No one has counted the enzymes in the human organism, and probably their profuse number can only be estimated from the restrictions the finite mass of genetic material imposes. Still, nu merous catalytic activities have been identified and investigated for their clinical relevance. After one century of such research, surprisingly, only a handful of enzymes has survived the stern trial of clinical application to find regular medical use. Dis regarding genetic defects, most of the diagnostically used en zymes participate in metabolic conversions fundamental to life: the utilization, transfer or fixation of vital nutrients or of cheJ,llical energy. Creatine kinase is central to the function of the mitochond rion, the cellular power generator. The wider distribution of this enzyme is linked to tissues whose physiology crucially relies on an adaptable supply of energy, notably skeletal muscle, the brain, and the heart. Just as these three tissues vary in their pre ference for different energy sources, each produces a different isoenzyme of creatine kinase. Accordingly, the finding of elevat ed creatine kinase activity in blood can lead to a variety of interpretations, but in practice the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is the major consideration.

This volume places emphasis on the intricate interplay between creatine and creatine kinase function on one hand and proper brain function, neurodegenerative disease and/or neuroprotection on the other. The book, compiled by outstanding experts, provides a key reference summarizing the state-of-the-art in creatine and creatine kinase research. It is a must-read for understanding the links between creatine metabolism and neuroprotection as well as neurodegenerative disease.

In this greatly enlarged and thoroughly updated edition of his much praised Cardiac Markers, Alan Wu and his contributors focus on the use of markers in the practice of cardiology and-for the first time-on the use of natriuretic peptides for congestive heart failure. Here, leading international authorities in clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, cardiology, emergency medicine, and the in vitro diagnostics industry describe the state-of-the-art uses of cardiac markers when treating coronary artery disease, and discuss in detail how they may be optimally used in a clinical setting. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Cardiac Markers, Second Edition offers physicians a complete guide to the use of cardiac markers in clinical practice and clinical laboratorians a close-up view of the new markers now becoming standard.

This book is a practical guidebook in biochemistry, for medical as well as life sciences' students. The book covers reference values, sample collection procedure and detailed protocol to perform experiments. Each experiment starts with a brief introduction of the protocol, followed by specimen requirements and procedure. The procedures are presented in a very lucid manner and discuss details of calculations and clinical interpretations,The book is divided into 29 chapters, It offers references, general guidelines and abbreviations and provides principles and procedures of clinical biochemistry tests, along with their diagnostic importance.

The heart has a very high energy demand but very little energy reserves. In order to sustain contractile function, the heart has to continually produce a large amount of ATP. The heart utilizes free fatty acids mainly and carbohydrates to some extent as substrates for making energy and any change in this energy supply can seriously compromise cardiac function. It has emerged that alterations in cardiac energy metabolism are a major contributor to the development of a number of different forms of heart disease. It is also now known that optimizing energy metabolism in the heart is a viable and important approach to treating various forms of heart disease. Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Health and Disease describes the research advances that have been made in understanding what controls cardiac energy metabolism at molecular, transcriptional and physiological levels. It also describes how alterations in energy metabolism contribute to the development of heart dysfunction and how optimization of energy metabolism can be used to treat heart disease. The topics covered include a discussion of the effects of myocardial ischemia, diabetes, obesity, hypertrophy, heart failure, and genetic disorders of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism on cardiac energetics. The treatment of heart disease by optimizing energy metabolism is also discussed, which includes increasing overall energy production as well as increasing the efficiency of energy production and switching energy substrate preference of the heart. This book will be a valuable source of information to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and investigators in the field of experimental cardiology as well as biochemists, physiologists, pharmacologists, cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and other health professionals.

This book provides an overview of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) from clinical presentation to treatment and possible metabolic causes. It examines the risk factors, presentations, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, clinical management, and financial costs of SAMS. The book also highlights patients’ perspectives on SAMS such as the psychosocial, emotional, and societal factors influencing their perceptions and experiences. Finally, the book presents the results of observational and clinical trials on the prevalence of SAMS, clinical trials for treatments, and potential future research approaches for improving the understanding and treatment of SAMS. A key addition to the Contemporary Cardiology series, Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms is an essential resource for physicians, medical students, residents, fellows, and allied health professionals in cardiology, endocrinology, pharmacotherapy, primary care, and health promotion and disease prevention.

As a guide for pharmaceutical professionals to the issues and practices of drug discovery toxicology, this book integrates and reviews the strategy and application of tools and methods at each step of the drug discovery process. • Guides researchers as to what drug safety experiments are both practical and useful • Covers a variety of key topics – safety lead optimization, in vitro-in vivo translation, organ toxicology, ADME, animal models, biomarkers, and –omics tools • Describes what experiments are possible and useful and offers a view into the future, indicating key areas to watch for new predictive methods • Features contributions from firsthand industry experience, giving readers insight into the strategy and execution of predictive toxicology practices

This short handbook summarises the clinical features, epidemiology, current treatment paradigms, and ongoing trials for the idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IMM). Aimed at both trainees and physicians with an aim to improving the quality of care for people with IMM.