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Chemically induced birth defects
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Book Reviews 513 In Search of the Physical Basis of Life---Gilbert N. Ling. 791 pp. 1984. Plenum Press, New York. US$79.50. Most readers will have been brought up on the membrane- ionophore explanation of cell resting and action potentials, where the resting potential is due to dominance of the potassium ionophore, and the action potential due to the opening of the sodium ionophore. The ionic imbalance across the membrane is established by the sodium potassium pump. Gilbert Ling thinks that the experimental evidence for the above theory is not very good and that there are many flaws in the accepted data and argument. Instead he proposes an Association-Induction hypothesis. The association of ions and water with macromolecules in the cell has the cations adsorbed on to fixed carboxyl groups of proteins. This allows the preferential accumulation of potassium rather than sodium inside the cell. A change in polarization of the water channels leads to entry of sodium and calcium into the cell and hence the action potential. Gilbert Ling argues his case very closely and applies it to other problems of cell physiology and biochemistry. Though the reader may disagree with his views, it is certainly worth while reading the book carefully since at least it will disturb many of the cobwebs in ones mind and at best it will make one think very carefully over the basic experimental data and conclusions. This book is recommended to any one who is not afraid to think. Drug Discovery: the Evolution of Modern Medicines--Walter Sneader. 435pp. 1985. John Wiley, Chichester. £12.95. Most teachers of pharmacology complain that their students don't have an adequate background to the subject; the students just know about a few drugs and their action. The present volume will do much to overcome the problem. It provides a highly readable, interesting account of the devel- opment of the major classes of drugs. It puts the flesh on the bones and gives the reader insight into why it often took so long to develop a new drug. So the reader can follow Kast, yon Mering, and Emil Fischer through the steps chloral, chloralose, trichlofos, sulphonal, trional, diethyl acetyl urea, diethylbarbituric acid, phenobarbitone. Or he can appre- ciate what Laborit did to help develop chlorpromazine and see why it was done. Many students think that current knowledge is all that is worth knowing. They don't appre- ciate that much of what is known at present is incomplete and that an understanding of the present in terms of its historical development will give perspective, depth and possibly a better realization of what should be done next. This excellent book will provide the background and also give the reader a great deal of factual knowledge about modern drugs and medicines. The book can be read with delight and advantage by most scientists. Drug lnteractlons--Philip D. Hansten. 5th edition. 460pp. 1985. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. Paperback US$22.50. Drugs are classified in chapters according to their inter- actions on antiarrhythmics, oral anticoagulants, anti- convulsants, antidiabetics, antihypertensives, anti infectives, anti neoplastics, digitialis, diuretics, ethanol, hormones, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, salicylates, tricyclic antidepressants, and miscellaneous interactions. There is a reference list at the end of each chapter so that the informa- tion can be followed up in more detail if required. Under each of these headings are listed the drugs that interact so that in the MAO chapter are given the interactions between MAO and amphetamines, anticholinergics, antidepressants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cyclamates, etc. Each is given with its mechanisms of interaction, clinical significance, and patient management. The index is especially important since it gives each drug listed with the possible interactants and the page reference. In the 5th edition the information has been brought up to date and in addition 200 more inter- acting pairs of drugs have been added. This is an essential volume to have if you prescribe or apply more than one drug at a time. Chemically Induced Birth Defects---James L. Schardein. 879pp. 1985. Marcel Dekker, New York. US$150. About 7% of all live births show major defects. In addition a large number of defective embryos are miscarried and aborted (possibly 40% of all conceptions). Although some of these will be due to congenital genetic imbalance, others are caused by chemical mutagens or teratogens. This single author volume provides a detailed account of the evidence on 3000 chemicals that have produced birth defects in man and experimental animals. The author also discusses the problems of choosing a suitable animal species (rat, mouse, rabbit, dog, etc.) for testing the teratogenicity and indicates at what stage the foetus is most susceptible to defects. Most of the major classes of drugs (cardiovascular, renal, analge- sics, anaesthetics, anticonvulsants, stimulants, psychotropic agents, hormones, antimicrobials, etc.) as well as chemicals, pesticides, solvents, food additives, are discussed. There are many photographs of chemically induced defects, as well as extensive tabular data. Each chapter has a detailed bibli- ography and there is a good index. The book is a good source for finding up-to-date information on the terato- genicity of specific chemicals and drugs. Biological Responses in Cancer--Edited by E. Mihich and Y. Sakurai. Immunomodulation by Anticancer Drugs, Vol. 3. 216pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. US$39.50. After an initial chapter on the regulation of the immune response, the succeeding chapters of this multi-author volume describe the effects of immunomodulating drugs and anti-metabolites such as the thiopurines, DTIC, antifolates, adenosine deaminase inhibitors, ARA C, adriamycine, cyclophosphamid, nitroso-ureas, dicarbazine, platinum complexes, Vinca alkaloids, and glucocorticoids. The final chapter gives an excellent summary of the use of anticancer agents in bone marrow transplantation. Calcium in Biological Systems--Edited by R. P. Rubin, G. B. Weiss and J. W. Putney. 737pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. US$89.50. The 80 chapters of this multi-author book review the major roles that calcium plays in cells and tissues. The topics discussed include: general aspects of calcium and cell function; roles of phosphoinositides in calcium regulated systems; stimulus-secretion coupling; calcium regulation of hemopoetic cells; calcium as a regulator of membrane permeability; calcium as a regulator of neuronal function; calmodulin; calcium and skeletal muscle contractility; cal- cium and cardiac muscle contractility; calcium and calcium antagonists in smooth muscle; calcium entry blockers and disease; vitamin D and other calcemic agents; alterations in calcium metabolism and homeostasis; normal biological calcification; pathological calcification; crystal deposition. There are five or more articles under each of these headings. These well written articles provide an excellent detailed analysis of the multifarious roles of calcium and also provide an overall view of the calcium research frontiers. Strongly recommended.
Transcript of Chemically induced birth defects
Book Reviews 513
In Search of the Physical Basis of Life---Gilbert N. Ling. 791 pp. 1984. Plenum Press, New York. US$79.50.
Most readers will have been brought up on the membrane- ionophore explanation of cell resting and action potentials, where the resting potential is due to dominance of the potassium ionophore, and the action potential due to the opening of the sodium ionophore. The ionic imbalance across the membrane is established by the sodium potassium pump.
Gilbert Ling thinks that the experimental evidence for the above theory is not very good and that there are many flaws in the accepted data and argument. Instead he proposes an Association-Induction hypothesis. The association of ions and water with macromolecules in the cell has the cations adsorbed on to fixed carboxyl groups of proteins. This allows the preferential accumulation of potassium rather than sodium inside the cell. A change in polarization of the water channels leads to entry of sodium and calcium into the cell and hence the action potential.
Gilbert Ling argues his case very closely and applies it to other problems of cell physiology and biochemistry. Though the reader may disagree with his views, it is certainly worth while reading the book carefully since at least it will disturb many of the cobwebs in ones mind and at best it will make one think very carefully over the basic experimental data and conclusions. This book is recommended to any one who is not afraid to think.
Drug Discovery: the Evolution of Modern Medicines--Walter Sneader. 435pp. 1985. John Wiley, Chichester. £12.95.
Most teachers of pharmacology complain that their students don't have an adequate background to the subject; the students just know about a few drugs and their action. The present volume will do much to overcome the problem. It provides a highly readable, interesting account of the devel- opment of the major classes of drugs. It puts the flesh on the bones and gives the reader insight into why it often took so long to develop a new drug. So the reader can follow Kast, yon Mering, and Emil Fischer through the steps chloral, chloralose, trichlofos, sulphonal, trional, diethyl acetyl urea, diethylbarbituric acid, phenobarbitone. Or he can appre- ciate what Laborit did to help develop chlorpromazine and see why it was done. Many students think that current knowledge is all that is worth knowing. They don't appre- ciate that much of what is known at present is incomplete and that an understanding of the present in terms of its historical development will give perspective, depth and possibly a better realization of what should be done next. This excellent book will provide the background and also give the reader a great deal of factual knowledge about modern drugs and medicines. The book can be read with delight and advantage by most scientists.
Drug lnteractlons--Philip D. Hansten. 5th edition. 460pp. 1985. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. Paperback US$22.50.
Drugs are classified in chapters according to their inter- actions on antiarrhythmics, oral anticoagulants, anti- convulsants, antidiabetics, antihypertensives, anti infectives, anti neoplastics, digitialis, diuretics, ethanol, hormones, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazines, salicylates, tricyclic antidepressants, and miscellaneous interactions. There is a reference list at the end of each chapter so that the informa- tion can be followed up in more detail if required. Under each of these headings are listed the drugs that interact so that in the MAO chapter are given the interactions between MAO and amphetamines, anticholinergics, antidepressants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cyclamates, etc. Each is given with its mechanisms of interaction, clinical significance, and
patient management. The index is especially important since it gives each drug listed with the possible interactants and the page reference. In the 5th edition the information has been brought up to date and in addition 200 more inter- acting pairs of drugs have been added. This is an essential volume to have if you prescribe or apply more than one drug at a time.
Chemically Induced Birth Defects---James L. Schardein. 879pp. 1985. Marcel Dekker, New York. US$150.
About 7% of all live births show major defects. In addition a large number of defective embryos are miscarried and aborted (possibly 40% of all conceptions). Although some of these will be due to congenital genetic imbalance, others are caused by chemical mutagens or teratogens. This single author volume provides a detailed account of the evidence on 3000 chemicals that have produced birth defects in man and experimental animals. The author also discusses the problems of choosing a suitable animal species (rat, mouse, rabbit, dog, etc.) for testing the teratogenicity and indicates
at what stage the foetus is most susceptible to defects. Most of the major classes of drugs (cardiovascular, renal, analge- sics, anaesthetics, anticonvulsants, stimulants, psychotropic agents, hormones, antimicrobials, etc.) as well as chemicals, pesticides, solvents, food additives, are discussed. There are many photographs of chemically induced defects, as well as extensive tabular data. Each chapter has a detailed bibli- ography and there is a good index. The book is a good source for finding up-to-date information on the terato- genicity of specific chemicals and drugs.
Biological Responses in Cancer--Edited by E. Mihich and Y. Sakurai. Immunomodulation by Anticancer Drugs, Vol. 3. 216pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. US$39.50.
After an initial chapter on the regulation of the immune response, the succeeding chapters of this multi-author volume describe the effects of immunomodulating drugs and anti-metabolites such as the thiopurines, DTIC, antifolates, adenosine deaminase inhibitors, ARA C, adriamycine, cyclophosphamid, nitroso-ureas, dicarbazine, platinum complexes, Vinca alkaloids, and glucocorticoids. The final chapter gives an excellent summary of the use of anticancer agents in bone marrow transplantation.
Calcium in Biological Systems--Edited by R. P. Rubin, G. B. Weiss and J. W. Putney. 737pp. 1985. Plenum Press, New York. US$89.50.
The 80 chapters of this multi-author book review the major roles that calcium plays in cells and tissues. The topics discussed include: general aspects of calcium and cell function; roles of phosphoinositides in calcium regulated systems; stimulus-secretion coupling; calcium regulation of hemopoetic cells; calcium as a regulator of membrane permeability; calcium as a regulator of neuronal function; calmodulin; calcium and skeletal muscle contractility; cal- cium and cardiac muscle contractility; calcium and calcium antagonists in smooth muscle; calcium entry blockers and disease; vitamin D and other calcemic agents; alterations in calcium metabolism and homeostasis; normal biological calcification; pathological calcification; crystal deposition. There are five or more articles under each of these headings.
These well written articles provide an excellent detailed analysis of the multifarious roles of calcium and also provide an overall view of the calcium research frontiers. Strongly recommended.
