Main description:

This book explores the potentiel of stem cells for ameliorating the quality of life of patients with neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. It discusses results of pre-clinical investigations and case studies on the effects of stem cell transplantation on cell death, to promote/stimulate neuroprotection after brain and spinal cord injury through trophic support, cell replacement and remyelination. It covers the maintenance of the balance between stem cells and their progenitors within their niche, both under normal and degenerative processes, ischemic stroke, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumor.

Contents:

Toxic microalgae and cyanobacteria. Harmful algae and their toxins: progress, paradoxes and paradigm shifts. Micro-algal and cyanobacterial producers of biotoxins. Detection and identification of toxic microalgae by the use of innovative molecular methodologies. Factors affecting algal toxicity. Microalgal toxins: chemistry and detection. Chemistry and detection of okadaic acid/dinophysistoxins, pectenotoxins and yessotoxins. Chemistry of brevetoxins. The chemistry of ciguatoxins: from the first records to current challenges of monitoring programs. Palytoxins: chemistry and detection. Chemistry and detection of domoic acid and isomers. Current knowledge of paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis, molecular detection and evolution. Current understanding and hypotheses on the biosynthesis of microalgal polyether toxins. Total synthesis of marine polycyclic ether natural products. Instrumental methods for determination of marine microalgal toxins. Biological assays for toxin detection: characteristics, potential and critical issues. Marine toxin detection methods in regulation - from validation to implementation.