176 Book Reviews

Plasma prokallikrein is structurally related to factor XI and is activated by active Hageman factor. Several plasma proteinase inhibitors are also inhibitors of plasma kallikrein.

Tissue kallikreins may play a role in vascular tone, salivary secretion, membrane permeability, resorbtion of amino acids and carbohydrates, and increase glucose uptake into cells. They have a close similarity to the arginine esterases of growth factor. Kinase It is identical to the angiotensin converting enzyme. The homesostatic regu- lation of the kidney may be a balance between the kinins which lower blood pressure and increase blood flow and sodium and water excretion, and the reniv.-angiotensin system which increases blood pressure, and decreases blood flow and sodium and water excretion.

These two volumes provide an excellent summary of the state of knowledge of the role of K K K K in blood clotting, fibrinolysis, prostaglandin synthesis, glucose uptake, blood pressure regulation, complement systems and smooth mus- cle contraction.

Myocardial Injury--Edited by John J. Spitzer. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology. Volume 161. 612 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. US$85.

This volume contains the proceedings of a meeting held by the American section of the International Society for Heart Research, held in New Orleans in 1982.

The different forms of myocardial injury are described and this is followed by an account of the propagation mechanisms in normal and injured myocardium, the adre- nergic and cholinergic receptors, properties of isolated myocardial cells and cell cultures.

Myocardial injury can be caused by ischaemia, immu- nological attack, toxic injuries and free radicals.

There are 34 papers presented in this volume, and they provide a widespread analysis of the problems associated with myocardial injury, that will be useful to both physi- cians and research scientists.

Advances in Myocardiology Edited by E. Chazov, C. Smir- nov and N. Dhalla. Volume 3. 656 pp. 1982. Plenum Press, New York. US$69.50.

This volume is derived and extended from the Pro- ceedings of the 10th Congress of the International Society for Heart Research held in Moscow in September 1980.

It provides a comprehensive survey of the physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry of the heart. There are 25 papers presented and they consider the mechanism of contraction of heart muscle, the role of calcium and calm- odulin on contraction, the effects of cAMP, catecholamines, cholinergics, on heart muscle. There is a detailed section of 34 papers on the biochemistry of cardiac membranes and metabolism that describe energy production and utilisation, cation transport, and the regulation of metabolism.

The volume is well printed and has the majority of the leading research workers in the field presenting well bal- anced summaries of their own and other groups' research work. This Volume together with Volume 4 provide a very good account of the state of the subject.

Advances in Myocardiology--Edited by E. Chazov, V. Saks and G. Rona. Volume 4. 648 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. US$69.50.

This volume is derived and extended from the Pro- ceedings of the 10th Congress of the International Society for Heart Research held in Moscow in September 1980.

The first section deals with the pathophysiology of heart hypertrophy and failure. The second section deals with

cardiac hypoxia, ischaemia and infarction. The con- tributions are well written, each preceded by a short abstract and followed by a detailed bibliography with full titles of all the quoted papers. The book is properly printed (NOT from camera ready copy) which makes it much easier to read. There are many interesting papers in this volume. To quote from just one "'The adaptation of the organism during long lasting survival with a total artificial heart" by Vasku et al. from Czechoslovakia, reports on the results of total heart replacement on 50 calves. The last animal survived 150 days. The mean survival time of the last five animals was 116 days. The heart was a polymethylmethacrylate pump driven by pressure. Full details are given of the experimental pro- cedure. Other papers describe the biochemistry and the pharmacology of normal and ischaemic hearts.

The volume as a whole provides a good link between basic research and the practical cardiology.

Cellular Biology of the Lung--Edited by G. Cumming and G. Bonsignore. 488 pp. 1982. Plenum Press, New York. US$57.50.

This volume contains the Proceedings of the Fifth School of Thoracic Medicine, held in Sicily, 1981.

The papers given in this symposium were as follows. Innervation of bronchial mucosa: Cell division and differentiation in bronchial epithelium: Cilia: Lavage eosinophils and histamine: Neutrophils and Esosinophils in IgE dependent allergic tissue reactions: Inflammatory and immune responses in the interstitial lung disorders: Devel- opment of lung cancer: The pleura, mesothelial cells and mesothelium: Activated mononuclear cells: Lung mu- cociliary transport in man: Bronchus associated lymphoid tissue: Pulmonary emphysema: Anti proteases: Macro- phages and the turn over of connective tissue in the lung: Elastin and structural glycoproteins in normal and patholo- gical lung: Collagen in normal lung and during pulmonary fibrosis: Interstitial cell diseases of the lung: Prostaglandins and the lung: Pulmonary endothelial cell and the myofibroblast: Metabolic aspects of the pulmonary endo- thelium: Feyrter cells: Legionnaires and viral pnemumonias: Natural history of bronchial carcinoma: Induction of cancer by chemicals: Microsomal NADPH oxidation system in lung cancer: Inborn susceptibility/resistance to lung cancer. There are a series of discussions associated with the papers.

The Lung in its Environmen~Edited by G. Bonsignore and G. Cumming. 518 pp. 1982. Plenum Press, New York. US$62.50.

This is the published Proceedings of a meeting held in Sicily. The topics discussed in this volume are: Pre- and postnatal growth of the human lung: Protective mechanisms of the regulatory tract: Alveolar clearance and lung lym- phatics: Normal structure of bronchial epithelium: Function of respiratory tract cilia: Defensive mechanisms of the upper airways: Afferent activity and reflex effects evoked from the tracheo-bronchial tree: Mineralogical and biochemical anal- ysis of lung washing fluid from patients exposed to asbestos: Immunology and the lung: Clinical aspects of Type II immunity: Maps of pulmonary risks: Particulates in the atmosphere and their intrapulmonary deposition: Bronchial hyperreactivity: Occupational respiratory diseases: Air-Blood barrier: Irritation on the structure of Bronchial epithelium: Interaction between mineral fibres and pul- monary cells: Effect of acceleration and weightlessness on lung mechanics: Effect of pressure on the lungs: Water vapour handling in the airways: Pollution in confined environments. Drug induced hypersensitivity and paraquat: Metabolism of chemicals by the lung: Lung at high altitude: Pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos and silica: Respiratory