Cover; Copyright Page; Contents; Contributors; Publisher's Note; Preface; Chapter 1. Clinical Applications of Cytokine Assays; 1. Cytokines: An Overview; 2. Cytokines and Diseases; 3. Cytokine Assays; 4. Clinical Application of Cytokine Assays; 5. Conclusions; References; Chapter 2. Current Concepts on Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis; 1. Introduction; 2. Pathophysiology of Acute Pancreatitis; 3. Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis; 4. Therapy; 5. Conclusions; References; Chapter 3. Mitochondrial DNA Mutations and Oxidative Stress in Mitochondrial Diseases; 1. Introduction

2. A Brief Review of Studies on Mitochondrial Diseases3. The Genetic Map and Structural Characteristics of Human Mitochondrial DNA.; 4. Transmission by Maternal Inheritance and Random Segregation of mtDNA during Mitosis and Development; 5. Susceptibility of mtDNA to Oxidative Damage and Mutation; 6. Classification of Disease-Associated mtDNA Mutations; 7. Molecular Consequences of mtDNA Mutations; 8. Biochemical Basis for How mtDNA Mutations Cause Mitochondrial Dysfunction; 9. Oxidative Stress and Oxidative Damage Elicited by mtDNA Mutations

10. Mitochondrial Diseases Caused by Mutations in Nuclear DNA11. Cybrids for Studies of Mitochondrial Diseases: Applications and Limitations; 12. Effect of mtDNA Mutations on the Apoptosis of Human Cells; 13. Therapy for Mitochondrial Diseases.; 14. Concluding Remarks; References; Chapter 4. Autoantibodies to dsDNA, Ro/SSA, and La/SSB in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; 1. Introduction; 2. Basic Studies of Autoantibodies to dsDNA, Ro/SSA, and La/SSB; 3. Clinical Aspects of Anti-dsDNA, Anti-Ro/SSA, and Anti-La/SSB Autoantibodies; 4. Discussion and Conclusion; References

Chapter 5. Pathobiochemistry of Nephrotic Syndrome1. Introduction; 2. Structure and Function of the Glomerular Capillary Wall; 3. Pathogenesis of Proteinuria in Acquired Forms of Nephrotic Syndrome; 4. Biochemical Signs and Clinical Symptoms of Nephrotic Syndrome; 5. Diagnosis of Nephrotic Syndrome; 6. Treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome; 7. Summary; References; Chapter 6. Total Antioxidant Capacity; 1. Introduction; 2. Methodology; 3. What Determines Total Antioxidant Capacity?; 4. Total Antioxidant Capacity of Body Fluids; 5. Total Antioxidant Capacity of Tissue Homogenates

6. Total Antioxidant Capacity of Food and Beverages7. Total Antioxidant Capacity of Plants; 8. Antioxidant Activity of Individual Compounds; 9. Effect of Nutrition on Total Antioxidant Activity of Body Fluids; 10. Effect of Physical Exercise on Blood Plasma Total Antioxidant Capacity; 11. Alterations in Total Antioxidant Capacity of Body Fluids and Tissue Homogenates in Diseases and Therapy; 12. Points of Concern; 13. Conclusions; References; Chapter 7. Lymphoid Malignancies: Immunophenotypic Analysis; 1. Introduction: Immunophenotypic Analysis; 2. Background: Immunophenotypic Analysis