ESA Biosciences, a Magellan Biosciences company, has announced that the latest version of its handbook on oxidative metabolism is now available on compact disk (CD).
Available free from ESA, the handbook is a 500-page reference source showing the use of electrochemical detection (ECD) in the study of pro-oxidant production, macromolecular damage and antioxidant protection.
The cells of all aerobic organisms, including humans, are constantly exposed to an oxygen-rich environment that leads to the generation of potentially damaging pro-oxidants such as free radicals and peroxides - a process often called 'oxidative stress'.
Oxidative stress has been implicated in many diseases and so it is a critical area of research for scientists.
One of the most sensitive and specific techniques used to study oxidative stress and the intrinsic and extrinsic factors involved in the condition is the use of ECD coupled with an HPLC.
Since ECD relies upon oxidation of the molecule being detected, the technique can be used for highly-sensitive measurement of the various redox-active compounds involved in oxidative metabolism.
The latest version of the handbook leads the reader through an introduction to the topic, the chemistry of reactive species, damage and repair of the body's defensive mechanisms, how the negative effects of oxidative stress can be prevented and the consequences when the body's natural defenses fail.
Where appropriate, the guide outlines HPLC-electrochemical detection-based methods and provides references to published literature that describes analytical methodology relevant to measuring the effect of reactive species.
A wide-ranging bibliography of articles is included, which details the many diseases associated with pro-oxidant production including rheumatoid arthritis, athersclerosis, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, cancer and reperfusion injury.
