Even if the “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) and, among them, stocks of organoph- phorus (OP) agents (also referred to as war gases and nerve gases) were not found in Iraq following the US-Iraq war, the relative ease with which these substances can be made from harmless precursors and the low cost of their manufacture will continue to fascinate pow- hungry, ruthless dictators, as well as multinational and international terrorists, particularly as the close relationship between the OP agents and useful insecticides makes it easy to disguise the importation and purchase of small amounts of the precursors. Indeed, the use by Saddam Hussein of a nerve gas against the Kurds and his possible employment of the OP agents during his war with Iran, and the Sarin attack in the Tokyo underground by an extremist religious set magnetized the world with respect to the OP drugs. As these drugs exert their toxicity via their cholinergic action on the nervous, particularly central nervous, system, it is no wonder that the research in the cholinergic ? eld attracts, and merits, our intense attention. These considerations underlie the signi? cance of this book, as Alex Karczmar devotes an entire chapter of Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System to anticholinest- ases (antiChEs), and as he is an acknowledged expert in the ? eld of cholinergic toxicity as well as a consultant to the Surgeon General of the U. S. Army.

Even if the “weapons of mass destruction” (WMD) and, among them, stocks of organoph- phorus (OP) agents (also referred to as war gases and nerve gases) were not found in Iraq following the US-Iraq war, the relative ease with which these substances can be made from harmless precursors and the low cost of their manufacture will continue to fascinate pow- hungry, ruthless dictators, as well as multinational and international terrorists, particularly as the close relationship between the OP agents and useful insecticides makes it easy to disguise the importation and purchase of small amounts of the precursors. Indeed, the use by Saddam Hussein of a nerve gas against the Kurds and his possible employment of the OP agents during his war with Iran, and the Sarin attack in the Tokyo underground by an extremist religious set magnetized the world with respect to the OP drugs. As these drugs exert their toxicity via their cholinergic action on the nervous, particularly central nervous, system, it is no wonder that the research in the cholinergic ? eld attracts, and merits, our intense attention. These considerations underlie the signi? cance of this book, as Alex Karczmar devotes an entire chapter of Exploring the Vertebrate Central Cholinergic Nervous System to anticholinest- ases (antiChEs), and as he is an acknowledged expert in the ? eld of cholinergic toxicity as well as a consultant to the Surgeon General of the U. S. Army.

Bridges the gap between the chemistry of small molecule neuromodulators and the complex pattern of neurodegenerative disorders Written by an experienced neurochemist, this book focuses on the main actors involved in neurodegenerative disorders at a molecular level, and places special emphasis on structural aspects and modes of action. Drawing on recent data on enzyme structure, mode of action, and inhibitor design, it describes?from a biochemical point of view?the six most important neurotransmitter systems and their constituent enzymes and receptors. Misfolding and aggregation of proteins within the brain is also covered. In addition, the book surveys a wide range of proven and prospective therapeutic agents that modulate key processes in the brain, from their chemical synthesis to their mode of action in model systems as well as in the patient. Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration: A Molecular Approach is presented in two parts. The first introduces the neurotransmitter systems and provides a general explanation of the synapse and a description of the main structures involved in neurotransmission that can be considered therapeutic targets for disorders of the central nervous system. The second part presents molecular and chemical aspects directly involved or affected in neurodegeneration, including the metabolism of neurotransmitters, enzymes processing neurotransmitters, protein misfolding, and therapeutic agents. -Uses an interdisciplinary approach to bridge the gap between the basic biochemical events in a nerve cell and their neurological effects on the brain -Places emphasis on the chemistry of small molecule modulators that are potential lead molecules for new drugs -Covers six key neurotransmitter systems and their enzymes and receptors?dopaminergic, noradrenergic, serotonergic, cholinergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration: A Molecular Approach is a key resource for medicinal chemists, neurobiologists, neurochemists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and neurophysiologists.

The goal of this book is to present a review of the different categories of liver disease, as well as address the role of surgery in managing these complex diseases. The book includes chapters written by international experts on the most current indications and guidelines regarding the diagnoses and management of liver diseases, as well as a variety of technical elements involved with the surgical procedures. Different surgical techniques involved in performing a hepatectomy will be discussed, including various instruments used, as well as the effect of modern technology as evidenced by novel procedures. An important focus of the book has been identifying the proper place of all these hepatectomy methods in the armamentarium of the experienced hepatobiliary surgeon, including the role of locoregional treatments such as ablation and embolization as adjuncts. Finally, the role of hepatectomy compared to orthotopic liver transplantation is discussed, so that the reader can have a well-rounded picture of the challenges and opportunities involved. Overall, this book has the potential to serve as an invaluable "tool" for both the hepatologist and the internist, as well as for the hepatic surgeon

Insects more similar in structure and physiology to mammals than plants or fungi. Consequently, insecticides are often of greater toxicity to mammals than herbicides. This is particularly the case with neurotoxins. However, some insecticides are targeted at structures or hormonal systems specific to insects (insect growth regulators/chitin synthesis inhibitors) so are less harmful but can still be mildly haematotoxic. There are, therefore, issues specific to insecticides, which do not occur with other pesticides - hence the need for a book specifically on insecticide toxicology in mammals. The book starts with general issues relating to the mammalian toxicity of insecticides, including target/non-target specificity, nomenclature and metabolism of insecticides. It then goes on to discuss specific types of insecticide including: organochlorines; anticholinesterases; pyrethrum and synthetic pyrethroids; nicotine and the neonicotinoids; insect growth regulators/ecdysone agonists/chitin synthesis inhibitors; insecticides of natural origin; biological insecticides; and insecticides used in veterinary medicine.

This book explains the chemistry of Organophosphorus compounds (OPs), their mechanism of toxicity and the history of OPs from their initial discovery to the development of new compounds such as Novichoks. It details the harmful effects to human health both as a result of acute and chronic OP exposure and the necessary clinical management of affected patients to reduce their toxic side effects. The book also explains the detrimental effect that OPs have had on the environment and the efforts being made to prevent this in the future. Finally, the book looks at the incidents where OPs have been used as chemical warfare agents. Basic and Clinical Toxicology of Organophosphorus Compounds aims to act as a comprehensive guide to all aspects of OPs and is a key resource for clinical toxicologists and related health professionals involved in the prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of OP patients, toxicologists and other scientists involved in research on OPs including regulatory issues and postgraduate students in Toxicology and related fields.

Neurotoxicity of Pesticides, Volume Four, in this comprehensive serial addresses contemporary advances in neurotoxicology of pesticides by providing authoritative review articles on key issues in the field. Edited by leading subject experts, topics of note in this new release include Organophosphates, OPs, Nerve agents, Pyrethroids, Neonicotinoids and Formamidines, among others. Provides a unique, first of its kind resource Contributed to by world leaders in neurotoxicology Contains a diversity of topics (from molecular to epidemiology) in neurotoxicology

Biochemistry of Characterised Neurons provides a report on the progress made in the analysis of the biology of specific neurons in the central nervous system. This book emphasizes the biochemical, morphological, and functional aspects of characterized neurons, including ways and sophisticated techniques of isolating them. This publication is divided into 11 chapters. The first chapter evaluates the relevance of working with single neurons. Chapters 2 to 6 discuss specific, characterized, invertebrate neurons containing one of the putative neurotransmitter substances. Chapter 7 deals with the biochemistry of a unique vertebrate (Torpedo) cholinergic system that enables pure cholinergic neuronal cell bodies and endings to be analyzed separately. The sensitive radiochemical procedures used to analyze transmitter substances and transmitter enzymes, and how they can be adapted to map the distribution of transmitters in individual neurons of Aplysia, are discussed in Chapter 8. Chapter 9 describes methods for the analysis of specific cells in the retina, while Chapters 10 and 11 focus on the analysis of proteins within defined neurons. This text is beneficial to biochemists and students interested in analyzing neurons.

Key features: Presents the latest trends and developments of neuromediators in plants Provides in-depth coverage of plants enriched in neurotransmitters (especially serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine) and how they are used in medicine, pharmacy, and food nutrition Discusses the physiological role of the neurotransmitters (biomediators) in non-nervous systems including the analysis of effects on the growth and development and stress defense Covers the occurrence of the substances that act in human and animal nervous system in plants as a phenomenon of the universal irritability feature for biologists Reveals the occurrence and possible physiological functions of biogenic amines in plants, food, and human health New scientific data confirm the origin of neurotransmitters in the ancient ocean, whose inhabitants use the compounds in their relationships. One example is the algae Ulvaria, whose image is represented on the cover. During evolution, plant and microbial cells stored the neurotransmitters that play multifunctional roles today. Researchers have paid special attention to their functions in plants, the oxygen well of our planet. This book provides powerful tools for both analyzing and manipulating organisms, considering the functions of neurotransmitters in plant cells and the practical application of knowledge about acetylcholine, catecholamines, serotonin, melatonin, histamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid and glutamine for ecology, agriculture, medicine and food industries. Neurotransmitters in Plants: Perspectives and Applications presents information on: the location and biosynthesis where neurotransmitters occur the molecular biology of some enzymes participating in the process their role in vivo and in vitro processes their functions in plant environmental adaptation in plants their role in enriching the food and medicinal value of plants.

This definitive study of brain cholinergic systems features contributions from sixteen leading authorities in fields including morphology, immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology, and psychology. It covers major aspects of the organization and connectivity of cholinergic systems, intrinsic electrophysiological properties, ionic conductances of central cholinergic and cholinoceptive neuron, the effects of brainstem and basal forebrain cholinergic systems upon thalmic and cortical neurons, plasticity processes in the thalamin and cerebral cortex, and studies on Alzheimer's disease.