Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 170 begins by presenting the latest evidence that Alzheimer’s disease-related proteins and their genes play a role in post-ischemic brain damage, and that an ischemic episode is an essential and leading provider of Alzheimer’s disease development. The authors go on to review the pathophysiology, symptoms, epidemiology, analysis, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Important issues when appraising and interpreting studies on fertility awareness methods used for avoiding pregnancy are described, and correct clinical applications of fertility awareness methods for contraception are also discussed. The basic molecular pathology of human cancers is discussed, as well as rising technologies for tumour characterization and the role of molecular profiling in identifying potential targets for individualised treatment. Additionally, an overview of the various modalities for assessing the liver functional reserve in patients undergoing hepatic resection is provided. Lastly, data on the linearization of somatic growth plots in humans and rats is discussed, showing the existence of at least two ontogenetic transitions: juvenile and pubertal.