This book follows the human journey from conception to old age and presents evidence amassed over more than a century that can transform the care of patients with birth injury, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and even reverse decline in old age.

This e-book will review special features of the cerebral circulation and how they contribute to the physiology of the brain. It describes structural and functional properties of the cerebral circulation that are unique to the brain, an organ with high metabolic demands and the need for tight water and ion homeostasis. Autoregulation is pronounced in the brain, with myogenic, metabolic and neurogenic mechanisms contributing to maintain relatively constant blood flow during both increases and decreases in pressure. In addition, unlike peripheral organs where the majority of vascular resistance resides in small arteries and arterioles, large extracranial and intracranial arteries contribute significantly to vascular resistance in the brain. The prominent role of large arteries in cerebrovascular resistance helps maintain blood flow and protect downstream vessels during changes in perfusion pressure. The cerebral endothelium is also unique in that its barrier properties are in some way more like epithelium than endothelium in the periphery. The cerebral endothelium, known as the blood-brain barrier, has specialized tight junctions that do not allow ions to pass freely and has very low hydraulic conductivity and transcellular transport. This special configuration modifies Starling's forces in the brain microcirculation such that ions retained in the vascular lumen oppose water movement due to hydrostatic pressure. Tight water regulation is necessary in the brain because it has limited capacity for expansion within the skull. Increased intracranial pressure due to vasogenic edema can cause severe neurologic complications and death.

This presentation describes various aspects of the regulation of tissue oxygenation, including the roles of the circulatory system, respiratory system, and blood, the carrier of oxygen within these components of the cardiorespiratory system. The respiratory system takes oxygen from the atmosphere and transports it by diffusion from the air in the alveoli to the blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries. The cardiovascular system then moves the oxygenated blood from the heart to the microcirculation of the various organs by convection, where oxygen is released from hemoglobin in the red blood cells and moves to the parenchymal cells of each tissue by diffusion. Oxygen that has diffused into cells is then utilized in the mitochondria to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of all cells. The mitochondria are able to produce ATP until the oxygen tension or PO2 on the cell surface falls to a critical level of about 4–5 mm Hg. Thus, in order to meet the energetic needs of cells, it is important to maintain a continuous supply of oxygen to the mitochondria at or above the critical PO2 . In order to accomplish this desired outcome, the cardiorespiratory system, including the blood, must be capable of regulation to ensure survival of all tissues under a wide range of circumstances. The purpose of this presentation is to provide basic information about the operation and regulation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the properties of the blood and parenchymal cells, so that a fundamental understanding of the regulation of tissue oxygenation is achieved.

The Yearbook compiles the most recent developments in experimental and clinical research and practice in one comprehensive reference book. The chapters are written by well recognized experts in the field of intensive care and emergency medicine. It is addressed to everyone involved in internal medicine, anesthesia, surgery, pediatrics, intensive care and emergency medicine.

This volume contains the most recent works on intracranial pressure and neuromonitoring in brain injury selected from 300 abstracts submitted to the 10th International Symposium on Intracranial Pressure. It includes state of the art monitoring of the brain injured patient in intensive care as well as the current state of knowledge in neurochemical and oxygen monitoring of the injured brain. Recent advances in molecular mechanisms of injury and the pathophysiology of ischemia and trauma are also included. "... this publication presents a comprehensive survey of the present state of art in the field and thus gives directions for further research to those engaged in ICP measurement and neuromonitoring”. Intensive Care Med

Core Topics in Neuroanesthesia and Neurointensive Care is an authoritative and practical clinical text that offers clear diagnostic and management guidance for a wide range of neuroanesthesia and neurocritical care problems. With coverage of every aspect of the discipline by outstanding world experts, this should be the first book to which practitioners turn for easily accessible and definitive advice. Initial sections cover relevant anatomy, physiology and pharmacology, intraoperative and critical care monitoring and neuroimaging. These are followed by detailed sections covering all aspects of neuroanesthesia and neurointensive care in both adult and pediatric patients. The final chapter discusses ethical and legal issues. Each chapter delivers a state-of-the art review of clinical practice, including outcome data when available. Enhanced throughout with numerous clinical photographs and line drawings, this practical and accessible text is key reading for trainee and consultant anesthetists and critical care specialists.

The ability of cells to sense and respond to changes in oxygenation underlies a multitude of developmental, physiological, and pathological processes. This volume provides a comprehensive compendium of experimental approaches to the study of oxygen sensing in 48 chapters that are written by leaders in their fields.

Cutting-edge research on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a gene therapy to treat traumatic brain injuries, degenerative neurological diseases, and other disorders Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is based on a simple idea—that oxygen can be used therapeutically for a wide range of conditions where tissues have been damaged by oxygen deprivation. Inspiring and informative, The Oxygen Revolution, Third Edition is the comprehensive, definitive guide to the miracle of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. HBOT directly affects the body at the genetic level, affecting over 8,000 individual genes—those responsible for healing, growth, and anti-inflammation. Dr. Paul G. Harch’s research and clinical practice has shown that this noninvasive and painless treatment can help those suffering from brain injury or such diseases as: • Stroke • Autism and other learning disabilities • Cerebral palsy and other birth injuries • Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and other degenerative neurological diseases • Emergency situations requiring resuscitation, such as cardiac arrest, carbon monoxide poisoning, or near drowning For those affected by these seemingly “hopeless” diseases, there is finally hope in a proven solution: HBOT.

Provides current insights into critical abnormalities of the heart and lungs. The 3rd Edition includes chapters on microcirculation, regional distribution of blood flow, methods of increasing oxygen delivery, septic shock, environmental lung injury, and the effects of high pressure environments. Much more focused toward the critical care aspects of cardiopulmonary disorders.