This comprehensive reference work, updated from the first edition, brings together the knowledge and expertise of contributors from around the world. It includes new topics such as prostaglandin synthetase enzyme, new synthetic eicosanoids, innovative analytical methods, the influence of cytokines in the regulation of synthesis and actions, newer eicosanoids that influence the cardiovascular system, and newly discovered roles in reproduction and interactions with nitric oxide. This book satisfies a surge of interest in prostaglandins—NSAIDS (e.g. aspirin) are the biggest selling drugs of all time, and the field has been refreshed by the advent of new types (selective COX-2 inhibitors, anti-leukotiene drugs).

Proceedings of the XIth International Washington Spring Symposium at the George Washington University, held in Washington, D.C., May 13-17, 1991

This book explains the pharmacological relationships between the various systems in the human body. It offers a comprehensive overview of the pharmacology concerning the autonomic, central, and peripheral nervous systems. Presenting up-to-date information on chemical mediators and their significance, it highlights the therapeutic aspects of several diseases affecting the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrinal, and hematopoietic systems. The book also includes drug therapy for microbial and neoplastic diseases. It also comprises sections on immunopharmacology, dermatological, and ocular pharmacology providing valuable insights into these emerging and recent topics. Covering the diverse groups of drugs acting on different systems, the book reviews their actions, clinical uses, adverse effects, interactions, and subcellular mechanisms of action. It is divided into 11 parts, subdivided into several chapters that evaluate the basic pharmacological principles that govern the different types of body systems. This book is intended for academicians, researchers, and clinicians in industry and academic institutions in pharmaceutical, pharmacological sciences, pharmacy, medical sciences, physiology, neurosciences, biochemistry, molecular biology and other allied health sciences.

This reference is a volume in the Handbook of Physiology, co-published with The American Physiological Society. Growth in knowledge about the microcirculation has been explosive with the field becoming fragmented into numerous subdisciplines and subspecialties. This volume pulls all of the critical information into one volume. - Meticulously edited and reviewed. Benefit: Provides investigators a unique tool to explore the significance of their findings in the context of other aspects of the microcirculation. In this way, the updated edition has a direct role in helping to develop new pathways of research and scholarship - Highlights the explosive growth in knowledge about the microcirculation including the biology of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), endothelial cell signaling, angiogenesis, cell adhesion molecules, lymphocyte trafficking, ion channels and receptors, and propagated vasomotor responses. Benefit: Microcirculatory biology has become fragmented into numerous sub-disciplines and subspecialties, and these reference reintegrates the information in one volume

Ten years after the discovery of prostacyclin, our knowledge of its biochemical mode of action, pharmacological properties, pathophysiological significance and therapeutic applications is ever expanding. Prostacyclin is both complex and unique as demonstrated by its unusual feature of being chemically and meta bolically unstable when compared to other prostanoids and known amine or peptide mediators. Although physiologically essential, the chemical instability of prostacyclin poses a serious drawback in laboratory and clinical studies. It is one of the genuine objectives of pharmaceutical research to supply synthetic compounds which overcome the inherent drawbacks - considering investigational and therapeutic use - of endogenous compounds. Whereas metabolic instability in certain cases could be of advantage, chemical instability definitely is not. With Iloprost, a molecule has been designed which - according to all data so far available - pertains high receptor affinity, metabolic instability (clinically this equates with a fine control of Iloprost's effects) while chemical stability has been achieved. By virtue of these characteristics Iloprost can be considered as one step towards specific interaction within the arachidonic acid cascade, namely the prostacyclin receptor. The aim of the symposium was to provide a critical experimental appraisal concerning the biochemical mode of action and pharmacological properties of prostacyclin and Iloprost.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for human cell metabolism. As precursors of a very large and extremely versatile family of signaling compounds they play a key role in intracellular communication. Eicosanoids constitute one of the most abundant and prominent subfamilies of these fatty acid derivatives which are formed primarily along oxidative pathways. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and related eicosanoids have a modulatory function in mammalian cells and are responsible for tissue responses such as inflammation or wound repair. Increasing activity in eicosanoid research sheds new light on today's most common diseases including atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's, allergies, and rheumatic diseases. The recent advances already have far-reaching implications in medicine. This detailed account, written by leading experts, covers the ground-breaking developments in recent eicosanoid research. The topics span eicosanoid biogenesis, new aspects of their pathophysiology, for example their influence on the cardiovascular system, as well as the clinical application of synthetic eicosanoids and their antagonists. Researchers and students working in biochemistry or in pharmaceutical, physiological, medicinal and neurochemistry will value this informative introduction to one of the most rapidly developing fields in cell biology.

Offering a broad appeal to microbiologists, immunologists, and infectious disease specialists, this four volume encyclopedia covers all autoimmune, tropical, and infectious diseases. Emphasis will also be placed on genetics, physiology, metabolism, pathogenesis and applied microbiology. Under the leadership of some of the most world renowned names in the field, the encyclopedia will bring together an outstanding collection of contributions by top scientists in a variety of fields. Volumes 1-3: Diseases will be divided by the 11 main sections of the body, namely Integumentary, Skeletal, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive. For some of the autoimmune disease, more then one system will be involved but the delineation serves to broadly break down the diseases into systems. Volume 4 will cover the vaccines for said diseases and future prospects will be offered by leaders in industry and academia. Volume 4 will also be broken down into all the body systems, as in the other two volumes. For each vaccine, for each disease, and in each system the following will be included: • A list of the vaccines currently available along with a list of the companies that manufacture them • Molecular Immunology of the Vaccine • Type of Immunity involved in protection • Mode of Vaccination for each vaccine; repeated boosters and length of immunological memory • Commercial production of vaccines • Storage of vaccines • Standardization and Control of Vaccines • WHO programs and World-Wide Disease Eradication Programs based upon Vaccines.