This book contains the proceedings of the 2nd Cologne Ath roscle- rosis Conference (CAC) which was devoted to lipids, in particular lipoproteins. The object of the conference series, organised by A. Nattermann & Cie. GmbH, Cologne, is to provide an overview of various fields either directly related to or associated with the process of atherosclerosis. Having considered the associated field of inflammation in the first conference, the 2nd CAC dealt with a subject intimately related to the atherosclerotic process per see The recent demonstration in an extensive clinical study of a close link...

The benzodiazepines are among the most widely-used of drugs. However, in many countries their popularity is waning as prescribers become more aware of problems with unwanted effects and with rebound and withdrawal syndromes. The earlier benzodiazepines were long-acting, and it was thought that their shorter-acting successors would have important advantages. Other developments include partial agonists and partial inverse agonists, compounds acting on the benzodiazepine-GABA macro- molecular site although not as a typical benzodiazepine, and anxiolytic agents acting on 5-HT pathways directly. I...

Histamine is an intriguing compound; the same is true for the several classes of anti-histaminergic compounds. The classical anti-histamines, now known as H -antagonists have 1 been the result of intensive research in the 1950s and 1960s. The new, so-called non-sedating H1-antagonists, which became available in the 1980s, could be d'eveloped mainly due to insights into structural features causing the sedating effects of the older compounds. In the 1970s the H2-receptors became important targets for developing new anti-ulcer agents. The H2-antagonist story is a stimulating example of modern...

Readers will be aware that asthma is one of the commonest chronic diseases of industrialised societies, with an increase in morbidity and mortality, despite the availability of a range of different drugs. In an effort to improve the treatment of asthmatic patients, international guidelines have recently recognised asthma as an inflammatory disease, and there has been a change in emphasis from bronchodilator drugs towards earlier use of anti-inflammatory treatments. This volume brings together the latest developments in our understanding of the mechanisms of asthma, considers the safety...

The Seventh International Conference of the Inflammation Research Association, entitled "Inflammation, Mechanisms and Therapeutics" was held on September 25-29,1994 in White Haven, Pennsylvania. The major focus of this series of conferences is the multidisciplinary investigation of inflammation and the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches to inflammatory diseases. It was therefore particularly gratifying that the list of attendees included scientists of diverse backgrounds - preclinical biology, synthetic and theoretical chemistry, biotechnology and clinical research. The Conference was...

Uncontrolled proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) in response to vessel injury is a problem with a considerable therapeutic impact. Specifically, restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a clinical problem without any effective drug therapy so far. Thus, there is need for an improved drug therapy but also for an improved understanding of the pathophysiology of growth control in SMC. Cyclooxygenase products, such as prostaglandins and thromboxane, are intimately involved in growth responses. Vasodilatory prostaglandins, such as PGI, PGE or their...

Proteases, Protease-Derived Peptides and Protease Inhibitors Many physiological as weil as pathophysiological processes are mediated by proteases and the products of their actions, protease-derived peptides. However, the uncontrolled activity of proteases can be extraordinarily destructive and dangerous to normal biologie systems. As a result, biology has gone to great lengths to control the activities of the proteases involved in these systems by developing aseries of both highly specific (regulatory) and non-specific (protective) anti-proteases. The protease/anti-protease balancing...