Lipids in Health and Disease
Lipids are functionally versatile molecules. They have evolved from relatively simple hydrocarbons that serve as depot storages of metabolites and barriers to the permeation of solutes into complex compounds that perform a variety of signalling functions in higher organisms. This volume is devoted to the polar lipids and their constituents. We have omitted the neutral lipids like fats and oils because their function is generally to act as deposits of metabolizable substrates. The sterols are also outside the scope of the present volume and the reader is referred to volume 28 of this series which is the subject of cholesterol. The polar lipids are comprised of fatty acids attached to either glycerol or sphingosine. The fatty acids themselves constitute an important reservoir of substrates for conversion into families of signalling and modulating molecules including the eicosanoids amongst which are the prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leucotrienes. The way fatty acid metabolism is regulated in the liver and how fatty acids are desaturated are subjects considered in the first part of this volume. This section also deals with the modulation of protein function and inflammation by unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives. New insights into the role of fatty acid synthesis and eicosenoid function in tumour progression and metastasis are presented.
Leptomeningeal Metastases
Leptomeningeal Metastases provides the reader with an overview of the state-of-the-art therapy for the leptomeningeal patient with additional information on epidemiology, symptom management, new clinical trials, and current basic research in animal models for experimental therapies. "Leptomeningeal metastases remains a devastating manifestation of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Leading figures in the field review the pathophysiology and clinical consequences of this process. State-of-the-art treatment strategies are presented highlighting advances in current management."
Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery in Malignancies
The horizons of laparoscopic surgery are expanding, such that the overwhelming majority of abdominal urologic procedures have now been performed laparoscopically. In some of these procedures, the laparoscopic alternative has been demonstrated to be superior to its open counterpart; in others comparative analyses are ongoing; and in yet others, only the initial forays into minimally invasive surgery have been undertaken. This book sets out to collate the current body of knowledge on laparoscopic urology under one cover. The authors are respected experts in the field and have provided concise, thoughtful updates on their respective topics. The information contained in this volume will help urologists to increase their laparoscopic knowledge and skills.
Chemokine biology : Basic research and clinical application ; Vol.1 : Immunobiology of chemokines
The discovery of interleukin-8 close to 20 years ago initiated a new field of research touching on many aspects of immunology and inflammation. Interleukin-8 is just one member of a large class of structurally related chemoattractant proteins, known as chemokines. Chemokines are involved in the traffic control of leukocytes, which bear the corresponding chemokine receptors on their surfaces. Today, it is clear that chemokines affect all aspects of immunology and even many unrelated fields, such as tissue development and tumor cell metastasis. Their fundamental contributions to chronic inflammatory diseases make them a principal target for the development of novel, anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
Cell Motility in Cancer Invasion and Metastasis
Cancer Morbidity and mortality result from invasive and metastatic spread. Currently, no therapies are aimed at the underlying mechanisms that enable this progression due to only nascent recognition of the distinct biology which occurs only during tumor dissemination. Recent advances have highlighted the central role of cell motility during the dynamic and transient process of tumor invasion and metastasis. This book includes state-of-the-art updates by international leaders in these studies. Chapters first present the novel model systems that enable new investigations and insights. Chapters then describe in depth the key processes and molecules that may be therapeutically targeted. Finally, the role of cell motility and its signals is explored in a number of key tumor types. This compilation should be useful to researchers in basic and translational oncology as well as those developing novel agents to prevent tumor invasion and metastasis.
Cell Adhesion and Cytoskeletal Molecules in Metastasis
In this volume, the expression of specific adhesion molecules within human cancer tissues are highlighted. The expression signatures from published DNA microarray and immunohistochemistry studies are detailed. The concept that the alteration of specific adhesion molecules influence the cancer migration ability and cancer damage responses is detailed in this volume; both features are essential for the survival of an invading tumor cell. Defining the minimal adhesion receptors preserved on cancer cells during tumor progression will define the metastatic adhesion signature. Understanding the metastatic adhesion signature will reveal vulnerabilities that could be exploited for the prevention and/or eradication of the invading cancer cell.
Cancer Metastasis and the Lymphovascular System : Basis for Rational Therapy
Sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedures have opened a window of opportunity for the study of micrometastasis. In eighty percent (80%) of metastasis there lies an orderly pattern of progression via the lymphatic network, while 20% of the time systemic metastasis occurs, bypassing the lymphatic system. During the past two decades, significant progress has been achieved in understanding the anatomical, functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the lymphovascular system and the metastasis process.Molecular imaging advances help to localize early cancers more precisely.
Cancer Gene Therapy
the authors comprehensively review the anticancer genes and gene delivery methods currently available for cancer gene therapy, including the transfer of genetic material into the cancer cells, stimulation of the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, and the targeting of the nonmalignant stromal cells that support their growth. They also thoroughly examine the advantages and limitations of the different therapies and detail strategies to overcome obstacles to their clinical implementation
Brain Metastases
Brain metastases are the most dreaded complication of systemic cancer, affecting approximately 170,000 people a year, a far greater incidence than primary brain tumors. Advances in modern chemotherapy have led to an improved control of system cancers, often with agents that poorly penetrate the central nervous system, resulting in an increasing incidence of brain metastases. Traditional chemotherapy has had little impact on brain metastases. The main therapeutic option is radiation therapy, and in a small number of patients - surgery. However, refinements in all of these treatments offer some positive outcomes and an increased ability to stratify patients based on certain criteria.
Apoptosis, cell signaling, and human diseases : Molecular mechanisms ; Vol.2
Volume 1 is divided into two sections: "Malignant Transformation and Metastasis" and "Molecular Basis of Disease Therapy." Volume 2 follows a similar structure and is divided into sections entitled "Kinases and Phosphate" and "Molecular Basis of Cell Death." All of the contributors are at the forefront of scientific discovery, and the reviews they present systemically examine the most exciting and innovative aspects of their particular areas of expertise. Researchers will find these volumes of major benefit as they search for novel and more effective treatments for human diseases.
Apoptosis, cell signaling, and human diseases : Molecular mechanisms ; Vol.1
Volume 1 is divided into two sections: “Malignant Transformation and Metastasis” and “Molecular Basis of Disease Therapy.” Volume 2 follows a similar structure and is divided into sections entitled “Kinases and Phosphate” and “Molecular Basis of Cell Death.” All of the contributors are at the forefront of scientific discovery, and the reviews they present systemically examine the most exciting and innovative aspects of their particular areas of expertise. Researchers will find these volumes of major benefit as they search for novel and more effective treatments for human diseases.
Advances in Targeted Cancer Therapy
This volume is the first book to cover the general topic of targeted cancer therapy. It presents a range of targets such as tumor angiogenesis, cell cycle control and cell signalling, COX-2, apoptosis/cell survival, invasion and metastasis and approaches like kinase inhibitors, antisense, and antibody-based therapeutics. The emphasis is on preclinical development, including target validation, development of biomarkers, strategies for combination approaches, and development of resistance. The particular challenges involved in translating these data to clinical application are discussed.
Actin-Binding Proteins and Disease
This volume, written by experts in the field, is the first to deal with the relationship between human disease and the actin cytoskeleton. It provides overviews of actin and selected actin-binding proteins, and then focuses on diseases that involve these proteins. Specific chapters deal with actin, cofilin, profilin, gelsolin and thymosin ¾4. Other chapters discuss the roles of multiple actin-binding proteins in cancer and metastasis, leukocyte disorders, and heart failure, and there is a chapter that describes how intracellular pathogens use the host actin cytoskeleton. This seminal volume is intended for researchers, clinicians, physicians, and graduate students in the fields of biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, immunology, and genetics.
Artificial intelligence applied to medical imaging and computational biology
Medical imaging and computational biology continuously pose new fundamental medical and biological questions that often give rise to novel challenges in Artificial Intelligence. These research fields present an increasing need for the application of cutting-edge computational approaches that generally involve machine learning or computational intelligence techniques, which can effectively perform bioimage and biosignal processing in different clinical areas.













