MD

As a married woman for almost 15 years, I considered myself blessed to have a good marriage. Having read this book upon the recommmendation of a close friend, I was amazed to find how much better a good thing can become. My husband and I enjoyed discussing the book and have adopted quite a few suggestions. This has resulted in us becoming even closer. Although some of the points seem elementary at first glance, we were surprised that we had never thought of them ourselves. A very special thanks for the tips on how to deal with my in-laws.

the basic concepts in general surgery, all you need know and now

I finally found myself in that book. I thought I was lost going through big texts of neurosurgery and I could not grasp all the information needed to pass my exam. Now that this amazing book is available I'm sure I will pass the exam . It provides a good frame for studying and contains all one needs to prepare for the neurosurgery exam. It saves time and a lot of effort . I envy younger neurosurgeons because this work is now available at their hands.. study will be much easier.

This is an extraordinary book. The title should be taken literally: "Concepts" of Alzheimer's disease, and from a broad range of fields, including historical, genetic, scientific, sociologic, and philosophic viewpoints on the illness. The book is particularly timely, covering new discoveries about the origins of AD (very recently, scientists have reviewed Alzheimer's now-rediscovered microscope slides and even performed DNA tests on them), the history of genetics and psychiatry relative to AD, and the current politico-economic climate, such as the "current history" (1975-2000)of the growing Alzhiemer Association and the National Institute of Aging at NIH. The book is in collected-essay format and the authors are world experts in their fields. It is likely that, while most interested readers will have a background in one niche (such as psychology of AD), they will also be exposed to broad perspectives on AD which are intriguing and new(such as the difference between AD and normal "aging" or "senescence", or the "philosophy" of lab research developed by Fleck and Latour, or the way different kinds of focused and broad interest groups now shape Congressional policy). Alzheimer's is intrinsically complex, so the book is not a light read, but it I found it generally quite well written throughout. A sophisticated general reader can enjoy the book, because it is well written, but the main audience is probably those with some biomedical affiliation (from public health to medical sociologists to Alzheimer researchers). Many of the authors are European and most of the perspective is international; however, several of the chapters focus on US policy and US medical history.

This is a technical book written by psychiatrists for physicians interested in Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and how these systems affect the metabolism of commonly prescribed drugs. Interest in these enzymes was heightened by problematic drug-drug interactions that lead to several fatalities and the removal of some prescription drugs from the market. Since then, there has been a heightened awareness by physicians, especially when prescribing drugs that inhibit one of these enzymes. From a clinical perspective, several questions are difficult to answer. For example, referring to commonly used tables or references it may be difficult to figure out why a particular drug has accumulated. It is also difficult at times to figure out a specific time course of action. When a drug is discontinued - how long does it have an effect on CYP systems? How immediate is the effect when it is started? Which drug-drug interactions are significant and which are not? This book provides a good deal of information in all of these areas.

The layout of the book is interesting and practical. The authors start out with a review of the 6 CYP systems as separate chapters. They start out with the most well characterized systems. They look at enzyme locations, metabolic activity, polymorphisms, inducers and inhibitors. They also provide vignettes of typical problems at the end of each chapter. A good example of the level of analysis in this book is contained in the brief vignette at the end of the 2C9 chapter. They describe a case of phenytoin toxicity that occurs when fluoxetine is added to phenytoin maintenance therapy. Their comment is: "Phenytoin is metabolized by 2C9, 2C19, and phase II conjugation systems. Although not a potent inhibitor of 2C9 and 2C19, fluoxetine does inhibit these enzymes and most certainly was the cause of this woman's increase in phenytoin levels". Comparison with other methods of checking these interaction usually does not provide this level of detail. Commonly used drug interaction programs may attribute the accumulation of phenytoin to "decreased metabolism" and point out that other compounds also have this effect. Drug interaction cards or charts might count on you being able to see both phenytoin and fluoxetine in two different columns and making the connection. The authors' analysis pulls all the relevant facts together in one place.

Chapters specific to Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Oncology and Surgery follow the initial chapters on CYP enzymes. Specific clinical examples of relevant drug- drug interactions are given in each chapter. As an example, the Gynecology chapter discusses the issue of contraceptive failure due to enzyme induction. Specific prescription drugs and a potential problem with St. John's wort are discussed. These chapters are all clinically relevant and well referenced.

The book concludes with two appendices - one about how to search the literature and very well written Appendix A. Guidelines for Prescribing in a Polypharmacy Environment. Polypharmacy has become the rule rather than the exception these days as more therapeutic agents are added to treat multiple illnesses in the same patient. In fact, in some situations multiple agents from the same therapeutic class are being used to treat refractory problems. The authors suggest five principles for physicians to use that decrease the likelihood of drug-drug interactions. These guidelines are adaptable to individual practices and allow the clinician to choose a profile of medications with the greatest level of safety. The book also contains a pocket guide called "P450 Tables" that summarizes the interactions listed on specific chapters.

My particular bias as a practicing physician is that I need to know the information in this book. After attending seminars on the topic, reading journal articles and pharmacology texts, and using several computer programs on drug interactions the information presented in this book is comprehensive and unique. As a paperback book it is also inexpensive. It is a book that should be read by psychiatrists and other physicians who prescribe medications to patients using other prescription or over the counter medications.

George Dawson, MD

This book is about implementing the new technologies of Win 2000 in the real world. The author's exposure and experience in the industry makes this book full of tips in practical implementation. Despite being a Win 2000 MCSE myself, I am enjoying and immensely benefiting reading this book as I go by its pages.

This one sails you through executing the new and difficult-to-implement technologies of Win 2000 like IPSec, NAT, DNS, Certificates services, Terminal services etc. through its nice walkthrough(s). Even basics like MMC have been explained in great detail. Such detail work e.g. devoting 63 pages to IPSec definitely helps concept building.

In summary, an excellent book for the dollars you pay. I hope the author soon attempts a book on Configuring Win 2000 with Active Directory: I for one will keenly look forward to it.

The Conflict Analysis Training workbook has brought tremendous emotional healing to myself and to others. It led me to portray every conflict within the course of my life, and each conflict's intensity and characteristics - by using simple text and drawings.

While the workbook did not offer me the emotional resources to attain deep healing and real conflict resolution - it organized my personal issues, so that I could invest my energy with more intelligence, discipline and effectiveness toward resolving my conflicts, one by one.

Even more, it made me realize that to attain true happiness in life - I must mend every relationship in my life that I have broken. It revealed the painful, but healing truth that no relationship can be swept under the rug.

To be truly happy - I must be responsible for everyone. That realization is the greatest gift Albert Levis's training manual has given me: thank you!

This is a powerful training guide - not for the faint of heart. But if you are committed to deep personal change, and are willing to take the risks to attain it - this manual is essential.

NOT OFTEN IS AN EDITOR TOUGH ENOUGH TO CONTROL THE TOP AUTHORITIES IN MEDICINE YET PRESTIGIOUS ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THEM TO HIS BOOK. HERE LITERALLY ARE PRICELESS AND PRACTICAL PEARLS FROM THE WORLD'S BEST. VERY EASY READING YET ALL THE INFORMATION IS THERE SUPERBLY ORGANIZED.

Conn and Conn's Annual Current Medical Therapeutics is to the Attending Physician what the "Washington Manual" was to back when we were Interns and Residents: The Gold Standard in portable textbooks describing the current state of the art when it comes to medical practice. Using a format called "The method of..." and then selecting a prominent team of physican authors for each standard category of medical illness, Conn and Conn enables the attending physican reader to stay up-to-date on recent developments in disease etiology, work-up, diagnosis and treatment options. Each chapter is detailed enough to provide an overview of a particular topic of disease management, and includes standard illnesses that a family-practitioner or a general internist must be thoroughly familiar with. Obstetrical illnesses are included, and so is some emergency medicine, although pediatrics is only scantily covered. The only omission, I believe, in this edition is a bibliography of Journal refernces following each topic --which should be there for the physician desiring further reading on a topic. Overall, an excellent book that serves as a basic general text of internal and family practice medicine. Inexpensive enough, and portable enough to carry around in the car between patient rounds, or to pull of the bookshelf easily and to read when you have only a half-hour, to an hour's time to spare. I am using it for our Grand Rounds CME Program at our Institution as a first source of information on topics that participating MD's need to bone-up on. L. Kamhi, MD FAU School of Biomedical Science Boca Raton, Florida

AS A PATIENT WITH HEPATITIS C FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS THIS IS A COMPLETE GUIDE ON HOW TO LIVE WITH THIS DISEASE.IT IS VERY CLEAR AND GOES INTO ASPECTS SUCH AS HERBAL REMEDIES WHICH REALLY DO NOT WORK, HOW TO CARE FOR YOURSELF. IT HAS CHARTS SHOWING THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE AND ALSO THE MEDICATIONS BEING USED NOW TO TRY AND CONTROL THE ADVANCE OF THE DISEASE. AFTER READING THIS BOOK I FELT SO MUCH BETTER BECAUSE IN LESS THAN 100 PAGES I UNDERSTOOD MY DISEASE AND MY PROBLEM. IT ALSO LISTS SIDE EFFECTS OF THE USE OF INTEFERON WHICH IS GOOD TO KNOW AND DISCUSSES THE USE OF ALCOHOL WHICH HAS TO BE AVOIDED. EVERY PATIENT THAT HAS HEPATITIS C SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.