- Email: [email protected]
Enzyme biochemistry of the arterial wall as related to atherosclerosis
Book reviews
ENZYME BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE ARTERIAL WALL AS RELATED TO ATHEROSCLEROSIS. By Tibor Zemplenyi, M.D., D.Sc., London, 1968, Lloyd-Luke (Medical Books) Ltd., 273 pages. Price 90 Sh. The
main purpose of this book is to present an account of the biochemistry of vascular enzymes in relationship to atherosclerosis and to the author’s own extensive work at the Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Prague. The material is presented in three parts: (1) general properties of the enzymes; (2) special problems of the enzymes as studied by the author; (3) lipolytic activity of the vascular wall. Although this is a brief book, all of the known vascular enzymes are included, extensive documentation of comparative atherosclerosis is provided, and many of the factors changing enzyme activity are discussed. This monograph will be of most interest to students of atherosclerosis and enzymology.
AU~SAGEM~CLICHKEEITEN UND ERGEBNISSE DER EINZEITIGEN AORTOARTERIOGRAPHIE. By L. Wierny, Berlin, 1969, Veb Verlag Volk und Gesundheit, 73 pages. This small volume of 73 pages gives a quite comprehensive presentation of arteriography of the lower extremities from the abdominal aorta. The author points out in his preface that in spite of the numerous recent publications on arteriography, there was no adequate information available about the diagnostic advantages and limitations of the various methods as well as results in a numerically adequate sample. It is the main aim of this monograph to provide this information, with a critical discussion of technical, anatomical, and functional problems. While the book is based mainly on the author’s large material, it lists 177 references, starting with E. Haschek and 0. Lindenthai, in 1896, the first study with the application of x-ray for demonstration of blood vessels. The book contains the following chapters: “Methods” (including a thorough discussion of complications); “Results” (including sex and age distribution, localization and types of occlusions, segmental distribution, and renal artery involvement in disturbances of peripheral circulation). The next chapter, “Collateral Circulation,” goes beyond the technique of arteriography although that is, of course, considered too; it discusses also the physiologically and clinically important problems of development and types of collateral circulation. In the linal chapter, “Significance of Arteriography for Vascular Surgery,” the site, extent, and vascular condition above and
below the site of obstruction is discussed in regard to the indications, choice, and therapeutic results of the various surgical procedures. While the material is naturally a preselected sample, it is large enough for a meaningful and quite detailed statistical analysis. The percentage distribution of obstructions in 900 extremities was: aorta, 3.7 per cent; iliac artery, 29.6 per cent; femoral artery, 65.7 per cent; lower leg arteries, 53.4 per cent; there is further breakdown into arteria poplitea, tibialis anterior and posterior, and arteria peronea. The age distribution is given for every artery. The peak of all vascular lesions occurred in the sixth decade. The numerous illustrations are of excellent quality.
DYNAMICS OF THROMBUS TION. Edited by Shirley M. Mason Guest, Ph.D., Lippincott Company, 376
FORMATION IWD DISSOLUA. Johnson, Ph.D., and Philadelphia, 1969, J. B. pages. Price $15.50.
This monograph represents the proceedings of a conference held in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 31, 1968, on thrombus formation and dissolution. The many participants were from the United States and foreign nations. Among the 24 subjects discussed were: historical reviews of the problem; fine structure of the capillaries; microscopic characteristics of thrombi and hemostatic plugs; thrombogenic elements in arterioles; the role of subendothelial components in thrombosis; properties of the platelet membrane; protein synthesis and platelet function; and micromolecular inhibitors of fibrinolysis. A short but useful bibliography is appended to each of the 24 papers. The book consists of a series of relatively short but very good papers. Unfortunately, no discussions by the attending group are included. These informal discussions are usually the most interesting aspects of symposia. This is a good book on an extremely important subject.
CEKKBKAL VASCULAI< DISEASES, Transactions of the Sixth Conference. James F. Toole, Chairman, Robert G. Siekert and Jack P. Whisnant. Editors, New York, 1968, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 280 pages. Price $8.75. These proceedings summarize the Sixth Conferences on Cerebral Vascular Diseases. The conference was held in Princeton, N. J., Jan. 10 through 12, 1968. It conforms to the format of the previous conferences, being concerned with current concepts, research, and clinical practice. The subjects discussed were: identification of the stroke prone;
289
ENZYME BIOCHEMISTRY OF THE ARTERIAL WALL AS RELATED TO ATHEROSCLEROSIS. By Tibor Zemplenyi, M.D., D.Sc., London, 1968, Lloyd-Luke (Medical Books) Ltd., 273 pages. Price 90 Sh. The
main purpose of this book is to present an account of the biochemistry of vascular enzymes in relationship to atherosclerosis and to the author’s own extensive work at the Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Prague. The material is presented in three parts: (1) general properties of the enzymes; (2) special problems of the enzymes as studied by the author; (3) lipolytic activity of the vascular wall. Although this is a brief book, all of the known vascular enzymes are included, extensive documentation of comparative atherosclerosis is provided, and many of the factors changing enzyme activity are discussed. This monograph will be of most interest to students of atherosclerosis and enzymology.
AU~SAGEM~CLICHKEEITEN UND ERGEBNISSE DER EINZEITIGEN AORTOARTERIOGRAPHIE. By L. Wierny, Berlin, 1969, Veb Verlag Volk und Gesundheit, 73 pages. This small volume of 73 pages gives a quite comprehensive presentation of arteriography of the lower extremities from the abdominal aorta. The author points out in his preface that in spite of the numerous recent publications on arteriography, there was no adequate information available about the diagnostic advantages and limitations of the various methods as well as results in a numerically adequate sample. It is the main aim of this monograph to provide this information, with a critical discussion of technical, anatomical, and functional problems. While the book is based mainly on the author’s large material, it lists 177 references, starting with E. Haschek and 0. Lindenthai, in 1896, the first study with the application of x-ray for demonstration of blood vessels. The book contains the following chapters: “Methods” (including a thorough discussion of complications); “Results” (including sex and age distribution, localization and types of occlusions, segmental distribution, and renal artery involvement in disturbances of peripheral circulation). The next chapter, “Collateral Circulation,” goes beyond the technique of arteriography although that is, of course, considered too; it discusses also the physiologically and clinically important problems of development and types of collateral circulation. In the linal chapter, “Significance of Arteriography for Vascular Surgery,” the site, extent, and vascular condition above and
below the site of obstruction is discussed in regard to the indications, choice, and therapeutic results of the various surgical procedures. While the material is naturally a preselected sample, it is large enough for a meaningful and quite detailed statistical analysis. The percentage distribution of obstructions in 900 extremities was: aorta, 3.7 per cent; iliac artery, 29.6 per cent; femoral artery, 65.7 per cent; lower leg arteries, 53.4 per cent; there is further breakdown into arteria poplitea, tibialis anterior and posterior, and arteria peronea. The age distribution is given for every artery. The peak of all vascular lesions occurred in the sixth decade. The numerous illustrations are of excellent quality.
DYNAMICS OF THROMBUS TION. Edited by Shirley M. Mason Guest, Ph.D., Lippincott Company, 376
FORMATION IWD DISSOLUA. Johnson, Ph.D., and Philadelphia, 1969, J. B. pages. Price $15.50.
This monograph represents the proceedings of a conference held in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 31, 1968, on thrombus formation and dissolution. The many participants were from the United States and foreign nations. Among the 24 subjects discussed were: historical reviews of the problem; fine structure of the capillaries; microscopic characteristics of thrombi and hemostatic plugs; thrombogenic elements in arterioles; the role of subendothelial components in thrombosis; properties of the platelet membrane; protein synthesis and platelet function; and micromolecular inhibitors of fibrinolysis. A short but useful bibliography is appended to each of the 24 papers. The book consists of a series of relatively short but very good papers. Unfortunately, no discussions by the attending group are included. These informal discussions are usually the most interesting aspects of symposia. This is a good book on an extremely important subject.
CEKKBKAL VASCULAI< DISEASES, Transactions of the Sixth Conference. James F. Toole, Chairman, Robert G. Siekert and Jack P. Whisnant. Editors, New York, 1968, Grune & Stratton, Inc., 280 pages. Price $8.75. These proceedings summarize the Sixth Conferences on Cerebral Vascular Diseases. The conference was held in Princeton, N. J., Jan. 10 through 12, 1968. It conforms to the format of the previous conferences, being concerned with current concepts, research, and clinical practice. The subjects discussed were: identification of the stroke prone;
289