Homocysteine In Health And Disease

Description:
High levels of homocysteine have recently been identified as a very important risk factor in cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine-related abnormalities are also thought to contribute to birth defects and dementia, and there are many common acquired diseases, drugs and genetic disorders which adversely affect the metabolism of homocysteine. In this timely book a multidisciplinary team of the world's experts in the field give a clear, up-to-date analysis of the biochemistry, genetics, epidemiology, clinical settings, causes, impact and treatment of homocysteine disorders. This is a uniquely comprehensive account of the broad range of medical, nutritional and methodological implications of homocysteine in health and disease.

Review:
'The field of homocysteine research has been crying out for a textbook like this, as it pulls together the disparate research areas of nutrition, biochemistry, cardiovascular medicine and inherited metabolic disease.' Doctors.net 'The editors have structured the book logically, and ensured that this enormous subject is covered comprehensively, yet concisely, with minimum overlap, and helpful cross-referencing. They have successfully bridged the interface between the relevant basic and applied sciences and produced a beautifully balanced overview of the role of homocysteine in health and disease. there is no publication like it in this speciality, where it is likely to become the standard reference.' Graeme J. Hankey, The Lancet 'This book provides an excellent up-to-date review of scientific and clinical grounding of homocysteine metabolism in health and disease, illustrated attractively with useful diagrams and figures. It is well-indexed, with an extensive bibliography. This book will be of interest and a good reference text for both basic scientists and clinicians.' Brain 2002 'This book is impressive in its scope and comes at a time when many have heard of homocysteine but few really understand the molecule. ... for the increasing number of people, from epidemiologists to vascular biologists and embryologists, who are looking at homocysteine as part of their research this could provide an invaluable handbook. Why do I think this would be useful? The answer is simple - the large number of people who have walked into my office whilst this book has been lying on my desk and said 'can I take a look at that when you have finished?' Patrick Vallance, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 'This is an extremely comprehensive book encompassing a variety of aspects of this fascinating amino-acid. It has a logical structure; an historical overview precedes sections detailing the biochemistry, physiology and pathology of homocysteine. It aims to provide information for clinicians and scientists over a wide-range of disciplines, and it achieves this admirably ... there is no better starting point for anyone wishing to learn more about homocysteine and B vitamin metabolism; clinicians with a particular interest in nutrition and cognition will find that this book provides ample 'food for thought'.' Andrew McCaddon, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 'This is an attractive book. A pleasure to pick up and read and thorough in its review of the subject area. It is timely and useful ... This reviewer appreciated the opportunity of reading it.' Human Genetics 'The content of this volume is excellent ... providing an authoritative up to date review that remains remarkably readable ... this volume is highly recommended ... and is an essential addition to any medical library.' Bevan Hokin, Australian Journal of Medical Science ' ... a fascinating story, the authors are eminent in their fields and the coverage is authorititive and comprehensive. Here is an excellent reference book for anyone interested in the field. Given the important clinical, scientific, and policy issues raised by the folic acid association ... geriatricians really need to know about homocysteine.' John Grimley Evans, Age and Aging

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction: historical overview and recent perspectives David Wilken and Bridget Wilken; Part I. Biochemistry and Physiology: Section I. Chemistry: 2. Practical chemistry of homocysteine and other thiols Donald W. Jacobsen; 3. Biosynthesis and reactions of homocysteine thiolactone Hieronim Jakubowski; 4. Homocysteine and lipid oxidation Jay W. Heinecke; 5. Homocysteine, nitric oxide and nitrosothiols Andrew J. Gow, Fred Cobb and Jonathan S. Stamler; Section II. Biochemistry and metabolism: 6. Biosynthesis of S-adenosylmethionine Jose M. Mato, Matias A. Avila and Fernado J. Corrales; 7. S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase Steven G. Clarke and Kelly Banfield; 8. S-adenosylhomosysteine hydrolase Sean T. Prigge and Peter K. Chiang; 9. Regulation of homocysteine metabolism James D. Finkelstein; 10. Microbial modeling of human disease: homocysteine metabolism Rowena G. Matthews and Martha L. Ludwig; 11. Folate metabolism Robert J. Cook; 12. Cobalamin-dependent remethylation Ruma V. Banerjee and Horatiu Olteanu; 13. Betaine-dependent remethylation Tim Garrow; 14. The transsulfuration pathway Warren D. Kruger; Section III. Physiology: 15. Cellular transport and tissue distribution Brian Fowler; 16. Homocysteine and the kidney John T. Brosnan; 17. Homocysteine and the nervous system Anne M. Molloy and Donald G. Weir; Section IV. Clinical Chemistry: 18. Methodologies of testing Karsten Rasmussen and Jan Moller; 19. Methionine loading Nicholas Dudman and Jonathan Silberberg; Part II. Clinical Dysfunction and Hyperhomocysteinemia: Section V. Genetic Disorders: 20. Cystathionine-s-synthase and its deficiency Jan P. Kraus and Viktor Kozich; 21. Inborn errors of folate and cobalamin metabolism David S. Rosenblatt; 22. Polymorphisms of folate and cobalamin metabolism Rima Rozen; Section VI. Aquired Disorders: 23. Folate deficiency Ralph Carmel; 24. Cobalamin deficiency Ralph Carmel; 25. Vitamin B6 deficiency Jesse F. Gregory III; 26. Homocysteine in renal disease Margret Arnadottir and Bjorn Hultberg; 27. Diseases and drugs associated with hyperhomocysteinemia Henk J. Blom; 28. Lifestyle factors associated with hyperhomocysteinemia Stein Emil Vollset, Helga Refsum, Ottar Nygard and Per Ueland; Section VII. Clinical Consequences of Hyperhomocysteinemia: 29. Epidemiology: vascular and thrombotic associations Petra Verhoef and Meir Stampfer; 30. Homocysteine and coronary artery disease Killian Robinson; 31. Homocysteine and cerebrovascular disease J. David Spence and James F. Toole; 32. Peripheral arterial disease Godfried Boers; 33. Venous disease Armando D'Angelo and Chiara Beltrametti; 34. Homocysteine and hemostasis Katherine A. Hajjar; 35. Cellular mechanisms of homocysteine pathogenesis in atherosclerosis Donald W. Jacobsen; 36. Homocysteine and cardiovascular physiology Steven R. Lentz; 37. Homocysteine and human reproduction T. K. A. B. Eskes; Section VIII. Intervention and Therapy: 38. Modification of hyperhomocysteinemia John M. Scott; 39. Design of clinical trials to test the homocysteine hypothesis of vascular disease Robert Clarke; 40. What is a desirable homocysteine level? Johan B. Ubbink; Index.