30 years after its discovery as an antitumor agent, cisplatin represents today one of the most successful drugs in chemotherapy. This book is intended to reminisce this event, to take inventory, and to point out new lines of development in this field. Divided in 6 sections and 22 chapters, the book provides an up-to-date account on topics such as - the chemistry and biochemistry of cisplatin, - the clinical status of Pt anticancer drugs, - the impact of cisplatin on inorganic and coordination chemistry, - new developments in drug design, testing and delivery. It also includes a chapter describing the historical development of the discovery of cisplatin. The ultimate question - How does cisplatin kill a cell? - is yet to be answered, but there are now new links suggesting how Pt binding to DNA may trigger a cascade of cellular reactions that eventually result in apoptosis. p53 and a series of damage recognition proteins of the HMG-domain family appear to be involved. The book addresses the problem of mutagenicity of Pt drugs and raises the question of the possible relevance of the minor DNA adducts, e.g. of interstrand cross-links, and the possible use of trans-(NH3)2Pt(II)-modified oligonucleotides in antisense and antigene strategies. Our present understanding of reactions of cisplatin with DNA is based upon numerous model studies (from isolated model nucleobases to short DNA fragments) and application of a large body of spectroscopic and other physico-chemical techniques. Thanks to these efforts there is presently no other metal ion whose reactions with nucleic acids are better understood than Pt. In a series of chapters, basic studies on the interactions of Pt electrophiles with nucleobases, oligonucleotides, DNA, amino acids, peptides and proteins are reported, which use, among others, sophisticated NMR techniques or X-ray crystallography, to get remarkable understanding of details on such reactions. Reactivity of cisplatin, once bound to DNA and formerly believed to be inert enough to stay, is an emerging phenomenon. It has (not yet) widely been studied but is potentially extremely important. Medicinal bioinorganic chemistry - the role of metal compounds in medicine - has received an enormous boost from cisplatin, and so has bioinorganic chemistry as a whole. There is hardly a better example than cisplatin to demonstrate what bioinorganic chemistry is all about: The marriage between classic inorganic (coordination) chemistry and the other life sciences - medicine, pharmacy, biology, biochemistry. Cisplatin has left its mark also on areas that are generally considered largely inorganic. The subject of mixed-valance Pt compounds is an example: From the sleeping beauty it made its way to the headlines of scientific journals, thanks to a class of novel Pt antitumor agents, the so-called "platinum pyrimidine blues". In the aftermath diplatinum (III) compounds were recognized and studies in large numbers, and now an organometalic chemistry of these diplatinum (III) species is beginning to emerge. The final section of the book is concerned with new developments such as novel di- and trinuclear Pt(II) drugs with DNA binding properties different from those of cisplatin, with orally active Pt(IV) drugs which are presently in clinical studies, and with attempts to modify combinatorial chemistry in such a way that it may become applicable to fast screening of Pt antitumor drugs. The potential of including computational methods in solving questions of Pt-DNA interactions is critically dealt with in the concluding chapter.

This comprehensive encyclopedic reference provides rapid access to focused information on topics of cancer research for clinicians, research scientists and advanced students. Given the overwhelming success of the first edition, which appeared in 2001, and fast development in the different fields of cancer research, it has been decided to publish a second fully revised and expanded edition. With an A-Z format of over 7,000 entries, more than 1,000 contributing authors provide a complete reference to cancer. The merging of different basic and clinical scientific disciplines towards the common goal of fighting cancer makes such a comprehensive reference source all the more timely.

Volume 18, entitled Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents of the series Metal Ions in Life Sciences centers on biological, medicinal inorganic chemistry. The serendipitous discovery of the antitumor activity of cis-diamminodichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) by Barnett Rosenberg in the 1960s is a landmark in metallodrug-based chemotherapy. The success of cisplatin in the clinic, followed by oxaliplatin and carboplatin, along with their drawbacks relating mainly to resistance development and severe toxicity, initiated research on polynuclear platinum complexes and on Pt(IV) complexes as prodrugs. Furthermore, the indicated shortcomings led to the exploration of other transition and main group metal ions, among them Ru(II/III), Au(I/III), Ti(IV), V(IV/V), and Ga(III) including also the essential metal ions Fe(II/III), Cu(I/II), and Zn(II). Ionic as well as covalent and non-covalent interactions between structurally very different complexes and biomolecules like nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates are studied and discussed with regard to their possible anticancer actions. Hence, MILS-18 summarizes the research at the forefront of medicinal inorganic chemistry, including studies on the next-generation, tailor-made anticancer drugs. All this and more is treated in an authoritative and timely manner in the 17 stimulating chapters of this book, written by 39 internationally recognized experts from 10 nations (from the US via Europe to China and Australia). The impact of this vibrant research area is manifested by more than 2700 references, nearly 150 illustrations (more than half in color) and several comprehensive tables. Metallo-Drugs: Development and Action of Anticancer Agents is an essential resource for scientists working in the wide range from enzymology, material sciences, analytical, organic, and inorganic biochemistry all the way through to medicine including the clinic ... not forgetting that it also provides excellent information for teaching.

Written by a leading researcher in the field, Transporters in Drug Discovery and Development provides a comprehensive and practical guide to drug transporter families that are the most important for drug discovery and development. It covers: an overview of transporter families and organ distribution; clinical relevant drug-drug interaction; clinical relevant polymorphism; drug transporter related pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamics and toxicity; in vitro/in vivo probes of drug transport studies; the practical methodologies of industrial transporter screening and translational aspect in drug discovery and developments. - A comprehensive overview of drug transporter families and their clinical relevance in drug discovery and development - Balanced coverage of molecular biology aspects and functional outcomes - State of art knowledge related to transporter-mediated DDI and the clinical relevance in pharmacokinetics, dynamics, and toxicity

The book deals with various clinical aspects of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) which is a potent source for oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is critical for pathogenesis of diseases and CYP2E1 is a major contributor for oxidative stress. Several clinical disorders are associated with changes in regulation of CYP2E1 and the consequent abnormalities which include alcoholic liver disease, alcoholic pancreatitis, carcinogenesis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, obesity, hepatitis C virus infection, reproductive organ toxicity, hepatocellular and cholestatic liver cirrhosis, inhibition of bone repair, cross-tolerance in smokers and people treated with nicotine, disorders of central nervous system, changes in metabolism of protoxicants in the circulatory system and susceptibility to human papillomavirus infection. Hence, CYP2E1 emerges as a new and potent player in aggravating injury and furthering disease complications.

A one-of-a-kind guide specifically for rehabilitation specialists! A leader in pharmacology and rehabilitation, Charles Ciccone, PT, PhD offers a concise, easy-to-access resource that delivers the drug information rehabilitation specialists need to know. Organized alphabetically by generic name, over 800 drug monographs offer the most up-to-date information on drug indications, therapeutic effects, potential adverse reactions, and much more! A list of implications for physical therapy at the end of each monograph helps you provide the best possible care for your patients. It’s the perfect companion to Pharmacology in Rehabilitation, 4th Edition!

Some people suffer from chronic, debilitating disorders for which no conventional treatment brings relief. Can marijuana ease their symptoms? Would it be breaking the law to turn to marijuana as a medication? There are few sources of objective, scientifically sound advice for people in this situation. Most books about marijuana and medicine attempt to promote the views of advocates or opponents. To fill the gap between these extremes, authors Alison Mack and Janet Joy have extracted critical findings from a recent Institute of Medicine study on this important issue, interpreting them for a general audience. Marijuana As Medicine? provides patientsâ€"as well as the people who care for themâ€"with a foundation for making decisions about their own health care. This empowering volume examines several key points, including: Whether marijuana can relieve a variety of symptoms, including pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and appetite loss. The dangers of smoking marijuana, as well as the effects of its active chemical components on the immune system and on psychological health. The potential use of marijuana-based medications on symptoms of AIDS, cancer, multiple sclerosis, and several other specific disorders, in comparison with existing treatments. Marijuana As Medicine? introduces readers to the active compounds in marijuana. These include the principal ingredient in Marinol, a legal medication. The authors also discuss the prospects for developing other drugs derived from marijuana's active ingredients. In addition to providing an up-to-date review of the science behind the medical marijuana debate, Mack and Joy also answer common questions about the legal status of marijuana, explaining the conflict between state and federal law regarding its medical use. Intended primarily as an aid to patients and caregivers, this book objectively presents critical information so that it can be used to make responsible health care decisions. Marijuana As Medicine? will also be a valuable resource for policymakers, health care providers, patient counselors, medical faculty and studentsâ€"in short, anyone who wants to learn more about this important issue.

Nephrology Secrets, 3rd Edition, by Drs. Edgar V. Lerma and Allen R. Nissenson, gives you the nephrology answers you need to succeed on your rotations and boards.. Its unique, highly practical question-and-answer format, list of the "Top 100 Nephrology Secrets," and user-friendly format make it perfect for quick reference. Get the most return for your study time with the proven Secrets® format -- concise, easy to read, and highly effective. Skim the "Top 100 Secrets" and "Key Points" boxes for a fast overview of the secrets you must know for success on the boards and in practice. Enjoy faster, easier review and master the top issues in nephrology with mnemonics, lists, quick-reference tables, and an informal tone that sets this review book apart from the rest. Carry it with you in your lab coat pocket for quick reference or review anytime, anywhere. Handle each clinical situation with confidence with chapters completely updated to reflect the latest information. Find the answers you need faster thanks to a new, more streamlined and problem-based organization. Get the high-yield answers you need to address top nephrology questions