The International Society of Oxygen Transport to Tissue (ISOTT) was founded in 1973 to provide a forum for bioengineers, basic scientists, physiologists, and physicians to discuss new data, original theories, new interpretations of old data, and new technologies for the measurement of oxygen. At each annual meeting all posters are presented orally along with plenary lectures, and all presentations are given in a general session attended by everyone. Each meeting has had a specific focus, ranging from neonatology to physical chemistry to cancer biology. The Society has helped to build many careers, through opportunities to meet leaders in the field, and through awards made to young physicians and scientists. The Society also, through cross fertilization of ideas and scientific comradery, has inspired many breakthroughs in clinical medicine that now benefit mankind. I find myself president of the society after having been a winner of the Melvin Knisely Award for young scientists, in 1991. The 2003 meeting emphasized the role of oxygen and oxygen measurement in tumor growth, metastasis, physiology, and treatment resistance. Additionally, however, completely novel approaches to measurement of tissue oxygen were presented (notably work by Dr. Takahashi) and molecular methods for estimating tissue oxygen were evaluated. Papers discussing other aspects of oxygen measurement and pathophysiology were presented including in vivo ESR spectroscopy (notably including Dr. Swartz and colleagues), exercise physiology, organ transplant outcome (discussed by Dr. Cicco, our 2004 president), circulatory physiology, and cerebral oxygenation (notably including Dr. Chance).

Tumor oxygenation is a crucial factor to determine the efficiency of non-surgery therapy, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, various approaches have been applied to tumor in order to improve the tumor oxygen level. Breathing oxygen-rich gas with normobaric or hyperbaric pressure has been demonstrated to overcome hypoxia, but with marginal success. Therefore, the outcome would be improved greatly, if the responsive tumors were identified in priori. Two non-invasive techniques were applied to monitor tumor oxygenation dynamics simultaneously when rats were exposed to hyperoxic gas intervention. 19F MRI provides tumor tissue oxygen tension (pO2) images, while Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) measures global tumor vascular dynamics. Multiple correlations were examined between the rate and magnitudes of vascular and tissue oxygen responses. In order to extract more physiological information from tumor vascular oxygen measured by NIRS, a mathematical model, modified from the Windkessel model, was used to obtain the tumor blood flow and oxygen consumption rate from hemoglobin concentration. Besides normobaric oxygen intervention, hyperbaric oxygen intervention was also adopted to improve tumor oxygenation because it increases oxygen tension and oxygen delivery to tissue independent of hemoglobin. Two techniques, FOXY(TM) fluorescence quenching oxygen sensor and NIRS, were applied simultaneously to monitor tumor tissue and vascular oxygen during and post hyperbaric oxygen administration, so as to investigate tumor oxygenation achieved with hyperbaric oxygen and the preservation of tumor oxygenation after hyperbaric oxygen intervention. I applied combined administration of doxorubicin and hyperbaric oxygen to tumors and compared the tumor oxygenation dynamics, tumor size, body weight between rats with combined therapy and those with doxorubicin alone. Combined application of MRI and NIRS, and FOXY(TM) oxygen sensor are novel methodology, which are complementary. Simultaneous application gives us a better understanding on the patho-physiology of tumor and response to therapeutic intervention.

Nanostructures for Antimicrobial Therapy discusses the pros and cons of the use of nanostructured materials in the prevention and eradication of infections, highlighting the efficient microbicidal effect of nanoparticles against antibiotic-resistant pathogens and biofilms. Conventional antibiotics are becoming ineffective towards microorganisms due to their widespread and often inappropriate use. As a result, the development of antibiotic resistance in microorganisms is increasingly being reported. New approaches are needed to confront the rising issues related to infectious diseases. The merging of biomaterials, such as chitosan, carrageenan, gelatin, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) with nanotechnology provides a promising platform for antimicrobial therapy as it provides a controlled way to target cells and induce the desired response without the adverse effects common to many traditional treatments. Nanoparticles represent one of the most promising therapeutic treatments to the problem caused by infectious micro-organisms resistant to traditional therapies. This volume discusses this promise in detail, and also discusses what challenges the greater use of nanoparticles might pose to medical professionals. The unique physiochemical properties of nanoparticles, combined with their growth inhibitory capacity against microbes has led to the upsurge in the research on nanoparticles as antimicrobials. The importance of bactericidal nanobiomaterials study will likely increase as development of resistant strains of bacteria against most potent antibiotics continues. - Shows how nanoantibiotics can be used to more effectively treat disease - Discusses the advantages and issues of a variety of different nanoantibiotics, enabling medics to select which best meets their needs - Provides a cogent summary of recent developments in this field, allowing readers to quickly familiarize themselves with this topic area

This textbook is a practical guide to the use of small animal imaging in preclinical research that will assist in the choice of imaging modality and contrast agent and in study design, experimental setup, and data evaluation. All established imaging modalities are discussed in detail, with the assistance of numerous informative illustrations. While the focus of the new edition remains on practical basics, it has been updated to encompass a variety of emerging imaging modalities, methods, and applications. Additional useful hints are also supplied on the installation of a small animal unit, study planning, animal handling, and cost-effective performance of small animal imaging. Cross-calibration methods and data postprocessing are considered in depth. This new edition of Small Animal Imaging will be an invaluable aid for researchers, students, and technicians involved in research into and applications of small animal imaging.

Metabolomics, the global characterisation of the small molecule complement involved in metabolism, has evolved into a powerful suite of approaches for understanding the global physiological and pathological processes occurring in biological organisms. The diversity of metabolites, the wide range of metabolic pathways and their divergent biological contexts require a range of methodological strategies and techniques. Methodologies for Metabolomics provides a comprehensive description of the newest methodological approaches in metabolomic research. The most important technologies used to identify and quantify metabolites, including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, are highlighted. The integration of these techniques with classical biological methods is also addressed. Furthermore, the book presents statistical and chemometric methods for evaluation of the resultant data. The broad spectrum of topics includes a vast variety of organisms, samples and diseases, ranging from in vivo metabolomics in humans and animals to in vitro analysis of tissue samples, cultured cells and biofluids.