Stress reaction is likely to play a crucial role in a variety of degenerative diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The process of stress adaptation may appear to be simple, but in reality this is a very complex process and we are only beginning to understand the mechanism of adaptation. In January, 1998, scientists from around the world assembled to discuss the potential applicability of the concept of stress adaptation in the clinical arena. This volume contains original research papers presented on this subject during the conference Stress Adaptation, Prophylaxis and Treatment held in Calcutta, India, and serves as an up-to-date source of information for scientists, as well as clinicians interested in applying the concept of stress adaptation to the cure of diseases.

Inhalt
Myocardial preconditioning: Basic concepts and potential mechanisms.- Regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in ischemic reperfused mouse heart by glutathione peroxidase.- Thrombin releases calcium from internal stores of ultraviolet C-treated V79 fibroblasts independent of phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate hydrolysis: Role of oxidative stress.- Glutathione homeostasis in response to exercise training and nutritional supplements.- Mechanisms of beneficial effects of probucol in adriamycin cardiomyopathy.- Myocardial oxidative stress changes during compensated right heart failure in rats.- Reactive oxygen species function as second messenger during ischemic preconditioning of heart.- The role of oxidative stress in diseases caused by mineral dusts and fibres: Current status and future of prophylaxis and treatment.- Endotoxin-induced alterations in hepatic glucose-6-phosphatase activity and gene expression.- Oxidative stress in Systemic Sclerosis.- Signal transduction and transcriptional adaptation in embryonic heart development and during myocardial hypertrophy.- The cytotoxic effects of a novel IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on cultured human cancer cells.- Acute and chronic stress-induced oxidative gastrointestinal mucosal injury in rats and protection by bismuth subsalicylate.- Stress genes and species survival.- Fever: An integrated response of the central nervous system to oxidative stress.- Enhanced expression and localization of heme oxygenase-1 during recovery phase of porcine stunned myocardium.- Heterogeneity of human red blood cell membrane: Co-existence of heavy and light membranes.- Schisandrin B protects against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by enhancing myocardial glutathione antioxidant status.- Scavenging of superoxide anion radical bychaparral.- Role of Fe(III) in Fe(II)citrate-mediated peroxidation of mitochondrial membrane lipids.- Studies on hepatic oxidative stress and antioxidant defence systems during arteether treatment of Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice.- Effect of Salmonella typhimurium enterotoxin (S-LT) on lipid peroxidation and cell viability levels of isolated rat enterocytes.- Index to Volume 196.