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.

51 worldwide leading experts in the field of erythrocyte research contributed to this first book on transport processes in red blood cells. It explains the latest findings on the basis of well-established principles, in an accessibly structured and carefully organized compilation.

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.