Review of the hardback: 'This volume, on the role of nitric oxide (NO) in bone and joint disease, provides not only the expected extensive reviews of the relevant literature, but also raises stimulating questions about NO in its 197 pages; and by concentrating on its role in physiology of bone, cartilage and synovium metabolism, provides a unique collection of articles relating to its function in the wide variety of disease states affecting these tissues.' Max Field, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London

• Foreword Julia M. Polak; Part I. Nitric Oxide and Cytokines: An Introduction: 1. A brief overview of the biology of nitric oxide P. Vallance and S. Moncada; 2. Nitric oxide and immune responses I. B. McInness and F.Y. Liew; 3. Bone biology and pathophysiological mechanisms of bone disease R. G. G. Russell, P. Croucher, B. Oyajobi, S Rahman, M. Rogers and A. Scutt; Part II. Nitric Oxide in Arthritis: 4. Nitric oxide and blood flow in arthritis J. C. Lockhart, L. McMurdo and W. R. Ferrell; 5. Effects of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors in experimental models of arthritis C. H. Evans and M. Stefanovic-Racic; 6. Nitric oxide and prostaglandin interactions in acute and chronic inflammation D. Salvemini; 7. Nitric oxide and cartilage matrix turnover M. Cao, H. J. Hauselmann, M. Stefanovic-Racic and C. H. Evans; 8. Nitric oxide production in human inflammatory arthritides N. Miyasaka and Y. Hirata; 9. The complex influences of reactive oxygen species on rheumatoid erosions and synovitis J. M. Kanczler, T. Sahinoglu, C. R. Stevens and D. R. Blake; Part III. Nitric Oxide, Bone Cell Function and Osteoporosis: 10. Nitric oxide and osteoblast function F. J. Hughes, L. D. K. Buttery, M. V. J. Hukkanen and J. M. Polak; 11. Nitric oxide as a mediator of cytokine effects on bone S. H. Ralston; 12. The osteoclast, bone homeostasis and postmenopausal osteoporosis L. Mancini, N. Moradi-Bidhendi and I. MacIntyre; Part IV. Nitric Oxide and Mechanical Factors: 13. Modulation of bone blood flow by nitric oxide I. D. McCarthy; 14. Fluid shear stress T. N. McAllister and J. A. Frangos; 15. Mechanical strain-associated nitric oxide production by bone cells A. A. Pitsillides and L. E. Lanyon; 16. The response of bone and bone cells to mechanical stimulation T. J. Chambers, J. W. M. Chow, S. Fox, R. L. Howard, C. J. Jagger, J. M. Lean, F. T. Mitchell and R. Smalt; 17. Aseptic loosening of total hip prostheses S. A. Corbett, M. V. J. Hukkanen, S. P. F. Hughes and J. M. Polak; Index.