The voluminous literature on prostaglandins includes some excellent reviews. For some time however, there has been a need for the collection in one volume of information from individual experts actively engaged in different aspects of prostaglandin research. This book is an attempt to fulfil that need. In view of the expanding interest and ever-growing accumulation of data of the various effects of prostaglandins it is hoped to revise the book and bring it up-to-date periodically. The largest section is that on reproduction, in which field progress in research and clinical applications thereof have been, and are, of great significance particularly in the area of popula tion control. This is not to decry the skill and efforts of investi gators in other aspects of prostaglandin activity nor the potential biological or therapeutic importance of their findings. In this context, what may appear to be omissions are individual sections on prostaglandin activity in the central nervous system, in the eye and as mediators of the inflammatory response. These are considered in the chapter on General Pharmacology of the Prostaglandins not because they might be considered to be of lesser impact and significance but in order to achieve a rapid publication of the book. S. M. M. KARIM Kampala, Uganda. January 1972. Acknowledgements Tables and Figures previously published are, in general, acknowledged by the reference in the legends and I am grateful to the authors, editors and publishers for their per mission."

Honourable Chairman, distinguished speakers, ladies and gentlemen, May & Baker, Singapore is proud to play a part in organizing and hosting this symposium. I hope that it is not necessary for me to intro duce myself, as Singapore doctors have received my letter of invitation and overseas delegates have received my letter of welcome. It is my very pleasant duty to introduce our Director of Research, Dr J. A. McFadzean, who has come specially to grace this occasion. Dr McFadzean, Sir, may I invite you to say a few words to this gathering of distinguished participants. TanJoo Hock VUl Welcome It is my privilege on behalf of May & Baker to welcome you here today. We have representatives from nine countries - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Sweden and UK. It is appropriate that this Symposium on Cervagem be held in South-east Asia where so much excellent development work was done with this product. Cervagem has resulted from many years of collaborative research and development between May & Baker and the Ono Pharmaceutical Company of Japan. It has been a most happy collaboration from the time the active ingredient ONO-802 was synthesized by the Ono Company. You will hear today of the stage we have reached with the R&D work."

This is the fourth in a series of books on Advances in Prostaglandin Research published by MTP Press. From laboratory and animal studies a large number of practical applications of prostaglandins have been identified. In some areas clinical trials have also been carried out. There is usually a long time interval between identifying practical applications of new drugs and clinical trials. Most of the information on practical applications of prostaglandins is scattered in different journals. Although a number of books dealing with prostaglandin research have been published (including some on practical applications in specific areas, e.g. reproduction) there is no single volume dealing with all areas of practical applications of these substances. This book aims at filling this gap and should be of interest to clinicians as well as to medical and basic scientists in academic institutions and in the pharmaceutical industry. In some areas, exciting potential applications of prostaglandins have been identified from basic research but clinical trials have so far not been carried out. Such areas of practical applications are covered in a separate intro ductory chapter. All contributors to the volume are scientists and clinicians actively engaged in prostaglandin research and most are recognized authorities in specific areas. The need for rapid publication in a fast-expanding field is obvious.