Confocal Microscopy Methods and ProtocolsS W. P (Ed.). Volume 122 in the Series

Methods in Molecular Biology. Series Editor: John M.Walker. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 1999. No. of pages:464. Price: $99.50. ISBN: 0 89603 526 3.Within the last 3 months, my colleagues and I have had

published a general review chapter on confocal microscopy inVolume 114 of this very series. The volume, entitled CalciumSignaling Protocols, also contained a further chapter describ-ing more specific applications of confocal laser scanningmicroscopy to calcium measurement. I was therefore just alittle surprised to have Volume 122 land on my desk for review!However, this is a very active research field and there is muchto be gleaned from the hard-won experience of colleagues.Also, some of the key laboratories in the field were to be seenamongst the list of addresses of the contributors and the list of46 authors included some very eminent scientists. So it was anambivalent rather than independent reviewer who set out toreview the volume.

As far as contents go, the present volume has an introduc-tory section of four chapters that contains some very generallyapplicable material. No confocal microscope user can performeffectively without such information. Following this, there is arun of eight chapters describing techniques of confocal analysisof some fashionable experimental subjects of study. Theserange phylogenetically from yeasts, via higher plants, nema-todes, and insects, extending ultimately to vertebrate embryos.The last 12 chapters deal with some of the more interestingspecialized applications and aspects of the method that couldbe very valuable in particular contexts.

Where are the strengths and weaknesses of the volume?Fortunately, there are more of the former than the latter, so Iwill relate these first. The strengths lie in the authorship: theenthusiasm of practitioners passing on their hard-won experi-ence to other users is evident throughout, making this asurprisingly enjoyable read. It would not be fair to pick outindividual chapters, because all met their self-declared aimsprofessionally, but some, because of their subject matter, willbe more generally useful than others. The details towards theend of the volume regarding image display, rendering, andhard-copy production were particularly helpful and the basicinformation on light-paths, optics, and fluorescence phenom-enology at the beginning were also good value. Throughoutthe volume, there was a liberal approach to sign-posting theWorld Wide Web (www). There are valuable url’s, list serversubscription details, and a useful free download site given thatwill allow a reader to engage in the electronic networking thatis so effectively used in this area of research.

One word of warning: it would probably be better to readthe chapter on stereo-viewing methods in private. You couldcause a bit of a stir in the library as you follow the cross-eyed-viewing practice routines using your finger as a foresight. Orworse, you may be spotted as you place the edge of a sheet ofcard against the tip of your nose whilst you hold up a book tohelp train your eyes to sight in parallel so that you can viewstereograms in ‘publish mode’! That said, this chapter, with itsdirect personal style, was undoubtedly one of the most effectivein the book.

Concerning the weaknesses, this is definitely a ‘bench-book’,and not one for a bibliophile. The copy editing and productionare poor and it is littered with typographical errors. I simplyopened my copy and some of the pages fell out. The apparentlyniggardly approach to production has resulted in a poorallocation of colour plates in what should be a riotous volume.The few (handsome) colour plates are tucked away together inone group and are not found adjacent to the relevant text.Some breathtakingly beautiful black and white illustrationswere subjected to ‘house-style-lettering’ of the crudest kind,

with block lettering imposed on whatever other fonts theauthors had used in preparing their illustrations. In keepingwith this criticism, the index, too, is limited in scope.

In answer to the straight question ‘Is this book worthbuying?’, my answer is a definite yes; a range of specialistscould benefit from the purchase. The list of appropriate buyersmight incude a library serving a research-active University orGraduate School of Biological Science or Medicine, a teamrunning a microscopy facility, anybody with a well-fundedgroup working with or intending to work with confocalmicroscopy or allied techniques, and any team within acompany making microscopes or selling consumables into themicroscopy market. Interested readers in all these settings willfind that there are rewarding nuggets of information here thatcan make their professional lives easier and more productive.

C. D. OAdvanced Light Microscope Facility,

Leicester University

145BOOK REVIEWS

Copyright ? 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Tumors of the Ovary, Maldeveloped Gonads, Fallopian Tubeand Broad Ligament. Atlas of Tumor Pathology. Third Series,Fascicle 23R E. S, R H. Y and P B.

C. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology,Washington, DC, 1998. No. of pages: 527. Price: $95.00.ISBN: 1 881041 43 3.

This fascicle is an update of, and significant improvementon, the previous edition which was published in 1979. Aspreviously, the book contains chapters on ovarian structureand function and epithelial, germ cell, and sex cord-stromaltumours of the ovary. The section on paraneoplastic syn-dromes associated with ovarian tumours has been considerablyexpanded and a new section on extraovarian tumours resem-bling ovarian tumours has been included. The addition oftumours of the Fallopian tube and broad ligament to thisfascicle is logical, given the histopathological similarity and thesimilarities in clinical behaviour of many of the lesions whichoccur in these sites.

The book is extensively illustrated with both macroscopicand microscopic photographs, most of which are of highquality. Colour photographs predominate, with 513 colourand 285 black-and-white photographs being included. Manyof these photographs have been reproduced from seminalpapers describing the entities illustrated. Each section is appro-priately referenced, allowing the reader to delve easily into theliterature on a particular tumour type. The references areup-to-date (some from 1998) and discussion of recent develop-ments, particularly the role of inhibin immunostaining, isincluded where appropriate.

Overall, this is an excellent volume written by experiencedand well-published authors who deal well with a difficultdiagnostic area. The book should be part of the library ofany histopathology laboratory dealing with gynaecologicalpathology.

C. S. HDepartment of Pathology,

University of Liverpool

Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Atlas of Tumor Pathology:Tumors of the Esophagus and Stomach. CD-ROM versionK J. L and H D. A. Armed Forces

Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, 1998. Price:$65.00. ISBN: 1 881041 39 5.

It will come as no surprise to anyone with experience of thisseries that the content of this book is excellent. The coverage of

J. Pathol. 189: 144–146 (1999)