Library Science

In Melanoma Techniques and Protocols: Molecular Diagnosis, Treatment, and Monitoring, a broadly diverse group of researchers and clinicians offer not only reviews of the most important recent advances in melanoma oncology, tumor immunology, and pathology, but also state-of-the-art molecular techniques for probing its basic biology. These readily reproducible methods can be used to develop new diagnostic approaches, therapeutics, and status monitoring of patients suffering both early- and late-stage melanoma. With emphasis on the experimental details critical to experimental success, each method is described in step-by-step fahion by hands-on masters, often those who have developed hem in their own laboratories. Comprehensive and highly instructive, Melanoma Techniques and Protocols: Molecular Diagnosis, Treatment, and Monitoring offers both clinicians and basic scientists concerned with malignant melanoma both new clinical perspectives and the wide ranging experimental protocols essential for achieving more rapid breakthroughs in this near-epidemic disease.

Authors: B.J. Nickoloff

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Internationally recognized investigators review the latest developments in, and novel approaches to, understanding the prion protein and prion diseases at the molecular level. Utilizing a variety of cutting-edge techniques, these distinguished scientists seek to define the normal function of a prion protein, to detect and measure the early immune response to prion disease, and to discover possible therapeutic targets. They also use transgenic mice and new electrophysiological investigations to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in prion diseases. State-of-the-art and richly insightful, Molecular Pathology of the Prions captures for basic and clinical neuropathologists the latest developments and approaches to understanding the pathogenesis of prion diseases, and by analogy suggests possible research techniques for the more common proteinopthies, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Authors: Baker, Harry F.

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Metastasis Research Protocols describes in detail all the methods needed to investigate why and how metastasis occurs. Volume I presents a comprehensive collection of established and leading-edge techniques for analyzing the expression of key molecules and for examining their production at the genetic level. The work focuses on the analysis and mapping of molecules produced by cells and tissues, and on the molecular biology underlying their expression. The traditional methods range from the histopathological and the immunocytochemical to SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and enzyme zymography. Newer and more specialized techniques for analyzing the genetic aspects of metastasis include in situ hybridization to localize mRNAs, FISH, CGH, methylation analysis of CpG islands, RT-PCR, and differential display. Volume II presents a comprehensive collection of established and leading-edge techniques for examining metastatic behavior in vitro and whole animal models. Methods are provided for the separation of cell lines with high and low metastatic potential, along with assay systems to test defined aspects of the metastatic cascade. These systems include cell migration assays, assays for matrix degrading enzymes, basement membrane degrading assays, adhesion assays, and assays of angiogenesis. The detailed descriptions of animal models of metastasis cover the use of immunodeficient animals, syngenic and transgenic models, and orthotopic models of metastasis.

Authors: Brooks, Susan A., Schumacher, Udo

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Jack H. Mydlo, MD, and a panel of leading clinicians and researchers review every aspect of the latest surgical, medical, and immunological techniques that can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of renal cancer. These broadly experienced investigators also present a practical account of their best basic research methods, including the use of reverse transcriptase PCR combined with genomic hybridization, cadherin, and metalloproteinase expression to reveal important factors in the detection, staging, aggressiveness, and treatment of this disease. Gene therapy, the generation of monoclonal antibodies, and the use of interferon alpha, GM-CSF, and IL-6 are also discussed. Comprehensive and pioneering, Renal Cancer: Methods and Protocols offers urologists, medical oncologists, laboratory investigators, and pathologists a practical collection of the major cutting-edge techniques and therapies for renal cancer today, together with a view of the highly promising future of gene therapy.

Authors: Mydlo, Jack H.

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In Atherosclerosis: Experimental Methods and Protocols, Angela Drew and a panel of experts have assembled a comprehensive collection of traditional and cutting-edge techniques for investigating this disease and its possible treatments. Each readily reproducible method includes step-by-step instructions and practical information regarding sample collection, the choice of animal model system, experimental design, and practical data analysis techniques. Comprehensive and richly detailed, Atherosclerosis: Experimental Methods and Protocols enables all biomedical investigators to select those optimized techniques that may be most fruitfully used to study the development, progression, and treatment of atherosclerotic lesions today.

Authors: Drew, Angela F.

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Donna Wang and a panel of hands-on experts describe in step-by-step detail all the major molecular, biochemical, and functional techniques now used in probing the renin???angiotensin system. These range from the use of embryonic gene targeting to create of mutant strains, to the functional investigation of components of the renin???angiotensin system. Comprehensive and highly practical, Angiotensin Protocols translates expert knowledge into readily reproducible methods that enable all biomedical investigators successfully to explore the role of angiotensin in health and disease today.

Authors: Wang, Donna H.

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Steven M. Powell, MD, has assembled a hands-on collection of cutting-edge molecular methods for studying colorectal tumors. These readily reproducible techniques range from gross microdissection of specimens to specific molecular analyses. Here both the novice and experienced researcher will find productive chromosomal analyses, including comparative genomic hybridization and FISH assays, and revealing gene expression analyses, including immunohistochemical assays, Western blotting, and microarray assays. Eminently practical, with each technique presented as if the expert in the field who had perfected it were guiding the investigator, Colorectal Cancer: Methods and Protocols provides cancer investigators with a gold standard collection of all the key genetic, cellular, and molecular biological methods for analyzing colon cancer today.

Authors: Powell,Steven M.

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Anthony Killeen has assembled a collection of readily reproducible molecular pathology techniques that are either frequently performed or recognized for their significant diagnostic utility. Each method is described in step-by-step detail by a leading molecular pathologist or laboratory scientist who has developed it or used it extensively. These clinical laboratory techniques can be used for the diagnosis or monitoring of cancer, hematological malignancies, infectious diseases, and selected genetic disorders. Comprehensive and path-breaking, Molecular Pathology Protocols will enable clinical laboratories to introduce new molecular pathology tests and lay the groundwork for a much-needed standardization in this rapidly developing field.

Authors: Ed. Killeen, Anthony A.

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Stephen Gillespie and a panel of leading clinical and diagnostic microbiologists describe a series of detailed molecular and physical methods designed to study the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, as well as facilitate new antibiotic research programs for its effective redress. The techniques range widely from those that provide rapid diagnosis via DNA amplification and phage display, to those for plotting the transmission of resistant organisms and investigating their epidemiology. The methods are readily adaptable to a wide range of resistant bacterial organisms. Practical and wide-ranging, Antibiotic Resistance: Methods and Protocols provides a collection of indispensable techniques not only for illuminating the basic biology of antimicrobial resistance, but also for developing and implementing new diagnostic and epidemiological tools.

Authors: Ed. Gillespie, Stephen H.

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Elizabeth Rakcozy and a team of leading clinical and experimental scientists describe in step-by-step detail the key techniques essential to effective molecular biological research in ophthalmology and optometry. These readily reproducible methods are adapted to the special requirements of vision research, with coverage that ranges from the most basic to the most sophisticated technologies. Included are methods for the down-regulation of gene expression, new gene therapy techniques, and for the development of transgenic and knockout animal models for testing novel therapies. Eminently accessible and clinically relevant, Vision Research Protocols provides experimental and biomedical investigators in ophthalmology and optometry with a rich panoply of most powerful tools with which to ask–and answer–all the important questions emerging from the dramatically advancing work in vision research today. Ed. Rakoczy, P. Elizabeth Read the rest of this entry »

A comprehensive collection of key techniques for assessing the formation of new blood vessels in both whole tissues and cell culture. These readily reproducible methods range from low-cost in vitro assays to cutting-edge in vivo models, such as the dorsal window chamber, which demands high levels of surgical skill as well as relatively expensive, custom-made equipment. Timely and highly practical, Angiogenesis Protocols is a gold-standard resource for today’s angiogenesis investigator, providing easy access to a wide variety of proven assays suitable for laboratories with greatly differing technical expertise, materials, and financial resources.

Authors: Ed. J. C. Murray

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