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Antiviral Agents and Viral Diseases of Man
Mayo Clin Proc, July 1985, Vol 60
to the fasciculata. In contrast, in the opinion of these authors, salt-losing 21-hydroxylase deficiency results from enzyme deficiencies in both the fasciculata and the glomerulosa. A major chapter on the genetic aspects of 21-hydroxylase deficiency focuses on the relationships between the HLA gene complex and the gene for 2 1 hydroxylase deficiency. The authors, the first to observe many of the facets of these relationships, review the subject with considerable clarity and depth. This book is a lucid, well-referenced, and up-to-date review of several conceptual aspects of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It should be of value to endocrinologists who are interested in adrenal function and dysfunction. Donald Zimmerman, M.D. Department of Pediatrics
Antiviral Agents and Viral Diseases of Man, 2nd ed, edited by George J. Galasso, Thomas C. Merigan, and Robert A. Buchanan, 577 pp, with illus, $75, New York, Raven Press, 1984 The best features of this book are the excellence of the material, the generally concise presentation of the information, and the extensive lists of references. The major deficiency is inherent in the subject. Viral diseases and the appropriate diagnostic procedures and treatment for them are rapidly developing areas that are difficult to monitor in a book, but the authors have made a remarkable effort. The 22 contributors produce a fresh look at the viral-antiviral world. The logical organization of the book aids retrieval of information. The first five chapters address basic topics: "Fundamentals of Virus Structure and Replication," "Pathogenesis of Viral Infections," "Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacology: Chemical Agents," "Immune and Interferon Systems," and "Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections." The next six chapters deal with viral infections in specific organ systems: ocular, dermatologic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, central nervous, and intrauterine and perinatal. The last two chapters discuss varicella-zoster viral infections and current antiviral therapy. Chapter 1, on virus structure and replication, could have been improved by feedback from a first-year medical student and a clinician and scientist not working in the field of viral diseases. The diagrams are not completely labeled, and the text lacks clarity. For example, the reader has to search for the basic descriptions of the "six classes of viruses" according to the mode of dupli-
BOOK REVIEWS
497
cation of genetic material and the expression of genetic information. In contrast, various terms such as "abortive infection," "permissive and nonpermissive cells," "defective particles," and "defective interfering particles" are clearly defined. Chapter 2 presents an excel lent overview of the pathogenesis of viral infections. Likewise, a thorough review is available in "Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacology: Chemical Agents," but the material may be somewhat complex for medical students and most clinicians. In Chapter 4, immune and interferon systems are adequately discussed, but the details are notably irregular. For example, Table 2 lists almost an entire page of interferon inducers, whereas Figure 1 illustrates a very simplified scheme for the origin and function of cells involved in the immune response. The chapter on the laboratory diagnosis of viral infections includes a practical discussion of serologic, cultural, and direct examination of various specimens. In general, the chapters on viral infections of various body systems are of high quality. I highly recommend this book as a reference source for medical students, residents, and clinicians, and it is an important text for infectious disease specialists. It should be available in every medical library, and large medical centers should have several copies. Robert E. Van Scoy, M.D. Division of Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine
Clinical Radiology of the Liver (in 2 vols), edited by Hans Herlinger, Anders Lunderquist, and Sidney Wallace, 1,148 pp, with illus, $295, New York, Marcel Dekker, 1983 This large, two-volume, expensive, multiauthored text with liberal illustrations is devoted exclusively to radiology of the liver. A book so large, written by knowledgeable specialists, should present a large amount of useful information—and indeed it does, especially in the segments that deal with angiography. Unfortunately, these volumes seem to be a collection of papers and monographs that have been bound together rather than a book. The chapters read well individually, but when the book is read in its entirety, the redundancy is notable and irritating. Because no effort has been made to unify or integrate the subject matter into a readable, digestible whole, the reader has an overall impression of fragmentation and repetition.
to the fasciculata. In contrast, in the opinion of these authors, salt-losing 21-hydroxylase deficiency results from enzyme deficiencies in both the fasciculata and the glomerulosa. A major chapter on the genetic aspects of 21-hydroxylase deficiency focuses on the relationships between the HLA gene complex and the gene for 2 1 hydroxylase deficiency. The authors, the first to observe many of the facets of these relationships, review the subject with considerable clarity and depth. This book is a lucid, well-referenced, and up-to-date review of several conceptual aspects of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It should be of value to endocrinologists who are interested in adrenal function and dysfunction. Donald Zimmerman, M.D. Department of Pediatrics
Antiviral Agents and Viral Diseases of Man, 2nd ed, edited by George J. Galasso, Thomas C. Merigan, and Robert A. Buchanan, 577 pp, with illus, $75, New York, Raven Press, 1984 The best features of this book are the excellence of the material, the generally concise presentation of the information, and the extensive lists of references. The major deficiency is inherent in the subject. Viral diseases and the appropriate diagnostic procedures and treatment for them are rapidly developing areas that are difficult to monitor in a book, but the authors have made a remarkable effort. The 22 contributors produce a fresh look at the viral-antiviral world. The logical organization of the book aids retrieval of information. The first five chapters address basic topics: "Fundamentals of Virus Structure and Replication," "Pathogenesis of Viral Infections," "Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacology: Chemical Agents," "Immune and Interferon Systems," and "Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections." The next six chapters deal with viral infections in specific organ systems: ocular, dermatologic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, central nervous, and intrauterine and perinatal. The last two chapters discuss varicella-zoster viral infections and current antiviral therapy. Chapter 1, on virus structure and replication, could have been improved by feedback from a first-year medical student and a clinician and scientist not working in the field of viral diseases. The diagrams are not completely labeled, and the text lacks clarity. For example, the reader has to search for the basic descriptions of the "six classes of viruses" according to the mode of dupli-
BOOK REVIEWS
497
cation of genetic material and the expression of genetic information. In contrast, various terms such as "abortive infection," "permissive and nonpermissive cells," "defective particles," and "defective interfering particles" are clearly defined. Chapter 2 presents an excel lent overview of the pathogenesis of viral infections. Likewise, a thorough review is available in "Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacology: Chemical Agents," but the material may be somewhat complex for medical students and most clinicians. In Chapter 4, immune and interferon systems are adequately discussed, but the details are notably irregular. For example, Table 2 lists almost an entire page of interferon inducers, whereas Figure 1 illustrates a very simplified scheme for the origin and function of cells involved in the immune response. The chapter on the laboratory diagnosis of viral infections includes a practical discussion of serologic, cultural, and direct examination of various specimens. In general, the chapters on viral infections of various body systems are of high quality. I highly recommend this book as a reference source for medical students, residents, and clinicians, and it is an important text for infectious disease specialists. It should be available in every medical library, and large medical centers should have several copies. Robert E. Van Scoy, M.D. Division of Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine
Clinical Radiology of the Liver (in 2 vols), edited by Hans Herlinger, Anders Lunderquist, and Sidney Wallace, 1,148 pp, with illus, $295, New York, Marcel Dekker, 1983 This large, two-volume, expensive, multiauthored text with liberal illustrations is devoted exclusively to radiology of the liver. A book so large, written by knowledgeable specialists, should present a large amount of useful information—and indeed it does, especially in the segments that deal with angiography. Unfortunately, these volumes seem to be a collection of papers and monographs that have been bound together rather than a book. The chapters read well individually, but when the book is read in its entirety, the redundancy is notable and irritating. Because no effort has been made to unify or integrate the subject matter into a readable, digestible whole, the reader has an overall impression of fragmentation and repetition.