496 Book Reviews

Vol. 54. 298 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. $42.50. NATO Scientific Affairs Division.

This volume is the proceedings of a meeting held in Sicily in September 1981. There has recently been a explosive interest in the prostaglandins, leukotrienes and prostacyclin and this is reflected in the number of publications appearing.

The leukotrienes might function as mediators in immedi- ate hypersensitivity and in inflammation. LTB4 is a potent chemotactic agent and increases adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium in post-capillary venules. LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4 are broncho-constrictors and increase micro- vasculature permeability. They form the major constituents of the slow-reacting substances of anaphylaxis (SRS-A). The LTs are formed by the action of phospholipase A2 and C on a phospholipid-arachidonate d&or-present in the mem- branes. The LTs can be involved in contraction of smooth muscle. trachea and lung strip, duodenum and aorta, car- diac tissue, release of B glucuronidase and lysozyme. release of PGs and thromboxanes, pulmonary dynamics, cardio- vascular dynamics, microcirculation, excitation of cerebellar Purkinje neurons. Prostacyclin (PG12) stimulates renin secretion, inhibits platelet aggregation, reduces blood pres- sure, and vascular resistance. PGI2, unlike most PGs, escapes metabolism by the lungs (only 15% being metabo- lized) but it is metabolized by the liver and kidneys.

This volume presents an interesting series of papers but its value would have been improved if the editors had written a detailed summary chapter indicating to the more general reader what has happened to the subject since the last meeting. It is hoped that any future publications of these meetings will have this improvement.

Iron metabolism-by IVAN BERNAT. 41.5 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. $39.50.

Iron makes up .5$/;, of the earth’s crust, and is a key element as an oxido-reductant and as a former of complexes with organic compounds in the sideramines and sideromycins in bacteria, and the porphyrins in animals. Iron plays an important role in tissue respiration, oxidative phos- phorylation, collagen synthesis, function of lymphocytes and granulocytes, and tissue growth. Important biological compounds that contain iron are hemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochromes, peroxidase, tissue hemins, ferroflavoproteins, ferritin and transferrin.

The present volume, written by one author, provides an excellent account of the uptake, storage and elimination of iron in the body; its role in biochemistry, health and disease; and gives particular attention to the different types of anemias (thermal injury anemia, protein-deficient anemia, pernicious anemia, hemolytic anemia, refractory hypo- chromic anemias, radiation anemia). There are very good bibliographies at the end of each chapter (with full titles of the papers) and the general standard of production of the book is very high.

Heart perfusion, energetics and ~~~~~dited by L. DINTENFASS, D. G. JULIAN and G. V. F. SEAMAN. NATO AS1 Series A: Life Sciences Vol. 62. 706 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. NATO Scientific Affairs Division.

This is the proceedings of a meeting held in France July 1982. One of the purposes of the meeting was to relate clinical haemorheology to heart energetics and heart metab- olism and to try to overcome the differences in terminology and semantics. The main sections are as follows.

Multidisciplinary approach to heart failure, ischaemia and infarction; The heart as a pump-work output: Micro- circulation and myocardial perfusion; Ischaemia and in- farction; Myocardial metabolism; Thermodynamics and heat transfer; Conclusions and perspectives.

Forty million USA citizens suffer from heart disease and

750,000 die from it each year. Though considerable ad- vances have been made in education and preventive strate- gies, there are still many fundamental problems associated with the blood and circulation that are not yet understood or appreciated.

This volume discusses these problems and the different approaches that have been made to study them. It is very useful volume in that most of the contributors are concerned to be understood and to understand what other people are doing. The experiments are set in a wider perspective so that their significance can be appreciated.

Biomagnestism, an interdisciplinary approacbdited by S. J. WILLIAMSON, G.-L. ROMANI, L. KAUFMAN and I. MOD- ENA. NATO AS1 Series. A. Life Sciences Vol. 66. 706 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. $95. NATO Scientific Affairs Division.

This volume is based on the proceedings of a meeting held in Rome in September 1982.

The main sections are. Magnetic quantities, units, materi- als and measurements; Cryogenics; Squid sensors; Detection coils; Physical concepts and mathematical models; Electro- physiology of excitable cells; Cellular action currents; Car- diac studies; Steady fields of the body; Magnetic fields of the eye; Brain studies; Biogenic ferrimagnetism; Magneto- pneumo~aphy; Signal processing.

Two main developments have occurred. (1) Living sys- tems are now agreed in some cases to have their own magnetic detection systems, though how these work is not yet known. (2) Improved instrumentation and computer display allows better detection of magnetic fields associated with changes in function of the heart, lungs, brain and whole body. These methods are non-invasive and hold out a greater promise than measurements of potential or current changes for localizing complex source and sink systems.

The different authors of the chapters have written in a clear style so that the volume will prove to be a very useful introduction, text, and summary of the state of the art of measuring changing magnetic fields in living systems.

Hybridomas and cellular immortality--edited by B. H. TOM and J. P. ALLISON. 306 pp. 1983. Plenum Press, New York. $35.

The use of RNA containing Sendai virus to induce fusion between two cells, and the later inactivation of the RNA by UV light has proven to be a very powerful tool. The fusion of a rodent myeloma cell with an immune spleen cell produces an antibody-secreting hybrid and hence mono- clonal antibodies.

This volume is the product of a symposium held in Texas and there are 17 chapters under the main headings of Antibody diversity and lymphocyte differentiation; Mono- clonal antibodies as probes of antigen structure; Mono- clonal antibodies in diagnosis and therapy; New and rele- vant methodology. These are followed by 22 poster abstracts.

The production and use of monoclonal antibodies is one of the most active research areas of today. This volume presents the views of the subject up to 1981, but should still be very useful.

Pharmacology of alcohol-by DORA B. GOLDSTEIN. 179 pp. 1983. Oxford University Press, New York. $24.95.

90-95% of ethanol taken into the body is metabolized. Only S-IO% is excreted as ethanol. The intake of ethanol is usually of a greater magnitude than any other drug and as a result the liver’s metabolic functions are diverted whilst the liver deals with the alcohol. A good evening’s drinking could amount to 100 g of ethanol (6 large vodkas), equivalent to 2 moles. This will require 2 moles of NAD to oxidize the