Pathology of Septic Shock

Pathology of Septic Shock PDF Author: Ernst T. Rietschel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642801862
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 325

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Book Description
Severe sepsis and septic shock are the most serious compli cations of bacterial infections. Both gram-positive and gram negative bacteria can trigger these extreme inflammatory re sponses and, by so doing, cause substantial morbidity and mortality. In the United States alone, over 400 000 patients suffer from septicaemia each year, and approximately 100 000 of these patients die despite optimal intensive care and modern antimicrobial therapy. These dramatic figures have prompted intensive research to define the bacterial and host factors involved in the septic response. Scientists from many disciplines, including chem istry, physics, biology, medical microbiology, immunology, and pharmacology, have worked closely with clinicians to achieve rapid and profound progress. To translate this newly acquired knowledge into clinical practice, clinical trials have also been performed to evaluate numerous new therapeutic drugs. The disappointing results from these trials have underscored a major lesson, namely, that sepsis constitutes an extremely complex syndrome and that basic and clinical research must be greatly intensified in order to illuminate its molecular mechan isms. At this stage, the editors of the present volume of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology considered it would be rewarding to compile a volume summarizing our present basic and clinical knowledge on sepsis. Our particular gratitude extends to those international experts who have followed our invitation and elaborated on particular areas of the basic and clinical aspects of this field.

Pathology of Septic Shock

Pathology of Septic Shock PDF Author: Ernst T. Rietschel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642801862
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 325

Get Book Here

Book Description
Severe sepsis and septic shock are the most serious compli cations of bacterial infections. Both gram-positive and gram negative bacteria can trigger these extreme inflammatory re sponses and, by so doing, cause substantial morbidity and mortality. In the United States alone, over 400 000 patients suffer from septicaemia each year, and approximately 100 000 of these patients die despite optimal intensive care and modern antimicrobial therapy. These dramatic figures have prompted intensive research to define the bacterial and host factors involved in the septic response. Scientists from many disciplines, including chem istry, physics, biology, medical microbiology, immunology, and pharmacology, have worked closely with clinicians to achieve rapid and profound progress. To translate this newly acquired knowledge into clinical practice, clinical trials have also been performed to evaluate numerous new therapeutic drugs. The disappointing results from these trials have underscored a major lesson, namely, that sepsis constitutes an extremely complex syndrome and that basic and clinical research must be greatly intensified in order to illuminate its molecular mechan isms. At this stage, the editors of the present volume of Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology considered it would be rewarding to compile a volume summarizing our present basic and clinical knowledge on sepsis. Our particular gratitude extends to those international experts who have followed our invitation and elaborated on particular areas of the basic and clinical aspects of this field.

Lipid A in Cancer Therapy

Lipid A in Cancer Therapy PDF Author: Jean-Francois Jeannin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1441916032
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
Cancer remains a major challenge for modern society. Not only does cancer rank among the first three causes of mortality in most population groups but also the therapeutic options available for most tumor types are limited. The existing ones have limited efficacy, lack specificity and their administration carry major side effects. Hence the urgent need for novel cancer therapies. One of the most promising avenues in research is the use of specific immunotherapy. The notion that the immune system may have important anti-tumor effects has been around for more than a century now. Every major progress in microbiology and immunology has been immediately followed by attempts to apply the new knowledge to the treatment of cancer. Progress has reached a point where it is well established that most cancer patients mount specific T cell responses against their tumors. The molecular identity of the antigens recognized by anti-tumor T cells has been elucidated and several hundreds of tumor-derived antigenic peptides have been discovered. Upon recognition of such peptides presented by self MHC molecules, both CD8 and CD4 T cells are activated, expand to high numbers and differentiate into effective anti-tumor agents. CD8 T cells directly destroy tumor cells and can cause even large tumors to completely regress in experimental mouse models. These observations have spurred intense research activity aimed at designing and testing cancer vaccines. Over 100 years ago Coley successfully used intratumoral injection of killed bacteria to treat sarcomas. The important anti-tumor effects observed in a fraction of these patients fueled major research efforts. These led to major discoveries in the 80s and the 90s. It turns out that bacterial lipopolysaccharides stimulate the production of massive amounts of a cytokine still known today as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a). They do so by engagement of a rather complex set of interactions culminating in the ligation of a Toll-like receptor, TLR -4. Ensuing signaling through this receptor initiates potent innate immune responses. Unfortunately the clinical use of both TNF-a and LPS can not be generalized due to their very narrow therapeutic margin. Importantly, synthetic Lipid A analogs have been identified that retain useful bioactivity and yet possess only mild toxicity. The relatively large body of information accumulated thus far on the molecular and cellular interactions set in motion by administration of LPS as well as by the synthetic lipid A analogs allow to place this family of bacterially-derived molecules at the crossroads between innate and adaptive immunity. By virtue of this key position, the therapeutic applications being pursued aim at using these compounds either as direct anti-tumor agents or as vaccine adjuvants. The clinical experience acquired so far on these two avenues is asymmetric. Few clinical trials using Lipid A analogs as single anti-cancer agents involving less than 100 patients with advanced cancer have been reported. In contrast, lipid A has been tested in over 300,000 individuals in various vaccines trials, including therapeutic cancer vaccines. Clearly most of the work needed to develop lipid A as effective anti-cancer agents and/or as vaccine adjuvant lies ahead in the near future. This book is a timely contribution and provides a much needed up-to-date overview of the chemical, biological and physiological aspects of lipid A. It should be a beacon to all those involved in this field of research.

Nitrogen Fixation: Fundamentals and Applications

Nitrogen Fixation: Fundamentals and Applications PDF Author: Igor A. Tikhonovich
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401103798
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 812

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Book Description
Nitrogen fixation research is presented as a rapidly developing, synergistic area of modern science, using the methods of, and accumulating data from, many fundamental branches of biology and chemistry. These include catalytic mechanisms, protein structure and function, molecular organization of genes and the regulation of their activities, biochemistry of plants and microorganisms, the signalling and surface interactions between organisms, microbial taxonomy and evolution, formal and population genetics, and ecology. The relationships between biological nitrogen fixation research and different branches of applied biology are addressed and analyzed, such as: the monitoring of genetically engineered microorganisms, selection of plant-associated microbes, plant breeding, increasing the protein content of crops, providing ecologically safe food production, and diminishing the chemical pollution of the environment. Immediate impacts and long-term prospects for nitrogen fixation research are presented: both fundamentals and applications.

Cytokines, Stress, and Depression

Cytokines, Stress, and Depression PDF Author: Robert Dantzer
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 058537970X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 335

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Book Description
Cytokines had been characterized in the early eighties as communication mole cules between immune cells, and between immunocytes and other peripheral cells, such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. They play a key role in the regulation of the immune response and the coordination of the host response to infection. Based on these biological properties, nobody would have predicted that one decade later cytokines would burst upon neurosciences and permeate into several avenues of current research. In neurology, the connection between cytokines and inflammation, and the demonstration of a pivotal role of some of these molecules in cell death by apoptosis, prompted the investigation of their involvement in several neurological diseases involving an inflammatory component, including multiple sclerosis, brain trauma, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. This movement started in the late eighties, and the corresponding field of research, known as neuroimmunology, is presently booming. In psychiatry, however, the relationship between cytokines and mental disorders was much less evident and took longer to materialize. The first indication that cytokines might be involved in psychopathology came from cancerology and internal medicine.

Endotoxin in Health and Disease

Endotoxin in Health and Disease PDF Author: Helmut Brade
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000110389
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 968

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Book Description
Offering a basis for further research into the interactions of hosts and pathogens, this work gathers up-to-date findings, and details basic structures, functions and immunology. It provides descriptions of a variety of experimental endotoxin neutralizing agents, as well as a guide to clinical research initiatives and the latest treatments.

Cumulated Index Medicus

Cumulated Index Medicus PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Medicine
Languages : en
Pages : 1496

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Book Description


Advances in Microbial Physiology

Advances in Microbial Physiology PDF Author:
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080579973
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 387

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Book Description
Praise for the Serial"This series has consistently presented a well-balanced account if progress in microbial physiology...Invaluable for teaching purposes."- AMERICAN SCIENTISTAdvances in Microbial Physiology was first published in 1967, and under the pioneering editorship of Professor Tony Rose, with the collaboration at various times of John Wilkinson, Gareth Morris and Dave Tempest, the series has become immensely successful and influential. The editors have always striven to interpret microbial physiology in the broadest possible context and have never restricted the contents to "traditional" views of whole cell physiology.Robert Poole was appointed as the new editor following the untimely death of Tony Rose. Under Professor Poole's editorship, Advances in Microbial Physiology continues to publish topical and important reviews, and to interpret physiology as widely as in the past by including all material that contributes to the understanding of how microorganisms and their component parts work. This continues to be the real challenge of microbial physiology.

Cardiovascular Toxicology

Cardiovascular Toxicology PDF Author: Bob Sproull
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0203361458
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 592

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Book Description
Acosta's popular volume provides information on cardiovascular toxicology for clinicians, public health officials, industrial and experimental toxicologists, as well other interested professionals. This new edition highlights major advancements on the molecular aspects of toxicity to the cardiovascular system, including genomics information where a

The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film

The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film PDF Author: Alan Goble
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
ISBN: 3110951940
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 1044

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Book Description


The Rhizobiaceae

The Rhizobiaceae PDF Author: Herman P. Spaink
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401150605
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 576

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Book Description
The Rhizobiaceae, Molecular Biology of Model Plant-Associated Bacteria. This book gives a comprehensive overview on our present molecular biological knowledge about the Rhizobiaceae, which currently can be called the best-studied family of soil bacteria. For many centuries they have attracted the attention of scientists because of their capacity to associate with plants and as a consequence also to specifically modify plant development. Some of these associations are beneficial for the plant, as is the case for the Rhizobiaceae subgroups collectively called rhizobia, which are able to fix nitrogen in a symbiosis with the plant hosts. This symbiosis results in the fonnation of root or stem nodules, as illustrated on the front cover. In contrast, several Rhizobiaceae subgroups can negatively affect plant development and evoke plant diseases. Examples are Agrobacterium tumefaciens andA. rhizogenes which induce the formation of crown galls or hairy roots on the stems of their host plants, respectively (bottom panels on front cover). In addition to the obvious importance of studies on the Rhizobiaceae for agronomy, this research field has resulted in the discovery of many fundamental scientific principles of general interest, which are highlighted in this book. To mention three examples: (i) the discovery of DNA transfer of A.