Edwin Mellen Pr.

The child and coronary heart disease; environment, nutritional and medical issues.

A retired cardiologist from Papworth Hospital in Cambridge proposes that the inception of coronary arterial disease is associated with an undue multiplication of intimal arterial cells, that it is not lipid- related, and that its development is encouraged by factors in the environment which control such multiplication. He cites studies on the dietary habits of infants and the role of excess calcium and vitamin D in cell division and multiplication, and believes milk is for many not a healthy food after leaving the breast. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

An ethnography of crystal and spiritual healers in Northern England; marginal medicine and mainstream concerns.

Consumers are increasingly questioning the often impersonal approach of biomedicine and turning to alternative practitioners. As a crystal healing trainee of "good potential," McClean (health and social care, U. of the West of England, Bristol) participated in an ethnographic study of complementary and alternative (CAM) healing centers in the late 1990s. He treats crystal healing as a marginal approach even in the diverse CAM context, in the broader context of the contested notions of health and illness and of scientific vs. narrative forms of knowledge. Case studies personalize his postmodern view of individuated practice, personal empowerment, and performance and spiritual aspects of New Age healing. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Exercise physiology as a career; a guide and sourcebook

Writing for high school and lower-division undergraduates, Boone (exercise physiology, College of St. Scholastica) describes career opportunities in exercise physiology and several academic programs and their required courses, including American Society of Exercise Physiologists accredited institutions. He defines the field and discusses career preparation, laboratory skills and experiences, equipment and instrumentation used, certifications, places of employment, and salary. Work profiles of recent graduates with the degree are shown, as a way to understand their everyday experiences. In addition, abstracts of key research articles are included. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

How the British National Health Service deals with diversity; professional problems, patient problems.

Focusing on the policies of the National Health Service regarding its workers and patients, Johns (criminal justice studies, U. of Plymouth, UK) considers ethnic diversity in terms of practice issues. He presents results from his survey of National Health Service Personnel Directors about their equal opportunity policies in 1998, and also provides a case study of one city in Britain through interviews conducted in 1999 and 2000. He discusses the quality of care minority ethnic communities receive, communication barriers and discrimination, policy reforms, and how to achieve increased ethnic diversity. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The physiological basis and quantum versions of memory and consciousness.

Having dealt with neurologically impaired patients who are unconscious, Neurologist Hudson (emeritus medicine, U. of Western Ontario) began seeking a physiological cause, rather than the usual psychological or cognitive measure, of consciousness. His research led quickly to a mutual dependency between consciousness and memory. He proposes his theory, drawing on recent developments in cerebral cortical physiology at a level suitable to clinicians, neuro-scientists, psychologists, and students of neurobiology. A final chapter briefly summarizes quantum theory as applied to the brain. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The politics of HIV/AIDS and implications for democracy in Kenya.

Wambuii (political science, Central Missouri State U.) discusses the politics of AIDS in Kenya, examining its effects on the recent democratization of the country. Using a micro level approach, he considers mechanisms created in response to HIV/AIDS, their effects on institutions and public policy, what these responses were during the period 1985 to 2003, and how this relates to the historical process of democracy in the country. In addition, the Parliament's adoption of Sessional Paper No. 4 in 1997, which changed attitudes and policies towards AIDS, is described. The study is based on government and AIDS organizations' policy documents, minutes of meetings, workshop summaries, and newspapers and magazine articles. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Regulating the use of biological hazardous materials in universities; complying with the new federal guidelines.

Anti-terrorist legislation since 2001 has focused attention on how research universities comply with regulations regarding hazardous material, and a 2004 audit found that they were not doing a very good job. Political scientist Valcik (U. of Texas-Dallas) attributes the problem to tension between research faculty, who are responsible for the project, and university administrators, who are responsible for the institution, over efforts to stay in compliance. He presents a case study of one university's policies and practices regarding the procurement, use, storage, and disposal of biological hazardous material within a context of changing internal structure and regulatory environment. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)