202 Book reviews

The 32 chapters are arranged in five sections. (1) Protein structure and function. (2) Carbohydrate metabolism and the generation of chemical energy. (3) Lipids and mem- branes. (4) Nucleic acids and protein metabolism. (5) Special aspects of biochemistry. The last section includes chapters on bacteriophage lambda, animal viruses, hormone action, neurotransmission, vision and light reactions, and origins of life.

The chapters include “Selected readings” (bibliography), to important books and articles that the reader can follow up, and “Problems” to indicate to the reader the lines that he should have thoueht about whilst studvina the text. and

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 pneumonias: 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.

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to which he should know the answers. There is an index of 26 pages, triple column.

The lung in its environment-edited by G. BONUGNORE and

The authors and publishers are to be congratulated on the G. GUMMING. 518 pp. 1982. Plenum Press, New York.

production of an up-to-date, high standard textbook, that $62.50.

is easy to read, full of interesting information, and that will surely stimulate many thousands of students to become

This is the published proceedings of a meeting held in Sicily.

professional biochemists. Those who wish to know more The topics discussed in this volume are: Pre- and post-natal

about modern biochemistry or are already professional growth of the human lung: Protective mechanisms of the

biochemists will also benefit from the purchase of this regulatory tract: Alveolar clearance and lung lymphatics:

volume. Normal structure of bronchial epithelium: Function of respiratory tract cilia: Defensive mechanisms of the uooer

Kinins III-edited by HANS FRITZ, NATHAN BACK, GUN- airways: Afferent activity and reflex effects evoked from the

THER DIETZ and GERT L. HABERLAND. Advances in Experi- trachea-bronchial tree: Mineralogical and biochemical anal-

mental Medicine and Biology, Vols 156A and 156B. 1222 ysis of lung washing fluid from patients exposed to asbestos:

pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. $145. Immunology and the lung: Clinical aspects of Type II immunity: Maps of pulmonary risks: Particulates in the

These two volumes contain the major lectures given at the atmosphkre and their intrapulm&ary deposition: Bronchial

1981 Munich Conference on Kalikreins. The kallikreins, hyperreactivity: Occupational respiratory diseases:

kallikrein inhibitors, kinins, kininogens and kinases are Air-blood barrier: irritation on the structure of bronchial

referred to as the KKKK systems and they play a part in epithelium: Interaction between mineral fibres and pul-

blood coagulation, decrease blood pressure, increase heart monary cells: Effect of acceleration and weightlessness on

frequency and blood flow, vasodilation of peripheral vessels lung mechanics: Effect of pressure on the lungs: Water

(coronary arteries, brain capillaries), contraction of smooth vapour handling in the airways: Pollution in confined

muscles (ileum, uterus, bronchi), inflammation (flush and environments: Drug induced hypersensitivity and Paraquat:

pain). Metabolism of chemicals by the lung: Lung at high altitude:

Plasma prokallikrein is structurally related to factor XI Pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos and silica: Respiratory

and is activated by active Hageman factor. Several plasma diseases in farmers: Injury by isocyanates: Detection of

proteinase inhibitors are also inhibitors of plasma kallikrein. circulating immune complexes in atopic patients.

Tissue kallikreins may play a role in vascular tone, The papers are followed by discussions between the

salivary secretion, membrane permeability, resorption of participants of the meeting.

amino &ids and carbohydrates;and increase glucose uptake into cells. They have a close similarity to the arginine esterases of growth factor. Kinase II is identical to angio- tensin converting enzyme. The homeostatic regulation of the kidney may be a balance between the kinins which lower blood pressure, increase blood flow, and sodium and water excretion, and the renin-angiotensin system which increases blood pressure, decreases blood flow, and sodium and water excretion.

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

Cellular biology of the lung-dited by G. CUMMINC and G. BONSIGNORE. 488 pp. 1982. Plenum Press, New York. $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 eo-

Myocardial injury--edited by JOHN J. SPITZER. Advances in Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 161. 612 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. $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, Vol. 3--edited by E. CHAZOV, V. SMIRNOV and N. DHALLA. 656 pp. 1982. Plenum Press, New York. $69.50.

sinophils and histamine: Neutrophils and eosinophils in This volume is derived and extended from the Proceedings IgE dependent allergic tissue reactions. Inflammatory and of the 10th Congress of the International Society for Heart immune responses in the interstitial lung disorders: Devel- Research held in Moscow in September 1980. opment of lung cancer: The pleura, mesothelial cells and It provides a comprehensive survey of the physiology, mesothelium: Activated mononuclear cells: Lung mu- pharmacology and biochemistry of the heart. There are 25 cociliary transport in man: Bronchus associated lymphoid papers presented and they consider the mechanism of tissue: Pulmonary emphysema: Anti proteases: Macro- contraction of heart muscle, the role of calcium and calm-