Abstract
This book consists of 13 chapters written by 27 authors on the following topics: Chapter 1—Physiology and Pathophysiology of the Internal Environment; Chapter 2—Pathophysiology of Cellular Regulation, Cell Death and Cancer; Chapter 3—Host-Parasite Interactions; and Chapter 13—Pathophysiology of Homeostatic and Toxic Disorders, including the causes of spongiform encephalopathies as proposed toxicants. The remaining chapters discuss the pathophysiology of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, skeletal muscle, nervous, hepatic, and endocrine systems. Chapter 11—Welfare, Stress, Behavior and Pathophysiology seems out of place relative to the other topics. Conspicuously absent is a chapter on the renal system, although some renal pathophysiology is addressed in Chapter 1 under the topic of sodium regulation.
Most chapters begin with a brief overview of the structure and function of the organ system, followed by a discussion of selected diseases. Many chapters have excellent diagrams and tables that enhance the text, and references are fairly up-to-date. Because each chapter is written by a different set of authors, the emphasis for each chapter varies, with some chapters stressing broader concepts and other chapters delving into detailed physiology or biochemistry (or both).
Hence, the readability of the chapters varies, and discussions of certain topics (e.g., mechanisms of shock, apoptosis, diarrhea, edema) are fragmented or incomplete (or both).
According to the editors, one of the aims of this book is the creation of a “trailblazing text” that introduces “a new framework for thinking about the nature of disease” and “will be a key resource book for problem-based approaches to learning” (http://store.blackwellWprofessional.com/0813828260.html). The editors fall short of this goal; however, they have achieved their other goals of creating a useful supplement to the traditional textbooks used in general pathology and internal medicine, and creating a valuable reference for their intended audience of faculty, veterinary students, and veterinarians.