Advances in Medicine & Biology : Volume 74

This continuing series gathers and presents original research results on the leading edge of medicine and biology. Each article has been carefully selected in an attempt to present substantial topical data across a broad spectrum. Topics discussed include the drug interactions and potential side effects of cyclosporine and its mitochondrial connection; alcohol in pregnancy and its repercussion on the central nervous system; the putative impact of cyclosporine on hepatocellular apoptosis in vivo; medical therapy for the management of preterm labor; a qualitative study of care leaders'' opinions on infection prevention at long-term care facilities in Japan; biochemical markers in patients that underwent bariatric surgery; probable role of epigenomics in age-related macular degeneration; L-ascorbic acid protection against oxidative damage in hRPE cells by stimulating intracellular erythropoietin activity; and the current classiciation of Drusen and its characterisation with autofluorescence, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and multimodal imaging.