Frank L. Iber

Increased rate of clearance of drugs from the circulation of alcoholics.

The rate of clearance of a drug from the circulation was measured in alcoholic subjects and in abstinent control subjects. Tolbutamide, warfarin and diphenylhydantoin were studied. All of the alcoholic test subjects had a history of recent heavy alcohol intake. The half-life of the drugs in the blood of the alcoholic test subjects was significantly shorter than in the controls for all three drugs. These observations indicate a more rapid removal rate of these three drugs known to require hepatic microsomal enzymes for their metabolism. It is possible that continued intake of alcohol induces nonspecifically, hepatic microsomal enzymes.

Malabsorption in the Chronic Alcoholic.

Excerpt Gastrointestinal absorption was measured in 29 consecutive severely alcoholic men. All patients consumed at least 250 g ethanol/day for more than 1 year and lacked overt clinical evidence o...

Research Proposals: A Guide to Success

Dr Ogden in this second edition has added the experiences of Dr Goldberg, a longtime senior National Institutes of Health (NIH) administrator, to his own. The book emphasizes applications to the NIH, with a detailed presentation of the RO1 application (the traditional research grant application), its methods of review, and many of the avoidable reasons for rejection. It also contains much practical advice on how to proceed with the preparation of each section of the submission, which will save much time. Specific suggestions of essential inclusions and strong recommendations of things to avoid are presented for each section. Examples of pink sheets describing reasons for rejection and methods of resubmission to strengthen the application are well covered. Another section covers special types of NIH grants and site visits. Appendixes comprise almost one third of the volume. This book is a helpful guide to gransts-manship, rather than writing or conducting research,

The Oxford Medical Companion

This medical companion first appeared in 1986 with the purpose of covering the knowledge base and practice of medicine for both health professionals and laypersons and was quite popular. The 1994 companion has new and highly qualified editors, has been reduced to one volume, and is almost completely rewritten with the same purpose in mind. The entries are alphabetically arranged with prominent scientists noted, most currently used terms defined, and some world-famous institutions discussed. There are in-depth, remarkably farseeing, and mature essays on approximately 200 subjects that each fill two to eight pages, covering the most important advances and trends in todays medicine. Some photographic and chart illustrations and many tables embellish these, and some have short current bibliographies to further enhance. The entries are not only well written, but are often prepared by leaders writing about their own fields. The strength of this volume is in the in-depth essays.

Immunology and Immunopathology of the Liver and Gastrointestinal Tract

Immunology of the gastrointestinal tract has exploded with advances in understanding of both normal regulatory function and pathophysiology. This multiauthored book reviews the current status of this massive field. There are six subdivisions covering normal function and pathology. Five chapters address the specific barriers to and facilitators of the entry of antigens and their interaction with lymphocytes, the migration of lymphocytes, and the production of humoral antibodies and cellular immunity. There is a chapter on regulation, five chapters on the pathology of the liver and biliary tract, and twelve chapters on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The chapter on the intestinal mucosal barrier and antigen uptake is well illustrated and extremely clearly presented, covering the process in newborns and the special properties of the Peyers patch cells. Six schematic diagrams assist this presentation. However, a comparably well-illustrated chapter on antigen presentation is written in a manner that is almost impossible to

Diseases of the Liver and Biliary System

This classic text, which first appeared in 1963, is the foremost liver book in the world by only one or two authors. The current edition has the same chapter headings as the ninth (1993) and is almost the same length, but this is accomplished by adding new information where important changes are warranted (chronic hepatitis is markedly expanded) and decreasing the space allotted to sections that have not changed. The book is aimed at all physicians who are not liver specialists. It is written for those who treat and advise patients and, as such, all that is required is included, and all that is not required is excluded. In the last several editions, cartoons, line drawings, flow charts, and concept diagrams have been widely included to present mechanisms or approaches to disease while saving detailed presentation in the text, and in this manner much basic science information is imparted in

Understanding the Liver: A History

This short book is an in-depth history of the evolution of ideas about the liver from earlier recorded history and covers in separate sections the anatomic, physiological, and metabolic functions of the liver, diseases of the liver, and, finally, therapy for liver diseases. There are a variety of appendixes, an extensive annotated bibliography, and an index of both names and subjects. The writing is fun to follow, and, as a hepatologist, I found the account fascinating reading with sufficient material in each essay to last some 30 minutes. As in any history there are disagreements as to the correct perspective of modern events. I found the authors gave appropriate emphasis to the contributions of Hans Popper but, at the same time, ignored many other American and European contributors. I found the effort a valuable one, however. My only criticism of the book is the quality of reproduction of the photographs;

Clinical Gastroenterology: A Problem-Oriented Approach

Dr Cohen and 21 other physicians have produced a brief two-part book on gastroenterology. The first portion considers the clinical approach to gastrointestinal (GI) tract presentations; the second portion considers common GI tract diseases. There are 18 chapters that address the clinical management, approach, or evaluation of a stated GI tract symptom, disease, or common finding. In each, the problem is introduced and an algorithm indicating the clinical testing pattern and illustrations of the major diagnostic abnormalities are provided. The common methods of treatment, including surgery, are covered, and the expected outcomes are listed. A bibliography is present for each chapter. There are about 100 illustrations in the book printed at a size to show clearly a roentgenogram, computed tomographic scan, sonograph, or endoscopic photograph, and the majority of these clearly illustrate what is desired. The book is aimed at the medical student or the general physician who is trying