Bücher der Reihe Medical Science Symposia Series

This volume, which includes the work of many of the leading world labortories, represents an authoritative and up-to-date appraisal of the status of the art and a stimulus to future research at the laboratory and clinical level in a fascinating area of clinical and preventive medicine.

As the number of drugs acting on calcium and potassium channels grows, there is a need for a continuous reappraisal of the cellular machinery controlling them. The present volume provides an update on the basic knowledge, the molecular targets of the two channels, and the importance the drugs that bind them have as pharmacological tools and therapeutic agents. This work was presented at the 6th International Symposium on PHARMACOLOGICAL CONTROL OF CALCIUM AND POTASSIUM HOMEOSTASIS: BIOLOGICAL, THERAPEUTICAL, AND CLINICAL ASPECTS, in Florence (Italy) on October 4-6, 1994. Because of the recent advances in the field, discussions on potassium channels were included for the first time. At least six classes of voltage-dependent calcium channels have been defined based on their physiological and pharmacological properties. Among them, L-type channels, mediating long lasting currents, are better characterized. Calcium homeostasis within the cell is not only regulated by calcium channels; intracellular calcium stores, in particular a pool contained in the lumen of specialized areas of the endoplasmic reticulum, are rapidly exchanged with the cytoplasm and playa key role in the control of calcium homeostasis. This area, however, has not yet been exploited from a therapeutic point of view. Potassium channels are present in virtually every cell type, excitable and nonexcitable, and are distinguished by structural, biophysical, and pharmacological criteria. Different classes including voltage-gated, ligand-gated, AP-sensitive, and G-protein coupled among others, have been defined by their primary regulatory and gating mechanisms.

This volume represents the proceedings ofthe invited lectures ofthe first International Symposium on "e;Serotonin from Cell Biology to Pharmacology and Therapeutics"e; 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, based on the International Congress Creatine: From Basic Science to Clinical Application, held in Milan on June 4, 1999, outlines the physiological role of creatine in the human body as well as its possible role in different pathological conditions.

The evidence that isolated vascular risk factors are not commonly found in high risk patients but more often a combination of risk factors are detected, is highlighted. Furthermore, the risk associated with anyone of these risk factors varies widely depending on level of the associated atherogenic risk factors.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has produced effects on health risks: some are reduced, some are increased, and the rest remain uncertain. HRT requires further testing through specific clinical trials, currently underway in the United States, before confident recommendations may be made about the full range of benefits and risks.

This volume is a collection of the most significant contributions to the 4th International Symposium on MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: STRATEGIES OF PREVENTION OF CORONARY HEART DISEASE, CARDIAC F AlLURE, AND STROKE held in Washington, D.

In Drugs and the Liver: High Risk patients and Transplantation, leading physicians, hepatologists, pharmacologists, pathologists and transplant surgeons discuss the most recent advances in the field of liver disease and their treatment.

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 4th International Symposium on Women's Health and Menopause, organized by the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation (Milan, Italy and Houston, Texas) focused on the new strategies to improve the quality of life of post-menopausal women.

The association with infectious diseases and autoimmunity is comprehensively covered by David Isenberg who reviews major issues, such as the association of autoantibodies appearing after infectious disease and antibacterial antibodies associated with autoimmune disease.

Few topics in women's medicine today are as fraught with confusion and controversy as the question of appropriate treatment for menopausal symptoms and the prevention of negative long term health outcomes common to post-menopausal women.

As the number of drugs acting on calcium and potassium channels grows, there is a need for a continuous reappraisal of the cellular machinery controlling them. Calcium homeostasis within the cell is not only regulated by calcium channels;

This book includes the most significant contributions of the 3rd International Symposium on MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE held in Florence, Italy, July 6-9, 1994. Furthermore, the risk associated with anyone of these risk factors varies widely depending on level of the associated atherogenic risk factors.

The association with infectious diseases and autoimmunity is comprehensively covered by David Isenberg who reviews major issues, such as the association of autoantibodies appearing after infectious disease and antibacterial antibodies associated with autoimmune disease.

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 population structure in the world is rapidly changing, to the extent that in 75 years we will face a tripling of the elderly population. Although women are favored in terms of life expectancy, they also live with a longer period of disability. This work yields insights into both the study of menopause-related disorders and their treatment.

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs) attract great attention in light of the wide spectrum of genes of biological and medical relevance identified as under their control.

The 4th International Symposium on Women's Health and Menopause, organized by the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation (Milan, Italy and Houston, Texas) focused on the new strategies to improve the quality of life of post-menopausal women.

Features the proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Advances in Prostaglandin and Leukotriene Research: Basic Science and New Clinical Applications, held in Florence, Italy, on June 4-8, 2000. At this meeting particular emphasis was given to the potential application of the novel COX-2 inhibitors.

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs) attract great attention in light of the wide spectrum of genes of biological and medical relevance identified as under their control.