Bücher der Reihe Progress in Drug Research

Volume 21 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains 5 contributions from various areas of drug research and therapy. As in previous volumes, in the present volume the authors have also tried not only to summarise the current status of particular fields of drug research, but also to provide leads for future research activity. The various contributions in this volume will be of especial value not only to those actively concerned in resolving the diverse problems in drug research, but also to those who wish to keep abreast ofthe latest developments in­ fluencing modem therapy. In addition, it is believed that volume 21 and the previous 20 volumes of "Progress in Drug Research" so far published represent a useful reference work of an encyclopaedic character. The editor would also like to take this opportunity of expressing his gratitude to Dr. A. Naffor carefully working over the manuscripts and correcting proofs. Thanks are also due to the publishers and the printers, Druckerei Birkhauser, especially to Dr. A. Birkhauser, Th. Birkhiiuser and C. Einsele, for their painstaking work on the printing and lay-out of the volume. August 1977 Dr. E. JUCKER Sandoz AG, Basel Vorwort Der 21. Band der «F ortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung» umfasst 5 Beitriige aus verschiedenen Gebieten der Arzneimittelforschung> und der Therapie.

Progress in Drug Research is a prestigious book series which provides extensive expert-written reviews on a wide spectrum of highly topical areas in current pharmaceutical and pharmacological research.

Nikolaus Seiler, Benoit Duranton and Francis Raul: The polyamine oxidase inactivator MDL 72527.- Zhi Hong and Craig E. Cameron: Pleiotropic mechanisms of ribavirin antiviral activities.- Jie Hong Hu and Charles Krieger: Protein phosphorylation networks in motor neuron death.- James O. Schenk: The functioning neuronal transporter for dopamine: kinetic mechanisms and effects of amphetamines, cocaine and methylphenidate.- Laszlo Prokai: Central nervous system effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone and ist analogues: opportunities and perspectives for drug discovery and development.- David F. Horrobin: A new category of psychotropic drugs: neuroactive lipids as exemplified by ethyl eicosapentaenoate (E-E).- Suprabhat Ray, Reema Rastogi and Atul Kumar: Current status of estrogen receptors

This book starts with a general introduction to phytochemistry, followed by chapters on plant constituents, their origins and chemistry, but also discussing animal-, microorganism- and mineral-based drugs.

Der vorliegende 48. Band der Reihe «Fortschritte der Arzneimittelfor­ schung» enthält acht Beiträge, die wiederum von anerkannten Forschern verfasst wurden. Ausserdem sind auch in diesem Band ein Stichwortver­ zeichnis des Bandes sowie ein Autoren-und Titelverzeichnis und ein Titel­ verzeichnis aller 48 Bände enthalten. Der Leser hat dadurch die Mög­ lichkeit, nicht nur den vorliegenden Band zu konsultieren, sondern auch alle bisher erschienenen Bände quasi als enzyklopädisches N achschla­ gewerk zu benutzen. Da alle Beiträge umfangreiche Literaturnachweise enthalten, ist die Möglichkeit des Zugriffes auf Original-Publikationen gegeben, was dem aktiven Forscher besonders wichtig ist und seinen eige­ nen Arbeiten Impulse geben kann. Die Artikel des 48. Bandes behandeln neue Entwicklungen der Genetik, der enzymatischen Herstellung von komplexen Peptiden und bringen die neuesten Erkenntnisse der Apoptose unserem Verständnis näher. Immun­ therapie bei Hirnerkrankungen und psychischen Störungen, der Einsatz vonNaturproduktenzur Vorbeugung von Krebserkrankungen, das beun­ ruhigende Anwachsen der Arzneimittelresistenz, die Mannigfaltigkeit der Dopamin-Rezeptor-Wirkung und die faszinierende Darstellung einer grösseren Gruppe von neuartigen Nukleosiden als Arzneimittel runden den vorliegenden Band der «Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung» ab und bieten dem Leser viel Neuartiges und Interessantes.

Volume 63 of "Progress in Drug Research" is devoted to recent developments in targeted cancer therapy. Significant advances in the fields of molecular and tumor biology over the past decade have led to this exciting new era in c- cer therapeutics with an intensive effort in rationally-designed cancer the- peutic strategies directed against selective molecular targets. These selective approaches may ultimately lead to tailoring treatments to individual patients where molecular biomarkers of sensitivity to therapy are identified, prod- ing better tolerated therapies with less side effects than past experiences with cytotoxic cancer chemotherapy, and reducing cancer to a controlled, chronic state. This volume contains eleven chapters, including updated reviews on a range of targets, such as tumor angiogenesis, apoptosis/cell survival pa- ways, and various inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Additional topics, including target validation, polypharmacology and potential synergy of involving multiple targets, antisense approaches, animal models for preclinical development of targeted agents, and obstacles, including development of resistance are also presented. In addition, the p- ticular challenges involved in translating preclinical data to clinical appli- tion are discussed. It gives me great pleasure to present this new volume. I would like to express my gratitude to the chapter authors, to Birkhauser Verlag and, in particular, to Dr. Beatrice Menz and Ms. Gabriele Poppen for their assistance in compiling and editing this volume. April 2005 Richard M. Schultz vii Progress in Drug Research, Vol. 63 (R. M. Schultz, Ed.

This series provides extensive reviews on a wide spectrum of topical areas in pharmaceutical and pharmacological research. It encompasses all fields concerned with the development of new therapeutic drugs and the elucidation of their mechanisms of action.

Progress in Drug Research is a prestigious book series which provides extensive expert-written reviews on a wide spectrum of highly topical areas in current pharmaceutical and pharmacological research.

Founded in 1959, this series encompasses all fields concerned with the development of new therapeutic drugs and the elucidation of their mechanisms of action, reflecting the increasingly complex nature of modern drug research.

Volume 46 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains seven reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the connection with the previous volumes. The articles in this volume deal with endo­ genous sodium pump inhibition, with neurotransmitters involved in the central regulation of the cardiovascular system, with leukotrienes and development of novel anti-inflammatory agents, with antithrombotic stra­ tegies and drugs affecting the plasma fibrinogen levels, with natural ami­ noglycosides and polyamines and their effects in the mammalian orga­ nism, with the latest developments in antidepressant agents and with immunopharmacological and biochemical bases of Chinese herbal medi­ cine. These reviews provide valuable information on several new deve­ lopments in the complex domain of drug research. In the 37 years that PDR has existed, the Editor has enjoyed the valua­ ble help and advice of many colleagues. Readers, the authors of the reviews and, last but not least, the reviewers have all contributed greatly to the success of this series of monographs. Although the comments received so far have generally been favorable, it is nevertheless necessary to analyze and to reassess the current position and the future direction of such publi­ cations.

Hypertension is one of the cardiovascular diseases which is most common throughout the world. Such hypertension is termed as essential hypertension. In a few cases (5- 15%), the hypertension is secondary to definable causes, such as renal artery stenosis, a pheochromocytoma, or an endocrine disorder.

Volume 42 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains seven reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the con nection with the previous volumes.

Volume 43 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains five reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the connection with the previous volumes. The reviews in PDR are useful to the non-specialist, who can obtain an overview of a particular field of drug research in a relatively short time.

S. Ren and E.J. Lien: CaCo-2 cell permeability vs human gastrointestinal absorption: QSPR analysis.- J.C.G. Halford and J.E. Blundell: Pharmacology of appetite suppression.- B. Olivier, W. Soudijn and I. van Wijngaarden: Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine transporters in the central nervous system and their inhibitors.- D. Poyner, H. Cox, M. Bushfield, J.M. Treherne and M.K. Demetrikopoulos: Neuropeptides in drug research.- M. Kumari and M.K. Ticku: Regulation of NMDA receptors by ethanol.- H. Horikoshi, T. Hashimoto and T. Fujiwara: Troglitazone and emerging glitazones: new avenues for potential therapeutic benefits beyond glycemic control.- Rosamund C. Smith and Simon J. Rhodes: Applications of developmental biology to medicine and animal agriculture