Nineteen cutting-edge review articles by leading authorities provide a comprehensive overview of the normal function of the pituitary and of the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary disorders. Topics range from normal hypothalamic-pituitary interactions and the processes that disrupt them to new advances in pituitary imaging and appropriate surgical intervention in various pituitary disorders. Among the diseases discussed are congenital hypopituitarism, deficiency states, strategies for evaluating patients with hyperprolactinemia, Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, and glycoprotein pituitary tumors.

This book contains contributions presented at the last of the Alcuin Symposia, held in April 2000, as a Festschrift to honour Prof. Axel Wollmer on the occasion of his retirement from the Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen. The Alcuin Symposia were initially held alternatively in York and Aachen, in recent years in Aachen only, as joint workshops on insulin between the groups of Prof. Guy Dodson in York and the groups of Profs Dietrich Brandenburg and Axel Wollmer in Aachen. The Symposium was named after Alcuin, an Anglo-Latin poet, educator and cleric from York, who was invited to join the court of Charlemagne at Aachen. Alcuin's first 50 years were spent in Yorkshire, were he was first a pupil, later headmaster of the cathedral school of York, the most renowned of its day. Charlemagne was gathering at Aachen the leading Irish, English and Italian scholars of the age. Alcuin was appointed head of the Palatine school, where Charlemagne himself, his family, his friends, and his friends's sons were taught. Alcuin introduced the traditions of Anglo-Saxon humanism into Western Europe and was the foremost scholar of the revival of learning known as the Carolingian Renaissance. He also promoted the use of the beautiful Carolingian minuscule script, the ancestor of modern Roman typefaces."

Diagnosing and managing type 2 diabetes presents an enormous challenge to the primary care provider confronted with multiple emerging scientific insights, therapeutic strategies and risk reduction principles. In Type 2 Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes, and the Metabolic Syndrome: The Primary Care Guide to Diagnosis and Management, Second Edition, Ronald A. Codario, M.D., FACP -- a well-known and highly respected authority on diabetes -- details the state-of-the-art in diagnosing, managing and attenuating risks in patients with this disease. Utilizing his extensive experience in private practice, medical education and clinical research for over 35 years, Dr. Codario explains in simple clinical terms, the current understanding of the pathophysiology of diabetes, the latest clinical trials, developing controversies, updates on new medications and an expanded section on Special Populations. With his unique, multiple board certifications in clinical hypertension, vascular medicine, internal medicine, vascular ultrasound and clinical lipidology, Dr. Codario provides practical guidelines for treatment with insulin and oral agents, lipid and hypertension control and comprehensive risk reduction strategies. Extensively reviewed are the metabolic syndrome, the role of exercise and nutrition, and key issues associated with herb and nutriceutical use. Illustrative case studies in diabetes management, an outstanding bibliography of suggested readings, and extensive chapter subheadings for quick reference make this book a practical, easy-to-read guide for dealing with this killer disease. Type 2 Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes, and the Metabolic Syndrome: The Primary Care Guide to Diagnosis and Management, Second Edition is the direct result of many years of listening, teaching, lecturing and empathizing with fellow primary care providers and their patients in the ongoing fight against diabetes. Like the internationally acclaimed first edition, this is a must read and invaluable guide for all primary care providers, students, caregivers and patients battling the ravages of this ever increasing epidemic.

A comprehensive, cutting-edge review of the complex interactions between maternal and fetal-placental tissues that control the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy, the proper development of the fetus, the birth process, and the behavioral aspects of bonding between mother and newborn. Expert researchers review the endocrine and physiological events that culminate in the delivery of offspring, and provide a solid base of comparative information on the menstrual cycle of primates, including humans. They also discuss the sources and functions of both steroid and protein hormones from the placenta and the details of their effects on uterine function, placental development, fetal growth and well-being, and maternal responses to pregnancy. This book will become the standard reference source not only for reproductive scientists, but also for those clinicians who want better to understand the complex factors that affect pregnancy-and their pregnant patients.

Prior to 1974, the ~adrenergic receptors were known only in- directly as entities that responded to drugs in a selective manner to mediate a variety of physiologically important responses. During the intervening years, our view of ~adrenergic receptors has changed dramatically. The availability of high affinity 125I-labeled radioligands selective for these receptors presaged an explosion of experimenta- tion utilizing direct binding assays to establish the biochemical properties of the receptor protein. In the opening chapter, Stadel and Lefkowitz describe this development and its impact on our under- standing of the molecular basis of ~adrenergic receptor function. The availability of well-characterized receptor ligands, coupled with the development of efficient methods for detergent solubilization, formed the basis of receptor purification using affinity chromatography. The related technique of photoaffinity labeling provided a means to estimate the molecular mass of these receptors. The availability of substantial amounts of purified ~2-adrenergic receptor allowed determination of segments of its amino acid se- quence. This information led to the production of polynucleotide probes and eventually to cloning of the receptor gene and determi- nation of the complete primary sequence of the receptor protein. Caron and Lefkowitz review the investigations leading to this major development and discuss the methods involved. They analyze our current perception of the relation of receptor function to its structure and discuss the general features of the G protein-interacting receptor family, of which the ~-adrenergic receptors are prototypes.

Leading physicians from a variety of medical specialties summarize their clinical experiences in treating pituitary adenomas in United States and the United Kingdom. Using simple language to describe their approaches, the authors describe the latest treatments for prolactinoma, acromegaly, Cushing's disease, and nonfunctioning pituitary tumors, and the latest surgical techniques. To round out the clinician's understanding of the illness, a patient describes the experience of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Comprehensive and accessible, Management of Pituitary Tumors: The Clinician's Practical Guide brings together all the medical fields involved in treating pituitary tumors, both for novices in the specialties that manage these cases, and for pituitary specialists seeking to understand better the contribution of other medical disciplines to the treatment of these tumors.

Nonlinear Control for Blood Glucose Regulation of Diabetic Patients: An LMI-Based Approach exposes readers to the various existing mathematical models that define the dynamics of glucose-insulin for Type 1 diabetes patients. After providing insights into the mathematical model of patients, the authors discuss the need and emergence of new control techniques that can lead to further development of an artificial pancreas. The book presents various nonlinear control techniques to address the challenges that Type 1 diabetic patients face in maintaining their blood glucose level in the safe range (70-180 mg/dl). The closed-loop solution provided by the artificial pancreas depends mainly on the effectiveness of the control algorithm, which acts as the brain of the system. APS control algorithms require a mathematical model of the gluco-regulatory system of the T1D patients for their design. Since the gluco-regulatory system is inherently nonlinear and largely affected by external disturbances and parametric uncertainty, developing an accurate model is very difficult.

Vitamins and Hormones serial highlights new advances in the field with this new volume presenting interesting chapters. Each chapter is written by an international board of authors.

Key workers in vascular medicine and biology apply state-of-the-art techniques in cell and molecular biology to study the endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. The distinguished scientists and clinicians open a new area of endocrinology, which sees the vasculature and kidney as endocrine organs and sheds new light on the hormonal regulation of the cardiovascular system. They also add significantly to our current understanding of the autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine regulation of vascular function in health and in those vascular disease states that accompany diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Endocrinology of the Vasculature is the first book to comprehensively and systematically explore the vasculature as an endocrine organ.

As a clinical discipline blood transfusion encompasses enormous vista, vary ing from biotechnology to molecular biology, from plasma products, cell biology and growth factors to interleukines. Growth of knowledge in this field has been rapid, and expertise is now required to be mastered and renewed in translating these ideas for patient care. Various types of cells could be harvested - progenitor stem cells derived from bone marrow or from circulating blood as a source for transplants; in the hemostatic armoury platelets could be used prophylactically; granulocytes and mononuclear cells are available for treatment of infections or immune modulations. However, their therapeutic use carries potential complications including graft versus host disease and CMV-infection. Prevention of such complications by irradiation and by removal of immunocompetent leukocytes are important issues. Thus, production of such therapeutic materials ought to address the issues at the earliest, to eliminate those problems while adhering to the con cept of high quality; the impact of storing platelets for longer periods by using improved plastic containers or storing almost indefinitely in frozen state should be explored. Rapid progress in cell culture techniques and bio technology have enriched the transfusion medicine armoury with lympho kines, interferons and cell colony growth factors which have great potentials for enhancement of basic knowledge as well as considerable therapeutic applications in patients."

Distinguished physicians critically review the clinical consequences of the endocrinological changes that occur with aging-in both men and women-and examine the use of hormonal therapy to reduce them. Topics range from bone disease and water balance in all older people, to androgen deficiency in aging males, gynecomastia, and menopause. The authors also discuss Type II diabetes in persons over 65, emphasizing the cognitive benefits of good glycemia control, and the interaction of nutrition and metabolism, focusing on hypocholesterolemia, obesity, the anorexia of aging, trace elements, and vitamins. The aging of the sympathetic nervous system and its impact on hypertension in the elderly is also covered. Timely and authoritative, Endocrinology of Aging offers endocrinologists, geriatricians, and primary care physicians critical insight into the endocrine problems of our rapidly growing elderly population.

In vitro and animal studies show that vanadate and other Because most cellular components contain hydroxyl and/or vanadium compounds increase glucose transport activity and phosphate groups, vanadate reacts as shown in eq. 1, and 2 normalize glucose metabolism [1-5]. Furthermore, these with a variety of metabolites. For example, the reaction of insulin-mimetic compounds can be administered orally. Vana- vanadate with the 2'-hydroxyl group of the cofactor NAD date enhances the phosphoprotein formation which is attrib- generates an NADP analog, NADV (path b) [22]. NADV is uted to either the activation of protein kinases or inhibition an excellent cofactor for enzymes such as glucose-6-phos- of protein phosphatases. Despite the interest in document- phate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, ing the effects of vanadate on protein kinases, most reports and alcohol dehydrogenase [22]. The presence ofNADV have used indirect methods and studies with purified kinases could affect the levels of reducing equivalents in the cell, im- show weak, if any, interaction of vanadate with kinases as portant in maintaining a normal glucose metabolism. This a group of enzymes (reviewed in Refs. [6-8]). Vanadate type of mechanism is distinct from the vanadate-induced interacts potently with phosphatases and the inhibition is NADH oxidation by plasma membranes [23]. Organic attributed to a five-coordinate vanadate complex which vanadates have been shown to substitute for organic phos- mimics the transition state of the phosphate ester hydroly- phates in many of the enzymes related to glucose metabolism sis reaction (reviewed in Refs. [7,9]).

Defining and understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms that are relevant to women's health has become a critical area of scientific pursuit. Until recently, very little effort has been place on defining or understanding critical differences between women and men that may be critical to the overall health of the woman. In 1990, the National Institutes of Health recognized this gap in knowledge resulting in the creation of the Office of Research on Women's Health. One of the purposes of this office was to advance the understanding of health issues from the women's perspective from both a basic and clinical scientific perspective. From a scientific evolution of understanding, the existence of this office is new and thus there has not been enough time for new information to integrate itself in our current scientific thought process. This book will seek to capture and disseminate our current understanding of scientific advancements relevant to women's health and provide the information to a broad audience. The purpose of this work is to discuss recent advancements in basic science across three areas of concern for women's health. In addition, the book will provide "translational" chapters that attempt to place the basic science work in context within our current understanding of the human. Although it is well acknowledge that gender differences exist across organ function which translates into differences in whole body function, until recently little effort has been made to define basic mechanisms within various tissues within the woman. This work will focus on recent scientific findings that are relevant to women's health and to provide novel and relevant information to interested scientists and clinicians.

In September 1998 experts from 19 countries came together for an interdisciplinary discussion of the function of animal peroxidases, a family of enzymes embracing myeloperoxidase, eosinophil peroxidase, thyroid peroxidase and lactoperoxidase. Their papers have been updated for publication, yielding a wide-ranging overview of the state of the art. The chapters cover a wide range of topics, including three-dimensional structure of representative family members, their biosynthesis and intracellular transport, mechanism of action as well as applications to clinical medicine. They are of clinical relevance in, for example, arteriosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, infections, tumorigenesis, rheumatic diseases and hypothyroidism. This book forms an excellent introduction for anyone interested in the peroxidase family of enzymes.

The purpose of these volumes is to provide a reference work for the methods of purifying many of the receptors we know about. This be comes increasingly important as full-length receptors are overexpressed in bacteria or in insect cell systems. A major problem for abundantly expressed proteins will be their purification. In addition to purification protocols, many other details can be found concerning an individual receptor that may not be available in standard texts or monographs. No book of this type is available as a compendium of purification procedures. Receptor Purification provides protocols for the purification of a wide variety of receptors. These include receptors that bind: neurotransmit ters, polypeptide hormones, steroid hormones, and ligands for related members of the steroid supergene family and others, including receptors involved in bacterial motion. The text of this information is substantial, so as to require its publication in two volumes. Consequently, a division was made by grouping receptors by the nature of their ligands. Thus, in Volume One there are contributions on serotonin receptors, adrenergic receptors, the purification of GTP-binding proteins, opioid receptors, neurotensin receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, human chorionic gonadotropin receptor, follicle stimulating hormone receptor, thyro tropin receptor, prolactin receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, platelet derived growth factor receptor, colony stimulating factor recep tor, insulin-like growth factor receptors, insulin receptor, fibronectin receptor, interferon receptor, and the cholecystokinin receptor."

Genetics of Diabetes Mellitus is intended to be a resource for both researchers in the field as well as endocrinologists, diabetologists, and geneticists who seek to learn more about this rapidly changing and important field. The text contains chapters from experts in the area who review aspects of the genetics of both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus as well as various syndromic forms of diabetes. The chapters are approachable for those who are not experts in the field of genetics but also comprehensive, so as to serve as an important resource for researchers interested in the genetics of diabetes mellitus. A description of basic concepts of the genetics of complex diseases like type 1 and type 2 diabetes is provided as background. Type 1 diabetes is addressed in chapters exploring genetic determinants that affect the autoimmune process characteristic of type 1 diabetes, the role of the insulin gene in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and additional genes that may impact upon the risk of type 1 diabetes. The impact of genetic determinants on the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes is covered, as are chapters that address specific genes that are important for the development of type 2 diabetes. Finally, syndromic forms of diabetes, including Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young and mitochondrial diabetes, and the insight that these disorders provide into more common forms of diabetes are reviewed. Thus, this comprehensive and up-to-date text will serve as an important resource for those actively engaged in research in this area and clinicians treating these patients to provide an up-to-date entree for those seeking to become more knowledgeable in the area.

Diabetes mellitus is the collective name for a group of diseases associated with hyperglycemia (high levels of blood glucose) caused by defects in insulin p- duction, insulin action, or both. About 6. 2% of the US population (17 million people) have diabetes mellitus. It is the leading cause of kidney failure, bli- ness, and amputations. It is also a major risk factor for heart diseases, stroke, and birth defects. Diabetes Mellitus: Methods and Protocols provides a state-of-the-art account of the experimental methodology for studying the molecular defects leading to diabetes mellitus, both at the molecular and biochemical levels. The chapters cover a wide range of topics written by experts in their respective fields and are organized in two sections: Insulin Production and Insulin Action. The detailed experimental protocols presented, including the notes of interest, provide a very useful tool for basic researchers and clinicians for investigating and treating this disease. Each chapter starts with an introduction to a specific technique and explains its application in the field of diabetes research. Following the list of materials, a detailed description of the technique is presented in the methods section in a way that enables the successful execution of the protocol. The "Notes" section at the end discusses the pitfalls of the technique and alternative approaches. I am grateful to the numerous scientists who have contributed to this volume by writing both highly detailed and understandable chapters.

This volume will explore the epidemiology and the basic mechanisms of each of these prenatal phenomena, in an attempt to explain the role of the prenatal environment in promoting postnatal weight gain. This information will contribute to resolving the nature-nurture controversy. This information provides guidance to clinical practitioners involved in both prenatal and postnatal care. This volume further stimulates research into underlying mechanisms and prevention and treatment of this phenomenon.