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Asthma; physiology, immunopharmacology and treatment
126
Book Reviews
Blood Vessels and Lymphatics in Organ Systems--Edited by
Hepatic Encephalopathy in Chronic Liver Failure--Edited by
D. I. A b r a m s o n and P. B. Dobrin. 771 pp. 1984. Academic Press, Orlando. US$89. £69.
L. Capocaccia, J. E. Fischer and F. Rossi-Fanelli. 398 pp. 1984. Plenum Press, New York & London. US$65.
Twenty years have passed since the previous volume edited by A b r a m s o n on blood vessels and lymphatics. Since then there have been increased EM studies, better injection techniques and more workers studying these systems so that we now know about the vascular network to the pineal, parathyroids, pancreas, adrenals, adipose tissue and special senses. After an initial description of the general properties of blood vessels, lymphatics, micro-circulation, and the biomechanics of arteries and veins, the systems supplying the body organs are described. The organs are CNS, brain, spinal cord, special senses; endocrine system, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, parathyroid, pineal; heart, lungs, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, kidney, reproductive organs, urinary tract, skin, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, bones, spleen and bone marrow. There are 87 expert contributors to the 21 chapters and the volume is a well documented and illustratred guide to what is at present known about blood vessels and lymphatic supply to the organs.
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a syndrome of malfunction of the CNS in the presence of liver disease. The patient may show loss of judgement, disturbance of day/night rhythm, an inability to deal with normal social events, and changes in the EEG. At one time HE was considered to be due to the effect of a m m o n i a and glutamine on the CNS. There is a reasonable correlation between the concentrations of glutamine in the CSF and the severity of the observed symptoms, but this view is now thought to be too simple and HE is better considered as the reactions of the CNS to the presence of excess metabolites resulting from liver failure. During HE there is an accumulation of mercaptans, fatty acids, amino acids (glutamate) and phenols and an increased sensitivity of the G A B A and dopamine receptors in the CNS. Bromocriptine has been used as a treatment for chronic but not acute HE. Another proposed treatment for the liver damage is the administration of branched chain amino acids (valine, leucine, isoleucine). This multi-authored volume is the published proceedings of a symposium held in Italy and provides a good account of the interaction between liver damage and neurological and psychological disorders. It also raises the more general problem of the extent to which some psychological disturbances are due to malfunction of the liver and gut metabolism, and hypersensitivity of the CNS to the excess metabolites.
Hypertension; Physiological Basis and Treatmen~Edited by H. H. Ong and J. C. Lewis. 327 pp. 1984. Academic Press, Orlando. US$35. This volume is a rapid manuscript reproduction of a Hoechst Roussel Research Symposium. The topics reviewed are central neural and humoral regulation of arterial pressure in hypertension; biochemical and physiological aspects of the renin-angiotensin system; hypertensive mechanisms with special emphasis on NaC1 related essential hypertension; vasodilators in hypertension; chemical pharmacology of calcium channel antagonists; calcium channel blockers as a new therapeutic concept, cardiovascular physiology and clinical applications. New findings are the discovery that the anteroventral third ventricle region (AV3V) plays a major role in interfacing the neurohumoral aspects of cardiovascular control with fluid electrolyte balance. The differences in the renin profile and the response to drugs indicates the heterogeneity of hypertensive diseases. There are advantages in using the vasoconstriction volume model to analyse h u m a n hypertensive phenomena. In some cases of essential hypertension NaC1 accumulation in the body is followed by arteriolar narrowing and a resetting of the regulatory system. Potassium salts can have a protective role. Slow channel calcium blockers dilate the smooth muscle vasculature and these c o m p o u n d s (nifedine, verapamil, and diltiazem) and newer drugs could be potent agents for the treatment of arrhthmias, angina and hypertension.
Asthma; Physiology, Immunopharmacology and Treatment-Edited by A. B. Kay, K. F. Austen and L. M. Lichtenstein. 442 pp. 1984. Academic Press, London. US$79. £49. The third international symposium on A s t h m a was held in Oxford and this volume contains the published papers. Things are getting more complicated. There are probably several different types of mast cells and they can release slow reacting substance (SRS), leukotrienes C4 and B4, 5 monohydroxy eicosate tetraenoic acid (5 HETE), PGD2, platelet activating factor ( P A F = A G E P C = acetyl glyceryl ether phosphoryl choline), histamine, heparin proteoglycan, and tryptase. Other cells such as the T-lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages all seem to take part in the reactions leading to asthma. The roles of these cells and substances are fully discussed in this volume.
Aphrodisiacs; the Science and the M y t h - - P e t e r V. Taberner. 276 pp. 1985. Croon Helm, Beckenham. £19.95. Many chemicals have been tried, and the author surveys the field of amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opium, nicotine, LSD, khat, testosterone, yohimbine, strychnine, L H R H , dopamine, 5HT, pheromones, rhinoceros horn, spanish fly, mandrake root and alcohol. After a thorough search of the literature, history, pharmacology and mythology, the conclusion is reached that though a moderate dose of alcohol is possibly the best general aphrodisiac, it is possible that future development of pheromones m a y produce something more potent. This book is recommended bed-time reading.
The World Health M a r k e t - - D a v i d Tucker. 220 pp. 1984. Facts on File, New York. US$60. This readable book describes the origins and development of the international pharmaceutical industry, its present trends, research and development, world consumption of pharmaceuticals, government policies, and data on international health care. Companies are named, progress and finance of specific drugs discussed in relation to the G N P and the medical m a n power. The information given will be very useful to those interested in the drug industry, the marketing of drugs, and the finances of health care.
Risk Watch; the Odds of L i f ~ J o h n Heilmann. US$16.95.
214pp.
1984.
Fact
on
U r q u h a r t and Klaus File, New York.
In the U.S.A. there are 50,000 deaths per year from automobile accidents half of which are attributable to drunk drivers. This means that in 25 years a million people have been killed on the road but more attention is given on TV and in the Press to the dangers of nuclear power stations. Cigarette smoking is responsible for half a million premature deaths a year from lung cancer and heart disease in
Book Reviews
Blood Vessels and Lymphatics in Organ Systems--Edited by
Hepatic Encephalopathy in Chronic Liver Failure--Edited by
D. I. A b r a m s o n and P. B. Dobrin. 771 pp. 1984. Academic Press, Orlando. US$89. £69.
L. Capocaccia, J. E. Fischer and F. Rossi-Fanelli. 398 pp. 1984. Plenum Press, New York & London. US$65.
Twenty years have passed since the previous volume edited by A b r a m s o n on blood vessels and lymphatics. Since then there have been increased EM studies, better injection techniques and more workers studying these systems so that we now know about the vascular network to the pineal, parathyroids, pancreas, adrenals, adipose tissue and special senses. After an initial description of the general properties of blood vessels, lymphatics, micro-circulation, and the biomechanics of arteries and veins, the systems supplying the body organs are described. The organs are CNS, brain, spinal cord, special senses; endocrine system, pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, parathyroid, pineal; heart, lungs, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, kidney, reproductive organs, urinary tract, skin, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, bones, spleen and bone marrow. There are 87 expert contributors to the 21 chapters and the volume is a well documented and illustratred guide to what is at present known about blood vessels and lymphatic supply to the organs.
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a syndrome of malfunction of the CNS in the presence of liver disease. The patient may show loss of judgement, disturbance of day/night rhythm, an inability to deal with normal social events, and changes in the EEG. At one time HE was considered to be due to the effect of a m m o n i a and glutamine on the CNS. There is a reasonable correlation between the concentrations of glutamine in the CSF and the severity of the observed symptoms, but this view is now thought to be too simple and HE is better considered as the reactions of the CNS to the presence of excess metabolites resulting from liver failure. During HE there is an accumulation of mercaptans, fatty acids, amino acids (glutamate) and phenols and an increased sensitivity of the G A B A and dopamine receptors in the CNS. Bromocriptine has been used as a treatment for chronic but not acute HE. Another proposed treatment for the liver damage is the administration of branched chain amino acids (valine, leucine, isoleucine). This multi-authored volume is the published proceedings of a symposium held in Italy and provides a good account of the interaction between liver damage and neurological and psychological disorders. It also raises the more general problem of the extent to which some psychological disturbances are due to malfunction of the liver and gut metabolism, and hypersensitivity of the CNS to the excess metabolites.
Hypertension; Physiological Basis and Treatmen~Edited by H. H. Ong and J. C. Lewis. 327 pp. 1984. Academic Press, Orlando. US$35. This volume is a rapid manuscript reproduction of a Hoechst Roussel Research Symposium. The topics reviewed are central neural and humoral regulation of arterial pressure in hypertension; biochemical and physiological aspects of the renin-angiotensin system; hypertensive mechanisms with special emphasis on NaC1 related essential hypertension; vasodilators in hypertension; chemical pharmacology of calcium channel antagonists; calcium channel blockers as a new therapeutic concept, cardiovascular physiology and clinical applications. New findings are the discovery that the anteroventral third ventricle region (AV3V) plays a major role in interfacing the neurohumoral aspects of cardiovascular control with fluid electrolyte balance. The differences in the renin profile and the response to drugs indicates the heterogeneity of hypertensive diseases. There are advantages in using the vasoconstriction volume model to analyse h u m a n hypertensive phenomena. In some cases of essential hypertension NaC1 accumulation in the body is followed by arteriolar narrowing and a resetting of the regulatory system. Potassium salts can have a protective role. Slow channel calcium blockers dilate the smooth muscle vasculature and these c o m p o u n d s (nifedine, verapamil, and diltiazem) and newer drugs could be potent agents for the treatment of arrhthmias, angina and hypertension.
Asthma; Physiology, Immunopharmacology and Treatment-Edited by A. B. Kay, K. F. Austen and L. M. Lichtenstein. 442 pp. 1984. Academic Press, London. US$79. £49. The third international symposium on A s t h m a was held in Oxford and this volume contains the published papers. Things are getting more complicated. There are probably several different types of mast cells and they can release slow reacting substance (SRS), leukotrienes C4 and B4, 5 monohydroxy eicosate tetraenoic acid (5 HETE), PGD2, platelet activating factor ( P A F = A G E P C = acetyl glyceryl ether phosphoryl choline), histamine, heparin proteoglycan, and tryptase. Other cells such as the T-lymphocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages all seem to take part in the reactions leading to asthma. The roles of these cells and substances are fully discussed in this volume.
Aphrodisiacs; the Science and the M y t h - - P e t e r V. Taberner. 276 pp. 1985. Croon Helm, Beckenham. £19.95. Many chemicals have been tried, and the author surveys the field of amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, opium, nicotine, LSD, khat, testosterone, yohimbine, strychnine, L H R H , dopamine, 5HT, pheromones, rhinoceros horn, spanish fly, mandrake root and alcohol. After a thorough search of the literature, history, pharmacology and mythology, the conclusion is reached that though a moderate dose of alcohol is possibly the best general aphrodisiac, it is possible that future development of pheromones m a y produce something more potent. This book is recommended bed-time reading.
The World Health M a r k e t - - D a v i d Tucker. 220 pp. 1984. Facts on File, New York. US$60. This readable book describes the origins and development of the international pharmaceutical industry, its present trends, research and development, world consumption of pharmaceuticals, government policies, and data on international health care. Companies are named, progress and finance of specific drugs discussed in relation to the G N P and the medical m a n power. The information given will be very useful to those interested in the drug industry, the marketing of drugs, and the finances of health care.
Risk Watch; the Odds of L i f ~ J o h n Heilmann. US$16.95.
214pp.
1984.
Fact
on
U r q u h a r t and Klaus File, New York.
In the U.S.A. there are 50,000 deaths per year from automobile accidents half of which are attributable to drunk drivers. This means that in 25 years a million people have been killed on the road but more attention is given on TV and in the Press to the dangers of nuclear power stations. Cigarette smoking is responsible for half a million premature deaths a year from lung cancer and heart disease in