Red Cell Metabolism. A Manual of Biochemical Methods. 2nd Edition

At last a book on gastrointestinal fibre-optic endoscopy which is not another collection of beautiful photographs, but rather a source of useful information for the practicing endoscopist. This book will be of value to all Endoscopy Units, but particularly to new and developing services. In this rapidly growing field there is need for guidance from an experienced group. Emphasis is placed on the development of an Endoscopy Unit with its own staff trained to properly maintain complex, sophisticated instruments and to assist at specialized procedures. This book contains basic information about the principles of fibre-optic light transmission , technical knowledge of the instruments, application of electrosurgery, all of which will provide the endoscopist with the principles required for the practice of endoscopy. The radiologist will be informed about the relationship of radiology to endoscopy. At times the information becomes of more interest to the nurse-assistant than the physician. However, this information about maintenance of equipment, list of medications, and care of the outpatient is also most valuable. The chapter on tissue handling could be abbreviated, providing information which would be of more value to the histology department than the Endoscopy Unit. In summary, this book compiles, for the first time in the field of gastrointestinal fibre-optic endoscopy, valuable information for all involved in this rapidly growing field of medicine. This volume represents a compilation of the techniques used in the laboratory of Professor Ernest Beutler for the determination of the activities of many red cell enzymes and important metabolic intermediates. The material is clearly and specifically presented. The general discussion of reagents, preparation of hemolysates, and instrumentation will be valuable for those with relatively little biochemical experience. Each method is clearly described; calculations are set forth explicitly. An important feature of the book is that potential pitfalls in each assay are discussed and explained. The last sections of the book present the fluorescent spot tests that Dr. Beutler has utilized as a screening procedure for several enzyme deficiencies. The book is limited in intention. It does not represent a comprehensive discussion of red cell metabolic disorders or of normal red cell metabolism and it is not a complete laboratory manual of hematology, and it in fact contains none of the routine hematologic procedures other than the categories listed above. The book does not attempt to make a systematic comparison or an evaluation of various methods for analysis of a given …