Medicine: Books

Chronobiology and Chronomedicine

Circadian rhythms have been shown to be ubiquitous and critically important in the experimental laboratory, accounting for the difference between life and death in response to identical stimulus. The partly endogenous nature of circadian rhythms has been well documented and methods for their characterisation have been developed enabling the cellular and molecular mechanisms to be understood. Chronobiology and Chronomedicine aims to provide a review of these mechanisms underlying circadian rhythms and illustrate the role of the brain's suprachiasmatic nuclei in the 'pace-making' process and the effects caused by 'clock genes' present in almost all cells. Beyond the mechanisms involved, the book discusses the relationship between body systems, disease, and proper circadian function; in particular, how disruption of the circadian rhythm is associated with ill health and disease status from observations made at the organismic level. (Provided by Publisher.)

Storytelling in Medicine: How Narrative can Improve Practice

Throughout our lives, story is the medium each of us uses to make sense of our environment and relationships. Stories provide meaning and context, enriching our experiences and equipping us with a framework to navigate our existence. This unique, practical book for healthcare trainees, practitioners and educators explores the ideas and practice of narrative and storytelling that lie at the very heart of clinical medicine and the patient experience' of care. It shows how story and narrative can be used effectively to help convey concepts such as prognosis and the effect of illness upon life, and to prepare patients and their relatives for difficult and painful news. Offering a particular insight into communication by and between healthcare professionals, and how it can be refocused and improved, this updated and expanded second edition remains an invaluable teaching aid for educators working in both small and large formats, and for under- and postgraduate students (Provided by Publisher).

The Dynamics of Dementia Communication

It is well recognized that when people are living with a dementia, effective communication can be a challenge for both them and those they interact with. Despite a plethora of good advice, it can be surprisingly hard to sustain constructive communicative behaviours and to integrate them successfully into routine daily care and interaction. The Dynamics of Dementia Communication asks why that is. What is it about communication, as a human social and cognitive practice, that makes it so difficult to manage the disruptions caused by dementia? Why is it so common to feel awkward, confused or irritated when talking with a person living with a dementia? Why is the experience of living with a dementia so personally and socially devastating? What approaches to communication would work best, and why? To answer these questions, the book integrates information from a wide range of different sources, covering the biological, social, and emotional factors associated with the dementia experience. New concepts and theoretical perspectives offer novel ways of thinking about the challenges of communication generally, and in the context of dementia. Topics explored include whether it is acceptable to deceive people living with a dementia and why society's failure to support people living with a dementia and their carers is so devastating. The final chapter suggests what people living with a dementia need if communication is to promote and protect everyone's well-being. By providing a deeper understanding of what topples the best-intentioned attempts at interaction, and by explaining why poor communication affects everyone involved, this book sets new agendas for improving the welfare of people living with a dementia, their families, and professional carers (Provided by Publisher).

This title was acquired through the Library's Order a Book service.

Medical Image Analysis 

Medical imaging is increasingly at the base of many breakthroughs in biomedical sciences, becoming a fundamental enabling technology of biomedical scientific progress. Medical Image Analysis presents practical knowledge on medical image computing and analysis and is written by top educators and experts in the field. This text is a modern, practical, broad, and self-contained reference that conveys a mix of essential methodological concepts within different medical domains, reflecting the nature of the discipline today, making it suitable as a course text and a self-learning resource.

The Mask : A History of Breathing Bad Air

For centuries, humans have sought to protect themselves from harmful air, whether from smoke, dust, vapours, or germs. This book offers the first history of respiratory masks—ranging from simple pieces of cloth to elaborate gas masks—and explores why they have sparked both hope and fear.

Bruno J. Strasser and Thomas Schlich captivate readers with stories of individuals—from renowned doctors and political leaders to forgotten inventors and anonymous factory workers—who passionately debated the value of masks. In Renaissance Italy and Meiji Japan, in Victorian Britain and Cold War America, the way societies have engaged with face coverings reveals their deepest cultural and political fractures. The Mask challenges us to reconsider how we care for one another and the kind of environment we aspire to inhabit. (Provided by Publisher.)

This title was acquired by the Library's Order a Book Service.