- Email: [email protected]
Selenium in biology and medicine, 4th international symposium on selenium
678
Book Reviews
Human Physiology, 2nd edn (completely revised)--Edited by R. SCHMIDT and G. THEWS. 825 pp. 1989, Springer Verlag, Berlin. $79.
Erythropoietin-Edrted 180 pp. 1989. Springer
The first edition of this book was very successful since the authors combined basic scientific information with pathophysiology in a concise readable manner. This new edition will be equally successful. The information on cell physiology and intercellular communication has been brought together in a new section. There are new chapters on nociception and pain, sexual functions, reproduction and pregnancy, aging and old age. Other chapters on general sensory physiology, endocrinology, GI function, kidneys. water and electrolyte balance, have been rewritten. The literature references have been brought up to date. This is probably one ofthe best of the present textbooks on Human Physiology.
Erythropoietin (E) stimulates the synthesis of red blood cells. It is a glycoprotein (M, 30.400) with I66 amino acids and 4 gIycosylation sites. The peptide has been synthesized by cloning the DNA. The E gene is 1~~ chromosome 7 as a single copy per haploid human genome. E is present in the blood at a concentration of IO ” M. This book gives information on the chemistry and physiology of E: the pathophysiology of erythropoiesis: and the use of E in the treatment of anemia. It provides a very interesting account of the great progress in this subject.
Biochemistry--W. M. SDIJTHEKLANU. Foundationa of Medicine Series. 634 pp. 1989. Churchill Livingstone. New York. Paperback $27.95. This is a text for students and those wishing to revise for the National Boards. It provides the essential information and has clinical correlations describing the effects of specific biochemical lesions. There are study questions at the end of each chapter with the answers at the back of the book. Students will like it but may still be put off by having to study 600 pages when they would prefer 100 pages! Binchemistry-J. D. RAWN. 1105 pp. 1989. Patterson. Carolina. $49.95.
North
37,000 copies of this book have been sold. and it is being translated into French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. It is a major textbook with good colour illustrations. It assumes a reasonable knowledge of organic chemistry but supplies the necessary physical chemistry. Three dimensional biochemistry is one of the major themes and a stereoviewer is provided to view the computer generated stereo images. Buy a copy and see if you like it compared to Stryer. Selenium in Biology and Medicine, 4th international Symposium on Selenium-Edited by A. WENL)EL. 330 pp. 1989. Springer Verlag. Berlin. $98. Glutathione peroxidase (an important antioxidant enzyme protecting cells from oxidative damage) contains a selenocysteine in its active site. Selenium (Se) containing proteins may also bind to pIasma proteins. The role of Se in glycine reduction, liver phospholipid hydroperoxide. thioredoxin, thyroid hormone reduction, growth hormone and somatomedin C, are discussed. The minimum daily Se requirement in Man is 20 fig a day whilst the maximum safe daily intake is 550pg. Ebselin a Se containing drug has antiinflammatory action and has also been used to inhibit the formation of ischaemic brain edema. Phosphoiipids in the Nervous System; Biochemical and Mole&la; Pathology, Fidia Research Series Vol. 17-Edited bv N. G. BAZAN. L. A. HORROCKS and G. TDFFANO. 293 pp. 1989. Livia Press: Springer Verlag. Berlin. Phosphatidyl serine. phosphoinositide and phospholipase C, have an important role in transduction of celi signalling. This volume describes the role of these compounds in: pathophysiology; ischemia hypoxia, epilepsy and convulsions; the pharmacological bases for the use of exogenous phospholipids in alcohol and drug addiction: and the therapeutic effects of phospholipids in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease.
by W. JELKMANN and A. J. <;KOSS. Verlag. Berlin. DM 108
The Calcitonins; Physiology and Pharmacology-~-M. &xIA. 152 pp. 1989. Karger. Base]. S. Fr 98. DM 117. $65.50.
The calcitonins are 32 amino acid peptides with a M, t’ 3500. There is a disulphide bridge between the cysteine residues m positions 1 and 7 forming a ring of 7AA at the N terminal which carries a free amino group. There is a proline amide at the C terminal. The main functions of calcitonin are inhibition of: bone resorption; gastric acid secretIon; food intake and pain perception. It is also involved in hypertension, tachycardia. hypotension. rnycardial contractility, vasodilation. renal adenylate cyclase activation, plasminogen activation. Hypercalcaemia, Paget’s disease and osteoporesis involve calcitonin imbalance. This well presented book with many coloured illustrations provides an excellent summary of the role of calcitonin from fish to Man.
Effec6 of Disease on Clinical Laboratory Tests, 2nd edn-R. B. FRIEDMAN and D. S. Yor:~. 52X pp. 1989. AAC‘C‘, Washington. D.C. $60.
The numerical values obtained in clinical laborator> tests will change according to the specific diseased state of the patient. This volume provides a list of diseases, a list of clinical tests (i.e. serum calcium level with lists of diseases that cause an increase and those that cause a decrease in serum calcium level), and a disease listing by ICD-9-CM classification with indications which clinical values will be abnormal. There is a companion volume “Effects of drugs on clinical laboratory tests”
Adoptive Cellular Immunot~rapy of Cancer--Edited hq H. C. STEVENSON.242 pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker, New York. U.S.A. & Canada. $89.75. Elsewhere 5107.50.
In the immune system (I) the B lymphocytes secrete Ig which attaches onto foreign cells. The Ig coated targets activate the complement system (secreted by blood monocytes) which can Iyse non-self invader cells. (2) The natural killer lymphocytes attack a wide range of target cells and kill them either by recognizing the Fc receptors on the Ig coated targets, or they recognize a ganglioside on the tumour cell membrane. (3) The T lymphocytes can recognize tumour associated antigens and attack these cells but each clone of T cells can attack a narrow range of cells. T cells can be 2. interleukin 4, activated by interleukin 1. interleukin gamma interferon and other agents. (4) The mononuclear phagocytes have Fc receptors and can recognize, attack and destroy tumour cells. Blood can be removed from a patient’s body. the white cells separated (cytapheresis); activated with the specific chemicals. remixed with plasma
Book Reviews
Human Physiology, 2nd edn (completely revised)--Edited by R. SCHMIDT and G. THEWS. 825 pp. 1989, Springer Verlag, Berlin. $79.
Erythropoietin-Edrted 180 pp. 1989. Springer
The first edition of this book was very successful since the authors combined basic scientific information with pathophysiology in a concise readable manner. This new edition will be equally successful. The information on cell physiology and intercellular communication has been brought together in a new section. There are new chapters on nociception and pain, sexual functions, reproduction and pregnancy, aging and old age. Other chapters on general sensory physiology, endocrinology, GI function, kidneys. water and electrolyte balance, have been rewritten. The literature references have been brought up to date. This is probably one ofthe best of the present textbooks on Human Physiology.
Erythropoietin (E) stimulates the synthesis of red blood cells. It is a glycoprotein (M, 30.400) with I66 amino acids and 4 gIycosylation sites. The peptide has been synthesized by cloning the DNA. The E gene is 1~~ chromosome 7 as a single copy per haploid human genome. E is present in the blood at a concentration of IO ” M. This book gives information on the chemistry and physiology of E: the pathophysiology of erythropoiesis: and the use of E in the treatment of anemia. It provides a very interesting account of the great progress in this subject.
Biochemistry--W. M. SDIJTHEKLANU. Foundationa of Medicine Series. 634 pp. 1989. Churchill Livingstone. New York. Paperback $27.95. This is a text for students and those wishing to revise for the National Boards. It provides the essential information and has clinical correlations describing the effects of specific biochemical lesions. There are study questions at the end of each chapter with the answers at the back of the book. Students will like it but may still be put off by having to study 600 pages when they would prefer 100 pages! Binchemistry-J. D. RAWN. 1105 pp. 1989. Patterson. Carolina. $49.95.
North
37,000 copies of this book have been sold. and it is being translated into French, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. It is a major textbook with good colour illustrations. It assumes a reasonable knowledge of organic chemistry but supplies the necessary physical chemistry. Three dimensional biochemistry is one of the major themes and a stereoviewer is provided to view the computer generated stereo images. Buy a copy and see if you like it compared to Stryer. Selenium in Biology and Medicine, 4th international Symposium on Selenium-Edited by A. WENL)EL. 330 pp. 1989. Springer Verlag. Berlin. $98. Glutathione peroxidase (an important antioxidant enzyme protecting cells from oxidative damage) contains a selenocysteine in its active site. Selenium (Se) containing proteins may also bind to pIasma proteins. The role of Se in glycine reduction, liver phospholipid hydroperoxide. thioredoxin, thyroid hormone reduction, growth hormone and somatomedin C, are discussed. The minimum daily Se requirement in Man is 20 fig a day whilst the maximum safe daily intake is 550pg. Ebselin a Se containing drug has antiinflammatory action and has also been used to inhibit the formation of ischaemic brain edema. Phosphoiipids in the Nervous System; Biochemical and Mole&la; Pathology, Fidia Research Series Vol. 17-Edited bv N. G. BAZAN. L. A. HORROCKS and G. TDFFANO. 293 pp. 1989. Livia Press: Springer Verlag. Berlin. Phosphatidyl serine. phosphoinositide and phospholipase C, have an important role in transduction of celi signalling. This volume describes the role of these compounds in: pathophysiology; ischemia hypoxia, epilepsy and convulsions; the pharmacological bases for the use of exogenous phospholipids in alcohol and drug addiction: and the therapeutic effects of phospholipids in ageing and Alzheimer’s disease.
by W. JELKMANN and A. J. <;KOSS. Verlag. Berlin. DM 108
The Calcitonins; Physiology and Pharmacology-~-M. &xIA. 152 pp. 1989. Karger. Base]. S. Fr 98. DM 117. $65.50.
The calcitonins are 32 amino acid peptides with a M, t’ 3500. There is a disulphide bridge between the cysteine residues m positions 1 and 7 forming a ring of 7AA at the N terminal which carries a free amino group. There is a proline amide at the C terminal. The main functions of calcitonin are inhibition of: bone resorption; gastric acid secretIon; food intake and pain perception. It is also involved in hypertension, tachycardia. hypotension. rnycardial contractility, vasodilation. renal adenylate cyclase activation, plasminogen activation. Hypercalcaemia, Paget’s disease and osteoporesis involve calcitonin imbalance. This well presented book with many coloured illustrations provides an excellent summary of the role of calcitonin from fish to Man.
Effec6 of Disease on Clinical Laboratory Tests, 2nd edn-R. B. FRIEDMAN and D. S. Yor:~. 52X pp. 1989. AAC‘C‘, Washington. D.C. $60.
The numerical values obtained in clinical laborator> tests will change according to the specific diseased state of the patient. This volume provides a list of diseases, a list of clinical tests (i.e. serum calcium level with lists of diseases that cause an increase and those that cause a decrease in serum calcium level), and a disease listing by ICD-9-CM classification with indications which clinical values will be abnormal. There is a companion volume “Effects of drugs on clinical laboratory tests”
Adoptive Cellular Immunot~rapy of Cancer--Edited hq H. C. STEVENSON.242 pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker, New York. U.S.A. & Canada. $89.75. Elsewhere 5107.50.
In the immune system (I) the B lymphocytes secrete Ig which attaches onto foreign cells. The Ig coated targets activate the complement system (secreted by blood monocytes) which can Iyse non-self invader cells. (2) The natural killer lymphocytes attack a wide range of target cells and kill them either by recognizing the Fc receptors on the Ig coated targets, or they recognize a ganglioside on the tumour cell membrane. (3) The T lymphocytes can recognize tumour associated antigens and attack these cells but each clone of T cells can attack a narrow range of cells. T cells can be 2. interleukin 4, activated by interleukin 1. interleukin gamma interferon and other agents. (4) The mononuclear phagocytes have Fc receptors and can recognize, attack and destroy tumour cells. Blood can be removed from a patient’s body. the white cells separated (cytapheresis); activated with the specific chemicals. remixed with plasma