This book discusses emerging nanotechnology-based tools that have the potential to dramatically impact cancer research, diagnostics, and treatment. Cancer is a complex, devastating, and debilitating disease and, although much progress has been made, novel, more effective diagnostic and treatment options are still needed, especially for advanced cancers. The ultimate goal is to detect cancer ear…
Metagenomics has taken off as one of the major cutting-edge fields of research. The field has broad implications for human health and disease, animal production and environmental health. Metagenomics has opened up a wealth of data, tools, technologies and applications that allow us to access the majority of organisms that we still cannot access in pure culture (an estimated 99% of microbial lif…
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) and heart failure (HF) are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Europe and worldwide. IHD and HF patients could benefi t from therapies that would accelerate natural processes of postnatal collateral vessel formation and/or muscle regeneration. Although treatment for acute myocardial infarction has improved over the past decades, there are currently no …
During the second half of the 20th century, the introduction of a variety of new techniques greatly expanded our knowledge of the structure of nerve and neuroglial cells and of the organization of the nervous system at the cellular level. This new information has, however, generally been scattered throughout the literature, making it difficult for investigators to gain an overall vision of the …
Phosphatases, such as TNAP are fundamental in regulating the roles of cellular, and consequently numerous body functions. TNAP is a ubiquitous enzyme with a wide spectrum of substrates and specificity. Regulation at the cellular level and the lack of TNAP activity is a lethal condition. Recent findings of a highly specific regional, laminar and subcellular localization of TNAP in the cerebral c…
This volume summarizes recent advances in environmental microbiology by providing fascinating insights into the diversity of microbial life that exists on our planet. The first two chapters present theoretical perspectives that help to consolidate our understanding of evolution as an adaptive process by which the niche and habitat of each species develop in a manner that interconnects individua…
The book presents a new, powerful model of neuronal networks, consisting of a three-dimensional neuronal culture in which 3D neuronal networks are coupled to micro-electrode-arrays (MEAs). It discusses the main advantages of the three-dimensional system compared to its two-dimensional counterpart, and shows that the network dynamics, recorded during both spontaneous and stimulated activity, dif…
This comprehensive volume is the first to specifically target developing, adult and diseased neural stem cells. It explores recent advances in the understanding of neural stem cell biology along with strategies that use these cells to tackle neurological diseases and brain aging. Ten inclusive chapters discuss a wide range of topics including neurogenesis, neurodegeneration, demyelinating disea…
This book provides an overview on the major neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as Leishmaniasis, Buruli Ulcer and Schistosomiasis. In well-structured chapters epidemiology and biology of these parasitic diseases will be discussed in detail. Further, diagnostics and therapeutic approaches as well as prevention strategies will be reviewed. The book will be of…
This volume of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) series covers the most prevalent NTDs in Oceania. This book will discuss in detail pathology, diagnostics and control approaches of selected NTDs in the geographic region. A large part of Oceania’s population lives in poverty and therefore is at high risk for certain parasitic diseases, such as hookworm infection, lymphatic filariasis, stro…