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BOOK REVIEWS: Angiogenesis in Health and Disease - Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Applications
Book Reviews
from Machleder’s colleagues at the rheumatology department at UCLA follows, which, with 562 references, comprises a textbook within a textbook and makes fascinating reading. In summary, this excellent, relatively inexpensive volume is an indispensable reference for all those involved in the treatment of patients suffering from upper-limb vascular disease or neurogenic pain arising at the thoracic outlet. Highly recommended. J. F. Thompson Exeter, U.K.
doi:10.1053/ejvs.2000.1152, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Endovascular Intervention: Basic Concepts and Techniques F. J. Criado, Ed. Futura, 1999. 190 pages, price $79.00 This book represents yet another attempt to provide an up-to-date manual of endovascular practice. It has a clear intended readership: those training vascular surgery who want to develop and expand an endovascular practice. The very surgical approach taken by the editor has resulted in a very didactic style with technique descriptions that would make many vascular radiologists feel uncomfortable. This is compounded by the majority of the chapters being written by a single author. The lack of U.S. experience with many new technologies available in Europe is particularly apparent in the aortic and peripheral stenting sections and may limit the book’s global appeal. There is some good basic science in the book, particularly the chapter by Julio Palmaz on the physical and biological properties of stents; the overview of intravascular ultrasound is also excellent. Some of the chapters are limited by poor quality radiographs notably the carotid chapter. However, the quality of the line diagrams is high and they are well presented and apposite. This book is very much a how-to-do-it manual and will have a useful role as a guide for those wanting to adopt a surgical approach to endoluminal techniques. T. Buckenham Edinburgh, U.K.
219
doi:10.1053/ejvs.2000.1153, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Angiogenesis in Health and Disease Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Applications G. M. Rubanyi, Ed. Marcel Dekker, 2000. 552 pages. The anatomy, structure and function of blood vessels are the everyday concerns of vascular surgeons. Few vascular surgeons have a sound grasp of the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and remodelling of blood vessels. Is this the book that fills the gap and explains why gene therapy trials of VEGF are underway in critical limb ischaemia, why recombinant PDGF is effective in healing diabetic ulcers and other important molecular matters for vascular surgeons? The book starts with a description of the embryonic process of vasculogenesis and assumes that the reader has a basic knowledge of how growth factors and their receptors function, as well as the downstream intracellular signalling mechanisms. The shift from vasculogenesis to angiogenesis is best described in the only diagram in the introductory chapter. This chapter is followed by a well-illustrated chapter outlining the mechanisms involved in the development of collateral blood vessel. The third chapter focuses on the major growth factor regulating angiogenesis, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). Disappointingly this important chapter has no illustrations. This sets the scene for the rest of the book. There are some excellent, informative, well-illustrated chapters, which could readily be followed by a novice to the area. Other chapters consist of dense prose, littered with the abbreviations familiar only to those already working in the area. Missing is a chapter which overviews how transgenic and knock-out gene technology have contributed to our understanding of angiogenic mechanisms. All of the chapters are well referenced, to at least the end of 1998, a real achievement for any book. Many vascular surgeons will be most interested in the final two sections of the book, which are entitled ‘‘Inflammation, would healing, and rheumatoid arthritis’’ and ‘‘Therapeutic angiogenesis in ischaemia’’. Here there are explanations of the growing array of growth factors likely to be used for improving wound healing and stimulating angiogenesis in the heart, legs and brain. All these chapters are well illustrated and provide stimulating reading. This is a great resource book for anyone doing research in the area of angiogenesis. It is not an angiogenesis text-book and therefore is likely to have only limited appeal for the generalist vascular surgeon or Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg Vol 20, August 2000
220
Book Reviews
other vascular specialist. Angiogenesis is a fast moving field and we are likely to see new treatments appearing based on the increased understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. This book is an important first step in collecting together the background information for all those working in the area. I hope that it will be updated and revised on a regular basis. J. Powell London, U.K.
doi:10.1160/ejvs.2000.1160, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Textbook of Endovascular Procedures Dyet, Ettles, Nicholson, Wilson, Eds. Churchill Livingstone, a Harcourt Health Sciences Company, 2000. 501 pages. Price $180.00. ISBN 0-443-06541-1 Endovascular techniques are rapidly and progressively evolving, and more and more procedures are reported in different vascular territories. Consequently, there is a particular need for practitioners in this field to remain up-to-date. In this respect, the Textbook of Endovascular Procedures provides an extremely interesting and updated overview of the current status of endovascular practices and fields of applications. Another valuable peculiarity which makes the book even more attractive and worthy of consultation is that it is written by cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons for cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons. As underlined by the authors in the preface, it is a collaborative multidisciplinary approach instead of controversy between specialists, which can lead to the progression of science and technology and consequently to an improvement in the treatment of patients affected by vascular diseases. Three radiologists from the Kingston-Upon-Hull Hospital in East Yorkshire, U.K. (John Dyet, Duncan Ettles and Anthony Nicholson (the latter is President of the British Society of Interventional Radiologists)), together with Samuel Wilson, Professor of Surgery at the University of California, U.S.A., have collected the experiences of as many as 94 authors from numerous countries, even though the majority are from the U.K. and U.S.A. In the 34 chapters of the book, all the basic and more advanced information concerning tissue biology and reaction to metallic devices, principles of endovascular treatment, indications and technical procedures are provided. Particular attention has been Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg Vol 20, August 2000
dedicated to complications and medico–legal aspects. The book is divided into six sections: in Section 1, the basic principles of various endovascular options, thrombolysis or atherectomy are presented and discussed. Section 2 deals with arterial interventions, in different districts, including especially peculiar procedures, such as sub-intimal angioplasty, peripheral thrombolysis and peri-operative angioplasty. Section 3 covers venous interventions, and the problems related to pulmonary embolism, vena cava filters, dialysis fistulas and porto-systemic shunts are extensively described. Section 4 illustrates the embolisation and chemo-embolisation procedures, in the various congenital and acquired pathological situations and in vascular traumas. Section 5 deals with endografts and covered stents in the treatment of steno-obliterative and aneurysmal diseases of the thoracic and abdominal aorta and iliac arteries, as well as aortic dissections. Section 6 briefly reviews possible future developments and potential applications of endovascular procedures in the treatment of vascular diseases. A useful and extensive analytical index is included at the end of the treatise. The text is completed by a large number of illustrations, mostly represented by angiographic films and line diagrams. The price seems reasonable for a book of this size and complexity. G. M. Biasi Milan, Italy
doi:10.1161/ejvs.2000.1161, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Chronic Venous Insufficiency: Diagnosis and Treatment J. Ballard and J. Bergan. Springer, 2000. 200 pages, price £150.00. This is an interesting book which summarises the actual knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. The different authors are well known experts in this particular field. The text is well written in a didactic fashion. Figures are illustrative and appropriate. The format follows a standard format: section, chapter and editorial comentary to the section. There are four sections: Basic Consideration, Primary Venous Insufficiency, Chronic Severe Venous Insufficiency and Thrombosis and Thrombolysis. Recently there has been a great interest in chronic venous diseases, particularly when new epidemiological data has been available. In this sense the
from Machleder’s colleagues at the rheumatology department at UCLA follows, which, with 562 references, comprises a textbook within a textbook and makes fascinating reading. In summary, this excellent, relatively inexpensive volume is an indispensable reference for all those involved in the treatment of patients suffering from upper-limb vascular disease or neurogenic pain arising at the thoracic outlet. Highly recommended. J. F. Thompson Exeter, U.K.
doi:10.1053/ejvs.2000.1152, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Endovascular Intervention: Basic Concepts and Techniques F. J. Criado, Ed. Futura, 1999. 190 pages, price $79.00 This book represents yet another attempt to provide an up-to-date manual of endovascular practice. It has a clear intended readership: those training vascular surgery who want to develop and expand an endovascular practice. The very surgical approach taken by the editor has resulted in a very didactic style with technique descriptions that would make many vascular radiologists feel uncomfortable. This is compounded by the majority of the chapters being written by a single author. The lack of U.S. experience with many new technologies available in Europe is particularly apparent in the aortic and peripheral stenting sections and may limit the book’s global appeal. There is some good basic science in the book, particularly the chapter by Julio Palmaz on the physical and biological properties of stents; the overview of intravascular ultrasound is also excellent. Some of the chapters are limited by poor quality radiographs notably the carotid chapter. However, the quality of the line diagrams is high and they are well presented and apposite. This book is very much a how-to-do-it manual and will have a useful role as a guide for those wanting to adopt a surgical approach to endoluminal techniques. T. Buckenham Edinburgh, U.K.
219
doi:10.1053/ejvs.2000.1153, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Angiogenesis in Health and Disease Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Applications G. M. Rubanyi, Ed. Marcel Dekker, 2000. 552 pages. The anatomy, structure and function of blood vessels are the everyday concerns of vascular surgeons. Few vascular surgeons have a sound grasp of the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and remodelling of blood vessels. Is this the book that fills the gap and explains why gene therapy trials of VEGF are underway in critical limb ischaemia, why recombinant PDGF is effective in healing diabetic ulcers and other important molecular matters for vascular surgeons? The book starts with a description of the embryonic process of vasculogenesis and assumes that the reader has a basic knowledge of how growth factors and their receptors function, as well as the downstream intracellular signalling mechanisms. The shift from vasculogenesis to angiogenesis is best described in the only diagram in the introductory chapter. This chapter is followed by a well-illustrated chapter outlining the mechanisms involved in the development of collateral blood vessel. The third chapter focuses on the major growth factor regulating angiogenesis, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor). Disappointingly this important chapter has no illustrations. This sets the scene for the rest of the book. There are some excellent, informative, well-illustrated chapters, which could readily be followed by a novice to the area. Other chapters consist of dense prose, littered with the abbreviations familiar only to those already working in the area. Missing is a chapter which overviews how transgenic and knock-out gene technology have contributed to our understanding of angiogenic mechanisms. All of the chapters are well referenced, to at least the end of 1998, a real achievement for any book. Many vascular surgeons will be most interested in the final two sections of the book, which are entitled ‘‘Inflammation, would healing, and rheumatoid arthritis’’ and ‘‘Therapeutic angiogenesis in ischaemia’’. Here there are explanations of the growing array of growth factors likely to be used for improving wound healing and stimulating angiogenesis in the heart, legs and brain. All these chapters are well illustrated and provide stimulating reading. This is a great resource book for anyone doing research in the area of angiogenesis. It is not an angiogenesis text-book and therefore is likely to have only limited appeal for the generalist vascular surgeon or Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg Vol 20, August 2000
220
Book Reviews
other vascular specialist. Angiogenesis is a fast moving field and we are likely to see new treatments appearing based on the increased understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms. This book is an important first step in collecting together the background information for all those working in the area. I hope that it will be updated and revised on a regular basis. J. Powell London, U.K.
doi:10.1160/ejvs.2000.1160, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Textbook of Endovascular Procedures Dyet, Ettles, Nicholson, Wilson, Eds. Churchill Livingstone, a Harcourt Health Sciences Company, 2000. 501 pages. Price $180.00. ISBN 0-443-06541-1 Endovascular techniques are rapidly and progressively evolving, and more and more procedures are reported in different vascular territories. Consequently, there is a particular need for practitioners in this field to remain up-to-date. In this respect, the Textbook of Endovascular Procedures provides an extremely interesting and updated overview of the current status of endovascular practices and fields of applications. Another valuable peculiarity which makes the book even more attractive and worthy of consultation is that it is written by cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons for cardiologists, radiologists and vascular surgeons. As underlined by the authors in the preface, it is a collaborative multidisciplinary approach instead of controversy between specialists, which can lead to the progression of science and technology and consequently to an improvement in the treatment of patients affected by vascular diseases. Three radiologists from the Kingston-Upon-Hull Hospital in East Yorkshire, U.K. (John Dyet, Duncan Ettles and Anthony Nicholson (the latter is President of the British Society of Interventional Radiologists)), together with Samuel Wilson, Professor of Surgery at the University of California, U.S.A., have collected the experiences of as many as 94 authors from numerous countries, even though the majority are from the U.K. and U.S.A. In the 34 chapters of the book, all the basic and more advanced information concerning tissue biology and reaction to metallic devices, principles of endovascular treatment, indications and technical procedures are provided. Particular attention has been Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg Vol 20, August 2000
dedicated to complications and medico–legal aspects. The book is divided into six sections: in Section 1, the basic principles of various endovascular options, thrombolysis or atherectomy are presented and discussed. Section 2 deals with arterial interventions, in different districts, including especially peculiar procedures, such as sub-intimal angioplasty, peripheral thrombolysis and peri-operative angioplasty. Section 3 covers venous interventions, and the problems related to pulmonary embolism, vena cava filters, dialysis fistulas and porto-systemic shunts are extensively described. Section 4 illustrates the embolisation and chemo-embolisation procedures, in the various congenital and acquired pathological situations and in vascular traumas. Section 5 deals with endografts and covered stents in the treatment of steno-obliterative and aneurysmal diseases of the thoracic and abdominal aorta and iliac arteries, as well as aortic dissections. Section 6 briefly reviews possible future developments and potential applications of endovascular procedures in the treatment of vascular diseases. A useful and extensive analytical index is included at the end of the treatise. The text is completed by a large number of illustrations, mostly represented by angiographic films and line diagrams. The price seems reasonable for a book of this size and complexity. G. M. Biasi Milan, Italy
doi:10.1161/ejvs.2000.1161, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com on
Chronic Venous Insufficiency: Diagnosis and Treatment J. Ballard and J. Bergan. Springer, 2000. 200 pages, price £150.00. This is an interesting book which summarises the actual knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. The different authors are well known experts in this particular field. The text is well written in a didactic fashion. Figures are illustrative and appropriate. The format follows a standard format: section, chapter and editorial comentary to the section. There are four sections: Basic Consideration, Primary Venous Insufficiency, Chronic Severe Venous Insufficiency and Thrombosis and Thrombolysis. Recently there has been a great interest in chronic venous diseases, particularly when new epidemiological data has been available. In this sense the