Bøger i Progress in Inflammation Research serien

In recent years, the area of pharmacotherapy of GI inflammation has witnessed important progress, with new drugs and therapeutic approaches being introduced. The volume reviews the pharmacotherapy of selected gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions chosen on the basis of their clinical importance and/or the areas where important and exciting progress has been made recently. Besides discussing current pharmacotherapy to treat the most important GI inflammation conditions, the book also indicates possible future therapeutic avenues likely to become available in a few years.The book is of interest to various sectors of the scientific community ranging from clinicians to pharmacologists and from biochemists to microbiologists, who will find it a useful tool for their clinical practice and research activity.

Dalip J. S. Sirinathsinghii and Ray G. Hill Merck, Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Neuroscience Research Centre, Terlings Park, Eastwick Road, Harlow, Essex CM20 2QR, UK There remains a distinct medical need for new pain therapies. Therefore, it is not surprising that in recent years there has been a major research initiative in both aca­ demic and pharmaceutical laboratories to identify novel pain targets and to devel­ op novel analgesic drugs. It is clear from numerous studies that the NMDA recep­ tor plays a major role in the transmission ofnociceptive information and it has been a subject of extensive investigation over the last decade exploiting the advances of molecular pharmacology and molecular neuroanatomy. As a consequence there has been a rational approach by several laboratories to develop receptor subtype-spe­ cific NMDA antagonists in order to avoid the wide range of side-effects seen with non-selective NMDA ion channel antagonists such as ketamine. This volume brings together contributions from experts in various technological disciplines who have contributed immensely to NMDA receptor research and advanced our understanding of the subunit composition of the NMDA receptor complex, its pharmacology and distribution, its interaction with other neurochemi­ cal systems and the effects on behaviour of NMDA antagonists in rodent models and in the clinic. In consideration of these advances and the prospects of novel NMDA receptor antagonists in the near future for the treatment of pain, this vol­ ume is very timely.

Over the past ten years, a number of cytokines and growth factors have proven to be as effective therapeutics.

This volume will be of great value to all those researchers in the area of the inflam matory response, notably academics, clinicians and members of the pharmaceutical industry.

Pain and inflammation are inextricably linked phenomena. The observation that chemical mediators with combined pro-inflammatory, algesic and/or hyperalgesic activity occur at the site of inflammation is fundamental not only to our present understanding of the inflammatory process but also to our attempts to devise clini­ cally useful anti-inflammatory therapies. Over a hundred years ago it was recognised that primary sensory neurones play a crucially important "dual" role in inflammation. By affecting the transfer of infor­ mation from peripheral nociceptors to the spinal cord, a subpopulation of sensory nerves {"pain fibres"} initiate algesia and hyperalgesia, whose sensations are then modified and fine-tuned in the central nervous system. Equally important is the release from the peripheral terminals of sensory neurones of neuropeptides, the acute effects of which are observed as changes in microvascular tone and perme­ ability leading to neurogenic inflammation. Over the last decade it has become increasingly clear that this view of the func­ tion of sensory nerves is somewhat over-simplified. For example, the mechanisms underlying hyperalgesia may, in certain circumstances, be mimicked in other condi­ tions such as the hypersensivity associated with asthma. Furthermore, it has become increasingly evident that over a longer time period the release of neuropeptides from peripheral sensory nerve endings may also have modulating effects on inmune cells and that this may be relevant to chronic inflammatory disease and possibly also to inflammatory hyperalgesia.

From the basic science to potential and approved clinical applications the most recent data in the rapidly growing field of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are summarized in this topical volume. Distinguished scientists present reviews on a range of scientific topics, including biochemistry, biology, molecular biology and preclinical animal studies on spinal fusion, cartilage repair, craniofacial and dental reconstruction using BMPs, as well as approved clinical applications in human bone non-unions.This book provides a resource not only for experts in the field, but also for undergraduate students, newcomers and clinicians worldwide, given that the use of BMPs in orthopedic reconstruction has been already approved in Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA.

Numerous improvements in our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie neuropathic pain states have come from the development of animal models, most of which involve partial peripheral nerve injury.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges amongst the commonest diseases in the world. The relentless progression of the disease causes a pressing need for a better understanding of and therapies for COPD. This volume provides state-of-the-art information on the pathophysiology of COPD including an outlook on new therapies.

The importance of this cytokine release is evident from both diagnostic and thera peutic (mostly experimental) studies, and the action of cytokines may be the key to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the sepsis syndrome.

In the last ten years, major strides have been made in defining the presence and role of inflammation in atherosclerosis as well as in injury to the tissues that occurs after episodes of ischemia and reperfusion.

Combinatorial chemistry in conjunction with High Throughput Screening (HTS) is revolutionizing the drug discovery process.

Gene therapy for inflammatory diseases is a new , burgeoning field of medicine. Edited by the undisputed pioneers of this area of research, this volume is the first devoted to its topic. It contains thirteen chapters, each written by leaders in their respective fields, that summarize the state of the art in developing novel, gene based treatments for inflammatory diseases. As well as providing an introduction to the basic concepts of gene therapy and the use of naked DNA approaches, the book describes the advances that have been made in applying them to arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Sjogren`s syndrome and transplantation.One chapter is devoted to discussing the first human clinical trials that apply gene therapy to the treatment of an inflammatory disease. As well as providing novel therapeutic approaches, gene therapy facilitates the development of new and improved animal models of disease; a chapter describing these advances is also included. As an up-to-date, timely book written by th

Since the discovery of the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) more than 15 years ago, there has been an unpredicted explosion of both basic scientific discoveries and clinical reports on their use from institutions all over the world.

Such coverage, as presented in this volume, may help further understanding and bring new approaches to therapeutics.The first section of the book discusses inflammatory mechanisms, studied in cellular and animal studies.

The purpose of this volume in the Progress in Inflammation Research series is to provide the biomedical and clinical researcher with a state-of-the-art insight in the role of cytokines in joint inflammation and joint destruction.

This book focuses on the salient features of the biology of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins and the advances in our understanding of their structure and function and of downstream signaling, as well as their governance in systems biology from bone and dentin to kidney, cancer, diabetes, iron homeostasis and angiogenesis, including rare musculoskeletal disorders. BMPs, also referred to as growth and differentiation factors, are members of the TGF-beta superfamily and are highly conserved from fruit flies to mammals and are responsible for the formation of practically every organ during embryo development and involved in adult tissue injury and repair. BMPs establish their extracellular gradient by interacting with their respective antagonists and regulate their function through SMAD-dependent down-stream signaling effector genes.This volume is aimed at scientists and professionals dealing with metabolic disorders, nutrition, systems biology diseases, rare musculoskeletal conditions, and disorders related to iron metabolism, including anemia of chronic disease, hereditary hemochromatosis and beta thalassemia.

New research has shown that brain ischemia and trauma elicit strong inflammatory reactions driven by both external and brain cells. The work may have an impact on the treatment of neuroinjuries and ancillary brain diseases, and increase the understanding of the roles infections and immune reactions play in the brain milieu.

The next area that the book focuses on are effects at the cellular level, on cell survival versus cell death and signals critical for cell function in both normal and disease states.

It discusses the contribution of occupational exposures to chemical and biological agents to the burden of asthma in adults, powerful approaches like the use of apprentices studies, which include young individuals, naive with regard to occupational exposures, and diagnostic criteria for work related and work aggravated asthma.

These chapters provide a unique vantage point from which to examine this question, as the summarized work ranges from evolutionary approaches across diverse species, to the basics of the immune response, to the effect of cytokines on peripheral and central nervous system sites, to therapeutic potential in humans.

Recently performed analysis of fat intake from paleolithic times has indicated that our hunter-gatherer ancestors consumed as much cholesterol as modern Western man, but strikingly less saturated fatty acid and more polyunsatu rates, including n-3 fatty acids.

Many new antileukotriene drugs are now marketed as antiasthma drugs and represent the first new drugs in this field since the 1970s.

Aims to bring together advances in the often separate fields of pain and neurogenic inflammation. This work focuses on important discoveries such as the cloning of the capsaicin receptor and the discovery of RAMP proteins for CGRP receptors. It provides an integrated account of advances in the fields of pain and neurogenic inflammation.

Allergic diseases are complex and involve a range of environmental factors interacting with a susceptible genotype.

Focuses on the field of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), from the basic science to potential and approved clinical applications. This work presents reviews on a range of scientific topics, including biochemistry, biology, molecular biology and preclinical animal studies on spinal fusion, craniofacial and dental reconstruction using BMPs.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges amongst the commonest diseases in the world. The relentless progression of the disease causes a pressing need for a better understanding of and therapies for COPD. This volume provides state-of-the-art information on the pathophysiology of COPD including an outlook on new therapies.

The importance of this cytokine release is evident from both diagnostic and thera peutic (mostly experimental) studies, and the action of cytokines may be the key to our understanding of the pathophysiology of the sepsis syndrome.

Gene therapy for inflammatory diseases is a new , burgeoning field of medicine. As an up-to-date, timely book written by the leaders in the field, this volume will appeal to both medical and graduate students, medical reseachers, members of the biotechnology community, physicians and all those interested in this latest frontier of molecular medicine.

Combinatorial chemistry in conjunction with High Throughput Screening (HTS) is revolutionizing the drug discovery process.