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Immunoassays for Clinical Chemistry
Pathology (1984). 16. pp. 110-113
BOOK REVIEWS
Pathologic Mechanisms and Human Disease, R. S. CAWSON.A. W . MCCRACKEN & P. B. M4ncus. 1982. The C. V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, Toronto, London. 594 pp.. illustrated. ISBN 0-8016-0439-9 $35.00 This book is aimed at medical students and consists of the usual chapters o n general organ system pathology. The book is easy to read and the approach in each chapter is very traditional. The liberal use of tables summarizing salient aspects of important entities is very useful for medical students during revision time. The authors’ attempt at correlating pathological findings with clinical data is an asset but is not always successful. There are some serious errors that may confuse students. for example, on page 436, the legend is inconsistent with the accompanying illustration. The quality of most illustrations is below average and in some the reviewer had trouble finding changes stated in the legend. The references are selective, not excessive and up-to-date. Students who plan to use this book as a standard textbook of pathology will have to complement it with the references provided in each chapter t o acquire a sound basis in pathology. This book is not superior and will not serve as a substitute to the standard textbooks of pathology currently available to medical students. Alan B. P. N g Guidelinesfor rhe Control of Leptospirosis, Ed. S . FAINE1982. WHO Offset Publication No. 67, Geneva. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. French edition in preparation. 176 pp. ISBN 92 4 170067. Sw.fr. IS.-.
This is a unique and valuable publication on leptospirosis. Twenty-four international authorities have contributed current information about leptospirosis which has been expertly assembled and edited by Professor S. Faine. Leptospirosis was first recognized as an acute illness by Weil in I886 and still continues to cause widespread disease in man and animals. Like the great majority of infectious diseases control depends upon clinical recognition and action, proper laboratory diagnosis, surveillance programme and implementation of preventive measures. These areas have been well covered with emphasis on practical information. The scoring scheme for the likelihood of finding the source of infection is interesting and the concise explanation of the leprospirosis serovars and interpretation of serological tests highly commendable. It is noted with a measure of pride that one of the eight W H O collaborating centre reference laboratories in the world is in Brisbane, Australia. Through the adoption of the photo-offset reproduction the WHO has facilitated the availability of this immensely valuable publicat ion. A . Roo
Immunoassays f o r Clinical Chemistry, 2nd ed., Eds. W. M. HUNTER & J . E. T. C O R R I E1983. Chuichill Livingktoiir, L U I I ~ I I IChrshirr ~II Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. 701 pp.. illustrated. ISBN 0-443-02704-8 $84.00
This book presents the proceedings of a Workshop held in Edinburgh in 1982 which brought together many of the key scientists involved in immunoassay development in the United Kingdom. It provides an excellent review of the status of immunoassay today covering many of the idiosyncracies of a technique which still remains under development after 20 years. The topics for workshop sessions included reagents, e.g. standards and antibodies; techniques, e.g., labelling of protein antigens, separation systems and data processing; and specific areas, e.g., steroids and free hormones. Both presentations and group discussions were published. Although the majority of the workshop dealt with radioimmunoassay, the design permitted contributions to be made on immunoradiometric assay, enzyme-, nuoro- and magnetic particle immunoassay. New horizons were covered in sections on monoclonal antibodies and cherniluminescence immunoassays. There is little attention t o theory except for the contributions from Ekins, one of the fathers of immunoassay. However, the range of topics covered and the frequent reference to anecdotal data make the book particularly valuable. There are two shortcomings: firstly the use of the term second edition is misleading-the first edition was published as the proceedings of the 1970 workshop; secondly the book lacks an index. However the book will prove highly valuable as a reference book for those willing to spend some time searching. The medical scientist wishing to establish new assays, the laboratory director seeking ideas on progress in the field to help him with management decisions and the laboratory worker needing answers to problems with his assay, will each find useful information. Margaret C. Stuart
Cardiovascular Pathology, Vols. 1 and 2, Ed. MALCOLM D. S I L V E R . 1983. Churchill Livingstone, Longman Cheshire Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. 1407 pp.. illustrated. ISBN 0-443-08049-6. $278.00 This is a two volume publication of 1407 pages, with 28 contributions edited by Malcolm D. Silver of London, Ontario. It is based on a Core Curriculum Course given in Acquired Heart Disease for the American College of Cardiology. In the preface the editor indicates that it is intended to be a comprehensive pathology text dealing with acquired cardiovascular disease in adults and that a discussion of congenital heart disease is omitted. However, the final chapter (the 37th) is on postoperative congenital cardiac disease. This is unnecessary and out of place in the general text. The publication is designed for pathologists, cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and clinicians. There is a good correlation of clinical medicine and clinical pathology. Each chapter is followed by a list of relevant references most of which are up to date. As often occurs in such an edited publication, material is uneven although generally good. Volume one begins with an excellent, precise modern description of the gross anatomy and structure of the heart. This is followed by equally worthwhile chapters on the ultrastructure of the heart and age related cardiovascular changes. Diseases of the pericardium, the coronary arteries, the heart valves, the heart muscle and the conducting system are covered. Unfortunately, the chapter on myocardial infarction is disappointing and does not correlate well with the chapter o n diseases of the coronary arteries. Further, there is a lack of recent references
BOOK REVIEWS
Pathologic Mechanisms and Human Disease, R. S. CAWSON.A. W . MCCRACKEN & P. B. M4ncus. 1982. The C. V. Mosby Company, St. Louis, Toronto, London. 594 pp.. illustrated. ISBN 0-8016-0439-9 $35.00 This book is aimed at medical students and consists of the usual chapters o n general organ system pathology. The book is easy to read and the approach in each chapter is very traditional. The liberal use of tables summarizing salient aspects of important entities is very useful for medical students during revision time. The authors’ attempt at correlating pathological findings with clinical data is an asset but is not always successful. There are some serious errors that may confuse students. for example, on page 436, the legend is inconsistent with the accompanying illustration. The quality of most illustrations is below average and in some the reviewer had trouble finding changes stated in the legend. The references are selective, not excessive and up-to-date. Students who plan to use this book as a standard textbook of pathology will have to complement it with the references provided in each chapter t o acquire a sound basis in pathology. This book is not superior and will not serve as a substitute to the standard textbooks of pathology currently available to medical students. Alan B. P. N g Guidelinesfor rhe Control of Leptospirosis, Ed. S . FAINE1982. WHO Offset Publication No. 67, Geneva. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. French edition in preparation. 176 pp. ISBN 92 4 170067. Sw.fr. IS.-.
This is a unique and valuable publication on leptospirosis. Twenty-four international authorities have contributed current information about leptospirosis which has been expertly assembled and edited by Professor S. Faine. Leptospirosis was first recognized as an acute illness by Weil in I886 and still continues to cause widespread disease in man and animals. Like the great majority of infectious diseases control depends upon clinical recognition and action, proper laboratory diagnosis, surveillance programme and implementation of preventive measures. These areas have been well covered with emphasis on practical information. The scoring scheme for the likelihood of finding the source of infection is interesting and the concise explanation of the leprospirosis serovars and interpretation of serological tests highly commendable. It is noted with a measure of pride that one of the eight W H O collaborating centre reference laboratories in the world is in Brisbane, Australia. Through the adoption of the photo-offset reproduction the WHO has facilitated the availability of this immensely valuable publicat ion. A . Roo
Immunoassays f o r Clinical Chemistry, 2nd ed., Eds. W. M. HUNTER & J . E. T. C O R R I E1983. Chuichill Livingktoiir, L U I I ~ I I IChrshirr ~II Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. 701 pp.. illustrated. ISBN 0-443-02704-8 $84.00
This book presents the proceedings of a Workshop held in Edinburgh in 1982 which brought together many of the key scientists involved in immunoassay development in the United Kingdom. It provides an excellent review of the status of immunoassay today covering many of the idiosyncracies of a technique which still remains under development after 20 years. The topics for workshop sessions included reagents, e.g. standards and antibodies; techniques, e.g., labelling of protein antigens, separation systems and data processing; and specific areas, e.g., steroids and free hormones. Both presentations and group discussions were published. Although the majority of the workshop dealt with radioimmunoassay, the design permitted contributions to be made on immunoradiometric assay, enzyme-, nuoro- and magnetic particle immunoassay. New horizons were covered in sections on monoclonal antibodies and cherniluminescence immunoassays. There is little attention t o theory except for the contributions from Ekins, one of the fathers of immunoassay. However, the range of topics covered and the frequent reference to anecdotal data make the book particularly valuable. There are two shortcomings: firstly the use of the term second edition is misleading-the first edition was published as the proceedings of the 1970 workshop; secondly the book lacks an index. However the book will prove highly valuable as a reference book for those willing to spend some time searching. The medical scientist wishing to establish new assays, the laboratory director seeking ideas on progress in the field to help him with management decisions and the laboratory worker needing answers to problems with his assay, will each find useful information. Margaret C. Stuart
Cardiovascular Pathology, Vols. 1 and 2, Ed. MALCOLM D. S I L V E R . 1983. Churchill Livingstone, Longman Cheshire Pty. Ltd., Melbourne. 1407 pp.. illustrated. ISBN 0-443-08049-6. $278.00 This is a two volume publication of 1407 pages, with 28 contributions edited by Malcolm D. Silver of London, Ontario. It is based on a Core Curriculum Course given in Acquired Heart Disease for the American College of Cardiology. In the preface the editor indicates that it is intended to be a comprehensive pathology text dealing with acquired cardiovascular disease in adults and that a discussion of congenital heart disease is omitted. However, the final chapter (the 37th) is on postoperative congenital cardiac disease. This is unnecessary and out of place in the general text. The publication is designed for pathologists, cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and clinicians. There is a good correlation of clinical medicine and clinical pathology. Each chapter is followed by a list of relevant references most of which are up to date. As often occurs in such an edited publication, material is uneven although generally good. Volume one begins with an excellent, precise modern description of the gross anatomy and structure of the heart. This is followed by equally worthwhile chapters on the ultrastructure of the heart and age related cardiovascular changes. Diseases of the pericardium, the coronary arteries, the heart valves, the heart muscle and the conducting system are covered. Unfortunately, the chapter on myocardial infarction is disappointing and does not correlate well with the chapter o n diseases of the coronary arteries. Further, there is a lack of recent references