Bradykinin is a type of plasma hormone that causes blood vessels to dilate, resulting in a drop in blood pressure, the contraction of muscles in the lungs, intestines, and uterus, and pain. The Kinin System reviews the molecular biology of the kinins through their roles in a complex array of inflammatory conditions such as asthma, GI disease, cardiovascular complaints and examines the future therapeutic opportunities. From the prepublication reviews: "A delicious masterpiece." --Chef's DigestThe Kinin System is a comprehensive, timely book covering all aspects of the kinin system from its disocvery to the pathophysiology, pharmacology, and molecular biology of the mechanisms regulating kinin production to kinin receptors in health and disease. The authors take a refreshingly different view of the kinin system than previous books on the subject. Several chapters contain new information on the gene expression, regulation, and cell surface presentation of kininogens and kallikreins, as well as new data, some of it from human studies, on the role of kinins in pain angiogenesis, tissue repair, sepsis, arthritis, asthma, allergic rhinits, myocardial ischemia, and other diseases. * * Offers new information on kinin reception, regulation of gene expression of receptors, and kinin-generating proteins. * Provides a distinctly immunopharmacological approach to the kinin system. * Reviews of the role of kinins in disease and inlcudes data from human studies. * Includes information that is fully up-to-date and comprehensive.

This volume presents key topics of current interest with regard to several pathophysiological conditions including (a) the basic and clinical aspects of bradykinin receptor antagonists, (b) the kallikrein-kinin pathways in hypertension and diabetes, (c) tissue kallikrein-kinin therapy for hypertension and organ damage, (d) the renal (tissue) kallikrein-kinin system in the kidney and novel potential drugs for salt-sensitive hypertension, (e) the kallikrein-kinin system in diabetes retinopathy, and (f) genetic manipulation and genetic variation of the kallikrein-kinin system and their impacts on cardiovascular and renal disease. Written by internationally reputed scientists, the book provides an essential overview of the latest developments in the field of kinin research, making it a valuable asset for endocrinologists, nephrologists, cardiologists, pharmacologists, physiologists, ophthalmologists and rheumatologists. Furthermore, it is also intended for postgraduate students in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, physiology and pharmacology, and those working at research organizations.

This issue contains the proceedings of the most recent Inter national Symposium on Brain Edema, the 5th in a series of confer ences starting 1965 in Vienna. The ever since increasing interest in this field may not only result from the fact that - in clinical terms - the problem is not solved yet, but also from the many fascinating physiological and biochemical questions remaining. Moreover, the rapid progress of technical, physiological and bio chemical developments provides a permanent challenge to probe the subject with better and better resolution. The current proceedings provide many examples. It is safe to assume, that the history of brain edema research is familiar to most of its participants. Therefore, suffice it to remark that since the first histopathological recognition of brain edema as a separate entity among the multitude of intracranial space occupying lesions, progress in the understanding of its pathogenesis has not been straightforward. On the contrary, it has been complicated by confusing notions and concepts, some of which may have resulted from the elusiveness of the edematous changes in early histological studies, due to the inadequacy of the light microscope. Although brain edema occurs concomitantly in many pgtho10gica1 conditions of the brain, it has been suggested that its role is collateral only. Nevertheless, the potential of brain edema as a space occupying lesion is not trivial, since it raises intracranial pressure and eventually may result in lethal cerebral herniation.

Scientists from 25 countries came together at the Hyatt Regency Hotel on October 21-25, 1984, for the 4th International Kinin Congress in the beautiful city of Savannah, Georgia. Many of the delegates enjoyed southern hospitality for the first time. The friendly city with its streets lined with the Live Oak Tree (symbol of the Congress), the balmy weather, and the excellent facilities of the hotel set the stage for scientific events and exchange that proved so successful. The organ ization of the meeting was the result of many hours, days and weeks of effort by many, including from Augusta Drs. James H. Sutherland, John Catravas, William Davis, Jr. , and Hiroshi Okamoto; and from Charleston, SC, Julie Chao, Ronald Mayfield and Donald Miller. Special thanks go to Ms. Cher Cornett of the Department of Medical Illustration at the Medical College of Georgia for her talent in the design of the logo, as well as the graphics of the program and abstracts. We are indeed indebted to Dr. Paul Brucker, Director of the Division of Health Communi cations at the Medical College of Georgia, for his considerable aid in spending time with us to arrange the programming format and continuity. Ms. Sandra Usry provided very excellent and devoted secretarial help for several years while the Congress was in the making.