Since 1948, hydrocortisone (cortisol), the principal glucocorticoid (GC) of the human adrenal cortex has been successfully used at phar- macological concentrations for the suppression of clinical manifesta- tions of rheumatoid arthritis. Numerous compounds with GC activity have also been developed and used. Fifty years after their initial clinical use, GCs are still the most im- portant and frequently prescribed class of anti-inflammatory drugs for various inflammatory disorders. They are administered either orally, parenterally (intravenous, intramuscular, intrathecal), or topically (cu- taneous, intranasal, pulmonic, rectal). Despite the many beneficial ef- fects of GCs, they also have their limitations and disadvantages that occur with varying prevalence on different organs and after different durations of therapy. These side-effects can range in severity from cos- metic (e.g. telangiectasias, hypertrichosis) to seriously disabling (e.g. induction of glaucoma, diabetes, osteoporosis) or even life-threatening disorders (e.g. gastric haemorrhage). These adverse effects of GCs se- riously handicap their successful use as anti-inflammatory agents. There is therefore a strong need for the development of substances with the anti-inflammatory potency of classical GCs but with reduced side-effects.

The environment consists of the surroundings in which an organism operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelation. It is this environment which is both so valuable, on the one hand, and so endangered on the other. And it is people which are by and large ruining the environment both for themselves and for all other organisms. This book reviews the latest research in this field which is vital for everyone.

A black hole is a point of extreme mass in space-time with a radius, or event horizon, inside of which all electromagnetic radiation (including light) is trapped by gravity. A black hole is an extremely compact object, collapsed by gravity which has overcome electric and nuclear forces. It is believed that stars appreciably larger than the Sun, once they have exhausted all their nuclear fuel, collapse to form black holes: they are "black" because no light escapes their intense gravity. Material attracted to a black hole, though, gains enormous energy and can radiate part of it before being swallowed up. Some astronomers believe that enormously massive black holes exist in the centre of our galaxy and of other galaxies. This book brings together leading research from throughout the world.

Organometallic chemistry is based on the reactions and use of a class of compounds (R-M) that contain a covalent bond between carbon and metal. They are prepared either by direct reaction of the metal with an organic compound or by replacement of a metal from another organometallic substance. Research in organometallic chemistry is also conducted in the areas of cluster synthesis, main-group derivatives in unusual oxidation states, organometallic polymers, unstable organometallic compounds and intermediates in matrices, structure determination of organometallic compounds in the solid state [X-ray diffraction] and gaseous states [electron diffraction], and mechanisms of reactions of transient silylenes and related species. . In addition to the traditional metals and semimetals, elements such as selenium, lithium and magnesium are considered to form organometallic compounds, e.g. organomagnesium compounds MeMgI, iodo(methyl)magnesium and diethylmagnesium which are Grignard reagents an organo-lithium compound BuLi butyllithium; Organometallic compounds often find practical use as catalysts, the processing of petroleum products and the production of organic polymers.