50 Pharmacotherapy Studies Every Palliative Practitioner Should Know by
50 Phamarcotherapy Studies Every Palliative Practitioner Should Know is a compilation of key pharmacotherapy studies that form the foundation of evidence-based practice. The studies cover topics including: agitation and delirium, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, pain, anorexia and cachexia, ALS, seizure, dyspnea, anxiety, pruritis, symptom clusters, COPD, cancer, and more. For each study, a concise summary is presented with an emphasis on the results and limitations of the study, and its implications for practice. Brief information on other relevant studies is provided, and an illustrative clinical case offers readers the opportunity to conceptualize findings. As with all books in the "50 Studies" series, each study was selected using an objective selection criterion that included citations per year, high levels of evidence, clinical studies and trials, and a 3-stage Delphi review by international experts in the field. This book is a must-read for palliative practitioners, pharmacists, advance practice nurses, and physician assistants, and anyone who wants to learn more about the data behind clinical practice.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Healthcare by 
A Beginner's Guide to Evidence-Based Practice in Health and Social Care, 4th by
This is the book for anyone who has ever wondered what evidence-based practice is, how to relate it to practice or use it in academic work. Fully updated in this brand new edition, this book uses simple and easy to understand language to help those new to the topic. It provides a step by step guide to what we mean by evidence-based practice and how to apply this concept to your practice and learning.
Biostatistics for Clinical and Public Health Research by
Biostatistics for Clinical and Public Health Research provides a concise overview of statistical analysis methods. Use of SAS and Stata statistical software is illustrated in full, including how to interpret results. Focusing on statistical models without all the theory, the book is complete with exercises, case studies, take-away points, and data sets. Readers will be able to maximize their statistical abilities in hypothesis testing, data interpretation, and application while also learning when and how to consult a biostatistician. This book will be an invaluable tool for students and clinical and public health practitioners.
The Bridge Between Bioethics and Medical Practice by
This book provides insights into dynamic and complex interrelationships between professionalism and medical practice. It does so by looking into the most relevant and recent theoretical and practical frameworks and by systematizing and integrating extensive and growing literature on medical professionalism. Through honest and prudent contributions from very diverse backgrounds and contexts, this book provides an understanding of medical professionalism derived from a broader historical and cultural context in order to contribute to everyday professional life and practice - the very place of its existence. The book presents the conflicting and sometimes irreconcilable demands and challenges physicians face in everyday practice. A better understanding of these fundamental issues is the only way for medicine to maintain and preserve its unique morality, the same one that enabled its existence in the first place. The book is relevant for everyone immersed and interested in the subject of medical professionalism as a resource, which may ease or guide them through the complexities of issues at hand. It will also contribute to the ongoing debate on medical professionalism, medical ethics, bioethics, and professionalism and ethics in general.
Bringing Evidence into Everyday Practice: Practical Strategies for Health Care Professionals by
Bringing Evidence Into Everyday Practice: Practical Strategies for Health Care Professionals, Second Edition provides a step-by-step process for learning how to use literature to inform quality practices in an accessible workbook format. Bringing Evidence Into Everyday Practice simplifies analyzing research through repetition of core strategies and the systematic introduction of increasingly complex techniques for interpreting literature. Students, early career professionals, and interdisciplinary teams alike can build a common language and structure for selecting and evaluating evidence to incorporate into their practices. What's included in Bringing Evidence Into Everyday Practice:* Worksheets to guide learning, available in print and as writable PDFs online* Ample opportunities to repeat and practice skills* Summary articles, emerging practices, and data collection* How to search databases, examine quality features, and identify the parts of a research article* A library of articles that learners can access from their libraries or the internet Instructors in educational settings can visit www.efacultylounge.com for supplemental faculty materials to be used for teaching in the classroom. Bringing Evidence Into Everyday Practice: Practical Strategies for Health Care Professionals, Second Edition walks readers through each step of reviewing articles in the literature--providing them with a scaffolding of understanding how to evaluate and incorporate evidence into their practice.
Charcot's Lesson: Learning Scientific Reasoning and Clinical Methodology by
This book explores key aspects of scientific reasoning, clinical methodology, and evidence-based practice, using quotes from the lectures of Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) as a starting point for discussion and in-depth analysis. Charcot is a towering figure in the history of medicine, regarded as the father of modern neurology. The lectures he delivered at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, where he examined patients with various disorders, remain an invaluable source of insight into his reasoning, clinical acumen, and methodology. The book aims to bridge the enduring legacy of the past with recent advances in epistemology and clinical methodology. It covers a variety of relevant topics, including inductive and deductive reasoning, logical fallacies, the importance of history-taking, the Bayesian approach to diagnosis, principles of evidence-based practice, critical appraisal of different study types, and the necessity of a skeptical attitude toward tradition and authority. Readers will gain crucial insights into scientific reasoning and clinical methodology from a fresh and potentially enlightening perspective. This could enhance clinical activities and stimulate thoughtful and critical reflections on everyday clinical practice.
Clinical Research Informatics by
This extensively revised new edition comprehensively reviews the rise of clinical research informatics (CRI). It enables the reader to develop a thorough understanding of how CRI has developed and the evolving challenges facing the biomedical informatics professional in the modern clinical research environment. Emphasis is placed on the changing role of the consumer and the need to merge clinical care delivery and research as part of a changing paradigm in global healthcare delivery. Clinical Research Informatics presents a detailed review of using informatics in the continually evolving clinical research environment. It represents a valuable textbook reference for all students and practising healthcare informatics professional looking to learn and expand their understanding of this fast-moving and increasingly important discipline.
Controversies in Medicine and Neuroscience by
This book explores some of the most fascinating medical and life science topics of the 20th and 21st centuries, viewed through the unique perspective of an experienced neurosurgeon and medical historian with a special interest in bioethics, neurobiology, and other aspects of the life sciences. It bridges multiple disciplines in the life sciences―from historic advances in psychosurgery to fascinating advances in neurobiology, such as the neurophysiology of learning and memory, and the neuropharmacology of hallucinogenic drugs. It also discusses intriguing frontal and temporal lobe syndromes in neuropsychiatry, a new hypothesis solving the mystery of Neolithic trepanation, and traditional medical ethics in contradistinction to bioethics.
Digital Health: Telemedicine and Beyond by
Digital Health: Telemedicine and Beyond describes practical ways to use digital health tools in clinical practice. With a strong focus on case studies and patient outcomes, this title provides an overview of digital medicine, terms, concepts, and applications for the multidisciplinary clinical practitioner. Chapters provide a concise, yet comprehensive understanding of digital health, including telemedicine, mHealth, EHRs, and the benefits and challenges of each. The book gives insights on risks and benefits associated with storing and transmitting patient information via digital tools and educates clinicians in the correct questions to ask for advocacy regarding state laws, scope of practice, and medicolegal implications. It also addresses the ethical and social challenges that digital health raises, how to engage patients to improve shared decision-making models and how digital health tools can be integrated into clinical practice. This book is a valuable resource for clinicians and medical educators of all health professions, including physicians, physician associates, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, students, and all those who wish to broaden their knowledge in the allied field.- Provides a clinical perspective on digital health- Written by clinicians for clinicians with the patient in mind- Describes practical ways to use digital health tools in clinical practice- Includes case studies to incorporate workflows into practice to improve patient outcomes
Dunmore and Fleischer's Medical Terminology: Exercises in Etymology by
From the past to the present...master the language of medicine through its history Take a language-origin approach to mastering medical terminology through the root elements of medical terminology--the prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms from Greek and Latin. Tales from ancient Greek and Latin writers, mythical stories of gods and goddesses, excerpts from the writings of ancient physicians, and modern stories of scientists and physicians who struggled to identify and accurately label the phenomena they observed, make them memorable. Exercises and activities make learning easy. Five Stars. "This book really helped in my class and great for reviewing and practicing. Very simple and not confusing."--Tayler, Online Reviewer Loved this exercise book "...I loved using it to learn the roots. From time to time, I will go to the back of the book where you can look up information very quickly. It has so many interesting stories."--Minnie B., Online Reviewer Updated & Revised! Incorporates the language of medicine today and the Updated! Reflects the currency and accuracy of Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 22nd Edition, the field's most trusted resource. Explores the Greek and Latin grammar that is the basis of medical terminology and common English. Builds understanding with vocabulary lists, etymological notes, and vignettes that provide context. Develops skills with exercises for analyzing and defining words, providing derivations from Greek and Latin roots, defining words from medical discussions, and reviewing vocabulary. Illustrates how to apply the principles of medical terminology to specific body systems with etymological notes as a guide.
Effective Writing for Healthcare Professionals by 
The Evidence-Based Practitioner: Applying Research to Meet Client Needs by
Put the evidence to work for your clients. Become an effective evidence-based practitioner. Master the knowledge and clinical decision-making skills you need to provide the very best care for your clients...based on the evidence. Step by step, you'll learn how to find, read, understand, critique, and apply research evidence in practice. Five Stars! Great Book!"This is an exceptional book for not only OT students but other students in other health profession disciplines as well!"--Online Reviewer Updated! Current evidence and the policies and practices of occupational therapy today Expanded! Statistics coverage in three chapters: Descriptive Statistics: What They Tell You and How to Apply Them in Practice, Inferential Statistics: Tests of Difference, and Inferential Statistics for Relationship Questions New & Expanded! Qualitative research coverage in two chapters: Qualitative Designs: Exploring the Lived Experience and a new chapter, Trustworthiness of Qualitative Studies New! Introduction of the critically appraised paper (CAP) as a concept with a new feature that walks students through completing one Guiding principle of 'Consuming vs. Conducting' research How to write a research question that addresses a relevant practice problem and then how to find, read, and apply evidence to address the question Explanations of the different types of research and the methods and measurements used in each type, including their advantages and disadvantages. 'From the Evidence," excerpts with real data, abstracts, figures and tables from published research and coverage of how to decipher their meaning and apply them in practice "Evidence in the Real World," personal narratives from health professionals who demonstrate using evidence in their practice "Understanding Statistics" boxes Worktext format with "Exercises" that encourage students to apply new concepts in the moment. "Review Questions" at the end of each chapter Answers to questions in the worktext at the end of each chapter
Explainable Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Systems by
The twenty chapters in this book offer a comprehensive overview of the theory, algorithms, and applications of interpretable and explainable artificial intelligence. They cover recent advances in the field of healthcare, reflect the current discourse, and offer suggestions for future research. The book is divided into four sections: primitive concepts of XAI, XAI in smart tele-medicine and tele-health, public health application using XAI, and medical imaging classification using XAI. Thus, the book covers a comprehensive set of material ranging from fundamentals to image analysis employing XAI ideas.
Family Doctors Say Goodbye: Shifting Grounds and Relationships by
This book considers the family doctor relationship and the process of ending that relationship. What happens when a family doctor or someone like them, deeply committed to long-term relationships, decides to end those commitments? What's involved? What are the embodied experiences for doctor and patient, for doctor and staff, for physician leader and others? What comes next? This book invites the reader to immerse in personal stories and reflections of family physicians who choose to retire from practice, depart long-standing leadership roles, or shift from one place of deep relational commitments to something else. These stories concern the particulars of family medicine and general practice, but they share much with any vocation rooted in the duties, challenges, and rewards of relationships bound by covenant and not transaction. This book is relevant to all professionals involved in healing relationships.
Futurescan 2024: Health Care Trends and Implications by
This highly respected annual guide will help hospital and health system leaders prepare themselves and their organizations for the future. An essential tool for strategic planning, Futurescan 2024 presents articles highlighting the insights of thought leaders on eight key trends:* Workforce* Care in the Home* Sustainability* Population Health* Employer Contracting* Economics* Medicaid* Responsible InnovationThe expert perspectives featured in this latest edition of Futurescan on the transformation of health care are supported by data from a survey of hospital and health system leaders from across the country.
The Healthcare Quality Book: Vision, Strategy, and Tools, Fifth Edition by
The Healthcare Quality Book provides a framework, methodology, and practical approaches to assist healthcare professionals in championing improvement efforts. The book is divided into three sections that cover the fundamentals of healthcare quality, critical quality topics, and key strategies for effectively leading quality. The extensively revised fifth edition of this definitive text brings together healthcare thought leaders with a wide range of subject matter expertise. Chapter contributors explore the foundation of healthcare quality, share their perspectives on essential and cutting-edge topics, and offer strategies for learning the skills to lead a culture of quality. New content includes chapters on health equity and disparities in care and expanded content on quality improvement tools, the patient experience, and digital technologies. The book concludes with three well-developed case studies of quality improvement in action that incorporate the lessons learned in the preceding chapters. The Healthcare Quality Book will assist leaders at all levels in developing a solid foundation of quality leadership knowledge, skills, and tools.
In The Name Of Progress: The Dark Side Of Medical Research by
In the Name of Progress: The Dark Side of Medical Research is a comprehensive exploration of the dark side of medical progress, examining a series of unethical medical experiments conducted over the past century.This book delves into notorious cases like the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, the Guatemala Syphilis Experiment, and the Holmesburg Prison experiments, among others, to shed light on the ethical violations and exploitation that occurred under the guise of scientific advancement. Each chapter methodically uncovers the disturbing details of these studies, analyzing the impact on the victims and the long-term effects on public trust and medical ethics.By providing a critical examination of the ethical breaches in historical medical research, this book emphasizes the importance of informed consent, the protection of vulnerable populations, and the need for stringent ethical standards in medical studies. It aims to educate and provoke thoughtful discussion on the balance between scientific discovery and ethical conduct, highlighting the necessity of safeguarding human rights in medical research and the importance of maintaining ethical integrity in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.
Introduction to Medical Software: Foundations for Digital Health, Devices, and Diagnostics by
Providing a concise and accessible overview of the design, implementation and management of medical software, this textbook will equip students with a solid understanding of critical considerations for both standalone medical software (software as a medical device/SaMD) and software that is integrated into hardware devices. It includes: practical discussion of key regulatory documents and industry standards, and how these translate into concrete considerations for medical software design; detailed coverage of the medical software lifecycle process ; accessible introduction to quality and risk management systems in the context of medical software; succinct coverage of essential topics in data science, machine learning, statistics, cybersecurity, software engineering and healthcare bring readers up-to-speed; six cautionary real-world case studies illustrate the dangers of improper or careless software processes. Accompanied by online resources for instructors, this is the ideal introduction for undergraduate students in biomedical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science, junior software engineers, and digital health entrepreneurs.
Laboratory Biorisk Management: Biosafety and Biosecurity by
Over the past two decades bioscience facilities worldwide have experienced multiple safety and security incidents, including many notable incidents at so-called "sophisticated facilities" in North America and Western Europe. This demonstrates that a system based solely on biosafety levels and security regulations may not be sufficient. Setting the stage for a substantively different approach for managing the risks of working with biological agents in laboratories, Laboratory Biorisk Management: Biosafety and Biosecurity introduces the concept of biorisk management--a new paradigm that encompasses both laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. The book also provides laboratory managers and directors with the information and technical tools needed for its implementation. The basis for this new paradigm is a three-pronged, multi-disciplinary model of assessment, mitigation, and performance (the AMP model). The application of the methodologies, criteria, and guidance outlined in the book helps to reduce the risk of laboratories becoming the sources of infectious disease outbreaks. This is a valuable resource for those seeking to embrace and implement biorisk management systems in their facilities and operations, including the biological research, clinical diagnostic, and production/manufacturing communities.
Medical Terminology: A Living Language by 
Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference by
**Selected for Doody's Core Titles® 2024 with "Essential Purchase" designation in Laboratory** Perform today's important lab tests safely and accurately! With test entries organized the way you'll use them, Mosby's® Diagnostic & Laboratory Test Reference makes it fast and easy to look up current testing information. Concise monographs are arranged alphabetically and include vital information such as the type of test, alternate or abbreviated test names, test explanation, normal and abnormal findings, possible critical values, contraindications, potential complications, interfering factors, and guidelines to patient care before, during, and after the test. From the experienced author team of Kathleen Deska Pagana, Timothy J. Pagana, and Theresa Noel Pagana, this bestselling handbook offers a compact size, durable cover, and A-to-Z thumb tabs for quick reference while on the job. Alphabetically organized tests offer quick reference with A-to-Z thumb tabs. Each test entry begins on a new page, making tests easy to find. User's Guide to Test Preparation and Procedures provides an overview and guidelines for each type of laboratory test and diagnostic procedure to ensure that each is performed accurately and safely, and to prevent having to repeat a test due to an error. Normal findings for adult, elderly, and pediatric patients are included where applicable. Abnormal findings are highlighted with directional arrows, and are now alphabetized for fast reference. Possible critical values are highlighted to alert you to situations requiring immediate intervention. Icons for drug-related interfering factors alert you to the effects of pharmacologic agents on tests. Icons for patient teaching-related care indicate information that should be shared with patients and their families. Abbreviations for diagnostic and laboratory tests are provided inside the back cover, and appendices list blood tests used for disease and organ panels as well as symbols and units of measurement. Appendix with lists of tests by body system and by type allow you to quickly locate related studies. Inside front cover includes pages with easy-to-find information on common reference ranges for healthy adults, routine blood testing, and routine urine testing. Durable cover with rounded edges makes this manual ideal for use in the practice setting. NEW! Thirteen new monographs cover the latest tests and procedures; 11 outdated monographs are removed. NEW! Updated content reflects the latest research relating to accuracy of testing, diagnostic values of results, and patient care and education for each test.
The Patient's Primary Care Experience: a Road Map to Powerful Partnerships by
Consumer expectations and the rise of alternative payment models are driving the future of primary care delivery. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for change and innovation, with many services shifting to the virtual environment. Putting patients at the center of the healthcare practice is no longer an aspirational goal--it is rapidly becoming a requirement. The Patient's Primary Care Experience is a handbook for providing patient-centered care. The book focuses on the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, which emphasizes building relationships and enhancing communication. The authors begin by making the business case for the PCMH model, then dive into implementation tips and strategies. Topics covered include: * Partnering with patients in creating and achieving care goals * Improving access through telemedicine and telehealth * Preventing and mitigating staff burnout while promoting resilience * Integrating patient and family perspectives into systems and processes * Selecting and developing metrics that are meaningful to staff The tools, templates, and advice in this practical guide will help your organization increase patient satisfaction and improve outcomes.
Planning National Telemedicine and Health Hotline Services: A Toolkit for Service Providers Working With Governments by
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic underscored the need for many countries to develop moreeffective and accessible primary health care systems, as well as more efficient ways to quickly disperse and collect health information. In particular, countries with low health care worker-to-population ratios, as well as large populations that do not live close to health centers, need better ways for their citizens to access health services.Telemedicine or health hotline services have shown for more than 60 years that they can help people toreceive accurate and timely health information and make informed decisions about when to seek treatment. These services offer the ability to provide health information and care remotely, thereby extending the reach of the health care system, improving efficiencies, and enhancing the quality of care.Health services that are stewarded by governments and embedded into public health systems are morelikely to sustain impact at scale. Government stewardship, however, benefits from private sectorpartnerships to help with implementation, scale, and sustainability. Planning National Telemedicine andHealth Hotline Services: A Toolkit for Service Providers Working with Governments is designed to guideservice providers interested in working with governments to establish nationwide telemedicine orhealth hotline services. The range of private sector services includes call center service providers,teleconferencing software providers, data centers/hosting providers, interactive voice response providers,hotline and reference software providers, software support service providers, and mobile networkoperators.The toolkit provides guidance in four key areas:* Engaging with governments* Supporting governments' five-year strategies and one-year road maps* Understanding technical considerations and producing realistic proposals and cost estimates* Ensuring the ongoing success of solutions.The success of these partnerships can lead to major advances in health services that reach moreCommunities and help to ensure successful and sustainable nationwide services.
Pocket Guide to Teaching for Clinical Instructors by
New edition of the popular guide to the practical aspects of teaching and fundamental learning principles in clinical practice Pocket Guide to Teaching for Clinical Instructors contains theoretical input on all the modalities of teaching and assessment required for life support training through the Advanced Life Support Group and Resuscitation Council UK blended learning approach. This guide does not attempt to provide a blueprint for teaching--rather, it gives advice about the basics, which can be adapted to your personality and creativity. This Fourth Edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the latest in the evolution of education methods applicable to provider courses. The text is relevant to a 21st century audience and graphics have been introduced to make the materials more readable, applicable, and accessible. Written by a team of highly experienced educators, Pocket Guide to Teaching for Clinical Instructors: Takes an evidence-based approach to how our brains manage and process information in order for learning to occur Provides a structured approach to teaching the different modalities used on the courses: lectures, skill stations, scenarios, workshops, debriefing as a learning conversation Explores neurodiversity, psychological safety, cognitive load, non-technical skills, and inclusive teaching Discusses blended learning, the wider role of the instructor and the variety of approaches to assessment Pocket Guide to Teaching for Clinical Instructors is a concise, practical guide for anyone interested in teaching healthcare professionals in any context. Advanced Life Support Group (ALSG), Manchester, UK. ALSG's medical education & training programs improve outcomes for people in life-threatening situations, anywhere along the health care pathway, anywhere in the world. As a charity, ALSG invests all profits in educational resources and partners with the most effective and respected organizations worldwide to develop exceptionally high-quality programs. ALSG education quality is verified, accredited, and internationally recognised as 'best in class'. Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) is the UK's leading authority on resuscitation practice and has a strong international reputation. RCUK develops the UK's evidence-based resuscitation guidelines, provides training and education for healthcare professionals and the public, and supports research to improve resuscitation techniques and outcomes. RCUK champions public awareness about the importance of CPR and defibrillator use and campaigns for policies and legislation that promote quality improvement initiatives to enhance resuscitation efforts and survival rates. RCUK is dedicated to ensuring that everyone in the country has the skills they need to save a life.
Researching Health Together: Engaging Patients and Stakeholders, From Topic Identification to Policy Change by
The challenges of addressing health disparities, the ethical imperative to include stakeholders in research, and the slow translation of research evidence into practice are all driving a movement towards more community-based and participatory approaches to research. Researching Health Together brings together authors who have produced innovative methods or implemented projects focused on different stages of the research process, from question development to evaluation and translation. Editor Emily B. Zimmerman gathers exemplary new methods and projects into one place for the benefit of students designing research projects and proposals, those learning stakeholder-engaged methods, and those involved in implementing and funding stakeholder-engaged projects. Each chapter addresses: how engagement was conceptualized, organized, and implemented; how engagement was evaluated; impacts on processes and outcomes of the project; and facilitators, barriers, and lessons learned. The book serves as a core textbook for courses in community-based health research at the graduate level. "[This book] focuses only on translational health research and expands beyond CBPR to include practice-based research networks (PBRN) and stakeholder-engaged research within health systems.... The overall strengths of this book are its in-depth and almost inspirational focus on CBPR methodology, be those actual geographic or cultural communities or disease-based communities.... Researching Health Together, in its first edition, is a necessary bridge from the theory of participatory health research to its application across research environments." - Journal of Participatory Research Methods
Researching Language and Health: A Student Guide by
*the only book to focus on research methods in language and healthcare communication in an accessible textbook format *ideal core text for all courses on healthcare communication and recommended reading for a range of courses in applied linguistics, language for the professions etc; this is a growing area due to increasing focus on communication in professions such as healthcare *foregrounds impact : immediately involves readers in the kinds of questions or issues that are of interest in the field and the impact that linguistic studies can have
Science Communication and Health: Fostering Trust in Doctor-Patient Interaction by
Communication is not only a means but also a place, where relationships establish. This book argues that a trustworthy relationship can be established through carefully managed communication. Thus, knowing and understanding language and its dynamic is essential to orient oneself during communication; this allows the speakers to fully take the opportunity to foster mutual trust. Knowing language does not only mean managing what is said, but especially being aware of what it implies, entails, and what is unsaid. This is especially true in the case of doctor-patient communication, where one of the speakers is also the subject of the speech. The author looks at the moment of interaction between the physician and the patient as the chance for building and consolidating a strong therapeutic alliance. If the chance is not taken or wisely managed, it could cause the opposite, i.e., loss of trust, also possibly influencing patient's concordance to treatment. This unusual and valuable approach to doctor-patient communication has its roots in the philosophy of language, and the philosophy of science.
The Secret Language of Cells: What Biological Conversations Tell Us about the Brain-Body Connection, the Future of Medicine, and Life Itself by
Your cells are talking about you. Right now, both your inner and outer worlds are abuzz with chatter among living cells of every possible kind--from those in your body and brain to those in the environment around you. From electrical alerts to chemical codes, the greatest secret of modern biology, hiding in plain sight, is that all of life's activity boils down to one thing: conversation. While cells are commonly considered the building block of living things, it is actually the communication between cells that brings us to life, controlling our bodies and brains, determining whether we are healthy or sick, and directly influencing how we think, feel, and behave. In The Secret Language of Cells, doctor and neuroscientist Jon Lieff lets us listen in on these conversations, and reveals their significance for everything from mental health to cancer. He explains the surprising science of how very different cells--bacteria and brain cells, blood cells and viruses--all speak the same language. This overarching principle has been long overlooked because scientific journals use impenetrable jargon that makes it hard to be understood across disciplines, much less by the general public. Lieff presents a fascinating and accessible look into cellular communication science--a groundbreaking and comprehensive exploration of this biological phenomenon. In these pages, discover the intriguing lives of cells as they ask questions, get answers, give feedback, gather information, call for each other, and make complex decisions. During infections, immune T-cells tell brain cells that we should "feel sick" and lie down. Cancer cells warn their community about immune and microbe attacks. Gut cells talk with microbes to determine which are friends and which are enemies, and microbes talk with each other and with much more complicated human cells in ways that determine which medicines work and which will fail. With applications for immunity, chronic pain, weight loss, depression, cancer treatment, and virtually every aspect of health and biology, cellular communication is revolutionizing our understanding not just of disease, but of life itself. The Secret Language of Cells is required reading for anyone interested in following the conversation.