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.

Dr. Richard Polin's Neonatology Questions and Controversies series highlights the most challenging aspects of neonatal care, offering trustworthy guidance on up-to-date diagnostic and treatment options in the field. In each volume, renowned experts address the clinical problems of greatest concern to today's practitioners, helping you handle difficult practice issues and provide optimal, evidence-based care to every patient. - Stay fully up to date in this fast-changing field with Nephrology and Fluid/Electrolyte Physiology, 3rd Edition. - New chapters on Inherited Disorders of Calcium, Phosphate and Magnesium; Fluid and Electrolyte Management of High Risk Infants; Renal Development and Molecular Pathogenesis of Renal Dysplasia; and Prenatal Programming, which describes how prenatal insults can result in hypertension, kidney and cardiovascular disease. - The most current clinical information, including new content on the molecular basis for hereditary tubulopathies and inherited disorders of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium homeostasis. - New information on genetics and pharmacology, neonatal hypertension, diuretic use in the newborn, prenatal programming of adult diseases, lung fluid balance, and much more. - Consistent chapter organization to help you find information quickly and easily. - The most authoritative advice available from world-class neonatologists who share their knowledge of new trends and developments in neonatal care. Purchase each volume individually, or get the entire 7-volume set!Gastroenterology and NutritionHematology, Immunology and GeneticsHemodynamics and CardiologyInfectious Disease and Pharmacology New Volume!Nephrology and Fluid/Electrolyte PhysiologyNeurologyThe Newborn Lung

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 textbook provides an overview of pain management useful to specialists as well as non-specialists, surgeons, and nursing staff.

The original series, Advances in Prostaglandin Research, edited by Sultan M. M. Karim, was published by MTP Press in three volumes in 1975 and 1976. A glance at those books illustrates the progress that has been made since then. The thromboxanes were mentioned twice (first publication 1975) and prostacyclin not once (first publication 1976); leukotrienes were only on the horizon. The amazing generation of research data in the last 10-15 years has given new, broad insights into many areas, including asthma, inflammation, renal, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases and in reproduction, and has led in some instances to real clinical benefit. This series, Advances in Eicosanoid Research, reflects the current understanding of prostaglandins , thromboxanes and leukotrienes. The aim is to provide an introductory background to each topic and the most up-to-date information available. Although each book stands alone, the eicosanoids cut across many boundaries in their basic actions; selected chapters from each book in the series will provide illuminating and productive information for all readers which will advance their education and research. In the production of this series, I must acknowledge with pleasure my collaboration with editors and authors and the patient endeavours of Dr Michael Brewis and the staff at MTP Press. KEITH HlLUER University of Southampton England ix Preface This book is an appraisal of areas in human reproduction where eicosanoid studies (prostaglandins, leukotrienes and thromboxanes) are contributing to physiological and pathological awareness and clinical advances.

The Encyclopedia of Pain includes more than 3,000 entries and provides clear, detailed and up-to-date coverage of the current state of research, and treatment of pain. In addition, detailed essays provide in-depth information on all aspects of nociception and pain, including substrates, causes, pathophysiology, symptoms and signs, diagnoses and treatment. A thousand color figures enhance understanding of this too-little-understood topic. The book is available in print, in online only form, or in a print-online bundle.

It is clear today that several prostaglandins play an important role in the regulation of many of the physiological events of the reproductive organs in the human. Both naturally occurring prostaglandins and their analogues are used routinely in many countries to ripen the cervix and induce labour at term as well as to dilate the cervix and to terminate pregnancy. Prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea. The editors have aimed at an accurate, thorough, yet easily under standable review of the status in 1986 of medical knowledge regarding both the physiological importance and the clinical use of prostaglan dins and their inhibitors in obstetrics and gynaecology. I believe this book will be of value for all clinicians concerned with reproductive health. The list of authors guarantees an authoritative and up-to-date review of this active field. SUNE BERGSTROM Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Table Examples of clinical use of natural prostaglandins and some prostaglandin analogues Indications Prostaglandin Route of administration Manufacturer Dilatation of the cervix prior 15-methyl-PGF • Intramuscular Upjohn, USA 2 to vacuum aspiration 16-phenoxy-PGE methyl sulphonylamide Intramuscular Schering AG, West Germany 2 16,16-dimethyl-PGE methyl ester 1 Vaginal ONO, Japan; May & Baker, UK Second trimester abortion Intra -amniotic Upjohn, USA; ONO, Japan PGF 20 Upjohn, USA PGE Vaginal 2 Upjohn, USA 15-methyl-PGF 2.