Undergraduate Doctor

Is free will just an illusion? What is it in the brain that allows us to pursue our own actions and objectives? What is it about this organ that permits seemingly purposeful behaviour, giving us the impression we are free? This resource takes a journey into the brain to examine what is about known voluntary behaviour, and why it can go wrong. Less

This resource provides information for the management of disorders occurring during sleep and brings greater awareness to the treatment of sleep disorders, as well as treatments of neurological, medical, and psychiatric disorders.Less

Most accounts of health and healthcare in Africa are written by foreigners. African Health Leaders: Making Change and Claiming the Future redresses the balance. Written by Africans, who have themselves led improvements in their own countries, this online resource discusses the creativity, innovation and leadership that has been involved tackling everything from HIV/AIDs, to maternal, and child mortality and neglected tropical diseases. It celebrates their achievements and shows how, over three generations, African health leaders are creating a distinctively African vision of health and health systems. It covers how African Health Leaders are claiming the future - in Africa, but also by sharing their insights and knowledge globally and contributing fully to improving health throughout the world, and illustrates how African leadership can enable foreign agencies and individuals working in Africa to avoid all those misunderstandings and misinterpretations of culture and context which lead to wasted efforts and frustrated hopes. It also addresses the need to tackle weak governance, corrupt systems and low expectations and sets out what Africa needs from the rest of the world in the spirit of global solidarity - not primarily in aid, but through investment, collaboration, partnership and co-development.Less

Algorithms in Obstetrics and Gynaecology presents the core knowledge needed to tackle all situations in obstetrics and gynaecology, in a structured fashion. All algorithms are designed to support rapid decision making in the most clinically relevant situations to minimise the risks of a poor outcome. A range of clinical problems are covered from common non-life-threatening emergencies such as hyperemesis in pregnancy, to life-threatening acute events such as ectopic pregnancy, acute fetal distress or maternal collapse. Each topic is presented as either an algorithm, a care pathway, or table of key information and has been carefully structured to ensure a logical progression of thought to aid anticipation, early diagnosis and prompt and appropriate management. Accompanying key learning points highlight the essential information from the topic. Based on current national guidelines and clinical evidence, the algorithms and care pathways can be used as a reliable and practical resource for day to day practice in obstetrics and gynaecology.Less

The Antibody Molecule follows the extraordinary journey of the medics and scientists who shaped the course of medical advances in the field of immunology. One of the oldest of the medical sciences, immunology has a history that has seen chemists, physicists and biologists alike seeking to unravel the most complex system in the human body outside the brain. This title charts its intriguing history, from the genetic basis of antibody diversity, through the understanding of the mechanism by which the immune system's first line of defence works, to breakthroughs in crystallography and the exploitation of immunoglobulins as therapeutic platforms to treat cancer, inflammation and allergy. Tracing the developments in immunology in chronological order, Professor Anthony R. Rees presents the historical contexts of the periods in rich detail, bringing them to life with quotes and illustrations.Less

The problem of antimicrobial-resistant organisms and untreatable infections is of global concern. The concept of antimicrobial stewardship has been developing over the last 10 years. The aim of antimicrobial stewardship is to control antimicrobial use in order to reduce the development of resistance, avoid the side effects associated with antimicrobial use, and optimize clinical outcomes. This book provides a very practical approach to antimicrobial stewardship. It’s very much a ‘how to’ guide supported by a review of the available evidence. Section 1 sets the scene and covers the problem of antimicrobial resistance; the problems in the antimicrobial supply line and initiatives to improve the situation; the principles and goals of antimicrobial stewardship; the psychological, social, cultural, and organizational factors in antimicrobial use and prescribing; and how to establish an antimicrobial stewardship programme. Section 2 reviews the components of antimicrobial stewardship: audit and feedback; antimicrobial policies and formularies; antimicrobial restriction; intravenous to oral switch; measuring antimicrobial consumption; measuring and feeding back stewardship; and the use of information technology in antimicrobial stewardship. Section 3 explores special areas in antimicrobial stewardship: antimicrobial pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; intensive care units; paediatrics; surgical prophylaxis; near-patient testing and infection biomarkers; antimicrobial stewardship in the community and long-term care facilities; and finally antimicrobial stewardship in resource-poor communities.Less

This new resource is divided into sections based on the major peripheral nerves. It contains detailed illustrations of each nerve along with a discussion of its anatomy, followed by a thorough outline of the clinical conditions and entrapment syndromes that affect the nerve, including a list of the etiologies, clinical features, and electrodiagnostic strategies used for each syndrome. Routine and special motor and sensory nerve conduction studies are shown in an anatomical illustration. In addition, each muscle supplied by the peripheral nerve is illustrated showing the root, plexus, and peripheral nerve supply to the muscle and is accompanied by a corresponding human photograph.Less

Autism is an emerging area of basic and clinical research, and has only recently been recognized as a major topic in biomedical research, and is now an intense growth area in behavioral and educational treatments. This resource provides a comprehensive summary of all current knowledge related to the behavioral, experiential, and biomedical features of the autism spectrum disorders, including major behavioral and cognitive syndromology, common co-morbid conditions, neuropathology, neuroimmunology, and other neurological correlates such as seizures, allergy and immunology, gastroenterology, infectious disease, and epidemiology.Less

This resource demonstrates that autism, like mental retardation, is a clinical presentation of numerous different diseases, many with genomic underpinnings. In this ground-breaking work, the authors explain in great detail how to clinically diagnose infants, children, adolescents and adults with autistic behavioral features and their psychiatric and neurological work-ups.Less

This resource discusses the identification of potential therapeutic targets for autism that can be tested in genetic models and hopefully translated into novel, rational therapies. It provides a roadmap to multitude of relatively rare mutations that have been identified as causes of autism and clarifies what is known at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels. Focusing on tractable genetic findings in human autism and painstakingly dissecting the underlying neurobiology, this resource aids the understanding of the pathophysiology of autism and ultimately to identifying novel treatments.Less

This new edition of Autonomic Failure features numerous new chapters and makes diagnosis increasingly precise by fully evaluating the underlying anatomical and functional deficits, thereby allowing more effective treatment. It provides a rational guide to aid in the recognition and management of autonomic disorders for practitioners from a variety of fields, including neurology, cardiology, geriatric medicine, diabetology, and internal medicine.Less

This resource provides a framework for understanding the pathophysiology of diseases involving the vestibular system, and is divided into four parts: Anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system; Evaluation of the dizzy patient; Diagnosis and management of common neurotologic disorders; and Symptomatic treatment of vertigo.Less

This resource, written by world leaders in the field of evidence-based pain treatments, acts as a simple guide for people who wish to make sense of evidence in a healthcare setting and who want to avoid being misled by faulty evidence. It provides practical guidelines on how to make sense of and interpret the evidence that is available, with information on how to avoid straying beyond evidence into conjecture, supposition, and wishful thinking. It covers size, trial design, harm as well as benefit, and health economics and management evidence.Less

The definitive primer in basic sciences for the MRCOG Part 1 examination, this online resource takes a new, dynamic approach to the basic sciences in obstetrics and gynaecology by extending the understanding of the basic medical sciences and their relevance to this specialty. Complex concepts are discussed in a problem-based format so that the relevant basic sciences are taught and drawn together in context, but it also provides a conventional approach, teaching what is 'true', but it also what is 'false', and why. Detailed line drawings explain the scientific content, and 'Examination Hints' highlight key revision points.Less

The central nervous system consists of gray matter structures, including the neocortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum, and an extensive array of connecting white matter tracts that allow the integration of the many functions mediated by the gray matter. Neuroscience, neurology, and behavioral neurology have tended to emphasize gray matter function and have left white matter disorders and the essential behavioral functions of white matter relatively unexplored. Individual diseases such as multiple sclerosis have been studied extensively, but an integrated view of the function of white matter and patterns of dysfunction occurring when white matter is affected has been lacking. In this resource, the author redresses this imbalance and provides a detailed discussion of the biology of white matter, the phenomenology of white matter diseases, and the pathological disturbances that affect primarily the white matter. The book discusses how great an effect white matter diseases have overall, contributing to many disease processes and providing the neurobiological basis for many cognitive disturbances.Less

This resource takes a critical insider's look at commonly held views about the diagnosis and management of depression, and argues that our belief in depression as a medical condition is based on commercial, professional, organisational and cultural factors, which all combine to sustain the popularity of depression as a concept, which is based more on our values than on science.Less

In this resource, leading experts in neuroimaging and genetics discuss recent discoveries in bipolar disorder that identify both the structural, functional and chemical brain changes that seem to underlie this condition, as well as the possible genetic causes of these brain events. Based upon these discussions, it then integrates these diverse considerations to develop a specific neurophysiological model of bipolar disorder. Less

Breast Imaging Cases follows a clear and user-friendly format of problem and solution, presented in 100 unique cases, and features over 400 images across the spectrum of common clinical issues in breast imaging, including classic and frequently encountered diagnoses, cysts, calcifications, benign masses, and carcinomas, as well as rare findings and breast MR. Cases are organized in order of increasing difficulty to facilitate learning and challenge the reader to probe further. Less

This easy-to-use, clinically oriented learning guide presents 115 unique cases that cover the scope of cardiac imaging, including congenital, ischemic, myocardial, valvular, and pericardial heart disease, as well as post-intervention complications. Featuring over 440 images and accompanied by brief yet informative discussions, Cardiac Imaging Cases is the ideal resource and reference guide for anyone in the field of cardiovascular radiology.Less

Cardiothoracic Critical Care addresses major recent developments in cardiothoracic critical care, such as cardiovascular support, mechanical support (IABP, VADS, and ECMO), and drug therapies such as nitric oxide and other new inotropic agents. The management of postoperative bleeding is covered in detail, as it increasingly involves updated fluid and blood-product therapies, including blood preservation techniques such as cell salvage.Less