and tumor suppression through its roles in cell survival, cell death, cell growth as well as its influences on inflammation, immunity, DNA damage, oxidative stress, tumor microenvironment, etc. The remaining chapters will cover topics on autophagy and cancer therapy. These pages will serve as a description on how the pro-survival function of autophagy may help cancer cells resist chemotherapy and radiation treatment as well as how the pro-death functions of autophagy may enhance cell death in response to cancer therapy, and how to target autophagy for cancer prevention and therapy βˆ’ what to target and how to target it. ​

Cytotoxicity

Cytotoxicity
Author: Erman Salih Istifli
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2019-10-02
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1789847540

Compensating for cytotoxicity in the multicellular organism by a certain level of cellular proliferation is the primary aim of homeostasis. In addition, the loss of cellular proliferation control (tumorigenesis) is at least as important as cytotoxicity, however, it is a contrasting trauma. With the disruption of the delicate balance between cytotoxicity and proliferation, confrontation with cancer can inevitably occur. This book presents important information pertaining to the molecular control of the mechanisms of cytotoxicity and cellular proliferation as they relate to cancer. It is designed for students and researchers studying cytotoxicity and its control.

Microarray Innovations

Microarray Innovations
Author: Gary Hardiman
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2009-04-02
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1420094513

In recent years, high-density DNA microarrays have revolutionized biomedical research and drug discovery efforts by the pharmaceutical industry. Their efficacy in identifying and prioritizing drug targets based on their ability to confirm a large number of gene expression measurements in parallel has become a key element in drug discovery. Microarr

Nutritional Anemia in Preschool Children

Nutritional Anemia in Preschool Children
Author: Anil Gupta
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2017-08-05
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 981105178X

The book highlights intricate predisposing factors for pathogenesis of nutritional anemia. It delivers valuable information related to this public health hazard influencing the nutritional health of preschool children. The book is valuable for readers in diverse fields to gain insight of the concept of nutritional anemia in preschool children. Additionally, book furnishes clinical and laboratory methods in a comparative way to assess nutritional anemia. Impact of the disorder on health of preschool children has been covered in a simple language. The book mentions need for interventional strategies for the management of nutritional anemia. Infants, preschool children and women during pregnancy and lactation are highly susceptible to dietary deficiency of iron, folic acid and cyanocobalamin leading to comparatively, higher predisposition to development of nutritional anemia. The condition has myriad of ill effects on nutritional health of preschool children.