Advances in Pharmacological Sciences – serie

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the mostfrequently- prescribed drugs in the Western world. During the past decade a large number of new compounds were marketed, some of which had to be withdrawn after a short while because of adverse drug reactions. These experiences led to an under- standing that a complete picture of the safety of these drugs can only be obtained after their introduction into the marketplace. Differentmethods ofpost-marketing surveillance (PMS) serve as important tools for monitoring the frequency of adverse reactions and for generating and corroborating hypotheses. Experience with PMS has thusfar been quite limited in Germany. In 1987 a non-profit organization, "Verein zur Langzeituntersuchung von Arzneimittel- wirkungen auf dem Gebiet der Rheumatologie e. V. " (VLAR) was founded by interested physicians and pharmacologists to raise funds and perform investiga- tions on the safety of NSAIDs. The first project by the VLAR, SPALA ("Safety Profile of Antirheumatics in Long-Term Administration"), was sponsored by F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (Basel, Switzerland).In July 1990, when the project was successfully terminated, almost 30,000 patients had been completely docu- mented and their medical records entered into a computer for subsequent review by a select panel of experts with experience in monitoring adverse reactions to NSAIDs. The comments, criticisms, and ideas of these experts were brought togetherat a symposium organized by the VLAR at the Klinikum Steglitz (Berlin, Germany) on 12 October 1990.

With the present Badgastein Symposium "Radioactive Isotopes in Clinical Medicine and Research" we have now had 40 years of an uninterrupted series of Badgastein meetings on nuclear medicine, since the first one took place in January 1954. We believe that this anni­ versary is worth mentioning. The 21 st symposium proved again to offer a representative cross­ section through the current topics of scientific interest of nuclear medicine. The general theme of research in nuclear medicine has shifted from the spectacular new developments which were so often reported in the first symposia to a less spectacular, albeit equally important period, which may best be characterized by validation and standardization. While this may not be as exciting as we would like it to be, it is nevertheless vital for nuclear medicine to maintain and improve its standing amongst the other specialties of medicine which draw upon the services that nuclear medicine offers.

The German land of Hesse (Bundesland Hessen) is well known for its excellent wines (Rheinhessen), for its financial centre and for its airport (FrankfurtlMain). It is, unjustifiably, far less well known for its importance to thennoregulation. Within the small area of Bad Nauheim, Giessen and Marburg (in alphabetical order) a greater concentration of students of thenno- regulation has been trained or worked or is working than probably in any other single area of Europe, if not the world. It is thus most appropriate to hold the Ninth International Symposium on the Pharmacology of Thennoregulation in Giessen, from August 7 to 12, 1994. The community of students of thennoregulation was extremely grateful that Professor Kurt Bruck and the lustus-Liebig-University of Giessen had extended this invitation. The same community was even more saddened that Kurt Bruck died on April 27, 1992 and thus could not participate in this event that had been planned to honour his achievements. As a small token of friendship and affection, the many friends of Kurt Bruck from all over the world who will participate in this event dedicate this symposium to the memory of Kurt Bruck.Another staunch friend, researcher of temperature regulation and supporter of this series of symposia died in October 1993: Professor Wilhelm Siegmund Feldberg. We feel fortunate to be able to start this volume with two brief infonnal and personal accounts of professors Bruck and Feldberg.

As part of its scientific activities, the German Research Council on Smoking and Health regularly provides opportunities for scientists to discuss progress in the field of nicotine research. In this context, the Research Council sponsored a Satellite Symposium in Hamburg, June 28-30, 1990 entitled "Effects of Nicotine on Biological Systems". This meeting was held in conjunction with the XIth International Congress of Pharmacology in Amsterdam and follows the first Satellite Symposium on Nicotine which was convened in Brisbane, Australia in 1987. The aim of these conferences has been to discuss state of the art research on the pharmacology and toxicology of nicotine and its metabolites and to integrate this information to help define nicotinic actions on the central and peripheral nervous system as well as to evaluate health or behavioral effects associated with use of this alkaloid. Furthermore, at this conference, potential therapeutic benefits of nicotine for certain disease states were discussed. Smoking and the health effects of smoking were dealt with only as far as they could not be separated from the effects of nicotine. This volume contains the lectures presented at the symposium and illustrates that knowledge of nicotine has advanced considerably in recent years with regard to mechanisms of its actions. Despite such progress however, it is apparent that a' large number of questions remain unanswered, especially in the light of new insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms which can be affected by nicotine.

Once again, the proceedings of the Badgastein Symposium, this one being the 22nd in an uninterrupted series, offer a comprehensive record of the scientific events. Highlights at this meeting were certainly reports ofthe exciting new developments ofpositron imaging with Anger cameras, both with conventional high-energy collimators and with coincidence techniques. Preliminary c1inical results are promising and seem to offer a true alternative to sophisticated PET -technology with its for many laboratories prohibitive costs. The general nature ofthe symposium is documented by the large range oftopics covered so that all major topics of interest in both the basic sciences of nuc1ear medicine and c1inical ap- plication are found. In accordance with the general trends in nuc1ear medicine, there has been a substantial increase in oncological work compared to the more traditional topics. This is also reflected in the Badgastein lecture, given by Professor P. Rigo, who presented an excellent survey ofnuc1ear oncology.

Many advances have been made in the field of thermoregulation in the past few years. These include our understanding of Fever, which is now considered not simply a rise in deep body temperature foHowing infection, but just one aspect, though perhaps the most easily measured, of the Acute Phase of the Immune Response. Classification and identification of the Cytokines and the availability of recombinant material has greatly aided this research. Similarly, our understanding of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Adrenal Axis has altered our way of thinking about temperature regulation. Of importance are the problems associated with adverse climatic conditions and survival, and the problems encountered by the neonate and the hibernator. At the biochemical level, our knowledge of the control of heat production and the role of brown adipose tissue is rapidly advancing. All these issues and many others were discussed at a Symposium 'Thermal Physiology 1993' held in Aberdeen, Scotland in August 1993 under the auspices of the Thermal Physiology Commission of the International Union of Physiological Sciences. Six main aspects of the subject of temperature regulation are included in this book, namely, Fever (including the Acute Phase of the Immune Response and Thermoregulatory Peptides), Neurophysiology of Thermoregulation, Neonatal Thermoregulation, Mechanisms of Heat Production, Ecological and Behavioural Thermoregulation, and Emerging Themes in Thermoregulation.

Radioactive Isotopes in Clinical Medicine and Research XXIII presents an update in the latest clinical research in nuclear medicine. It provides in-depth information on all areas of nuclear medicine. The chapters of this volume have been grouped into the following sections: Neurology / Psychiatry, Therapy, Radiopharmacology, Endocrinology / Thyroid, Oncology / Haematology, Clinical PET, Cardiology, Varia, Physics / Radiation Protection, World Wide Web / WWW demo. Special attention is paid to the virtual media for teaching, training, communication, quality control etc. Primarily intended for specialists in the nuclear medicine, this volume will also be of considerable interest to clinicians using diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures, including cardiologists, haematologists, neurologists, nephrologists, oncologists, pharmacologists, and psychiatrists.

Highlighting the current developments and future directions in GABA research, the ambitious aim of this topical volume is to cover GABA from the molecular mechanisms of its transmission to new targets for pharmaceutical research. Distinguished scientists at the forefront of GABA research were invited to contribute reviews on glutamate decarboxylase and autoimmunity, molecular structure and functional regulation of GABA transporters, transmitter release and GABA receptor regulation, GABA receptor subtypes and functional regulation, and GABA receptor ligands and their therapeutic application. Describing the latest advances in what has become a rapidly-evolving field, this volume will prove immensely valuable to neuroscientists, pharmacologists, biochemists, and physiologists working in the field of GABA research.

Temperature regulation has witnessed many important developments in recent years. Body temperature is regulated by many internal and external influences. These include physiological and biochemical processes, climate, clothing, exercise, hibernation, diseases and pharmacological agents. This volume provides reviews of the latest research results and emerging themes in the field. Aspects discussed include fever, acute-phase immune response, cytokines, thermoregulatory peptides, neurophysiology, the neonate, mechanism of heat production, the role of brown adipose tissue, and ecological and behavioural thermoregulation. All research workers in the field of body temperature regulation, such as pharmacologists, physiologists, biochemists and biologists, will find this volume a valuable source of up-to-date information.