We are pleased to present to our readers the proceedings of the Seventh Internat ional Workshop on Phosphate and other Minerals which was held in Marsielle, France during September 1-4, 1985. It was hosted by Professor Michel Olmer, the Chief of the Divison of Nephrology in Hopital de la Conception of the University of D'Aix Marsielle II. The workshop was attended by 250 scientists from 17 countries including Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Republic of C'.ermany, Egypt, England, France, Israel, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the United States of America. There were 28 invited presentations by leading scientists and 40 oral and 75 poster presentations selected from over 200 abstracts submitted to the Organizing Commi ttee. This meet ing provided an excellent opportuni ty for interested scientists from interrelated disciplines including nephrology, endcrinology, physiology, biochemistry and nutrition to get together and discuss recent advances in the field of phosphate and mineral metabolism."

This is the second edition of a full colour reference atlas published first to excellent reviews in 1994. Every renal unit needs to have a reference text of this kind and urine microscopy is an important diagnostic aid in nephrology. After the 'Historical Introduction' by J Stewart Cameron, chapter 1 descibes the methods used to prepare and analyse the urine samples. Chapter 2, which is the most important section of the book, describes with the help of 249 illustrations (over 200 in full colour) the elements of the urinary sediment. Chapter 3 deals with the urinary sediment of the normal subject, while chapter 4 deals with the urinary changes which are observed in the main diseases of the kidney and urinary tract. Chapter 5 describes the changes of the urinary sediment caused by drugs. Chapter 6 is about the interpretation of the urinary findings shown in the previous chapters. Chapter 7 covers the new systems to analyse the urinary sediments. An appendix shows how to adjust the microscope to analyse the urine specimens. The primary audience is practising nephrologists and nephrologists in training, and also those in internal medicine rotating through the renal unit who perform routinely the analysis of the urinary sediment. Clinical pathologists would also find this an attractive and useful book. The illustrations are outstanding and additional clinical information has been added in this new edition. From review from the Lancet of the first edition in comparison with a competing title: 'Every nephrologist knows and teaches that urine microscopy is an important diagnostic aid. What has been urgently needed is a colour guide to the subject.....I preferred the pictures in the European book. They were of high quality, not repetitive and with clear legends...if I wanted to teach myself.. then the European book was well ahead. The latter is also accompanied by an elegant introductory essay by JS Cameron on the history of urine analysis. Every renal unit needs at least one of these books.' The Lancet

Clinical nephrology is confronted with an emerging medical catastrophy of international proportions; endstage renal failure in patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on a number of recent studies it has become apparent, that nephrology in type 2 diabetes is a preventable condition, at least in principle. It is for this reason that it appeared timely to summarize the current state of knowledge concerning nephropathy in type 2 diabetes giving an update on the predisposing factors on which interventions are of proven benefit and on the accepted standards of management of such patients. This concise monograph is addressed not only to nephrologists, but also diabetologists and general practitioners. It is hoped that it will help to improve clinical outcomes in the future.

Das Buch zeigt, wie eine Gemeinschaft von Denkenden entstehen kann, die Fragen nach den Grundlagen menschlicher Wirklichkeit nachgeht und zu philosophischer Orientierung gelangt..Eswerden 26 typische Situationen des Philosophieunterrichts aufgegriffen: Aus Lehrerperspektive werden die durch die Situation gestellten Aufgaben und die dazu gehorenden Impulse und Gestaltungsmoglichkeiten aufgezeigt. In der Abfolge der Situationen ist eine Entwicklung eingeschrieben, die in vier "Exkursen" ausgewiesen wird.Zunehmend wird deutlich, wie Schulerinnen und Schuler und Lehrkrafte eine Forschungsgemeinschaft aufbauen, Interesse an Philosophie entfalten, sich zusammen und als Einzelne Kompetenzen der Orientierung im Denken zueigen machen und in eine Entwicklung gelangen konnen, der sich philosophische Bildung verdanken mag. Das Buch zeigt LehrerInnen, ReferendarInnen, Studierenden sowie LehramtsausbilderInnen und DozentInnen der Hochschulen praxisnah, wie mit philosophischen Herausforderungen in Lern- und Lehrsituationen konstruktiv und fruchtbar umgegangen werden kann.