Product Description
The potential value of artificial neural networks (ANN) as a predictor of malignancy has begun to receive increased recognition. Research and case studies can be found scattered throughout a multitude of journals. Artificial Neural Networks in Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Patient Management brings together the work of top researchers - primarily clinicians - who present the results of their state-of-the-art work with ANNs as applied to nearly all major areas of cancer for diagnosis, prognosis, and management of the disease.The book introduces the theory of neural networks and the method of their application in oncology. It is not an exercise in ANN research, but the presentation of a new technique for diagnosing and determining the treatment of cancers. The authors have included almost all cancers for which there exist ANN applications. When the data available is ill-defined and the development of an algorithmic solution difficult, neural networks provide a non-linear approach which helps sift through the maze of information and arrive at a reasonable solution.Highly interdisciplinary in nature, this book provides comprehensive coverage of the most important materials relating to the applications of ANNs in the cancer field. With contributions from prominent research centers worldwide, it serves as an introduction to how neural networks can be used for accurate prediction or diagnosis and shows why neural networks are more accurate. Artificial Neural Networks in Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Patient Management gives you an understanding of this new tool, its applications, and when it should be used. ... Read more

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Escherichia coli, commonly referred to as E. coli, has been the organism of choice for molecular genetics for decades. Its machinery and mobile behavior is one of the most fascinating topics for cell scientists. Scientists and engineers, not trained in microbiology, and who would like to learn more about living machines, can see it as a unique example. This cross-disciplinary monograph covers more than thirty years of research and is accessible to graduate students and scientists alike.

Product Description
Provides immediate help for anyone preparing a biomedical paper by givin specific advice on organizing the components of the paper, effective writing techniques, writing an effective results sections, documentation issues, sentence structure and much more. The new edition includes new examples from the current literature including many involving molecular biology, expanded exercises at the end of the book, revised explanations on linking key terms, transition clauses, uses of subheads, and emphases. If you plan to do any medical writing, read this book first and get an immediate advantage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

If you want to know how to write biology journal articles, this is it.
I was able to check out this book and "From research to manuscript: ..." by Michael Jay Katz.This book is more detailed and provides the answers to what really goes into producing a good manuscript.If your job is "publish or perish," and you want to be more efficient at publishing, this is an essential manual for you to have.

Great book, I love it
It is extremely helpful for me. I love this book so much. However, the arrival is a little delayed.

Excellent writing resource
This is a really well-written text that takes you back to the basics of writing as they apply to scientific papers.From there it builds gradually, and the exercises at the end of each section help learn how to use the concepts being taught.

Common sense view to writing
This is a great book for anyone trying to write a scientific paper.Step by step instructions on common sense issues.If you know how to write well, then this book will help you.If you write poorly, then this book will be your best friend!

This will help people at all levels of education
I am a graduate student and had a difficult time writing my first paper.I bought this book and it clarified all the hidden rules that you are "supposed to just know." Buy this book, then set aside time to actually read it! ... Read more

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Hospital Preparation for Bioterror provides an extremely timely guide to improving the readiness of hospitals or healthcare organizations to manage mass casualties as a result of bioterrorism, biological warfare, and natural disasters. Contributions from leading law enforcement agencies, hospital administrators, clinical engineers, surgeons and terror-prevention professionals provide the most comprehensive, well-rounded source for this valuable information. Chapters on logistics and protecting the infrastructure help personnel distinguish the specific risks and vulnerabilities of each unique institution and assists in identifying specific solutions for disaster and bioterrorism preparedness.

·Principles and techniques discussed are applicable to all disasters, both large and small, not just bioterrorism
·Technical aspects such as hospital power and telecommunications are covered, in addition to patient care, response to mass casualties, large-scale drills, and surge capacity.
·Organized along functional lines, patient flow, medical specialty, and infrastructure
·A complimentary website with supplementary materials, check-lists, and references enhances the text and provides additional resources for preparedness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Must read for Bioterrorim preparedness in Hospitals
This book is simply one of the finest, thorough, and comprehensive collections to date for Hospital Preparedness for Bio-terrorism.A multitude of issues are discussed related to bio terrorism and how hospitals and disaster relief agencies SHOULD prepare.

I am extremely glad that this information is available in one book to get agencies and hospitals started along the thought process, however, I shudder to think that anyone with influence in this area has NOT read this book.

If you are in any way involved in Hospital preparation for Bio Terror be you an administrator or otherwise, buy this book, read it and get it into other's hands! ... Read more

Product Description

The papers collected in this hugely useful volume cover the principle physical and biological aspects of radiation therapy and in addition, address practical clinical considerations in the planning and delivering of that therapy. The importance of the assessment of uncertainties is emphasized. Topics include an overview of the physics of the interactions of radiation with matter and the definition of the goals and the design of radiation therapy approaches.

Customer Reviews (2)

A unique book with a focus on knowledge rather than information
I am a medical physicist working in proton therapy in Switzerland, and I know the author because he frequents the institute where I work, because his wife (a radiation oncologist), and I work on the same project, and because my specialty (ocular proton therapy) happens to be a field the author co-pioneered. Our relationship is probably best characterized by the fact that I am mentioned in the book as a source for a couple of pictures, but with my name misspelled.

However, I do not write this (positive) review to please the author or my colleague, but because the concept of this book excited me AND the only available review at amazon for some time now really does not do it justice.

As the product description states the author was a pioneer "in the development of image-based treatment planning and has been responsible for developing and putting into clinical practice such widely used tools as: digitally reconstructed radiographs, dose-volume histograms, and beam's-eye view and has been a leader in the development of proton beam therapy." This is one reason why this book is one of its kind. Michael Goitein writing a book on radiation oncology it is not unlike Henry Kissinger writing a book on US foreign policy. The author not only has much experience in the field, he stood at the basis of many concepts and techniques that are so established today that it is hard to imagine what the field was like without them.

But the anecdotes born from his long experience, that are offered in small doses throughout the work, are not what makes this book one of its kind. Unlike a text book, with its focus on information, this work provides 'processed information' or knowledge. The author's obvious fundamental grasp of the matter (allowing him not just to ask 'why?' but more, and more intriguingly, 'why not?'), combined with a tone that is often so conversational that I can't help but hear the author's voice, often shed a new light on topics I personally considered rather boring. This is what I found most compelling about this book: it enables the reader to look at everyday topics with the enthusiastic and knowledgeable eyes of the author, and it is this that makes this book different from (and more enjoyable than) hundreds of standard text books (several of which the author recommends in his own book).

The book, 300+ pages, 13 chapters, covers the fundamentals of radiation oncology and, besides 'conventional' radiotherapy with photons, also includes two chapters on proton therapy (proton therapy in water, and in the patient). Two chapters on Uncertainty (ch. 2, "central to the conduct of radiation therapy") and Confidence (ch. 13, "the flip side of uncertainty") reflect the crucial role the author attributes to these concepts that play a role in basically all important components of radiation therapy: "One can never ignore the uncertainties; one must deal with them." The book contains plenty of clear drawings and images that, combined with the clarity of the text, make it practically impossible not to understand the topic that is being addressed.

Throughout the book the author points at a certain technique's or process' strengths and/or limitations, pitfalls, or promises, as applicable. In the afterword the author does the same with radiation therapy and writes "Radiation therapy is a blunt and rough tool. It will not turn out to be the ultimate cure. It can, at best, only solve the problem of local, and not metastatic, disease. Its side effects are far from negligible. Our therapeutic gains, the fruit of much hard work over long years, are largely incremental in nature." After this honest assessment the author continues to state why he believes radiation therapy will continue to play a vital role in the treatment of cancer for a long time to come, that there's much to be done, a lot to be gained by a much better understanding of why radiation therapy works so well (and sometimes doesn't), and plenty of opportunities to be enjoyed. In a field in which high technology is brought in 'at an almost alarming rate' the role of the individual is likely to become more important. With increased complexity and automation and hence increasing risks comes a need for 'critical eyes of experts with simple common sense'.

This book, written by an expert with plenty of common sense, will guide the reader in looking more critically and apply common sense more persistently in the field of radiation oncology. I sincerely hope that this book will turn out to be as big an influence on the future of radiation oncology as any of the author's achievement of the past decades.

Which leaves the reader of this review with the mundane matter of whether it is worth its (considerable) price (check amazon.co.uk for, potentially, other offerings). The book does not try to be a text book, but rather provides an overview and tries'to whet the reader's appetite for more detailed information'. Consequently it may not be what you are looking for (as was the case with the first reviewer). On the other hand, a book that manages to (almost) entertain when discussing treatment planning, is, quite figuratively, priceless.

Little ado about a lot
This book is a bit dissapointing. It might just be me, but I was expecting something close to, well, physics. What I found instead was a bunch of musings by a veteran of the field with very little concrete information I could sink my teeth into. This is more of a popular science level book (think companion to the TV series Nova); as such it is grossly overpriced. Nicely printed, though. ... Read more

Product Description

A Cutting-Edge Guide to Applying Transport Phenomena Principles to Bioengineering Systems

Transport Phenomena in Biomedical Engineering: Artificial Order Design and Development and Tissue Engineering explains how to apply the equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and mass to human anatomical systems. This authoritative resource presents solutions along with term-by-term medical significance. Worked exercises illustrate the equations derived, and detailed case studies highlight real-world examples of artificial organ design and human tissue engineering.

Coverage includes:

• Fundamentals of fluid mechanics and principles of molecular diffusion
• Osmotic pressure, solvent permeability, and solute transport
• Rheology of blood and transport
• Gas transport
• Pharmacokinetics
• Tissue design
• Bioartificial organ design and immunoisolation
• Bioheat transport
• 541 end-of-chapter exercises and review questions
• 106 illustrations
• 1,469 equations derived from first principles

Product Description
Polyurethanes in Biomedical Applications studies the use of polyurethanes in implanted medical devices. This analysis describes the concepts of polymer science, the manufacture of polyurethanes, and the biological responses to implant polyurethanes, reflecting the developments in biomaterials science and the interdisciplinary nature of bioengineering. ... Read more

Product Description

This book describes how MR imaging is used to track stem cells as they repair damaged tissue in the body. It provides a comprehensive overview of cell therapy imaging, ranging from the basic biology of cell therapeutic choices to the preclinical and clinical applications of cell therapy. The expert contributors emphasize the use of medical imaging for therapeutic delivery/targeting, cell tracking, and determining therapeutic efficacy. They discuss the different methodologies of stem cell labeling, the benefits of using multiple imaging modalities, and the application of the techniques to specific diseases in clinical trials. A CD-ROM includes images and movies.

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Winner of the 2005 Ludwik Fleck Prize presented by the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S).

Since the end of World War II, biology and medicine have merged in remarkably productive ways. In this book Peter Keating and Alberto Cambrosio analyze the transformation of medicine into biomedicine and its consequences, ranging from the recasting of hospital architecture to the redefinition of the human body, disease, and therapeutic practices. To describe this new alignment between the normal and the pathological, the authors introduce the notion of the biomedical platform. Defined as a specific configuration of instruments, individuals, and programs, biomedical platforms generate routines, entities, and activities, held together by standard reagents and protocols. Biological entities such as cell surface markers, oncogenes, and DNA profiles now exist as both normal biological components of the organism and as pathological signs—that is, as biomedical substances. The notion of a biomedical platform allows researchers interested in the development of contemporary medicine to describe events and processes overlooked by other approaches.

The authors focus on a specific biomedical platform known as immunophenotyping. They describe its emergence as an experimental system with roots in biology (immunology) and pathology (oncology). They recount how this experimental system was transformed into a biomedical platform initially for the diagnosis of leukemia and subsequently for other diseases such as AIDS. Through this case study, they show that a biomedical platform is the bench upon which conventions concerning the biological or normal are connected with conventions concerning the medical or pathological. They observe that new platforms are often aligned with existing ones and integrated into an expanding set of clinical-biological strategies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Amazing grasp of science, medicine, sociology, history
The authors have an amazingly erudite grasp of the biomedical science of leukemias/lymphomas, and how they have been argumentatively defined, redefined, and diagnosed with sophisticated technologies over the last several decades.Two entirely different technologies were in play (microscopy by a pathologist, or cell marker detection by computerized technology).In addition to a "masters degree education" in hematology, they use immunophenotyping as a model for understanindg other kinds of technology advances. ... Read more

Product Description
A volume in the new Principles and Applications in Engineering series, Tissue Engineering provides an overview of the major physiologic systems of current interest to biomedical engineers: cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous, visual, auditory, gastrointestinal, and respiratory. It contains useful definitions, tables of basic physiologic data, and an introduction to the literature. Then, the book reviews the status of tissue engineering of specific organs, including bone marrow, skeletal muscle, and cartilage. Readers will acquire a good understanding of the engineering and cell biological fundamentals of tissue engineering and will develop ideas for further development of this emerging and important field. ... Read more

Product Description
For courses in Biomedicine and Biomedical Engineering.Opening the boundless potential of Virtual Instrumentation (VI) into the wide variety of disciplines that exist within the biomedical domain, this text provides specific examples that highlight VBI applications in the laboratory and clinical environment, connectivity to patient information systems, computerized maintenance and management systems (CMMS), and business intelligence and decision support applications. Each VBI application consists of detailed descriptions and interactive demonstrations of how VI solutions have been conceived and developed to meet specific end-user requirements within biomedicine and healthcare. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

rich book
An extremely interesting and rich book of examples, but I have not received the attached cd-rom yet
Where can I download the examples? ... Read more

Product Description
Bringing together fundamental engineering and life science principles, this book provides a focused coverage of key concepts in biomedical engineering transport phenomena. The emphasis is on chemical and physical transport processes with applications towards the development of drug delivery systems, artificial organs, bioartificial organs, and tissue engineering. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

As far as textbooks go, this was a decent one.
It was very readable, a major plus since my professor spoke little English. Overall, it was worth the cost of the book.

Great
The book came as they said it would, and in a very timely manner. No Complaints, just respect.

Its just a bunch of equations
Ok, I understand that this is an engineering book and it is going to have plenty of equations and whatnot, but it really does a poor job of placing the equations in a tangible context.

I really respect how ambitious this book is in covering models for a variety of transport phenomena, but despite my more than solid foundation in biology, physics, chemistry, and math, I have to read each chapter 3 or 4 times to be able to finally fit the new material in with the big picture.This is really frustrating.The only reason why I gave this book 3 stars and not 2 is because I realize that this type of material is difficult to "write down."It just seems like there must be something out there that does a better job of it.

Great Introduction to Biological Transport Concepts
I used this book for an introductory course in Physiological Transport Phenomena. The book is great in that the author covers most of the transport processes as they apply to biological systems and provide numerous references and useful physical property data. Its nice to see how traditional transport concepts can be applied to problems for a system which everyone of us is very familiar with, namely the human body. The only criticism is that the book does not cover heat transfer and its applications to physiological systems. Luckily my professor provided handouts and supplimental material to the lecture. One of the books he used was the fairly old text by Cooney, "Biomedical Engineering Principles: An introduction to Fluid, Heat and Mass Transport Processes". I think this book is out of print but seems to have great information contained in it as well.

This book is a definite must have for any biomedical engineering student and possibly even experienced people working in the field.

Must for Chemical Engineers
Biomedical Engineering requires chemical engineering principles in several areas. This book highlights on those in particular and is amust for chemical engineers who want to know what their challanges are going to be in such biomedical engineering research areas. This also is a primer for the subject, although from a chemical engineering point of view. Ideal for a Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering course in any chemical/ environmetal engineering department. ... Read more

Product Description
Recent advances in vascular biology and vascular engineering have led to the understanding and integration of the two fields. A feature that is fundamental to both is the dynamic aspects of the vascular system. Although the basic principles governing blood flow and the circulatory function are known, new approaches to examining the interaction of different parts of the vascular system have emerged. These include measurement techniques and quantitative methods with greater use of modern technology and computer modeling. An obvious need therefore exists for a book that deals specifically with the dynamics of the vascular system.

This book begins with the historical discoveries of the features of the vascular system and its importance in the overall circulatory function. Modern aspects of vascular biology in terms of structure and function are then described, followed by the introduction of physical principles and basic fluid mechanics for quantitative analysis. The hemodynamics of large arteries, the optimal structure of vascular branching and the pulsatile energy transmission and modeling aspects are elaborated. These are extended to analyze the function of the venous system and the microcirculation. Finally, the integrated vascular system and its response and adaptation to diseased conditions, such as aging, stenosis, hypertension, myocardial ischemia, atheroslerosis and stroke are explained. The overall emphasis is on the dynamic nature of the vascular system. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Must read for vascular biology & biomedical engineering students and researchers
Li's book provides a very good description of the fundamentals and characteristics of the vascular system structure and fluid dynamics. This is a convergence topic and he addressed both science issues in good stead.

The description of the heart's pulsatile pressure waveform extending beyond the arterioles and into the microvascular system was very enlightening. He could have stressed the significance of this topic, as is marks a departure from the past 3 decades of thought by transplant surgeons and perfusionists.

Li did not follow the "big text book" format. He simply conveys the nuts and bolts of the topics in a straightforward "Dragnet" style without adding a lot extraneous fluff. All in all, he answered my preset questions and gave me food for thought for further research and reading.

I hope this helps.
Bob
... Read more

Product Description
Medical devices are often complex and while there are differences in design, the principles of operation and more importantly the physiological and anatomical characteristics on which they operate are universal. Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Technology explains the uses and applications of medical technology and the principles of medical equipment management in order to familiarize students with their prospective work environment.

The book describes the technological devices, various hardware, tools, and test equipment used in today’s healthcare arena. Photographs of representative equipment, the technical and physiological anatomical basis or their function, and where they are commonly found in hospitals are detailed for many biomedical devices, ranging from defibrillators to electrosurgery units. The text includes appendices that supply practical information, such as normal medical values, regulations concerning medical devices, and information on different educational tracks.

Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Technology supplies an essential overview of clinical equipment and the devices that are used directly with patients in the course of their care for diagnostic or treatment purposes. The author’s practical approach and organization, detailing specific functions of everyday use, prepares students for situations they will encounter on the job.

A solutions manual that contains problem sets is available upon adoption. ... Read more

Product Description
Over the last century, medicine has come out of the "black bag" and emerged as one of the most dynamic and advanced fields of development in science and technology. Today, biomedical engineering plays a critical role in patient diagnosis, care, and rehabilitation. As such, the field encompasses a wide range of disciplines, from biology and physiology to material science and nanotechnology. Reflecting the enormous growth and change in biomedical engineering during the infancy of the 21st century,The Biomedical Engineering Handbook enters its third edition as a set of three carefully focused and conveniently organized books.Reviewing applications at the leading edge of modern biomedical engineering, Tissue Engineering and Artificial Organs explores transport phenomena, biomimetics systems, biotechnology, prostheses, artificial organs, and ethical issues. The book features approximately 90% new material in the tissue engineering section, integrates coverage of life sciences with a new section on molecular biology, and includes a new section on bionanotechnology. Prominent leaders from around the world share their expertise in their respective fields with many new and updated chapters.New technologies and methods spawned by biomedical engineering have the potential to improve the quality of life for everyone, and Tissue Engineering and Artificial Organs sheds light on the tools that will enable these advances. ... Read more

Product Description
This entry-level textbook, covering the area of tissue optics, is based on the lecture notes for a graduate course (Bio-optical Imaging) that has been taught six times by the authors at Texas A&M University. After the fundamentals of photon transport in biological tissues are established, various optical imaging techniques for biological tissues are covered. The imaging modalities include ballistic imaging, quasi-ballistic imaging (optical coherence tomography), diffusion imaging, and ultrasound-aided hybrid imaging. The basic physics and engineering of each imaging technique are emphasized.

A solutions manual is available for instructors; to obtain a copy please email the editorial department at ialine@wiley.com. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book
The book provides the basic introduction to biomedical optics. It is quite detailed and explanatory as well. I would recommend it to everyone especially those who are new to the field who want more resources.

Biomedical Optics Reference
Excellent reference book for those who are interested in the optics field. Good background information for general knowledge as well as in depth information on more advanced topics.

The Most Practical Text in the Field
This is probably the most practical text in the field of Biomedical Optics I have ever seen.The first one with practice problems so that a student can test themselves on their knowledge.It is also more coherent and easier to follow than the several texts in this field where each chapter is written by a different author and leaps from topic to topic in a rather fragmentary manner.I'd highly recommend this to professors as a standard textbook for a class. ... Read more

Product Description
Neuroprosthetics is an area of intense scientific and clinical interest and rapid progress. Since the introduction of the cardiac pacemaker in 1932, we have seen developments that include cochlear prostheses, techniques for bladder and bowel control, deep brain stimulation, and restoration of mobility and respiration to paralyzed individuals.

The chapters in this book have been contributed by authors who are recognized internationally in their fields. The result is a comprehensive and up-to-date review that will be invaluable to graduate students, clinicians and researchers in neuroprosthetics. It is broadly divided into three sections: Section 1 provides a core of knowledge that forms a foundation for the rest of the book, and covers basics of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, biomaterials and biocompatibility, stimulation and recording techniques; Section 2 describes current clinical applications of neuroprosthetics; Section 3 looks at future developments in the field. ... Read more

Product Description

Recent advances in understanding the thermodynamics of macromolecules, the topological properties of gene networks, the organization and mutation capabilities of genomes, and the structure of populations make it possible to incorporate these key elements into a broader and deeply interdisciplinary view of molecular evolution. This book gives an account of such a new approach, through clear tutorial contributions by leading scientists.

Product Description
Ideal for healthcare workers, students and biomedical researchers who wish to use informatics technologies in their own clinics and laboratories, Biomedical Informatics describes the fundamental issues and questions in the field, and reviews the different types of biomedical data resources and open source tools needed to fully utilize biomedical data.You are shown how to navigate through the legal, ethical, and technical hazards of biomedical informatics to become self-sufficient and productive.You will finish with an understanding of how to acquire, organize, annotate, and share biomedical data, how to render confidential data harmless through de-identification, and how to use a variety of free and open source utilities to solve common computational tasks.Berman also discusses how the Perl Language is used in biomedical informatics and provides short Perl scripts that can be applied in the biological research and healthcare settings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Berman's Biomedical Informatics
This book is a must-read for biomedical professionals, on-the-job or in-training, with a serious interest in data management. The author, Dr.
Jules J. Berman, studied mathematics at M.I.T., earned a Ph.D. in pathology and an M.D., practiced general pathology for over a decade, and served as Program Director for the Pathology Informatics program at the U. S. National Cancer Institute. He has published over one hundred first-author papers in peer-reviewed journals in this field. He brings together this varied background, plus a breezy, no-nonsense writing style, in a comprehensive but enjoyable book about biomedical informatics.

You can digest the highlights of the book in three hours. First, carefully study the Table of Contents. Then, scan through the tables with bullet headers, which summarize all the basic ideas of the book. Finally, read the annotated bibliography and glossary at the end of the book. The author cites many of the major works in the field, and has insightful opinions about the scope and value of these works.

The book embraces all modern biomedical informatics. There are chapters devoted to the definition of biomedical databases; the availability of biomedical databases; privacy and confidentiality; database standard formats; programming; biomedical nomenclatures; automated translation and de-identification methods; cryptography; clinical trials; and how to apply for a grant. Each chapter begins with the existing history and background of the chapter's subject matter, followed by a complete description of the area, and copious examples. The author includes numerous references to publicly available sources of biomedical data and software, as well as instructions on how to download and run these resources. The author has tested all these resources himself, and provides practical advice on what to do and how to avoid pitfalls.

The descriptions and explanations of U. S. privacy regulations, including the Common Rule and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), are themselves worth the price of the book. The book includes sections on the use of unconsented patient data; use of proprietary software and standards; conflicts of interest; patents; etiquette of free software usage; and lawsuits. There is even a six-point list of when it is OK to tell a lie to a patient.

Dr. Berman presents instances in which patients' rights have been grossly violated, as for example, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, and a study performed at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center involving the injection of live cancer cells into patients. Dr. Berman also discusses the use of "thought experiments" as a substitute for some clinical trials on patients.

The author believes, and I agree, that every biomedical informatician should be able to do SOME programming. This skill is valuable both for examining databases "on the fly" before handing them over to a professional programmer; and for more effectively supervising the work of professional programmers. The chapter devoted to this subject is entitled, `Just Enough Programming'. The author discusses Perl, which is available free to the public, and which is relatively easy-to-use. You can start programming in Perl after studying it for a few hours. The author shows how to download and install a free Perl interpreter, and discusses how to write simple programs, for such tasks as: indexing an electronic book by page number for all occurrences of disease names; finding a distribution of all palindromes in the human genome database; finding a frequency distribution of octamers in the human genome database; finding diseases that have a chronologic relationship with another disease; collecting 100 histopathologic images, say, of small cell carcinoma of lung. He provides sample Perl scripts, and lists common programming errors and their resolution.

The author has a flair for biomedical informatics history. He discusses such historical events and personages as: the Pyramids of Giza (large, labor-intensive project); the Sumerians (ancient data archivists); Hippocrates (father of medicine; life is short, art is long); Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler (data sharing); Isaac Newton (father of physics, beneficiary of Brahe's data); Giovanni Battista Morgagni (pathologic anatomy, 640 published autopsies); Edward Jenner (smallpox clinical trial); Louis Pasteur (rabies clinical trial); Karl Wunderlich (body temperature data); Paul Ehrlich (unnecessary data sharing); and numerous present-day luminaries.

A minor quibble: In a major work about data management, the author can't seem to decide whether `DATA' is singular or plural. My preference, as a student of Latin, is plural, with singular DATUM. Whatever, the author should be consistent in this usage.

The index for this book leaves much to be desired. One of my long-standing gripes about reading non-scientific literary works is that, if I want to re-visit a particular paragraph, I almost have to reread the entire book to find it. Some novelists and English professors seem to take almost sadistic pleasure in enforcing this discipline on their readers and students.

For a work aimed at busy biomedical professionals, I expect a higher standard. When the author develops a significant new idea, he should leave footprints in the index. This practice allows the reader to return quickly to that idea, and to find other occurrences of the same idea elsewhere in the book. There are major, significant ideas that appear in the Table of Contents, which are not included in the index, at least as far as I can tell. These include: directory; download; hash; interpreter; meaning; object code; script; source code; and syntax. Some of these concepts are present under another name, but they cannot be found under these names used by the author in the text. Some of these concepts are present in the glossary, but typically without page numbers pointing to the text. Some concepts are indexed in a strange place, and not cross-indexed. For example, `pseudocode programs' is an index-item pointing to page 96, with no apparent relation to `perl pseudocode', pointing to pages 108-109 and 115-116. I would have more confidence in this index if I could understand why some terms are present and other equally or more important terms are absent.

Another annoying feature of this index is the capricious use of acronyms, such as ACR/NEMA, DAML, HL7, MESH, UMLS, XML, etc., without expanding the acronym in the index, and often without even having the expanded form present at the appropriate location elsewhere in the index. Some acronyms ARE expanded in the index. What motivated the indexer to expand some acronyms, and not expand others?

Except for the index, this book is an unqualified success. ... Read more

Product Description
Concise yet comprehensive, this handbook illuminates the equipment, devices, and techniques used in modern medicine to diagnose, treat, and monitor human illnesses. With topics ranging from the basic procedures like blood pressure measurement to cutting-edge imaging equipment, biological tests, and genetic engineering, the editors have conceived and organized the handbook to guide readers smoothly from simple procedures to the more sophisticated and complex. Each section begins with a description of the technique and its technical considerations, then explores its use according to its applications and relevant body systems. ... Read more