- Email: [email protected]
Human Growth Hormone, Research and Practice
The Netherlands Journal of Medicine 2000;57:34–35
The Literature of Medicine: Reviews and notes
Title:
Human Growth Hormone, Research and Practice Editors: Roy G. Smith, PhD, and Michael O. Thorner, MD Publisher: Humana Press, Towata, New Jersey, USA. Info: Hardcover, pp. 348 ISBN: 0-896-03505-0 Price: $135.00 This book is an excellent collection of up-to-date reviews written by leaders in the field, about the recent developments in the understanding of basic and clinical research concerning human growth hormones. The topics are timely, well written, and presented in readable form with exhaustive and current bibliographies. Virtually all of the reviews contain valuable information for the clinician and most are clinically oriented. In the introductory chapter the regulatory role of growth hormone releasing-hormone (GHRH), somatostatin and the GH-secretagogue receptor, the molecular understanding of the GH receptor and its potential role in the central nervous system is discussed, followed by an overview of the clinical aspects of GH, indications for its replacement, and associated benefits of direct and indirect GH replacement. The book is divided into a research section and a section clinical practice. The research section applies to a wide variety of interests. Subjects covered include basic and clinical perspectives of the growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs), the design of peptidometic growth hormone secretagogues and molecular characteriza-
tion of growth hormone secretagogues receptors, pharmacology of GHRH and its peptide analogs, somatostatin receptor subtypes and regulation of GH secretion, activation of the human GH receptor, mathematical modeling of the GH release axis, and the central nervous system as a direct target for growth hormone action. The first chapter of part II, clinical practice, discusses defects resulting from molecular abnormalities affecting each part of the Growth Hormone Axis. The authors address the proces of diagnosing Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), by examining current clinical practices and new molecular diagnostic techniques. The chapter on Growth hormone: Relevance to Pediatrics focuses on the complex biochemical events related to dysregulation of GH secretion as seen in a variety of pathophysiologic conditions in pediatrics. The chapters on Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults, Growth Hormone and Osteoporosis, and Growth Hormone in AIDS, review the important features resulting from GH-deficiency, summarize the effects of GH treatment and assess the rationale for GH replacement in adult patients with GH-deficiency, osteoporosis and in patients with AIDS. Two chapters review the current literature on the pharmacologic and physiologic responses of GHRH and growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs) and the potential clinical application of these compuonds in man. Finally, the interactions between growth hormone, sleep and aging are discussed in a comprehensive review. A large body of evidence indicates a robust relationship between slow wave sleep and GH release, indicating that pharmacological agents that
0300-2977 / 00 / $ – see front matter 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S0300-2977( 00 )00043-7
The Literature of Medicine: Reviews and notes
reliably stimulate slow wave sleep may represent a new class of powerful GH secretagogues. In summary, I recommend this volume to clinical endocrinologists because of the choice of topics and the strenght of its authorship. Because the topics are highly related to each other, the volume is of value as a teaching tool.
The Netherlands Journal of Medicine 2000;57:34 – 35
35
H.P.F. Koppeschaar MD, PhD Dept. of Endocrinology UMC Utrecht L 00.407 P.O. Box 85500 3508 GA Utrecht The Netherlands
The Literature of Medicine: Reviews and notes
Title:
Human Growth Hormone, Research and Practice Editors: Roy G. Smith, PhD, and Michael O. Thorner, MD Publisher: Humana Press, Towata, New Jersey, USA. Info: Hardcover, pp. 348 ISBN: 0-896-03505-0 Price: $135.00 This book is an excellent collection of up-to-date reviews written by leaders in the field, about the recent developments in the understanding of basic and clinical research concerning human growth hormones. The topics are timely, well written, and presented in readable form with exhaustive and current bibliographies. Virtually all of the reviews contain valuable information for the clinician and most are clinically oriented. In the introductory chapter the regulatory role of growth hormone releasing-hormone (GHRH), somatostatin and the GH-secretagogue receptor, the molecular understanding of the GH receptor and its potential role in the central nervous system is discussed, followed by an overview of the clinical aspects of GH, indications for its replacement, and associated benefits of direct and indirect GH replacement. The book is divided into a research section and a section clinical practice. The research section applies to a wide variety of interests. Subjects covered include basic and clinical perspectives of the growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs), the design of peptidometic growth hormone secretagogues and molecular characteriza-
tion of growth hormone secretagogues receptors, pharmacology of GHRH and its peptide analogs, somatostatin receptor subtypes and regulation of GH secretion, activation of the human GH receptor, mathematical modeling of the GH release axis, and the central nervous system as a direct target for growth hormone action. The first chapter of part II, clinical practice, discusses defects resulting from molecular abnormalities affecting each part of the Growth Hormone Axis. The authors address the proces of diagnosing Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD), by examining current clinical practices and new molecular diagnostic techniques. The chapter on Growth hormone: Relevance to Pediatrics focuses on the complex biochemical events related to dysregulation of GH secretion as seen in a variety of pathophysiologic conditions in pediatrics. The chapters on Growth Hormone Deficiency in Adults, Growth Hormone and Osteoporosis, and Growth Hormone in AIDS, review the important features resulting from GH-deficiency, summarize the effects of GH treatment and assess the rationale for GH replacement in adult patients with GH-deficiency, osteoporosis and in patients with AIDS. Two chapters review the current literature on the pharmacologic and physiologic responses of GHRH and growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs) and the potential clinical application of these compuonds in man. Finally, the interactions between growth hormone, sleep and aging are discussed in a comprehensive review. A large body of evidence indicates a robust relationship between slow wave sleep and GH release, indicating that pharmacological agents that
0300-2977 / 00 / $ – see front matter 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII: S0300-2977( 00 )00043-7
The Literature of Medicine: Reviews and notes
reliably stimulate slow wave sleep may represent a new class of powerful GH secretagogues. In summary, I recommend this volume to clinical endocrinologists because of the choice of topics and the strenght of its authorship. Because the topics are highly related to each other, the volume is of value as a teaching tool.
The Netherlands Journal of Medicine 2000;57:34 – 35
35
H.P.F. Koppeschaar MD, PhD Dept. of Endocrinology UMC Utrecht L 00.407 P.O. Box 85500 3508 GA Utrecht The Netherlands