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Genetics in the Clinic: Clinical, Ethical, and Social Implications for Primary Care,
Mayo Clin Proc, November 2001, Vol 76
Book Reviews
Book Reviews
tions. I would also recommended it for residents and medical students. Overall Grading: #####
Morphology Methods: Cell and Molecular Biology Techniques, edited by Ricardo V. Lloyd, 422 pp, with illus, $125, Totowa, NJ, Humana Press (telephone: 973-256-8341), 2001, ISBN 0-89603-955-2
Vânia Nosé, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Mass
Type of Book: A review of molecular morphologic methods used in basic scientific research and in diagnostic pathology. Scope of Book: This text is intended to be a reference source on current molecular morphology–based methods. Contents: This outstanding book consists of 20 well-written chapters. In the introduction to molecular methods (chapter 1), the editor provides a comprehensive overview of the methodology with an impressive up-to-date review of applications. The second chapter, also written by the editor, describes the principles, techniques, advantages and disadvantages, and applications of laser capture microdissection. The third and fourth chapters focus on in situ hybridization for detection of DNA and RNA with use of signal detection, radioisotope or nonisotope labeling with biotin, digoxigenin, fluorescein, alkaline phosphatase, etc. Recent advances in the technique and applications of in situ amplification are discussed comprehensively. In the chapters on fluorescent in situ hybridization and its practical application (chapters 5 and 6), the authors describe protocols and techniques and discuss the advantages of using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, which retain morphologic features, for routine diagnostic surgical pathology. The amplification methods for in situ hybridization and their protocols are addressed in chapter 7. Chapter 8 comprehensively reviews ultrastructural in situ hybridization. This well-written chapter includes a short introductory historical note and magnificent illustrations. The extensive review of quantitative in situ hybridization analysis in chapter 9 contains a self-explanatory flowchart summarizing essential steps in the technique. The following chapter on confocal laser scanning microscopy is well worth reading and contains wonderful illustrations. Chapters 11 and 12 discuss polymerase chain reaction and the detection of nucleic acids in cells and tissues by this method. The chapters on immunohistochemistry address the major techniques, antigen retrieval, amplification of detection systems, and primary applications. Individual chapters focus on the differential diagnosis of lymphoid lesions, undifferentiated tumors, and endocrine lesions. The final chapter is devoted to ultrastructural immunohistochemistry. Strengths: This superb overview of molecular morphology is an excellent resource for investigators and pathologists and has a good balance between the techniques and applications of immunohistochemistry. The editor has successfully combined the contributions of several talented experts in the field. The references listed are up-to-date. Deficiencies: Some overlapping information appears in chapters 5 and 6, and the applications of the techniques discussed in these chapters could be expanded. Recommended Readership: This overview will be useful to pathologists, basic researchers, cytogeneticists, internists, and specialists interested in new diagnostic methods and their applicaMayo Clin Proc. 2001;76:1181-1184
1181
Grading Key ★★★★★ = outstanding; ★★★★ = excellent; ★★★ = good; ★★ = fair; ★ = poor.
Contemporary Psychiatry, edited by Fritz Henn, Norman Sartorius, Hanfried Helmchen, and Hans Lauter, 1069 pp, with illus, $350, New York, NY, Springer-Verlag (telephone: 800-7774643), 2001, ISBN 3-540-65805-X Type of Book: A comprehensive multiauthored international textbook of psychiatry. Scope of Book: Intended as a reference source, this text covers all aspects of general psychiatry. Contents: The book consists of 3 volumes. Volume 1 delves into the scientific basis of psychiatry. In addition, psychiatric classification, general principles of prevention, evaluation, and treatment, and psychiatric issues in primary care, consultation-liaison, and forensic psychiatry are probed. The second volume examines aspects of psychiatry across the life span and in specific populations such as organ transplant recipients and cancer patients. Volume 3 explores the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions, including disorders of thought, mood, anxiety, and personality and addiction. Epidemiology, etiology, assessment, and management are addressed for each disease category. Strengths: The major strength of this textbook is its comprehensiveness. It provides an excellent broad discussion of areas germane to general psychiatric practice. Deficiencies: The layout of the volumes is cumbersome—each volume has 2 parts, and each part is paged independently. This format may cause some difficulty in utilizing the subject index. Recommended Readership: Psychiatric nurses, psychiatric residents and fellows, psychologists, and general psychiatrists. Overall Grading: #### Michael M. Reese, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
Genetics in the Clinic: Clinical, Ethical, and Social Implications for Primary Care, edited by Mary B. Mahowald, Timothy Aspinwall, Victor A. McKusick, and Angela Scheuerle, 304 pp, with illus, $39.95, Chicago, Ill, Mosby (telephone: 800-5234229), 2001, ISBN 0-323-01203-5 Type of Book: An introductory multiauthored paperback on clinical genetics. Scope of Book: This text presents an overview of the implications of the expanding field of medical genetics for clinical practice. 1181
© 2001 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
1182
Book Reviews
Contents: The text consists of 19 chapters divided into 4 parts. Part 1 addresses clinical applications of genetics to patient care. An introductory chapter outlines the history and future of knowledge gained by mapping the human genome. Part 2 challenges readers to think about diseases in terms of genetics and effects on populations. The third section of the book addresses ethical issues, with emphasis on pediatrics and obstetrics. In part 4, the authors offer potential solutions regarding cost-effective applications of medical genetics, confidentiality, and insurability. The book includes a glossary and an appendix with Institute of Medicine findings and recommendations. Strengths: This engaging paperback introduces major concepts and discusses them in terms that are easily understood. Deficiencies: Because of the overview format, some “specifics” are missing. Therefore, the book may not be worthwhile reading for those with advanced knowledge of the subject. Recommended Readership: Primary care physicians who are interested in an introduction to medical genetics. Overall Grading: #### Matthew E. Bernard, MD, Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
Nutrition in Clinical Practice, by David L. Katz, 432 pp, with illus, $42.95, Philadelphia, Pa, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (telephone: 800-638-3030), 2001, ISBN 0-683-30638-3 Type of Book: A single-authored compilation of clinically relevant issues in nutrition. Scope of Book: The author succinctly reviews the basic science of metabolism, then addresses a broad spectrum of nutritional disorders. The book is a useful updated reference source that covers virtually all aspects of nutrition that a physician might encounter in the clinic. Contents: The text consists of 41 chapters divided into 3 parts. Part 1 includes a section on basic science, presented as a brief summary of the biochemistry and physiology of metabolism; a section devoted to the clinical aspects of dietary management and the role of nutrition and nutrients in certain illnesses; and a section that offers a potpourri of special topics related to clinical nutrition in healthy individuals. The second part of the book reviews principles of dietary counseling, and the final part provides a variety of general information in the form of tables and appendixes. Throughout the text, information is provided as summaries of published articles and consensus statements. Controversies in clinical nutrition are also addressed. Strengths: This book is unique in its combination of basic science, epidemiology, and clinically relevant, up-to-date information. An outstanding, strongly referenced work, its scope and presentation are superior to those of similar texts. The major strength of the book is its approach to dietary management, which provides a wealth of practical information. Deficiencies: Because of the broad multidisciplinary aspects of nutritional disorders, parts of the text unavoidably lack focus, especially the first 4 chapters. Inclusion of figures depicting pathophysiological processes would have been helpful.
Mayo Clin Proc, November 2001, Vol 76
Recommended Readership: This excellent text will serve as a resource for internists, family physicians, endocrinologists, dietitians, and other health care professionals involved in the management of nutritional disorders. Overall Grading: #### Haitham S. Abu-Lebdeh, MD, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
Neck and Back Pain: The Scientific Evidence of Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment, edited by Alf L. Nachemson and Egon Jonsson, 495 pp, $89, Lippincott Williams & Wilson (telephone: 800-638-3030), 2000, ISBN 0-7817-2760-X Type of Book: A multiauthored textbook created as an initiative of The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. Scope of Book: This comprehensive overview encompasses many facets of back and neck pain by using evidence-based medicine. Each chapter is a comprehensive literature review with extensive references. Contents: The book consists of 21 chapters that discuss various aspects of back and neck pain, including neurophysiology, risk factors, epidemiology, and evaluation. Ten chapters are related to treatment, both surgical and nonsurgical. Each chapter can be read as an independent review article. Many of the chapters contain tables that summarize the information presented in multiple articles. Most of the chapters contain a conclusion, and many summarize the conclusions with evidence graded from A (strong evidence) to D (no scientific evidence). Strengths: The summaries and conclusions at the end of the chapters are extremely useful and easy to read. The chapters on treatment are especially good and provide much clinically relevant information. Deficiencies: Some of the chapters are difficult to read because they review multiple articles in succession without an attempt to analyze the quality of each study. The final 2 chapters on cost and social security systems rely almost exclusively on European data. Recommended Readership: This text will be a useful reference source for physicians or physical therapists who have a special interest in back and neck pain. The extensive reference lists would be helpful for someone giving a presentation on one of the areas discussed in the book. Overall Grading: #### Karen Newcomer, MD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
The Words of Medicine: Sources, Meanings, and Delights, by Robert Fortuine, 424 pp, $84.95, Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas, Publisher (telephone: 800-258-8980), 2001, ISBN 0398-07132-2 Type of Book: A book about English medical language and its development written by a practicing physician.
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
Book Reviews
Book Reviews
tions. I would also recommended it for residents and medical students. Overall Grading: #####
Morphology Methods: Cell and Molecular Biology Techniques, edited by Ricardo V. Lloyd, 422 pp, with illus, $125, Totowa, NJ, Humana Press (telephone: 973-256-8341), 2001, ISBN 0-89603-955-2
Vânia Nosé, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, Mass
Type of Book: A review of molecular morphologic methods used in basic scientific research and in diagnostic pathology. Scope of Book: This text is intended to be a reference source on current molecular morphology–based methods. Contents: This outstanding book consists of 20 well-written chapters. In the introduction to molecular methods (chapter 1), the editor provides a comprehensive overview of the methodology with an impressive up-to-date review of applications. The second chapter, also written by the editor, describes the principles, techniques, advantages and disadvantages, and applications of laser capture microdissection. The third and fourth chapters focus on in situ hybridization for detection of DNA and RNA with use of signal detection, radioisotope or nonisotope labeling with biotin, digoxigenin, fluorescein, alkaline phosphatase, etc. Recent advances in the technique and applications of in situ amplification are discussed comprehensively. In the chapters on fluorescent in situ hybridization and its practical application (chapters 5 and 6), the authors describe protocols and techniques and discuss the advantages of using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, which retain morphologic features, for routine diagnostic surgical pathology. The amplification methods for in situ hybridization and their protocols are addressed in chapter 7. Chapter 8 comprehensively reviews ultrastructural in situ hybridization. This well-written chapter includes a short introductory historical note and magnificent illustrations. The extensive review of quantitative in situ hybridization analysis in chapter 9 contains a self-explanatory flowchart summarizing essential steps in the technique. The following chapter on confocal laser scanning microscopy is well worth reading and contains wonderful illustrations. Chapters 11 and 12 discuss polymerase chain reaction and the detection of nucleic acids in cells and tissues by this method. The chapters on immunohistochemistry address the major techniques, antigen retrieval, amplification of detection systems, and primary applications. Individual chapters focus on the differential diagnosis of lymphoid lesions, undifferentiated tumors, and endocrine lesions. The final chapter is devoted to ultrastructural immunohistochemistry. Strengths: This superb overview of molecular morphology is an excellent resource for investigators and pathologists and has a good balance between the techniques and applications of immunohistochemistry. The editor has successfully combined the contributions of several talented experts in the field. The references listed are up-to-date. Deficiencies: Some overlapping information appears in chapters 5 and 6, and the applications of the techniques discussed in these chapters could be expanded. Recommended Readership: This overview will be useful to pathologists, basic researchers, cytogeneticists, internists, and specialists interested in new diagnostic methods and their applicaMayo Clin Proc. 2001;76:1181-1184
1181
Grading Key ★★★★★ = outstanding; ★★★★ = excellent; ★★★ = good; ★★ = fair; ★ = poor.
Contemporary Psychiatry, edited by Fritz Henn, Norman Sartorius, Hanfried Helmchen, and Hans Lauter, 1069 pp, with illus, $350, New York, NY, Springer-Verlag (telephone: 800-7774643), 2001, ISBN 3-540-65805-X Type of Book: A comprehensive multiauthored international textbook of psychiatry. Scope of Book: Intended as a reference source, this text covers all aspects of general psychiatry. Contents: The book consists of 3 volumes. Volume 1 delves into the scientific basis of psychiatry. In addition, psychiatric classification, general principles of prevention, evaluation, and treatment, and psychiatric issues in primary care, consultation-liaison, and forensic psychiatry are probed. The second volume examines aspects of psychiatry across the life span and in specific populations such as organ transplant recipients and cancer patients. Volume 3 explores the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions, including disorders of thought, mood, anxiety, and personality and addiction. Epidemiology, etiology, assessment, and management are addressed for each disease category. Strengths: The major strength of this textbook is its comprehensiveness. It provides an excellent broad discussion of areas germane to general psychiatric practice. Deficiencies: The layout of the volumes is cumbersome—each volume has 2 parts, and each part is paged independently. This format may cause some difficulty in utilizing the subject index. Recommended Readership: Psychiatric nurses, psychiatric residents and fellows, psychologists, and general psychiatrists. Overall Grading: #### Michael M. Reese, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
Genetics in the Clinic: Clinical, Ethical, and Social Implications for Primary Care, edited by Mary B. Mahowald, Timothy Aspinwall, Victor A. McKusick, and Angela Scheuerle, 304 pp, with illus, $39.95, Chicago, Ill, Mosby (telephone: 800-5234229), 2001, ISBN 0-323-01203-5 Type of Book: An introductory multiauthored paperback on clinical genetics. Scope of Book: This text presents an overview of the implications of the expanding field of medical genetics for clinical practice. 1181
© 2001 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
1182
Book Reviews
Contents: The text consists of 19 chapters divided into 4 parts. Part 1 addresses clinical applications of genetics to patient care. An introductory chapter outlines the history and future of knowledge gained by mapping the human genome. Part 2 challenges readers to think about diseases in terms of genetics and effects on populations. The third section of the book addresses ethical issues, with emphasis on pediatrics and obstetrics. In part 4, the authors offer potential solutions regarding cost-effective applications of medical genetics, confidentiality, and insurability. The book includes a glossary and an appendix with Institute of Medicine findings and recommendations. Strengths: This engaging paperback introduces major concepts and discusses them in terms that are easily understood. Deficiencies: Because of the overview format, some “specifics” are missing. Therefore, the book may not be worthwhile reading for those with advanced knowledge of the subject. Recommended Readership: Primary care physicians who are interested in an introduction to medical genetics. Overall Grading: #### Matthew E. Bernard, MD, Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
Nutrition in Clinical Practice, by David L. Katz, 432 pp, with illus, $42.95, Philadelphia, Pa, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (telephone: 800-638-3030), 2001, ISBN 0-683-30638-3 Type of Book: A single-authored compilation of clinically relevant issues in nutrition. Scope of Book: The author succinctly reviews the basic science of metabolism, then addresses a broad spectrum of nutritional disorders. The book is a useful updated reference source that covers virtually all aspects of nutrition that a physician might encounter in the clinic. Contents: The text consists of 41 chapters divided into 3 parts. Part 1 includes a section on basic science, presented as a brief summary of the biochemistry and physiology of metabolism; a section devoted to the clinical aspects of dietary management and the role of nutrition and nutrients in certain illnesses; and a section that offers a potpourri of special topics related to clinical nutrition in healthy individuals. The second part of the book reviews principles of dietary counseling, and the final part provides a variety of general information in the form of tables and appendixes. Throughout the text, information is provided as summaries of published articles and consensus statements. Controversies in clinical nutrition are also addressed. Strengths: This book is unique in its combination of basic science, epidemiology, and clinically relevant, up-to-date information. An outstanding, strongly referenced work, its scope and presentation are superior to those of similar texts. The major strength of the book is its approach to dietary management, which provides a wealth of practical information. Deficiencies: Because of the broad multidisciplinary aspects of nutritional disorders, parts of the text unavoidably lack focus, especially the first 4 chapters. Inclusion of figures depicting pathophysiological processes would have been helpful.
Mayo Clin Proc, November 2001, Vol 76
Recommended Readership: This excellent text will serve as a resource for internists, family physicians, endocrinologists, dietitians, and other health care professionals involved in the management of nutritional disorders. Overall Grading: #### Haitham S. Abu-Lebdeh, MD, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
Neck and Back Pain: The Scientific Evidence of Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment, edited by Alf L. Nachemson and Egon Jonsson, 495 pp, $89, Lippincott Williams & Wilson (telephone: 800-638-3030), 2000, ISBN 0-7817-2760-X Type of Book: A multiauthored textbook created as an initiative of The Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care. Scope of Book: This comprehensive overview encompasses many facets of back and neck pain by using evidence-based medicine. Each chapter is a comprehensive literature review with extensive references. Contents: The book consists of 21 chapters that discuss various aspects of back and neck pain, including neurophysiology, risk factors, epidemiology, and evaluation. Ten chapters are related to treatment, both surgical and nonsurgical. Each chapter can be read as an independent review article. Many of the chapters contain tables that summarize the information presented in multiple articles. Most of the chapters contain a conclusion, and many summarize the conclusions with evidence graded from A (strong evidence) to D (no scientific evidence). Strengths: The summaries and conclusions at the end of the chapters are extremely useful and easy to read. The chapters on treatment are especially good and provide much clinically relevant information. Deficiencies: Some of the chapters are difficult to read because they review multiple articles in succession without an attempt to analyze the quality of each study. The final 2 chapters on cost and social security systems rely almost exclusively on European data. Recommended Readership: This text will be a useful reference source for physicians or physical therapists who have a special interest in back and neck pain. The extensive reference lists would be helpful for someone giving a presentation on one of the areas discussed in the book. Overall Grading: #### Karen Newcomer, MD, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn
The Words of Medicine: Sources, Meanings, and Delights, by Robert Fortuine, 424 pp, $84.95, Springfield, Ill, Charles C Thomas, Publisher (telephone: 800-258-8980), 2001, ISBN 0398-07132-2 Type of Book: A book about English medical language and its development written by a practicing physician.
For personal use. Mass reproduce only with permission from Mayo Clinic Proceedings.