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Raynaud's phenomenon
208
Book Reviews
Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistryand Pharmacology, Voi. 115. 1990. 140 pp. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 1 1 8 . This is the second volume on ionic channels. Volume 114 dealt with calcium channels. This volume deals with sodium and potassium channels. The three reviews are; (I) Diversity of sodium channels in adult and cultured cells, in oocytes and in lipid bilayers, by B. Neumcke. (2) Potassium channels in excitable and non excitable cells, by H-AD. Kolb. (3) Peptide toxins and potassium channels, by F. Dreyer. The reviews in these two volumes are of a very high standard and provide excellent introductions and surveys of the subjects. Brain Opioid Systems in Reprodoction---Edited by R. G. Dyer and R. J. Bicknell. 365pp. 1989. Oxford University Press. $89. It was known for more than 50 years that morphine inhibits the secretion of pituitary gonadotrophins. It is now thought that the opioid peptides (O) can also modify sexual behaviour, pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. The chapters deal with the role of O in control of rat LH surge; endocrine regulation of brain O receptors; O and seasonal reproduction; O and the onset of puberty; O inhibition of the brain stem projections to the medial preoptic area in female rats; O and GnRH neurones; endorphin in the hypophyseal portal blood; functions of O in sexual behaviour; O and oxytocin; O modulation of nociception and its relevance to neuroendocrinology. A lot of interesting information is presented and tied together.
ology; pathophysiology; diagnosis; secondary R; treatment; acrocyanosis and livedo reticularis. Experimental Design in Biotechnology--Edited by P. D. Haland. 259pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker. New York. $89.75 (USA & Canada); $107.50 elsewhere. This book is written to help research workers design the minimal number of experiments to solve a specific problem. The chapters are; statistical problem solving; optimization of in vivo production of monoclonal antibodies; clear signal design; separating signals from noise; selecting experimental design; transformations; mixed level design; strategies for experimenters; case history, stability of microbead based immuno assay; design digest. It should help the reader in the use of statistics in analysing experimental results.
Microprobe Analysis in Medicine--Edited by P. Ingram, J. D. Shelburne, and V. I. Roggli. 352pp. 1989. Hemisphere/Taylor and Francis, New York. £57. Microprobe x-ray analysis can be used to analyse asbestos and other minerals in lung tissue; urinary stones; materials in cystic fibrosis; hepatic metal overload; disorders of muscle; inner ear pathology; ophthalmic pathology; ionic contents of cells and tissues. A more recent development is laser and ion microprobe mass spectrometry. These techniques and their results are described in this book.
The Peripheral Actions of 5-Hydroxytryptamine--Edited by J. R. Fozzard. 410pp. 1989. Oxford University Press, Oxford. $90. 5HT receptors have been classified as 5HTIA, 5HTm, 5HTic, 5HT 2, and 5HT 3. The 5HTjc receptor has been cloned and is 460 amino acids with seven transmembrane spanning regions showing considerable sequence homologies with the receptors for muscarine, substance K, opsines and alpha and beta adrenoreceptors. The identification of the receptor classes has depended on the use of specific agonists and antagonists for each subclass. The receptors are also differentially distributed on specific organs and hence it is possible in many cases to have organ specific action of selected agonists and antagonists, although there is some overlap in many cases. This book deals with the synthesis, storage, release and metabolism of 5HT; quantification of action of agonists and antagonists; allosteric 5HT 2 receptor system; receptors and effector coupling systems; 5HT induced vasoconstriction; amplification mechanisms; 5HT induced vasodilatation; interaction of 5HT with endothelial cells; non vascular smooth muscle contraction and relaxation; autonomic and sensory neurones; enteric neurones; peripheral secretory mechanisms; cardiopulmonary and carotid body reflex mechanisms; experimental hypertension; MDL 7222; pathophysiology of 5HT.
Raynaud's Phenomenon---J. D. Coffman. 186pp. 1989. Oxford University Press, New York. $35. Raynaud's phenomenon (R) is the occurrence of episodic attacks of well demarcated blanching or cyanosis of one or more digits on exposure to cold. Primary R affects one in six young women. Secondary R can be associated with rheumatology, ontology, nephrology, hematology, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology and dermatology. The book deals with the anatomy and physiology of finger circulation; primary R, prevalence and prognosis; pathology and angi-
Biosynthetic Products for Cancer Chemotherapy--Edited by G. R. Pettit, C. L. Herald and C. R. Smith. 399pp. 1989. Elsevier, Amsterdam. $141.50; D. F1 290. Thirty percent of cancer deaths in the USA are attributable to smoking; alcohol causes another 4~I0%. It is probable that another 30% are due to environmental factors. This indicates that the majority of cancers could be preventable. On the other hand once cancer is established, it is necessary to find suitable treatment methods. This book surveys the literature from 1983 through 1986 on anti cancer (anti neoplastic and cell growth inhibitory) agents that have been extracted from land plants and animals, and marine plants and animals. For each compound it provides the chemical structure, the plant/animal source, and a literature reference.
Endometrial Cancer--Edited by E. A. Surwit and D. S. Alberts. 131pp. 1989. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht. D.F1 215; $78.50. Endometrial cancer increased in the USA with the use of postmenopausal estrogens. However progesterone supplementation of the postmenopausal estrogen reduces the incidence of endometrial cancer. The chapters in this book are on; epidemiology; surgical management; peritoneal cytology; post operative radiotherapy; radiotherapy and metastases; single agent and multi agent chemotherapy; in vitro sensitivity to cytotoxic agents.
Breast Cancer; Progress in the Biology, Clinical Management and Prevention--Edited by M. A. Rich, J. C. Hager and I. Keydar. 238pp. 1989. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht. D.F1 170; $65. The main sections in this book deal with breast cancer at the molecular level (transgenic mice and transgenic mammary
Book Reviews
Reviews of Physiology, Biochemistryand Pharmacology, Voi. 115. 1990. 140 pp. Springer Verlag, Berlin. DM 1 1 8 . This is the second volume on ionic channels. Volume 114 dealt with calcium channels. This volume deals with sodium and potassium channels. The three reviews are; (I) Diversity of sodium channels in adult and cultured cells, in oocytes and in lipid bilayers, by B. Neumcke. (2) Potassium channels in excitable and non excitable cells, by H-AD. Kolb. (3) Peptide toxins and potassium channels, by F. Dreyer. The reviews in these two volumes are of a very high standard and provide excellent introductions and surveys of the subjects. Brain Opioid Systems in Reprodoction---Edited by R. G. Dyer and R. J. Bicknell. 365pp. 1989. Oxford University Press. $89. It was known for more than 50 years that morphine inhibits the secretion of pituitary gonadotrophins. It is now thought that the opioid peptides (O) can also modify sexual behaviour, pregnancy, parturition, and lactation. The chapters deal with the role of O in control of rat LH surge; endocrine regulation of brain O receptors; O and seasonal reproduction; O and the onset of puberty; O inhibition of the brain stem projections to the medial preoptic area in female rats; O and GnRH neurones; endorphin in the hypophyseal portal blood; functions of O in sexual behaviour; O and oxytocin; O modulation of nociception and its relevance to neuroendocrinology. A lot of interesting information is presented and tied together.
ology; pathophysiology; diagnosis; secondary R; treatment; acrocyanosis and livedo reticularis. Experimental Design in Biotechnology--Edited by P. D. Haland. 259pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker. New York. $89.75 (USA & Canada); $107.50 elsewhere. This book is written to help research workers design the minimal number of experiments to solve a specific problem. The chapters are; statistical problem solving; optimization of in vivo production of monoclonal antibodies; clear signal design; separating signals from noise; selecting experimental design; transformations; mixed level design; strategies for experimenters; case history, stability of microbead based immuno assay; design digest. It should help the reader in the use of statistics in analysing experimental results.
Microprobe Analysis in Medicine--Edited by P. Ingram, J. D. Shelburne, and V. I. Roggli. 352pp. 1989. Hemisphere/Taylor and Francis, New York. £57. Microprobe x-ray analysis can be used to analyse asbestos and other minerals in lung tissue; urinary stones; materials in cystic fibrosis; hepatic metal overload; disorders of muscle; inner ear pathology; ophthalmic pathology; ionic contents of cells and tissues. A more recent development is laser and ion microprobe mass spectrometry. These techniques and their results are described in this book.
The Peripheral Actions of 5-Hydroxytryptamine--Edited by J. R. Fozzard. 410pp. 1989. Oxford University Press, Oxford. $90. 5HT receptors have been classified as 5HTIA, 5HTm, 5HTic, 5HT 2, and 5HT 3. The 5HTjc receptor has been cloned and is 460 amino acids with seven transmembrane spanning regions showing considerable sequence homologies with the receptors for muscarine, substance K, opsines and alpha and beta adrenoreceptors. The identification of the receptor classes has depended on the use of specific agonists and antagonists for each subclass. The receptors are also differentially distributed on specific organs and hence it is possible in many cases to have organ specific action of selected agonists and antagonists, although there is some overlap in many cases. This book deals with the synthesis, storage, release and metabolism of 5HT; quantification of action of agonists and antagonists; allosteric 5HT 2 receptor system; receptors and effector coupling systems; 5HT induced vasoconstriction; amplification mechanisms; 5HT induced vasodilatation; interaction of 5HT with endothelial cells; non vascular smooth muscle contraction and relaxation; autonomic and sensory neurones; enteric neurones; peripheral secretory mechanisms; cardiopulmonary and carotid body reflex mechanisms; experimental hypertension; MDL 7222; pathophysiology of 5HT.
Raynaud's Phenomenon---J. D. Coffman. 186pp. 1989. Oxford University Press, New York. $35. Raynaud's phenomenon (R) is the occurrence of episodic attacks of well demarcated blanching or cyanosis of one or more digits on exposure to cold. Primary R affects one in six young women. Secondary R can be associated with rheumatology, ontology, nephrology, hematology, cardiology, endocrinology, neurology and dermatology. The book deals with the anatomy and physiology of finger circulation; primary R, prevalence and prognosis; pathology and angi-
Biosynthetic Products for Cancer Chemotherapy--Edited by G. R. Pettit, C. L. Herald and C. R. Smith. 399pp. 1989. Elsevier, Amsterdam. $141.50; D. F1 290. Thirty percent of cancer deaths in the USA are attributable to smoking; alcohol causes another 4~I0%. It is probable that another 30% are due to environmental factors. This indicates that the majority of cancers could be preventable. On the other hand once cancer is established, it is necessary to find suitable treatment methods. This book surveys the literature from 1983 through 1986 on anti cancer (anti neoplastic and cell growth inhibitory) agents that have been extracted from land plants and animals, and marine plants and animals. For each compound it provides the chemical structure, the plant/animal source, and a literature reference.
Endometrial Cancer--Edited by E. A. Surwit and D. S. Alberts. 131pp. 1989. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht. D.F1 215; $78.50. Endometrial cancer increased in the USA with the use of postmenopausal estrogens. However progesterone supplementation of the postmenopausal estrogen reduces the incidence of endometrial cancer. The chapters in this book are on; epidemiology; surgical management; peritoneal cytology; post operative radiotherapy; radiotherapy and metastases; single agent and multi agent chemotherapy; in vitro sensitivity to cytotoxic agents.
Breast Cancer; Progress in the Biology, Clinical Management and Prevention--Edited by M. A. Rich, J. C. Hager and I. Keydar. 238pp. 1989. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht. D.F1 170; $65. The main sections in this book deal with breast cancer at the molecular level (transgenic mice and transgenic mammary