Neurodegenerative diseases are a complex heterogeneous group of diseases associated with site-specific premature and slow death of certain neuronal populations in brain and spinal cord tissues. For example, in Alzheimer disease, neuronal degeneration occurs in the nucleus basalis, whereas in Parkinson disease, neurons in the substantia nigra die. The most severely affected neurons in Huntington disease are striatal medium spiny neurons. The neuronal populations that are lost in neurodegenerative diseases modulate functions such as controlling movements, processing sensory information, memory, and making decisions. Although, the molecular mechanism of neurodegeneration remains unknown, but excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress may contribute to neural cell demise independently or synergistically. The purpose of this E-book is to present readers with cutting edge and comprehensive information on molecular aspects of neurodegenerative diseases and neuroprotection in a manner that is useful not only to students and teachers, but also to researchers and physicians.

This book covers novel approaches using networks and oscillations and it will serve as a catalyst for translating these exciting advancements into the clinical arena. This collection of articles aims to accelerate the widespread clinical translation of network approaches by providing practical information accessible to clinicians in neurology and psychiatry - fields that are uniquely poised to implement these developments in clinical treatment of brain diseases. It should be a useful resource for researchers and working professionals in neurological and psychiatric academic centers.

Stroke is one of the most debilitating diseases which poses a significant economic burden on society. Increasing exposure to behavioural risk factors for stroke (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption) and air pollution are driving up the worldwide stroke burden. Although medical interventions to prevent and manage stroke have advanced considerably over the last two decades, they are not consistently implemented worldwide. Therefore, health outcomes of stroke treatment vary throughout the world.

This volume presents a summary of recent research and debates on old and new aspects in stroke medicine. The volume covers topics such as causative factors of stroke such as hypertension, the immune system, genetic factors and the neurovegetative system, to the role of new imaging techniques in improving diagnosis and treatment, from preventive therapy and recanalization to the important and intriguing effects of neuroprotection, neuroregeneration and post stroke rehabilitation. Readers will be able to understand perspectives from stroke medicine researchers about the relationship between the nervous system and other physiological systems in the body and their role in the onset and treatment of stroke. The volume is intended as a resource for neurologists and medical professionals involved in other specialties such as cardiology, internal medicine, rehabilitation and physiology.

The monograph is a summary of methods used to study pain receptors and the results obtained in some experiments designed to study the effect of non-opioid analgesics. The molecular mechanisms of nociceptive information control in primary sensory nociceptive neurons are described based on investigations of the membrane signaling cascade (opioid-like receptor → Na+,K+-ATPase → NaV1.8 channel) observed by the authors. Based on this data, the authors conclude that the modulation of NaV1.8 channels responsible for the coding of noxious signals can be carried out due to two novel targeting mechanisms. The first of these is the activation of opioid-like receptors; the second is the activation of Na+/K+-ATPase as a signal transducer. The development of a novel class of analgesics that trigger these mechanisms should lead to a successful solution to the problem of chronic pain relief. Chapters of the monograph cover the general methods used in studying nociceptive pain (including the patch-clamp method), and the mechanism behind the binding of different ligands to these receptors such gamma-pyrones, gamma-pyridines and cardiotonic steroids. This monograph is a valuable reference for neuroscientists, pharmacologists and allied researchers studying pain receptors for the development of safe and effective analgesics.

Pain is a significant medical problem, as it is a factor in many diseases and debilitating conditions. The processing of pain in the body is a complex process which involves nerve signaling in the milieu of biochemical, molecular and genetic interactions occurring in the brain and other parts of the body. Pain, as a spokesperson of real and impending injury, outlives its usefulness as a warning signal and instead becomes chronic and excruciating. The transition of the realization of pain up to the cortical processing as a persistent condition represents an intricate process governed by the interaction of various factors. Research on humans and animals has led to the advent of personalized medicine where every patient can be treated according to the set of genes they possess. However, the genetic basis for pain has largely been undefined so far. Research on epigenetic alterations and micro-RNA (miRNA) in relation to the assessment and prevention of pain is still in infancy. Pain: Causes, Concerns and Consequences focuses on pain in human diseases such as cardiac and non-cardiac disorders. This compendium on pain research offers basic information and useful updates on the pathology, genetics, and biomolecular pathways that cause pain. Additionally, readers will also learn about non-pharmacological therapies for pain. The monograph is a handy guide for medical students and doctors in different divisions such as oncology, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, psychology, physiotherapy and chiropractic care. The book also serves as a guide for life science researchers who are planning to develop methods to study pain in either a clinical or laboratory setting.

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Prion-related disorders (PrD) and Huntington’s disease (HD) share a common neuropathology, primarily featuring the presence of abnormal protein inclusions containing specific misfolded proteins. These groups of diseases are now classified as Protein Misfolding Disorders. This Ebook gives a comprehensive overview of the possible mechanisms involved in Protein Misfolding Disorders and possible therapeutic strategies to treat these diseases. The Ebook provides the most recent evidence addressing the role of cellular stress responses to neurological diseases, along with therapeutic strategies to alleviate ER stress in a disease context.

The incidence of multiple chronic diseases affecting a single individual is common among elderly patients. This incidence is believed to be associated with a decline in many health outcomes, including quality of life, mobility, functional ability, increased frequency of hospitalizations, psychological distress, mortality and the use of health care resources. Health in elderly patients can fluctuate significantly, thus prompting the need for proper integration of comprehensive geriatric care. An increasing amount of data gained from research programs is making it clear that a geriatric assessment identifies many problems in older people with chronic diseases, adds prognostic information, and might improve the outcomes of these patients. This volume reviews research on the value of geriatric programs in different subspecialties of internal medicine. Chapters of this book cover different chronic diseases (coronary artery disease, kidney disease, diabetes, osteoporosis etc.) separately and present new findings in these areas. Readers – both medical students and researchers – will find the book an essential for understanding requirements and nuances of specialized geriatric programs in the healthcare sector.

According to the National Institute of Aging there are more than half a billion people over the age of 65 across the globe. This has led to a need for medical and psychiatric care on a scale unprecedented in history. In light of this increase in the global elderly population, the field of geriatric medicine has expanded and become multidisciplinary to accommodate the need of the elderly in the 21st century. This volume highlights research in geriatric medicine across different disciplines. Chapters of this volume cover public health and economic consequences of aging in USA, cognitive impairment in old age, geriatric ophthalmology, osteoporosis, sleep disorders, speech-language pathology and geriatric care. Readers – both medical students and researchers - will find these topics useful for understanding issues in geriatric medicine and can use this information to improve geriatric programs in the healthcare sector.

Young Perspectives for Old Diseases is a collaborative monograph describing the current understanding of common neurodegenerative diseases. The monograph focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for neurodegeneration and the scientific advances that have paved the way for potential therapeutic options for patients. Reviews presented in this book present carefully validated research findings. The book begins with a section devoted to general mechanisms of neuronal death and explains the challenges of translating the scientific discoveries to the clinic. In section two, there are reviews on specific cellular dysfunctions that are common to more than one form of neurodegenerative disease, exploring the universal pathophysiology responsible for degenerating neurones. Findings on common neurodegenerative diseases are also reviewed in further detail followed by information on advances in therapeutic techniques that could be translated to a clinical setting. This book is intended as a primer as well as an update for molecular biologists and medical researchers on the mechanism of neurodegeneration and progress in the treatment of associated diseases.