A collection of state-of-the-art molecular methods for studying antifungal resistance, for discovering and evaluating both new and existing antifungal drugs, and for understanding the host response and immunotherapy of such agents. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Antifungal Agents: Methods and Protocols offers...

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-? is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in a va- ety of physiological and pathological processes. After initial discovery of its ability to induce cell death and animal cachexia, it was soon realized that this cytokine played pivotal roles in the regulation of homeostasis and inflam- tory-immune responses. This led to an explosion of interest in basic and tra- lational research activities on the role of TNF in many diseases, such as cancer, septic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, and infectious diseases of the central n- vous system. Because of its potential therapeutic...

A thoroughly revised and updated collection readily reproducible techniques for culturing human cells. This new edition includes a wide range of human cell types relevant to human disease and new chapters on fibroblasts, Schwann cells, gastric and colonic epithelial cells, and parathyroid cells. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Medicine series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls."

Populations of the western world are now healthier and enjoying higher life expectancy than ever. They are beginning to benefit from an array of costly new therapies made possible through recent rapid advances in medical science and technology, and their demands on modern medicine are rising. Meanwhile, healthcare systems are struggling with their outdated legacy models of the m- th 20 century and are experiencing ever-increasing financial pressure from g- ernments and health insurance organizations. The equation is no longer in balance, and this predicament is forcing societies to explore...

A timely primer on the new reality of antisense and RNA inhibition for treating a broad range of diseases. The authors show how antisense oligonucleotides are being designed and studied in relation to hypertension, various cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, brain disorders, the blood-brain barrier, and drug delivery. Highlights include RNA-based therapies for many diseases, up-to-date methods and applications, and insight into the enormous potential to provide a new generation of drugs.

A cutting-edge collection of readily reproducible molecular techniques to better understand, classify, and treat lymphoma. Among the highlights are methods to use immunoglobulin gene rearrangements as markers of clonality, to exploit patterns of somatic mutation in the variable regions to indicate at which stage transformation occurred, and to apply gene arrays to the question of biological heterogeneity in morphologically similar diseases. Research methodologies that are highly likely to become routine practice in the future, such as DNA microarray and immunoglobulin V-gene rearrangements,...

Diabetes mellitus is the collective name for a group of diseases associated with hyperglycemia (high levels of blood glucose) caused by defects in insulin p- duction, insulin action, or both. About 6. 2% of the US population (17 million people) have diabetes mellitus. It is the leading cause of kidney failure, bli- ness, and amputations. It is also a major risk factor for heart diseases, stroke, and birth defects. Diabetes Mellitus: Methods and Protocols provides a state-of-the-art account of the experimental methodology for studying the molecular defects leading to diabetes mellitus, both at...

Vaccine research and development is advancing at an unprecedented pace, with an increasing emphasis on rational design based upon a fundamental und- standing of the underlying molecular mechanisms. The aim of this volume is to provide a selection of contemporary protocols that will be useful to both novice and advanced practitioner alike. The variety of procedures required to design, develop, produce, and assess a vaccine is immense and covers aspects of ch- istry, biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, and immunology. No single volume can hope to cover these topics exclusively....

Rule IV. There is need of a method for finding out the truth. Rule V. Method consists entirely in the order and disposition of the objects toward which our mental vision must be directed if we would find out any truth. We shall comply with it exactly if we reduce involved and obscure propositions step be step to those that are s- pler, and then starting with the intuitive apprehension of all those that are absolutely simple, attempt to ascend to the knowledge of all others by precisely similar steps. Rene Descartes, Rules for the Direction of Mind Perhaps he would sooner satisfy himself by...

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Annually approximately 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease and most will die from it within five years. P- creatic ductal adenocarcinoma is unique because of its late onset in age, high mortality, small tumor samples infiltrated with normal cells, and a lack of both early detection and effective therapies. Some of these characteristics have made studying this disease a challenge. Pancreatic cancer develops as a result of the accumulation of genetic alterations in cancer-causing...