Pharmacy

New Releases from Cengage

New Releases from McGraw-Hill

New Releases from Thomson-Delmar

New Releases from Wiley

Revisiting  Jahangir Moini’s The Pharmacy Technician

THE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN. A Comprehensive Approach. Third Edition. Jahangir Moini. Thomson-Delmar Learning.

I originally reviewed this text nearly a decade ago. Now in its third edition, Moini’s text continues to set the bar in the field in terms of resources for the pharmacy technician. Updated to include changes in the field since its 2005 debut, the book stands out for all the reasons I identified in my initial assessment. However, in the course of rereading it, I was even more impressed with Moini’s ability to write for the young professional: His style is one of effortless accessibility and he has the innate ability to transfer somewhat complex concepts in a way that allows for permanent retention. A professor teaching in this subject area would be hard-pressed to find a better front-line course text.

From My Original Review:

The study of Pharmacy Science is one of the burgeoning areas of medicine, with many new challenges facing the young student whose goal is to dispense medication as part of a hospital pharmacy (or retail chain). Accordingly, Moini (Florida Metropolitan University) has written a text that addresses the major topics that comprise the National Certification Exam for pharmacists; simply, the pharmacy student will need to have a firm grasp on all of this data in order to gain licensing in the profession. The best aspect of Moini’s presentation is in the way he writes: instead of laboring over passages, he moves through the material in crisp fashion, immediately getting to the core of it. For example, in the chapter on Allergy and Respiratory Drugs, he begins with a quick over-view of the primary anatomy of the system before exploring the concepts of allergic reaction (including a brief but effective snapshot of Anaphylactic Shock). Once Moini’s defined the role of Histamines in the process, he begins to analyze the different drug therapies that physicians commonly use to treat allergic conditions – discussing mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, adverse effects and drug interactions for each. These well-organized and well-thought-out chapters lend themselves to the way in which an experienced pharmacy student should approach study for the certification exam: instead of just remembering factual data for a test, the idea here is to learn this information so that it can be used in the course of life-long service to the patient. And from page one onward, Moini meets this goal effectively. Although The Pharmacy Technician has many outstanding aspects to it, readers should take specific notice of the information on both pediatrics and geriatrics: this material is key to the student’s development because it illustrates the fact that every different patient presents with unique and individual needs. A Pharmacist can never forget this.

This text is simply imperative for all advanced Pharmacy students studying for the Certification exam; its review should be included as part of their Graduate School curriculum.

by John Aiello

LITT’S DRUG ERUPTION REFERENCE MANUAL. Including Drug Interactions. 13^th Edition. Jerome Z. Litt. Informa Healthcare.

Far too many doctors these days dole out medication to their patients without understanding or considering the possible side effects the drugs might cause. An example of this comes via the once widely used quinolone antibiotic Tequin (which recently fell under fire for causing severe blood glucose fluctuations in countless patients).

Simply, doctors cannot just leave the side-effects dilemma up to pharmacists. Instead, physicians in all realms of the circle need to consider 1) a patient’s probable predisposition to adverse reactions; and 2) whether or not administering a drug is going to compromise the individual’s safety and ultimate quality of life.

In this text, now in its 13^th edition, Jerome Litt (Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine) presents an indispensable reference manual on drug-induced eruptions (and interactions) which should be required reading for all internists and dermatologists charged with providing the front-line defense when we fall victim to ‘drug reactions.’

And the author writes:

“More and more drug reactions – in the form of cutaneous eruptions – are developing from all drugs. It has been reported that more than 100,000 hospitalized people in the United States alone died in 1999 as a result of medications…About five percent of hospital admissions in the United States are estimated to be for treatment of adverse drug reactions. Also, each time a person is hospitalized, the risk of having at least one adverse drug reaction is about 15 percent; and as many as one-third of all emergency department and urgent care visits are drug related…”

Dr. Litt’s statistics truly become alarming as you repeat these numbers to yourself: 5 of every hundred patients admitted to American hospitals are admitted because their medication made them sick.

So, what can doctors do to lessen the risk of chemical poisoning for their patients? The answer is simple: Develop a keener awareness of drugs and their likely reactions – and then prescribe accordingly.

Drug Eruption provides detailed analysis of over 1,000 adverse reactions to drugs, separated into skin, mucosal, hair, optical and cardiovascular categories (among others). 6,000 trade-name drugs and 1,000 generic entries are included, in addition to various herbal supplements. Dr. Litt has also outlined over one hundred common reaction patterns and the drugs which induce them, giving internists a practical snapshot of exactly what to look for.

And the author writes:

“Adverse drug reactions are underreported and thus are an underestimated cause of morbidity and mortality…More drugs – and more combinations of drugs – are being used to treat patients than ever before, and it has been estimated that fatal adverse drug reactions are the third or fourth leading cause of death in the USA…”

Drug Eruption serves as the literal bible on its subject, containing the most recent data on the adverse effects of medication on the human model. In sum, this book imparts vital scientific knowledge as it reminds the healthcare community that drugs are not miracle creations, but instead, tools of treatment that require careful monitoring of patients throughout the term of recovery.

As noted, this book is an indispensable in-office reference for all internists and dermatologists – a resource which will directly facilitate diagnosis of patients who present with likely adverse drug reactions. In addition, recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text with long-term value.

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by John Aiello

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY. Third Edition; in 6 Volumes. James Swarbrick. Informa Healthcare.

Insofar as encyclopedic references on the subject of Pharmacology, this title by James Swarbrick (PharmaceuTech, Pinehurst, North Carolina) sets the standard in the field and creates the ultimate go-to-guide on all aspects of this ever-evolving area of concentration.

As inferred by its title, this selection speaks to the whole of pharmaceutical studies in deep detail, covering the subject with an erudite eye – an eye that only someone with Swarbrick’s layered expertise could bring to readers.

Here, we are presented with an encyclopedic reference that covers the ‘life’ of a typical pharmaceutical product from the birth-stage through development and marketing (and into the patient’s hands). In his treatise, Swarbrick provides the latest research and perspective on a field that seems to be in a constant state of flux (with new drugs and revised FDA guidelines continually challenging the healthcare community to stay current with pharmaceutical issues that directly impact patient care).

This particular edition offers myriad upgrades from its two predecessors, providing readers with a ‘one-stop’ resource that marries the technical aspects of drug manufacturing and research with the practical side of dosage questions and drug commercialization. Moreover, the information is delivered in clear and incisive prose, with many electronic-based features (such as customized RRS feeds) available to those readers who wish to bring this printed data to the convenience of their PCs.

As far as pharmacy-based reference books, we have not seen any title come close to James Swarbrick’s set of encyclopedias – these books that not only serve as a professional point of reference (for the practicing pharmacist and scientific researcher) but also could work as ‘on-reserve’ supplements to course-texts for students in advanced programs.

Simply, this book is like having a pharmaceutical library at your fingertips, notable for providing answers to the latest questions in a fascinating field of study that impacts each of our lives on a daily basis.

Recommended to Health Science libraries as a general reference text: this title is a must-have for every medical school library because of its breadth of intelligence and comprehensive tone. Additionally, it would prove useful to all researchers involved with drug development and product validation.

Readers – and especially reference librarians – will note that the 6 volume set is presently being offered at a 15% pre-publication discount (with commercial release set for October 2006).

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by John Aiello

PROCESS VALIDATION IN [THE] MANUFACTURING OF BIOPHARMACEUTICALS. Edited by Anurag Singh Rathore and Gail Sofer. CRC/Taylor and Francis.

Process Validation is an extremely timely release that should quickly become a primary reference tool in the pharmaceutical industry. Recent events calling into question the safety of certain medications has sparked renewed interest in the way companies proceed with drug manufacturing. In this selection, the editors have created an in depth study of the world-wide process of pharmaceutical production. In light of the fact that such a wide array of medications have recently fallen under close scrutiny (by the FDA, media and the medical community) as potential threats to patient safety, it is now clear that a second look must be taken at the way the world produces its medicines. Here, Rathore (a scientist based in California) and Sofer (Director of Regulatory Compliance at GE Healthcare in New Jersey) have complied the definitive reference that presents up-to-date information and analysis on varying aspects of this complicated process. Topics of coverage include an outline of the guidelines for process validation as related to biopharmaceutical production, new models for purification processes (with discussion on ways to approach and then apply these theories), life span studies for chromatography and filtration, analytical test methods for biological and biotechnological products (a hugely important component of the process), regulatory perspectives regarding facility design, and validation of computerized systems (which in effect help to control everything that is happening in production). In addition, the text is augmented by several successful validation case studies that will help to guide the researcher through problems he is likely to encounter in the midst of production and/or analysis. In short, Process Validation provides expert counsel on risk management as related to biopharmaceutical manufacturing: the lesson here is that better management of the process as a whole insures a greater degree of consumer safety while maintaining higher general regulatory standards within the industry.

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by John Aiello

PHARMACOINVASIVE THERAPY IN ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. Harold L. Dauerman. Burton E. Sobel. Taylor and Francis.

This new text by Taylor and Francis is revolutionary in that it speaks to new research in the realm of cardiac care — an approach in which clinicians and surgeons use Pharmacoinvasive therapy (a combination course of treatment that couples percutaneous revascularization and pharmacologically based reperfusion strategies) to restore blood flow during acute ST elevation myocardial infarction.

Here, Dauerman (University of Vermont) and Sobel (University of Vermont) outline the procedure in its entirety, employing a classic academic style that uses graphs and illustrations to present statistical data which is then analyzed in layered detail. The text offers a summary of the latest research available on the subject through 2004, looking at current trends and perspectives related to Pharmacoinvasive therapy and the history of pharmacological reperfusion therapy dating back to 1958. This historical over-view proves important, because it allows the modern researcher or clinician to look at cardiac care through the last half century (in conjunction with the latest clinical trial data) to assess treatment options for the patient.

Notwithstanding the fact that it provides the most recent information on the subject, the authors also speak to the controversial aspects inherent in this developing area of cardiology. The idea here is to promote further clinical studies in order to delve deeper into the question of when a physician should implement Pharmacoinvasive therapy.

This text is highly technical and presupposes a high level of competency in the field. Thus it is not recommended for the student, per se, and instead is written for the cardiologist, thrombocardiologist or cardiovascular/thoracic specialist. Also recommended as a daily reference for the Emergency Room physician. Finally, will prove useful to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text – the authors presenting their readers with an in depth study of a treatment option that could increase the survival rate for coronary patients.

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by John Aiello

APPLIED BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS. Leon Shargel. Susanna Wu-Pong. Andrew B.C. Yu. McGraw-Hill.

Hallmark text now its 5th edition teaches the student of pharmacology about the way drugs impact the body through absorption, distribution and elimination, thus allowing proper dosing regimens to be developed. As we all should know, the ability of doctors to prescribe a wide array of drugs to the sick has revolutionized the practice of medicine during the last century. Still, most people don’t appreciate just what these advancements in treatment have entailed: without in depth research on just how much medicine a typical patient can tolerate, over-dose would occur (along with grave complications). Simply, it is not enough to have the drugs available to prescribe. Instead, the magic is in knowing how to utilize them. And it is only through repeated analysis/testing that this information can be obtained. Applied is a foundational text on the subject, covering all aspects of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, outlining the methodology used to test the full effects of different chemical compounds on the human body (so that drug therapies can be employed safely and with maximum efficiency). This edition contains vital information on the physiologic factors as they relate to drug absorption. Moreover, it features “Learning Questions” at the end of the chapters to give students the immediate opportunity to test their retention of the subject matter.

Recommended as a teaching text in the Pharmaceutical Sciences. Further recommended to all Health Sciences Libraries as a general reference text.

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NURSE’S POCKET DRUG GUIDE 2005. Judith Pollachek. McGraw-Hill.

This annual reference guide collects dosing data and mechanisms of action for over 1,000 generic medicines and is meant to provide nurses with a quick and easy tool to use in the course of patient treatment. In addition to basic drug profiles, pertinent information on side effects and special precautions is included. This information is absolutely imperative as nurses are the last line of defense to protect hospitalized patients from medicines that could cause sudden and life-threatening adverse reaction.

PHARMACOLOGY FLASH CARDS. George M. Brenner. Stephen Back. Saunders.

This sheaf of flash cards will provide salient direction to medical students at both the undergraduate and graduate level, assisting in the development of a deeper understanding of Pharmacology. Brenner’s flash cards are notable for their design that facilities quick and easy reference. Accordingly, cards utilize a dual-sided format: on the first side of the card users will see the drug’s name and keys to its pronunciation. The flip side compiles relevant notes on each drug in short-form that serve to provide a basic outline for usage (with data on the primary clinical uses for each medicine). These cards offer information on more than 200 of the most commonly prescribed medications, with color-coding by drug category facilitating student use. Medications featured include: Verapamil; Diltiazem; Enalapril; Methadone; Ipratropium; Testosterone; Trastuzumab (among many others). This selection is a can’t miss for stressed out students looking to cut down on study time. For around $35.00, students can buy a classroom resource that in effect offers them a ticket to their own personalized Pharmacology review.

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by John Aiello

WRITE IT DOWN. Guidance for Preparing Effective and Compliant Documentation. Second Edition. Janet Gough. CRC Press.

In light of recent controversies surrounding the safety of certain medications, the process the FDA uses to test and approve drugs has fallen under scrutiny. Beyond the FDA’s myriad processes, researchers and drug manufacturing companies are also being held to strict regulations in terms of recording and documenting their own data.

Write It Down, recently released by CRC Press (part of the Taylor and Francis Group and a leader in scientific publishing) is dedicated to providing salient direction on how the pharmaceutical industry should go about documenting its work. This selection is notable for its readability and for its concrete vision: a unique book that marries aspects of science with sharp comment on technical writing in order to provide a community of medical researchers a manual that keeps their specific needs in mind.

Here, Gough (an expert in compliant systems documentation) has drafted a text that strongly sets forth the fact that documenting the inter-workings of the pharmaceutical industry is not like any other kind of technical composition. Instead, this kind of report writing takes absolute focus and a deep attention to detail:

“The main purpose of the book is to help writers of English master the art o preparing effective documents. It includes extensive information o the structure of the language, with focus on those components that are particularly troublesome for non-native writers of English….[with] [m]any examples…provided by professionals in the industry…”

(From Gough’s Introduction)

Write it Down covers a wide range of topics, including discussion of writing within a regulated environment; first drafts/revisions; collaborative assignments; acting in the capacity of a reviewer; the writer’s impact on his reader; how to write “negative news” letters; organization for written presentations; punctuation/grammar/parts of speech; and how to support reported data with detail, in addition to instruction on constructing manuals and methodology reports that speak to a broad audience (to cite obvious centerpieces). Moreover, the analysis of punctuation and the guidance on ways to construct a sentence are especially noteworthy segments, as the author makes her points in a manner that is at once conducive to developing a general understanding of these lost skills.

In short, Gough has presented her readers with a book that is rare in the world of science writing: rather than authoring a tome about throwing out the facts in any-old haphazard style, she has taken the time to stress “voice” and the importance of the presentation. In the end, Ms.Gough instills in her reader the idea that even scientific reports deserve to be put in an original frame.

This book is recommended to all facets of the pharmaceutical industry for its clear-sighted direction on how to write for a scientific audience. In addition, Write It Down is appropriate for all Health Science libraries as a general reference with long-range academic value.

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The American Pharmacist’s Association

Over the last year, news reports have surfaced that directly question the safety of certain popular cholesterol and arthritis medications, further questioning the effectiveness of the methods currently in use to test medicine safety before these chemical potions hit the retail market.

Even though recent advancements in such medical therapies have revolutionized the treatment of disease, they also pose some new considerations for physicians – forcing doctors and pharmacists to move toward a closer relationship in order to prevent deadly drug interactions.

To this end, the American Pharmacists Association’s list of publications is note- worthy because these books speak to the most relevant concerns physicians and pharmacists are likely to have in the course of dispensing medication to patients. Hallmark selections include:

HANDBOOK OF BASIC PHARMACOKINETICS. Wolfgang A. Ritschel. Gregory L. Kearns. American Pharmacists Association. This handbook, now in its sixth edition following its initial release in 1976, addresses the way drugs influence reaction in the human body though absorption, distribution and elimination. Without such specific information, health care providers would be at a loss to provide the correct dosing regimen for a given drug.

Unfortunately, many doctors today are so pressed for time that they fail to thoroughly research the possible effects a medicine might have on a patient before scribbling out a prescription — probably leaning on the idea that the pharmacist and his trusty electronic computer brain will be there to red flag a possible problem. Yet, sometimes these safety mechanisms fail and potentially fatal reactions occur.

Accordingly, the only way to stem these kinds of problems is to insure that the medical community is educated with the most up-to-date research. Here, Ritschel and Kearns discuss basic pharmacokinetics with a focus on clinical application – rather than lecture to the classroom, the authors have written a book that is meant to assist the provider in the direct treatment of the patient. Topics covered include drug liberation, absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination; analysis of medicine effects on the GI tract; and vital data on dispensing drugs to children, the elderly and the obese.

Clearly written and impeccably researched, will serve pharmacists, physicians, and instructors in the field equally well. Also further recommended for all Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Stamped at the bargain price of $54.95 — it’s simply a must-have for the practicing physician.

PAGLIAROS’ COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO DRUGS AND SUBSTANCES OF ABUSE. Louis A. Pagliaros. With Ann Marie Pagliaros.

The only text of its kind to examine the most common drugs responsible for substance abuse. Louis Pagliaros (Professor of Pharmacopsychology) and Anne Marie Pagliaros (Director of Substance Abusology at the University of Alberta) have come up with a different slant on this manual in that in addresses abuses prevalent in both prescription medication and street narcotics (which are usually left out of the standard texts on the subject).

Pagliaros’ is also noteworthy because of the way that the authors attempt to examine the hidden reasons why individuals become addicted to certain substances, thus encouraging the physician to thoroughly dissect the addiction potential in a particular patient before dispensing a drug.

In the end, Pagliaros’ has been assembled to further the physician’s understanding of the substances that are most abused throughout the world so that steps might be taken from the doctor’s perspective to mitigate these trends. Includes fine chapters on pyschodepressants and pyschostimulants, as well as discussion of the withdrawal syndromes that will often plague a patient trying to kick an addiction.

Recommended to all health care professionals as a general reference text meant to be used in the course of patient treatment.

HANDBOOK OF NONPRESCRIPTION DRUGS: AN INTERACTIVE APPROACH TO SELF-CARE. Multiple Editors, including Rosemary R. Berardi. American Pharmacists Association.

In this era when millions of Americans can’t afford basic health insurance coverage, more and more individuals are moving toward self care as a way to cope with non-life-threatening illness/injury.

In this handbook, the editors have compiled information for the health care provider to use in order to counsel patients on ways to safely and efficiently administer self care (with relevant in depth data on non-prescription drugs and their optimal usage). In addition, readers will note information on non-drug therapies and alternative treatment options all meant to help the patient help themself.

Even though the concept of the text is self care, the secondary theme is safety – the point is that self-care is not a plausible alternative unless patients have a full understanding of their role in the process and a full understanding of how to administer nonprescription medication (and other supportive treatments). To this end, Berardi and her co-editors have created a reference handbook that serves to escort the physician step-by-step through patient instruction on all home care procedures.

Recommended for all health care professionals, from physicians to nurses to pharmacists; in short, any health care provider who has direct contact with patients should have this book available as a teaching tool. Also recommended to public sector libraries as a general reference text.

THE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN. A Comprehensive Approach. Jahangir Moini. Thomson-Delmar Learning.

The study of Pharmacy Science is one of the burgeoning areas of medicine, with many new challenges facing the young student whose goal is to dispense medication as part of a hospital pharmacy (or retail chain). Accordingly, Moini (Florida Metropolitan University) has written a text that addresses the major topics that comprise the National Certification Exam for pharmacists; simply, the pharmacy student will need to have a firm grasp on all of this data in order to gain licensing in the profession. The best aspect of Moini’s presentation is in the way he writes: instead of laboring over passages, he moves through the material in crisp fashion, immediately getting to the core of it. For example, in the chapter on Allergy and Respiratory Drugs, he begins with a quick over-view of the primary anatomy of the system before exploring the concepts of allergic reaction (including a brief but effective snapshot of Anaphylactic Shock). Once Moini’s defined the role of Histamines in the process, he begins to analyze the different drug therapies that physicians commonly use to treat allergic conditions – discussing mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, adverse effects and drug interactions for each. These well-organized and well-thought-out chapters lend themselves to the way in which an experienced pharmacy student should approach study for the certification exam: instead of just remembering factual data for a test, the idea here is to learn this information so that it can be used in the course of life-long service to the patient. And from page one onward, Moini meets this goal effectively. Although The Pharmacy Technician has many outstanding aspects to it, readers should take specific notice of the information on both pediatrics and geriatrics: this material is key to the student’s development because it illustrates the fact that every different patient presents with unique and individual needs. A Pharmacist can never forget this.

This text is simply imperative for all advanced Pharmacy students studying for the Certification exam; its review should be included as part of their Graduate School curriculum.

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COMPREHENSIVE EXAM REVIEW (For the Pharmacy Technician). Jahangir Moini. Delmar/Cengage.

Now in its second edition, this manual helps advanced students prepare for and pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. The basic goal of this text is to provide students with a clear and in-depth review of the subject matter that they will encounter on the exam. Accordingly, information is presented in in a streamlined style that affords the reader to test what they have learned in the classroom. Topics of coverage include an overview of pharmaceutical care; pharmacy law and ethics for the technician; pharmaceutical terminology and abbreviations; common disorders and conditions; the body systems; factors affecting drug activity; the hospital pharmacy practice; the community pharmacy; and the roles and duties of pharmacy technicians. Noted for its presentation, accessibility and ability to teach what is important. In sum, good exam reviews must be well-honed and clearly in focus. This text meets both of these criteria as it sets forth to provide deep review of the human body, its myriad systems and the pharmacy technician’s role in keeping these systems functioning.

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by John Aiello

ADVANCED PHARMACY PRACTICE FOR TECHNICIANS. Second Edition. Anita A. Lambert. Cengage Learning.

This volume marks a real breakthrough in terms of textbooks focused on the technical side of pharmacy practice. In addition to reviewing the training requirements for the pharmacy technician, Advanced Pharmacy covers many of the new and non-traditional areas of the discipline, including telepharmacy (a burgeoning focus); long-term care; home health care; managed care; hospice care; nuclear pharmacy; and federal pharmacy. As the reader moves into the ‘gut’ of this text, they will see that Lambert has taken great pains to create a resource which slices beyond the surface, cutting to the core of each specialty-area described above. Specifically, Lambert examines each specialty-area in terms of the roles of pharmacist and technician so as to document the myriad components which comprise the practice of pharmacy. In essence, Lambert has created a handbook that not only imparts multiple layers of information but also analyzes just how much the world of pharmacy care has evolved and expanded during the last 20 years: The lesson here to show students that the preconceived ideas they may have about the profession may not be accurate nor practical (with careful study of the role they intend to play in the process required before any particular career path is chosen). Lambert writes at a high level throughout Advanced Pharmacy – her dedication to clarity and a well-formed presentation transfers well to both the classroom and to the student reader who may be struggling with ‘information overload.’ An excellent section on the U.S. healthcare system together with an assortment of study questions augment the narrative and strive to bring the student a complete understanding of the study of pharmacy science (the author’s ultimate goal to inspire permanent retention rather than rote memorization for the singular purpose of passing a test).

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by John Aiello

DOSAGE CALCULATIONS. 7th Edition. Gloria D. Pickar. Thomson-Delmar Learning.

The ability of the health care worker to competently calculate medication dosages is paramount to both patient safety and effective treatment. It is also one of the most difficult and tension-filled of all duties the clinician must master — for an error on this level often courts lethal consequences. Thus, Gloria Pickar’s Dosage Calculations (now in its 7th edition) is regarded in the profession as one of the most useful reference tools available. In Dosage, Pickar has written a book that attempts to allay some of the anxiety that goes along with calculating medicine dosage, and is specifically written for those individuals who feel uncomfortable with mathematical equations. Pickar helps the reader get over their math anxiety by writing in a clear and effortless way (showing that with practice and focus this skill can be mastered and performed with ease). Topics covered here are varied and vast, and include review of ratios, percents and simple equations; measurement systems and medication orders; and a very detailed examination on deciphering drug labels and bar code symbols. There is also a rich chapter on adult intravenous calculations (including heparin administration). Readers with an understanding of basic arithmetic will gain much from this text.

Recommended to instructors in RN preparatory programs as a supporting text. Also would be a useful daily reference tool for Emergency Room and Intensive Care personnel.

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PREOPERATIVE DRUG MANUAL. Paul F. White. Saunders.

Recent events centered around adverse reactions by patients to various prescription drugs have spawned a renewed interest in the administration of medication — on the part of both consumer and medical professional.

This manual (formerly titled “Anesthesia Drug Manual”) outlines the way preoperative drugs (anesthetics) are likely to interact with other medications that a patient might be taking upon admission to the hospital.

Preoperative is a handy pocket-sized book meant to be carried/used by the Anesthesiologist in the course of patient care. The book marks a thorough examination of both the “pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of nearly all drugs listed in the PDR and USP” — a well-developed compilation of both standard and recently approved medications that sets off an in depth discussion of how these drugs work and how they impact the body.(Also notable for its inclusion of dietary supplements and herbal medicines which are now seeing more wide-spread use).

The key for the Anesthesiologist is to be able to anticipate the likely interactions between pre-operative medications and other drugs (such as Beta-Blockers or Immunomodulators) that many patients are taking in the days and hours before surgery: The idea is for the Anesthesiologist to be able to understand the likely adverse reactions that might occur so that he can take appropriate steps to mitigate a life-threatening event. This well-desinged manual (the format allows for easy access of information as the clearly organized topic headings attest) provides a natural starting point.

Recommended to Anesthesiologists, Emergency Room personnel and nurses as an in-hospital reference that will help save lives each time it is used.

TEXTBOOK OF PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY. Edited by Brian L Strom. Stephen E Kimmel. John Wiley.

In terms of the effective treatment of disease, pharmacological therapy has revolutionized the practice of medicine, alleviating pain and providing alternatives to surgery. However, this advancement has not come without risk (as side-effects and the long-term impact of medicine on the stability of the body continue to require on-going research). In this text, editors Strom and Kimmel analyze the scientific process for evaluating and maintaining the safety and effectiveness of medicine on large numbers of people. This treatise stands out for its clearly defined focus, as the editors take great steps to insure that the material arrives in a linear fashion that promotes long-term retention. To this end, Strom and Kimmel include pertinent clinically-based case studies and chapter-by-chapter reviews of ‘key points.’ This is a major text with far-reaching impact as it strives to teach students that a thorough understanding of pharmacology requires deep study of the subject from multiple perspectives.

Recommended for all courses in public health or pharmacology which examine the effects of drug therapies on a vast demographic. Note: This text is designed for students at advanced levels, and the material presumes a firm background in epidemiology, pharmacology and myriad concepts of public health.

by John Aiello

BIPOLAR PSYCHOPHARMACOTHERAPY: CARING FOR THE PATIENT. Hagop S. Akiskal. Maurcio Tohen. John Wiley and Sons.

Bipolar Disorder is of growing concern in the medical community as physicians struggle to recognize its symptoms and then effectively treat the condition before secondary health problems develop to cause the patient increased suffering.

As the authors note in their book, Bipolar Disorder is an affliction that requires life-long management on the part of patient if they are to control the symptoms and lead productive lives. In conjunction with therapy and a greater awareness of the self, a carefully defined drug-therapy regimen must be developed so as to adequately manage this problem.

Accordingly, Bipolar Psychopharmacotherapy (from Wiley) examines the major drug therapies available to physicians in relation to treating the myriad phases of Bipolar Disorder — the authors careful to note that each differing stage of the condition requires a change in focus on the part of the physician. In short, the text reviews the most common medicines presently in use and further evaluates the existing research that’s been done to date on Bipolar Disorder, presenting the reader with a complete overview of this troubling malady.

The most valuable thing about this text for the practicing physician is the way that Bipolar Psychopharmacotherapy records the pharmacological advances that have taken place in this field of study. Now, no longer are doctors hamstrung by having only a few drugs to chose from (in the past Lithium and Chlorpromazine were the drugs of choice for various conditions caused by mania). However, today, clinicians have a wide array of drugs to choose from which allow for a course of therapy to be designed for the individual, emphasizing ways to best treat problematic symptoms while mitigating side effects.

In addition to the cutting edge discussion of the various drug therapies available to the Bipolar patient, Akiskal and Tohen also assert that combination courses of treatment (whichinclude psychotherapy and patient education) must be utilized in order to maintain long-term control over this disorder. Other notable features include data on “special management issues” (such as caring for elderly and child patients who present with Bipolar Disorder), thus rendering this a multifaceted text with broad clinical value.

Recommended as an in-office reference for the practicing physician who treats the Bipolar patient. Further recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text.

by John Aiello

DRUG DISCOVERIES FOR NERVOUS SYSTEMS. Franz F. Hefti. Wiley.

Diseases that attack the nervous system have traditionally been hard to treat with medication because of the complexities of the region – there has simply been limited understanding of what was causing these nervous system breakdowns; thus, physicians have often been unable to know when to prescribe a particular medicine.

However, because of advancements in the field of molecular biology, scientists have recently been able to lift the veil on the mind and begin to solve its many mysteries. Drug Discoveries dedicates itself to recording this mission, dedicated to pursuing treatment options for those afflicted with serious illness born of the brain:

“The human brain defines our place in the universe. What we are able to perceive, comprehend, and influence is determined by the brain and its ability to enhance its own function and devices. The quest to understand our brain, the research field “Neuroscience” bridges science and philosophy. Drugs affecting brain function will thus help us to understand our thought processes and our place in this universe …”

(From Page 1 of the introduction)

Hefti’s text is revolutionary in scope because of this unique motivation to merge thephilosophical realms withthe world of medicine. Further, Drug Discoveries differs from similar manuals in that it is formatted by disease instead of drug class – the idea here is to continually juxtapose the affects of the disease against the affects of the drug on the afflicted segment of the nervous system. Thisperspective forces scientists to not lose sight of the fact that drug therapy cannot be used to maximum efficiency unless we look to discover more information about the area of the brain the drug is acting on:

“Why and how does a drug act? How do we find new and better drugs based on this knowledge? This volume addresses both questions for nervous system diseases …”

(From Page 11)

Much new and intriguing data is collected here, including discussion of various nervous system diseases, including schizophrenia, depression, various anxiety disorders and ischemic brain events. There are also highly learned chapters on both Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease — two afflictions showing a marked increase of incidence during the last decade.

All in all, this is a marvelous text that offers the medical community a new perspective on both treatment and research regarding diseases of the nervous system. Beyond its present value to physicians, it should be referenced by future researchers pursuing advanced understanding of the subject.

Recommended as a class text in courses that focus on neurological and pharmacological research. Further recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference.

Order from booksmd.com, or go to wiley.com.

DRUG METABOLISM IN DRUG DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT.  Edited by Donglu Zhang. Mingshe Zhu. W. Griffith Humphreys. Wiley-Interscience. 

The creation of medication for human use is a complicated and intricate endeavor that requires myriad areas of science to come together in order to build drugs that efficiently forestall the progression of disease without destroying over-all balance in the body. In turn, Drug Metabolism in Drug Design and Development offers clear and practical analysis of what occurs during the drug design and development phase. Topics of coverage include pin-pointing the data required to initiate the development process; the experiments and analytical methods to be utilized in the scientific process; and how the researcher should properly interpret data. In short, this text, divided into four primary parts (the basic principles of the discipline; experimental designs as related to development; the primary analytical methods of the process; and methods of data interpretation) demonstrates to the fledgling scientist that the creation of medication is a layered process that utilizes the vision of science to further the prospects of human life. Target: This textbook is an appropriate classroom aid for students in advanced chemistry and pharmaceutical courses which explore the design and development of drugs. Further recommended as a reference for researchers in the industry as it contains cutting edge information relevant to daily life in the laboratory.

Go to wiley.com for further information.

Of Related Interest

DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS IN PHARMACEUTICAL DEVELOPMENT. Albert P. Li. Wiley-Interscience.

This selection marks a tremendously important volume that speaks to the greater question inherent in all medical therapies – namely, is the benefit of taking this medication worth the risk to the patient’s long-term health? Accordingly, Drug-Drug Interactions provides a comprehensive review of the pharmaceutical industry’s position on ways that drug-drug interactions should be mitigated (including relevant perspective from both the scientific sphere and the regulatory agency). Specifically, this volume focuses on ways that researchers and developers should proceed in evaluating potential drug-drug interactions (the idea to completely address both typical and atypical risk factors before a drug is ever sold on the commercial market). Target: This textbook proves an appropriate classroom aid for students in advanced chemistry and pharmaceutical courses which explore the testing phase of drug development. Further recommended as an indispensable reference for researchers in the industry and for those involved at the regulatory level.

Go to wiley.com for further information.

by John Aiello

PHARMACOPHORES AND PHARMACOPHORE SEARCHES. Editors: Thierry Langer and Remy D. Hoffmann. Series Editors: Raimund Mannhold; Hugo Kubinyi; Gerd Folkers. Wiley-VCH.

This handbook addresses the practical aspects of a relatively new mode of pharmaceutical research where-by medicinal chemists attempt to isolate the active core of a pharmaceutical substance (the “pharmacophore”) without interference from the inactive components of the molecule. The goal of this process is to use Pharmacophores to screen drug targets and search for vital active substances that can ultimately be developed into new medications. Accordingly, this text is one of the first of its kind to aim its focus at such a narrow avenue of pharmaceutical research – its mission to traverse new frontiers of science and then immediately transfer each next discovery to the platform of patient-care. Topics of coverage include a strong historical overview of Pharmacophores (delivered from the perspective of a medicinal chemist); ligand-based approaches to the Pharmacophore (including the concepts and applications of psuedoreceptors); alignment-free Pharmacophore patterns (including the correlation-vector approach); Grid-based Pharmacophore models (featuring the theoretical basis of the GBPM Method); application of Pharmacophore ‘fingerprints’ to structure-based design and data mining; and the application of Pharmacophore models in the practice of medicinal chemistry (to cite random high-points of interest). Noted for its cutting-edge point-of-view and for the way the authors are able to communicate the fine-points of a complex and revolutionary aspect of scientific research (thus rendering it clear and meaningful).

This text is recommended to myriad tiers of the pharmaceutical industry, including administrators, pharmacologists and organic chemists at work in the laboratory.

Go to wiley.com for further information.

by John Aiello

TEXTBOOK OF PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY. Edited by Brian L Strom. Stephen E Kimmel. John Wiley.

In terms of the effective treatment of disease, pharmacological therapy has revolutionized the practice of medicine, alleviating pain and providing alternatives to surgery. However, this advancement has not come without risk (as side-effects and the long-term impact of medicine on the stability of the body continue to require on-going research). In this text, editors Strom and Kimmel analyze the scientific process for evaluating and maintaining the safety and effectiveness of medicine on large numbers of people. This treatise stands out for its clearly defined focus, as the editors take great steps to insure that the material arrives in a linear fashion that promotes long-term retention. To this end, Strom and Kimmel include pertinent clinically-based case studies and chapter-by-chapter reviews of ‘key points.’ This is a major text with far-reaching impact as it strives to teach students that a thorough understanding of pharmacology requires deep study of the subject from multiple perspectives.

Recommended for all courses in public health or pharmacology which examine the effects of drug therapies on a vast demographic. Note: This text is designed for students at advanced levels, and the material presumes a firm background in epidemiology, pharmacology and myriad concepts of public health.

by John Aiello

HANDBOOK OF CONTEMPORARY NEUROPHARMACOLOGY. In Three Volumes. David R. Sibley. Israel Hanin. Michael Kuhar. Phil Skolnick. John Wiley.

As science progresses and more and more medicines are created to combat disease, the effects that drugs have on the nervous system must be fully assessed to prevent serious damage to the ‘brain center’ of the body. Accordingly, this handbook outlines basic Neuropharmacology and then examines ways that this specialized area of study can be used to treat various afflictions (such as anxiety and addictive disorders). Designed for quick-reference and exhaustive in tone, Handbook of Contemporary Neuropharmacology will prove useful to both pharmacists and physicians on a multitude of fronts.