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Minimally Invasive Thyroidectomy
by Dimitrios Linos Woong Youn ChungThis book describes in detail the various techniques of minimally invasive thyroidectomy that have emerged in recent years and presents the new supportive equipment, including intraoperative monitoring and energy devices. In addition, the basic preoperative techniques that are a prerequisite to successful thyroidectomy are covered, and individual chapters are devoted to complications, outcomes, and post-thyroidectomy quality of life. Important related topics are also discussed, including guidelines for managing papillary and medullary thyroid cancer and the surgical management of metastatic lymph nodes. Both the editors and the authors are internationally renowned experts, and they include the founders of several of the techniques described. The up-to-date text is supplemented by many color pictures and medical illustrations, making the book very user-friendly and ideal for the busy surgeon or endocrinologist who is interested in the management of thyroid diseases.
Minimally Invasive Uro-Oncologic Surgery
by Robert G Moore Jay T BishoffThe invention of laparoscopic urological techniques in the early 1990s was met with scepticism by urologists who demanded that the methods prove themselves when compared to established 'open' surgical procedures. However, the techniques were quickly shown as successful, and over time have gained acceptance through reproducible and durable outcomes. In this well-illustrated surgical text, an international team of urologic surgeons specializing in uro-oncology share the experience gained in effective and reproducible teaching techniques in the field, and present the pioneering knowledge that will enable others to learn more about this important, ground-breaking procedure.
Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery: A Step-by-Step Guide
by Qais Hooti Sung-Hoo HongThis text provides concise and highly practical information covering the most commonly performed urological procedures. Each procedure is presented in detail, supported by scientific justification and supplemented by operative images and diagrams. The operative steps are clearly explained with critical moments highlighted. The content is organized to enable the reader to both understand and identify the key teaching points and tricks to achieve optimal results. * Focuses on the technical aspects of surgery to ensure improved surgical technique * Easy to read, understand and apply the information * Enhanced by tips and tricks to provide further insights into clinical practice * Provides great value and assistance in surgical laparoscopy and robotic surgery courses, and in urology residency training and fellowship programs
Minimally Invasive Urology
by Stephen Y. Nakada Sara L. BestThis volume is an essential and comprehensive review of all aspects of minimally invasive urology. Specifically, the book evaluates minimally invasive approaches to all aspects of clinical urology. Unlike prior texts that focus on a specific technology or a specific disease, this unique reference provides a broad-based view of minimally invasive urology. As such, laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, endoscopic surgery, and single-site surgery are all reviewed within the context of renal cancer, renal reconstruction, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, female urology, transplant donor nephrectomy, stone disease, stricture disease, and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The text concludes with chapters on informed consent and cost, which are also quite relevant to the practicing urologist. Authored by a wide array of leaders in the field known for both their clinical prowess and commitment to education, Minimally Invasive Urology: An Essential Clinical Guide to Endourology, Laparoscopy, LESS and Robotics provides a critical resource for clinicians, surgeons, operating room technicians, operating room managers and hospital administration.
Minimally Invasive Urology: An Essential Clinical Guide to Endourology, Laparoscopy, LESS and Robotics
by Stephen Y. Nakada Sara L. BestThis new edition provides updated procedural recommendations and outcomes in all areas of endoscopic, robotic, and laparoscopic urology. New chapters cover alternative minimally invasive techniques for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as an in-depth review of instrumentation for stone surgery. All chapters contain new or revised “equipment lists” and tips and tricks for the practicing urologist, covering a broad spectrum of urologic diseases. Authored by a wide array of leaders in the field known for both their clinical prowess and commitment to education, the second edition of Minimally Invasive Urology: An Essential Clinical Guide to Endourology, Laparoscopy, LESS and Robotics provides a critical resource for clinicians, surgeons, operating room technicians, operating room managers and hospital administration.
Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery
by David J. Terris Michael C. SingerMinimally Invasive and Robotic Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery is the first textbook which includes a comprehensive review of both minimally invasive and robotic thyroid and parathyroid techniques. Over the last several years there has been a rapid expansion in the number of different surgical approaches available to patients undergoing thyroid and parathyroid surgery. This book consolidates these in one source and focuses on both the philosophy and techniques of these procedures. For thyroid surgery, the text covers the full range of minimally invasive procedures and several of the most widely adopted remote access techniques. Several related procedures are also discussed, including minimally invasive approaches to central and lateral neck dissection. For parathyroid surgery, several minimally invasive techniques are covered, including radioguided surgery. Written by experts in the field of thyroid and parathyroid surgery, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery serves as a critical resource for both experienced and less experience surgeons, fellows, residents, and students interested in understanding the breadth of this field or learning the specific steps of a particular technique.
Minimally Invasive and Robotic-Assisted Surgery in Pediatric Urology
by Patricio C. GargolloThis book provides a data-driven analysis of robotic assisted, laparoscopic, and endoscopic urological procedures in children, including renal surgery, ureteral surgery, oncology, and bladder surgery. Introductory chapters outline and describe the logistics of establishing a dedicated minimally invasive program at your institution, as well as the basics of anatomy, instrumentation, access, and trocar placement. Subsequent chapters are organized by anatomic compartment (upper tract and lower tract) and organ system. Each chapter also addresses advanced techniques and future directions, as well as common complications and case-based challenges. The final chapters review oncology and special considerations in infants. Minimally Invasive and Robotic-Assisted Surgery in Pediatric Urology provides a comprehensive, evidence-based text on pediatric urology robotic and minimally invasive surgery, allowing readers to implement the material presented for the improvement of their own practices and patient outcomes.
Minimizing Incisions and Maximizing Outcomes in Cataract Surgery
by I. Howard Fine Jorge L. Alió y SanzMany ophthalmologists are in the transition from the traditional cataract surgery technique to the new minimally incision cataract surgery (MICS) technique. They are in the need of updated information on how to make this transition smoothly. In this book, world-renowned opinion leaders present up-to-date information on the new and fast-developing trends in cataract surgery. It reflects the state of the art of microincisional cataract surgery with the concept of minimizing incision. It offers all necessary information on the new technology as well as on the surgical technique. Further, it demonstrates how to handle difficult cataract cases as well as new intraocular lenses.
Minimum Gamma-Divergence for Regression and Classification Problems (SpringerBriefs in Statistics)
by Shinto EguchiThis book introduces the gamma-divergence, a measure of distance between probability distributions that was proposed by Fujisawa and Eguchi in 2008. The gamma-divergence has been extensively explored to provide robust estimation when the power index γ is positive. The gamma-divergence can be defined even when the power index γ is negative, as long as the condition of integrability is satisfied. Thus, the authors consider the gamma-divergence defined on a set of discrete distributions. The arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic means for the distribution ratios are closely connected with the gamma-divergence with a negative γ. In particular, the authors call the geometric-mean (GM) divergence the gamma-divergence when γ is equal to -1. The book begins by providing an overview of the gamma-divergence and its properties. It then goes on to discuss the applications of the gamma-divergence in various areas, including machine learning, statistics, and ecology. Bernoulli, categorical, Poisson, negative binomial, and Boltzmann distributions are discussed as typical examples. Furthermore, regression analysis models that explicitly or implicitly assume these distributions as the dependent variable in generalized linear models are discussed to apply the minimum gamma-divergence method. In ensemble learning, AdaBoost is derived by the exponential loss function in the weighted majority vote manner. It is pointed out that the exponential loss function is deeply connected to the GM divergence. In the Boltzmann machine, the maximum likelihood has to use approximation methods such as mean field approximation because of the intractable computation of the partition function. However, by considering the GM divergence and the exponential loss, it is shown that the calculation of the partition function is not necessary, and it can be executed without variational inference.
Mining Gold and Manufacturing Ignorance: Occupational Lung Disease and the Buying and Selling of Labour in Southern Africa
by Pavla Miller Jock McCullochThis open access book charts how South Africa’s gold mines have systematically suppressed evidence of hazardous work practices and the risks associated with mining.For most of the twentieth century, South Africa was the world’s largest producer of gold. Although the country enjoyed a reputation for leading the world in occupational health legislation, the mining companies developed a system of medical surveillance and workers’ compensation which compromised the health of black gold miners, facilitated the spread of tuberculosis, and ravaged the communities and economies of labour-sending states. The culmination of two decades of meticulous archival research, this book exposes the making, contesting, and unravelling of the companies’ capacity to shape – and corrupt – medical knowledge.
Mining the Heartland: Nature, Place, and Populism on the Iron Range
by Erik KojolaHonorable Mention, Outstanding Publication Award, given by the Environmental Sociology Section of the American Sociological AssociationA riveting portrait of the cultural struggles and political conflicts of proposed copper-nickel mines in Minnesota’s Iron RangeOn an unseasonably warm October afternoon in Saint Paul, hundreds of people gathered to protest the construction of a proposed copper-nickel mine in the rural northern part of their state. The crowd eagerly listened to speeches on how the project would bring long-term risks and potentially pollute the drinking water for current and future generations. A year later, another proposed mining project became the subject of a public hearing in a small town near the proposed site. But this time, local politicians and union leaders praised the mine proposal as an asset that would strengthen working-class communities in Minnesota.In many rural American communities, there is profound tension around the preservation and protection of wilderness and the need to promote and profit from natural resources. In Mining the Heartland, Erik Kojola looks at both sides of these populist movements and presents a thoughtful account of how such political struggles play out. Drawing on over a hundred ethnographic interviews with people of the region, from members of labor unions to local residents to scientists, Kojola is able to bring this complex struggle over mining to life. Focusing on both pro- and anti-mining groups, he expands upon what this conflict reveals about the way whiteness and masculinity operate among urban and rural residents, and the different ways in which class, race, and gender shape how people relate to the land. Mining the Heartland shows the negotiation and conflict between two central aspects of the state's culture and economy: outdoor recreation in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes and the lucrative mining of the Iron Range.
Ministry in the Spiritual and Cultural Diversity of Health Care: Increasing the Competency of Chaplains
by Robert G. Anderson Mary A. FukuyamaStay up-to-date in health care ministry as cultural and spiritual heterogeneity increases! Ministry in the Spiritual and Cultural Diversity in Health Care: Increasing the Competency of Chaplains identifies concrete methods for improving the provision of pastoral care to culturally and religiously diverse patients and/or residents. Experts from both inside and outside the profession-with established records in cross-cultural work and experience with religious diversity-discuss in detail the multicultural revolution that has challenged the traditional health care delivery system. With this timely resource, you will be able to respond to the requests and desires of patients and their loved ones with compassion and consideration for their cultural and spiritual backgrounds. Ministry in the Spiritual and Cultural Diversity in Health Care explores the challenges for the spiritual care professional in health care to address the emotional, cultural, and spiritual needs of a patient without assumption, bias, or discomfort for either person. In addition to advice, recommendations, and real-world examples and case studies, this valuable resource provides a guide for chaplaincy supervisors to use when training chaplain students to impart such unprejudiced care. The book is devoted to establishing chaplains who are clinically trained and certified to contribute to the increasingly pluralistic and global health care context with assorted religious, spiritual, and cultural values, beliefs, and practices. Ministry in the Spiritual and Cultural Diversity in Health Care will keep you updated on: how a health care chaplain can overlook the differing worldview of a patient and his or her family how cultural diversity impacts the work of the health care chaplain specific strategies and tools that will assist chaplains in acquiring spiritual and cultural competency definitions, obstacles, and standards of care for fostering a genuine multicultural perspective among health care givers, particularly chaplains how professional health care chaplains take leadership in responding to cultural and spiritual diversity within health care environments
Ministry of Hospital Chaplains: Patient Satisfaction
by Marjorie A LyonEvaluating the success of hospital chaplaincy has been a difficult task, but finally an effective approach has been developed. Ministry of Hospital Chaplains: Patient Satisfaction presents the Patient Satisfaction Instrument for Pastoral Care (PSI) which measures the quality and character of spiritual care and can contribute to the establishment of professional norms. To find out whether specific changes in pastoral practices lead to increased satisfaction among patients, this test can be used periodically. As you will see, this allows managers and department heads to identify and monitor specific functions and areas in which improvement is needed.Ministry of Hospital Chaplains will help you analyze the background variables that are associated with patient satisfaction, the styles of pastoral care that are linked to better hospital outcomes, and the usefulness of different pastoral activities. In the end, you will be able to use empirical evidence to demonstrate to hospital administrators that patients appreciate pastoral care and that chaplains are helping patients recuperate, experience an easier time at the hospital, and get home more quickly. Besides discussing how to evaluate the effectiveness of chaplains, this insightful book explores: enacting continuous improvement efforts pastoral care characteristics that predict a patient’s readiness to return home how attention to details can build protocols that respond to patients questionnaire responses from 2,000 discharged hospital patients in the U.S. and Canada why the need to evaluate the benefits of pastoral care exists the aspects of pastoral care most important to patientsChaplains in general and those in psychiatric hospitals, hospital administrators, managed care directors, and seminary professors of pastoral care will be glad to know that a technique for evaluating pastoral services has finally arrived. The guessing game is over. Now, you will know what your patients think of the services your hospital offers, and you can measure alternative approaches to pastoral care delivery when discontent is registered.
Minor Surgery at a Glance
by Desmond Winter Helen MohanMinor Surgery at a Glance is an essential companion for those who wish to learn or familiarise themselves with minor surgery, including trainees and practising surgeons, dermatologists, GPs, and emergency medicine physicians. Covering the basic principles of minor surgery, as well as offering an overview of techniques and common procedures accompanied by step-by-step illustrations, this book also provides concise summaries of vital information and the clinical practicalities. Providing an accessible and practical introduction to a rapidly expanding area of practice, Minor Surgery at a Glance is ideal for medical students, foundation programme doctors, and trainees in a wide variety of disciplines who perform minor operations.
Minor Traumatic Brain Injury Handbook: Diagnosis and Treatment
by Gary W. JayAlmost two million individuals experience minor traumatic brain injury (MTBI/MATBI) each year. Patients from all over the country have similar - even identical - complaints from comparable types of trauma. Unfortunately, the vast majority of medical professionals do not recognize or understand the appearance, etiology, or problems associated with M
Minorities and Small Numbers from Molecules to Organisms in Biology: Toward A New Understanding Of Biological Phenomena
by Takeharu Nagai Yuichi TogashiThis book provides an accessible introduction to an exciting new field of life science in which the focus is on small numbers of molecules and minorities within cell populations and their significance for the understanding of biological phenomena. Numbers, or quantitative data, are attracting more attention in cell biology following, for example, determination of the absolute copy number of each protein species in each bacterial cell and the recognition of leader cells that drive collective cell migration. Within this context, the authors present recent advances in experimental techniques, biological findings, and theories. A variety of cutting-edge topics and issues are addressed, with explanation of the ways in which recent developments in the field cast light on seemingly straightforward but difficult-to-answer questions. Readers will learn that we are on the verge of a paradigm shift as the importance of cooperation among groups of molecules in live cells is acknowledged. The book is designed to be enjoyable to read and easy to understand. It will be of interest for a wide range of readers, including young researchers and undergraduate/high school students.
Minority Populations and Health
by Thomas A. Laveist"The text is state-of-the-art in its analysis of health disparities from both domestic and international perspectives. Minority Populations and Health: An Introduction to Health Disparities in the United States is a welcome addition to the field because it widens access to the complex issues underlying the health disparities problem. "-- Preventing Chronic Disease/CDC, October 2005"This is a very comprehensive, evidence-based book dealing with the health disparities that plague the United States. This is a welcome and valuable addition to the field of health care for minority groups in the United States."-- Doody's Publishers Bulletin, August 2005"Health isn't color-blind. Racial minorities disproportionately suffer from some diseases, but experts say race alone doesn't completely account for the disparities. Newsweek's Jennifer Barrett Ozols spoke with Thomas LaVeist, director of the Center for Health Disparities Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and author of the upcoming book, "Minority Populations and Health: An Introduction to Health Disparities in the U.S." (Jossey-Bass) about race and medicine. "-- MSNBC/Newsweek interview with author Thomas L. LaVeist, February 2005"The book is readable and organized to be quickly read with specifics readily retrievable. It is comprehensive and visual."-- Journal of the American Medical Association, September 2005Minority Populations and Health is a textbook that offers a complete foundation in the core issues and theoretical frameworks for the development of policy and interventions to address race disparities in health-related outcomes. This book covers U.S. health and social policy, the role of race and ethnicity in health research, social factors contributing to mortality, longevity and life expectancy, quantitative and demographic analysis and access, and utilization of health services. Instructors material available at http://www.minorityhealth.com
Minum Barreng: The Story of the Indigenous Eye Health Unit
by Tess Ryan Tim SeniorThings happen during the life course to make vision loss increase, and many of these reasons can be traced to a lack of care, a lack of access to care, and the impact of colonisation. Minum Barreng: The Story of the Indigenous Eye Health Unit shines a light on the determined team who have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples since 2008 to prove that Australia has the will, the means and the moral obligation to close the gap in this serious health inequity. This is a story of vision in both senses of the word-and of strength and opportunity.
Miracle Baby for the Midwife: London Hospital Midwives (London Hospital Midwives #2)
by Tina BeckettA night like no other leads to a miracle she’s dreamed of!In this London Hospital Midwives story, Carly Eliston knows that she may never have children. That’s not an easy realization for a midwife but devoting her life to helping other mothers realize that dream is fulfillment enough. Until she begins working alongside sexy neurosurgeon Adem Kepler! After the charismatic doctor challenges Carly to let her hair down, she’s in for a miraculous shock—she’s carrying Adem’s baby! Could this be the passioante romance she’s been searching for?Read the rest of the London Hospital Midwives series:Cinderella and the Surgeon by Scarlet WilsonMiracle Baby for the Midwife by Tina BeckettReunited by Their Secret Daughter by Emily Forbes A Fling to Steal Her Heart by Sue MacKayFrom Harlequin Medical Romance: Life and love in the world of modern medicine.“Ms. Beckett is a wonderful author whose books I normally find easy to get into…where the chemistry between this couple was strong right from the beginning and only gets stronger as this story progresses; the romance was delightful….”—Harlequin Junkie on The Surgeon’s Surprise Baby“Every medical romance I’ve read by Ms. Beckett has entertained me from start to finish, as she writes complex characters with interesting back stories, compelling dialogue that has me enjoying the growing relationship between the two main characters, and challenging obstacles for the characters to overcome and this story was no different.”—Harlequin Junkie on One Night to Change Their Lives
Miracle Baby: A Fertility Doctor's Fight for Motherhood
by Dorette NoorhasanAn OG/GYN and fertility specialist details her personal struggles with getting pregnant, sharing a doctor’s perspective on a journey faced by many.After years of dedicating her career to bringing new lives into the world, ob/gyn and fertility specialist Dr. Dorete Noorhasan wanted to have a child of her own. But her journey to motherhood was not an easy one.This is her story. The story of a girl who grew up amid hardship, natural disaster, and the harsh reality of life and death. The story of a young woman who dedicated herself to her education and pursued a career in medicine so she could help patients become parents. The story of a mother who was determined, despite all the struggles, setbacks, and heartbreak, to bring her child into this world.Today, one woman in eight is battling infertility. As a physician, Dr. Noorhasan understands the medical aspects of this condition. But as a patient, she has also experienced the emotional turmoil firsthand. Through this unique perspective, Miracle Baby sheds much-needed light on infertility while also offering hope and comfort to those struggling on the road to parenthood, showing how even the most difficult journeys can end in a miracle.Praise for Miracle Baby“Poignant, transparent, inspiring, Dr. Noorhasan’s perspective will resonate with anyone facing a challenging journey to parenthood. Having found her own path to motherhood through surrogacy, she brings a physician’s insight to a deeply personal struggle, and her books are much-need tools to de-mystify infertility and help families find the hope and understanding to persevere.” —Kavitha Blewitt, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas
Miracle Creek: Winner of the 2020 Edgar Award for best first novel
by Angie KimMy husband asked me to lie. Not a big lie. He probably didn't even consider it a lie, and neither did I, at first . . . A thrilling debut novel for fans of Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng about how far we'll go to protect our families, and our deepest secretsWINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHORIn rural Virginia, Young and Pak Yoo run an experimental medical treatment device known as the Miracle Submarine: a pressurized oxygen chamber that patients enter for "dives", used as an alternative therapy for conditions including autism or infertility. But when the Miracle Submarine mysteriously explodes, killing two people, a dramatic murder trial upends the Yoos' small community.Who or what caused the explosion? Was it the mother of one of the patients, who claimed to be sick that day but was smoking down by the creek? Or was it Young and Pak themselves, hoping to cash in on a big insurance payment and send their daughter to college? The ensuing trial uncovers unimaginable secrets from that night - trysts in the woods, mysterious notes, child-abuse charges - as well as tense rivalries and alliances among a group of people driven to extraordinary degrees of desperation and sacrifice.'Engrossing . . . Miracle Creek turns a courtroom murder trial into a page-turning exploration of parenting, experimental therapies, and the emotional toil of immigration' Elle'A marvel, a taut courtroom thriller that ultimately tells the most human story imaginable, a story of good intentions and reckless passions. Compelling, generous, at once empathetic and unsparing . . . the perfect novel for these chaotic times in which we live' Laura Lippman'Kim has written a bold debut novel about science and immigration and the hopes and fears each engenders - unforgettable and true' Alexander Chee'Grabbed me hard right from the start. This is a terrific courtroom thriller, a sly whodunit that's beautifully written and also full of heart' Scott Turow
Miracle Creek: Winner of the 2020 Edgar Award for best first novel
by Angie Kim'That wonderful, brilliant sort of book you want to shove at people as soon as you've finished so they can experience it for themselves' Erin Morgenstern A thrilling debut novel for fans of Liane Moriarty and Celeste Ng about how far we'll go to protect our families - and our deepest secretsMy husband asked me to lie. Not a big lie. He probably didn't even consider it a lie, and neither did I, at first . . .In rural Virginia, Young and Pak Yoo run an experimental medical treatment device known as the Miracle Submarine - a pressurised oxygen chamber that patients enter for "dives", used as an alternative therapy for conditions including autism and infertility. But when the Miracle Submarine mysteriously explodes, killing two people, a dramatic murder trial upends the Yoos' small community.Who or what caused the explosion? Was it the mother of one of the patients, who claimed to be sick that day but was smoking down by the creek? Or was it Young and Pak themselves, hoping to cash in on a big insurance payment and send their daughter to college? The ensuing trial uncovers unimaginable secrets from that night?trysts in the woods, mysterious notes, child-abuse charges?as well as tense rivalries and alliances among a group of people driven to extraordinary degrees of desperation and sacrifice.Angie Kim's Miracle Creek is a thoroughly contemporary take on the courtroom drama, drawing on the author's own life as a Korean immigrant, former trial lawyer, and mother of a real-life "submarine" patient. Both a compelling page-turner and an excavation of identity and the desire for connection, Miracle Creek is a brilliant, empathetic debut from an exciting new voice.(P) 2019 Macmillan Audio
Miracle Cure
by Michael PalmerThe master of medical suspense takes you to prestigious Boston Heart Institute, where some patients are dying to get well....After a troubled past, Dr. Brian Holbrook has been given a second chance to prove himself. At state-of-the-art Boston Heart Institute, he's been chosen to join the medical team testing a new miracle drug. The initial results are so promising that Brian pushes to get his father--who suffers from a dangerous heart condition--accepted into the study. But Brian is beginning to suspect his superiors are hiding something. Why are crucial records disappearing? Why did a patient making startling progress suddenly die? Is the miracle drug a prescription for death? The answers could cost Brian more than his career. For at Boston Heart Institute, knowing too much is the quickest way to the morgue.
Miracle Cure: A gripping thriller from the #1 bestselling creator of hit Netflix show Fool Me Once
by Harlan CobenThey were looking for a miracle cure, but they instead they found a killer . . .Sara and Michael. The ideal celebrity couple, darlings of the media - until their lives are shattered by a mystery illness.Dr Harvey Riker. His clinic has found the miracle cure that millions seek. One-by-one his patients are getting well. One-by-one they are targeted by a serial killer more fatal than the disease.Lieutenant Bernstein. His true desires make him a perfect choice to track the killer - or a perfect victim.Can anyone stop the killer who will do anything to prevent the world's most desperately needed miracle cure . . . ?
Miracle Cure: The Creation of Antibiotics and the Birth of Modern Medicine
by William RosenFor fans of Microbe Hunters: The epic history of how antibiotics were born, saving millions of lives and creating a vast new industry known as Big Pharma.As late as the 1930s, virtually no drug intended for sickness did any good; doctors could set bones, deliver babies, and offer palliative care. That all changed in less than a generation with the discovery and development of a new category of medicine known as antibiotics. By 1955, the age-old evolutionary relationship between humans and microbes had been transformed, trivializing once-deadly infections. William Rosen captures this revolution with all its false starts, lucky surprises, and eccentric characters. He explains why, given the complex nature of bacteria—and their ability to rapidly evolve into new forms—the only way to locate and test potential antibiotic strains is by large-scale, systematic, trial-and-error experimentation. Organizing that research needs large, well-funded organizations and businesses, and so our entire scientific-industrial complex, built around the pharmaceutical company, was born. Timely, engrossing, and eye-opening, Miracle Cure is a must-read science narrative—a drama of enormous range, combining science, technology, politics, and economics to illuminate the reasons behind one of the most dramatic changes in humanity’s relationship with nature since the invention of agriculture ten thousand years ago.