This publication presents the structure and function of biological membranes to improve the understanding of cells in both normal and pathogenic states. Recently, vast amounts of new information have been accumulated, especially about pathological conditions, and there is now much evidence correlating genotypes and phenotypes in normal and disease states. This book surveys the most recent findings in research on the molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics of the membranes of human red blood cells.

This book is devoted to the red blood cell membrane, its structure and function, and abnormalities in disease states. It presents a well-documented and well-illustrated comprehensive picture of clinical manifestations of red blood cell disorders.

The ISOTT 2001 local organizing committee was pleased to welcome over 140 delegates from around the world to the 29th annual general meeting of the International Society for Oxygen Transport to Tissue. The meeting was held in historic Philadelphia, USA, on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania from August 11 to 15, 2001. In the tradition of ISOTT, the conference was a total immersion experience. Attendees were encouraged to eat together and spend their evenings relaxing together in a style that maximized exchange of ideas and interactions of younger scientists with their more senior colleagues. Delegates participated in a total of 122 presentations including poster displays, selected oral presentations, seminars by invited speakers and a round table discussion. In choosing invited speakers and oral presenters, special emphasis was placed on methods for oxygen measurement in living tissue and application of these technologies to understanding physiological and biochemical basis for pathology related to tissue oxygenation. All of the manuscripts contained in this volume underwent both an editorial and scientific review, and only those meeting both criteria have been published. However, while all efforts have been made to eliminate editorial errors, some have undoubtedly been overlooked, for which the editors apologize.

During the past decade we have witnessed a vast expansion in our knowl edge of lipid metabolism, especially for mammalian tissues. One obvious conclusion arising from these studies is that no single overall scheme of lipid metabolism can be classed as distinctly characteristic of all mamma lian organs. Although certain synthetic and degradative lipid pathways are similar in a variety of organs, I have been impressed by the notable exceptions. I was motivated to organize this work on Lipid Metabolism in Mammals because of the lack of a single reference source containing a comparative organ approach to lipid metabolism in mammals that empha sizes the uniqueness of pathways in the various organs of the body. Because of the escalation in lipid research, I also feel strongly that there is an urgent need for an updated concise account of this field. The group of authors for the chapters in the two volumes of Lipid Metabolism in Mammals were selected for their expertise and personal experience with the lipid metabolism of the organs or blood constituents that are the subjects of the chapters. Sufficient leeway has been given each author to approach the subject matter from a personal viewpoint. How ever, the overall direction of each chapter has been slanted to emphasize the similarities and differences in lipid metabolism among organ systems. The introductory chapter on general pathways provides a convenient refer ence to illustrations of specific reaction sequences that are well established and that occur in a number of organs.