Eric Chivian and Aaron Bernstein
Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity
Oxford University Press
The possible extinction of polar bears gets a lot of press, but the endangerment of less cuddly species does not capture the public’s attention. Furthermore, argue Eric Chivian, director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment and HMS assistant clinical professor of psychiatry (social medicine) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Aaron Bernstein, a research associate at the center and HMS instructor in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Boston, little attention is paid to the effect that this biodiversity loss has on human health. This book seeks to remedy that, using scientific literature and full-color photographs to explore the ways in which certain organisms contribute to advances in medicine and which, if they survive, stand to benefit medicine in the future. The authors also examine biodiversity loss and its effect on food production and offer suggestions for effective conservation practices.
Ronald L. Eisenberg
Dictionary of Jewish Terms: A Guide to the Language of Judaism
Schreiber Publishing
Designed as a resource for Jews and non-Jews alike, the Dictionary of Jewish Terms manages at once to be both a concise, single-volume reference book and a comprehensive collection of terms that shape the Jewish experience. From abba to zaydee, the dictionary, written by Ronald Eisenberg, HMS lecturer in radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, covers the essential elements of Judaism, including prayers, festivals, rituals, and traditions, incorporating terms from the ancient Aramaic language and English as well as Hebrew and Yiddish. Instead of providing a short definition, each entry is like a mini-encyclopedia article, providing an explanation of the term in its relevant context.
Ronald L. Eisenberg and Alexander R. Margulis
The Right Imaging Study: A Guide for Physicians (Third Edition)
Springer
Often, a physician will have to make a judgment about what kind of diagnostic imaging procedure to order after examining a patient, without the benefit of a consultation with a radiologist. In an age of rapidly escalating healthcare costs and technological advances that make imaging studies increasingly crucial for diagnosis, ordering the right test the first time is more important than ever. Presented in outline format, this book by Ronald Eisenberg, HMS lecturer in radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (also see Dictionary of Jewish Terms: A Guide to the Language of Judaism), and Alexander Margulis, a professor at Weill–Cornell Medical College, provides a clear, thorough guide for ordering imaging studies. Each chapter is split into two parts: the first lists signs and symptoms and common causes to make an initial diagnosis, and the second provides imaging strategies for confirming and refining the diagnosis.
Edward J. Khantzian and Mark J. Albanese
Understanding Addiction as Self Medication: Finding Hope Behind the Pain
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Addictions can be confounding: why would a person continue such destructive behavior? It can also be difficult to predict, once in treatment, if a patient will ultimately be successful or if he or she will relapse. Edward Khantzian, HMS clinical professor of psychiatry, and Mark Albanese, HMS assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, both at Cambridge Health Alliance, have written a book exploring the self-medication hypothesis (SMH) of addiction. They helped originate the approach, which posits that addicts use because they are in psychological pain and are trying to treat their condition. Examining underlying emotional and mental problems, say the authors, and treating those issues often leads to greater success when treating the addiction.
Richard Masland and Tom Albright, Editors
The Senses: A Comprehensive Reference, Volumes 1 and 2 (Vision)
Academic Press
Part of a six-volume series that also includes references on audition, olfaction and taste, pain, and somatosensation, these two books attempt to cover most topics in visual neuroscience. The text includes contributions from some of the field’s leading researchers and is edited by Richard Masland, the Charles Anthony Pappas professor of neuroscience in the Department of Surgery, and Tom Albright, of the Salk Institute. The first volume, Vision I, starts with an overview of one of the central mysteries of vision research; namely, the relationship between our visual perception of things and the objects generating these perceptions. The text then examines the visual systems of mammals and other animals, before moving on to the brain and the early stages of central vision. Vision II addresses central representations associated with the perceptual interpretation of visual images, a topic of study that has seen great advances in recent years.
Abraham Morgentaler
Testosterone for Life
McGraw Hill
Up to 20 percent of men over the age of 50 experience low levels of testosterone, says Abraham Morgentaler, HMS associate clinical professor of surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, yet less than half of them are ever diagnosed, let alone treated. Testosterone for Life serves as a guidebook to this condition, with Morgentaler providing a discussion of its diagnosis and treatment, debunking myths, and answering common questions. He also addresses the widely held belief that testosterone therapy increases the risk of developing prostate cancer. Morgentaler argues the opposite, saying the studies that identified this risk are not applicable to men with naturally occurring low testosterone, and offers his own research suggesting that low testosterone levels can actually increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Jacqueline Olds and Richard Schwartz
The Lonely American: Drifting Apart in the Twenty-first Century
Beacon Press
Despite the proliferation of technology designed to keep us in constant contact with one another, studies show that Americans are feeling more isolated than ever. Authors Jacqueline Olds, HMS associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Richard Schwartz, HMS associate clinical professor of psychiatry at McLean Hospital, argue that a culture that prizes busyness and individualism is to blame. Since people crave solitude as an escape from a hectic life, it is easy to become isolated from social circles almost without noticing. Instead of trying to reconnect, the authors say, people reassure themselves with the myth of the lonesome hero, who saves the town but who does not need the townspeople. Drawing on examples from their practices, Olds and Schwartz examine the effect our increasing loneliness has on physical health, on families, on neighborhoods, and even on the environment.
Erlene Rosowsky, Joseph M. Casciani, Merla Arnold, Editors
Geropsychology and Long Term Care
Springer
As the baby boomers age and as medical advances have increased lifespan, more and more adults are spending a significant portion of their lives in long-term care facilities, and there is a growing need for specialists in all areas of gerontology, including geropsychology. It is estimated that up to two thirds of residents in skilled nursing facilities have a diagnosable mental disorder, but these conditions often go undiagnosed and untreated. Erlene Rosowsky, HMS assistant clinical professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, along with co-editors Joseph Casciani of Concept Healthcare and private practitioner Merla Arnold, has compiled a series of articles designed to set the standards for psychological care in long-term care settings. Topics covered include common psychological disorders, federal policy issues affecting care delivery, commonly used assessment tools, and treatment plans and processes.
Julie Silver, Editor
What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope
American Cancer Society
Julie Silver, HMS assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation Center, marked her fifth year as a breast cancer survivor by pulling together a collection of stories and practical advice from cancer survivors and clinicians. Full of vignettes in the patients’ own words, the book provides insight into how patients, their doctors, and their families tackle the challenges associated with having cancer—from diagnosis to treatment to recovery—and can serve as a resource and “road map” not only for patients but their families and friends as well. Silver highlights individuals with different backgrounds, cancers, and prognoses, and is not afraid to include voices expressing fear, doubt, and dissatisfaction with treatment along with stories of hope and optimism.
