Kym Orsetti Furney was a 34-year-old physician, specializing in Internal Medicine, busy with her exciting job and enjoying life with her husband and young daughter in 2000, when she suddenly began to experience dizziness repeatedly, which rapidly led to a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Her world was rocked for a time, but Furney has recovered from the shock and - empowered by information, acceptance and support - continues working as a doctor, teaching and taking care of her family, despite the challenges of MS. For all people dealing with a personal or family diagnosis now, she offers help, hope and insights by explaining all the medical perspectives, but also reflecting on her own personal experiences after diagnosis. Never forgetting the fear and hopelessness she felt at the time she learned of her own MS, she discusses the many challenges, from depression and overcoming fear of injection medications, to how and when to tell others about having MS and understanding the impact MS may have on one's career. Readers will find a strong connection with this talented physician and the thoughts and emotions that she has had facing MS. Furney's well-researched and compassionate writing will not only empower people newly diagnosed with MS, but will give family members insight into the physical and emotional challenges for their loved one, challenges that she or he may not immediately be able to voice. This work also offers invaluable insights for healthcare professionals, psychologists, psychiatrists, physical and occupational therapists.

Natural toxins form a major component of the molecular tools used increasingly frequently by the ever growing number of laboratories of various kinds. Evidence for this is provided not only by the increasing number of firms including such toxins in their catalogues but also by the large number of demands received by those who discover new toxins. Twenty chapters survey important aspects of toxin origin, their structure and molecular mechanism, and their cellular and pathogenic effects. In addition, the text provides comprehensive and specific methodology for the application of these toxins in the research laboratory. This begins with the description of the method of extraction, biochemical and pharmacological characterization, and assessment of purity, and continues with methods for chemical modification, e.g. labelling, and eventually describes applications in pharmacological studies in vivo and/or in vitro. The length of this book has been kept reasonable by concentrating on animal toxins,...

This book analyzes power in new, more complex ways, and incorporates current cutting edge debates in patients' ability to resist medical power. Part One is devoted to sociolinguistic and cognitive approaches to doctor-patient discourse. Chapters analyze the patterns of talk that are produced by the situational demands of the medical setting and provide a detailed examination of the interplay of clinical reasoning and language use in the organizational context of health care delivery. Part Two examines the production of doctor-patient communication. Chapters address the social production of doctor-patient discourse, examine the relationship between social structure and social interaction, and explore the relationship between power and resistance.

How does a doctor or therapist bridge the gap between particulars and generalizations regarding patients and various phenomena or diseases? The authors of this volume illustrate the multiple ways practitioners in the fields of clinical psychology and medicine address the tension between the universal nature of scientific knowledge and its particular applications. They discuss the fact that some decisions, if made erroneously, have impacts that cannot be reversed. An error in the realms of medicine, ecology, peace, and war brings with it psychological strategies that differ from those a practitioner faces where errors are correctable. How does a doctor or therapist bridge the gap between particulars and generalizations regarding patients and various phenomena or diseases? The authors of this volume illustrate the multiple ways practitioners in the fields of clinical psychology and medicine address the tension between the universal nature of scientific knowledge and its particular applications. They discuss the fact that some decisions, if made erroneously, have impacts that cannot be reversed. An error in the realms of medicine, ecology, peace, and war brings with it psychological strategies that differ from those a practitioner faces where errors are correctable. The disciplines of psychology and medicine have two shared goals. The first is that both disciplines seek a basic understanding about how human beings exist in their ordinary biological and psychological worlds and the second is the attempt to describe and treat disruptions of each person's healthy state of being. Therefore, the four coeditors uncover areas of mutual interest between the two disciplines and the basis for the conflicts that have arisen in their fields.

Recent evidence indicates that humor is an important aspect of a person's health, and studies have shown that increased levels of humor help with stress, pain tolerance, and overall patient health outcomes. Still, many healthcare providers are hesitant to use humor in their practice for fear of offense or failure. Understanding more of how and why humor works as well as some of the issues related to real-world examples is essential to help practitioners be more successful in their use and understanding of humor in medical care. Through case studies and real-world applications of therapeutic humor, the field can be better understood and advanced for best practices and uses of this type of therapy. With this growing area of interest, research on humor in a patient care setting must be discussed. Cases on Applied and Therapeutic Humor focuses on humor in medical care and will discuss issues in humor research, assessment of the effectiveness of humor in medical settings, and examples of medical care in specific health settings. The chapters will explore how propriety, effectiveness, perception, and cultural variables play a role in using humor as therapy and will also provide practical case studies from medical/healthcare professionals in which they personally employed humor in medical practice. This book is ideal for medical students, therapists, researchers interested in health, humor, and medical care; healthcare professionals; humor researchers; along with practitioners, academicians, and students looking for a deeper understanding of the role humor can play as well as guidance as to the effective and meaningful use of humor in medical/healthcare settings.

Once labeling complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as quackery or fraud, the biomedical community is becoming increasingly complex as it struggles to cope with the explosion of alternative treatments seen in the United States. With the establishment of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine along with an increase in departments or courses on alternative medicine seen in major American medical schools, CAM has nudged its way into mainstream medicine.

Now that it has gained a foothold in the biomedical community, several questions arise about its impact on our culture. This issue of the "ANNALS" sheds light on the political-economic role as well as socio-cultural influences of CAM over the past 20 years. This collection of articles also addressees the global and cross-cultural dimensions of CAM.

With ever-changing messages in the media about CAM and biomedicine, the task of evaluating it is daunting. Yet the contributors to this issue - social scientists devote to researching the effects of Cam on our society - are able to provide insight and a thorough commentary on the meanings of health, illness and modes of healing.

This issue of Surgical Clinics of North America, guest edited by Drs. Ronald Martin and Paul Schenarts, is devoted to Development of a Surgeon: Medical School through Retirement. They have assembled expert authors to review the following topics: Residency Surgical Training at a University Academic Medical Center; Fellowship Training: Need and Contributions; Evolving Educational Techniques in Surgical Training; Transition to Practice: From Trainee to Staff Surgeon; The Value of the Surgeon Emeritus; Alternative Methods and Funding for Surgical Training; Medical School Training for the Surgeon; Residency Surgical Training at an Independent Academic Medical Center; Assessment of Competence: The ACGME/RRC Perspective; Assessment of Competence: The American Board of Surgery Perspective; The Impaired Surgeon; Continuing Medical Education: The American College of Surgeons Perspective; Workforce Needs and Demands in Surgery, and more!