Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 134

The eyes are highly diversified photosensitive structures. In all vertebrates, eyes resemble in molecular composition and are predominantly composed of extracellular matrix (ECM). Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 134 explores the dual role of ECM in ocular homeostasis and diseases and discusses how this duality can be used to treat such diseases. The view on ECM biology offered by this work is translational and adress concepts of basic science and clinical-surgical issues.Following this, the authors aim to provide information about the mechanisms of oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis, to provide updates for previous studies update and some of the current paradigms discussed and to provide a basis for future studies. This review highlights the elementary value of apoptosis, including its effect on tissue homeostasis and cellular stress.The aim of the subsequent study was to investigate microcirculation peculiarities of the covering tissues of the limbs and body in patients with orthopedic pathology and in track-and-field athletes having reached high sport mastership.Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are a clinical entity in which CSF rhinorrhea occurs in the absence of any inciting event. Spontaneous CSF leaks are associated with elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) or underlying idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The authors report on a cohort of patients who have undergone nasal endoscopic repair for spontaneous CSF leaks.Wound healing is a widespread feature of multicellular organisms. Evidence illustrates that apoptosis has very important roles in the various phases of the wound healing process. As such, the authors maintain the importance of keeping up-to-date with studies on apoptosis and its associated mechanisms highlighted in the wound healing process, providing a systematic analysis of recent molecular research in wound healing applications.Despite enormous improvements in supportive and standard care, septic shock and liver failure remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Plasma separation via centrifugation is a common method for therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with liver failure and septic shock. The authors suggest that the use of a centrifugal approach rather than regular plasma filtration enables the transfer of larger particles into the resulting plasma fraction. The possible advantages of using centrifugation in comparison to hemofiltration in blood cleaning techniques are currently hypothetical.The most commonly used staging classification of the classical form of Kaposis sarcoma was presented by Brambilla et al. in 2003. The authors distinguished four stages of the disease based on the morphology of the cutaneous lesions, location of the skin changes, presence of complications and internal organ involvement. The clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of classical Kaposis sarcoma will be discussed in the closing chapter.