Pathophysiology of the Enteric Nervous System

Covers all aspects of the structure, function, neurochemistry, transmitter identification and development of the enteric nervous system This book brings together extensive knowledge of the structure and cell physiology of the enteric nervous system and provides an up-to-date synthesis of the roles of the enteric nervous system in the control of motility, secretion and blood supply in the gastrointestinal tract. It includes sections on the enteric nervous system in disease, genetic abnormalities that affect enteric nervous system function, and targets for therapy in the enteric nervous system. It also includes many newly created explanatory diagrams and illustrations of the organization of enteric nerve circuits. This new book is ideal for gastroenterologists (including trainees/fellows), clinical physiologists and educators. It is invaluable for the many scientists in academia, research institutes and industry who have been drawn to work on the gastrointestinal innervation because of its intrinsic interest, its economic importance and its involvement in unsolved health problems. It also provides a valuable resource for undergraduate and graduate teaching.

The first book-length reference to thoroughly describe diagnostic and therapeutic advances in the development of vascular radiology over the last decade The last ten years has seen vascular imaging of the central nervous system (CNS) evolve from fairly crude, invasive procedures to more advanced imaging methods that are safer, faster, and more precise—with computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging methods playing a special role in these advances. Vascular Imaging of the Central Nervous System is the first full-length reference text that shows radiologists—especially neuroradiologists—how to optimize the use of the many techniques available in order to increase the sensitivity and specificity of vascular imaging, thereby improving the diagnosis and treatment of individual patients. Each chapter is formatted carefully and divided into two essential parts: The first part describes the physical principles underlying each imaging technique, along potential associated artifacts and pitfalls; the second part addresses clinical applications and novel applications of each method. With a strong focus on the clinical application of each modality or technique in CNS radiology, this book provides in-depth chapter coverage of: • Ultrasound Vascular Imaging (UVI) • Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) • Magnetic Resonance Vascular imaging (MRV) • Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) • Brain perfusion techniques: CT and MRI • Plaque imaging • Intravascular imaging • Pediatric vascular imaging Along with numerous illustrations and case studies, Vascular Imaging of the Central Nervous System: Physical Principles, Clinical Applications, and Emerging Techniques is an important book for those faced with choosing from the wide range of choices available for clinical practice.

This first book to cover neural development, neuronal survival and function on the genetic level outlines promising approaches for novel therapeutic strategies in fighting neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Focusing on transcription factors, the text is clearly divided into three sections devoted to transcriptional control of neural development, brain function and transcriptional dysregulation induced neurological diseases. With a chapter written by Nobel laureate Eric Kandel, this is essential reading for neurobiologists, geneticists, biochemists, cell biologists, neurochemists and molecular biologists.

The term «unconventional virus» refers to virus-like agents that differ from conventional viruses in significant respects–resistance to agents that inactivate normal viruses, for example. Certain rare and fatal neurological disorders, such as the Creutzfeldt-Jacob syndrome and the Gerstmann-Straussler syndrome, are clearly produced by virus-like infectious agents, but the nature of these agents is not understood. This volume brings together the latest information on one such disease: Scrapie, a disease occurring in sheep. It discusses the nature of this infectious agent and insights gained through new techniques in molecular genetics. The work as a whole focuses on the implications of animal data for research on human disorders, such as the possible connection between unconventional viruses and Alzheimer's Disease. The discussions represent the work of specialists from a broad spectrum of fields including virology, neuropathology, and molecular biology.

Metabolic Syndrome Pathophysiology: The Role of Essential Fatty Acids provides current research exploring the links among insulin, insulin receptors, polyunsaturated fatty acids, brain growth and disease. Specific interactions of essential fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in brain development and several disease groups are described. The role of inflammation in disease and how fatty acids regulate low-systemic inflammation are examined and explained. Metabolic and neurologic dynamics are presented to provide a linkage between the presence of omega-3 and omega-6 and protection against diseases and conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, autoimmune diseases and hypertension.

Metabolic Syndrome Pathophysiology: The Role of Essential Fatty Acids provides current research exploring the links among insulin, insulin receptors, polyunsaturated fatty acids, brain growth and disease. Specific interactions of essential fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in brain development and several disease groups are described. The role of inflammation in disease and how fatty acids regulate low-systemic inflammation are examined and explained. Metabolic and neurologic dynamics are presented to provide a linkage between the presence of omega-3 and omega-6 and protection against diseases and conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, autoimmune diseases and hypertension.

The first thorough review of cyclooxygenase inhibitors, including their toxicity mechanisms and toxicopathological risks Cyclooxygenases (COXs) are enzymes responsible for the formation of an important class of biological mediators called prostanoids. Prostanoids such as prostaglandins mediate inflammatory and anaphylactic reactions. For those suffering from inflammation and pain, the pharmacological inhibition of COXs, with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, can provide relief. Yet the use of NSAIDs can trigger toxicological effects as well, leading to potential health risks. Comparative Pathophysiology and Toxicology of Cyclooxygenases provides a comprehensive overview of how COX inhibitors affect various bodily systems, specifically the toxicity mechanisms triggered when the COX enzyme is inhibited. The book provides an introduction to the discovery of cyclooxygenases, their use as therapeutic agents, as well as an historical perspective. Shedding light on the differences in expression, pathophysiology, and toxicology of COX inhibitors across species, the book offers a systematic examination of the effects and pathophysiology of COX inhibitors and their mechanisms of toxicity, beginning with the GI tract. Subsequent chapters cover: The pathophysiology of COX inhibition on bone, tendon, and ligament healing COX inhibitors and renal system pathophysiology and mechanisms of toxicity The pathophysiologic role of COX inhibition in the ocular system COX inhibition and the respiratory and cardiovascular systems The book also sheds light on the latest research devoted to developing COX inhibitors with no adverse side-effects. The first book to offer a thorough comparative look at the toxicological effects of COX inhibitors throughout the body, this invaluable resource will help advance the research and development of safer and more effective COX drugs.

The topic of this book is the modeling of data uncertainty and knowledge for a health engineering problem such as the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system. This is the first book on this subject. It begins with the state of the art in related topics such as data uncertainty, knowledge modeling, and the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, followed by fundamental and theoretical aspects of this field. Clinically relevant applications of musculoskeletal system modeling are then introduced. The book finishes with a chapter on practical software and tools for knowledge modeling and reasoning purposes.

Presents new information on the mutual interaction of skeletal muscle fibers and motoneurons at all levels, from the physiological to the molecular. Covers genetic, physiological, and hormonal factors affecting skeletal muscle development, control of acetylcholine receptor gene expression, selection and organization of motoneurons, and remodelling and refinement of synaptic inputs under the influence of muscle-derived growth factors. Also discusses the plasticity of the neuromuscular system during regeneration after injury, and in the modification of muscle properties and movement patterns in disease states by changes in sensory input or by electrical stimulation.

Glial Physiology and Pathophysiology provides a comprehensive, advanced text on the biology and pathology of glial cells. Coverae includes: the morphology and interrelationships between glial cells and neurones in different parts of the nervous systems the cellular physiology of the different kinds of glial cells the mechanisms of intra- and inter-cellular signalling in glial networks the mechanisms of glial-neuronal communications the role of glial cells in synaptic plasticity, neuronal survival and development of nervous system the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metabolic neuronal-glial interactions the role of glia in nervous system pathology, including pathology of glial cells and associated diseases – for example, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, Alexander disease and Parkinson's Neuroglia oversee the birth and development of neurones, the establishment of interneuronal connections (the 'connectome'), the maintenance and removal of these inter-neuronal connections, writing of the nervous system components, adult neurogenesis, the energetics of nervous tissue, metabolism of neurotransmitters, regulation of ion composition of the interstitial space and many, many more homeostatic functions. This book primes the reader towards the notion that nervous tissue is not divided into more important and less important cells. The nervous tissue functions because of the coherent and concerted action of many different cell types, each contributing to an ultimate output. This reaches its zenith in humans, with the creation of thoughts, underlying acquisition of knowledge, its analysis and synthesis, and contemplating the Universe and our place in it. An up-to-date and fully referenced text on the most numerous cells in the human brain Detailed coverage of the morphology and interrelationships between glial cells and neurones in different parts of the nervous system Describes the role og glial cells in neuropathology Focus boxes highlight key points and summarise important facts Companion website with downloadable figures and slides