Erectile Dysfunction: A Clinical Guide

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BOOK REVIEWS

BOOK REVIEWS Erectile Dysfunction: A Clinical Guide R. KIRBY, C. CARSON, III

AND

I. GOLDSTEIN, Oxford: Isis Medical Media, 113 pages, 1999

This softcover book accompanies the large, hardcover Textbook of Erectile Dysfunction by the same authors and publisher. Its small size and composition make it well suited for house staff of all specialties interested in the subject to use as a rapid, simple source for cases of erectile dysfunction identified in a hospital or clinic setting. The book is divided into 6 chapters that discuss epidemiology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation and treatment. The book is well written, up-to-date and, despite its brevity, covers the topic well. The authors make ample use of well drawn figures, and text headings and boxes that make for easy reading while highlighting the important points. The last 2 chapters are devoted to case studies and frequently asked questions. The case study chapter is not particularly useful. There are 40 questions in chapter 6 and 16 are sildenafil-related, which is perhaps a reflection of author interest as well as the impact that sildenafil has had on method of treatment of erectile dysfunction worldwide. The authors promote the use of the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire and the Brief Sexual Function Inventory. The problem is that those written tests were devised to assess the effect of therapy on erectile function (after only 4 weeks with the International Index of Erectile Function) and are not substitutes for direct one-on-one questioning of the patient. The possible importance of depression or questioning for early morning or nocturnal erections to help identify a primarily psychological problem is not emphasized. Overall, this book is a nice addition as a current reference for those who want rapid information about erectile dysfunction. Arnold Melman, M.D. Montefiore Medical Center Bronx, New York Strategies for the Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer C. C. SCHULMAN

AND

G. J. KELLOFF, Basel, Switzerland: Karger, 210 pages, 1999

This book represents a compilation of articles based on presentations made during a symposium in Brussels, Belgium on October 30 and 31, 1998. The book is divided into 5 sections. The first section focuses on genetic and environmental factors of prostate cancer genesis. A discussion of molecular targets for chemoprevention of prostate cancer follows along with a separate section on preclinical models for drug discovery. The penultimate section reviews surrogate end point biomarkers for clinical trials, which are required because of the long period for prostate carcinogenesis. The final section updates the clinical trial designs for chemoprevention of prostate cancer. The book is an excellent overview of the field of chemoprevention in prostate cancer and would be useful to any interested urologist. A review of these studies provides an excellent background in the pathology of prostate cancer in addition to the nuances of chemoprevention, the concept of which is timely because of the high incidence and long latency of prostate cancer. It is particularly important for these chemopreventative strategies to be evaluated by urological science. Robert R. Bahnson, M.D. Division of Urology Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus, Ohio