The goal of this text is to focus readers attention on three major areas; the origin and localization of GSH in the nervous system; the multiple effects of GSH on neural health activity; and the potential for alterations on GSH status to lead to neurological damage of the type observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. The text also touches upon the additional roles of the antoxidant GSH, including possible neurotransmitter action, redox modulation of ionotropic receptor function, and neuroprotection against exicitoxic actions of glutamate.

The goal of this text is to focus readers attention on three major areas; the origin and localization of GSH in the nervous system; the multiple effects of GSH on neural health activity; and the potential for alterations on GSH status to lead to neurological damage of the type observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. The text also touches upon the additional roles of the antoxidant GSH, including possible neurotransmitter action, redox modulation of ionotropic receptor function, and neuroprotection against exicitoxic actions of glutamate.

Reduced glutathione (GSH) is the most important thiol in living organisms. It is the key component of antioxidant system and serves as a free radical scavenger. There is a cycle of GSH in biological systems and this cycle provides higher intracellular levels of GSH. GSH depletion and apparent oxidative stress may cause toxicity and can affect the general well-being of the organism. GSH was shown to be preventive against aging, cancer, heart disease, infections and dementia. This book is mainly focused on GSH in health and disease. The readers will gain qualified scientific knowledge on the diverse functions of GSH, the importance of GSH status against oxidative stress and the interaction between GSH and nervous system-related infections from this book.

The imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defenses determines a state known as oxidative stress. Higher levels of pro-oxidants compared to antioxidant defenses may generate oxidative damage, which, in turn, may lead to modifications in cellular proteins, lipids, and DNA, reducing functional capacity and increasing the risk of diseases. Nevertheless, the clearance of harmful reactive chemical species is achieved by the antioxidant defense systems. These protection systems are referred to as the first and second lines of defense and comprise the classic antioxidants, enzymatic and nonenzymatic defenses, including glutathione. This book presents and discusses the advancement of research on health and diseases and their underlying mechanisms, exploring mainly aspects related to the glutathione antioxidant system.

The discovery of vitamins in the early 1900s, their later chemical characterization and the clarification of pivotal metabolic functions are sequential aspects of a brilliant chapter in the history of modern nutritional sciences and medicine. The name, derived from “vital-amines”, indicates their elementary metabolic key functions in human metabolism. Vitamins are truly families of compounds, which include precursors and various free and bound forms, all with individual roles in metabolism and function. A more recent approach therefore searches for the components, the understanding of their roles in physiology and pathology as well as looking for novel pharmacological applications. When used properly, vitamins are, indeed, “magical” substances. Due to their efficacy, they should therefore be regarded as drugs with effects and side effects to be weighted against each other. Today, it is not the previously fatal deficiency-associated diseases that are in the focus of interest, but rather the relation of suboptimal vitamin bioavailability to chronic disease. This is complicated by genetic susceptibility, lifestyle, and the presence or absence of health-compromising habits, such as smoking. In turn, the development and application of new and more sensitive and specific assays further enable us to look more closely into the many functions of vitamins. Water soluble vitamins are complex molecular structures and even today, many areas in vitamin biochemistry are not yet fully understood. Novel effects and functions of vitamins remain and continue to be discovered. This book presents most recent research results and fascinating new knowledge on the role and effects of the water soluble vitamins in man. Some of the most distinguished chemists, biochemists, biologists and clinicians have contributed valuable chapters sharing unexpected novel insights into the biochemistry, (epi)genetics, metabolism, and function of water soluble vitamins, with their potential for clinical applications. Thus, physicians, clinicians, scientists, researchers, epidemiologists. nutritional specialists and health professionals alike will find stimulating and fascinating new insight in the many roles that water soluble vitamins play in human health and disease.

Written by world-renowned scientists, the volume provides a state-of-the-art on the most recent MRI techniques related to MS, and it is an indispensable tool for all those working in this field. The context in which this book exists is that there is an increasing perception that modern MR methodologies should be more extensively employed in clinical trials to derive innovative information.

The goal of this text is to focus readers attention on three major areas; the origin and localization of GSH in the nervous system; the multiple effects of GSH on neural health activity; and the potential for alterations on GSH status to lead to neurological damage of the type observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. The text also touches upon the additional roles of the antoxidant GSH, including possible neurotransmitter action, redox modulation of ionotropic receptor function, and neuroprotection against exicitoxic actions of glutamate.