How to cite this article: Desai M, Desai C. Practical Manual of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. Indian J Pharmacol 2010;42:332 How to cite this URL: Desai M, Desai C. Practical Manual of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology. Indian J Pharmacol serial online 2010 cited 2018 Jul 30;42:332.
Available from: Bikash Medhi and Ajay Prakash Publishers: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., 1 st edn., 2010, ISBN 9-953-8, pp 374 The educational objectives and hence the curriculum in Pharmacology have undergone sea changes in the past few years; most of these changes were governed by the need to make the curriculum suitable for the contemporary needs. Despite a greater emphasis on clinical pharmacology, the practicals in experimental (animal) pharmacology continue to retain their importance at least for the postgraduate training in the subject. The past few years have seen many books published that dealt with the theoretical aspects in pharmacology, a need has always been felt for a manual for postgraduates that meets the current needs and relevance. The Practical Manual of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology by Biksah Medhi and Ajay Praksah is a commendable attempt in this direction. The authors have succeeded in providing a comprehensive information on broad range of topics on animal and clinical experiments including recent advances. Topics in analytical pharmacology, toxicology, cell culture, translational pharmacology, and thesis writing have also been included, albeit in a cursory manner. Most experiments described herein are doable in the laboratory and hospital settings of most medical and pharmacy colleges in India.
A well-written book that begins from the history of pharmacology, goes on to discuss the basics of the day-to-day activities in the laboratory and gradually moves toward the modern concepts and techniques. Each of the topics has been well classified, and dealt with a marked degree of conciseness and brevity without compromising on the necessity for details; particularly for the core topics. The high point of this book is the judicious and intelligent use of photographs and illustrations that are aimed to catch the learner's interest and enhance the retention of information.
A stepwise approach of description along with flow charts, figures, and the highlights contained in a box facilitates a better understanding. Clinical pharmacokinetics and experiments on respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous system are special features of this book. The description of instruments and techniques will not only impart the skill to the postgraduates, but will also help the upcoming departments to set up their clinical pharmacology laboratories. The book does suffer from brevity at times, but this is compensated by 'suggested readings' at the end of each chapter. Minor spelling mistakes are there that can be corrected in the future editions. Topics like drug utilization studies, pharmacovigilance and ADR reporting, prescription audit, rational prescribing, use of statistical softwares, and certain teaching learning methods may also be given their due place in the book.
Overall, this book promises to be of an immense use for the postgraduate students and teachers in pharmacology. It will also prove to be a good addition to the libraries of medical and pharmacy colleges.
Pharmacology training for most medical students concentrates more on theory than on practice. The material is often drug centred and focuses on indications and side effects of different drugs. But in clinical practice the reverse approach has to be taken, from the diagnosis to the drug. Moreover patients vary in age, gender, size and sociocultural characteristics, all of which may affect treatment choices.
Patients also have their own perception of appropriate treatment and should be fully informed partners in therapy. All this is not always taught in medical schools, where the number of hours spent on therapeutics may be low compared to traditional pharmacology teaching. As a result although pharmacological knowledge is acquired, practical skills remain weak.
This training manual meets that need. It provides step by step guidance to rational prescribing and teaches skills that are not time limited but which remain valid throughout a clinical career. It demonstrates that prescribing a drug is part of a process that includes many other components.
The manual explains the principles of drug selection and how to develop and become familiar with a set of drugs for regular use in practice, called P(personal)-drugs. Practical examples illustrate how to select, prescribe and monitor treatment, and how to communicate effectively with patients. The advantages and disadvantages of different sources of drug information are also described. The manual can be used for self-study or as part of a formal training programme. Although intended primarily for undergraduate medical students who are about to enter the clinical phase of their studies, postgraduate students and practising doctors may also find it a source of new ideas and perhaps an incentive for change. A practical manual WHO/DAP/94.11 Distr: General Original: English T.P.G.M de Vries Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands R.H. Henning Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands (WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmacotherapy Teaching and Training) H.V.
Hogerzeil WHO Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy D.A. Fresle WHO Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy With contributions from F.M.
Haaijer-Ruskamp and R.M. Van Gilst Reprinted 1998, 2000 WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION Essential Drugs an Medicines Policy Copyright © World Health Organization 1994 This document is not a formal publication of the World Health Organization (WHO), and all rights are reserved by the Organization. The document may, however, be freely reviewed, abstracted, reproduced and translated, in part or in whole, but not for sale nor for use in conjunction with commercial purposes. The views expressed in documents by named authors are solely the responsibility of those authors.