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Show BOOK REVIEWS Section Editor: Steven A. Newman, MD Principles and Practices of Ophthalmology, 3rd Edition Daniel M. Albert, MD, MS, and Joan W. Miller, MD. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4160-0016-7, $799. Scope: This is the 3rd edition of a multiauthored, 4-volume text of modern ophthalmology. Its 5,461 pages include 417 chapters in 21 sections. There are two associate editors, 32 section editors, and 691 authors. It is heavily illustrated with pictures, most of which are in color. Each volume has its own index and the last volume has an index covering all 4 volumes, although misleadingly titled as the index for Volume 4. Chapters include bulleted ‘‘key features'' and tables. Basic science is no longer given its own volume, although much of it still appears in the sections on optics and low vision. Refractive surgery now warrants its own section, and there is a new section on ethics and professionalism. Strengths: This edition differs from earlier editions in broadening the scope of authorship beyond Harvard. The inclusion of material on ethics and professionalism and the use of bulleted key features, tables, and color-coded tabs are helpful in passing on the take-home messages in an overwhelmingly extensive text. Weaknesses: In a text of this immensity, there are bound to be errors of omission, commission, and redundancy. Topics are often needlessly repeated across chapters. Rare disease processes often receive a lot of attention, and common diseases often receive insufficient coverage. Recommended Audience: This latest edition remains a valuable source for medical students, residents, practi-tioners, and educators. Critical Appraisal: If current trainees in medicine are going directly to online sources for their education, they are missing out on a valuable resource such as this. Experts have filtered the material and provided eminence-based choices together with evidence-based choices. Although texts like this cannot be rapidly updated, they offer-in one place-a carefully crafted and seasoned point of view. Steven A. Newman, MD Department of Ophthalmology University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Advances in Understanding Mechanisms and Treatment of Infantile Forms of Nystagmus R. John Leigh, MD, and M. Devereaux, MD. Oxford University Press, New York, 2008. ISBN 978-0195342185, $89.95. Scope: This is a 240-page hardcover book covering the diagnosis, management, and research in nystagmus of infancy and childhood. A compendium of a 2-day conference dedicated to the life-long efforts of Louis F. Dell'Osso, PhD, it contains contributions from interna-tional experts. The first section deals with psychophysical aspects of infantile nystagmus and the relative contribu-tions of extraocular proprioception and efference (corol-lary) discharge. The second section reviews animal and development models of strabismus, amblyopia, and nystagmus. The third section presents basic genetic studies and clinical trials of drug and surgical treatment of infantile nystagmus. The fourth section pulls together a range of contributions dealing with normal gaze control, infantile nystagmus, and acquired disorders of eye movements, including new treatment measures. Strengths: This textbook is clearly and accurately written in a simple and easily understood style. There are ample tables, illustrations, and references to supplement the text. The translational nature of the research and the multidis-ciplinary contributions to this field are clearly evident in the chapter subjects and diverse authorship. The descriptions of modern electrophysiologic evaluation and investigation of the ocular motor system and its diseases are embedded in most chapters. Weaknesses: The content is probably not deep enough in any one area to completely satisfy the clinician or the scientist involved with the care or research of this patient population. Recommended Audience: This textbook should appeal to those in a variety of disciplines, including neurology, ophthalmology, optometry, engineering, developmental physiology, psychology, and psychiatry. Critical Appraisal: Dedicated to the career of an out-standing researcher who has served as a mentor to many people and redirected an entire discipline, this book covers a narrow field but should be of interest to a wide audience. J Neuro-Ophthalmol, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2009 163 Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. J Neuro-Ophthalmol, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2009 Book Reviews It will be a valuable resource for scientists and practitioners interested in developmental disorders of vision. Richard W. Hertle, MD University of Pittsburgh Eye and Ear Institute University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Clinical Ocular Toxicology: Drugs, Chemicals, and Herbs Frederick T. Fraunfelder, MD, Frederick W. Fraunfelder, MD, and Wiley A. Chambers, MD. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2008. ISBN 978-1-4160-4673-8, $149.00. Scope: This text serves as a clinical guide for clinicians to diagnose and manage ocular problems related to inter-actions with drugs, chemicals, and herbal supplements. It includes an introduction on ocular toxicology and impor-tant clinical information on several classes of medications. It also includes illustrations of selected ocular toxicities. Parts 1 through 6 provide background on ocular pharmacology. Part 1 (Principles of Therapy) reviews pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacologic principles. Part 2 (Ocular Drug Delivery and Toxicology) reviews basic pharmacology and toxicology of topical medications, including preservatives, vehicles for topical medication delivery, toxic responses, and application of topical ocular medication. Part 3 (Methods for Evaluating Drug-Induced Visual Side Effects) reviews testing and other considerations when evaluating for possible drug toxicity. Part 4 (The Role of Electrophysiology and Psychophysics in Ocular Toxicology) reviews the role of electrophysiology in drug testing and drug development. Part 5 (National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects) reviews the rationale for a national drug registry and provides steps for reporting cases. Part 6 (Herbal Medicines and Dietary Supplements) reviews the current use of dietary supplements to treat eye disease. Parts 7-9 summarize the ocular side effects of drugs, chemicals, and herbal medicines. Part 10 includes a list of suspected drugs for each possible ocular side effect. Part 11 is the subject index for the book. Strengths: There are several improvements to this book compared with its predecessor, Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects. It includes a review of 70 new drugs, has valuable illustrations, and covers ocular side-effects related to chemicals and herbal remedies. The section on chemicals is particularly well organized and concise. It provides an extremely valuable resource to ophthalmologists fielding questions from emergency departments about ocular chemical exposures. One of the best features of this book is the aggregating of ocular side-effects by likelihood of causality (certain, probable, possible, or conditional/un-classified). The color-coded index of side effects at the end of the book effectively summarizes a great deal of data in an easily accessible format. The authors also include useful recommendations on how to manage patients experiencing pharmacologic side effects. Weaknesses: The quantification of probability of causality is often based on the impression of the authors rather than on scientific evidence. There are scant comments on medication dosage. For instance, cimetidine is mentioned as a treatment for conjunctival papillomas. However, no indication of an appropriate dosage is mentioned. This information may be outside of the scope of the current edition, but I would encourage the authors to consider providing dosing information, particularly for medications such as cimetidine, which are rarely used by ophthalmol-ogists. Some of the illustrative photographs are not of high quality. Drug names are not differentiated by color or font, making identification sometimes a slow-going process. Recommended Audience: This text serves as a concise and reliable guide for practitioners. The new features have broadened its audience. The photos and introductory sections serve as a powerful tool for those starting to study the field. Critical Appraisal: This book serves as the definitive guide for ocular toxicity for the clinician. Considering that one author is the founder and director of the National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects, it is authoritative. Pick up a copy for your office. Michael E. Zegans, MD Patrick A. Coady Dartmouth Medical School Hanover, New Hampshire The Ocular Fundus: From Findings to Diagnosis Sebastian Wolf, MD, Bernd Kirchhof, MD, and Martin Reim, MD. Thieme, Stuttgart, 2006. ISBN 3-13-139371-8, $149.95. Scope: This 236-page hardcover volume is basically a portrait gallery of ocular fundus conditions. The work 164 © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Book Reviews J Neuro-Ophthalmol, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2009 of three eminent German retina specialists, it grew out of their sense that examiners were uncertain about what they were seeing and had a ‘‘tendency to fall back on relatively few diagnoses.'' The text is built around 309 illustrations, mostly superb fundus photographs. It seems to be organized according to the pathologic unit-abnormal retinal vessels, bleeding, tumors, vitreous opacities-but the reader is likely to miss the organization and concentrate on the pictures. Text and tables go with the pictures, but they are mostly trimming. Strengths: The photos are beautiful. There are iconic representatives from every important pathologic process in the fundus. Weaknesses: The text provides only rudimentary in-formation. It cannot stand alone. Recommended Audience: If the authors are correct that even well-trained ophthalmologists would not be familiar with the classic fundus findings of the major conditions, then practitioners will find this book helpful. Medical students will certainly love it, as will nonophthalmic physicians and ophthalmic technicians and nurses. Critical Appraisal: This is a ‘‘best-in-show'' of fundus abnormalities. Although such material is now available free online, this book is a higher quality product. Libraries in teaching institutions will undoubtedly want to purchase it. Jonathan D. Trobe, MD Kellogg Eye Center University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan The emphasis is on neuroanatomy. There is also a section on neurologic indications for cranial MRI, including vascular tumor, infection, inflammation, trauma, hydro-cephalus, and congenital malformations. Strengths: As the new generation of students becomes increasingly dependent on the Web and electronic sources, this CD attempts to bridge the gap between traditional texts and a more interactive mode of learning. Weaknesses: There are several mistakes. Particularly frustrating to a neuro-ophthalmologist is the labeling of the occipital lobe on CT as the cerebellum, labeling the internal carotid artery on MRI as the trigeminal nerve, and identifying the facial nerve as the trigeminal nerve. Missing from the orbit is the superior oblique muscle, and the posterior ethmoid sinus is labeled as the nasal cavity. There is also lack of detail about the sphenopalatine and pterygomaxillary areas. In addition, the cavernous sinus is not identified, and there is no identification of the inferior orbital fissure or the cranial nerves below it. In some instances, there are multiple examples when one would do. Recommended Audience: Neurologists just beginning to learn about neuro-imaging are most apt to find this CD useful. Critical Appraisal: The convenience and the immediate feedback of an interactive CD has advantages. Missing is a proper attention to detail. Steven A. Newman, MD Department of Ophthalmology University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia NeuroImaging in Neurology: An Interactive CD Greenfield's Neuropathology, 8th Edition David C. Preston, MD, and Brenda E. Shapiro, MD, PhD. Saunders Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2007. ISBN: 978-1-4160-4639-4, $145.00. Scope: This CD is an interactive collection of 2,100 images from patients. It is designed as an introduction to neuro-imaging in neurology. Running on a PC or Mac, it is divided into sections covering normal imaging with mag-netic resonance of the brain and spine, plus short sections on MRA, magnetic resonance venography, CT of the brain, and conventional angiography. It has several brief Power- Point presentations on basic analysis aimed at the novice. Seth Love, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, David N. Louis, MD, and David W. Ellison, MD, PhD, FRCPath. Hodder Arnold, London, UK, 2008. ISBN [with DVD] 978-0-340-90682-8, US$ 599.00. Scope: This is an excellent new edition of this classic known in the neuropathology community as ‘‘The Bible.'' As stated by the authors in the Preface, ‘‘the emphasis in much of the present book is on an integrated approach to diagnosis taking account of the clinical manifestations, neuroradiologic and laboratory findings, as well as the neuropathological and molecular genetic features of the different diseases.'' 165 Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. J Neuro-Ophthalmol, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2009 Book Reviews The 2-volume book is divided into 24 chapters cover-ing a comprehensive range of pathologic entities including pathologic reactions in the central nervous system, pediat-rics, vascular diseases, trauma, infectious diseases, multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases, nutritional and metabolic disorders, aging, dementia and other neurodegen-erative diseases, psychiatric diseases, epilepsy, peripheral nerve and muscle, and tumors. There is a strong emphasis on molecular mechanisms, as well as clinical and laboratory correlation. Strengths: The eighth edition benefits from extensive reorganization and the addition of outstanding new contri-butors. The chapters now emphasize a more ‘‘practical'' approach to the material aided by the addition of many diagrams, text boxes, and tables. This edition includes a CD-ROM containing more than 2,700 images of the figures and diagrams in the book. The images can be easily down-loaded as JPG files or transferred to PowerPoint for pre-sentation purposes, an extraordinary benefit for teachers. Weaknesses: It is difficult to find any weakness in the book. I personally miss the initial introductory chapters of past editions, which contained more basic neurobiology of the neuron and glia. The absence of a chapter on ophthal-mic pathology is greatly missed especially in view of the increasing role of neuropathologists in diagnosing oph-thalmic specimens and educating neuropathology trainees. Recommended Audience: The book is an outstanding resource for basic and clinical neuroscientists, neuro-pathologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and neuro-ophthalmologists. Critical Appraisal: The eighth edition certainly carries on Greenfield's tradition of being the ultimate reference text in neuropathology. M. Beatriz S. Lopes, MD, PhD Professor of Pathology and Neurological Surgery Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology University of Virginia School of Medicine Charlottesville, Virginia The essays were entitled The History of Disease (Kiple), The Rise of Medicine (Nutton), What Is Disease ? (Porter), Primary Care (Shorter), Medical Science (Porter), Hospitals and Surgery (Porter), Drug Treatment and the Rise of Pharmacology (Weatherall), Medicine, Society and the State (Pickstone), and Looking to the Future-1996 (Watts). Cambridge University Press has now published the essays without illustrations in a softcover edition of about 400 pages. Strengths: Many of the useful appendices of the 1996 book have been retained in this 2006 version, including a thorough general index, a fascinating 14-page chronology of medical events throughout history, a table of 50 major human diseases, their cause and the means of their trans-mission; four tightly printed pages of notes from the various essays; a list of 225 titles suggested for further reading, arranged by chapter, and an index of the major medical personalities mentioned. Roy Porter, the editor, was a professor in the Cambridge University history department who spent sev-eral years at the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. Porter himself wrote 38% of the text of this book. He died in 2002. Of Porter, Nicholas Lezard said in a book review: ‘‘He has written about a dozen books in roughly as many years. They are all ferociously learned yet utterly readable, and he hardly ever repeats himself as far as I can see. How the hell does he do it?'' Weaknesses: None. Recommended Audience: This book is recommended to anyone with an interest in the history of medicine. Critical Appraisal: This book is not expensive, and a few hours spent dipping into it will be rewarding. The history of our profession is inevitably part of our personal history. Each of us should know something about where our profession has been and what it has done, because that history has influenced who we are today. H. Stanley Thompson, MD Oxford, Iowa The Cambridge History of Medicine Roy S. Porter, PhD. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2006. ISBN 978-0-521-86426-8, $26.99. Scope: This 2006 book started out in 1996 as The Illustrated Cambridge History of Medicine, edited by Roy Porter. It was an impressive collection of 10 essays written by well-known historians of the social aspects of medicine with illustrations. Neuroethics: Challenge for the 21st Century Neil Levy, PhD. Cambridge University Press, New York, 2007. ISBN 978-0-521-68726-3, $55.00. Scope: This text is an overview of current neuroscientific progress and its implications for ethics and philosophy of mind. 166 © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Book Reviews J Neuro-Ophthalmol, Vol. 29, No. 2, 2009 The book is divided into 9 chapters. The first chapter defines the study of neuroethics and its utility, illustrating its application to various test cases such as prosopagnosia and neglect. Here the author also introduces the ‘‘extended mind'' hypothesis, the idea that human minds extend beyond the skull to include external resources used in thinking, such as pens and paper, to which he returns throughout the book. The second chapter explores direct and indirect manipulations of the mind via traditional and new methods, examining arguments regarding their impact on self-identity. Chapters 3 and 4 further explore moral arguments for and against direct manipulations of the mind, contrasting them with often overlooked indirect manipu-lations via the external environment. Chapter 5 is an in-depth discussion of neuroethics and memory, concluding that potential alterations to memory brought about by neuroscientific advances are not ethically unique from dilemmas of memory alteration in existence. Chapters 6 and 7 tackle the neuroscientific and neuroethical debate surrounding the concepts of self and free will. The author suggests a biologic basis for viewing self-control as a limited resource, an idea known as ego-depletion. Chapter 8 explores the idea of self-deception and its origins using anosognosia and blindsight as examples. The final chapter discusses the neuroscience of ethics itself, in particular the physiologic underpinnings of human intuition and its role in morality. Strengths: This is a wide-ranging, well-written, intellec-tually engaging monograph that successfully convinces the reader of the need for neuroethics discourse by individuals involved in basic, cognitive, and clinical neurosciences. It is an important contribution to the growing literature in this up-and-coming field. The author is well-versed in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience and blends his impressive knowledge base to explore current debate and defend several fascinating hypotheses. Weaknesses: A reader unaccustomed to philosophic debate may get lost as the author tackles complex phenomena from the perspectives of philosophy, neuroscience, moral psychology, and ethics. Ambitious in its scope, the text may be of limited interest to those looking for specific application to neuro-ophthalmology. Recommended Audience: This book is layered in its complexity and has something to offer readers at all levels of familiarity with the topic. Any reader with a strong interest in the philosophical and ethical implications of the neurosciences will want to read it. However, the book was written primarily at a graduate student level, limiting its potential audience. Critical Appraisal: The author has produced a seminal work in a field that is emerging from infancy. This book is an invaluable resource for those with an interest in the intersection of basic and clinical neuroscience, philosophy, and ethics. To this end, the author has done a fine job peering into the human mind and exploring current and upcoming ethical and philosophical conundrums. It is a fascinating and challenging read. Harinder S. Chahal, BA Donna T. Chen, MD, MPH Department of Public Health Sciences Department of Psychiatric Medicine Center for Biomedical Ethics University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 167 Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. |
