Comprises the proceedings of the Fifth International Congress held in Berlin in September, 1995. The volume's 62 contributions distill the current state of knowledge on the chemistry, biology, physiology, and pathology of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and reflect the sequence of the main sessions of the congress. Topics include "inter alia" PAF synthesis and transport, molecular structure and heterogeneity of PAF-receptor, regulation of gene expression by PAF, signal-transducing role of PAF and other phospholipids, the role of PAF and PAF-receptor in infectious diseases, circulation, and reproduction. Attention is given to addressing the roles and mechanisms of action of acetylhydrolase in human diseases and application of ether lipids in prevention of tumor growth. The last chapter describes clinical trials on the application of PAF antagonists for the treatment of asthma and pancreatitis.