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The molecular mechanism of photoreception
Gen. Pharraac. Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 291-294, 1988 Pergamon Journals Ltd. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS pendent kinase. These ultimately reduce sodium entry into the rod and produce the change in potential. These factors and the role of calcium, are discussed in detail in this volume together with group reports on triggering and amplification, internal messengers, light sensitive channels, pumps and carriers, and adaptation. The volume will be of great interest to all studying transduction across membranes.
Methods of Drug Delivery--Editor G. M. Ihler. 305 pp. 1986. Pergamon Press, Oxford. US $86. International Encyclopedia of Pharmacology & Therapeutics Vol 120. New methods are being devised to deliver drugs to specific parts of the body. In some cases these can overcome the blood-brain barrier; digestion in the GI tract: detoxication by the liver; have a controlled release rate and be effective in lower total dose. Equally important the specific method of delivering a drug may be patentable even if the drug is out of patent protection or a generic drug. The topics dealt with in this multi author volume are as follow; erythrocyte carriers; solid microspheres; magnetic microspheres; enzyme protein conjugates; liposomes; targeting antibody conjugates; implantable controlled release systems; specific delivery of drugs to the respiratory system, brain, eye, neoplasms, lymphoid cells, lysosomes. The chapters are well written and provide a good survey of a new and important subject.
Biotechnology: Potentials and Limitations---Edited S. Silver. 312 pp. 1986. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. DM 68. Dahlem Conference Life Sciences Research Report Volume 35. The topics dealt with are as follows; cloning and expressing genes for clinically useful proteins; synthetic genes; protein engineering; microbiology and industrial products; vaccines, the synthetic antigen approach; recombinant poxviruses; immunological techniques; plant gene engineering and agriculture; plant microbe interaction; production and utilization of lignoceHulose; social and ethnical considerations for biotechnology. The volume provides a good summary of the present state of genetic engineering in the production of insulin, interferon, vaccines, hybridoma produced antibodies, and indicates the problems that are still yet to be overcome.
Inhalation Toxicology. Research Methods, Applications and Evaluatiotr--Edited by H. Salem. 453 pp. 1987. Marcel Dekker, New York. US $79.75 (U.S.A. and Canada): US $95.50. Many chemicals are easily absorbed into the body through the lungs. These include bronchodilators, drugs, alcohol, organic solvents (glue sniffing), smokes, and particulates. The topics discussed in this multi author volume are; principles of inhalation toxicology; factors influencing toxicology test article administration; designs of inhalation equipment; nose-only exposure and intratracheal injection; respiratory and bronchomotor reflexes; physiological measurement following inhalation; toxicokinetics; lung exposure; immunotoxicology of inhalents; pulmonary responses to irritants; use of pigs as an animal model in inhalation toxicology; regulatory requirements; good laboratory practices. This book will be of interest to all those working in areas of high solvent density, those wishing to administer drugs by inhalation, and people still interested in breathing fresh air.
The Molecular Mechanism of Photoreccptinn--Edited by H Stieve. 506 pp. 1986. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. DM 98. Dahlem Conference Life Science Research Report Volume 34. The conference was held in Berlin November I984 and the published volume contains much that will interest readers in the physiology and biochemistry of phototransduction. Nearly 100 man years has gone into the elucidation of the structure of opsin. The sequences of bovine, ovine, equine, porcine and chicken rhodopsins show remarkable conservation of structure with variations accounting for only 3-5% of the molecule. All the visual light receptors are structurally related and conform to a general 3D pattern even though the linear sequence of amino acids show more variation with regard to cone proteins and differ substantially from the primary structure of invertebrate polypeptides. The visual system has developed a series of amplifying or cascade factors that enable one photon to produce a change in the rod membrane potential. These stages involve:rhodopsin, transducin, a 48 K dalton factor, cGMP phophodiesterase and an Inhibitor, and ATP de-
Drug Interactions in Anaesthesia 2nd Edition--Edited by N. T. Smith and A. N. Corbascio. 482 pp. 1986. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. $47.50. The new edition of this multi author volume includes calcium channel blockers, antibronchospastics, antihistaminics, antiepilepties, and inorganic cations, in addition to all the major drugs (sympathomimetics, ~-adrenergics, ,,-blockers and antihypertensives, cholinergics, anticholinergics, diuretics, sedatives and hypnotics, narcotics, neuromuscular blocking agents). The data is placed in perspective with chapters on the preoperative visit; dangers and opportunities; pharmacokinetics and drug interactions; pH; the role of the liver. It is probable that most patients having to undergo anaesthesia will be under some previous drug regime and this volume will help the reader anticipate any potential dangers.
Drug and Chemical Action in Pregnancy; Pharmacologic and Toxicologic Principles--Edited by S. Fabro and A. R. Scialli. 52I pp. 1986. Marcel Dekker, New York. (USA and Canada $89.75) $107.50. This multi authored volume has chapters on physiologic changes of pregnancy; drug absorption; pharmacokinetics; placental transfer and function; metabolic role of the placenta; stage dependence of reproductive toxicology; mutagenesis and carcinogenesis; teratogenesis; behavioural teratogenesis; pharmacogenetics; reproductive effects of occupation; effect of life style on reproduction; risks of medically administered isotopes; drugs and breast milk; sources of information on drugs in pregnancy; use and misuse of drugs in pregnancy. Many pregnant women take caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and are exposed to background radiation, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides. In addition they may be taking medication and this could affect the growth and health of the fetus. This volume provides an excellent series of reviews on the effects that these agents could have on the fetus.
291
BOOK REVIEWS pendent kinase. These ultimately reduce sodium entry into the rod and produce the change in potential. These factors and the role of calcium, are discussed in detail in this volume together with group reports on triggering and amplification, internal messengers, light sensitive channels, pumps and carriers, and adaptation. The volume will be of great interest to all studying transduction across membranes.
Methods of Drug Delivery--Editor G. M. Ihler. 305 pp. 1986. Pergamon Press, Oxford. US $86. International Encyclopedia of Pharmacology & Therapeutics Vol 120. New methods are being devised to deliver drugs to specific parts of the body. In some cases these can overcome the blood-brain barrier; digestion in the GI tract: detoxication by the liver; have a controlled release rate and be effective in lower total dose. Equally important the specific method of delivering a drug may be patentable even if the drug is out of patent protection or a generic drug. The topics dealt with in this multi author volume are as follow; erythrocyte carriers; solid microspheres; magnetic microspheres; enzyme protein conjugates; liposomes; targeting antibody conjugates; implantable controlled release systems; specific delivery of drugs to the respiratory system, brain, eye, neoplasms, lymphoid cells, lysosomes. The chapters are well written and provide a good survey of a new and important subject.
Biotechnology: Potentials and Limitations---Edited S. Silver. 312 pp. 1986. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. DM 68. Dahlem Conference Life Sciences Research Report Volume 35. The topics dealt with are as follows; cloning and expressing genes for clinically useful proteins; synthetic genes; protein engineering; microbiology and industrial products; vaccines, the synthetic antigen approach; recombinant poxviruses; immunological techniques; plant gene engineering and agriculture; plant microbe interaction; production and utilization of lignoceHulose; social and ethnical considerations for biotechnology. The volume provides a good summary of the present state of genetic engineering in the production of insulin, interferon, vaccines, hybridoma produced antibodies, and indicates the problems that are still yet to be overcome.
Inhalation Toxicology. Research Methods, Applications and Evaluatiotr--Edited by H. Salem. 453 pp. 1987. Marcel Dekker, New York. US $79.75 (U.S.A. and Canada): US $95.50. Many chemicals are easily absorbed into the body through the lungs. These include bronchodilators, drugs, alcohol, organic solvents (glue sniffing), smokes, and particulates. The topics discussed in this multi author volume are; principles of inhalation toxicology; factors influencing toxicology test article administration; designs of inhalation equipment; nose-only exposure and intratracheal injection; respiratory and bronchomotor reflexes; physiological measurement following inhalation; toxicokinetics; lung exposure; immunotoxicology of inhalents; pulmonary responses to irritants; use of pigs as an animal model in inhalation toxicology; regulatory requirements; good laboratory practices. This book will be of interest to all those working in areas of high solvent density, those wishing to administer drugs by inhalation, and people still interested in breathing fresh air.
The Molecular Mechanism of Photoreccptinn--Edited by H Stieve. 506 pp. 1986. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. DM 98. Dahlem Conference Life Science Research Report Volume 34. The conference was held in Berlin November I984 and the published volume contains much that will interest readers in the physiology and biochemistry of phototransduction. Nearly 100 man years has gone into the elucidation of the structure of opsin. The sequences of bovine, ovine, equine, porcine and chicken rhodopsins show remarkable conservation of structure with variations accounting for only 3-5% of the molecule. All the visual light receptors are structurally related and conform to a general 3D pattern even though the linear sequence of amino acids show more variation with regard to cone proteins and differ substantially from the primary structure of invertebrate polypeptides. The visual system has developed a series of amplifying or cascade factors that enable one photon to produce a change in the rod membrane potential. These stages involve:rhodopsin, transducin, a 48 K dalton factor, cGMP phophodiesterase and an Inhibitor, and ATP de-
Drug Interactions in Anaesthesia 2nd Edition--Edited by N. T. Smith and A. N. Corbascio. 482 pp. 1986. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. $47.50. The new edition of this multi author volume includes calcium channel blockers, antibronchospastics, antihistaminics, antiepilepties, and inorganic cations, in addition to all the major drugs (sympathomimetics, ~-adrenergics, ,,-blockers and antihypertensives, cholinergics, anticholinergics, diuretics, sedatives and hypnotics, narcotics, neuromuscular blocking agents). The data is placed in perspective with chapters on the preoperative visit; dangers and opportunities; pharmacokinetics and drug interactions; pH; the role of the liver. It is probable that most patients having to undergo anaesthesia will be under some previous drug regime and this volume will help the reader anticipate any potential dangers.
Drug and Chemical Action in Pregnancy; Pharmacologic and Toxicologic Principles--Edited by S. Fabro and A. R. Scialli. 52I pp. 1986. Marcel Dekker, New York. (USA and Canada $89.75) $107.50. This multi authored volume has chapters on physiologic changes of pregnancy; drug absorption; pharmacokinetics; placental transfer and function; metabolic role of the placenta; stage dependence of reproductive toxicology; mutagenesis and carcinogenesis; teratogenesis; behavioural teratogenesis; pharmacogenetics; reproductive effects of occupation; effect of life style on reproduction; risks of medically administered isotopes; drugs and breast milk; sources of information on drugs in pregnancy; use and misuse of drugs in pregnancy. Many pregnant women take caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and are exposed to background radiation, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides. In addition they may be taking medication and this could affect the growth and health of the fetus. This volume provides an excellent series of reviews on the effects that these agents could have on the fetus.
291