Camp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. 94A, No. I, pp. 179-180, 1989 Pergamon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain

BOOK REVIEWS

Ascaris and its Prevention and Control-Edited by D. W. T. Crompton, M. C. Nesheim and Z. S. Pawlowski. 406 pp. 1989. Taylor and Francis. London. E35,

It is estimated that there are a thousand million cases of Ascaris in humans. In some countries, the incidence can be as high as 40% with young children between the ages of 612 having 90% incidence. There are an estimated 20,000 deaths a year from Ascaris. This book deals with different aspects of Ascaris; its biology, morbidity, role in human nutrition, prevalence throughout the world, chemotherapy, sanitation. This book provides a timely reminder that infection with nematodes is still a serious underestimated problem that affects both the third world and more developed countries. The treatments and cure are already available.

Parasitology: the Biology of Animal Parasites-By Elmer R. Noble, Glenn A. Noble, Gerhard A. Schad and Austin J. Machutes. 6th Edition. 574 pp. 1989. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. $34.50 (paperback).

This 6th edition has two additional authors, and the book has been revised and brought up to date with more biochem- istry, physiology, immunology and ecology of the parasites. Each of the major animal Phyla have the life cycles and ecology of the parasitic genera described in detail. There are also important general chapters on the ecology of parasites; their distribution and bigeography; parasite host specificity; and the evolution of parasitism. The chapters are well illustrated and there are detailed bibliographies. The new edition will be one of the first choices amongst textbooks on parasitology.

Modem Physical Methods in Blocbemistry-Edited by A. Neuberger and L. L. M. van Deenen. 308 pp. 1988. Elsevier, Amsterdam. $94.25. New Comprehensive Biochemistry, Volume I I B.

Volume 1 IA contained chapters on protein crystallography, NMR spectroscopy, ESR, mass spectroscopy, circular dichroism and optical rotational dispersion. This volume (11 B) contains chapters on fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman and resonance Raman spectroscopy, rapid reaction methods, HPLC of nucleic acids, reversed phase HPLC of peptides and proteins, X-ray and neutron scattering, and electron microscopy. in generaf, the chapters are more concerned with the theories behind the methods and how this can be applied to get good practical results. The volume is not a practical manual for the uninitiated,

Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, Volume 2-Edited by F. Eckstein and D. M. J. Lilley. 219 pp, 1988. Springer, Berlin. DM 148.

This volume contains reviews on: laser Raman spectroscopy of nucleic acids (NA); non commensurate poly purine/polypyrimidine DNA structures; sequence specific recognition of double helical DNA; metal complexes that target DNA sites; Bleomycin-mediated DNA cleavage; a new family of sequence specific NA reagents; efficiency of oligonucleotide directed mutagenesis; protein induced DNA bending; Zinc fingers-NA binding; NMR studies on repres-

sor-operator interaction-the Lac control region; DNA repair by Ada protein of E. c&i; homologous pairing promoted by Ustilago Ret I protein; differential interac- tions for receptors for glucocorticoids and progestins with the hormone regulatory element of MMTV.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography in Endocrin- ology-Edited by H. L. J. Makin and R. Newton. 262 pp. 1988. Springer, Berlin. DM 198.

This volume provides practical details to allow the reader to use HPLC systems for the isolation and separation of: catecholamines and their metabolites in biological material; neuropeptides; endogenous opioids; Vitamin D; prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes; gastro-in- testinal hormones; and steroid hormones. There are in- troductory chapters on the theory and practice of HPLC, and also on the use of mass spectrometry as a detector system. The chapters are well illustrated and each has a detailed bibliography.

Interferon and Nonviral PathogensEdited by G. L. Byrne and J. Turco. 317 pp. 1988. Marcel Dekker, New York. $99.75 (USA and Canada); $119.50 (elsewhere).

In the body there is interplay between the three types of interferons (alpha, beta and gamma) with interleukin-I and other cytokines on host cells and parasites. This volume summarises the induction and mechanism of action of the interferons and their role in the treatment of Chlamydiae, Ricketttsia, Toxoplasma, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Legionella, Listeria, and Mycobacteria. The interferons play a role in maintaining I~phokine producing T cells, and help in the recruitment and activation of macrophages. Interferons play an important role in generat- ing antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antifungal activity, as well as antiviral activity, by the host.

Recent Advances in Receptor Chemistry-Edited by C. Melchiorre and M. Giannella. 333 pp. 1988. Elsevier, Amsterdam. $123.75.

This symposium volume contains useful reviews on bioassay; receptor regulation; subclasses of adrenergic receptors; calcium antagonists; subclasses of muscarinic receptors; three types of histamine receptors; nonpeptide delta opioid receptor antagonists; and the receptor approach to drug design. With increased knowledge and understanding of organ receptor heterogeneity and speciflc- ity it is becoming possible to design drugs to work on one local type of receptor and hence achieve pharmacological and physiological targeting onto specific cells in the required tissue or organ.

The Cholinergic Synapse--Edited by V. P. Whittaker. 762 pp. 1988. Springer, Berlin. DM 680. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, Volume 86.

Previous related volumes in this series were Volume 15 (1963) on ChE and AntiChE agents, Volume 42 (1976) on the Neuromuscular junction and Volume 53 (1980) on Pha~acology of ganglionic transmission. The present volume deals with an overview of cholinergic (C) systems;

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