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Recent advances in haematology 5
Fibrinolysis
0
(1990) 4, 127-128
1990 Longman
Group
026%9499/90/OW4O127/$10.00
UK Ltd
Book Reviews
Recent Advances in Haematology
5 Edited by A. V. Hoffbrand. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1989. pp 333. .f40.00.
This fifth volume in the series demonstrates the rapidly growing importance of molecular biology to haematology and shows in some areas such as the thalassaemias and the haemophilias, its established importance. Haematologists who are having to pay attention to this rapidly developing area will find the contributions on molecular biology particularly readable. Progress in leukaemia features largely also and there are excellent up to date accounts of chronic myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Haemostasis and thrombosis are not neglected and the chapters on Thrombolytic Therapy and the Protein C Pathway deserve special mention. Professor Holfbrand is to be congratulated on maintaining the very high standard one has become accustomed to expect from this series. The book is essential reading for all candidates preparing for postgraduate qualifications in haematology and for all established haematology specialists who wish to keep up-to-date. J. F. Davidson
ators and their inhibitors, with chosen aspects of plasminogen structure and dysfunction, as well as the kinetics of plasmin formation in diabetes and the relevance of plasminogen activators in tumour growth. The mingling of reviews and original works interferes with the logical structure of the book, but this is probably of secondary importance in a publication of this kind. Among the various activators of plasminogen described, prominence is given to u-PA, with conflicting views on its mechanism of plasminogen activation being proposed by leading workers in this area. A brief, but excellent, review on plasminogen activator inhibitors also provides an update of the status of the several known inhibitors and the degree of homology amongst themselves and other serpins. These latter sections are marred slightly by the misquotation of values and units of concentration and kinetic constants; this is unfortunate, as the book is obviously intended for the specialist reader and the errors could have been corrected by careful proofreading. J. A. Conkie
The Hereditary Hemolytic Anemias Edited by W. C.
Mentzer and G. M. Wagner. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1989. pp 512. g52.50. Enzymology of Plasminogen Activation (Enzyme Vol.
The problem of co-ordinating the contributions of 16 authors with special interests within the hereditary haemolytic anaemias is unlikely to occur in the UK. This book contains many excellent chapters; its strengths include the accounts of underlying mechanisms, clinical aspects and summarised tables bringing together information from different sources. Its weaknesses lie in the laboratory aspects, e.g. ommission of H inclusions in the diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia trait and also in the considerable repetition in the different sections. An introduction details the evidence linking the common haemolytic disorders to malaria and attempts to plug the gaps in subsequent chapters. Useful information on investigation is given in a chapter on diagnostic strategy but overlaps rather extensively with later sections. An excellent review of the thalas-
40, No. 2-3) Edited by R. Machovich and W. G. Owen. Karger, Basle, 1988. pp 6&172. $57.50. It is possible to demonstrate abnormalities of fibrinolytic parameters in about 30% of patients with thrombotic disorders. Yet, as the editors in the preface of this issue of Enzyme point out, relatively little is known of the manner in which the fibrinolytic system is influenced by the cells, platelets, extracellular fluid, blood vessels and the components of coagulation and inflammation to promote or inhibit fibrinolytic activity. In this publication, a selection of topics is presented by eminent researchers who seek to advance our understanding of some of the ways in which plasminogen activation might be regulated. The result is a useful little book which deals with plasminogen activ127
0
(1990) 4, 127-128
1990 Longman
Group
026%9499/90/OW4O127/$10.00
UK Ltd
Book Reviews
Recent Advances in Haematology
5 Edited by A. V. Hoffbrand. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1989. pp 333. .f40.00.
This fifth volume in the series demonstrates the rapidly growing importance of molecular biology to haematology and shows in some areas such as the thalassaemias and the haemophilias, its established importance. Haematologists who are having to pay attention to this rapidly developing area will find the contributions on molecular biology particularly readable. Progress in leukaemia features largely also and there are excellent up to date accounts of chronic myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Haemostasis and thrombosis are not neglected and the chapters on Thrombolytic Therapy and the Protein C Pathway deserve special mention. Professor Holfbrand is to be congratulated on maintaining the very high standard one has become accustomed to expect from this series. The book is essential reading for all candidates preparing for postgraduate qualifications in haematology and for all established haematology specialists who wish to keep up-to-date. J. F. Davidson
ators and their inhibitors, with chosen aspects of plasminogen structure and dysfunction, as well as the kinetics of plasmin formation in diabetes and the relevance of plasminogen activators in tumour growth. The mingling of reviews and original works interferes with the logical structure of the book, but this is probably of secondary importance in a publication of this kind. Among the various activators of plasminogen described, prominence is given to u-PA, with conflicting views on its mechanism of plasminogen activation being proposed by leading workers in this area. A brief, but excellent, review on plasminogen activator inhibitors also provides an update of the status of the several known inhibitors and the degree of homology amongst themselves and other serpins. These latter sections are marred slightly by the misquotation of values and units of concentration and kinetic constants; this is unfortunate, as the book is obviously intended for the specialist reader and the errors could have been corrected by careful proofreading. J. A. Conkie
The Hereditary Hemolytic Anemias Edited by W. C.
Mentzer and G. M. Wagner. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1989. pp 512. g52.50. Enzymology of Plasminogen Activation (Enzyme Vol.
The problem of co-ordinating the contributions of 16 authors with special interests within the hereditary haemolytic anaemias is unlikely to occur in the UK. This book contains many excellent chapters; its strengths include the accounts of underlying mechanisms, clinical aspects and summarised tables bringing together information from different sources. Its weaknesses lie in the laboratory aspects, e.g. ommission of H inclusions in the diagnosis of alpha thalassaemia trait and also in the considerable repetition in the different sections. An introduction details the evidence linking the common haemolytic disorders to malaria and attempts to plug the gaps in subsequent chapters. Useful information on investigation is given in a chapter on diagnostic strategy but overlaps rather extensively with later sections. An excellent review of the thalas-
40, No. 2-3) Edited by R. Machovich and W. G. Owen. Karger, Basle, 1988. pp 6&172. $57.50. It is possible to demonstrate abnormalities of fibrinolytic parameters in about 30% of patients with thrombotic disorders. Yet, as the editors in the preface of this issue of Enzyme point out, relatively little is known of the manner in which the fibrinolytic system is influenced by the cells, platelets, extracellular fluid, blood vessels and the components of coagulation and inflammation to promote or inhibit fibrinolytic activity. In this publication, a selection of topics is presented by eminent researchers who seek to advance our understanding of some of the ways in which plasminogen activation might be regulated. The result is a useful little book which deals with plasminogen activ127