[PDF] Metal elements in environment, medicine and biology. Tome 8. Proceedings of 8th International Symposium, December 5-6, 2008. Silaghi-Dumitrescu Ioan, Garban Z., Dr?gan P. e.a. (Ed.)

Publishing House Eurobit Timisoara (2008). ? 310 p.The on-going biennial series of Symposia ?Metal Elements in Environment, Medicine and Biology (M.E.E.M.B.) and the publishing of Tome I-VIII (1994-2008) confirm the existing interest for problems referring to the applications of Inorganic biochemistry, generally, and of Metallomics, especially, in fundamental and applicative domains.
The interest shown to the presence of metals in the living area and of their role in life sciences is proved by the continous development of metallomics.
The Series of M.E.E.M.B. symposia ? taking place during one and a half decade ? under the auspices of Branch Timisoara of the Roumanian Academy benefitted of the support offered by the president Prof. Zeno Simon, PhD ? corresponding member of Roumanian Academy (editions 2006 and 2008) and former presidents Acad. Ion P?un Otiman (editions 2002 and 2004) and Acad. Toma Dordea (editions 1996, 1998 and 2000) to whom we express our thanks.
At each edition was remarkable the contribution of scientists from diverse universities and research institutes from inland and abroad. As it is well known, implication of metals and their derivatives in
environment, nutrition, medicine a.o. are of main interest nowadays. Between metal ions and bioactive compounds can occur complex interactions which have a beneficial or harmful action on the functioning of the organism. Also, metal ions can, in case of pollution, represent a danger for public health. While traditional bioinorganic chemistry is focused on the role and interactions of a single metal in a protein or enzyme system, ?metallomics studies global, multi-element interactions and relationships? (Koppendaal and Hieftje, 2007). One can appreciate the significant connexions between chemistry and life sciences and identify easily the important concepts of todays? knowledge.