" ... this is an excellent compilation of data which should be on the bookshelves of all analysts interested in the benzodiazepines. It is to be hoped that, with the introduction of so many new ben zodiazepines, the author will quickly add these in a second edi tion" (A. C. Moffat in: Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 1983). This review, deputizing for many others, reflects the friendly reception enjoyed by the first volume of Benzodiazepines, which was published in 1982 and apparently closed a gap in the ben zodiazepine literature. In the meantime, Benzodiazepines has established itself as a standard book, as evidenced by numerous letters and quotations. Suggestions were also soon made for a new edition in view of the unusually rapid development in the field of the benzodiazepines. It became quickly obvious, however, that it would not be sufficient to publish a revised second edition, but that a completely new second volume would be required for which, however, the successful previous format could be largely retained. The following considerations seem worth mentioning in connection with the preparation of Volume II: - To ensure continuity with Volume I as far as possible, the list of references was consecutively numbered (references 1 to 3779 in Volume I, references 3780 to 11338 in Volume II). Whereas in Vol. I the substances appear in the sequential order of their historical development they are listed in alphabetical order in Vol. II."

Bradykinin is frequently referred to as an elusive substance; the editor of a comprehensive volume dealing with kinins thus has a difficult task. The com plexity of the issues calls for a large number of contributors who approach the topics from the various angles that are dictated by the sometimes divergent views of the individuals. The editor saw no reason to prescribe the mode of presentation, which was left to the authors and accounts for the variety of approaches. Contributors from nine countries were asked to participate in the volume. The chapters were organized to present, first, the history of the discoveries and methods of approach to kinin research. Then follows a discussion of the enzymes that release kinins, their substrates, and other enzymes that inactivate the peptides. If the release of kinin is important, then the inhibition of the releasing enzymes is of obvious interest and is described. Since the measurement of kinin ogen levels in blood has been frequently used as an indicator of kinin liberation, in addition to a separate chapter, kininogens are also mentioned where the functions of kinins are discussed. The conclusions drawn from establishing structure-action relationships for many analogs and the actions of kinins are indicated and summarized."

Twelve years have elapsed since the appearance of the first volume and it is with great pleasure that the Editor is now able to present volume 15. During these twelve years various fields of drug research have undergone important, partly revolutionary, changes. A number of these have already been dealt with, so that the series PROGRESS IN DRUG RESEARCH contains a comprehensive review of a substantial part of our current knowledge. The Editor is particularly grateful for the opportunity of transmitting to those connected with the development of drugs the extensive knowledge of the Authors, who, without exception, are themselves actively engaged in research. Drug research is currently in a state of transformation: reconsideration in the light of the past and reorientation with a view to the future. To a large extent this is due to the tumultuous developments in the last 20 years, developments which are unparalleled in the history of medicine and the consequences of which cannot yet be completely evaluated. Unfortunately, however, the current situation is not devoid of its unpleasant and even tragic aspects, aspects which fall outside the research worker's sphere or influence. Those connected with drug research, be they in industry, in universities or in clinics, are aware of these problems, and, as a result of this awareness, are all the more in need of an aid which will assist them in ascertaining the current position and in fixing future goals.

The importance of ambident reactivity in synthetic and mecha nistic organic chemistry cannot be overemphasized. It is therefore all the more frustrating that the breadth and diffuseness of the subject make the retrieval of information from the primary literature a difficult and onerous task, especially for the researcher who wishes to gain an overview of the factors influencing ambident behavior or an in-depth knowledge of the reactivity of a specific ambident system. The present volume is an attempt to meet these needs, at least as far as ambident anions are concerned. As a reference work combining under one cover an account of the factors underlying ambident behavior, a survey of the chemistry of the most important ambident anions (with especial emphasis on enolates), and a comprehensive compilation of recent key references, important but less well known citations from the nineteenth and early twentieth century literature, and relatively inaccessible data from the Soviet literature, this translation goes some way to filling a conspicuous gap in the mono graph literature of an important facet of organic chemical reactivity."

One of the currently most expanding and exciting areas in cardiovascular research is the study of receipt and dispatch of chemical signals by different cell types. Major progress has been made during the last years and a number of intercellular mediators have been structurally identified and their regulation studied. The impressive developments in molecular biology have provided most effective tools, enabling us to understand message generation in much more detail than anyone would have appreciated a couple of years ago. These developments also have a major impact on cardiovascular pharmacology. This involves both the molecular design of new drugs as well as an improved understanding of how established drugs act. Clearly, changes in one mediator system will also affect others and it might be difficult to take out just one factor and to ignore others. This is definitely true for myocardial ischemia where many different mediators are synthesized and released at about the same time, resulting in a complex picture of events and an even more difficult selection of the most appropriate drug therapy.

Volume 45 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains eight reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the connection with the previous volumes. The articles in this volume deal with neuro peptides as native immune modulators, with Calmodulin and with effects of cell stimuli and drugs on cellular activation, with recent advances in benzodiazepine receptor binding studies, with the medicinal chemistry and therapeutic potentials of ligands of the histamine H3 receptor, with Serotonin uptake inhibitors, with computer-aided drug design, with natri uretic hormones and with the recent developments in the chemotherapy of osteoporosis. In the 36 years that PDR has existed, the Editor has enjoyed the valu able help and advice of many colleagues. Readers, the authors of the reviews and, last but not least, the reviewers have all contributed greatly to the success of this series. Although the comments received so far have generally been favorable, it is nevertheless necessary to analyze and to reassess the current position and the future direction of such a series of monographs. So far, it has been the Editor's intention to help disseminate information on the vast domain of drug research, and to provide the reader with a tool with which to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends. The reviews in PDR are useful to the nonspecialist, who can obtain an overview of a particular field of drug research in a relatively short time."

This volume of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology (Concepts in Biochemical Pharmacology) will show that pharma cology has finally arrived as a true discipline in its own right, and is no longer the handmaiden of organic chemistry and physiology. Instead it is an amalgam of all the biological sciences including biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, physiology, pathology and clinical medicine. In the volumes that make up Concepts in Bio chemical Pharmacology we hope to convince Medical Schools what should now be obvious, that pharmacology is no longer that dull topic bridging the basic sciences with medicine, but is probably the most important subject in the medical curriculum. We are grateful for the advice of Dr. Byron Clark, Director of the Pharmacology-Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health whose support made possible much of the work described in this volume. Contents Section Four: Methods 01 Stooging the MetoholiBm 01 Drugs Subsection A. Assay 01 Drugs and Their M etoholites Chapter 22: Basic Principles in Development of Methods for Drug Assay. B. B. BRODIE. With 2 Figures 1 1 A. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . B. Principles of Developing a Method. . . . . . 1 I. Section of Method of Assay . . . . . . 1 II. Choice of Solvent for Extraction of Drug 2 III. Adsorption of Drugs by Glass Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 IV. Recoveries of Known Amounts of Compound from Biological Material. 4 V. Assessment of Sensitivity 5 VI. Assessment of Specificity 5 References. . . . . . . . . . ."

Im Juni 1979 hatte in Dusseldorf ein Symposion uber Diuretika stattgefunden. Behandelt wurden experimentelle und klinische Ergebnisse mit Diuretika, unter anderem mit Diucomb. Ziel des Symposions war, Untersuchungsergebnisse zu referieren und diskutieren. Teilnehmer waren Wissenschaft ler aus der Schweiz, Osterreich, Grossbritannien, USA und der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Das Material dieses Symposions wurde uberarbeitet, Diskussionen durch einen Redaktionsstab gestrafft. Wir danken Frau J. BOROS fur wertvolle technische Assistenz. Der Springer-Verlag hat uns wiederum sach kundig beraten und ist in grosszugiger Weise unseren Wunschen entgegengekommen Die Herausgeber Inhaltsverzeichnis Einleitung. F. KRUCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. Wirkungsmechanismen. Moderation: K. GREEFF . 3 Plasma Concentrations and Comparative Bioavailability of Bemetizide and Triamterene in Combination. L. F. CHASSEAUD . . . . . . . . 5 Pharmakokinetik von Diuretika bei eingeschrankter Nierenfunktion. H. KNAUF und E. MUTSCHLER 14 Diskussion 24 Neue Daten zur Toxizitat von Diuretika. F. LEUSCHNER 26 Diskussion 29 2. Renale Wirkungen. Moderation: O. KRAuPP. . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Die Wirkungsweise diuretischer Substanzen in Abhangigkeit von ihrer re- len Behandlung. P. DEETJEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Effects of Diuretics on Renal Potassium and Hydrogen Ion Transport. G. GIEBISCH and M. HROPOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Wirkungen von Diuretika auf den transzellularen Elektrolyttransport der Niere. M. WIEDERHOLT und L. L. HANsEN 53 Diskussion 60 Interaktion zwischen Diuretika und renalem Prostaglandinsystem. H. J. KRAMER, B. STINNESBECK, W. PRIOR und R. DUSING 64 71 Diskussion Untersuchungen zum Wirkungsmechanismus von Acetazolamid und SITS auf den Bikarbonattransport im proximalen Tubulus der Rattenniere."

Volume 40 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains six reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the connec tion with the previous volumes. The articles in this volume deal with phosphodiesterase inhibitors and their therapeutic potential in asthma; peptide receptor ligand drugs; aldose reductase inhibitors; the design and discovery of new drugs by stepping-down and stepping-up approaches; new synthetic ligands for L-type voltage gated calcium channels and with luteolytic agents in fertility regula tion. III the 33 years that "Progress in Drug Research" has existed, the Edi tor has enjoyed the valuable help and advice of many colleagues. Readers, the authors of the reviews, and last but not least, the review ers have all contributed greatly to the success of this series. Although the comments received so far have generally been favorable, it is nevertheless necessary to analyze and to reassess the current position and the future direction of such a review series."

Over the past five years, the immense financial pressure on the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals has resulted in the increasing use and acce- ance of disposables, which are discarded after harvest and therefore intended only for single use. In fact, such disposables are implemented in all the main bioprocess production stages today and an even higher growth than those in the biopharmac- tical market is predicted (reaching double figures). Alongside disposable filter capsules, membrane chromatography units, tubing, connectors, flexible containers processing or containing fluids, freezer systems, mixers and pumps, and fully c- trolled disposable bioreactors of up to 2,000 L culture volume are already available on the market. Numerous studies highlight the advantages of disposable bioreactors and reveal their potential for simple, safe and fast seed inoculum production, process devel- ment and small as well as middle volume production (e.g. bioactive substances, viruses for vaccines and gene therapies etc.). They suggest that such disposable bioreactors (typically characterized by the cultivation chamber or bag from plastic materials) may be advantageous for plant, animal and microbial cells. Running industrial activities such as CFD-modelling, development of single-use process monitoring and control technology, and standardized film formulations are attempting to resolve the limitations of the current disposable bioreactors. These achievements, along with substantial improvements in product yield, will reduce the use of stainless steel in the biomanufacturing facilities of the future.

Volume 24 includes six contributions, the author and paper index of volumes 1-24 and the key-word index. Since volume 23 included an index for volumes 16-23 the reader has the possibility to use these monographs as an encyclopedia and is in the position to find references to almost all fields of drug research. The editor hopes that the articles of the present volume will prove interesting and useful to many scientists and would be grateful to receive suggestions and opinions from readers, as in the past case over the 20 years in which this series of monographs has existed. In this respect, thanks are due to all colleagues who have provided helpful criticism of past volumes, thereby helping the editor in his work. Dr. A. Naf again has assisted the editor and has carefully reviewed all manuscripts, formulae and references, and has corrected the proofs. Thanks are due to him for this immense work. At the same time, the editor would like to thank the publishers and printers, Verlag Birkhliu ser, in particular Messrs. Th. Birkhliuser and C. Einsele, for the excellent cooperation and the work they have accomplished."

Wenn uber Fortschritte der Chemie der Gallotannine berichtet werden soll, so muss ein Ausgangspunkt gewahlt werden, von dem aus die neu gewonnenen Erkenntnisse geschildert werden. Das ist in unserem Falle nicht schwer. EMIL FISCHER hatte fur das chinesische Gallotannin (aus den Blattgallen von Rhus semialata) und das turkische Gallotannin (aus den Zweiggallen von Quercus infectoria) das bekannte Bauprinzip der polygalloylierten Glucosen herausgearbeitet. Aber weder ihm noch KARRER (43, 44) ist es moglich gewesen, aus dem Gemisch von Substanzen, die sie untersuchten, einzelne Individuen zu isolieren, deren exakte Konstitution man hatte aufklaren und angeben konnen. Auch mit den modernen Methoden der Gegenstromverteilung und Verteilungschromato graphie ist eine Auf trennung dieser Gemische offenbar bis heute noch nicht gelungen. Ahnlich liegen die Verhaltnisse beim Sumach-Gerbstoff (aus Rhus coriaria), von dem MUNz (58) gezeigt hat, dass der Hauptteil der Substanz aus einer Pentagalloyl-glucose besteht. Erwahnt man noch das Glucogallin und Tetrarin, die GILSON (30, 30a) aus chinesischem Rhabarber isoliert hat, und das Acertannin, ein Digalloyl-anhydrohexit aus koreanischem Acer ginnale, von PERKIN und UYEDA (65), so hat man die im Jahre 1929 bekannten Forschungsergebnisse zusammengestellt, mit Ausnahme des Hamameli-tannins und der Chebulinsaure, die aber im nachstehenden Bericht noch ausfuhrlicher behandelt werden. Somit kann also das Jahr 1929 als Ausgangspunkt fur die vorliegende Berichterstattung gewahlt werden. 11. Gallotannine: Ellagsaure-freie Gerbstoffe. I. Hamameli-tannin."

All the important pharmacological interactions affecting thyroid function are described in this book. The first section is devoted to the physiology and biochemistry of thyroid disease, putting the pharmacological interactions into perspective. The second section reviews all the important pharmacological effects on thyroid function and also deals with the impact of other environmental agents. The chapters are written by internationally recognised experts and extensively referenced to provide an up-to-date review of the pharmacological interactions important to the thyroid and its diseases.

A comprehensive guide to multiple sclerosis, discussing: clinical features, diagnosis, disease-modifying therapy, & symptom & medical management written by world-renowned experts in neurology, specifically MS. Dr Cohen and Dr Rae-Grant who are renowned researchers and physicians in the field of MS and are investigators on several key drug trials.

Extensive use of illustrations and succinct format makes this book an easily accessible and key reference guide.

Reviews cutting-edge agents currently in development, while also discussing the clinical features and standard diagnosing criteria and practices of MS from the clinician s perspective

Designed to include thorough descriptions of standard and novel treatment therapies in MS.

Explains how to most effectively use the top therapies in MS in the context of a clinical practice and based on investigational trials.

Concise but comprehensive

Over the past 30 years, there have been significant advances in our understanding of MS due to the use of MRIs to better visualize the disease and due to the introduction of new ameliorating drugs. However, MS is still an incurable disease and diagnosis remains challenging for many physicians; for instance, symptoms often mimic MS, and there is no specific test for the disease. To ensure optimal patient care, there is a need for physicians to remain up to date with new drugs on the market, disease detection, diagnosis, and latest management options.

The Handbook of Multiple Sclerosis provides a concise, easily accessible guide for all healthcare professionals involved in the diagnosis and management of this condition, including standard therapies, as well as more novel treatments. The book will also include comprehensive evaluations of the pharmacological treatments available, including novel investigational agents currently in development.

"

Volume 41 of "Progress in Orug Research" contains eight reviews and the various indexes which facilitate its use and establish the con nection with the previous volumes. The articles in this volume deal with teratogenesis; nephrotoxicity; bacterial resistance to P. lactam antibiotics; eradication of diseases by vaccination; chirality and drug design; endogenous digitalis-like factors; erythropoietin; and sero tonin (5HT)-antagonists. 3 All these articles give an excellent overview of the respective fields of research. In the 33 years that POR has existed, the Editor has enjoyed the valu able help and advice of many colleagues. Readers, the authors of the reviews, and last but not least, the reviewers have all contributed greatly to the success of this series. Although the comments received so far have generally been favorable, it is nevertheless necessary to analyze and to reassess the current position and the future direction of such a review series. So far, it has been the Editors intention to help disseminate informa tion on the vast domain of drug research, and to provide the reader with a tool with which to keep abreast of the latest developments and trends. The reviews in POR are useful to the non-specialists, who can obtain an overview of a particular field of research in a relatively short time. The specialist readers of POR will appreciate the reviews' comprehensive bibliographies, and, in addition, they may even get fresh impulses for their own research."

Contrast media are drugs by default. Had there been no default, there would be no need for a related pharmacology, and thus no need for this book. Radiographic contrast media (CM) are substances whose primary purpose is to enhance diagnostic information of medical imaging systems. The position of CM in pharmacology is unique. First, there is the unusual requirement of biological inertness. An ideal CM should be completely biologically inert, i.e., stable, not pharmacologically active, and efficiently and innocuously excretable. Because they fail to meet these requirements, CM must be considered drugs. The second unusual aspect of CM is that they are used in large quantities, their annual production being measured in tens of tons. It is not in spite of, but because of, the increased use of new radiographic systems, computed tomography, digital radiography, etc., that consumption is on the rise. And, it is not likely that the other emerging imaging modalities - NMR, ultrasonography, etc. - will displace radiographic CM soon; it is quite probable that these remarkable compounds will continue to play an active role in diagnostic imaging in the foreseeable future.

The 19th volume deals, as did its predecessor, with current problems of tropical medicine. Both volumes are based on various international Symposia which were held in Bombay on the occasion of the 75-year Platinum Jubilee of the Haffkine Institute in the Spring of 1974. The contributions in the 19th volume are based on lectures at thetast three Symposia which dealt with Helminthiasis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Cholera. The 70 articles provide the reader with an impressive cross-section of the current state of specialized knowledge on the subject and the outstanding problems. Even today, researchers from various disciplines are still confronted with numerous unsolved problems in tropical medicine, and it is to be hoped that the 18th and 19th volumes will provide a stimulus for intensified research in the area of tropical medicine. The editor further hopes that, in the future, a still more fruitful co-operation between developed and developing countries will come about. The editor owes special thanks to Dr. Rafiq Zakaria, Minister, Dr. Gaitonde, as well as Dr. Anand and Dr. Chadha, who were responsible for the organisa tion of the Symposia on which the 19th volume is based. Thanks are also extended to Dr. A. Niif for his conscientious revision of the manuscripts and correction of the galley proofs. In addition, thanks are due to the publishers and the printers, Birkhiiuser, especially to Dr. A. Birkhiiuser, Th. Birkhauser and C. Einsele for their accurate printing and fine presentation of the volume."

Volume 21 of "Progress in Drug Research" contains 5 contributions from various areas of drug research and therapy. As in previous volumes, in the present volume the authors have also tried not only to summarise the current status of particular fields of drug research, but also to provide leads for future research activity. The various contributions in this volume will be of especial value not only to those actively concerned in resolving the diverse problems in drug research, but also to those who wish to keep abreast ofthe latest developments in- fluencing modem therapy. In addition, it is believed that volume 21 and the previous 20 volumes of "Progress in Drug Research" so far published represent a useful reference work of an encyclopaedic character. The editor would also like to take this opportunity of expressing his gratitude to Dr. A. Naffor carefully working over the manuscripts and correcting proofs. Thanks are also due to the publishers and the printers, Druckerei Birkhauser, especially to Dr. A. Birkhauser, Th. Birkhiiuser and C. Einsele, for their painstaking work on the printing and lay-out of the volume. August 1977 Dr. E. JUCKER Sandoz AG, Basel Vorwort Der 21. Band der "F ortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung" umfasst 5 Beitriige aus verschiedenen Gebieten der Arzneimittelforschung> und der Therapie.

One of the most active areas of contemporary organic chemistry involves the search for new catalysts that borrow concepts, strategies and even components from enzymes but yet are not found in nature. Such artificial enzymes not only give enormous insights into the mechanisms of enzyme catalysis but also offer the potential for catalyzing a wide range of chemical reactions with no counterpart in nature. Several approaches have been taken in the deVelopment of new catalysts, some based on biological methods and others on synthetic techniques. Site directed mutagenesis has allowed the direct replacement of amino acids in an enzyme with resulting changes in stability, selectivity and mechanism. Recent developments have shown that even non-natural amino acids can be incorporated into proteins and also that enzymes can function effectively in organic solvents. A different biological route to artificial enzymes has exploited the immune system and its ability to generate millions of antibodies to a given antigen. Novel antigens have been designed to mimic the transition states of chemical reactions. Antibodies elicited against these antigens thus contain an active site that is complementary to transition state structure and can potentially catalyze target reactions. A broad range of reactions can now be 6 catalyzed using the method with rate accelerations reaching 10 compared to the control reactions. Protein engineering and catalytic antibodies represent complex solutions to the problem of artificial enzymes. Their complexity is however their principal limitation.

Volume 22 of 'Progress in Drug Research' contains 8 contributions from vari ous areas of drug research and therapy. As in previous volumes, in the present volume the authors have also tried not only to summarize the current status of particular fields of drug research, but also to provide leads for future research activity. The various contributions in this volume will be of especial value not only to those actively concerned in resolving the diverse problems in drug research, but also to those who wish to keep abreast of the latest developments influencing modem therapy. In addition, it is believed that volume 22 and the previous 21 volumes of 'Progress in Drug Research' so far published represent a useful reference work of an encyclopaedic character. The editor would also like to take this opportunity of expressing his gratitude to those who reviewed the previous volumes of this series of monographs and, by doing so gave useful advice for the future volumes. At the same time, thanks are expressed to Dr. A. Naf for carefully working over the manuscripts and correcting proofs. Thanks are also due to the publishers and the printers, Druckerei Birkhauser, especially to Messrs. Th. Birkhauser and C. Einsele. Unfortunately, this is the last volume which went into ptess during Dr. A. Birkhauser's lifetime; he passed away on March 4, 1978 and the editor would like to stress the fact'tl;tat."

Local treatment cures about 30 to 40% of cancers, this proportion depending on the follow-up required to establish it. This means that 60 to 70% of the malignant neoplasias are disseminated either perceptibly (leukemias, visible metas- tases) or imperceptibly, forming a 'minimal imperceptible disease', which local treatment leaves, whether it consists of surgery, radiotherapy, or surgery plus radiotherapy. When the neoplastic tissue is voluminous enough to be per- ceptible, cures can be obtained with chemotherapy or chemo- immunotherapy. When the neoplastic disease is imperceptible, made up of micrometastases, it apparently can be cured by systemic postsurgical chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or chemoimmunotherapy. Hence there is the need for intensive development of these medical therapies which are applied by the medical oncol- ogist and, at present, consist of chemotherapy, immuno- therapy, or chemoimmunotherapy. These medical thera- peutics can only grow with scientific development, the main weapon of which is experimental and clinical pharmacology. These volumes report the communications presented at the 1979 EORTC Annual Plenary Session on Cancer Chemo- and Immunopharmacology.

This book deals with the methods and scientific basis of inhalation toxicology. It describes devices and facilities needed to expose animals to inhaled particles and gases as well as approaches to estimating or measuring the fraction of the inhaled material that is retained in the respiratory tract. The book then reviews the evergrowing repertoire of techniques that can be used to measure the responses elicited by the exposure. Quantitative and qualitative anatomical, physiological, and biochemical strategies are discussed in detail. We believe that the toxicology of inhaled materials is an important and timely topic for several'reasons. During the past decade, morbidity and mortality attributable to cardiovascular disease have significantly decreased. Progress in combatting cancer, the second most important cause of death, has been slower, and lung cancer actually became the leading cause of death in men and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. In addition, the incidence of non-neo plastic respiratory diseases such as emphysema, fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis has increased the past decade. In the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has recently reported that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects nearly 10 miliion persons and accounts for 59,000 deaths yearly; indeed, it ranks as the fifth leading cause of death. Because the incidence is increasing, the NIH estimates that it may become the nation's fourth or even third leading cause of death by the year 2000."

Most drugs, toxins, hormones, and the like bring about their biologic actions by reacting with specific receptors somewhere in the body. Scientists working in all areas of biologic science have shown increasing interest in the analysis of drug-receptor interactions in the broadest sense. Studies of drugs (binding) to receptors in situ and to isolated and partly purified receptors are becoming common practice. The action of a drug in the body is, however, a kinetic event not only with respect to transport of drug molecules to the environment of the receptors, but also with respect to the drug-receptor interaction itself. Kinetics of Drug Action is an integrative approach to drug transport through the body, membrane transport toward the receptors, and the kinetics of drug receptor interaction. This volume is aimed at providing a critical and penetrating study of the problems relevant to the kinetics or drug action from drug dosage to the final response. It is felt that the critical surveys presented in this volume will contribute significantly to receptor study research in various biologic fields and to a better understanding of drug action. I would like to express my gratitude to our secretary Miss MARGOT JANSSEN for the extensive typing of manuscripts and to our laboratory assistant Miss COBY HURKMANS for her dedicated assistance in the correcting some of the manuscripts and preparating the index."