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Metabolic and endocrine physiology, 4th edn.
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology,
0 Elsevier/NorthHolland
21 (1981) 263 Scientific Publishers, Ltd.
263
BOOKREVIEW Metabolic and Endocrine Physiology, 4th edn., by Jay Tepperman. Medical Publishers, London, 1980. xii + 335 pp. US $31 SO.
Year Book
The last edition of this well recognized basic textbook for medical studints was published 7 years ago. During this time quite a number of areas in “endocrinology” have expanded tremendously. This made it difficult for many “endocrinologists” to keep up with the flood of new information in any area. Due to these factors, many “basic” textbooks for students now contain more than 1000 pages - a size which will not allow their use as an introductory “basic” textbook - and are written by different authors. In marked contrast to this, the textbook edited by Jay Tepperman is still a rather small and basic textbook (about 300 pages) and is written by one author, thereby reducing some of the redundance ususally present in multi-author textbooks. Jay Tepperman has succeeded again with astonishing awe in integrating most of the new data in endocrinology into this textbook without overloading the book with complicated regulation schemes. Most of these are simple, easily understandable and contain the essence of a particular system. Inspection of several chapters indicates that there are only a few mistakes in the book which need attention. This is particularly true for the part on protein phosphorylation (part 2, chapter.2); for example: the active species of CAMP-dependent protein kinase (catalytic subunit) is a monomer and has a S-value of 3.4 and not of 7.0 and a specific inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase has not been demonstrated so far, only the effect of acidic proteins on certain basic substrate proteins, thereby changing their substrate properties. There are a few chapters which could contain more integrated information, for example: only the fir and p2 subtypes of the /I-adrenergic receptor are mentioned, but not the (pi and 01~or the Dr and D2 subtypes of the a-adrenergic and dopaminergic receptor, respectively. The general occurrence of such subtypes should be pointed out since most experts think that they are very important and have different functions as exemplified by pre- and post-synaptic receptors for the same neutrotransmitter. As in the previous edition, the part on “Body Fuel Metabolism” is excellently written and up to date, mentioning already the insulin generated intracellular peptide. In general, this 4th edition will not only be of great help to those who try to understand how the body controls its needs but also to those who try to teach how the body controls and integrates its diverse functions. F. Hofmann,
Heidelberg
0 Elsevier/NorthHolland
21 (1981) 263 Scientific Publishers, Ltd.
263
BOOKREVIEW Metabolic and Endocrine Physiology, 4th edn., by Jay Tepperman. Medical Publishers, London, 1980. xii + 335 pp. US $31 SO.
Year Book
The last edition of this well recognized basic textbook for medical studints was published 7 years ago. During this time quite a number of areas in “endocrinology” have expanded tremendously. This made it difficult for many “endocrinologists” to keep up with the flood of new information in any area. Due to these factors, many “basic” textbooks for students now contain more than 1000 pages - a size which will not allow their use as an introductory “basic” textbook - and are written by different authors. In marked contrast to this, the textbook edited by Jay Tepperman is still a rather small and basic textbook (about 300 pages) and is written by one author, thereby reducing some of the redundance ususally present in multi-author textbooks. Jay Tepperman has succeeded again with astonishing awe in integrating most of the new data in endocrinology into this textbook without overloading the book with complicated regulation schemes. Most of these are simple, easily understandable and contain the essence of a particular system. Inspection of several chapters indicates that there are only a few mistakes in the book which need attention. This is particularly true for the part on protein phosphorylation (part 2, chapter.2); for example: the active species of CAMP-dependent protein kinase (catalytic subunit) is a monomer and has a S-value of 3.4 and not of 7.0 and a specific inhibitor of cGMP-dependent protein kinase has not been demonstrated so far, only the effect of acidic proteins on certain basic substrate proteins, thereby changing their substrate properties. There are a few chapters which could contain more integrated information, for example: only the fir and p2 subtypes of the /I-adrenergic receptor are mentioned, but not the (pi and 01~or the Dr and D2 subtypes of the a-adrenergic and dopaminergic receptor, respectively. The general occurrence of such subtypes should be pointed out since most experts think that they are very important and have different functions as exemplified by pre- and post-synaptic receptors for the same neutrotransmitter. As in the previous edition, the part on “Body Fuel Metabolism” is excellently written and up to date, mentioning already the insulin generated intracellular peptide. In general, this 4th edition will not only be of great help to those who try to understand how the body controls its needs but also to those who try to teach how the body controls and integrates its diverse functions. F. Hofmann,
Heidelberg