Cholinergic Mechanisms: From Molecular Biology to Clinical Significance

Cholinergic Mechanisms: From Molecular Biology to Clinical Significance
Author: J. Klein
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 397
Release: 1996-12-18
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 044482166X

This volume offers a comprehensive update and overview of the field of cholinergic transmission as presented by some thirty distinguished investigators who were recruited for their task from Germany, Great Britain, Canada, USA, Sweden, Israel, France and Italy. Exciting new discoveries, described in this volume, are due to recent methodological breakthroughs. These discoveries throw new light on many areas of cholinergic mechanisms.

Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System

Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System
Author: Alexander G. Karczmar
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 698
Release: 2007-04-05
Genre: Science
ISBN: 038746526X

Even if the “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) and, among them, stocks of organoph- phorus (OP) agents (also referred to as war gases and nerve gases) were not found in Iraq following the US-Iraq war, the relative ease with which these substances can be made from harmless precursors and the low cost of their manufacture will continue to fascinate pow- hungry, ruthless dictators, as well as multinational and international terrorists, particularly as the close relationship between the OP agents and useful insecticides makes it easy to disguise the importation and purchase of small amounts of the precursors. Indeed, the use by Saddam Hussein of a nerve gas against the Kurds and his possible employment of the OP agents during his war with Iran, and the Sarin attack in the Tokyo underground by an extremist religious set magnetized the world with respect to the OP drugs. As these drugs exert their toxicity via their cholinergic action on the nervous, particularly central nervous, system, it is no wonder that the research in the cholinergic ? eld attracts, and merits, our intense attention. These considerations underlie the signi? cance of this book, as Alex Karczmar devotes an entire chapter of Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System to anticholinest- ases (antiChEs), and as he is an acknowledged expert in the ? eld of cholinergic toxicity as well as a consultant to the Surgeon General of the U. S. Army.

Peripheral and Spinal Mechanisms in the Neural Control of Movement

Peripheral and Spinal Mechanisms in the Neural Control of Movement
Author: M.D. Binder
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 499
Release: 1999-12-17
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0080862489

In the last decade, we have witnessed a striking maturation of our understanding of how neurons in the spinal cord control muscular activity and movement. Paradoxically, a host of new findings have revealed an unexpected versatility in the behavior of these well-studied neural elements and circuits. In this volume, the world's leading experts review the current state of our knowledge of motor control, outline their latest results and developments, and delineate the seminal unresolved questions in this vibrant field of research. The volume begins with a commentary and overview of our current understanding of the peripheral and spinal basis of motor control. The remainder of the volume is divided into seven sections, each focused on a different problem. The first chapter in each section provides some historical review and presages the experimental findings and hypotheses that are discussed in subsequent chapters.Topics include the biomechanics of neuromuscular systems, the properties of motoneurons and the muscle units they control, spinal interneurons, pattern generating circuits, locomotion, descending control of spinal circuits, comparative physiology of motor systems, and motor systems neurophysiology studied in man. The book serves as a unique reference volume and should be essential reading for anyone interested in motor systems. Moreover, the volume's comprehensive coverage of a wide range of topics make it an effective textbook for graduate level courses in motor control neurobiology, kinesiology, physical therapy, and rehabilitation medicine.

Neuronal Degeneration and Regeneration: From Basic Mechanisms to Prospects for Therapy

Neuronal Degeneration and Regeneration: From Basic Mechanisms to Prospects for Therapy
Author: F.W. Van Leeuwen
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 551
Release: 1998-11-09
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 008086242X

This book is the result of the 20th International Summer School in Brain Research, organized in August 1997 in Amsterdam, by the Netherlands Institute for Brain Research at the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences. It is the first book that provides a complete overview of the field of neurodegeneration and regeneration including spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative diseases and therapy. Divided into five sections, the first two sections give an overview of fundamental research on nerve cell death, neuronal survival, neurite outgrowth and guidance. Extensive attention is given to the role of neurotrophins, their receptor tyrosine kinases and cell-adhesion molecules in development and regeneration of the nervous system. The third section of the book is devoted to research involving human neurodegenerative diseases and emerging treatment strategies. Section four focusses on recent advances in the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases along with prion diseases. Novel insights into the neuropathological hallmarks of these diseases, as well as into transgenic animal models, the involvement of environmental factors, and genomic and mRNA changes that can cause neurodegeneration. The final section of this volume reveals recent developments in the use of cell and gene therapy to treat neurodegenerative disease and lesion-related deficits. Implantation of genetically modified cells, direct gene transfer with viral vectors and the first clinical trials with encapsulated genetically modified cells in patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral scelerosis are examples of new therapeutic strategies treating neurodegenerative diseases.The book is of particular interest to departments of neuroscience, neurological clinics and departments, the pharmalogical industry and medical libraries.

The Biological Basis for Mind Body Interactions

The Biological Basis for Mind Body Interactions
Author: E.A. Mayer
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 545
Release: 2000-02-03
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0080862470

The current volume focuses on several key aspects of mind/brain/body interactions in health and disease, including specific examples of interactions between body and brain, mechanisms underlying the response of the system to stressors, the role of early life events in permanently biasing the responsiveness of the system and practical implications of mind body interactions in human disease.The volume on Biological Basis for Mind Body Interactions is organized into 6 major sections, each dealing with a unique aspect of the general topic: After establishing the relationship between mind, brain and emotions, the first section deals with general neurobiological aspects mediating the effect of stress on various organ systems, including the immune and cardiovascular system. The second section covers the topic of how early life stressor can permanently alter responsiveness of the nervous system in animals and in man. The third section deals with influences of the internal environment, mediated by neuroendocrine and visceral afferent pathways on the CNS. The fourth section which deals with influences of body on the brain, focuses on mechanisms involved in perception and modulation of pain. The fifth section deals with influences of the mind/brain on the body, with an emphasis on central and peripheral mechanisms of autonomic control of body functions. The last section deals with a series of practical issues of mind body treatments, including acupuncture, breathing, body work and meditation. In addition, issues such as cost effectiveness and research aspects are discussed. Authors in this last section frequently refer to topics and mechanisms addressed in the early sections, making it a truly integrated volume.The unique aspect of the volume is the integration of state of the art research information on biological and practical aspects of mind/brain/body interactions. It is based on the beliefs of the editors and participants that the traditional separation of mind and body in research and in treatment of human disease is obsolete and needs to be replaced with a new unifying paradigm. Ironically, this evolving paradigm shares many similarities with ancient pre-Cartesian paradigms of health and disease.

Functional and Clinical Neuroanatomy

Functional and Clinical Neuroanatomy
Author: Jahangir Moini
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 770
Release: 2020-02-21
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0128174250

Functional and Clinical Neuroanatomy: A Guide for Health Care Professionals is a comprehensive, yet easy-to read, introduction to neuroanatomy that covers the structures and functions of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. The book also focuses on the clinical presentation of disease processes involving specific structures. It is the first review of clinical neuroanatomy that is written specifically for nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical students and medical assistants who work in the field of neurology. It will also be an invaluable resource for graduate and postgraduate students in neuroscience. With 22 chapters, including two that provide complete neurological examinations and diagnostic evaluations, this book is an ideal resource for health care professionals across a wide variety of disciplines. - Written specifically for "mid-level" providers in the field of neurology - Provides an up-to-date review of clinical neuroanatomy based on the latest guidelines - Provides a logical, step-by-step introduction to neuroanatomy - Offers hundreds of full-color figures to illustrate important concepts - Highlights key subjects in "Focus On" boxes - Includes Section Reviews at critical points in the text of each chapter

Advances in Brain Vasopressin

Advances in Brain Vasopressin
Author: I.J.A. Urban
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 671
Release: 1999-02-16
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0080862446

Advances in Brain Vasopressin elucidates the functions of the regulatory peptide vasopressin in the nervous system, and reviews the current status of this field at different levels. It deals with the cell biology and anatomy of the neurons that produce vasopressin in the brain, and provides an overview on the receptors of vasopressin and the signal transduction pathways that they activate, including the cellular responses that are triggered by vasopressin. Reviews are presented on the modulation of behavior induced by vasopressin in a number of different contexts, such as sex-linked and steroid-dependent behaviors, social behaviors, and learning and memory. Furthermore, the volume deals with several controversial issues in the field by presenting overlapping chapters from different research groups in order to provide the reader with current views. Highly relevant and useful, for those working on this "first" neuropeptide, and for young investigators entering the field, and in addition, shows how important a multidisciplinary approach is to unravelling the function of a neuropeptide in the brain.