Gail Cardew – författare

This book describes a diverse analysis of the five somatostatin receptors; somatostatin gene regulation; promatostatin processing; mechanisms of signal transduction; and the design and use of somatostatin analogues, including their possible clinical implications. The book will provide a comprehensive summary of the cellular and molecular biology of somatostatin and its recently isolated receptors. The book will review the design and use of specific somatostatin analogues both biochemically to characterize the specific functions of somatostatin and clinically in the treatment of various tumors.

This book details the rapidly advancing research on the development of the cerebral cortex. Topics covered include: new physiological data showing patterns in developing cortical organization; abnormalities of cortical development associated with psychiatric disorders; and research on cell identity and regionalization of the cortex.

T cells are a specialized population of immune cells that aid the immune system in combating various types of invading pathogens. This book presents up-to-the-minute data on the role of T cells in autoimmune diseases.

The mapping of human genes is proceeding rapidly. Genes associated with specific inherited diseases are being identified, often providing insight into the molecular cause of the disease. At the moment, however, little consideration is being given to the variation present in different human populations. Variation in the Human Genome discusses methods of analysing population genetic data and how contemporary genetic heterogeneity arises during the evolution and migration of human populations. Specific disorders such as cystic fibrosis, beta-thalassaemia, fragile X, phenylketonuria and tumour development susceptibility are used to illustrate this genetic variability and mechanisms of gene mutation and evolution.

This new work contains the first integrated discussion of the role of olfaction in mosquito-host interactions. It covers the practical applications of this knowledge in attempting to control malaria as a problem for world health. The volume begins with a general overview of mosquito life cycle styles and how odour-mediated host location fits into the repertoire of behaviours that a specific species may exhibit. Certain aspects of insect olfaction and its underlying physiological mechanisms are incorporated within the book.

This volume examines obesity disorders which can lead to diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. It offers an interdisciplinary and international look at all aspects of the origins, consequences and treatment of obesity.

This up-to-the-minute account examines how radionuclides affect human health. It explores how radionuclides travel through various food chains and how they are transported throughout the terrestrial and aquatic environments.

The molecular mechanisms and protein species associated with the mineralization of mature dental enamel are active areas of research. This book focuses on specific areas of research including the structural chemistry, protein biochemistry and genetics of enamel development.

Asthma is a growing health problem throughout the developed world. This volume presents a critical review of all the possible factors for this rising trend and includes research that has not yet been published in the scientific literature. Discusses the basic biology of asthma and addresses genetic influences. Surveys the epidemiological evidence for the worldwide trends in morbidity and mortality.

This book contains chapters by some of the leading figures in the field of evolutionary psychology. The latest data are presented on evolutionary theories in perception, information, various aspects of social behaviour, language, learning and aggression. A common theme running through the printed discussions in this book is the important problem of how we can develop and test rigorous characterizations of evolved mental adaptations.

The use of oligonucleotides as therapeutic agents rests upon their ability to interfere, in a sequence-specific manner, with the fundamental machinery of protein synthesis either by binding to the mRNAs transcribed from a gene or by binding directly to a target gene. This approach can be used not only for inhibition of the synthesis of host proteins but also of those required by invading pathogens. Potential therapeutic applications are enormous, ranging over hypertension, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease, vital and other parasitic infections (especially HIV), and cancer. This book discusses the chemistry and pharmacokinetics of oligonucleotides and their analogues, and surveys the results of structure-activity studies and current clinical trials. It also critically reviews the problems with antisense therapy, such as the enzymatic destruction of oligonucleotides, the doses required for a therapeutic response, the difficulty in directing oligonucleotides to particular target tissues and cells, the need for parenteral administration, and doubts concerning the mechanism of action (especially problems associated with non-specific binding to proteins) and long-term effects.

Telomeres and TelomeraseChairman: Sydney Brenner, 1997

Telomeres are the protective genetic elements located at the ends of chromosomes and are essential for correct chromosomal structure and function. They are not fully replicated by the conventional DNA polymerase system because DNA synthesis occurs only in the 5'' to 3'' direction and requires an RNA primer for initiation. Consequently, cells require a special enzyme to maintain the telomeric ends of chromosomes during each round of replication. This enzyme, telomerase, is a ribonucleoprotein that extends chromosome ends by adding short stretches of nucleotide repeats using a portion of its integral RNA component as the template. Recently, much excitement has been generated by the suggestion that telomerase, or rather the absence of telomerase and the resultant loss of terminal DNA, is a cause of human ageing. The evidence for this is twofold: the telomeres of certain cells in culture shorten during their lifespan; and immortalization of cells is associated, at least in some cases, with the maintenance of telomeres and telomerase activity. The latter observation prompted the analysis of clinical samples from patients with cancer and the demonstration that, in contrast to normal somatic cells, malignant cells possess telomerase activity. This is a unique book. Not only does it contain the latest experimental results from an international group of experts, but it also includes critical examinations of the current evidence, and discussions that attempt to identify the central and underlying concepts of this rapidly expanding field.

Epigenetics pertains to the development of an organism from an undifferential cell, resulting in the successive formation and development of organs and parts that did not pre-exist in the fertilized egg. An exciting and stimulating volume which used the extensive knowledge of basic transcriptional control as a foundation to explore the more complex and interesting level at which genes can be regulated.

Gap Junction-Mediated Intercellular Signalling in Health and Disease Chairman: Norton B. Gilula 1999 The last few years have seen considerable progress in this field, and exciting new implications concerning the roles of gap junctional intercellular communication are being raised. It is clear that good communication is essential for normal embryonic development and function in adult organs, although the individual functions of the proteins that form channels (connexins) are not yet fully understood. It is an exciting time in the gap junction field because the associations between failures in gap junction communication and resultant diseases are beginning to emerge. For example, mutations in the major connexin of the heart (C�43) have been found in human patients suffering from visceroatrial heterotaxia syndrome, and mutations in the gene encoding C�32 have been found in patients suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. This book is the first of its kind to highlight the recent progress in understanding gap junction structure, and discuss the specific roles of individual connexins. It brings together an interdisciplinary group of experts who review the role of gap junctions in the heart, the retina and lens, the auditory system, the reproductive system, and cell proliferation and cancer. It will appeal to all those interested in cell biology, embryonic development, neurobiology, cardiology, gynaecology and oncology.

Microbial responses to acidic and alkaline pH are important in many areas of bacteriology. For example, the mechanisms of resistance to acidic pH are important in the understanding of the passage of human pathogens through the acid of the stomach; and an understanding of microbial degradation of alkaline industrial waste is important for the environment. Bringing together contributions from an international and interdisciplinary group of experts working on the many aspects of bacterial cellular responses to pH, this stimulating volume draws together new and innovative work in this area. It delineates both similarities and differences between mechanisms of tolerance and response, providing readers with an invaluable resource on the subject.

''Homology'' as a concept became increasingly elusive during the course of the 20th century. The central debates and controversies concern both fundamental definitions and the nature of the criteria by which homology is judged. Attempts to move away from comparative morphology to ideas based on developmental pathways have tended to founder on the fact that developmental pathways evolve and that similar cells or tissues or structures in animals will often have different developmental origins. The use of information about conserved molecules in seemingly conserved developmental processes has also proven controversial.

In molecular biology, the use of the term ''homology'' has given rise to more debate, although here the issue seems to involve primarily the criteria for assessing whether parts of genes are the same because of shared descent or for other reasons. The contributions to the book explore these topics systematically. There are chapters on the historical development of the concept of homology and its use in population studies. Other chapters deal with issues of homology in morphological and developmental studies, in behavioural studies, and especially in studies at the level of molecular genetics.

Gramicidin and Related Ion Channel-Forming Peptides Chair: Bonnie Wallace 1999 Gramicidin channels have been studied intensively for more than 25 years as model transport systems for large protein ion channels, high resolution structural information on which is difficult to glean. This book includes contributions from virtually all the major ''players'' in the gramicidin sphere, and is the only compilation of work in this field. It discusses crystallographic, spectroscopic, electrophysiological and computational studies, especially in the light of the recent availability of high resolution structural data; and it compares these with insights derived from larger systems. As well as drawing together much new and exciting work in this area; it also provides pointers to promising new research directions.

There is an urgent need to uncover new therapies that will protect against malaria, as the parasite becomes increasingly resistant to available drugs and this book offers insights into three interrelated aspects of the malaria-infected erythrocyte: * The transport of solutes into and out of the infected cell and the use of specific trafficking pathways in drug targeting * The traffic of proteins produced by the intracellular parasite as an essential process for the biogenesis of transport systems. * The relationship between the transport of drugs into the infected cell and the mode of drug action and drug resistance.

Brings together a cross-fertilization of ideas between human molecular genetics, develeopmental biology, tissue biology and the biochemistry of cell signalling pathways, in order to create new insights into the mechanisms of normal and abnormal skeletogenesis.

This book brings together scientists working at the interface between the cell cycle, cell growth and development in a variety of model systems and research paradigms. The focus is on understanding how such diverse developmental inputs can modulate cell cycle regulation and, reciprocally, how a common way of regulating cell cycle progression can participate in different developmental strategies.