In July 1978 a group met in Aberdeen to discuss the whole range of new proteins recently isolated from the human placenta. With the exception of Yuri Tatarinov all the main pioneers in the field were present, and this book arose from the discussions which took place. Each author was asked to bring a written man uscript corresponding to but not necessarily identical with their verbal presentation. Nobody was given a specified remit, for the reason that the subject is so new that it would be...

The aim of this book is to provide a straightforward summary of the knowledge required for preliminary examinations in specialist obstetrics and gynaecology; the first part of the examination for Membership of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists would be a good example. Thus the field covered is that of the basic sciences (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, etc.) as applied to human reproduction. Most examinations of this type are based on mUltiple choice questions (MCQ)....

Biochemical tests of fetal well-being ('placental function tests') have been part of routine obstetric practice for more than twenty years. This book provides an overview of the current status of these tests - the physiological basis for their use, and their advantages and limitations in clinical practice. Considerable attention is given to interpretation, a subject which in the past has led to much confusion both in the scientific literature and in the minds of clinicians. Recent advances...

A simple introduction explaining the broad principles underlying chemotherapy, this book gives trainees a framework within which they can place the specific aspects of cancer chemotherapy they encounter in their everyday experience. The first part of this book is unique in explaining the recent developments in the field in terms of their point of action in the natural history of cancer. The second and third sections contain a more straightforward description of practical aspects of chemoth...

Corynebacterium diphtheriae is the classical etiological agent of diphtheria and the type strain of the genus Corynebacterium. While diphtheria of the respiratory tract became rare with the introduction of vaccination programs in industrialized countries, even today several thousand cases per year are reported to the World Health Organization. This shows that diphtheria is not completely eradicated and that reservoirs exist. The book summarizes the latest advances made in...

Cytochemical Bioassays: Techniques and Clinical Applications describes the techniques and clinical applications of cytochemical bioassays, particularly with respect to polypeptide hormones. This book discusses the clinical and research implications of studies that use these techniques. This text is comprised of 14 chapters; the first of which introduces the reader to the origins and general principles of cytochemical bioassays, along with their advantages. This discussion is followed by a ...

The induction of immune responses against tumor cells by vaccination is rapidly evolving as a therapeutic modality with new potentials for the treatment of cancer. It is based on the fact that our immune system can identify tumor cells and, once activated, is capable of developing specific immunity against the neoplastic cells. Numerous observations and intense research clearly document the major contribution of the immune system to the prevention of cancer. And there are many re ports of ...

Current knowledge relevant to the understanding of thyroid autoimmunity is summarized in this book. Some of the world's leading scientists in this field review recent data from four subject areas: immunogenetics, thyroid peroxidase as an antigen, environmental factors, and cytokines. Much ongoing and as yet unpublished work is described, especially in the discussion included after each article. This information is of particular interest since the body of knowledge in these fields is growin...

This symposium is devoted to Biotechnology in Blood Transfusion; there are 22 experts discussing the state of the art in the application of monoclonal anti bodies, recombinant DNA technologies and heterologous expression systems to the improvement and sometimes replacement of blood products, charac terization of blood constituents, and the effect of these developments on blood transfusion procedures. Ten and maybe five years ago the title of a symposium such as this would have been Bioscie...

Gene therapy for inflammatory diseases is a new , burgeoning field of medicine. Edited by the undisputed pioneers of this area of research, this volume is the first devoted to its topic. It contains thirteen chapters, each written by leaders in their respective fields, that summarize the state of the art in developing novel, gene based treatments for inflammatory diseases. As well as providing an introduction to the basic concepts of gene therapy and the use of naked DNA approaches, the bo...

Autoimmunity is the most common cause of endocrine disorders. This volume provides an up-to-date summary of recent advances in this important field. In addition, it describes developments in our understanding of conditions such as vitiligo and pernicious anaemia which are frequently associated with autoimmune endocrinopathies. There is a detailed review of animal models of endocrine disease which have contributed greatly to current knowledge. Furthermore, the aetiology, pathogenesis and tr...