This volume of the Keio University International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine contains the proceedings of the 14th symposium held under the sponsorship of the Keio University Medical Science Fund.The fund was established by the generous donation of the late Dr. Mitsunada Sakaguchi. The Keio University International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine constitute one of the core activities sponsored by the fund, of which the objective is to contribute to the international community by developing human resources, promoting scienti?c knowledge, and encouraging mutual exchange. Each year, the Committee of the International Symposia for Life Sciences and Medicine selects the most signi?cant symposium topics from applications received from the Keio medical community. The publication of the proceedings is intended to publicize and distribute the information arising from the lively discussions of the most exciting and current issues p- sented during the symposium.On behalf of the Committee,I am most gra- ful to the late Dr. Sakaguchi, who made the series of the symposia possible. We are also grateful to the prominent speakers for their contributions to this volume.In addition,we would like to acknowledge the ef?cient organizational work performed by the members of the program committee and the staff of the fund. Naoki Aikawa, M.D., D.M.Sc., F.A.C.S.

"The concept of microcirculation means not only the assembly of small vessels-those of less than 100 um in diameter, but also its functional circulatory and metabolic units. Its principal function is to permit the transfer of substances between the tissues and the circulation, making it a fundamental factor in disease processes, including the spread of cancer, delayed healing, circulatory shock, and complications of diabetes . Organ Microcirculation: A Gateway to Diagnostic and Therapeutic Interventions covers the latest developments in nano-biotechnology for microvascular interventions, gastroduodenal microcirculation and disease, liver microvascular research, cell adhesion and traffic in micmcirculation, and the sensing and bioregulation of gaseous molecules in microcirculation . It provides invaluable information for those engaged in microvascular research in the fields of pharmacology, physiology, gastroenterology, and bioengineering. TOC:Nano-biotechnology for developing microvascular intervention.- Gastroduodenal microcirculation and disease.- Liver microcirculation researches for clinical application.- Cell adhesion and traffics in microcirculation."

Nanobiotechnology for Developing Microvascular Intervention.- Importance of the Villus Microcirculation for Intestinal Absorption of Glucose.- Oxygen Transport in the Microvessel Network.- Beating-Heart Microvascular Imaging by High-Speed Video Microscope and SPring-8.- The Laser Hot Balloon Catheter: a New Approach to Treating Atheromatous Lesions.- Design and Modification of Nanoparticles for Blood Substitutes.- Analysis of Angiogenic Profiles After Antiangiogenic Therapy by Colored Dye Extraction Microsphere Technique.- Gastroduodenal Microcirculation and Disease.- Esophageal and Gastrointestinal Microcirculation: Essential for Mucosal Protection, a Target for Injury, and a Critical Component of Injury and Ulcer Healing.- Microvascular Pathophysiology in Gastric Mucosal Inflammation Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection.- Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in the Stomach: Role of Oxygen-Derived Free Radicals and Complement Regulatory System.- Gastroduodenal Microcirculatory Response to Luminal Acid.- Intracellular pH (pHi) Measurement in Rat Duodenal Epithelium In Vivo Using SNARF-1.- Prevention of Ethanol-induced Gastric Mucosal Microcirculatory Disturbances by Mild Irritant Through the Actions of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Prostaglandin I2 in Rats.- Role of Perforin and Granzyme B of Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte in the Onset of Peptic Ulcer Formation.- Re-Evaluation of Microcirculatory Endothelial Cell as an Endocrine System of Leptin: Its Significance During Ulcer Healing and Helicobacter pylori Infection.- Bile Nucleotides Exaggerate Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Epithelial Injury via P2Y, Not P2X Purinoceptor in Rat Jejunum.- Prostaglandin E1 and a Serine Protease Inhibitor Protect the Gastric Microcirculation and Increase the Gastric Acid Secretion After Thermal Injury.- Duodenal Blood Flow in Acute Portal Hypertension.- Liver Microcirculation Research for Clinical Application.- Genetic Manipulation of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells.- Basic Aspects of the Hepatic Microvascular System.- Activation of Hepatic Stellate Cells: Anti-Adipogenic Differentiation?.- Microvascular Derangement in Liver Transplantation.- Regulation of Local Hepatic Oxygen Delivery Following Stress.- Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide for Hepatic Tumor Diagnosis.- Roles of Thromboxane in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Hepatic Microcirculatory Dysfunction in Mice.- Changes of Hepatic Microcirculation in Acute Cholestasis.- Cell Adhesion and Traffic in Microcirculation.- Microvascular Aspects of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.- Analysis of Trigger Mechanisms for Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease: Application to Shock and Multiorgan Failure.- Selectin-Dependent Leukocyte Interactions with Vascular Surfaces.- Lymphocyte Migration to the Intestinal Mucosa and its Relation to Mucosal Defense.- Role for P-Selectin in Platelet Thrombus Formation Under Flow.- Glomerular Microcirculation: Distinct Intracellular Mechanisms for Afferent and Efferent Arteriolar Tone.- Role of Lectin-Like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 (LOX-1) in Adenosine Diphosphate-Activated Platelet Adhesion to Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Under Flow In Vitro.- Role of Oxidative Stress in Interaction Between Endothelial Cells and Platelets in Diabetes.- T-Lymphocyte Migration is Differently Regulated in Appendiceal Lymph Follicles and Intestinal Peyer's Patches.- Cardiotonic Pill Improves Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Microcirculatory Disturbances in Rat Mesentery.- Molecular Determinants of Dextran Sodium Sulfate Colitis-Induced Platelet Adhesion inColonic Venules.- Lymphatic Vessels as a Selective Administration Route of Antitumor Agent.- Gaseous Molecules: Sensing and Bioregulation in Microcirculation.- The Heme Oxygenase-Carbon Monoxide System as a Regulator of Microvascular Function.- Biological Characteristics of Lymphatic Endothelial Cells with Special Reference to Nitric Oxide and Lymphangiogenesis.- How Does Inhaled Nitric Oxide Reach Peripheral Tissues?.- Tumor Angiogenesis Regulated by Gaseous Molecules in Tumor Microenvironment: Oxygen, pH, and Nitric Oxide.- Oxygen-Induced Cytoskeleton Rearrangement of Cultured Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells.