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 in this book include the pathogenesis of inclusion body myositis; the coexistence of outbreak of vibrio parahaemolyticus and acyl derived from OA-group toxins in shellfish from southern Chile; the antral ovarian follicle population and its application to fertility and livestock breeding; current achievements in the ovarian follicular reserve; large-scale in vitro embryo production as a tool to improve animal breeding; physio-pathological roles of sirtuins and their therapeutic significance; and xenopus as model animals for studying larval to adult tissue remodeling and adult organ formation.