Paul M. Vanhoutte - Böcker

Understanding the nature and role of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor appears to be crucial in the quest for improved treatments for hypertension, diabetes, ischemia-reperfusion and other vascular disorders.EDHF 2000 comprises the proceedings of the Third International Symposium on endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations. The first two meetings established a role for EDHF and other chemical factors involved in endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations. These proceedings focus upon the role of gap junctions in cardiovascular responses and investigate the chemical identity of EDHF. Additional chapters on Physiology, Hormonal Modulation and Pathological Changes are also included.EDHF 2000 will be of interest not only to physiologists and pharmacologists puzzled by the complexity of the interactions between the endothelium and underlying vascular smooth muscle cells, but also clinical researchers and physicians treating patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Understanding the nature and role of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor appears to be crucial in the quest for improved treatments for hypertension, diabetes, ischemia-reperfusion and other vascular disorders.EDHF 2002 contains the proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations and will be of interest not only to physiologists and pharmacologists puzzled by the complexity of the interactions between the endothelium and underlying vascular smooth muscle cells, but also clinical researchers and physicians treating patients with cardiovascular diseases.

This volume represents the proceedings ofthe invited lectures ofthe first International Symposium on "Serotonin from Cell Biology to Pharmacology and Therapeutics" which was held in Florence on March 29 -Aprill, 1989. This meeting, held under the co-sponsorship of the Serotonin Club and the Fondazione Giovanni Lorenzini, represents the first attempt to bring together scientists fascinated by the complexity of the action of 5-hydroxytryptamine throughout the body and in various species. Hence this volume provides the reader with the unique overview of the sources, effects, receptors, physiological actions and pathological role of Serotonin. As such it will be of interest not only to the person devoting herorhis research efforts to the study of 5-hydroxytryptamine but also to all scholars and even clinicians wanting to know how the powerful monoamine can modulate cellular functions. To accelerate the publication of these proceedings the Editors and the publishers have selected the camera ready format and have avoided a lengthy refereeing process. Hence the scientific content of, and the opinions expressed in the chapters are the sole responsibility of the authors. The Editors Milan and Houston The Editors want to thank Mrs. H. Liepman and her staff at Kluwer for the prompt and efficient handling of the manuscripts.

This volume represents the proceedings of the invited lectures of the Second International Symposium on Serotonin from Cell Biology to Pharmacology and Therapeutics, which was held in Houston, September 1992, under the co-sponsorship of the Serotonin Club, Baylor College of Medicine, the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation (Houston), and the Fondazione Giovanni Lorenzini (Milan). The symposium brought together pharmacologists, physiologists, molecular biologists, and clinical scientists working in the complex field of serotonin. Hence this volume provides the reader with a unique overview of the sources, effects, receptors, molecular biology, physiological actions and pathological roles of serotonin agonists and antagonists. As such the book should be of interest both to persons devoting their research efforts to serotonin as well as to all scholars and clinicians wanting to know how this powerful monoamine can modulate cellular functions.

It is an exciting task to be the editor of the first monograph covering a new area of the biomedical sciences. Since the first report in 1980 by Robert Furchgott and colleagues (see Chapter 1) of the evidence of endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated arteries, there are ever­ increasing numbers of vascular physiologists and pharmacologists who are scraping away the endothelium to look into its role in cardiovascular con­ trol. And the more one looks, the more one discovers. Not only is the list of substances that can induce endothelium-dependent relaxations im­ pressively long, but these intriguing cells can also secrete vasoconstrictor substances. The ability of the endothelium to modulate the degree of con­ traction of the underlying smooth muscle is an ancestral property of the blood vessel wall, illustrating the logic of nature, since the endothelial cells are located in the best possible strategic location to continuously monitor the properties (chemical or physical) of the blood. And more and more data emerge suggesting that in several cardiovascular diseases per­ turbations in endothelium-dependent responses are one of the early signs of the abnormal process. Thus, the importance of endothelium-dependent responses, triggered by the intellectual curiosity of one of the pioneers of vascular physiology and pharmacology, is now recognized not only by basic scientists, but also by all concerned with the cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this monograph is to provide them with a reference work, so that they know where to start.

It is an exciting task to be the editor of the first monograph covering a new area of the biomedical sciences. Since the first report in 1980 by Robert Furchgott and colleagues (see Chapter 1) of the evidence of endothelium-dependent relaxation in isolated arteries, there are ever­ increasing numbers of vascular physiologists and pharmacologists who are scraping away the endothelium to look into its role in cardiovascular con­ trol. And the more one looks, the more one discovers. Not only is the list of substances that can induce endothelium-dependent relaxations im­ pressively long, but these intriguing cells can also secrete vasoconstrictor substances. The ability of the endothelium to modulate the degree of con­ traction of the underlying smooth muscle is an ancestral property of the blood vessel wall, illustrating the logic of nature, since the endothelial cells are located in the best possible strategic location to continuously monitor the properties (chemical or physical) of the blood. And more and more data emerge suggesting that in several cardiovascular diseases per­ turbations in endothelium-dependent responses are one of the early signs of the abnormal process. Thus, the importance of endothelium-dependent responses, triggered by the intellectual curiosity of one of the pioneers of vascular physiology and pharmacology, is now recognized not only by basic scientists, but also by all concerned with the cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this monograph is to provide them with a reference work, so that they know where to start.

MOTOOMI NAKAMURA As we approach the 21st century, ischemic heart disease is the major cause of death in most of the developed nations of the world. Since the 1970s, much effort and expense have led to designs of coronary thrombolytic therapy, percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA), coronary artery bypass grafting, heart transplantation, automatic defibrillators, as well as to the formation of beta blockers and com­ pounds which block the calcium channel. Socio-educational programs directed at exercise, diet, instruction in the risk factors of smoking, hyperlipidemia and hypertension have contributed to the decrease in the rate of morbidity and mortality of patients with ischemic heart disease. However, the first clinical event of ischemic heart disease, the so-called "heart attack" and sudden cardiac death continues to present problems, as the mechanisms involved in these events are poorly understood. It has long been thought that ischemic heart disease is the sequence of an organic fixed atherosclerotic obstruction of the epicardial coronary arteries and the role of coronary vasomotion has been given much less attention. Recent clinical and laboratory animal studies revealed that increased tonus and spasm of the large epicardial coronary arteries are the cause of various stages of ischemic heart disease. The role of coronary vasospasm in the development of un­ stable angina, sudden cardiac death and acute myocardial infarction remains open to debate. Pharmacophysiological studies showed that the epicardial large coronary artery contributes only 5% to regulation of normal coronary flow.

Although the importance of calcium (Ca2+) in the maintenance of cardiac contractility was recognized as early as 1880, the critical role of the ion in the contractile process in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle has only been established within the last three decades.As the complexity of the pharmacological actions of the Ca2+ channel inhibitors grows, there is a continued need to further clarify the inhibitors, both chemically and functionally.This volume provides an update of the field based on the work presented at the 5th International Symposium on Calcium Antagonists: Pharmacology and Clinical Research. It reviews the current state of the growing area of molecular biology of Ca2+ channels. In the cardiovascular area, in addition to the well-established clinical uses of Ca2+ channel inhibitors, exciting new work pointing to an application in atherosclerosis is described. The book also includes important uses of Ca2+ antagonists in novel areas of interest such as the gastrointestinal tract, renal protection and multi-drug resistance.

This volume contains the Proceedings of the invited lectures of the Second International Sym­ posium on SEROTONIN from Cell Biology to Pharmacology and Therapeutics held in Houston, Texas September 15-18, 1992. The meeting was held under the co-sponsorship of the Serotonin Club, the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation, and the Fondazione Giovanni Lorenzini. This volume discusses the major exploration in knowledge that has occurred recently of the complex role that 5- hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) plays in health and disease. In par­ ticular, these Proceedings highlight major breakthroughs in molecular biology and classification of receptor subtypes that are responsible for the many actions of the monoamine. The ever­ increasing importance of serotonin in central regulation, whether autonomic or behavioral is represented by a large number of chapters prepared by world experts. Additionally, the role of serotonin in peripheral organs is also discussed. Hence, this volume provides the reader with a unique, up-to-date review of this exciting and novel area of science. These Proceedings obviously are of great interest, not only to the researchers directly engaged in the quest for the understanding and unraveling of the actions of the interactions with serotonin as a major neurohumoral mediator, but also to all scholars and clinicians who wish to acquire a better understanding of the functioning of the brain and of peripheral organs. Since this volume was constructed as a compilation of invited lectures, the scientific content and the opinions expressed in the chapters are the sole responsibility of the authors.