Both scientifically and socially the Vlth International Symposium on Amyloidosis, August 5 - 8, 1990 in Oslo was a great success. There were three and a half intensive days. It started with the Opening Ceremony, particularly highlighted with the Norway-Norway multi media show by David Cochron, and ended with a visit to the Edvard Munch museuro and the Farewell Salmon Dinner on the evening of August 8 (not to forget the "happy birthday" song for Dorothea Zucker-Franklin at the breakfast table the following morning). In between was the intellectual penetration into the science of amyloidosis and amyloid proteins, and a deepening of many friendships among young and old "amyloidologists", together with some of the cultural and historical features of Oslo and Norway. Among the numerous Ietters of thanks and gratitude that we have received, the senior organizer of the previous meeting, Takashi lsobe said it briefly and eloquently: "You have overwhelmed us, you have performed a drama with joy and cheer, you have hosted so nicely with lovely secretariat, you have arranged impressive hospitality in every respect, you certainly did for all of us" Now we are left with the proceedings book for the three coming years until the next symposium in Kingston, Canada, which will be organized by Drs. Robert Kisilevsky and Thomas Muckle from the Department of Pathology at Queens University in 1993. The scientific contributions herein cover all the sessions of the meeting.

Written by leading American practitioners, the Oxford American Handbooks of Medicine each offer a pocket-sized overview of an entire specialty, featuring instant access to guidance on the conditions that are most likely to be encountered. Precise and prescriptive, the handbooks offer up-to-date advice on examination, investigations, common procedures, and in-patient care. These books will be invaluable resources for residents and students, as well as a useful reference for practitioners. This unique pocket book provides rapid access to evidence-based guidelines and practical advice about the day-to-day management of patients with renal disease. Consisting of twelve chapters, including clinical assessment, acute renal failure, chronic kidney disease, and renal replacement therapies, the handbook allows easy access to precise, prescriptive information. In line with contemporary nephrological practice, a significant portion of the handbook deals with the problem of hypertension, a major cardiovascular risk factor and the most common indication for prescription drug therapy. It is an invaluable resource for residents, as well as a useful reference for practitioners. The Oxford American Handbook of Nephrology and Hypertension is the indispensable source on the subject right in your pocket!

This pocket-sized manual serves as a concise and ideal reference work for therapeutic approaches using apheresis, Covering both basic theory and clinical details to facilitate improved treatment and patient outcomes, the text considers a variety of diseases, including myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, nephrotic syndrome, TTP/TMA, dilated cardiomyopathy, and many other conditions. The books also reviews the growing trend towards adopting this unique therapy for a wide range of health management issues such as morbid obesity and/or type 2 diabetes, and for lowering LDL-cholesterol (cholesterol apheresis) in patients unresponsive to medication or lifestyle modification.

The initial observations of dialytic support were brought from the laboratory and confined to patients with reversible acute renal failure. The thought at that time was one of short term maintenance. It was theorized that removal of waste products from the blood, albeit incomplete and inefficient, might allow these patients time to regenerate damaged tubules and regain renal function. After a dis appointing earlier experience in survival, greater sophisti cation and broader practice refined the dialysis skills and reduced mortality. It also became apparent that long periods of support were possible and successful attempts were then made in utilizing this technology in patients with chronic renal failure. These early young patients were a very select group who possessed only renal dysfunction and no other systemic involvement. Nonetheless, they demonstrated a one year survival of only 55-64%. There are presently over 80,000 patients on dialytic support in the United States and over 250,000 patients worldwide dependent on artificial replace ment. Mortality statistics vary but despite a 20-30% systemic disease involvement and a fifth decade average age in the North American experience, the one year survival has risen to apparently 90%."

After the great success of the fIrst issue of the series, the International Yearbook of Nephrology 1989, we were encouraged to proceed in our editorial venture to update nephrologists yearly, on all rapidly-changing areas of nephrology. Thus we have chosen new topics and appointed experts in the fIeld, asking them to give an objective review of the topic, up-dating the readers on the world-wide literature and providing them with a complete, accurate and up-to-date list of important, recent references. We have decided to maintain the successful format of the International Yearbook of Nephrology 1989. Thus each annual issue will be devided into sections; each section will have a different primary focus every year, depending upon what area is of greatest interest at the time. In other words, the Yearbook will remain different from the numerous books which appear every year covering all aspects of nephrology. In the Yearbooks you will fInd topics usually anavailable in nephrology textbooks. In this issue we have improved the printing quality of the book, with a more uniform format throughout the volume, despite the use of camera-ready manuscripts for direct photo-offset reproduction (a procedure mandatory for a rapid publication).

Many advances in vitamin D physiology and biochemistry have been made in recent years. Vitamin D metabolites and analogs have found increasing application in clinical medicine. The purpose of this text is to review what is known about vitamin D physiology and draw attention to areas of vitamin D research that have changed within the last 2-3 years. Additionally, information concerning clinical aspects of vitamin D is also presented. More than 40 scientists have generously contributed chapters to this text; I thank them for their efforts. As might be expected, not everyone has the same point of view. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the secretarial and editorial efforts of Mrs. Cheryl Collins without whom this book would not have been completed. CONTRIBUTORS ETSUKO ABE, Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Showa University, 1-5-8, Hatanodai, Shinagawa-KU, Tokyo 142, Japan DAVID J. BAYLINK, Department of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, and Pettis Veterans Hospital, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA NORMAN H. BELL, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina and Veterans Administration Medical Center, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC, 29403, USA WARNER M. BURCH, Jr. , Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Duke Univer sity Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA DAVID V. COHN, ICCRH, Inc. , 1238 Wyncrest Court, Arden Hills, MN, 55112, USA ROBERT A. CORRADINO, Department of Physiology, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, 720 VRT, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA HECTOR F.

In 1962, 30 years after the discovery by du Vigneaud have pathologic consequences. One potentially sig- of a new sulfur amino acid, homocysteine; Carson and nificant health outcome of such mild to moderate Neil reported two siblings with mental retardation in hyperhomocysteinemia is an increased risk of occlu- northern Ireland with elevated urinary homocystine. sive vascular disease. Homocysteine concentrations in Nearly simultaneously, Gerritsen and Waisman patients with vascular disease were, on average, 31 % greater than in normal controls. Prospective assess- identified increased homocystine in the urine of a mentally retarded infant in Wisconsin. Within two ment of vascular disease risk among men with higher years, Harvey Mudd, James Finkelstein, and their homocysteine concentrations indicated that plasma coworkers at the National Institutes of health (USA) homocysteine at only 12% above the upper limit of that the enzyme cystathionine ~- normal levels was associated with a 3. 4-fold increase had reported synthase was lacking in a liver biopsy specimen from in risk of acute myocardial infarction. Studies from another patient with homocystinuria. This was the original Framingham Heart Study cohort (USA) the first indication of a vitamin relationship to have shown strong, positive correlation between homocystinuria, because that enzyme has as its co- plasma homocysteine concentration and degree of factor vitamin B6 (pyridoxal phosphate). Thereafter, carotid stenosis.

The provision of optimal dialysis therapy to children requires a thorough understanding of the multi-disciplinary manner in which the pediatric patient is affected by renal insufficiency. Knowledge of the technical aspects of peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy must be complemented by attention to issues such as anemia, renal osteodystrophy, hypertension, growth, cognitive development, nutrition, nursing care and the psychosocial adaptation of the child and family to chronic disease. The inaugural edition of Pediatric Dialysis provides a comprehensive review of these and other related topics with a singular emphasis on the unique aspects of their application to children. With authoritative, clinically relevant, well-referenced chapters written by a host of recognized international experts who emphasize key aspects of contemporary management, Pediatric Dialysis has been designed to serve as a primary resource to all clinicians involved in the care of the pediatric dialysis patient.

Few complications of systemic diseases are better understood than diabetic nephropathy. In large part, progress in this area is due to Carl Erik Mogensen's steadfast preoccupation over more than three decades with the disorder's epidemiology, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical diagnosis and evolving strategies of management. Though he sparked progress in each of these areas, he generously opens the forum of discussion to many expert contributors to this latest and most comprehensive edition of this exemplary textbook. In eliciting all relevant and up-to-date views, the reader, whether internist, pediatrician or specialist in endocrinology or nephrology, is assured a thorough review of the entire subject and in a format which is exceptionally well-written, well-illustrated and easy to read. Each of the prior editions have been an essential resource for my own work in this field and the 5th edition will no doubt continue to provide the information I and others will require to move forward in the years ahead. If only the other renal diseases were as masterfully synthesized, how much easier our task would be of achieving a comprehensive vision of all else in clinical nephrology. Barry M. Brenner, M.D., Samuel A. Levine Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Designed for daily use by professionals responsible for caring for patients with renal disease, this long-awaited primer provides a simplified, up-to-date review of peritoneal dialysis. Dealing concisely with all aspects of PD, it is written in such a style that even beginners with elementary knowledge of the subject could benefit from its use, and thus it is the perfect text for trainees or new and junior staff members. It is also an ideal text for nurses, a virtual how-to guide on PD. A book like this one, crafted specifically as a bench text and a learning tool, is hard to find. Emphasis is placed on the plentiful illustrations and tables that immediately clarify and expand upon the text. The illustrations, many in full color, are deftly drawn by one of the foremost medical artists in the world, Bernard Tardieu. Few texts can boast such a cast of distinguished authors. Ramesh Khanna, Karl Nolph, and Dimitrios Oreopoulos are among the most respected practitioners of dialysis.

A good knowledge of renal physiology is essential to the understanding of many disease states. The purpose of the book is to set out the principles of renal physiology and normal renal function. Now in its 30th year of continuous publication, this new edition offers a logical progression through renal physiology and pathophysiology. In addition, the anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and pathology of the kidney are covered -- making it highly suitable for system based courses. This 5th edition has been extensively revised and features a wealth of new and widely accepted information about kidney function. This includes our understanding of the role of the glycocalyx and structural proteins in glomerular filtration; details of tubular transport, tight junctions and paracellular transport; and an update of the loops of Henle functioning. Principles of Renal Physiology, 5th Edition is a concise and easily readable text ideal for undergraduate medical and medical science students.

During the past quarter century there has been a renaissance of interest in the use of peritoneal dialysis as the primary dialytic modality for the treatment of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The development of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (APD) has facilitated the provision of prolonged dialysis to infants, children and adolescents and has provided pediatric nephrologists worldwide with a real opportunity to administer effective dialysis therapy to all patients afflicted with ESRD. It has been more than a decade since the initial publication of CAPD/CCPD in Children. In the interim, a great deal of clinical experience with patients receiving peritoneal dialysis has been accumulated and research efforts have substantially increased our understanding of the technique. Therefore, we felt that a second edition of CAPD/CCPD in Children was propitious to update the advances of the past decade.

This concise book provides practical strategies to help nephrologists and endocrinologists correctly diagnose and treat the various forms of parathyroid disease they may encounter in the management of chronic kidney disease. Each chapter deals with various topics related to parathyroid gland anatomy and physiology, as well as diagnostic tests and their particularities in regard to chronic disease. The book highlights the range of therapies used for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism, and critically analyses the latest research in the field. Providing an up-to-date review of the current literature, including innovations in both medical and surgical treatment and current indications for parathyroidectomy, this practice-oriented book is an excellent resource for nephrologists, endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons and family medicine physicians.

All unsuccessful revolutions are the same, but each successful one is different in its own distinctive way. The reason why revolutions occur is that new forces attain increasing significance and classic institutions are incapable of accomodating these forces. Such has been the pattern of events in the English, American and French revolutions. These successful revolutions produced a new dynamic and new perspectives. One English revolutionary put this succinctly: "Let us be doing, but let us be united in doing." This book sets out what is a revolution in. the perspectives of diagnostic imaging of the kidney and urinary tract. Forces which have brought about this revolution are the advent of reliable techniques in radioisotope studies, ultrasonics and computerized tomographic (CT) scanning. This last modality carries with it specific problems for routine paediatric work and its role in the study of kidney and urinary tract problems is discrete and circumscribed. However, in conjunction with classic radiology, each of these techniques yields information of a different type and so a synthesis of data accrues.