Reviewer: Kenneth E. McCarson, PhD (University of Kansas Medical Center)
Description: This book offers a brief, clear, and concise overview of the biology of catecholamine neurotransmitter/hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Although a small format, 147-page handbook, it is rich with well-organized facts in a very readable package. The online version is essentially identical to the print version, with hyperlinks to embedded illustrations in the text, but no additional content or live links to primary references.
Purpose: The author's intent is to insightfully guide readers through the complexities of catecholamine physiology, pharmacology, and pathology and to provide an authoritative summary of the clinical relevance of the catecholamines to mechanisms involved in human health and disease. These are worthy objectives that are well met by the book, which provides a clear, well-guided journey through the different aspects of catecholamine biology. The online format replicates nearly exactly the layout and content of the book, but can be read by scrolling rather than paging, with links that direct readers instantly to referred figures.
Audience: The author directs this book at medical and graduate students and practicing clinicians to whom an understanding of the catecholamines and the autonomic systems they subserve is relevant to their work. The book offers excellent information for both basic scientists and clinicians, striking a good balance between biological details and broader perspectives on disease mechanism. The author is a highly-regarded expert in the field. He has a distinguished academic medical career and is currently a Dean Emeritus and Obesity Center Director at Northwestern University. More importantly, he is a researcher trained by Julius Axelrod, who made seminal contributions to the understanding of catecholamine transmitter turnover in the early years of discovery in this area. Accordingly, the historic perspective and larger understanding of the details of the field come from a nearly uniquely authoritative perspective.
Features: The book consists of five sections focused on the fundamental biology and pharmacology of the catecholamine transmitters and receptors, with sections detailing their contributions to sympathoadrenal physiology and pathology, with a final section dedicated to sympathoadrenal tumors (pheochromocytoma and others). The first section on the fundamental biology of the catecholamines is particularly outstanding. The author manages to capture the complexity of the system in an efficient and conversational tone that is easy to read and understand. His organization of the book in ways that reveal the historic arc of scientific discovery in the field is profoundly compelling and renders often confusing aspects of the field easily understandable in this context. One of the most fascinating features of this book is the use of figures and images (especially in the introductory material) drawn from the primary literature reporting the initial discovery of the specific details being described. While at first the figure may seem dated or unrefined, upon reading, it becomes a very insightful way to add to readers' understanding of the historical context. The combination of brevity and clarity throughout the book is consistent and effective. The author highlights the primary features of the information most important for understanding the relevant pathologies and their treatment.
Assessment: This overview of catecholamine biology is small but profoundly rich, balancing the amount of content with what's needed to understand the relevant physiology and pathology that the catecholamines underlie. It's a book from an impeccably authoritative expert that delivers the information in a easily readable, conversational tone. It's an outstanding contribution to the area and would be an excellent introductory overview for students of the sympathoadrenal system. Other larger, reference-type books may contain more detail, but the efficient collection of relevant and organized information in this book makes it an excellent overview.
"outstanding contribution to the area and would be an excellent introductory overview for students of the sympathoadrenal system.""profoundly rich, balancing the amount of content with what's needed to understand the relevant physiology and pathology that the catecholamines underlie.""The author directs this book at medical and graduate students and practicing clinicians to whom an understanding of the catecholamines and the autonomic systems they subserve is relevant to their work.""The author is a highly-regarded expert in the field . He has a distinguished academic medical career and is currently a Dean Emeritus and Obesity Center Director at Northwestern University. More importantly, he is a researcher trained by Julius Axelrod , who made seminal contributions to the understanding of catecholamine transmitter turnover in the early years of discovery in this area." "One of the most fascinating features of this book is the use of figures and images (especially in the introductory material) drawn from the primary literature reporting the initial discovery of the specific details being described.""an impeccably authoritative expert that delivers the information in a easily readable, conversational tone ."Doody's Star Rating ®: 3 stars Score: 83-Doodys Publishers' Club, Friday, June 30, 2017
