Antibodies Applications and New Developments is an overview of the current developments of techniques and methods relating to immunodiagnostics and immunoanalysis. This eBook also deals with specialties in the fields of drug, pesticide, antigen and food contaminant detection. The volume is useful for professional immunologists and biotechnologists interested in antibody research and development.

Basic Biology and Clinical Aspects of Inflammation provides information about the critical cells and biochemical mediators involved in the complex process of inflammation. Readers are introduced to the basic scientific background on the subject, after which the book progresses towards translational research in clinical settings. Topics covered in this volume include, the modulation of inflammation during normal and chronic wound healing, altered metabolism during inflammation processes, the effect of ageing on inflammatory processes, as well as details about the underlying molecular processes behind specific clinical pathologies that are driven by excessive inflammation in the body (allergic reactions, type 2 diabetes, cardiac and vascular disease, arthritis, periodontal disease, inflammatory bowel disease and neuroinflammation). The volume also provides the latest information on pharmacotherapy for inflammation and interesting contributions towards the mathematical modeling and network analysis of inflammation. Basic Biology and Clinical Aspects of Inflammation features contributions from by a distinguished group of international researchers and clinicians highly recognized for their specific expertise in the field of inflammation. The information presented in this reference is useful to academics, medical professionals, health care regulators and pharmaceutical scientists.

This reference comprehensively covers the clinical aspects of head and neck neoplasms while also highlighting the relationship that exists between inflammation and these cancers. This relationship is critical as it dictates the risks, assessment, treatment, and prognosis of head and neck cancer patients. The book starts with an introduction to the inflammation ecosystem in head and neck malignancy, followed by detailed discussions on the types of head and neck malignancy and their histological classification. The book then provides information about specialized topics relevant to the specialty of head and neck oncology. Key Features: - Comprehensive coverage of head and neck cancers with topic-based chapters - Introductory text explaining the basics of inflammation - Detailed information on the relationship between inflammation and head and neck neoplasms - Information about the classification of head and neck cancers - Methods for diagnosis and treatment - Special topics such as complications caused by HPV infections, chemoradiation, immune-targeted therapy, and inflammatory biomarkers - References for further reading The combination of basic and advanced topics makes this book an informative reference for medical students and professionals at all levels. Residents specializing in otolaryngology, oncology, and surgery as well as researchers studying inflammation will also gain an understanding of the subject in relation to oncogenesis.

Since a September, 1992, Nature article which read: “Can there be life without LIF?”, researchers now realize that the maternal immune system is both a foe (it can reject the conception) and a friend (immune cells and molecules are also necessary for successful pregnancy). Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) when absent, prevents embryo implantation in rodents. From fecundation to parturition, immunity acts as a Janus, required but potentially dangerous. However, the complexity and the diversity of immunity in pregnancy deters many from entering the field. This book will try to give a complete overview of immunity from gametes till parturition, in brief, but with complete chapters and subsections, each written by specialists in the field. The importance of the topic relies not only on “the riddle of the fetal allograft”, which is per se fascinating, but on its consequences, linked to the development of IVF and in general, Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) / Medicine. Since the discovery that there would not be (mammalian) life without LIF, it has become clear that Immune Molecules, and in general, transient post mating inflammatory reactions are required for successful implantation. Disruptions of this process can lead to implantation failure / sterility. In later stages of pregnancy immunological cells, mostly of the innate immune system, control formation of local spiral arteries. Finally, a state of tolerance establishes itself, whose “break’ leads to immune abortion and the vascular bed is further transformed and enlarged, till delivery, and here again “immunological cytokines” do play a major role and can eventually cause immune mediated abortion. Failure of, not just, the cytokine and cell recognition mediated dialogue, but also the pre and peri-implantation “preparation of the uterus”, as stated, leads to sterility, early pregnancy loss and recurrent abortions. There is also an increasingly stronger argument to implicate immunology in pre-eclampsia. Further still, immunology is also implicated in the control of local infection, mother to child transmission of pathogens (notably, but not limited to, HIV). Finally, pregnancy is the only known physiological phenomenon where the once named “suppressor T cells,” re-emerge as “regulatory T cells”, and play a cardinal role. This E-book provides a complete compendium of gynecological immunology, spanning from fecundation to delivery. Topics also include the role of various cell types (such as T regs ad NK cells) in implantation and uterine changes as well as the genetic regulation of immunological processes. As such it will be of interest not only to fundamental and reproductive immunologists, but more importantly, clinicians in obstetrics and gynecology.

For decades, scientific efforts have been made to understand obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration, and their link with meta-inflammation. Adipose tissue is, at present, viewed as an endocrine organ with important biological effects on metabolism and inflammation, with a possible role in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Chronic systemic low-grade inflammation has gained significant attention as the key player in the pathophysiology of obesity- and aging-associated diseases. Keeping view of this trend, Meta-Inflammation and Obesity offers readers state-of-the-art knowledge on this subject. Chapters cover special topics such as gender differences in obesity-related type 2 diabetes as the consequence of inflammatory response, insights into metabolic changes caused by excessive adipose tissue (which lead to abnormal brain metabolism, neuroinflammation, cognitive decline, development of type 3 diabetes), and the importance of inflammaging in the aging process. Graduate, postgraduate and Ph. D. candidates in medicine, pharmacy, and students of applied medicine, health care professionals as well as scientists involved in adipose tissue research, meta-inflammation analysis, obesity-related medical specialties will find this book a useful reference on the link between inflammation and obesity.

Host defense to intracellular pathogens depends upon both innate and adaptive cell-mediated immune responses. Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes which belong to the innate immune system are the first cells that are recruited massively within hours of microbial infection. The importance of neutrophils in the development of an immune response is only emerging as they have long been considered by immunologists as short lived, non-dividing cells, of poor interest. Now, neutrophils are emerging as key components of the inflammatory response, and are shown to have immunoregulatory roles in microbial infections. The impact of neutrophils on cells present at the site of infection is only beginning to be studied and deserves more attention. This e-book provides an overview of the recent advances made in the field of neutrophil biology and motions towards some of the exciting new directions in which neutrophil research is moving.

This book introduces personalized immunotherapy with multi-dimensional models of analysis to determine the best plan for immunotherapy of patients. The book introduces readers to some basic concepts which lay the foundation for personalized immunotherapy: the development of a major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the genome profile of T cells and tumor cells, and genome-wide association studies. Chapters also cover special topics such as new immunoassay methods related to personalized immunotherapy and targeted immunotherapy which are geared towards familiarizing readers with current research practices. Focusing on the central theme of personalized immunotherapy, the authors provide a wealth of information about T-cell screening, tumor neoantigen cloning, primary tumor cell culture for T-cell cloning, bioinformatics strategies for understanding T-cell and primary tumor cell biology and function, and new developments in research on adoptive T-cell immunotherapy. These developments include T-cell gene therapy and T-cell gene editing, transgenic T-cells for increasing affinity to tumor cells such as CAR T-cells and TCR T-cells, and the systematic modeling of polyclonal specific T-cells and biobank technology. Key Features: - Introduces readers to basic concepts in personalized medicine and immunotherapy - Presents current information about immunological assays used in research - Presents an overview of T cell immunotherapy and cloning techniques - Presents an overview of tumor cell bioinformatics and its role in immunotherapy - Includes new developments and references for personalized immunotherapy techniques (T-cell gene therapy and T-cell gene editing, transgenic T-cells which target CAR T-cells and TCR T-cells, and polyclonal T-cell modeling) - Includes a section on biobanking - Presents information in an easy-to-read format for a wide range of readers - Brings contributions from experts with over 30 years of experience in personalized immunotherapy Personalized Immunotherapy for Tumor Diseases and Beyond is an ideal handbook for medical professionals and students involved in personalized medicine, immunology and oncology. General readers interested in the new developments in these fields will also benefit from the information provided.

The book is dedicated to the history and current status of physiologic autoimmunity concept and relation between autoimmunity and autoallergy in the context of disease prevention and prediction. The immune system is a natural component, regulator and direct participant in the physiological activities in a healthy body. The main forms of physiological activity of the immune system are based on the intrinsic abilities of self-identification, self-maintenance, self-regulation, and self-reparation — that is recognizing components of the “self ”, i.e. natural autoimmunity. The most ancient and homeostatically important functions of natural autoimmunity are autoclearance as well as construction and support of multicellularity. A considerable number of immune functions, including those related to antimicrobial defense, derive from these basic ones. Various pathological processes in any organ are usually accompanied by different patterns of cell death and, thus, by increased exposure and presentation of self antigens. These events induce the secondary rise in production of autoantibodies with appropriate specificity (opsonines), which provides augmentation of clearance by facilitating the efficacy of macrophage-dependent consumption of debris in the aff ected organ. This phenomenon is sanogenic in nature and adaptive in essence. Therefore, secondary changes in production and serum content of autoantibodies can be considered the universal and earliest detectable marker of any chronic disease. In relation to experimental production and clinical reveal of antibodies towards nuclear antigens, penetrating into living cell nuclei and altering nuclear acid synthesis, cell proliferation and function, autoantibodies can be regarded as hormone-like bioregulators of gene expression. Apparently, immune system is able to reproduce complementary regulators for various cell receptors, including nuclear ones. Book is unique, it is a single monograph comprehensively including history and current status of natural autoimmunity problem. It describes a fundamental concept essencial for every branch of Medicine and Pathology. The concept described has broad practical application for Health Care, because it establishes effective method of early prediction for many different diseases, creates a basis for prophylaxis. Reader has a chance to get rid of old dogmas and acquire new instrument for fruitful theoretical reasoning, research planning and predictive/preventive practical medical work.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection represents one of the biggest challenges of current years. However, scientists and physicians still do not have an efficient therapy for preventing or eradicating the virus. The selection of drug-resistant strains as well as side-effects, represent common problems encountered in all anti-viral therapies. However, it has been clearly demonstrated that the potency of early immune responses profoundly regulates levels of HIV, and hence also the generation of virus mutants as well as the velocity of disease progression to AIDS. A prominent feature of this e-book is the focus on interaction between innate immunity and HIV infection. This topic has been investigated by many authors from the late 80's, and many soluble factors responsible for such activity have been discovered, such as suPAR and HMGB1. At present, these two novel factors are the subject of very intense research on HIV infections. A key advantage of this e-book is the selection of authors, recognized worldwide as leading experts in their field. Because of the comprehensive coverage, as well as the eminence of the authors, this e-book provides a detailed and high quality description about the role of innate immune responses regulating HIV replication. It should prove to be a useful resource for readers interested in immunology and HIV research.

The kidneys are a vital organ present in humans and vertebrate animals. Various toxic chemicals, present in food and water adversely affect the kidneys. Plants and plant-derived compounds have been a major source for the treatment and cure of diseases since ancient times. Even today, almost 25% of the prescription drugs for renal problems are sourced from plants. An Introduction to Nephroprotective Plants gives an overview of nephrotoxicity and medicinal plants used for protecting the kidney and reducing the effect of kidney toxicity and managing renal diseases. This book is an answer to the current gaps in knowledge resources on nephroprotective plants. The reader is introduced to the basic physiology of the renal excretory system and its disorders. The introduction is followed by chapters which give information on medicinal plants used in traditional systems of medicine (both codified and noncodified). Information about plant parts used, method of use and dosage is provided along with references. <p> Key Features: <p> - Simple structured presentation in six chapters <p> - Includes an introduction to the urinary system and its diseases <p> - Includes information about codified and noncodified medicinal plants used for neuroprotection <p> - Covers phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants which are screened and used in modern medicine for nephroprotection in detail. <p> - Covers ethnobotanical and polyherbal formulations <p> - References for further reading <p> An Introduction to Nephroprotective Plants serves as a convenient desk reference for all researchers (pharmacologists, medicinal chemists, ethnobotanists) and healthcare professionals (physicians, pharmacists, nurses and medical students) who require complete information on nephroprotective plants.