Due to the high degree of biological similarity between primates and humans, monkeys and apes have been used successfully in medical research for many decades. Medical Primatology: History, Biological Foundations and Applications provides a comprehensive summary linking the use of monkeys and apes in biomedical research to their kinship with humans. The book begins by discussing the history of this research, and then focuses on the biological foundations upon which medical primatology has been built. Primate taxonomy and evolution are reviewed, using not only traditional sources of data, but also recent experimental evidence from molecular biology, genetics, and biomedicine that indicates the need to place higher simians in the family of man. Condensing a broad range of scientific literature into one volume, this will be a useful reference for specialists in the biological sciences and medicine, as well as researchers involved in biological, anthropological, biomedical, clinical, and pharmacological research on primates.

First multi-year cumulation covers six years: 1965-70.

In the Western world, alcohol is the most abused drug. recognized that a majority of patients with cirrhosis do For all the attention being directed toward heroin, co admit to excessive alcohol consumption. Other tissues caine, and marijuana, the favorite mood-altering drug in can also be severely affected, including brain, gut, the United States, as in almost every human society, is heart, endocrine systems, bone, blood, and muscle. A question often raised is, "In what way does an alcoholic alcohol. In nature, the fermentation of sugars is the differ from a nonalcoholic?" Inquiries have focused on major source of ethanol, but how humans first encoun tered it is unclear. It most likely occurred in either psychological make-up, behavioral differences, and socio fermented fruit juices (wine), fermented grain (beer), or economic factors. More recently, however, physical dif fermented honey (mead). Whether the Paleolithic Stone ferences have been delineated. Prior to the development Age man knew of ethanol is undetermined, but it is of various disease entities, chronic ethanol exposure abundantly clear that his Neolithic descendants were results in profound biochemical and morphological familiar with the product of fermentation. With the changes. Consequently, an alcoholic does not respond exception of the original inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, normally to alcohol, other drugs, or even other toxic the Australian aborigines, and some polar tribes, all agents.

In 1962 at the Burg Wartenstein Symposium on "Classification and Human Evolution," Emile Zuckerkandl used the term "molecular anthropology" to characterize the study of primate phylogeny and human evolution through the genetic information contained in proteins and polynucleotides. Since that time, our knowledge of molecular evolution in primates and other organisms has grown considerably. The present volume examines this knowledge especially as it relates to the phyletic position of Homo sapiens in the order Primates and to the trends which shaped the direction of human evolution. Participants from the disciplines of protein and nucleotide chemistry, genetics, statistics, paleon tology, and physical anthropology held cross-disciplinary discussions and argued some of the major issues of molecular anthropology and the data upon which these arguments rest. Chief among these were the molecular clock controversy in hominoid evolution; the molecular evidence on phylogenetic relationships among primates; the evolution of gene expression regulation in primates; the relationship of fossil and molecular data in the Anthropoidea and other pri mates; the interpretation of the adaptive significance of evolutionary changes; and, finally, the impact on mankind of studies in molecular anthropology. Most of the papers in this volume were presented in a preliminary form at Symposium No. 65 on "Progress in Molecular Anthropology" held at Burg Wartenstein, Austria, from July 25 to August 1, 1975. These papers were subsequently revised and some additional papers related to the theme of the symposium were also contributed to this volume.

The Advanced Study Institute on Regression of Atherosclerotic Lesions, sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was held in Maratea, Italy, September 11-13, 1983. The institute was designed to foster discussion of experimental data on the regression of atherosclerosis in animals and evidence of a similar phenomenon in humans. The participating scientists showed with anatomical and biochemical data, that atherosclerosis regresses in cholesterol fed animals after withdrawal of atherogenic stimuli. The existence of regression in humans was inferred from sequential angiographic visualization of arteries, but anatomical and biochemical characteristics of the process have not been defined. Two mechanisms are probably involved in such an angiographic regression. The first, which may occur when hyperlipidemia is partly or fully corrected or during undernutrition or other metabolic abnormalities, may be related to atherosclerosis changes noted in animals undergoing regression. The second type seems independent of changes in plasma lipid levels and may involve resolution of thrombi or other underlying arterial wall factors. The relative frequencies of the two mechanisms are unknown; whether they can occur simultaneously also warrants consideration. It is likely that an exciting milestone will be forthcoming when regression of atherosclerosis is unequivocally demonstrated in humans. Publication of these institute proceedings constitutes a valuable background for future developments.

Each issue lists papers published during the preceding year.