The book appeared in two previous Slovak editions for university students in Czechoslovakia. This edition presents a completely new version updated according to recent advances not only in immunochemistry and essential immunology but also in molecular biology, biochemistry and molecular genetics. The scope of the book is considerable since the goal was to cover the field of immunochemistry from the widest point of view including both the topic and methods of contemporary immunochemistry. Each chapter provides basic information on a specific subtopic, clearly and understandab ly, and presents principles of individual immunochemical methods. I am confident that the book will fill the gap between the books on essential immunology and highly specialised books on individual areas of immunoche mistry (e. g. on antibodies, antigens, numerous immunochemical techniques, etc. ). It may also prove useful for beginning investigators from different biological and medical fields as it supplies basic information needed for solving their scientific problems by immunochemical approaches. I do hope that readers will find the text stimulatory and pleasury to read. I wish to thank all colleagues and friends for supplying their own results, suggestions and for their encouraging comments. My thanks go also to the editors and publishers for their valuable contribution to the preparation of the book. 1 Introduction The term immunochemistry was coined by the Swedish chemist ARRHENIUS who used it for the first time in his lectures in 1907."

Die Standardlehrbucher zur Immunologie bieten meist sehr komplexe und detaillierte Informationen, die beim Leser bestimmte Kenntnisse uber Biochemie, Physiologie und Mikrobiologie voraussetzen. Dieses Kompendium wurde fur den "Erstkontakt" mit dieser komplexen Thematik konzipiert. Wichtige Basisinformationen uber die Struktur und Funktion von Zellen des Immunsystems, uber Antikorper, Zytokine und andere regulatorischen Molekule, sowie uber Abwehrmechanismen gegen Infektionserreger und spontan entstehende Tumore werden ebenso beschrieben wie unspezifische und spezifische Immunantworten und Storungen des Immunsystems durch Autoimmerkrankungen oder Allergien. Aufgrund der didaktischen Aufbereitung und den zahlreichen anschaulichen Abbildungen ist dieses Werk bestens als Nachschlagewerk und Lehrbuch fur Studenten der Medizin und Naturwissenschaften geeignet."

This dictionary provides a comprehensive list of the terms and definitions commonly used in clinical rheumatology and osteology, and the new edition has been extended to include more than 50 additional entries. The book contains systematic descriptions relating to diseases of the locomotor apparatus, including osteoporosis, and important laboratory findings; special reference is made to the immunological parameters, which are essential for correct definition of rheumatologic disorders. Another focus is the general principles of pharmacological treatment, including biologicals and modern therapy. Information is also provided on individual disorders in the field of mineral metabolism and metabolic osteopathies and basic issues in rheumatic surgery. General entries are included from the fields of physical medicine and physiotherapy, including a system of functional assessment. The Dictionary of Rheumatology will be of value for medical students and all who are training in this specialty.

Rheumatic Diseases and Osteoporosis are very common diseases. Recently the prevalence of Arthritis among American citizens is documented with 20%. This dictionary provides a comprehensive list of common terms and definitions in clinical rheumatology and osteology. It contains systematical descriptions selected from diseases of the locomotor apparatus, including osteoporosis, and important laboratory findings with special reference to the immunological parameters, which are essential for a correct definition of rheumatologic disorders. Another focus is placed on general principles of the pharmacological treatment, including Biologicals and modern therapy. The book also provides information about the individual disorders from the field of mineral metabolism and metabolic osteopathy s, and covers basic issues of rheumatic surgery as well as general entries from the fields of physical medicine and physiotherapy, including a system of functional assessment.