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Annual Review of Medicine
Pathology (1974), 6, pp. 297-302
BOOK REVIEWS Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, Volume 1, eds HARVEY S . ROSENBERG & ROBERT P. BOLANDE.1973. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago. 406 pp., illustrated. $27.50. This is the first of a new series of year books which are to be devoted to reviewing subjects in paediatric medicine in the form of short monographs by contributors well recognized in their particular field. Most branches of medicine have been served in this way long since and it is gratifying to find paediatric medicine now being catered for so ably. The volume contains ten reviews in all. Three are devoted to disorders of the kidney. One of these, Hereditary Disorders of the Kidney by Bernstein & Kissane, includes a discussion on both malformations and nephropathies and attempts, with reasonable success, to unravel some of the complexities which the authors say have been characterized as ‘a quagmire for the uninitiated’. A section by Bolande gives up-to-date coverage of an entity only recently defined, the congenital mesoblastic nephroma, as distinguished from Wilm’s tumour. Unfortunately the legends to Figs 9 and 10 on page 238 of this article have been reversed. A further contribution on renal disorders deals with the well recognized forms of childhood nephritis and is very well illustrated by electronmicrographs and photomicrographs of immunofluorescent studies. Chronic granulomatous disease, which is dependent for its development upon defects of the bactericidal activity of leucocytes, is placed in perspective by Lynch in an erudite discussion covering the whole of the phagocytic defence systems. This chapter includes mention of the various neutropenic syndromes and the delightfully named Lazy-Leucocyte syndrome. The chapter on tracheo-bronchial anomalies contains much information which is difficult to find elsewhere and the discussion on the results of intra-uterine rubella infection should prove of wide interest. The reviewer is not convinced that histiocytosis X can be separated into two types as suggested by Newton & Hamoudi. This volume should be well received by those associated with paediatric medicine, though its appeal may extend well beyond that group. If the volumes to follow maintain the high standard of this one, then a very real contribution will have been achieved. R. D. K. Reye Annual Review of Medicine, Volume 24, ed. W. P. CREGER. 1973. Annual Reviews Inc., California. 466 pp., illustrated. As13.40. The continuous proliferation of knowledge in all fields of medicine and the concomitant tendency, born of necessity, for individuals to cultivate a limited professional field has resulted in a number of periodical publications which synthesize up-to-date information. For the pathologist who wants to be in touch with contemporary medicine the Annual Review of Medicine
298
BOOK REVIEWS
Pathology (1974), 6, July
has once again presented its characteristic mixture in which 34 review articles cover aspects of every major field. Some of the subjects such as treatment of leukaemias and lymphomas, tests of platelet function, chromosome identification and enterotoxic diarrhoea are of direct interest to pathologists working in special fields. The greater number of the reviews, however, provide fascinating reading in subjects peripheral to the practice and experience of most pathologists but in which they may need to be informed. They are written by leaders in their respective fields and provide authoritative information and opinion. For example, Good & Fudenberg with their respective colleagues in separate chapters discuss different aspects and approaches to therapy in states of immunological deficiency. In particular, the 30-page monograph on Transfer Factor is recommended to students of this subject. Hinman’s chapter on urethrovesical dysfunction is particularly relevant in Australia, where urinary infection is such an important cause of morbidity. Other noteworthy reviews are those on viral myocarditis and on the mechanics of air flow particularly in relation to chronic airways obstruction, the last from De Graff & Bouhuys at Yale. A bonus in this issue is a 19-page review by W. L. Nyhan of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Here is the latest word on this gruesome but important malady. Like all the Annual Reviews, this edition has excellent bibliographies and a good index of authors and subjects. It should be in all departmental libraries for the refreshment of the old and the stimulation of the young. A. Tait Smith Methods in Inzmunodiagnosis, eds NOELR. ROSE& PIERLUIGI E. BIGAZZI. 1973. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 212 pp. A4612.95. This volume represents a synopsis of a WHO sponsored laboratory course held at the Centre for Immunology in Buffalo, U.S.A., the aim of which was to provide instruction in some of the more practical aspects of immunodiagnosis. Each section contains a concise outline of the basic principles involved in the various procedures followed by a detailed description of methodology including information on both preparation and sources of reagents. The latter is particularly helpful since details of this kind are so often vital to the laboratory worker setting up a test for the first time. The book is divided into 9 chapters covering a wide range of tests including precipitin and agglutinin reactions, complement determinations, immunohaematological procedures, methods involving labelled antigens and antibodies, leucocyte typing and methods for assessment of cell-mediated immunity. Individual tests are followed by a bibliography. In some instances (e.g. tests of cell-mediated immunity) alternative methods are outlined, providing a range of possibilities for the laboratory worker. Although some selection has been employed, the procedures described, as the editors point out, have general application in many spheres and in several instances are not well documented elsewhere. In addition, they are applicable both to the experimentalist and to the clinical scientist. As such, the book should appeal to a variety of workers including laboratory directors, technicians and clinicians in the fields of immunology, biochemistry and haematology. It represents a very worthwhile addition to one’s library.
A. Basten
BOOK REVIEWS Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, Volume 1, eds HARVEY S . ROSENBERG & ROBERT P. BOLANDE.1973. Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago. 406 pp., illustrated. $27.50. This is the first of a new series of year books which are to be devoted to reviewing subjects in paediatric medicine in the form of short monographs by contributors well recognized in their particular field. Most branches of medicine have been served in this way long since and it is gratifying to find paediatric medicine now being catered for so ably. The volume contains ten reviews in all. Three are devoted to disorders of the kidney. One of these, Hereditary Disorders of the Kidney by Bernstein & Kissane, includes a discussion on both malformations and nephropathies and attempts, with reasonable success, to unravel some of the complexities which the authors say have been characterized as ‘a quagmire for the uninitiated’. A section by Bolande gives up-to-date coverage of an entity only recently defined, the congenital mesoblastic nephroma, as distinguished from Wilm’s tumour. Unfortunately the legends to Figs 9 and 10 on page 238 of this article have been reversed. A further contribution on renal disorders deals with the well recognized forms of childhood nephritis and is very well illustrated by electronmicrographs and photomicrographs of immunofluorescent studies. Chronic granulomatous disease, which is dependent for its development upon defects of the bactericidal activity of leucocytes, is placed in perspective by Lynch in an erudite discussion covering the whole of the phagocytic defence systems. This chapter includes mention of the various neutropenic syndromes and the delightfully named Lazy-Leucocyte syndrome. The chapter on tracheo-bronchial anomalies contains much information which is difficult to find elsewhere and the discussion on the results of intra-uterine rubella infection should prove of wide interest. The reviewer is not convinced that histiocytosis X can be separated into two types as suggested by Newton & Hamoudi. This volume should be well received by those associated with paediatric medicine, though its appeal may extend well beyond that group. If the volumes to follow maintain the high standard of this one, then a very real contribution will have been achieved. R. D. K. Reye Annual Review of Medicine, Volume 24, ed. W. P. CREGER. 1973. Annual Reviews Inc., California. 466 pp., illustrated. As13.40. The continuous proliferation of knowledge in all fields of medicine and the concomitant tendency, born of necessity, for individuals to cultivate a limited professional field has resulted in a number of periodical publications which synthesize up-to-date information. For the pathologist who wants to be in touch with contemporary medicine the Annual Review of Medicine
298
BOOK REVIEWS
Pathology (1974), 6, July
has once again presented its characteristic mixture in which 34 review articles cover aspects of every major field. Some of the subjects such as treatment of leukaemias and lymphomas, tests of platelet function, chromosome identification and enterotoxic diarrhoea are of direct interest to pathologists working in special fields. The greater number of the reviews, however, provide fascinating reading in subjects peripheral to the practice and experience of most pathologists but in which they may need to be informed. They are written by leaders in their respective fields and provide authoritative information and opinion. For example, Good & Fudenberg with their respective colleagues in separate chapters discuss different aspects and approaches to therapy in states of immunological deficiency. In particular, the 30-page monograph on Transfer Factor is recommended to students of this subject. Hinman’s chapter on urethrovesical dysfunction is particularly relevant in Australia, where urinary infection is such an important cause of morbidity. Other noteworthy reviews are those on viral myocarditis and on the mechanics of air flow particularly in relation to chronic airways obstruction, the last from De Graff & Bouhuys at Yale. A bonus in this issue is a 19-page review by W. L. Nyhan of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Here is the latest word on this gruesome but important malady. Like all the Annual Reviews, this edition has excellent bibliographies and a good index of authors and subjects. It should be in all departmental libraries for the refreshment of the old and the stimulation of the young. A. Tait Smith Methods in Inzmunodiagnosis, eds NOELR. ROSE& PIERLUIGI E. BIGAZZI. 1973. Wiley-Interscience, New York. 212 pp. A4612.95. This volume represents a synopsis of a WHO sponsored laboratory course held at the Centre for Immunology in Buffalo, U.S.A., the aim of which was to provide instruction in some of the more practical aspects of immunodiagnosis. Each section contains a concise outline of the basic principles involved in the various procedures followed by a detailed description of methodology including information on both preparation and sources of reagents. The latter is particularly helpful since details of this kind are so often vital to the laboratory worker setting up a test for the first time. The book is divided into 9 chapters covering a wide range of tests including precipitin and agglutinin reactions, complement determinations, immunohaematological procedures, methods involving labelled antigens and antibodies, leucocyte typing and methods for assessment of cell-mediated immunity. Individual tests are followed by a bibliography. In some instances (e.g. tests of cell-mediated immunity) alternative methods are outlined, providing a range of possibilities for the laboratory worker. Although some selection has been employed, the procedures described, as the editors point out, have general application in many spheres and in several instances are not well documented elsewhere. In addition, they are applicable both to the experimentalist and to the clinical scientist. As such, the book should appeal to a variety of workers including laboratory directors, technicians and clinicians in the fields of immunology, biochemistry and haematology. It represents a very worthwhile addition to one’s library.
A. Basten