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Lithium in biology and medicine; new applications and developments
Book Reviews Lithium in Biology and Medicine; New Applieatiom and Developments---Edited by G. N. Schrauzer and K.-F. Klippel. 209 pp. 1991. VCH Weinheim (DFR), New York. £36.50. Lithium carbonate is used to alleviate dipolar depression; to prevent radiation- and chemotherapy-induced granulocytopenia; to promote hematopoietic recovery following bone marrow irradiation or transplantation. In 27 Texas counties the incidence rates for suicides, and homicides were higher in those regions where there was little or no lithium in the drinking water than in those counties where the drinking water contained 70-170 #g/1. (significance P < 0.01). This symposium volume surveys these topics and the toxicity and teratogenicity of Li in higher doses.
McDonald's Blood Flow in Arteries; Theoretical, Experimental and Clinical Principles. 3rd Edn--W. W. Nichols and M. F. O'Rourke. 456 pp. 1990. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. $98.50. The topics dealt with are; nature of flow of a fluid; turbulent blood flow and its relation to cardiovascular pathophysiology; properties of the arterial wall; pulsatile pressure/flow relation; measuring principles of arterial waves; Doppler ultrasound for arterial blood flow measurement; contours of pressure and flow waves in arteries; wave reflections; mathematical analysis of arterial wave forms; vascular impedance; input impedance as ventricular load; coupling of left ventricle with systemic arterial circulation; coronary circulation; pulmonary circulation; aging; high blood pressure and disease in humans; therapeutic intervention. The text is well written, has good illustrations and presents an excellent account of the subject.
Gene Structure and Expression. 2nd Edn.--J. D. Hawkins. 216 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. Hardback $64.50. Paperback $21.95. The first edition was published in 1985 and there have been rapid and important developments since then. The new edition incorporates these new developments as well as including the basic material. The chapters are on: DNA; RNA; methodology; vectors used in work with recombinant DNA (plasmids, bacteriophages, yeast artificial chromosomes viruses, production of genetically engineered protein; prokaryotic gene organization and expression; the operon concept; eukaryotic gene organization and expression; ontogenes; haemoglobin; proteins of the immune system; some gene families (collagen, P 450, serine proteases, lipoproteins, growth hormone family, glycoproteins hormones, polyproteins); mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; different and evolving genomes. The book will be useful to students and those wishing to get up to date in this subject.
lmmanoglohnlin Genes~Edited by T. Honjo, F. W. Alt and T. H. Rabbitts. 410 pp. 1989. Academic Press, London. £40. Once the structure of the immunoglobulins (I) had been determined, it was a relatively short step to the elucidation of the genetic systems controlling I synthesis and production. This volume reviews: B-cell differentiation; roles of I in development and growth control of the B-lymphocyte lineage; long term lymphoid cultures; the heavy chain variable region locus; light chain genes of the k type; I lambda genes; constant regions genes of I and class switching; chicken I repertoire; I in lower vertebrates; I deficiencies; restrictive usage of I variable region; I in lymphoid
149
neoplasms; chimeric I genes; regulation of the I mu chain; transgeneie mouse I; I gene transcription; the J chain helper; the I superfamily. These studies provide models for exon-intron organization, differential splicing, site-specific as well as region non-specific recombination, gene deletions and somatic mutations.
Large-scale Mammalian Cell Culture Technology--Edited by A. S. Lubiniecki. 634 pp. 1990. Marcel Dekker, New York. $150 (USA & Canada). $180 elsewhere. Human and also hamster cells have been grown in thousand litre culture tanks from the 1970s. With the need to make large quantities of vaccines against foot and mouth virus and against polio, and also requirements for the production of human interferon, the need for such large scale culture systems increased. This book deals with: general background and perspectives; recombinant DNA technology for culture production of proteins; large scale animal cell cultures; mammalian cell physiology; cell banking; expression of cloned proteins; assay requirements; non-perfused attachment systems for cell cultivation; perfusion systems; suspension culture; microcarrier culture systems; microencapsulation of mammalian cells; continuous culture with macroporous matrix; fluidized bed systems; downstream processing of proteins; management of process technology; monitoring and control of animal cell bioreactors; detection of adventitious viruses in cell cultures; continuous cell substrate considerations; process validation; quality control of rDNA derived human tissue-type plasminogen activator; design and construction of manufacturing facilities; large scale propagation of insect cells. This book should help make a difficult technique less difficult and more reliable.
Peptide Hormone Secretion; a Practical Approach--Edited by J. C. Hutton and K. Siddle. 341 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, New York. Paperback $60. The topics dealt with are: peptide hormone purification; electrophoretic and immunoblotting methods; radioimmunoassay; immunometric methods; in vitro bioassay of peptide hormones; in situ hybridization for the localization and quantification of peptide mRNAs; localization of peptide hormones by light and electron microscopy; methods for the measurement of insulin secretion; cell biology of secretion; cell permeabilization; molecular biology of polypeptide hormone expression and biosynthesis; regulation of biosynthesis and processing of polypeptide hormones. There is a companion volume on Peptide hormone action. Both volumes provide excellent practical details and will be very useful to bench workers.
Receptor-effectur Coupling; a Practical Approach---Edited by E. C. Hulme. 224 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, New York. Hardback $70. Paperback $45. Other companion volumes deal with "Receptor-Ligand Interactions" and "Receptor Biochemistry". This volume deals with: preparation of G-proteins and their subunits; Receptor-G-protein complexes in solution; reconstitution of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase and tyrosine kinases; interactions of muscarine-ACh receptors with G-proteins; phosphoinositide turnover; measurement and control of intracellular calcium; molecular pharmacology of ionic channels using patch clamp; phosphate labelling studies of receptor tyrosine kinases; receptor binding studies. As with other volumes in this series, the accent is on the methodology and practical details, which are very helpful.
McDonald's Blood Flow in Arteries; Theoretical, Experimental and Clinical Principles. 3rd Edn--W. W. Nichols and M. F. O'Rourke. 456 pp. 1990. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. $98.50. The topics dealt with are; nature of flow of a fluid; turbulent blood flow and its relation to cardiovascular pathophysiology; properties of the arterial wall; pulsatile pressure/flow relation; measuring principles of arterial waves; Doppler ultrasound for arterial blood flow measurement; contours of pressure and flow waves in arteries; wave reflections; mathematical analysis of arterial wave forms; vascular impedance; input impedance as ventricular load; coupling of left ventricle with systemic arterial circulation; coronary circulation; pulmonary circulation; aging; high blood pressure and disease in humans; therapeutic intervention. The text is well written, has good illustrations and presents an excellent account of the subject.
Gene Structure and Expression. 2nd Edn.--J. D. Hawkins. 216 pp. 1991. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. Hardback $64.50. Paperback $21.95. The first edition was published in 1985 and there have been rapid and important developments since then. The new edition incorporates these new developments as well as including the basic material. The chapters are on: DNA; RNA; methodology; vectors used in work with recombinant DNA (plasmids, bacteriophages, yeast artificial chromosomes viruses, production of genetically engineered protein; prokaryotic gene organization and expression; the operon concept; eukaryotic gene organization and expression; ontogenes; haemoglobin; proteins of the immune system; some gene families (collagen, P 450, serine proteases, lipoproteins, growth hormone family, glycoproteins hormones, polyproteins); mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; different and evolving genomes. The book will be useful to students and those wishing to get up to date in this subject.
lmmanoglohnlin Genes~Edited by T. Honjo, F. W. Alt and T. H. Rabbitts. 410 pp. 1989. Academic Press, London. £40. Once the structure of the immunoglobulins (I) had been determined, it was a relatively short step to the elucidation of the genetic systems controlling I synthesis and production. This volume reviews: B-cell differentiation; roles of I in development and growth control of the B-lymphocyte lineage; long term lymphoid cultures; the heavy chain variable region locus; light chain genes of the k type; I lambda genes; constant regions genes of I and class switching; chicken I repertoire; I in lower vertebrates; I deficiencies; restrictive usage of I variable region; I in lymphoid
149
neoplasms; chimeric I genes; regulation of the I mu chain; transgeneie mouse I; I gene transcription; the J chain helper; the I superfamily. These studies provide models for exon-intron organization, differential splicing, site-specific as well as region non-specific recombination, gene deletions and somatic mutations.
Large-scale Mammalian Cell Culture Technology--Edited by A. S. Lubiniecki. 634 pp. 1990. Marcel Dekker, New York. $150 (USA & Canada). $180 elsewhere. Human and also hamster cells have been grown in thousand litre culture tanks from the 1970s. With the need to make large quantities of vaccines against foot and mouth virus and against polio, and also requirements for the production of human interferon, the need for such large scale culture systems increased. This book deals with: general background and perspectives; recombinant DNA technology for culture production of proteins; large scale animal cell cultures; mammalian cell physiology; cell banking; expression of cloned proteins; assay requirements; non-perfused attachment systems for cell cultivation; perfusion systems; suspension culture; microcarrier culture systems; microencapsulation of mammalian cells; continuous culture with macroporous matrix; fluidized bed systems; downstream processing of proteins; management of process technology; monitoring and control of animal cell bioreactors; detection of adventitious viruses in cell cultures; continuous cell substrate considerations; process validation; quality control of rDNA derived human tissue-type plasminogen activator; design and construction of manufacturing facilities; large scale propagation of insect cells. This book should help make a difficult technique less difficult and more reliable.
Peptide Hormone Secretion; a Practical Approach--Edited by J. C. Hutton and K. Siddle. 341 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, New York. Paperback $60. The topics dealt with are: peptide hormone purification; electrophoretic and immunoblotting methods; radioimmunoassay; immunometric methods; in vitro bioassay of peptide hormones; in situ hybridization for the localization and quantification of peptide mRNAs; localization of peptide hormones by light and electron microscopy; methods for the measurement of insulin secretion; cell biology of secretion; cell permeabilization; molecular biology of polypeptide hormone expression and biosynthesis; regulation of biosynthesis and processing of polypeptide hormones. There is a companion volume on Peptide hormone action. Both volumes provide excellent practical details and will be very useful to bench workers.
Receptor-effectur Coupling; a Practical Approach---Edited by E. C. Hulme. 224 pp. 1990. IRL/Oxford University Press, New York. Hardback $70. Paperback $45. Other companion volumes deal with "Receptor-Ligand Interactions" and "Receptor Biochemistry". This volume deals with: preparation of G-proteins and their subunits; Receptor-G-protein complexes in solution; reconstitution of hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase and tyrosine kinases; interactions of muscarine-ACh receptors with G-proteins; phosphoinositide turnover; measurement and control of intracellular calcium; molecular pharmacology of ionic channels using patch clamp; phosphate labelling studies of receptor tyrosine kinases; receptor binding studies. As with other volumes in this series, the accent is on the methodology and practical details, which are very helpful.