Volume 19, entitled Essential Metals in Medicine: Therapeutic Use and Toxicity of Metal Ions in the Clinic of the series Metal Ions in Life Sciences centers on the role of metal ions in clinical medicine. Metal ions are tightly regulated in human health: while essential to life, they can be toxic as well. Following an introductory chapter briefly discussing several important metal-related drugs and diseases and a chapter about drug development, the focus is fi rst on iron: its essentiality for pathogens and humans as well as its toxicity. Chelation therapy is addressed in the context of thalassemia, its relationship to neurodegenerative diseases and also the risks connected with iron administration are pointed out. A subject of intense debate is the essentiality of chromium and vanadium. For example, chromium(III) compounds are taken as a nutritional supplement by athletes and bodybuilders; in contrast, chromate, Cr(VI), is toxic and a carcinogen for humans. The benefi cial and toxic effects of manganese, cobalt, and copper on humans are discussed. The need for antiparasitic agents is emphasized as well as the clinical aspects of metal-containing antidotes for cyanide poisoning. In addition to the essential and possibly essential ones, also other metal ions play important roles in human health, causing harm (like the metalloid arsenic, lead or cadmium) or being used in diagnosis or treatment of human diseases, like gadolinium, gallium, lithium, gold, silver or platinum. The impact of this vibrant research area on metals in the clinic is provided in 14 stimulating chapters, written by internationally recognized experts from the Americas, Europe and China, and is manifested by approximately 2000 references, and about 90 illustrations and tables. Essential Metals in Medicine: Therapeutic Use and Toxicity of Metal Ions in the Clinic is an essential resource for scientists working in the wide range from pharmacology, enzymology, material sciences, analytical, organic, and inorganic biochemistry all the way through to medicine ... not forgetting that it also provides excellent information for teaching.

This book covers the latest environmental issues based on current research objectives. All chapters are fundamentally interlinked and focus on deciphering the networking of mutagens in environmental toxicity and human health. Our changing environment, climate, and lifestyle factors are growing concerns in the 21st century. The existing mutagens, either physical or chemical, are responsible for environmental toxicity. These toxicants are carcinogenic and not limited to naturally occurring chemicals or biologicals, but can also be man-made, such as 'radiation'. The networking of mutagens can have a broad range of effects on both the environment and human health. Accordingly, the respective chapters explore the networking of mutagens in connection with environmental toxicity, and address: 1. Extant types of man-made radiation and their effects on the environment and biological systems2. Heavy metal contaminations: Effects on environmental health3. Networking of environmental pollutants in the air, dust, soil, water, and natural toxins in the environment: Exposure and health4. The molecular interaction of environmental carcinogens with DNA: An oncoinformatics approach5. Fundamentals of nonotoxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenic and neurotoxicity in environmental health6. The role of antioxidants and medicinal plants in reducing the impacts of disease-causing pollutants A sequel to Perspectives in Environmental Toxicology, this book highlights the latest developments in the field of environmental toxicology. It offers a valuable resource for researchers, scholars and graduate students alike.

Numerous studies have established a clear connection between neuronal oxidative stress and several neurodegenerative diseases, with consequential damages to lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, etc. In addition, several modifications indicative of oxidative stress have been described in association with neurons, neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques in Alzheimer''s disease, including advanced glycation end products and free carbonyl oxidation. Oxidative damage and antioxidant responses are now well characterized, but sources of damaging free radicals are yet to be fully understood. Evidences of alteration in metal ions metabolism have been reported in various diseases like Alzheimer''s, Wilson, Menkes, Prion, Pick, Huntington disease, epilepsy and other pathological events. Thus, metal ions play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative phenomena. Chelation therapy is still in the early days of its development, but research in this area could lead to new products that could revolutionize treatment. Two international conferences on OC Metals and the Brain: From Neurochemistry to NeurodegenerationOCO (Padova, Italy, 2000 and Fez, Morocco, 2002) were recently held to discuss the role of metal ions in neurophysiopathology. A third will be held in 2005 in Johannesburg, South Africa. This book follows the same train of thought as those conferences, in order to highlight the unquestionable importance of metal ions in the research on the neurophysiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases. The excellent reputation of the scientists who have contributed to this project ensures the quality of the chapters presented here, and hopefully this will help spur new research initiatives in the field, which is still in its infancy. Contents: Metal-Catalyzed Redox Activity in Neurodegenerative Disease (M A Taddeo et al.); Aluminum and Central Nervous System Morphology in Hemodialysis (E Reusche); Transition Metals, Oxidation, Lipoproteins, and Amyloid-: Major Players in Alzheimer''s Disease (A Kontush); Molecular Basis of Copper Transport: Cellular and Physiological Functions of Menkes and Wilson Disease Proteins (ATP7A and ATP7B) (D R Kramer et al.); Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase and Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (M B Yim et al.); Copper and Prion Disease (J Sasson & D Brown); Metallothioneins in Neurodegeneration (M Aschner et al.); Iron and Neurodegeneration (S L Grab & J R Connor); Iron, Neuromelanin, and -Synuclein in Neuropathogenesis of Parkinson''s Disease (K L Double et al.); Iron and Epilepsy (W-Y Ong et al.); Role of Iron Metabolism in Multiple Sclerosis (M J Kotze et al.); Neuroprotective Effects of Lithium (S Ermidiou-Pollet & S Pollet); and other articles. Readership: Academics, graduate students and researchers in neurology, psychiatry, neuroscience and environmental health."

This book reviews the current diagnostic and therapeutic uses of metal-containing compounds in medicine, as well as the role of metals in disease.

Oxidative stress is the result of an imbalance in pro-oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis that leads to the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species. Brain cells are continuously exposed to reactive oxygen species generated by oxidative metabolism, and in certain pathological conditions defense mechanisms against oxygen radicals may be weakened and/or overwhelmed. DNA is a potential target for oxidative damage, and genomic damage can contribute to neuropathogenesis. It is important therefore to identify tools for the quantitative analysis of DNA damage in models on neurological disorders. This book presents detailed information on various neurodegenerative disorders and their connection with oxidative stress. This information will provide clinicians with directions to treat these disorders with appropriate therapy and is also of vital importance for the drug industries for the design of new drugs for treatment of degenerative disorders.* Contains the latest information on the subject of neurodegenerative disorders* Reflects on various factors involved in degeneration and gives suggestions for how to tackle these problems

Although originally invented and employed by physicists, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has proven to be a very efficient technique for studying a wide range of phenomena in many fields, such as chemistry, biochemistry, geology, archaeology, medicine, biotechnology, and environmental sciences. Acknowledging that not all studies require the same level of understanding of this technique, this book thus provides a practical treatise clearly oriented toward applications, which should be useful to students and researchers of various levels and disciplines. In this book, the principles of continuous wave EPR spectroscopy are progressively, but rigorously, introduced, with emphasis on interpretation of the collected spectra. Each chapter is followed by a section highlighting important points for applications, together with exercises solved at the end of the book. A glossary defines the main terms used in the book, and particular topics, whose knowledge is not required for understanding the main text, are developed in appendices for more inquisitive readers.

Biometals in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms and Therapeutics is an authoritative and timely resource bringing together the major findings in the field for ease of access to those working in the field or with an interest in metals and their role in brain function, disease, and as therapeutic targets. Chapters cover metals in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neuron Disease, Autism and lysosomal storage disorders. This book is written for academic researchers, clinicians and advanced graduate students studying or treating patients in neurodegeneration, neurochemistry, neurology and neurotoxicology. The scientific literature in this field is advancing rapidly, with approximately 300 publications per year adding to our knowledge of how biometals contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Despite this rapid increase in our understanding of biometals in brain disease, the fields of biomedicine and neuroscience have often overlooked this information. The need to bring the research on biometals in neurodegeneration to the forefront of biomedical research is essential in order to understand neurodegenerative disease processes and develop effective therapeutics. - Authoritative and timely resource bringing together the major findings in the field for those with an interest in metals and their role in the brain function, disease, and as therapeutic targets - Written for academic researchers, clinicians, and advanced graduate students studying, or treating, patients in neurodegeneration, neurochemistry, neurology and neurotoxicology - Edited by international leaders in the field who have contributed greatly to the study of metals in neurodegenerative diseases