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A Diagnostic Guide to Clinical Gastroenterology
Book reviews
ulation were physicians. If so, additional slides would be needed covering areas not addressed by this series, such as diagnostic tests for H. pylori, treatment options, issues surrounding emerging drug resistance, and the role of this bacterium in gastric cancer and nonulcer dyspepsia. Also useful would be a slide to contrast the pathophysiology of gastric versus duodenal ulcer in view of what is now known about H. pylori. These slides are of sufficient depth to be useful for gastroenterologists who wish to educate their nongastroenterologic colleagues. The slides themselves are generally easy to read, although the labels on a few are confusing. The choice of colors is excellent: yellow and white on a light blue background. However, from an artistic and aesthetic viewpoint, the overall visual effect is only fair. Other slide sets in this series have better illustrations and diagrams and more pleasing fonts. I would have preferred to see fewer text slides and more diagrams and photographs, which has been the practice in some other slide sets in this AGA series. The practice of having photomicrographs framed in small boxes and alongside text tends to make them harder to see. It would be better to have the pictures take up the entire area of the slide and then the explanatory text could simply be read out aloud. In summary, despite some of these shortcomings, this slide set on H. pylori generally meets its stated goal--providing material to assist the lecturer in gastrointestinal pathophysiology in medical school. With the addition of some extra slides, its scope could also be broadened to a wider audience. Because of the exponential rate at which H. pylori research is progressing, I suspect a second edition will be required soon. I eagerly await its arrival. Eventually, with wider use of digital projectors I would expect these slide sets to become available in a digitized format allowing each user to customize the slides, and thus increase their utihty.
Subhendu (Bob) Narayan, MD Berkeley, California
A D i a g n o s t i c Guide to Clinical Gastroenterology edited by D. Kumar, J. Christensen Churchill Livingstone, New York, 1996, 467 pp., $85.00 The purpose of this book is to provide an up-todate guide on testing for common digestive and hepatic conditions. The text is written by 21 contributors of diverse backgrounds to include radi102
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
ology, pathology, surgery, motility, hepatotogy, and gastroenterology. The book is divided into two parts: "Available Tests" and "Common Clinical Symptoms." The "Available Tests" section includes chapters entitled "Clinical History & Physical Examination, Imaging and the GI Tract, Nutritional Assessment, Endoscopy, Laparoscopic Surgery, Manometry, Esophageal pH Measurements, Pathologic Interpretation," and "Psychological Measurements." The two best chapters in the book are "Imaging in Gastroenterology" and "Nutrition." The "Imaging in GI" chapter contains more than 19 useful radiographic examples, and "Nutrition" contains templates for nutritional assessment, color illustrations of common nutritional deficiency syndromes, and numerous helpful tables and equations to calculate caloric and protein requirements. The chapter on endoscopy provides the nonendoscopist with a basic understanding of when to request a procedure and the inherent risks involved, but unfortunately did not provide the reader with an understanding of clinical management based on endoscopic findings. Perhaps the editors will include a chapter called "Clinical Decisions Based on Endoscopic Findings" in their next edition, ie, what to do when endoscopy identifies a gastric ulcer, Helicobacter gastritis, or Barrett's esophagus. For the nonsurgeon, the chapter on "Laparoscopic Surgery" provides several helpful tables and color illustrations. The description of the pathophysiology involved in "GI Manometry" and "pH Testing¢' is excellent. Each of these chapters includes crisp illustrations and helpful tables and figures. The addition of representative case studies is very effective in communicating the clinical utility of these tests for the nongastroenterologist. The editors were insightful to include a chapter on the clinical utility of "Psychological Measurements." Any physician will find the material in this chapter helpful. Each of the chapters contains about 20 important key references. The section entitled "Common Clinical Symptoms" includes the chapters: "Evaluation of Dysphagia, Heartburn, and Non-cardiac Chest Pain; Dyspepsia, Nausea, and Vomiting; Abdominal Pain; Bloating and Wind; Diarrhea; Assessment of the Constipated Patient; Fecal Incontinence; The Evaluation of Rectal Bleeding; Anorectal Pain"; and "Jaundice." Every chapter provides practical and useful clinical information. Each contributor includes concise definitions of a condition or symptom, followed by a brief discussion of pathophysiology then by tables of differential diagnosis and a helpful algorithm. A Diagnostic Guide to Clinical Gastroenterology is VOLUME 46, NO. I, 1997
Book reviews
well illustrated and very easy to read. It provides a condensed package of helpful, practical information. Medical students, house staff, and GI fellows will find it a valuable resource, and staff physicians will keep it on their shelf as a ready resource to explain common clinical problems.
LTC Peter R. McNally, DO Augusta, Georgia
Digestive EndoscopyMAmsterdam, The Netherlands This is the sixth presentation by the European Postgraduate Gastro-Surgical School and will feature approximately 30 live endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The course will be presented on September 4 and 5, 1997, at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam. For information please contact Helma Stockmann, Managing Director European Postgraduate Gastro-Surgical School, G-4-zuid, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; tel (31) 20 5663926; fax (31) 20 6914858.
New Techniques in Diagnostic and Therapeutic EndoscopymMilwaukee, Wisconsin This course will feature mini-symposiums on the colon, esophagus, and endoscopic ultrasound. It is sponsored by St. Luke's Medical Center, the Pancreatic Biliary Center, in conjunction with Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd., and will be held at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 10, 1997. Course directors are Joseph E. Geenen, MD, Marc F. Catalano, MD, James B. Nelson, and Michael J. Schmalz. For information contact Linda Fett, Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd.; tel. 414-649-5200; fax 414649-5454. VOLUME 46, NO. L 1997
Endoscopic Therapeutic ERCP X Conference Course--Milwaukee, Wisconsin The course is sponsored by St. Luke's Medical Center, the Pancreatic Biliary Center, in conjunction with Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd., and will feature biliary and pancreatic ERCP cases. Course directors are Joseph E. Geenen, MD, Marc F. Catalano, MD, James B. Nelson, and Michael J. Schmalz. It will be held September 11 to 13, 1997, at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For information contact Linda Fett, Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd.; tel. 414-649-5200; fax 414649-5454.
GASTRO 97: XXVIII Argentine Congress of Gastroenterology (FAGE-SAGE) and XV Argentine Congress of Digestive Endoscopy (AAED)mRosario, Argentina Gastro 97 will last 4 days and be held with the precongress course of gastroenterology and a live video endoscopy workshop on September 21 to 24, 1997. For more information contact Drs. Rodolfo Pedrana and Jorge Rainoldi, Congress Secretariat, Mitre 1034 3ro B 2000, Rosario, Argentina; teL/fax 54 41 25 15 75.
23rd Annual Topics in Gastroenterology and Liver DiseasemBaltimore, Maryland This annual postgraduate seminar is designed for gastroenterologists, endoscopists, internists, and surgeons interested in the treatment of digestive and liver disease. Areas to be discussed include peptic ulcer therapy, Helicobacterpylori, methotrexate use in IBD, other IBD therapies and surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hepatobiliary, pancreatic surgery, liver transplantation, hepatitis C, and other chronic liver diseases. It will be presented at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, on September 24 to 26, 1997. Theodore M. Bayless, MD, John L. Cameron, MD, and William J. Ravich, MD, are the course directors. For more information contact the Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Office of Continuing Medical Education, Turner 20/720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21205; tel. 410-9552959; fax 410-955-0807. GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 103
ulation were physicians. If so, additional slides would be needed covering areas not addressed by this series, such as diagnostic tests for H. pylori, treatment options, issues surrounding emerging drug resistance, and the role of this bacterium in gastric cancer and nonulcer dyspepsia. Also useful would be a slide to contrast the pathophysiology of gastric versus duodenal ulcer in view of what is now known about H. pylori. These slides are of sufficient depth to be useful for gastroenterologists who wish to educate their nongastroenterologic colleagues. The slides themselves are generally easy to read, although the labels on a few are confusing. The choice of colors is excellent: yellow and white on a light blue background. However, from an artistic and aesthetic viewpoint, the overall visual effect is only fair. Other slide sets in this series have better illustrations and diagrams and more pleasing fonts. I would have preferred to see fewer text slides and more diagrams and photographs, which has been the practice in some other slide sets in this AGA series. The practice of having photomicrographs framed in small boxes and alongside text tends to make them harder to see. It would be better to have the pictures take up the entire area of the slide and then the explanatory text could simply be read out aloud. In summary, despite some of these shortcomings, this slide set on H. pylori generally meets its stated goal--providing material to assist the lecturer in gastrointestinal pathophysiology in medical school. With the addition of some extra slides, its scope could also be broadened to a wider audience. Because of the exponential rate at which H. pylori research is progressing, I suspect a second edition will be required soon. I eagerly await its arrival. Eventually, with wider use of digital projectors I would expect these slide sets to become available in a digitized format allowing each user to customize the slides, and thus increase their utihty.
Subhendu (Bob) Narayan, MD Berkeley, California
A D i a g n o s t i c Guide to Clinical Gastroenterology edited by D. Kumar, J. Christensen Churchill Livingstone, New York, 1996, 467 pp., $85.00 The purpose of this book is to provide an up-todate guide on testing for common digestive and hepatic conditions. The text is written by 21 contributors of diverse backgrounds to include radi102
GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY
ology, pathology, surgery, motility, hepatotogy, and gastroenterology. The book is divided into two parts: "Available Tests" and "Common Clinical Symptoms." The "Available Tests" section includes chapters entitled "Clinical History & Physical Examination, Imaging and the GI Tract, Nutritional Assessment, Endoscopy, Laparoscopic Surgery, Manometry, Esophageal pH Measurements, Pathologic Interpretation," and "Psychological Measurements." The two best chapters in the book are "Imaging in Gastroenterology" and "Nutrition." The "Imaging in GI" chapter contains more than 19 useful radiographic examples, and "Nutrition" contains templates for nutritional assessment, color illustrations of common nutritional deficiency syndromes, and numerous helpful tables and equations to calculate caloric and protein requirements. The chapter on endoscopy provides the nonendoscopist with a basic understanding of when to request a procedure and the inherent risks involved, but unfortunately did not provide the reader with an understanding of clinical management based on endoscopic findings. Perhaps the editors will include a chapter called "Clinical Decisions Based on Endoscopic Findings" in their next edition, ie, what to do when endoscopy identifies a gastric ulcer, Helicobacter gastritis, or Barrett's esophagus. For the nonsurgeon, the chapter on "Laparoscopic Surgery" provides several helpful tables and color illustrations. The description of the pathophysiology involved in "GI Manometry" and "pH Testing¢' is excellent. Each of these chapters includes crisp illustrations and helpful tables and figures. The addition of representative case studies is very effective in communicating the clinical utility of these tests for the nongastroenterologist. The editors were insightful to include a chapter on the clinical utility of "Psychological Measurements." Any physician will find the material in this chapter helpful. Each of the chapters contains about 20 important key references. The section entitled "Common Clinical Symptoms" includes the chapters: "Evaluation of Dysphagia, Heartburn, and Non-cardiac Chest Pain; Dyspepsia, Nausea, and Vomiting; Abdominal Pain; Bloating and Wind; Diarrhea; Assessment of the Constipated Patient; Fecal Incontinence; The Evaluation of Rectal Bleeding; Anorectal Pain"; and "Jaundice." Every chapter provides practical and useful clinical information. Each contributor includes concise definitions of a condition or symptom, followed by a brief discussion of pathophysiology then by tables of differential diagnosis and a helpful algorithm. A Diagnostic Guide to Clinical Gastroenterology is VOLUME 46, NO. I, 1997
Book reviews
well illustrated and very easy to read. It provides a condensed package of helpful, practical information. Medical students, house staff, and GI fellows will find it a valuable resource, and staff physicians will keep it on their shelf as a ready resource to explain common clinical problems.
LTC Peter R. McNally, DO Augusta, Georgia
Digestive EndoscopyMAmsterdam, The Netherlands This is the sixth presentation by the European Postgraduate Gastro-Surgical School and will feature approximately 30 live endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The course will be presented on September 4 and 5, 1997, at the Academic Medical Center of the University of Amsterdam. For information please contact Helma Stockmann, Managing Director European Postgraduate Gastro-Surgical School, G-4-zuid, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; tel (31) 20 5663926; fax (31) 20 6914858.
New Techniques in Diagnostic and Therapeutic EndoscopymMilwaukee, Wisconsin This course will feature mini-symposiums on the colon, esophagus, and endoscopic ultrasound. It is sponsored by St. Luke's Medical Center, the Pancreatic Biliary Center, in conjunction with Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd., and will be held at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 10, 1997. Course directors are Joseph E. Geenen, MD, Marc F. Catalano, MD, James B. Nelson, and Michael J. Schmalz. For information contact Linda Fett, Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd.; tel. 414-649-5200; fax 414649-5454. VOLUME 46, NO. L 1997
Endoscopic Therapeutic ERCP X Conference Course--Milwaukee, Wisconsin The course is sponsored by St. Luke's Medical Center, the Pancreatic Biliary Center, in conjunction with Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd., and will feature biliary and pancreatic ERCP cases. Course directors are Joseph E. Geenen, MD, Marc F. Catalano, MD, James B. Nelson, and Michael J. Schmalz. It will be held September 11 to 13, 1997, at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For information contact Linda Fett, Gastroenterology Consultants, Ltd.; tel. 414-649-5200; fax 414649-5454.
GASTRO 97: XXVIII Argentine Congress of Gastroenterology (FAGE-SAGE) and XV Argentine Congress of Digestive Endoscopy (AAED)mRosario, Argentina Gastro 97 will last 4 days and be held with the precongress course of gastroenterology and a live video endoscopy workshop on September 21 to 24, 1997. For more information contact Drs. Rodolfo Pedrana and Jorge Rainoldi, Congress Secretariat, Mitre 1034 3ro B 2000, Rosario, Argentina; teL/fax 54 41 25 15 75.
23rd Annual Topics in Gastroenterology and Liver DiseasemBaltimore, Maryland This annual postgraduate seminar is designed for gastroenterologists, endoscopists, internists, and surgeons interested in the treatment of digestive and liver disease. Areas to be discussed include peptic ulcer therapy, Helicobacterpylori, methotrexate use in IBD, other IBD therapies and surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hepatobiliary, pancreatic surgery, liver transplantation, hepatitis C, and other chronic liver diseases. It will be presented at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, on September 24 to 26, 1997. Theodore M. Bayless, MD, John L. Cameron, MD, and William J. Ravich, MD, are the course directors. For more information contact the Program Coordinator, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Office of Continuing Medical Education, Turner 20/720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21205; tel. 410-9552959; fax 410-955-0807. GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY 103