, . 185: 226–227 (1998)

CCC 0123–3417/98/060212–07 $17.50? 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

BOOK REVIEWS

Ultrastructural Pathology of the Cell and Matrix.4th edn. Vols 1 and 2. F. N. G. Butterworth-

Heinemann, Boston, 1997. No. of pages: 1414.

It is over 20 years since the first edition of this book firstappeared. Each edition since then, including this one, has beenrevised and expanded with the inclusion of new illustrationsand text representing additional ultrastructural features andphenomena which have occurred as a consequence of diseaseor experimental procedure. This double volume edition hasbeen increased by about 200 pages to include 21 new sections,while the total number of illustrations has been increased by127 to 1351 with over 6200 references, approximately 400 morethan before.

As you might expect, this is a superb atlas. Anyone unfa-miliar with this book and reading it for the first time willundoubtedly be struck by the immense amount of interpret-ative information. It is a unique reference source for thespecialist and non-specialist in ultrastructural pathology who,when confronted with an unfamiliar image or morphologicalalteration in cell ultrastructure, requires explanation and guid-ance. The publishers, contributors, and author deserve thehighest praise for the exceptional quality and uniformity of theillustrations. Whether diagnostic clue or intriguing curiosity,the definitive text provides a succinct discussion and interpret-ation on each of the illustrated features.

It is difficult to be critical of any book that is in its fourthedition. Not everyone will necessarily agree with all that iswritten or point to the endless citations of 20 to 30-year-oldpapers, but that is to overlook the essential nature of a bookwhich continues to be an invaluable companion to all thoseengaged in biological electron microscopy.

Finally, to end on an ecological point, perhaps the time hasnow come for an electronic version of books such as this tobecome the standard issue.

C. H. S. CRoyal Hospitals Trust

Belfast

Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Nervous System.P K and W K. C (Eds). International

Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, 1997. No. of pages:255.

In an innovative venture, the International Society ofNeuropatholgoy and the International Agency for Researchon Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization havejointly sponsored this remarkable book on the pathology andgenetics of tumours of the nervous system, comprising some 16chapters written by 72 of the world’s experts on neuro-oncology. This new book has already created a ‘buzz’ by itsphilosophy (mission statement), content, and format. Therehad been rumours of it within neuropathological circles andthe book first appeared at the 13th International Congressof Neuropathology in September 1997 in Perth, WesternAustralia. Such was its popularity that copies were no longeravailable soon after it went on display.

A certain amount of folklore has arisen around this book. Itis said (so I am informed by a reliable source) that such was thedrive and energy to compile and finish it in order to make itavailable for the congress in Perth, that the whole project wascompleted within a 3-month period. Quite how this was

Nitric Oxide in Health and Disease.J. L, C. H. V. H and G. B (eds).

Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1997.

This book is part of a series called ‘Biomedical ResearchTopics’. This new series provides an introduction to theoreticaland practical aspects of some growing areas of biomedicalresearch. It is intended that each volume will provide aframework for understanding the scientific principles of aparticular area of research but will also include practicaldetails of laboratory techniques and protocols. This integratedapproach is interesting.

The field of nitric oxide has received unprecedented inter-est. In spite of an immense number of papers, volumes,chapters, books, and a large body of research dedicated todetermining the physiological and pathophysiological roles ofnitric oxide, many areas still remain to be explored. Thisvolume reviews the immediate effects of nitric oxide as aphenotypic messenger in the central nervous, peripheral nerv-ous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. Certain otherareas where there is particular interest relating to nitric oxideare not covered in this volume, including the large body ofevidence demonstrating its distribution in the lung, gut,genitourinary, and reproductive system, and involvement indiseases of these systems. Interestingly, the book provides apractical introduction to procedures and provides experimen-tal protocols necessary if one wants to work on nitric oxideor the synthesizing enzymes. One of the major advantages ofthis book is that it is written by three co-authors but avoidsthe heterogeneous approach seen many times in multiple-author books. The book is organized in several sections inorder to examine research into the biology of nitric oxidefrom different perspectives. One of the growing areas ofnitric oxide research is that of interactions with otherregulators and this is well covered in the present volume.

The book is divided into four sections. Section One dealswith the basic principles and recent advances and coverswhat is known so far on nitric oxide in the central andperipheral nervous systems and the immune system. Unfortu-nately, the expression of nitric oxide in the epithelium, forexample in the lung and gut, is not covered. Section Twodeals with the pathological involvement of nitric oxide.Again, this is very well covered for immune, inflammatory,cardiovascular disorders, and the central and peripheral nerv-ous system. In particular, I like the summary and futuredirection of this section but, again, the epithelial expressionof nitric oxide is not covered. Section Three deals withexperimental approaches, such as molecular biology, bio-chemistry, pharmacology, and microscopy. Interestingly, theinteractions between other regulators are well explored and,as I have said, this is a growing area of research. Finally,Section Four deals with protocols and techniques and makesthis book quite unique in terms of integrating what is knownand how it can be researched. The references are numerousand reasonably up to date.

In summary, this is a useful book that will allow thenon-initiated to get an almost comprehensive view of thefield.

J M. PProfessor of Endocrine Pathology

Royal Postgraduate Medical SchoolLondon