The biology of cholesterol and related steroids

THE BIOLOGY OF CHOLESTEROL AND RELATED STEROIDS N.B. Myant, DM FRCP William Heinemann Medical Books Ltd., 23 Bedford Square, London WC1 (July 30, 1981) xiv + 910 pp. hardcover %45.00 This is a beautifully printed, easy to read comprehensive book with bold line illustrations and no-glare paper. For a book its size, it is remarkably free from typographic errors; I noticed only one, that of the spelling of Vandenheuvel on page 320. I found only one fault with the book, but it is a trivial one at that, concerning the IUP C rules of steroid nomenclature. Whnever C(5) is unsaturated (i.e., Ae or A5), the locant number(s) for the double bond(s) must be put before the parent structure's name. For example: A-androstene, 5-pregnene (not 'androst-4-ene' or 'pregn-5-ene'), The book comprehensively discusses the biochemical and clinical aspects of cholesterol. It can be easily used, and is highly recommended, as a text book in an introductory course in steroids for medical students or anyone who would be working with steroids in his or her future profession. Other than that, it is a very valuable addition to the medical library. R. Bruce Gabbard, Ph.D, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation New Orleans, La. 70121 USA