Smooth Muscle Spontaneous Activity

Smooth Muscle Spontaneous Activity
Author: Hikaru Hashitani
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 434
Release: 2019-06-10
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9811358958

This book presents the commonality and heterogeneity of the mechanisms underlying smooth muscle spontaneous activity in various smooth muscle organs and in addition discusses their malfunctions in disease and their potential as novel therapeutic targets. To facilitate understanding, the volume is divided into five parts and covers 16 organs: airways, gastrointestinal tract (phasic muscle, tonic muscle), renal pelvis, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra, corporal tissue, prostate, uterus, oviducts, seminal vesicle, artery, vein, microvasculature, and lymphatic vessels. This structure will help readers to comprehend the most up-to-date information on the similarities and differences in the contractile mechanisms driving various smooth muscles as well as their potential manipulations in particular visceral organ pathologies. The vast advancements in gene, electrical recording, and imaging technologies in this field are also discussed, with review of past achievements and consideration of likely future developments. This book will be of worldwide interest to clinicians, students, and researchers alike.

Pharmacology of Immunotherapeutic Drugs

Pharmacology of Immunotherapeutic Drugs
Author: Clinton B. Mathias
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 410
Release: 2019-10-18
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3030199223

Medicine has entered a golden age in which therapeutic agents are becoming widely available due to advances in basic science and technology. As such, many drugs have been developed that target inflammatory processes and/or the immune system. This book is intended for health professionals examining the modulation of inflammation by immunotherapeutic drugs. The immune system fills the primordial role of host defense and resistance to infections with pathogenic microorganisms. Several hematopoietic-derived cells constituting the innate and adaptive immune systems cooperate to provide barriers for microbial colonization and/or promote pathogen destruction within the host. Conversely, many immune cells are also involved in the pathogenesis and propagation of chronic inflammatory diseases. The beginning of this book details various components of the immune system including the cell types, lymphoid tissues, soluble cytokines and surface molecules that are essential for host defense. Breakdowns in immune tolerance, or dysregulated immune responses to antigens derived from self tissues or innocuous sources, can lead to the development of autoimmunity or chronic inflammatory diseases. Pathophysiologic roles for the immune system are detailed in corresponding chapters on autoimmunity, epithelial surfaces (lungs, skin, intestine), and transplantation, with special emphasis placed on immunotherapeutic drug targets. The last section of the book focuses on treatments that stimulate our immune system to specifically target and fight infectious diseases and cancer. In each chapter, the medications used to treat various diseases/conditions in terms of their mechanism of action and other pharmacologic properties are detailed. Chapters begin with a table showing drug names and classifications. The importance of basic science and clinical trials cannot be understated in the context of drug development. As such, the discovery of certain medications that had a lasting impact in medicine and pharmacy are highlighted in chapter subsections named “Bench to Bedside.” Several clinical applications of immunotherapeutic drugs are described within end-of -chapter case studies including practice questions. The Pharmacology of Immunotherapeutic Drugs is a reference for immunologists and clinicians (medical doctors, pharmacists, nurses) examining the modulation of inflammatory processes by a variety of medications targeting the cells and mediators of our immune system.​

Biochemistry of Smooth Muscle Contraction

Biochemistry of Smooth Muscle Contraction
Author: Michael Barany
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 455
Release: 1996-01-04
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080527892

This valuable resource provides a systematic account of the biochemistry of smooth muscle contraction. As a comprehensive guide to this rapidly growing area of research, it covers the structure and characteristic properties of contractile and regulatory proteins, with special emphasis on their predicted function in the live muscle. Also included in this book are intermediate filament proteins, and desmin and vimentin, whose function in smooth muscle is unknown; and several enzymes involved in the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of contractile and other proteins.

Hypoparathyroidism

Hypoparathyroidism
Author: Maria Luisa Brandi
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 427
Release: 2015-02-24
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 8847053765

Hypoparathyroidism, a condition in which insufficient parathyroid hormone (PTH) is produced to maintain normocalcemia is associated with a variety of acute and chronic symptoms and complications due to hypocalcemia. Replacement therapy utilizing PTH has long been awaited, and this book is new and very timely as it coincides with the publication of results on the role of the PTH molecule in the pharmacological management of this disorder. This advance is sparking renewed interest in hypoparathyroidism, which is attributable to neck surgery in most cases and to inherited disorders in a minority. Hypoparathyroidism has been written by acknowledged experts in the field and provides essential, up-to-date information on the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition. It opens by addressing in detail the anatomy and physiology of the parathyroids and describing the epidemiology and clinical presentation of hypoparathyroidism. The full range of hypoparathyroid disorders are then discussed, including the various genetic forms, postoperative hypoparathyroidism, and other forms of acquired hypoparathyroidism. Individual chapters focus on refractory disease, the impact of the condition on bone, and the management of acute hypocalcemia. Both conventional treatment for hypoparathyroidism and the novel replacement therapy with PTH peptides are then thoroughly examined. Pseudohypoparathyroidism is also extensively discussed, with information on the various forms, differential diagnosis, and genetic testing. This book will be of interest to all endocrinologists, and also to surgeons and internal medicine physicians.

Cell Physiology Source Book

Cell Physiology Source Book
Author: Nicholas Sperelakis
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 1262
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080574556

This authoritative book gathers together a broad range of ideas and topics that define the field. It provides clear, concise, and comprehensive coverage of all aspects of cellular physiology from fundamental concepts to more advanced topics. The Third Edition contains substantial new material. Most chapters have been thoroughly reworked. The book includes chapters on important topics such as sensory transduction, the physiology of protozoa and bacteria, the regulation of cell division, and programmed cell death. - Completely revised and updated - includes 8 new chapters on such topics as membrane structure, intracellular chloride regulation, transport, sensory receptors, pressure, and olfactory/taste receptors - Includes broad coverage of both animal and plant cells - Appendixes review basics of the propagation of action potentials, electricity, and cable properties - Authored by leading experts in the field - Clear, concise, comprehensive coverage of all aspects of cellular physiology from fundamental concepts to more advanced topics

Mucosal Immunology of Acute Bacterial Pneumonia

Mucosal Immunology of Acute Bacterial Pneumonia
Author: Alice Prince
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2012-12-09
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1461453267

In contrast to the substantial literature that focuses upon innate immune signaling in the gut, there is remarkably less known about the response of the airway to bacterial pathogens. The purpose of this book will be to review the current status of theunderstanding of the pathogenesis of acute bacterial pneumonia, slanted toward the mucosal immunology of these infections. It will describe, in general, the signaling cascades that control the proinflammatory response to bacterial infection in the lung. How innate immune signaling is orchestrated in response to specific common airway pathogens is addressed, targeting Staphylococus aureus (including MRSA), Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae. By describing the general immunological responses to conserved bacterial components and then detailing how specific organisms cause infection, this book provides a targeted but comprehensive review of this important topic.

Adverse Reactions to Biologics

Adverse Reactions to Biologics
Author: L. Puig
Publisher: Karger Medical and Scientific Publishers
Total Pages: 120
Release: 2017-11-07
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3318061018

In many areas of medicine physicians still face the great challenge of finding therapies that will meet the patients’ needs. In dermatology the challenge has arisen on multiple fronts through advances in the understanding of the immunopathogenesis of many inflammatory and malignant cutaneous disorders. Breakthroughs, combined with significant developments in targeted immunotherapy, have resulted in improved outcomes as these newer therapies are being used for both approved indications and as off-label therapies for various chronic inflammatory skin disorders and many forms of skin cancer. In the expectation that by truly understanding the safety profile of these targeted therapies patients’ outcomes will be significantly improved, this book offers insights into topics such as adverse reactions, infectious complications and the perioperative use of biologics in psoriasis, immunogenicity of biologic therapies, paradoxical reactions, safety of biologics used to treat autoimmune bullous diseases and primary cutaneous lymphomas, adverse reactions and skin manifestations of therapies targeting melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer and other neoplastic diseases. Eminent researchers with extensive clinical experience have contributed to this publication, providing an in-depth overview of the latest knowledge in this field.

Low-level Light Therapy

Low-level Light Therapy
Author: Michael R. Hamblin
Publisher: SPIE-International Society for Optical Engineering
Total Pages:
Release: 2017-11
Genre: Lasers
ISBN: 9781510614154

"Low-level laser therapy (or photobiomodulation therapy) is a rapidly growing approach to treating a wide range of diseases and disorders that afflict humanity. This Tutorial Text covers the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of action, applications for treating diseases in animal models, and its use in clinical trials and therapeutic practice in patients. Other topics include the two basic chromophores and how they trigger the signaling pathways, activation of transcription factors, and mobilization of stem cells; how the light-source design and the relevant energy parameters can affect the outcome of therapy; and the physics and tissue-optics principles that concern LLLT"--

Histamine and Histamine Receptors in Health and Disease

Histamine and Histamine Receptors in Health and Disease
Author: Yuichi Hattori
Publisher:
Total Pages: 363
Release: 2017
Genre: Biochemistry
ISBN: 9783319581934

This book provides a comprehensive overview on current histamine and histamine receptor research in context of human health and disease and reflect the multidisciplinary nature of the field. While the editors realize that it is almost impossible to cover the field completely within the constraints of a single HEP volume, nonetheless, all important aspects will be covered in one way or the other. An overarching introductory chapter will link the individual chapters and provide an overview on the field. This chapter will also link the book to the previous HEP volume on histamine receptors and the recent HEP volume on the pharmacology of itch. Great attention will be paid to complementation of existing literature while avoiding undue duplication. The book will cover new methods for analysis of histamine and histamine metabolites, development of methods for histamine receptor analysis, signal transduction, histamine release, regulation of immune cells by histamine, histamine metabolism and associated diseases, regulation of major organ systems by histamine and development of new drugs and experimental tools for the study of histamine receptors.