Microprobe analysis in medicine
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Camp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. 9lA, No. 4, pp. 621-622, 1990 Pergamon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain BOOK REVIEWS Chambers Biology Dictionary-Edited by P. C. M. B. WALKER. 324~~. 1989. Chambers/Cambridge University Press. Cloth $34.50. Paper $14.95. The book defines 10,000 terms and has many entries on molecular biology, genetics, immunology, ecology, radi- ology and statistics. There are over a hundred longer explanations taking a page or half a page; these include items on AIDS; active transport; assimilation; through to tetanus toxin; thymus. These help the volume become more like a concise encyclopedia. Mechanisms of Cooperativity and AUosteric Regulation in Proteins-By M. PERUTZ. 101~~. 1990. Cambridge Univer- sity Press. Paper $17.95. This is a reprint of a review published in the Quarterly Reviews ofBiophysics in 1989. It reviews: the spin state and coordination of iron in haem; haemocyanin; haemerythrin; glycogen phosphorylase; phosphofructokinase; aspartate transcarbamylase; glutamine synthetase; trp and met repres- sors; immunoglobulins; allosteric membrane proteins. It is beautifully written and well illustrated and shows how protein structure and function are intrinsically linked together. Lectins-By N. SHARON and H. LIS. 127~~. 1989. Chapman and Hall, London. $51. Lectins are a group of proteins that bind to carbohydrates and can agglutinate cells or precipitate polysaccharides and glycoproteins. These agglutinating and precipitating proper- ties are very similar to those of antibodies. Lectins are not of immune origin and are found in most forms from viruses, bacteria, plants and animals. This book deals with lectin history; occurrence and isolation; biological activities, carbohydrate specificity; molecular properties; three dimen- sional structures; biosynthesis; applications; lectin resistant cells; functions in nature. Fundamentals of Enzymology, 2nd edition-By N. C. PRICE and L. STEVENS. 526~~. 1989. Oxford University Press. f45 paper f17.50. The second edition has been brought up to date and includes the use of recombinant DNA techniques applied to the production of enzymes, indirect determination of amino acid sequences, analysis of enzyme structure and function using site directed mutagenesis, and the application of purified enzymes in clinical analysis. Yeast Technology-Edited by J. F. T. SPENCER and D. M. SPENCER. 407~~. 1990. Springer. DM 198. Yeasts (Y) contribute greatly to human contentment, providing the chemical reactions for bread, beer and wine. In addition they were the source of the first enzymes and have been the basis for much biochemistry. This volume deals with; high cell density fermentation; Y strains for baking; brewing and distilling Y; grape must fermentation; food spoilage Y; Y in cheesemaking; calorimetry for Y fermentation monitoring and control; industrial uses of Y in Brazil [alcohol production]; protoplast fusion application to Y; mutagenesis; heterogeneous protein production by Y. Comparative Biochemistry of Parasitic Helminths-Edited by E.-M. BENNET, C. BEHM and C. BRYANT. 180~~. 1989. Chapman and Hall, London, $65. The topics in this volume include; anaerobic mitochondrial respiration in Ascaris suum; role of 5HT in glucose transport intermediary carbohydrate metabolism and helminth neuro- biology; functions of catecholamines and 5HT; significance of succinate-ubiquinone reductase; oxygen and the lower metazoa; carbohydrate and energy metabolism in adult schistosomes; C-13 NMR to study helminth metabolism; detoxification reactions; antiparasitic efficacy; molecular biology of drug resistance; biochemical effects on the host tissues. Experimental Design in Biotechnology-Edited by P. D. HALAND. 259~~. 1989. Marcel Dekker. New York. $89.75 (USA & Canada) $107.50 elsewhere. This book is written to help research workers design the minimal number of experiments to solve a specific problem. The chapters are: statistical problem solving; optimization of in uiuo production of monoclonal antibodies; clear signal design; separating signals from noise; selecting experimental design; transformations; mixed level design; strategies for experimenters; case history, stability of microbead based immuno assay; design digest. It should help the reader in the use of statistics in analysing experimental results. Microprobe Analysis in Medicine-Edited by P. INGRAM, J. D. SHELBURNE and V. I. RCGGLI. 352~~. 1989. Hemi- sphere/Taylor and Francis, New York. f57. Microprobe X-ray analysis can be used to analyse asbestos and other minerals in lung tissue; urinary stones; materials in cystic fibrosis; hepatic metal overload; disorders of muscle; inner ear pathology; ophthalmic pathology; ionic contents of cells and tissues. A more recent development is laser and ion microprobe mass spectrometry. These tech- niques and their resultrs are described in this book. Biochemistry-By C. K. MATTHEWS and K. E. VAN HOLDE. 1129~~. 1990. Benjamin/Cummings. CA, $54.95. This textbook is well written, well produced and has excel- lent clear colour illustrations and diagrams. All the major parts of biochemistry are dealt with in a logical manner. There are also sections on the “tools of biochemistry” indicating the methods used to obtain the results described in the preceding chapter. There are also questions at the end of the chapters, with the answers given at the end of the book. Buy a copy and see how you and your students like it. Raynaud’s Phenomenon-By J. D. COFFMAN. 186~~. 1989. Oxford University Press, New York. $35. Raynaud’s phenomenon (R) is the occurrence of episodic attacks of well demarcated blanching or cyanosis of one or more digits on exposure to cold. Primary R affects one in six young women. Secondary R can be associated with rheumatology, oncology, nephrology, hematology, cardiol- ogy, endocrinology, neurology and dermatology. The book deals with the anatomy and physiology of finger circulation;
Transcript of Microprobe analysis in medicine
Camp. Biochem. Physiol. Vol. 9lA, No. 4, pp. 621-622, 1990 Pergamon Press pk. Printed in Great Britain
BOOK REVIEWS
Chambers Biology Dictionary-Edited by P. C. M. B. WALKER. 324~~. 1989. Chambers/Cambridge University Press. Cloth $34.50. Paper $14.95.
The book defines 10,000 terms and has many entries on molecular biology, genetics, immunology, ecology, radi- ology and statistics. There are over a hundred longer explanations taking a page or half a page; these include items on AIDS; active transport; assimilation; through to tetanus toxin; thymus. These help the volume become more like a concise encyclopedia.
Mechanisms of Cooperativity and AUosteric Regulation in Proteins-By M. PERUTZ. 101~~. 1990. Cambridge Univer- sity Press. Paper $17.95.
This is a reprint of a review published in the Quarterly Reviews ofBiophysics in 1989. It reviews: the spin state and coordination of iron in haem; haemocyanin; haemerythrin; glycogen phosphorylase; phosphofructokinase; aspartate transcarbamylase; glutamine synthetase; trp and met repres- sors; immunoglobulins; allosteric membrane proteins. It is beautifully written and well illustrated and shows how protein structure and function are intrinsically linked together.
Lectins-By N. SHARON and H. LIS. 127~~. 1989. Chapman and Hall, London. $51.
Lectins are a group of proteins that bind to carbohydrates and can agglutinate cells or precipitate polysaccharides and glycoproteins. These agglutinating and precipitating proper- ties are very similar to those of antibodies. Lectins are not of immune origin and are found in most forms from viruses, bacteria, plants and animals. This book deals with lectin history; occurrence and isolation; biological activities, carbohydrate specificity; molecular properties; three dimen- sional structures; biosynthesis; applications; lectin resistant cells; functions in nature.
Fundamentals of Enzymology, 2nd edition-By N. C. PRICE and L. STEVENS. 526~~. 1989. Oxford University Press. f45 paper f17.50.
The second edition has been brought up to date and includes the use of recombinant DNA techniques applied to the production of enzymes, indirect determination of amino acid sequences, analysis of enzyme structure and function using site directed mutagenesis, and the application of purified enzymes in clinical analysis.
Yeast Technology-Edited by J. F. T. SPENCER and D. M. SPENCER. 407~~. 1990. Springer. DM 198.
Yeasts (Y) contribute greatly to human contentment, providing the chemical reactions for bread, beer and wine. In addition they were the source of the first enzymes and have been the basis for much biochemistry. This volume deals with; high cell density fermentation; Y strains for baking; brewing and distilling Y; grape must fermentation; food spoilage Y; Y in cheesemaking; calorimetry for Y fermentation monitoring and control; industrial uses of Y in Brazil [alcohol production]; protoplast fusion application to Y; mutagenesis; heterogeneous protein production by Y.
Comparative Biochemistry of Parasitic Helminths-Edited by E.-M. BENNET, C. BEHM and C. BRYANT. 180~~. 1989. Chapman and Hall, London, $65.
The topics in this volume include; anaerobic mitochondrial respiration in Ascaris suum; role of 5HT in glucose transport intermediary carbohydrate metabolism and helminth neuro- biology; functions of catecholamines and 5HT; significance of succinate-ubiquinone reductase; oxygen and the lower metazoa; carbohydrate and energy metabolism in adult schistosomes; C-13 NMR to study helminth metabolism; detoxification reactions; antiparasitic efficacy; molecular biology of drug resistance; biochemical effects on the host tissues.
Experimental Design in Biotechnology-Edited by P. D. HALAND. 259~~. 1989. Marcel Dekker. New York. $89.75 (USA & Canada) $107.50 elsewhere.
This book is written to help research workers design the minimal number of experiments to solve a specific problem. The chapters are: statistical problem solving; optimization of in uiuo production of monoclonal antibodies; clear signal design; separating signals from noise; selecting experimental design; transformations; mixed level design; strategies for experimenters; case history, stability of microbead based immuno assay; design digest. It should help the reader in the use of statistics in analysing experimental results.
Microprobe Analysis in Medicine-Edited by P. INGRAM, J. D. SHELBURNE and V. I. RCGGLI. 352~~. 1989. Hemi- sphere/Taylor and Francis, New York. f57.
Microprobe X-ray analysis can be used to analyse asbestos and other minerals in lung tissue; urinary stones; materials in cystic fibrosis; hepatic metal overload; disorders of muscle; inner ear pathology; ophthalmic pathology; ionic contents of cells and tissues. A more recent development is laser and ion microprobe mass spectrometry. These tech- niques and their resultrs are described in this book.
Biochemistry-By C. K. MATTHEWS and K. E. VAN HOLDE. 1129~~. 1990. Benjamin/Cummings. CA, $54.95.
This textbook is well written, well produced and has excel- lent clear colour illustrations and diagrams. All the major parts of biochemistry are dealt with in a logical manner. There are also sections on the “tools of biochemistry” indicating the methods used to obtain the results described in the preceding chapter. There are also questions at the end of the chapters, with the answers given at the end of the book. Buy a copy and see how you and your students like it.
Raynaud’s Phenomenon-By J. D. COFFMAN. 186~~. 1989. Oxford University Press, New York. $35.
Raynaud’s phenomenon (R) is the occurrence of episodic attacks of well demarcated blanching or cyanosis of one or more digits on exposure to cold. Primary R affects one in six young women. Secondary R can be associated with rheumatology, oncology, nephrology, hematology, cardiol- ogy, endocrinology, neurology and dermatology. The book deals with the anatomy and physiology of finger circulation;
