Book Reviews
Books Received
As originally published in The Physiologist
Volume 45, Number 1, February 2002, page 41-42
Book Reviews
Review of Medical Physiology, 20th Ed.
William F. Ganong
New York: McGraw Hill, 2001, 817 pp., index, $44.95.
ISBN: 0-8385-8282-6.
This classical and one of the historically best selling and most widely distributed basic medical physiology texts has been revised for its 20th time. Like its predecessors, it includes the most relevant information necessary for first year medical students to review the areas on which most modern medical practice is based. Because this text is intended as a review it is published in soft cover, and not meant to be a comprehensive annotated text to be used by graduate students as well as physicians. However, much of the material is indeed covered in a relatively comprehensive manner and each section is concluded with relevant references for those wanting a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Dr. Ganong has, as always, been able to describe complex concepts in a clear and concise manner with supporting illustrations. This edition is filled with clinical correlations that should make reading more relevant and palatable for the first year medical student.
The text covers each organ system in an incremental manner. That is, the book begins with cellular and membrane physiology which is fundamental to the students’ understanding of the more complex organ systems and integrative physiology. Organ systems are covered in a rational order (nervous system and muscle; endocrinology, metabolism and reproduction; gastrointestinal function; the heart and circulation; respiratory function; renal function).
One of the strengths of this text is that while the traditional material is covered succinctly, Dr. Ganong has incorporated newer, more up to date material and has made every attempt to stay current. For instance, in Chapter 28 which discusses cardiac electrophysiology and the cellular basis for arrythmogenesis, a discussion of the molecular basis for the long Q-T syndrome provides new information not provided in some earlier additions. Another good example of this is the discussion of Liddle’s syndrome both in the section on renal function as well as the mention of it in Chapter 33 as part of the discussion of hypertension. In this way the student more completely understands the relationships of a given disease entity on multiple organ systems and obtains a further appreciation of the true integrative nature of pathophysiological states. This reviewer would encourage addition material on the molecular and genetic basis of disease as well as short references to new treatment modalities (i.e. gene therapy) in future editions.
As in previous recent editions, an additional strength of this text is the general and multiple choice questions provided on a chapter basis at the end of the book. These are meant to prepare students for both course exams and to act as preparation and review for the USLME Part 1 exam. While most of these questions are excellent, an improvement could be made in designing questions that are more case oriented in keeping with the recent changes in USLME format. In addition, the inclusion of more mathematical problem solving sets in the renal and membrane sections would further challenge the student.
In summary, this tried and true text maintains it prominence as one of the premier comprehensive reviews of medical physiology. It is an excellent resource for medical and graduate students as well as junior physicians. It is written in a clear manner with many outstanding figures to help the reader understand difficult concepts. It should be understood that this is not a substitute for larger and more expansive texts but should be used as a supplement to those texts and to lectures and small group discussions.
Irving H. Zucker
University of Nebraska Medical Center
LabVIEW: Data Acquisition and Analysis for the
Movement Sciences
Andrew L.McDonough
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2001, 238 pp., illus., index, $64.00.
ISBN: 0-13-012847-3.
LabVIEW (National Instruments Corporation) is a graphical programming language designed to facilitate data collection and analysis, as well as offer numerous display options. With data collection, analysis and display combined in a flexible programming environment, the desktop computer functions as a dedicated measurement device. Thus, programs in
LabVIEW are referred to as “virtual instruments.” They use conventional programming methods with graphical icons rather than the conventional computer-language command text. Graphical tools are used to connect or “wire” a wide variety of functions and hardware interfaces.
This very popular programming environment, which is used in essentially all fields of science and engineering, is well documented with numerous examples. However, because the construction of virtual instruments requires knowledge of programming and instrumentation, program development is often limited to engineers or computer scientists. With this publication, Dr. McDonough enables those in biological fields, especially the movement sciences, to acquire the skills to develop their own virtual instruments.
This well-written book is organized into three sections. The first answers the question “What is
LabVIEW ?” The second defines and discusses data collection parameters such as sampling rate, signal range, resolution, precision and normalization. The third section begins with brief sub-sections on system considerations
(LabVIEW supports Mac, Window and UNIX platforms), versions and drivers. Then it lays the groundwork for graphical programming by discussing and illustrating tools, menus, block diagrams and icons. The remainder of this section is devoted to developing virtual instrument examples.
A major strength of this book is its numerous illustrations and tables. These prove very helpful in the development and understanding of the virtual instrument examples. All but the simplest of examples include a table listing key parameters and an illustration showing how the example will appear on the monitor as well as a display of the virtual instrument block diagram. Illustration legends are excellent, providing shorthand documentation of functionality and construction. After initial development, an example can be reviewed quickly and easily by consulting the tables, illustrations and legends.
There are over 100 examples of virtual instruments in the third section, ranging from ones that can be created in a matter of seconds to complex examples that collect data or compute statistical or spectral parameters. The author strongly recommends that the reader/student develop each example; however, all examples can be quickly constructed by reading them directly into
LabVIEW from an accompanying CD. The CD also contains sample data files that complement the program example. These data files can be used to quickly test virtual instrumentation functionality or can be used when data collection hardware in not available.
This book’s primary target, as stated in the preface, is a structured course for students in movement sciences. It is not intended to be a general-purpose reference or complete overview. It could prove useful in other related biological fields such as physiology, bioengineering or biomechanics or be used by the individual student or professional wanting to add the quantitative skills of data collection and analysis. Another potential application is the development of custom programs for the laboratory from the example virtual instruments.
LabVIEW applications are often developed by finding an example similar to what is needed and then making necessary modifications.
It should be noted that this manual was written for Version 5.0 and that National Instruments has recently released Version 6.0. Functionality has not changed, but there are minor and primarily cosmetic differences. At this point, a course developer wanting to insure a best fit between programming environment and manual should use
LabVIEW 5.0. A document (LabVIEW 6.0 Upgrade Notes) on the National Instruments web page
(http://www.ni.com) lists differences between versions.
Dr. McDonough teaches graduate courses with LabVIEW and uses it in his own research. This book reflects his extensive hands-on experience and has been tried and proven in the classroom. If you plan to learn or teach
LabVIEW , this book deserves consideration.
David R. Brown
University of Kentucky
Books Received
Attitudes on Altitude: Pioneers of Medical Research in Colorado’s High Mountains
John T. Reeves and Robert F. Grover.
Boulder, CO: Univ. Press of Colorado, 2001, 218 pp., illus., index, $21.95.
ISBN: 0-87081-645-4.
Basic Concepts in Physiology:
A Student's Survival Guide
Charles Seidel.
New York: McGraw Hill, 2002, 234 pp., illus., index, $29.99.
ISBN: 0-07-135656-8.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
R. Norman Harden, Ralf Baron, and Wilfrid Jänig (Editors).
Progress in Pain Research and Management, Vol., 22.
Seattle, WA: IASP Press, 2001,
338 pp., illus., index, $78.00.
ISBN: 0-931092-41-8.
The Epididymis: From Molecules to Clinical Practice, A Comprehensive Survey of the Efferent Ducts, the Epididymis and the Vas Deferens.
Bernard Robaire and Barry T. Hinton. (Editors).
New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum, 2001, 575 pp., illus., index, $125.00.
ISBN: 0-306-46684-8.
Graphical Models: Foundations of Neural Computation
Michael I. Jordan and Terrence J. Sejnowski (Editors).
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2001,
421 pp., illus., index, $32.95.
ISBN: 0-262-60042-0.
Methods in Genomic Neuroscience
Hemin R. Chin and Steven O. Moldin (Editors).
Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2001, 321 pp., illus., index, $119.95.
ISBN: 0-8493-2397-5.
Modern Protein Chemistry: Practical Aspects
Gary C. Howard and William E. Brown (Editors).
Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2002, 257 pp., illus., index, $99.95.
ISBN: 0-8493-9453-8.
Neuropathic Pain: Pathophysiology and Treatment
Per T. Hansson, Howard L. Fields, Raymond G. Hill, and Paolo Marchettini (Editors).
Progress in Pain Research and Management, Vol. 21.
Seattle, WA: IASP Press, 2001,
277 pp., illus., index, $79.00.
ISBN: 0-931092-38-8.
Nutrient-Gene Interactions in Health and Disease
Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa and Carolyn D. Berdanier (Editors).
CRC Series in Modern Nutrition.
Boca Raton, FL: CRC, 2001, 472 pp., illus., index, $129.95.
ISBN: 0-8493-2216-2.
Primer of Biostatistics, 5th Edition
Stanton A. Glantz
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002, 489 pp., illus., index, $34.95.
ISBN: 0-07-137946-0.
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