Calcium, oxygen radicals and cellular damage

Calcium, oxygen radicals and cellular damage

592 Book Reviews isolated protoplasts, effects of climate and soil condition); (2) cellulose structure (cellulose configuration, cellulose conformat...

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592

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isolated protoplasts, effects of climate and soil condition); (2) cellulose structure (cellulose configuration, cellulose conformation, kinetic rigidity of macromolecules, thermodynamic properties, theoretical modeling of conformational properties, morphological structures, experimental methods for studying equilibrium and kinetic rigidity of polymers in solution). Cakh~, Oxyg~ Radida and CeBuIarDamage-Edited by C. J. DUNCAN. 224 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. f40, $79.95.

This is volume 46 of the Seminar series of the Society for Experimental Biology. The topics dealt with are: are there common biochemical pathways in cell damage and cell death?; free radicals in the pathogenesis of tissue damage; calcium and signal transduction in oxidative cell damage; regulation of neutrophil oxidant production; role of oxygen stress in reperfusion arrhythmias; release of cytosolic proteins in the perfused rat heart; malignant hyperthermia; free radicals, calcium and damage in dystrophic and normal skeletal muscle; ultrastructural changes in mitochondria during rapid damage triggered by calcium; oxygen free radicals, iron and calcium in renal ischaemia. It is very interesting to see how common factors underly many of these changes.

NMR in Medielne and Biology-By K. H. HAUSSERand H. R. KALBITZER. 217 pp. 1991. Springer, Berlin. DM 98. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging are important techniques. This book describes the use of NMR in determination of chemical structures, tomography and in oiro spectroscopy. The chapters deal with: the principles of NMR, NMR spectroscopy in biochemistry (identification of unknown substances, time dependent processes, two dimensional NMR spectroscopy); NMR of biological macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides and lipids); NMR tomography (principles of imaging, imaging the head and body, chemical shifts, flow effects, NMR microscopy, biomedical effects and dangers); spatial selective soectroscooy and in uiuo NMR (spatial &solution of isolated cells a&l organisms, in viuo studies on ‘H-NMR. “P-NMR. 13C-NMR. “N-NMR. 19F-NMR). The information is clearly and simply presented and the book will be useful to all those who wish to understand NMR.

Neurobiology of Opioida-Edited by 0. F. X. ALMEIDA and T. S. SIUPPENBERG.456 pp. 1991. Springer, Berlin. DM 228. This book contains the proceedings of a symposium to honour the retirement of Albert Herz, the head of the MPI for Psychiatry at Martinsried. The topics are on: opioid (0) receptor subtypes (mu, delta and kappa); 0 peptide genes structure and regulation (three genes; proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin and prodynorphin); distribution of 0 in brain and peripheral tissues; 0 receptors and GTP, G proteins; ion channels; cellular signailing; distribution of 0 receptors; modulation of 0 receptors; hypothalamic 0 peptide release; modulation of catecholamine release in CNS by multiple 0 receptors; adaptation of 0 systems to stress; endogenous 0 in the control of pain; 0 interactions with other neuropeptides in the spinal co&, peripheral 0 analgesia; intestinal motility; psychomimetic effects; psychiatric aspects; 0 tolerance; present status and future of 0 research. A very good review of the subject.

Bie&mkat Protozoology-Edited by G. Cco~as and M. NORTH. 63.5 pp. 1991. Taylor and Francis, London. Paperback f29.95. The role of parasitic protozoa in disease is of increasing interest due to the prevalence of protozoa1 disease in man. This book deals with aspects of the biochemistry of malaria, Pneumonocystis, Giardia, Leishmania, trypanosomes, Entamoeba, Babesia and Trichomonas. There is an introduction on the current state of protozoa biochemistry; the other 35 chapters are concerned with biochemical aspects of the protozoa that could help develop new drugs; the protozoan surface; proteinases produced by protozoa; protozoan phospholipids; glucose transport; cation metabolism; chemotherapy; mode of action of drugs; biochemical drug targets; possibilities for new antiprotozoal drugs. Bilharzia; A History of Imperial Tropical Medkiae-By JOHNFARLN. 359 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press, New York. S59.50. Bilharzia is a disease caused by the eggs of small thread-like parasitic worms (Schistosoma) that live inside the blood vessels of the gut, liver and bladder. The parasite has an intermediate snail host and people become infected by coming in contact with water in which the infected snails live. A larval form burrows out of the snail, into the water, and then burrows into human skin, later to enter the blood vessels. Human urine containing parasite eggs can reinfect the snails. Today, over 200 million people in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America are infected and schistosomiasis is listed as one of the six most important diseases of concern to the WHO. This very interesting book traces the history of the discovery of the disease and its causes, the best methods of control and prevention and the extent to which financial support for research depended on different governments imperial roles and ambitions. There are also interesting side lights on the interactions of the different research workers which indicate that human nature does not change. Although there are mollusc poisons, the best preventative treatment is drainage of the water canals and proper treatment of sewage. Parasitic Nematodes; Antigens, Membranes nod Genes--Edited by M. W. KENNEDY.243 pp. 1991. Taylor and Francis, London. E39. The nematode’s exposed surface is highly antigenic, but it is also a dynamic and complex structure capable of rapid rapair after external assault. The topics dealt with in this book are: biophysical properties of the nematode surface; structure and biosynthesis of cuticular proteins of lymphatic filarial parasites; surface antigens of filarial Brugia-30 kDa component; collagen genes in Ascaris; synthesis and replacement of nematode cuticle components; Toxocaru cunissecreted glycoconjugate antigens; immune evasion and immunopathology in Toxocara canis infection; immunology, biochemistry and molecular biology of hookworm antigens; ruminant nematodiasis; molecular approach to diagnosis of Onchocerca uoluulus in man and the insect vector; the antibody repertoire in nematode infections. This information should allow better diagnosis and treatment of nematode infections. A Guide to Human HelmiothbBy

I. COOMBS and D. W. T. London.

CROMPTON.196 pp. 1991. Taylor and Francis,

$22.50. 342 species of helminths are listed in this book. They include Tricladida, Trematoda, Cestoidea, Nematoda, Nematomorpha, Acanthocephala, and Palaeacanthocephala. Many