920 Book Reviews

Principles in General Pharmacology-By R. J. TALLARIDA, R. B. RAFFA and P. MCGONIGLE. 243 pp. 1988. Springer Verlag. New York. $69.

This book deals with the key ideas that can be applied to all classes of drugs. The main chapters are: general princi- ples, history and overview; dose-effect relations; pharma- cokinetics; drug metabolism, biotransformation; specific drug action and membrane surface phenomena; drugs and receptors. chemical bonding; rate of drug-receptor interac- tions; pharmacodynamics. interaction of drugs with recep- tors: radioligand binding. The book will be useful to those who have completed a first course in pharmacology and wish to get a better understanding of some of the important underlying principles.

The Prefrontal Cortex, 2nd Edition-By J. M. FUSTER. 255 pp. 1989. Raven Press. New York. $69.

The main topics of this book are: anatomy and development of the prefrontal cortex; neurotransmitters: lesion studies; neurophysiology; human studies (disorders of attention, perception. motility. temporal integration. emotion and cognition) and theory of prefrontal functions. Since the first edition. there have been significant advances in the electrophysiology of the frontal cortex, brain imaging, brain metabolism and neurochemistry. The prefrontal cortex is at the top of the hierarchy involved in motor control. The author suggests that it performs its integrative and associational role by interacting with the cortical sensory hierarchy. It is the key in the “perception- action” cycle: it ensures retention of information for prospective acts, prepares the brain for these acts and supresses extraneous influences that could lead the action astray. The author supports this view with experimental and clinical evidence.

Receptor Pharmacology and Function-Edited by M. WILLIAMS. R. A. GLENNON and P. B. TIMMERMANS. 778 pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker. New York. $150. US and Canada: S 180. elsewhere.

After initial chapters on the principles of ligand binding studies. the different receptors (R) each have a chapter to themselves; alpha adreno-R; beta adreno-R; central SHT-R; histamine-R: GABA-R: benzodiazepine-R; excitatory amino acid-R: cholinergic-R; purine-R: peptide-R: opioid- R: eicosanoid-R; phencyclidine-R and tricyclic antide- pressent-R; calcium channel-R and dopamine-R. There are two different types of receptors. The first type is a single membrane-spanning polypeptide chain with seven alpha helical regions. Agonist binding to this receptor is trans- duced via G protein to an effector molecule such as adenyl cyclase. phospholipase C or an ionic channel. The second type of receptor has several membrane-spanning subunits arranged to form an ionic channel. The agonist binding to the receptor affects the opening:closing of the channel. Many receptors seem to be related. i.e. the GABA-A and glycine receptors are related to the nicotinic receptor, all of which act on ionic channels. There are multiple types of nicotinic and muscarinic receptors due to receptor hetero- geneity. This allows the development of drugs that act specifically or mainly on one type (subclass) of receptor and hence tissue specificity. This book provides an excellent summary of this rapidly developing subject.

Neuropeptides and Stress-Edited by Y. TACHE, J. E. MORLEY and M. R. BROWS. 345 pp. 1989. Springer, New York. $85.

The chapters in this Hans Selye symposium are grouped into sections on neuroendocrine and behavioural responses to

stress, corticotropin releasing factor; brain peptides. stress and autonomic function; neuropeptides, stress and gas- trointestinal function; stress, neuropeptides and immune function; and opioids and stress. Within these sections other topics discussed include arousal, functional connections of the amygdala, neurophysiology of hypothalamic magnocel- lular neurosecretory neurons, cardiovascular regulation, vascular shock, brain calcitonin receptors. electroconvulsive shock and opioid receptors.

Transdermal Drug Delivery-Edited by J. HADGKAFT and R. H. GUY. 324 pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker. New York. $99.75, US and Canada; $119.5, elsewhere.

Transdermal drug delivery allows direct pathway of the drug to the circulatory system, controlled sustained release over many hours, maintenance of low but effective drug levels and acceptance of the system by the patient. Drugs that are being delivered this way include nitroglycerin, clonidine. estradiol. scopolamine. propanolol, phenyl- propanolamine and bronchodilators. The topics discussed are: structure of the skin; selection of drug candidates; cutaneous side effects; drug metabolism in the skin; micro- bial metabolism in the skin; pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and tolerance; theophylline treatment of new born infants; in vitro evaluation: penetration enhancers; ionto- phoresis and packaging of the system. This book will be very interesting to those who wish to develop systems to deliver other drugs.

The Biology of Surfactant-By B. A. HILLS. 408 pp. 1988. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. $89.50.

Although the role of surfactants is best known in the lung, they also play a role in the gastrointestinal tract, joints and at tissue surfaces. The book deals with: surfaces and surfac- tants; structure, synthesis and analysis of phospholipids; measurement of surface tension; adsorption and wetting; monolayers; alveolar models and morphology; lung me- chanics and homeostasis: lubrication and release; gastric mucosal protection and membrane permeability and liquid air interface in ciao. The author emphasises the physico- chemical principles underlying the mechanism of action of surfactants.

Parasitic Infections in the Compromised Host-Edited by P. D. WALZER and R. M. GENTA. 632 pp. 1989. Marcel Dekker, New York. $125, USA and Canada; $150, else- where.

A compromised host is a person or animal who is defi- cient in defence or immune mechanisms. As a result, they are very succeptible to parasitic infections. Fifteen percent of the North American population become infected with Toxoplasma gondii and have viable cysts in muscles and brain. A large percentage of AIDS patients become infected with Pneumocysris and die from pneumonia. The present book deals with: the compromised host, AIDS and other diseases; Leishmania; Pneumocystis carinii; Toxoplasma gondii; Cryptosporidium (now present in British tap water and causing d. and v.); Giardia lamblia; Enlamoeba histo- lyrica (the preceding species are all parasitic protozoa); parasitic helminths and Srrongyloidea. In each chapter, the infection, disease and treatment are described in detail. Although modern medicine tends to concentrate on bacterial and viral disease, protozoan and worm infec- tions are becoming more important, partly because of greater world travel and partly because their danger is increased by reduced immune response in the host and