Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmunity and Management
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease that attacks myelinated axons in the central nervous system, destroying the myelin and the axon in variable degrees and producing significant physical disability within 20–25 years in more than 30% of patients. The hallmark of MS is symptomatic episodes that occur months or years apart and affect different anatomic locations. Also, see the Autoimmune Disorders: Making Sense of Nonspecific Symptoms slideshow to help identify several diseases that can cause a variety of nonspecific symptoms. MS is diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings and supporting evidence from ancillary tests. Treatment consists of immunomodulatory therapy for the underlying immune disorder and management of symptoms, as well as nonpharmacologic treatments, such as physical and occupational therapy. Disease-modifying therapies have shown beneficial effects in patients with relapsing MS, including reduced frequency and severity of clinical attacks. These agents appear to slow the progression of disability and the reduce accumulation of lesions within the brain and spinal cord.
Monoaminergic modulation of cortical excitability
Monoaminergic Modulation of Cortical Excitability serves as an integrative and comprehensive comparison of the diverse and complex modulatory action of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin receptors in the cortex. The volume is organized into several sections offering a broad spectrum of opinions on how the monoamine systems affect cortical function from a cellular/sub-cellular level to a system level. The complexity of these interactions are discussed in light of recent data showing how disruption of these systems dramatically affects the memory formation and information processing in the cortex.
Molecular Biology of the Parathyroid
Caintaining extracellular calcium concentrations within a narrow range is critical for the survival of most vertebrates. PTH, together with vitamin D, responds to hypocalcemia to increase extracellu M lar calcium levels, by acting on bone, kidney and intestine. The recent intro duction of PTH as a major therapeutic agent in osteoporosis has directed renewed interest in this important hormone and in the physiology of the parathyroid gland. The parathyroid is unique in that low serum calcium stimulates PTH secretion. As hypocalcemia persists, there is also an increase in PTH synthesis. Chronic hypocalcemia leads to hypertrophy and hyper plasia of the parathyroid gland together with increased production of the hormone. Phosphate is also a key modulator of PTH secretion, gene expres sion and parathyroid cell proliferation. Understanding the biology of the parathyroid as well as the mecha nisms of associated diseases has taken great strides in recent years. This book summarizes the molecular mechanisms involved in the function of the para thyroid gland. The first chapter reviews the development of the parathyroid gland and the genes involved in this process as identified using genetically manipulated mice. Then the biosynthetic pathway of PTH from gene ex pression to its intracellular processing and the sequences in the gene control ling its transcription as well as those regulating mRNA processing, stability and translation are described.
Medicinal roots and tubers for pharmaceutical and commercial applications
The root and tuber are vital parts of medicinal plants providing mechanical support, producing critical growth regulators, and storing food. Bioactive compounds obtained from plant roots and tubers demonstrate health benefits presenting antioxidative, antimicrobial, hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolaemic, and immunomodulatory properties. Roots of many medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of disease and formulation of drugs, and they are also known for their commercial value, being used as an ingredient in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Medicinal compounds in modern healthcare : From tradition to innovation
Reviews the evolution, development, and application of medicinal compounds, beginning with their historical context and advancing to modern innovations. The book describes the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from microorganisms, the role of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in managing chronic diseases, and the use of small molecules in pain management and mental healthcare. It further explores immunomodulatory compounds, epigenetic modifiers, and the latest advancements in drug development, including integrative medicine approaches and the applications of nanotechnology in traditional medicine. Additionally, the book addresses the use of immunomodulatory agents like methotrexate and paclitaxel in cancer treatment, regulatory considerations for ensuring safety and efficacy in medicinal compounds, and the growing field of nutraceuticals. Towards the end, the book covers the extraction, profiling, and ADMET evaluation of medicinal compounds, intellectual property challenges, and the significance of traditional medicine in modern healthcare.
High-Level Modeling and Synthesis of Analog Integrated Systems
In High-Level Modeling and Synthesis of Analog Integrated Systems, two novel generic behavioral models are described. The first one adopts a time-domain approach and is suited for classes like Delta-Sigma modulators and sampled-data systems. For the second model, a new frequency-domain framework has been developed (the Phase- Frequency Transfer model) which allows the representation of classes of RF systems like front-ends of wireless receivers. To complete the high-level design strategy, the synthesis strategy has been concretized with a new top-down heterogeneous optimization algorithm.
Feedforward Amplifiers for Wideband Communication Systems
Feedforward Amplifiers for Wideband Communication Systems has been possible thanks to the research carried out throughout several years in the field of the linearization techniques applied to digital communication systems, particularly to those with high spectral efficient modulation techniques. This challenge is enshrined in one of the present wideband communication systems, but all the recommended design guidelines are perfectly reusable in the future wideband applications.
Estrogen Effects in Psychiatric Disorders
A number of studies, mostly focusing on estrogen replacement therapy in women, have reported beneficial actions of these hormones on various neurobiological and neuropathological parameters in health and disease. Recent research has focused on gender differences and there is increasing evidence that estrogens exert protective effects in schizophrenia. Hormonal fluctuations or lack of estrogen may increase the risk of depression among vulnerable women. Treatment of depression with estrogen may stabilize and restore disrupted homeostasis – as during post-partum, premenstrual, or perimenopausal conditions – and act as a psychomodulator to offset vulnerability to dysphoric mood when estrogen levels are significantly decreased, as in the case of postmenopausal women. Studies on the effect of estrogens on Alzheimer’s Disease are still rather controversial, they do, however, facilitate the hypothesis that estrogens may have a modifying effect on the onset and course of AD, at least in subgroups of patients.
Drug Discovery and Evaluation
The 3rd edition of this successful reference book contains an updated selection of the most frequently used assays for reliably detecting the pharmacological effects of potential drugs. Effects covered include cardiovascular, analgesic, endocrine, psychotropic, respiratory, renal, and immunomodulatory activities. Each of the more than 1000 assays comprises a detailed protocol outlining the purpose and rationale of the method, a critical assessment of the results and their pharmacological and clinical relevance. In addition, animal models of rare diseases are described.
Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases : Basic Science and Clinical Applications
Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases exert a potent modulatory role at an interface between immune mechanisms, metabolic responses, and neuroendocrine pathways. Experimental models and clinical studies addressing the role of these enzymes and the effect of specific inhibitors pave the way to novel therapeutic concepts in immunology, rheumatology, oncology, reproductive medicine and diabetes. Leading experts in the field will contribute to this book, which will present a state-of-the-art view on these enzymes at a time when our understanding of their function is growing ever more rapidly and therapeutic options have become imminent. The sections of the book will focus on various topics including DP IV and related enzymes in: expression and function, metabolic disorders, immune mechanisms and immune disorders, neuronal diseases and cancer, and related drug development.
Dilute III-V Nitride Semiconductors and Material Systems : Physics and Technology
A major current challenge for semiconductor devices is to develop materials for the next generation of optical communication systems and solar power conversion applications. Recently, extensive research has revealed that an introduction of only a few percentages of nitrogen into III-V semiconductor lattice leads to a dramatic reduction of the band gap. This discovery has opened the possibility of using these material systems for applications ranging from lasers to solar cells. Physics and Technology of Dilute III-V Nitride Semiconductors & Novel Dilute Nitride Material Systems reviews the current status of research and development in dilute III-V nitrides, with 24 chapters from prominent research groups covering recent progress in growth techniques, experimental characterization of band structure, defects carrier transport, transport properties, dynamic behavior of N atoms, device applications, modeling of device design, novel optoelectronic integrated circuits, and novel nitrogen containing III-V materials.
Digital synthesizers and transmitters for software radio
By programming the digital synthesizers and transmitters, adaptive channel bandwidths, modulation formats, frequency hopping and data rates are easily achieved. Techniques such as digital predistortion for power amplifier linearization, digital compensation methods for analog I/Q modulator nonlinearities and digital power control and ramping are presented in this book
Dendritic Neurotransmitter Release
This book presents recent developments in the neurophysiology of dendritic release of several chemical classes of transmitters in a number of different areas of the mammalian central nervous system. Once released from a neuron, these substances can act as neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators, to autoregulate the original neuron, its synaptic inputs, and adjacent cells or, by volume transmission, to affect distant cells.
Data Converters
This book is the first graduate-level textbook presenting a comprehensive treatment of Data Converters. It provides comprehensive definition of the parameters used to specify data converters, and covers all the architectures used in Nyquist-rate data converters.
Continuous-Time Sigma-Delta A/D Conversion : Fundamentals, Performance Limits and Robust Implementations
This comprehensive book deals with all relevant aspects arising during the analysis, design and simulation of the now widespread continuous-time implementations of sigma-delta modulators. The results of several years of research by the authors in the field of CT sigma-delta modulators are covered, including the analysis and modeling of different CT modulator architectures, CT/DT loop filter synthesis, a detailed error analysis of all components, and possible compensation/correction schemes for the non-ideal behavior in CT sigma-delta modulators. Guidance for obtaining low-power consumption and several practical implementations are also presented. It is shown that all the proposed new theories, architectures and possible correction techniques have been confirmed by measurements on discrete or integrated circuits. Quantitative results are also provided, thus enabling prediction of the resulting accuracy.
CMOS PLL synthesizers : Analysis and design
CMOS PLL Synthesizers: Analysis and Design presents both fundamentals and state-of-the-art PLL synthesizer design and analysis techniques. A complete overview of both system-level and circuit-level design and analysis is given. A 16mW, 2.4GHz, sub-2V, S D fractional-N synthesizer prototype is implemented in 0.35mm CMOS. It features a high-speed and robust phase-switching prescaler, and a low-complexity and area-efficient loop capacitance multiplier, which tackle speed and integration bottlenecks of PLL synthesizers." "This book is useful as a PLL synthesizer manual for both academic researchers and industry design engineers.
CMOS Cascade Sigma-Delta Modulators for Sensors and Telecom : Error Analysis and Practical Design
CMOS Cascade Sigma-Delta Modulators for Sensors and Telecom: Error Analysis and Practical Design starts with a tutorial presentation of the fundamentals of low-pass sigma-delta modulators, their applications, and their most common architectures. It then presents an exhaustive analysis of SC circuit errors with a twofold outcome. On the one hand, compact expressions are derived to support design plans and quick top-down design. On the other, detailed behavioral models are presented to support accurate verification. This set of models allows the designer to determine the required specifications for the different modulator building blocks and form the basis of a systematic design approach. The book is completed in subsequent chapters with the detailed presentation of three high-performance modulator ICs: the first two are intended for DSL-like applications, whereas the third one is intended for automotive sensors.
Low-Power Low-Voltage Sigma-Delta Modulators in Nanometer CMOS
At the system level, a novel systematic study on the full feedforward Sigma-Delta topology is presented in this book. As a design example, a fourth-order single-loop full feedforward Sigma-Delta modulator design in a 130-nm pure digital CMOS technology is presented. This design is the first design using the full feedforward Sigma-Delta topology and reaches the highest conversion speed among all the 1-V Sigma-Delta modulators to date.
Low Power Uwb Cmos Radar Sensors
Low Power UWB CMOS Radar Sensors deals with the problem of designing low cost CMOS radar sensors. The radar sensor uses UWB signals in order to obtain a reasonable target separation capability, while maintaining a maximum signal frequency below 2 GHz. This maximum frequency value is well within the reach of current CMOS technologies. The use of UWB signals means that most of the methodologies used in the design of circuits and systems that process narrow band signals, can no longer be applied. Low Power UWB CMOS Radar Sensors provides an analysis between the interaction of UWB signals, the antennas and the processing circuits.
Botulinum toxin
Offering a step-by-step, practical approach to this commonly performed cosmetic procedure, Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology: Botulinum Toxin, 5th Edition, enables you to master the up-to-date cosmetic techniques that produce the superior results your patients expect. It covers the science behind these neuromodulators and their usage areas in cosmetic dermatology, as well as the latest treatment options—all abundantly illustrated and evidence based. A substantial video library demonstrating injection techniques helps you successfully incorporate the latest procedures into your practice.



















