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Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals

Article · January 1997

DOI: 10.1016/B978-012396305-5/50032-4 · Source: OAI

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Torrence ME. Understanding Epidemiology. Mosby's
Biomedical Science Series, Mosby-Year Book, St. Louis,
Missouri, 1997. 180 pp. ISBN 0-8151-8887-0. $21.99 US.
This book is one of 4 in the Mosby Biomedical Science
ISeries, the other 3 being Understanding Anatomy,
Understanding Immunology, and Understanding Neuro-
science. As stated in the preface to the series, the focus
is on the first principles of the disciplines, with the
intended use being as a teaching resource, particularly
for curricula that stress problem-based or case-based
learning.
Understanding Epidemiology is divided into 8 chap-
ters, namely: Overview, Epidemiologic Concepts of
Disease, Measures of Frequency and Association, Basic
Epidemiologic Methodology, Observational Studies,
Bias and Error, Causality, and Surveillance. The intro-
duction to each chapter names, in context, the principles
to be covered, and subsequently defines them. Each
principle is then treated as a separate module. Each
module includes a restatement of the principle, an
explanation, including one or more examples, and sec-
tions that define key terms, related principles, and
selected references, including, in some cases, "citation
classics." Each chapter ends with study questions. I did
Kaneko JJ, Harvey JW, Bruss ML. Clinical Biochem-
istry of Domestic Animals, 5th ed. Academic Press,
San Diego, California, 1997. 931 pp. ISBN 0-12-
396305-2. $120.00 US.
This is an internationally recognized reference textbook
in animal clinical biochemistry that replaces the pre-
vious edition published in 1989. Although the format
remains the same, there are many changes in addition to
the most important feature, namely, the incorporation of
a wealth of new information developed during the inter-
vening years. Two internationally recognized authorities
have been added as associate editors to guide the prepa-
ration of this edition. The dimensions of the pages are
larger, but this is counterbalanced by an increase in
font size resulting in a similar total number of pages.
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not find the section on related principles particularly use-
ful and was disappointed that no answers were pro-
vided for the study questions.
In general, the book achieves its stated objectives, that
is, to introduce the first principles of epidemiology. It
does this in a very concise way that leaves the reader
wanting more. This is consistent with the author's
intent, in that the book is not meant to be a complete
resource for a course but rather a basis from which stu-
dents can progress to more difficult concepts.
Because the book sets out to be concise, and as the
author anticipates in the introduction, there are points in
the book with which the reader may take some exception.
For example, the book leaves the reader somewhat con-
fused about the meaning of the terms risk factor, deter-
minant, and cause. Likewise, the book fails to recognize
the role of epidemiology at the individual animal level,
that is, clinical epidemiology. In spite of this, the book
is good value for money and a very good introduction for
students to the subject of epidemiology.
Reviewed by Alan H. Meek, DVM, Dean, Ontario
Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph,
Ontario NIG 2W].
The current edition contains 30 chapters, compared
with the previous edition with 28 chapters. The chapter
on 'Trace Elements' has been removed, the previous
2 chapters on 'Ketogenesis and Ketosis' and on 'Lipid
Metabolism and Its Diseases' have been joined within
'Lipids and Ketones'. Four new chapters have been
added: 'Tumor Markers, Lysosomal Storage Diseases,
Clinical Biochemistry in Toxicology, and Avian Clinical
Biochemistry.' The majority of authors remain the same
for this edition, although there are several changes and
additions of new names. The scientific information
included in the new chapters will appeal to very differ-
ent and potentially new readers of this book.
Although the chapters differ in outline, in general, each
begins with an introduction and brief review of normal
function or anatomical considerations and physiology,
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 the clinical signs associated with major organ system dis-
orders or diseases, and methods of analysis and inter-
pretation. Each chapter provides an independent and
broad source of information valuable to all clinicians, stu-
dents, teachers, and researchers as a source of original
information for review or for updating. It is interesting
that this textbook can be perceived as containing too
much detail for undergraduate students and general-
ists, but too little information for graduate students or
specialists. For the latter, the extensive references pro-
vide comprehensive sources of additional detail.
Incorporation of both the traditional and the 'sys-
teme international d'unites' is very much appreciated by
international readers. The chapter on the 'Concepts of
Normality in Clinical Biochemistry' was examined
with interest, because of the great significance to every-
one generating or interpreting laboratory data. The
reviewer is interested in the information presented, yet
had to read this chapter very carefully in order to com-
prehend the authors' opinion about several points of
major interest and concern.
Since this textbook is read by the majority of the
contributors to this aspect of clinical biochemistry, this
chapter provides an opportunity to present simple guide-
lines for establishing reference values, including data
analysis. As an example to illustrate these concepts,
additional information including methods used, source
and number of individuals sampled, the methods used for
calculating lower and upper limits, and if they represent
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the central 95% reference limits, would greatly improve
the scientific value of the reference values included in the
Appendix. Readers should be cautioned against using
these reference values for any more than relative infor-
mation, until they have been validated for the methods
used in their laboratory. A minor typographical error is
noted in Table 1.1 where 'dogs' are referred to in the title
but 'cows' are listed as the source of animals.
Although I have not yet read all chapters in detail, it
is apparent that there is much new and updated infor-
mation in this edition. There are too many changes to
address each in detail, but, as an example, the new
authors have incorporated their collective clinical and lab-
oratory experience in the revisions to the chapter on cere-
brospinal fluid. The new chapter on 'Avian Clinical
Biochemistry' provides a major resource for both clin-
icians and researchers in this area of increased interest.
The editors and authors are to be congratulated on their
revisions and contributions to a major resource for ani-
mal clinical biochemistry. The current information
should be used as a pnrmary resource for students study-
ing disease and clinicians differentiating disease, and as
an initial resource for researchers and graduate stu-
dents studying biochemical changes in health and disease.
Reviewed by John H. Lumsden, DVM, Professor,
Veterinary Clinical Pathologist, Department of
Pathology, Ontario Veterinay College, University of
Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NJG 2W].
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