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Molecular biology of the cardiovascular system
Camp. Biochem. Physiol.Vol. WA, No. 3, pp. 487-489, 1991 Pergamon Press plc. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
The Role of CaRlurn ln Biological Systems. Volume 5Edited by L. J. ANGHILERI.257 pp. CRC Press, Boca Raton. No price given. The topics reviewed in this volume are the role of calcium in; metabolism of inositol phosphates; binding proteins; regulation in plants; photosynthetic water oxidation; excitable channels and electrogenic pumps in Chara; cell motility; secretion of renin; cerebral ischaemic damage; radiation damage; the ageing process; T-lymphocytes in old mice; cellular proliferation.
Monovalent Cation in Biological Systems--Edited by C. A. PASTEIXNAK. 393 pp. 1990. CRC Press, Boca Raton. No price given. In spite of the attention now being given to calcium, sodium and potassium are still very important ions in living systems. This volume surveys; ion selectivity of pentameric protein channels; amino acid sequences in voltage and transmitter activated channels; electrogenic ion transport; electroneutral transport and exchange; the Na-K pump; H+-ATPase; setting the membrane potential; Na and K channels during the action potential; co-substrate driven organic solute transport; control of mitochondrial respiration; pH of intracellular compartments; control of cell volume; growth stimulation; cation-DNA interactions; lithium in medicine; ammonium and organic cations. Some cells such as Lettre cells lack K channels but still have a membrane potential that can be slowly depolarized. Neutrophils can be slowly depolarized by peptides. The membrane potential may be important in amino acid accumulation or mitogenesis and not just in electrical signalling. This book throws new light on many important problems.
The Primary Alferent Neuron; A Survey of Recent MorphoFmtetlonal Astreets-Edited by W. ZENKERand W. L. NEUHUBER.26i) pp. Plenum Press, New York. $65. This multi-authored volume contains 18 chapters grouped into sections on; sensory fibres and related receptory structures in the periphery; spinal ganglion cells, development interactions with targets, neuropeptides; central terminals of primary afferents; distribution, ultrastructure, morphofunctional correlation, plasticity. Much of the current research on the afferent neuron is summarized in this book.
Lithium and Cell Physiology-Edited by R. 0. BACHand V. S. GALLICCHIO.174 pp. 1990. Springer, New York. DM 138. The clinical use of Lithium (Li) in manic depressive psychosis has stimulated research into the general properties and functions of Li in living systems. This book surveys; naturally occurring Li; Li in plants; transport of Li+; Li and the immune system; the role of Li in; granulopoiesis; G-proteins; IP3; cell growth; magnesium dependent enzymes; essential fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism; virus infections; dermatological disorders.
Trlchomonads Paraaltk in Harmma--Edited by B. M. HONIGBERG. 424 pp. 1990. Springer, Berlin. ~$129. Trichomonas vaginaks is an important urogenital parasite; some of the strains are virulent. In spite of the availability of effective drugs Trichomonas is probably the most commonly sexually transmitted disease. In the U.S.A. in 1985 3984 people were tested and 25% were infected. This book deals with; taxonomy and nomenclature; structure; immunology; biochemistry; nucleic acid metabolism; culturing; use of experimental animal hosts; virulence assay; associated microflora; clinical manifestations; epidemiology in men and women; infected children; pathology of genital tract in infected women and men; laboratory diagnosis; therapy (metronizadol); free living trichomonads; Dientamoebafragilis. This book brings together most of what is at present known about Trichomonas.
Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular System-Edited by S. CHIEN. 262 pp. 1990. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia. $39.50. Just as new clothes can sometimes make a person look more attractive, so the molecular biology approach can make a subject more interesting and can also give greater insight and understanding. In this book 23 authors describe; regulatory genes controlling skeletal myoblast lineage; alpha myosin heavy chain genes; regulation of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy; atria1 natriuretic factor genes; vascular smooth muscle; endothelium; angiotensin; red blood cell membrane proteins; plasma apolipoproteins. There is also an interesting final chapter where the molecular biological basis of cardiovascular disease is discussed. The book will be interesting to those working on the circulation who wish to get up to date on its involvement with molecular biology. Anaetheslology and the Heart-Edited by T. H. STANLEY and R. J. SPERRY.346 pp. 1990. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. D.Fl 198, Sll5. The topics described in the refresher-symposium volume are; assessment of ischaemic cardiac disease; evaluating the right ventricle; congenital heart disease; myocardial lymphatics; coronary circulation; ageing heart; hypertension, is it really important?; perioperative myocardial ischaemia; beta adrenergic blocking drugs; atria1 natriuretic hormone; hypokalaemia; calcium channel blocking drugs; anaesthetic (A) management in a child with congenital heart disease for non cardiac surgery; renin-angiotensin system; cardiac monitoring; nitrous oxide A; inhalation A; opioids; isofluorane A; effects of local A; pulmonary edema; sympathectomy; cardiopulmonary bypass; A for carotid artery surgery; A for cardiac disease; A for vascular surgery. Each chapter is fairly short but gives a good up-date. Moneclonal Antibodies in Biotechnology: Theoretical and Practical Aspects-By K. C. MCCULLOUGHand R. E. SPICER. 387 pp. 1990. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge $105. If you want to know about monoclonal antibodies (MAb), then this is the book for you. It is written by two authors 481
BOOK REVIEWS
The Role of CaRlurn ln Biological Systems. Volume 5Edited by L. J. ANGHILERI.257 pp. CRC Press, Boca Raton. No price given. The topics reviewed in this volume are the role of calcium in; metabolism of inositol phosphates; binding proteins; regulation in plants; photosynthetic water oxidation; excitable channels and electrogenic pumps in Chara; cell motility; secretion of renin; cerebral ischaemic damage; radiation damage; the ageing process; T-lymphocytes in old mice; cellular proliferation.
Monovalent Cation in Biological Systems--Edited by C. A. PASTEIXNAK. 393 pp. 1990. CRC Press, Boca Raton. No price given. In spite of the attention now being given to calcium, sodium and potassium are still very important ions in living systems. This volume surveys; ion selectivity of pentameric protein channels; amino acid sequences in voltage and transmitter activated channels; electrogenic ion transport; electroneutral transport and exchange; the Na-K pump; H+-ATPase; setting the membrane potential; Na and K channels during the action potential; co-substrate driven organic solute transport; control of mitochondrial respiration; pH of intracellular compartments; control of cell volume; growth stimulation; cation-DNA interactions; lithium in medicine; ammonium and organic cations. Some cells such as Lettre cells lack K channels but still have a membrane potential that can be slowly depolarized. Neutrophils can be slowly depolarized by peptides. The membrane potential may be important in amino acid accumulation or mitogenesis and not just in electrical signalling. This book throws new light on many important problems.
The Primary Alferent Neuron; A Survey of Recent MorphoFmtetlonal Astreets-Edited by W. ZENKERand W. L. NEUHUBER.26i) pp. Plenum Press, New York. $65. This multi-authored volume contains 18 chapters grouped into sections on; sensory fibres and related receptory structures in the periphery; spinal ganglion cells, development interactions with targets, neuropeptides; central terminals of primary afferents; distribution, ultrastructure, morphofunctional correlation, plasticity. Much of the current research on the afferent neuron is summarized in this book.
Lithium and Cell Physiology-Edited by R. 0. BACHand V. S. GALLICCHIO.174 pp. 1990. Springer, New York. DM 138. The clinical use of Lithium (Li) in manic depressive psychosis has stimulated research into the general properties and functions of Li in living systems. This book surveys; naturally occurring Li; Li in plants; transport of Li+; Li and the immune system; the role of Li in; granulopoiesis; G-proteins; IP3; cell growth; magnesium dependent enzymes; essential fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism; virus infections; dermatological disorders.
Trlchomonads Paraaltk in Harmma--Edited by B. M. HONIGBERG. 424 pp. 1990. Springer, Berlin. ~$129. Trichomonas vaginaks is an important urogenital parasite; some of the strains are virulent. In spite of the availability of effective drugs Trichomonas is probably the most commonly sexually transmitted disease. In the U.S.A. in 1985 3984 people were tested and 25% were infected. This book deals with; taxonomy and nomenclature; structure; immunology; biochemistry; nucleic acid metabolism; culturing; use of experimental animal hosts; virulence assay; associated microflora; clinical manifestations; epidemiology in men and women; infected children; pathology of genital tract in infected women and men; laboratory diagnosis; therapy (metronizadol); free living trichomonads; Dientamoebafragilis. This book brings together most of what is at present known about Trichomonas.
Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular System-Edited by S. CHIEN. 262 pp. 1990. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia. $39.50. Just as new clothes can sometimes make a person look more attractive, so the molecular biology approach can make a subject more interesting and can also give greater insight and understanding. In this book 23 authors describe; regulatory genes controlling skeletal myoblast lineage; alpha myosin heavy chain genes; regulation of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy; atria1 natriuretic factor genes; vascular smooth muscle; endothelium; angiotensin; red blood cell membrane proteins; plasma apolipoproteins. There is also an interesting final chapter where the molecular biological basis of cardiovascular disease is discussed. The book will be interesting to those working on the circulation who wish to get up to date on its involvement with molecular biology. Anaetheslology and the Heart-Edited by T. H. STANLEY and R. J. SPERRY.346 pp. 1990. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands. D.Fl 198, Sll5. The topics described in the refresher-symposium volume are; assessment of ischaemic cardiac disease; evaluating the right ventricle; congenital heart disease; myocardial lymphatics; coronary circulation; ageing heart; hypertension, is it really important?; perioperative myocardial ischaemia; beta adrenergic blocking drugs; atria1 natriuretic hormone; hypokalaemia; calcium channel blocking drugs; anaesthetic (A) management in a child with congenital heart disease for non cardiac surgery; renin-angiotensin system; cardiac monitoring; nitrous oxide A; inhalation A; opioids; isofluorane A; effects of local A; pulmonary edema; sympathectomy; cardiopulmonary bypass; A for carotid artery surgery; A for cardiac disease; A for vascular surgery. Each chapter is fairly short but gives a good up-date. Moneclonal Antibodies in Biotechnology: Theoretical and Practical Aspects-By K. C. MCCULLOUGHand R. E. SPICER. 387 pp. 1990. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge $105. If you want to know about monoclonal antibodies (MAb), then this is the book for you. It is written by two authors 481