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Digitalis
Bookreviews
BIOCHEMISTRY OF TEIE VASCULAR WALL (Part I). Proceedings of International Symposium held in Fribourg, June 21 and 22,1968, Base1 and New York, 1969, S. Karger AG, 196 pages. Price $19.20. The
proceedings of an international symposium held in Fribourg, Switzerland, June 21 and 22, 1968, are summarized in this publication. The contributors are mainly European and the subjects discussed rather broad. They included studies of the following components of the vascular wall: collagen, ions, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, myosin, and elastin among others. The attention was directed primarily toward atherosclerosis. This is a good review in one volume of several important aspects of vascular biochemistry. Important as the symposium was, it brought us no closer to knowing why or how atherosclerosis develops or how to prevent it. This is a good’ monograph presented in a conventional fashion.
CORONARY HEART DISEASE. Edited by Albert N. Brest, M.D., Philadelphia, 1969, F. A. Davis Company, 325 pages. Price $8.00. This
is the second publication in the Cardiovascular Clinics series. The first was “Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease” and the next will be “Cardiovascular Therapy.” There are many brief presentations of many subjects related to coronary heart disease. These presentations are, as would be expected, reflections of the opinions of the contributors. The reader must know the authors in order to evaluate the statements made. For example, on page 137, a contributor states, “The general impression is that vectorcardiograms are more accurate than electrocardiograms.” When recorded properly and with good fidelity apparatus, both recordings are accurate. Now, if he refers to diagnosis, it is necessary to qualify the statement considerably. For example, the measurement of P-R or other intervals or the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias is certainly much more accurate when obtained from electrocardiograms than from vectorcardiograms. This publication resembles in format the Medical Clinics of North America and should serve the same purpose. The reader must also determine for himself if he is convinced that coronary care units, special coronary care vehicles or ambulances, and presently operated coronary angiography including other new practices, as well as drugs, apparatus, etc., are yet sufficiently evaluated or established for his own convictions and use in his practice. These presentations must be read with considerable thought and caution. The presentation is not a critical one.
DIGITALIS. Edited by Charles Fisch and Surawicz, New York, 1969, Grune & Stratton, pages. Price $14.75.
Borys 230
This is a very good book on an important and commonly used drug. Digitalis is not as well known to the practicing physician as it should be. There is too great a habit of using the drug without knowing its actions or how to regulate the dosage precisely. This is even more so today with the use of diuretics and other vasoactive and cardiac agents. This monograph very well summarizes aspects of chemistry and metabolism of digitalis, effects on ion fluxes and cardiac contractility, electrophysiologic aspects, and clinical use. The book is clearly written and sufficiently complete for medical students, interns, residents, and practicing physicians. The many contributors are investigators who have been studying the effects of digitalis on the heart. Their presentations are important even for the clinician who often wishes to know more about the details of action of digitalis. Some discussions are rather technical for those in practice, but worth knowing. Unfortunately for the doctor in practice, there were not more clinical aspects of the drug included. This is an authoritative monograph and is highly recommended. CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY. Current Practice, Volume I. Edited by Thomas H. Burford and Thomas B. Ferguson, St. Louis, 1969, The C. V. Mosby Company, 273 pages. Price $18.00. This volume on cardiovascular surgery is intended for beginners in cardiovascular surgery. The editors and contributors correlate technique with physiology and surgical practice. The subjects discussed include whole-body perfusion with the heart-lung machines, postoperative care of the patient after open-heart surgery, tetralogy of Fallot, artificial valves, myocardial revascularization, cardiac transplantation, and ventricular assist devices. Thus, these selected topics are important subjects but they do not cover the entire field of cardiovascular surgery. Since this is Volume I, the editors must intend to discuss many other subjects in the subsequent volumes. The discussions are good, though brief. The illustrations are clear and well selected. This book should be of interest to students, interns, residents, and surgeons. Each chapter is appended with a good bibliography. This volume is highly recommended. However, it is only through direct experience and patient responsibility that one can become an accomplished cardiovascular surgeon. This book can serve the beginner as a background for practical experience. Those who are
851
BIOCHEMISTRY OF TEIE VASCULAR WALL (Part I). Proceedings of International Symposium held in Fribourg, June 21 and 22,1968, Base1 and New York, 1969, S. Karger AG, 196 pages. Price $19.20. The
proceedings of an international symposium held in Fribourg, Switzerland, June 21 and 22, 1968, are summarized in this publication. The contributors are mainly European and the subjects discussed rather broad. They included studies of the following components of the vascular wall: collagen, ions, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, myosin, and elastin among others. The attention was directed primarily toward atherosclerosis. This is a good review in one volume of several important aspects of vascular biochemistry. Important as the symposium was, it brought us no closer to knowing why or how atherosclerosis develops or how to prevent it. This is a good’ monograph presented in a conventional fashion.
CORONARY HEART DISEASE. Edited by Albert N. Brest, M.D., Philadelphia, 1969, F. A. Davis Company, 325 pages. Price $8.00. This
is the second publication in the Cardiovascular Clinics series. The first was “Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease” and the next will be “Cardiovascular Therapy.” There are many brief presentations of many subjects related to coronary heart disease. These presentations are, as would be expected, reflections of the opinions of the contributors. The reader must know the authors in order to evaluate the statements made. For example, on page 137, a contributor states, “The general impression is that vectorcardiograms are more accurate than electrocardiograms.” When recorded properly and with good fidelity apparatus, both recordings are accurate. Now, if he refers to diagnosis, it is necessary to qualify the statement considerably. For example, the measurement of P-R or other intervals or the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias is certainly much more accurate when obtained from electrocardiograms than from vectorcardiograms. This publication resembles in format the Medical Clinics of North America and should serve the same purpose. The reader must also determine for himself if he is convinced that coronary care units, special coronary care vehicles or ambulances, and presently operated coronary angiography including other new practices, as well as drugs, apparatus, etc., are yet sufficiently evaluated or established for his own convictions and use in his practice. These presentations must be read with considerable thought and caution. The presentation is not a critical one.
DIGITALIS. Edited by Charles Fisch and Surawicz, New York, 1969, Grune & Stratton, pages. Price $14.75.
Borys 230
This is a very good book on an important and commonly used drug. Digitalis is not as well known to the practicing physician as it should be. There is too great a habit of using the drug without knowing its actions or how to regulate the dosage precisely. This is even more so today with the use of diuretics and other vasoactive and cardiac agents. This monograph very well summarizes aspects of chemistry and metabolism of digitalis, effects on ion fluxes and cardiac contractility, electrophysiologic aspects, and clinical use. The book is clearly written and sufficiently complete for medical students, interns, residents, and practicing physicians. The many contributors are investigators who have been studying the effects of digitalis on the heart. Their presentations are important even for the clinician who often wishes to know more about the details of action of digitalis. Some discussions are rather technical for those in practice, but worth knowing. Unfortunately for the doctor in practice, there were not more clinical aspects of the drug included. This is an authoritative monograph and is highly recommended. CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY. Current Practice, Volume I. Edited by Thomas H. Burford and Thomas B. Ferguson, St. Louis, 1969, The C. V. Mosby Company, 273 pages. Price $18.00. This volume on cardiovascular surgery is intended for beginners in cardiovascular surgery. The editors and contributors correlate technique with physiology and surgical practice. The subjects discussed include whole-body perfusion with the heart-lung machines, postoperative care of the patient after open-heart surgery, tetralogy of Fallot, artificial valves, myocardial revascularization, cardiac transplantation, and ventricular assist devices. Thus, these selected topics are important subjects but they do not cover the entire field of cardiovascular surgery. Since this is Volume I, the editors must intend to discuss many other subjects in the subsequent volumes. The discussions are good, though brief. The illustrations are clear and well selected. This book should be of interest to students, interns, residents, and surgeons. Each chapter is appended with a good bibliography. This volume is highly recommended. However, it is only through direct experience and patient responsibility that one can become an accomplished cardiovascular surgeon. This book can serve the beginner as a background for practical experience. Those who are
851