Recent Clinical Texts

Delanty N (ed)
SEIZURES: MEDICAL CAUSES AND MANAGEMENT
Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, 2002, 380 pages,
$125 hardcover

Seizures are among the most common neurologic conditions encountered in the primary care setting. However, they have received scant attention in standard textbooks and in the medical literature generally—perhaps because the topic cuts across so many specialties. Here, an international team of experts fills this void with a comprehensive discussion of the causes and management of seizures associated with a wide variety of medical problems—including organ failure, organ transplantation, electrolyte imbalance, endocrine disorders, cardiorespiratory disorders, cancer, fever and systemic infection, medication, alcohol(, illicit drug use, and environmental toxins. Chapters cover the various types of seizures and their pathophysiology, how to distinguish seizure from syncope, seizures in the ICU, and the use of anticonvulsants.

Tsokos GC (ed)
MODERN THERAPEUTICS IN RHEUMATIC DISEASES
Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, 2002, 671 pages,
$145 hardcover

Great progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that underlie rheumatic diseases. This new knowledge has led to the introduction of numerous treatment modalities—and the pace of development of new biologics and drugs continues to quicken. In this text, leading clinicians and researchers present concise, practical information on both recently released agents and those that are still in clinical trials. Standard treatments are also discussed. Chapters are devoted to therapies for rheumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, and systemic autoimmune diseases, as well as gene therapy for rheumatic diseases. For the newer therapeutics, the molecular basis and underlying pathogenic mechanisms are explained, animal data and clinical trial results are reviewed, and recommendations are given regarding use, side effects, and precautions.

Ferri FF (ed)
FERRI’S CLINICAL ADVISOR:
INSTANT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT (ed 2002)
St Louis, Mosby, 2002, 1576 pages, $59.95 hardcover
(book/CD-ROM package: $99.95)

This reference provides rapid access to a wealth of useful diagnostic and therapeutic information. The book is divided into 5 sections. The first section—which features highlighted clinical pearls and numerous drawings, photographs, and charts—covers more than 600 diseases and disorders. The second section presents the differential diagnoses of 400 signs and symptoms. Section III offers clinical algorithms to guide workup and therapy for more than 200 conditions. Section IV presents normal values—and interpretation of abnormal values—for over 200 common laboratory tests. The last section, on preventive medicine, offers recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force on screening, immunization, chemoprophylaxis, and more. This edition also contains ICD-9-CM codes to expedite claims submission; a new appendix on alternative and complementary medicine that includes definitions, annotated lists of frequently used herbals, and selected resources; and dozens of new illustrations, boxes, and tables. A companion CD-ROM features the full contents of the book, patient teaching guides on the majority of topics covered (in both English and Spanish), and prescribing information for all drugs mentioned in the book.