Red Cell Membrane Transport In Health And Disease

51 worldwide leading experts in the field of erythrocyte research contributed to this first book on transport processes in red blood cells. It explains the latest findings on the basis of well-established principles, in an accessibly structured and carefully organized compilation.

This presentation describes various aspects of the regulation of tissue oxygenation, including the roles of the circulatory system, respiratory system, and blood, the carrier of oxygen within these components of the cardiorespiratory system. The respiratory system takes oxygen from the atmosphere and transports it by diffusion from the air in the alveoli to the blood flowing through the pulmonary capillaries. The cardiovascular system then moves the oxygenated blood from the heart to the microcirculation of the various organs by convection, where oxygen is released from hemoglobin in the red blood cells and moves to the parenchymal cells of each tissue by diffusion. Oxygen that has diffused into cells is then utilized in the mitochondria to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of all cells. The mitochondria are able to produce ATP until the oxygen tension or PO2 on the cell surface falls to a critical level of about 4–5 mm Hg. Thus, in order to meet the energetic needs of cells, it is important to maintain a continuous supply of oxygen to the mitochondria at or above the critical PO2 . In order to accomplish this desired outcome, the cardiorespiratory system, including the blood, must be capable of regulation to ensure survival of all tissues under a wide range of circumstances. The purpose of this presentation is to provide basic information about the operation and regulation of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, as well as the properties of the blood and parenchymal cells, so that a fundamental understanding of the regulation of tissue oxygenation is achieved.

The book covers the functional significance and properties of erythrocytes, their generation, senescence, and suicidal death. It further summarizes knowledge about hormones influencing erythrocyte formation including erythropoietin as well as disorders affecting and involving erythrocytes such as anemia, malaria, and sepsis. This seminal work forms a unique reference on the most abundant cell type in mammals and will be an invaluable resource for students in the life sciences.

Nanobiotechnology is still a developing field. The results and promises of this technology are not only of scientific and economic importance, they also raise grave ethical, legal, and social questions. In this context, the so called "Precautionary Principle" or "Vorsorgeprinzip" is of high relevance. What does it mean to "proceed with caution" in the field of nanobiotechnology? How can the principle be applied and specified? Is it a suitable tool for the protection against potentially dangerous effects on the environment and human health? What is the status of the Precautionary Principle in international agreements and national legislation? "Proceed with Caution?" examines the questions that surround the Precautionary Principle in nanobiotechnology. (Series: Munster Studies on Bioethics / Munsteraner Bioethik-Studien - Vol. 12)