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Uremic toxins
0041-0101 J9D 53 .00+ .00 PerBamon Press plc
Tositvn Vol . 28, No 10, pp. 1241-1244, 1990 . Printed in Great Britain .
REVIEWS Rouslctc, D. W. Ecology andNatural History ojTropical Bees, 514 pp. cloth â69.50. Cambridge University Press (1989) . Tttts Pl.uermY written book summarizes and interprets research on a diversity of bees, with special attention to those bees living in the tropical regions. In the Introduction the possible tropical origin of bees, as well as the way eusociallity may have evolved in bees, is discussed. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the resources gathered by bees for constructing and defending their nest, for maintaining metabolism and for reproduction . It describes the chemical ecology associated with foraging, mating and defence and social foraging (dance languages) . The beautifully illustrated Chapter 3 describes the nesting and reproductive biology. This chapter contains a section on defence, including the mandibular formic acid secretions by neotropical Oxytrigona species . In Chapter4 the community ecology is treated. The author discusses the profiability and the danger of introduction of European honeybees in tropical regions. The Appendices include a partial checklist, numerous illustration of bees, about 1500 references and extensive subject and taxonomy indices. Although the aim of the book is to describe the biology of tropical bees, comparison with bees from temperate zones is oßen made . Therefore, it is a pity that ROUBIü did not pay more attention to the venons of bees . He extensively describes bees colony defence, but gives only a very short reference to the comparative toxicity, based on a paper by J. O. Sc~+lnr (1982) . Here we miss a comparison of the venons and toxins of Apia cerana, A. dorsata and A.Jiorea with those of A . mellijera. The work of Krr.>:Ir. (1973, 1975) on melittins of the former three tropical Apia species is not mentioned. Melittin (wrongly spelled) and apamin are only mentioned at page 207 as hemolytic and neurotoxic peptides respectively. A well written and fully documented work, however poor in information interesting from a toxinological point of view . T. P~rc
RINGOIR, S., VANHOLDER,
(1987) .
R. and M~+ssßv, S. G. (ads). Uremic Toxins . U.S. â59.50. Ne w York : Plenum Press
Txls 296 page volume is the proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Ghent, Belgium on 3~ October, 1986 . The first thing to emphasize for readers of Toxicon is that uremic toxins are endogenous compounds which accumulate in patients with renal failure and give rise to the characteristic clinical syndrome of uremia : encephalopathy, dementia, bone problems, bleeding, myopathy etc. This book does not discuss exogenous nephrotorins. Among the candidate uremic toxins discussed are urea itself, guanidinium compounds including creatinine, aromatic compounds, hormones, such as parathormone, and the so-called `middle molecules' . The book consists of 45 self-contained articles and a short but useful index. Although the preface speaks of extensive discussions at the meeting, none of these are included . The opening chapter `Parathyroid hormone: a uremic toxin' by one of the editors, $riAUI. G. M~sslev, is a useful review with some opening discussion of uremic toxins in general. He presents evidence for an unexpected effect of parathormonc in chronic renal failure. Excess parathormone apparently interferes with the ability of pancreatic beta cells to augment insulin secretion appropriately in response to the insulin resistant state in uremic patients . Several chapters deal with 'middle molecules', a term unfamiliar to the reviewer . These are defined as substances that behave in a dialyser as though their molecular weights were in the range of 300-2,000 dallons. Since dialysability depends on a large number of characteristics other than solute dimensions and the pore size of the membrane, these middle molecules have remained elusive, both conceptually and analytically . A wide variety of potential uremic toxins is discussed in this volume, ranging from an eponymous 'Abiko factor, a peptide, polyamines, purine metabolites, lipids, abnormalities of aluminium, selinium and magnesium, to factors affecting immunocompetence and erythropoiesis. Several chapters deal with attempts to remove uremic toxins by dialysis. This is an interesting and valuable compilation with 'something for everyone' in its very broad coverage of the field of uremic toxins . It is printed by a photolithographic method which makes some chapters uncomfortable to 1241
1242
Reviews
read. The latest references are from 1986 . The price seems reasonable . A concluding summary of the main advances and indications for future work would have been a valuable addition to this book . DAVID A. WARRELL
EL SIIAMI, S. and MEwe>:-rr, T. G. (eds). Advances in the Biosciences Vol. 74 . Allergy and Molecular Biology Proceedings of the DPC First International Symposium on Allergy and Molecular Biology, 11-12 April 1988, Laguna Niguel, California, U.S .A . Oxford : Pergamon Press (1989) . Ti>E snKeosItrM was sponsored by the Diagnostic Products Corporation to improve the utilization of the advances in molecular biology and immunology in understanding, diagnosis and treatment of allergy . The contributions of the roughly 80 participants were arranged into the following eight sessions: allergens ; molecular biology; cloning of allergens; immunoassay of antibodies using labelled allergens; paediatric allergy and epidemiology ; allergens (!); mast cells and allergy; computer-assisted medical decision making . As expected, molecular biology plays only a minor role although cloning of otherwise hardly accessible antigens may become useful for diagnosis and treatment. As with other symposia proceedings, the strength of the book lies in a few excellent contributions. Weakness emerges from its heterogeneity in contents and quality of its 35 contributions. One of the organizers states at the end: 'I can't think of anything much which has been left out' . The referee missed a register . E. HABERMANN
COLOWICK, S. P. and KAPLAN, N. O., Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 165, (SIDNEY HARSHMAN, Ed .) . San Diego: Academic Press Inc. Ti>E voLUSg is held together more by the aspects of ~xnology than of enzymology since most of the toxins dealt with do not possess any known enzymatic activity . Its first section compiles preparative approaches to toxins from gram-positive cocei (20), gram-positive bacilli (6), gram-negative cocci (2), gram-negative bacilli (5), and the same number of articles to toxins from vibrios . It is also described how the A chain of diphtheria toxin can be coupled to HCG. The second section is devoted to the quantitation of toxins by a wide range of biological, among them enzymatic tests, e.g . assays for haemolysis, pore formation in liposomes or cell cultures, inhibition of protein synthesis in cell culture, ADP ribosyltransferases, phospholipases, enterotoxins. Even a monkey feeding test is served to the reader . Electroencephalography and measurement of nerve conduction velocity are offered for tracing neurotoxins. The editors did not forget the ileal loop fluid accumulation test for diarrheal toxins, and assays for epidermolytic toxins . The last part of this section outlines some methods of general interest like the use of photoreactive lipids for membrane studies, negative staining and freeze fracturing in electron microscopy, or growing of two-dimensional crystals. Taken altogether, the volume may be regarded as the first albeit incomplete, reference source for methods in Txnology . The editor deserves praise for his bringing together so many leading authors. The appearance of the collection in a well accessible series documents that Txnology has come of age. E. HABERMANN
WARE, G. W. (ed.) . Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 11 l, 147 pp . New York, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (1990). Tins suns is the continuation of the Residue Reviews (Vol . I through Vo1.97) for detailed review articles wncerned with any aspects of chemical contaminants, including pesticides, in the total environment with their toxiwlogical considerations and consequences . Vol. 1 l l contains two review articles . The first review deals with the aspects of radon-induced lung cancer . Radon is a radioactive gas, the main source of which is soil, it is more or less ubiquitous . The presence of radon is a cause for concern, as at sufficient elevated levels it is known to cause lung cancer, and estimations say that the number of cases of lung cancer from radon is roughly the same as that from passive smoking. Intensive studies have been made in miners from many parts of the world, and it has been found that radon is an additional risk for smokers. It is concluded that there is a synergistic effect, where smokers experience radiation-induced lung cancer rates that are roughly five times those of non-smoking miners. This paper gives detailed contributions to these aspects as far as reliable results are available . Many other not-yet solved questions are discussed, as for example synergism to other risks like the special minerals miners work with. The use of radon in medicine as a therapeutic is just mentioned, but not
Tositvn Vol . 28, No 10, pp. 1241-1244, 1990 . Printed in Great Britain .
REVIEWS Rouslctc, D. W. Ecology andNatural History ojTropical Bees, 514 pp. cloth â69.50. Cambridge University Press (1989) . Tttts Pl.uermY written book summarizes and interprets research on a diversity of bees, with special attention to those bees living in the tropical regions. In the Introduction the possible tropical origin of bees, as well as the way eusociallity may have evolved in bees, is discussed. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the resources gathered by bees for constructing and defending their nest, for maintaining metabolism and for reproduction . It describes the chemical ecology associated with foraging, mating and defence and social foraging (dance languages) . The beautifully illustrated Chapter 3 describes the nesting and reproductive biology. This chapter contains a section on defence, including the mandibular formic acid secretions by neotropical Oxytrigona species . In Chapter4 the community ecology is treated. The author discusses the profiability and the danger of introduction of European honeybees in tropical regions. The Appendices include a partial checklist, numerous illustration of bees, about 1500 references and extensive subject and taxonomy indices. Although the aim of the book is to describe the biology of tropical bees, comparison with bees from temperate zones is oßen made . Therefore, it is a pity that ROUBIü did not pay more attention to the venons of bees . He extensively describes bees colony defence, but gives only a very short reference to the comparative toxicity, based on a paper by J. O. Sc~+lnr (1982) . Here we miss a comparison of the venons and toxins of Apia cerana, A. dorsata and A.Jiorea with those of A . mellijera. The work of Krr.>:Ir. (1973, 1975) on melittins of the former three tropical Apia species is not mentioned. Melittin (wrongly spelled) and apamin are only mentioned at page 207 as hemolytic and neurotoxic peptides respectively. A well written and fully documented work, however poor in information interesting from a toxinological point of view . T. P~rc
RINGOIR, S., VANHOLDER,
(1987) .
R. and M~+ssßv, S. G. (ads). Uremic Toxins . U.S. â59.50. Ne w York : Plenum Press
Txls 296 page volume is the proceedings of a symposium held at the University of Ghent, Belgium on 3~ October, 1986 . The first thing to emphasize for readers of Toxicon is that uremic toxins are endogenous compounds which accumulate in patients with renal failure and give rise to the characteristic clinical syndrome of uremia : encephalopathy, dementia, bone problems, bleeding, myopathy etc. This book does not discuss exogenous nephrotorins. Among the candidate uremic toxins discussed are urea itself, guanidinium compounds including creatinine, aromatic compounds, hormones, such as parathormone, and the so-called `middle molecules' . The book consists of 45 self-contained articles and a short but useful index. Although the preface speaks of extensive discussions at the meeting, none of these are included . The opening chapter `Parathyroid hormone: a uremic toxin' by one of the editors, $riAUI. G. M~sslev, is a useful review with some opening discussion of uremic toxins in general. He presents evidence for an unexpected effect of parathormonc in chronic renal failure. Excess parathormone apparently interferes with the ability of pancreatic beta cells to augment insulin secretion appropriately in response to the insulin resistant state in uremic patients . Several chapters deal with 'middle molecules', a term unfamiliar to the reviewer . These are defined as substances that behave in a dialyser as though their molecular weights were in the range of 300-2,000 dallons. Since dialysability depends on a large number of characteristics other than solute dimensions and the pore size of the membrane, these middle molecules have remained elusive, both conceptually and analytically . A wide variety of potential uremic toxins is discussed in this volume, ranging from an eponymous 'Abiko factor, a peptide, polyamines, purine metabolites, lipids, abnormalities of aluminium, selinium and magnesium, to factors affecting immunocompetence and erythropoiesis. Several chapters deal with attempts to remove uremic toxins by dialysis. This is an interesting and valuable compilation with 'something for everyone' in its very broad coverage of the field of uremic toxins . It is printed by a photolithographic method which makes some chapters uncomfortable to 1241
1242
Reviews
read. The latest references are from 1986 . The price seems reasonable . A concluding summary of the main advances and indications for future work would have been a valuable addition to this book . DAVID A. WARRELL
EL SIIAMI, S. and MEwe>:-rr, T. G. (eds). Advances in the Biosciences Vol. 74 . Allergy and Molecular Biology Proceedings of the DPC First International Symposium on Allergy and Molecular Biology, 11-12 April 1988, Laguna Niguel, California, U.S .A . Oxford : Pergamon Press (1989) . Ti>E snKeosItrM was sponsored by the Diagnostic Products Corporation to improve the utilization of the advances in molecular biology and immunology in understanding, diagnosis and treatment of allergy . The contributions of the roughly 80 participants were arranged into the following eight sessions: allergens ; molecular biology; cloning of allergens; immunoassay of antibodies using labelled allergens; paediatric allergy and epidemiology ; allergens (!); mast cells and allergy; computer-assisted medical decision making . As expected, molecular biology plays only a minor role although cloning of otherwise hardly accessible antigens may become useful for diagnosis and treatment. As with other symposia proceedings, the strength of the book lies in a few excellent contributions. Weakness emerges from its heterogeneity in contents and quality of its 35 contributions. One of the organizers states at the end: 'I can't think of anything much which has been left out' . The referee missed a register . E. HABERMANN
COLOWICK, S. P. and KAPLAN, N. O., Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 165, (SIDNEY HARSHMAN, Ed .) . San Diego: Academic Press Inc. Ti>E voLUSg is held together more by the aspects of ~xnology than of enzymology since most of the toxins dealt with do not possess any known enzymatic activity . Its first section compiles preparative approaches to toxins from gram-positive cocei (20), gram-positive bacilli (6), gram-negative cocci (2), gram-negative bacilli (5), and the same number of articles to toxins from vibrios . It is also described how the A chain of diphtheria toxin can be coupled to HCG. The second section is devoted to the quantitation of toxins by a wide range of biological, among them enzymatic tests, e.g . assays for haemolysis, pore formation in liposomes or cell cultures, inhibition of protein synthesis in cell culture, ADP ribosyltransferases, phospholipases, enterotoxins. Even a monkey feeding test is served to the reader . Electroencephalography and measurement of nerve conduction velocity are offered for tracing neurotoxins. The editors did not forget the ileal loop fluid accumulation test for diarrheal toxins, and assays for epidermolytic toxins . The last part of this section outlines some methods of general interest like the use of photoreactive lipids for membrane studies, negative staining and freeze fracturing in electron microscopy, or growing of two-dimensional crystals. Taken altogether, the volume may be regarded as the first albeit incomplete, reference source for methods in Txnology . The editor deserves praise for his bringing together so many leading authors. The appearance of the collection in a well accessible series documents that Txnology has come of age. E. HABERMANN
WARE, G. W. (ed.) . Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Vol. 11 l, 147 pp . New York, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer (1990). Tins suns is the continuation of the Residue Reviews (Vol . I through Vo1.97) for detailed review articles wncerned with any aspects of chemical contaminants, including pesticides, in the total environment with their toxiwlogical considerations and consequences . Vol. 1 l l contains two review articles . The first review deals with the aspects of radon-induced lung cancer . Radon is a radioactive gas, the main source of which is soil, it is more or less ubiquitous . The presence of radon is a cause for concern, as at sufficient elevated levels it is known to cause lung cancer, and estimations say that the number of cases of lung cancer from radon is roughly the same as that from passive smoking. Intensive studies have been made in miners from many parts of the world, and it has been found that radon is an additional risk for smokers. It is concluded that there is a synergistic effect, where smokers experience radiation-induced lung cancer rates that are roughly five times those of non-smoking miners. This paper gives detailed contributions to these aspects as far as reliable results are available . Many other not-yet solved questions are discussed, as for example synergism to other risks like the special minerals miners work with. The use of radon in medicine as a therapeutic is just mentioned, but not