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Digital techniques in echocardiography
Inremational Jaumal of Cardiology, 22 (1989) 215-216 Elsevier
215
IJC 00816
Book Reviews Soviet Medical Reviews: Cardiology Reviews, vol 1, Human Atherosclerosis Editors: E.I. Chazov and V.N. Smimov Hanvood
Academic
405 pp.; $195.00;
Publishers,
ISBN
Chur, 1987;
3-7186-0349-7
The preface to the series of which this volume is a part states that it is intended to make accounts of recent medical advances in the U.S.S.R. more readily and rapidly accessible to the scientist who does not read Russian. However, Chazov and Smimov have done much more in assembling this book: over and above the climate of literary glasnost that pre-empts such a project, the editors provide a book of astonishing vision and depth. Perhaps mindful of western ignorance of Soviet science there is the presentation of a large number of facets of atherosclerosis, but each chapter also provides a detailed contemporary background literature review drawn from cosmopolitan sources. Even if Russian scientists are not the major reference sources in a field discussed, the various chapter editors make it clear that they are keenly abreast of all that is on-going world-wide. The book deals with morphological aspects of blood vessels in atherosclerosis, on to lipoprotein metabolism and a variety of experimental approaches to receptor identification and functional activity, culminating in therapeutic aspects of the disease. Dolgov and colleagues present the results of their beautiful experiments using perfused rabbit arteries to examine the effects of p&sure and catecholamines on endothelial integrity and LDL incorporation into the aorta. Sviridov et al. report their studies using cultured enterocytes taken post mortem from paediatric trauma cases. There is a chapter devoted to luminescence studies of lipoprotein structure: but herein perhaps lies a weakness. There is no report of molecular biology aimed at atherosclerosis, nor recent pharmacological developments directed at treatment. Epidemiology and population studies are omitted or perhaps not undertaken in Russia. Certainly with regard to molecular and DNA technology this seems a shortfall in research approaches to a disease that may require such techniques to unlock its secrets. 0167-.5273/89/$03.50
Nevertheless this is a beautifully illustrated, thoughtfully produced reference book which, it is to be hoped, will nurture closer scientific links between West and East. Dept. of Medicine Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester LF2 7LX, U.K.
Anthony M. Heagerty
Digital Techniques in Echocardiography Editor: J. Roelandt Published
by
Boston/Lancaster, E57.50;
Martinus 1987;
Nijhoff,
Dordrecht/
170 pp.; Dfl165,
$72.50,
ISBN O-89838-861-9
Over the past few years echocardiography has become the most rapidly advancing technique in diagnostic cardiology. The technology of echocardiography is now almost unrecognisable when compared to the single crystal, Polaroid M-mode scans that were available during the genesis of the technique. This rapid technological progression is mainly due to advances in digital signal processing. Therefore, a book that deals with aspects of digital processing in echocardiography is not only timely but also essential reading for anyone wishing to keep abreast of the very latest developments in this technique. Eleven chapters covering various aspects of contrast echocardiography, tissue characterisation and left ventricular function have been collated from most of the world authorities on these respective subjects. Each technique has been reviewed objectively and numerous clear diagrams and illustrations complement each article. With only a couple of exceptions, all the articles have been written in an easily digestible style that does not require the reader to possess a PhD in computer science to understand them! It is inevitable in a book containing contributions from multiple authors that there is a lack of continuity between chapters and some overlap. However, it would
0 1989 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (Biomedical Division)
216
be impossible for one single author to cover with such detail and authority all the topics in this 170 page book. My only reservation in thoroughly recommending this book, is that since echocardiographic technology is moving so fast, it will soon be out of date. Roll on edition Z! King’s College Hospital London SE5 9RS, U.K.
Mark J. Monaghan Principal Clinical Scientist
Cardiac Arrhythmias: where to go from here? Editors: Pedro Brugada and Hein J.J. Wellens Futura Publishing Company, Mount Kisco, New York, 1987; 823 pp.; $98; ISBN o-87993-306-2 The Editors have brought together in this volume, a large number of experts in the fields of arrhythmias. The chapters give an excellent summary of current thought and opinion in all aspects of tachyarrhythmias from their pathophysiological substrate, mechanism and investigation to sections on the management of tachyarrhythm&. Most of the authors assume at least a basic knowledge of electrophysiology in their readers and therefore the book is aimed at cardiologists who already have an interest in arrhythmias and wish to further it. Occasionally the chapters are a little idiosyncratic, such as the one on antitachycardia pacing in supraventricular tachycardias. This recommends a “universal pacing mode” for antitachycardia pacing and reports good short- and long-term follow-up. However, it mentions none of the problems encountered by other groups using similar modes. However, the editors have striven to maintain a balanced view notably in the two chapters relating to the value of ventricular stimulation postmyocardial infarction in predicting subsequent sudden death. This details the Australian and Canadian experience and the divergence of their findings. Finally, this book is well presented and illustrated. It provides a good overah view of the wide field and the complexities in cardiac tachyarrhythmias, and in addition, is an excelIent source of reference on current subjects of major interest in this field. Consultant Cardiologist The Maidstone Hospital Kent ME16 9QQ, U.K.
Phyllis Holt
Recent Aspects of Diagnosis and Treatment of Lipoprotein Disorders Impact on prevention of atherosclerotic diseases (Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, vol. 255) Editors: Kurt Widhalm and Herbert K. Naito Alan R. Liss, New York, 1988; 383 pp.; $78; ISBN O-8451-5105-3 The book is the symposium of the conference on lipoprotein disorders held in Vienna in 1986, with the participation of many leading authorities in the field. The message clearly emerging from the book is that lipoprotein research has entered a new phase in the recent past. Goldstein, Brown and their contemporaries have clarified the role of low density lipoproteins in the transport of lipids in the circulation, their capture by surface receptors and their reverse transport by high density lipoproteins. A new focus of attention are the apoproteins which are the actual carriers of lipids within the lipoprotein complexes. It is now recognised that the protein part of the lipoprotein molecule controls the properties and functions of the complex, and constitutes the main difference between various forms of lipoproteins. High density lipoprotein, for instance, consists of two major apoproteins, AI and AII. The former has several mutants currently being investigated. A particularly atherogenic form of low density lipoprotein is lipoprotein (a), or, in the usual abbreviated form Lp(a). This contains apoprotein (a) in addition to apo B 100, bound to the latter by disulfide bridges. A higher level of Lp(a) is apparently found in patients who had sustained myocardial infarction than in controls. Dahlen suggests that Lp(a) may be preferably retained and precipitated in the glicosaminoglan lattice of the intima and tends to accumulate in macrophages. The many other papers include presentations on laboratory diagnosis, epidemiology, paediatrics and dietetics. Like many conference symposia, the book suffers from unevenness of style and one cannot help wondering why is a time interval of 2 years invariably necessary between a conference and the publication of its symposium? Department of Casdiology Universityof Manchester The Royal Infiiary ManchesterMl3 9WL, U.K.
Stephen Seely
215
IJC 00816
Book Reviews Soviet Medical Reviews: Cardiology Reviews, vol 1, Human Atherosclerosis Editors: E.I. Chazov and V.N. Smimov Hanvood
Academic
405 pp.; $195.00;
Publishers,
ISBN
Chur, 1987;
3-7186-0349-7
The preface to the series of which this volume is a part states that it is intended to make accounts of recent medical advances in the U.S.S.R. more readily and rapidly accessible to the scientist who does not read Russian. However, Chazov and Smimov have done much more in assembling this book: over and above the climate of literary glasnost that pre-empts such a project, the editors provide a book of astonishing vision and depth. Perhaps mindful of western ignorance of Soviet science there is the presentation of a large number of facets of atherosclerosis, but each chapter also provides a detailed contemporary background literature review drawn from cosmopolitan sources. Even if Russian scientists are not the major reference sources in a field discussed, the various chapter editors make it clear that they are keenly abreast of all that is on-going world-wide. The book deals with morphological aspects of blood vessels in atherosclerosis, on to lipoprotein metabolism and a variety of experimental approaches to receptor identification and functional activity, culminating in therapeutic aspects of the disease. Dolgov and colleagues present the results of their beautiful experiments using perfused rabbit arteries to examine the effects of p&sure and catecholamines on endothelial integrity and LDL incorporation into the aorta. Sviridov et al. report their studies using cultured enterocytes taken post mortem from paediatric trauma cases. There is a chapter devoted to luminescence studies of lipoprotein structure: but herein perhaps lies a weakness. There is no report of molecular biology aimed at atherosclerosis, nor recent pharmacological developments directed at treatment. Epidemiology and population studies are omitted or perhaps not undertaken in Russia. Certainly with regard to molecular and DNA technology this seems a shortfall in research approaches to a disease that may require such techniques to unlock its secrets. 0167-.5273/89/$03.50
Nevertheless this is a beautifully illustrated, thoughtfully produced reference book which, it is to be hoped, will nurture closer scientific links between West and East. Dept. of Medicine Leicester Royal Infirmary Leicester LF2 7LX, U.K.
Anthony M. Heagerty
Digital Techniques in Echocardiography Editor: J. Roelandt Published
by
Boston/Lancaster, E57.50;
Martinus 1987;
Nijhoff,
Dordrecht/
170 pp.; Dfl165,
$72.50,
ISBN O-89838-861-9
Over the past few years echocardiography has become the most rapidly advancing technique in diagnostic cardiology. The technology of echocardiography is now almost unrecognisable when compared to the single crystal, Polaroid M-mode scans that were available during the genesis of the technique. This rapid technological progression is mainly due to advances in digital signal processing. Therefore, a book that deals with aspects of digital processing in echocardiography is not only timely but also essential reading for anyone wishing to keep abreast of the very latest developments in this technique. Eleven chapters covering various aspects of contrast echocardiography, tissue characterisation and left ventricular function have been collated from most of the world authorities on these respective subjects. Each technique has been reviewed objectively and numerous clear diagrams and illustrations complement each article. With only a couple of exceptions, all the articles have been written in an easily digestible style that does not require the reader to possess a PhD in computer science to understand them! It is inevitable in a book containing contributions from multiple authors that there is a lack of continuity between chapters and some overlap. However, it would
0 1989 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (Biomedical Division)
216
be impossible for one single author to cover with such detail and authority all the topics in this 170 page book. My only reservation in thoroughly recommending this book, is that since echocardiographic technology is moving so fast, it will soon be out of date. Roll on edition Z! King’s College Hospital London SE5 9RS, U.K.
Mark J. Monaghan Principal Clinical Scientist
Cardiac Arrhythmias: where to go from here? Editors: Pedro Brugada and Hein J.J. Wellens Futura Publishing Company, Mount Kisco, New York, 1987; 823 pp.; $98; ISBN o-87993-306-2 The Editors have brought together in this volume, a large number of experts in the fields of arrhythmias. The chapters give an excellent summary of current thought and opinion in all aspects of tachyarrhythmias from their pathophysiological substrate, mechanism and investigation to sections on the management of tachyarrhythm&. Most of the authors assume at least a basic knowledge of electrophysiology in their readers and therefore the book is aimed at cardiologists who already have an interest in arrhythmias and wish to further it. Occasionally the chapters are a little idiosyncratic, such as the one on antitachycardia pacing in supraventricular tachycardias. This recommends a “universal pacing mode” for antitachycardia pacing and reports good short- and long-term follow-up. However, it mentions none of the problems encountered by other groups using similar modes. However, the editors have striven to maintain a balanced view notably in the two chapters relating to the value of ventricular stimulation postmyocardial infarction in predicting subsequent sudden death. This details the Australian and Canadian experience and the divergence of their findings. Finally, this book is well presented and illustrated. It provides a good overah view of the wide field and the complexities in cardiac tachyarrhythmias, and in addition, is an excelIent source of reference on current subjects of major interest in this field. Consultant Cardiologist The Maidstone Hospital Kent ME16 9QQ, U.K.
Phyllis Holt
Recent Aspects of Diagnosis and Treatment of Lipoprotein Disorders Impact on prevention of atherosclerotic diseases (Progress in Clinical and Biological Research, vol. 255) Editors: Kurt Widhalm and Herbert K. Naito Alan R. Liss, New York, 1988; 383 pp.; $78; ISBN O-8451-5105-3 The book is the symposium of the conference on lipoprotein disorders held in Vienna in 1986, with the participation of many leading authorities in the field. The message clearly emerging from the book is that lipoprotein research has entered a new phase in the recent past. Goldstein, Brown and their contemporaries have clarified the role of low density lipoproteins in the transport of lipids in the circulation, their capture by surface receptors and their reverse transport by high density lipoproteins. A new focus of attention are the apoproteins which are the actual carriers of lipids within the lipoprotein complexes. It is now recognised that the protein part of the lipoprotein molecule controls the properties and functions of the complex, and constitutes the main difference between various forms of lipoproteins. High density lipoprotein, for instance, consists of two major apoproteins, AI and AII. The former has several mutants currently being investigated. A particularly atherogenic form of low density lipoprotein is lipoprotein (a), or, in the usual abbreviated form Lp(a). This contains apoprotein (a) in addition to apo B 100, bound to the latter by disulfide bridges. A higher level of Lp(a) is apparently found in patients who had sustained myocardial infarction than in controls. Dahlen suggests that Lp(a) may be preferably retained and precipitated in the glicosaminoglan lattice of the intima and tends to accumulate in macrophages. The many other papers include presentations on laboratory diagnosis, epidemiology, paediatrics and dietetics. Like many conference symposia, the book suffers from unevenness of style and one cannot help wondering why is a time interval of 2 years invariably necessary between a conference and the publication of its symposium? Department of Casdiology Universityof Manchester The Royal Infiiary ManchesterMl3 9WL, U.K.
Stephen Seely