Walsh Books

I teach pre-k and am always looking for books that teach young children an awareness about the world around them. This book nails it! The author keeps the text at one simply stated sentence per page with an option to read the smaller text if your child/children are ready for a more complex explanation. The pages/illustrations are very unique and fun for a child to explore. I can't recommend this book enough, it belongs in every classroom!

The book is excellent and answers a lot of questions that die hard Bama fans know, but a great resource for those that don't bleed Crimson. I could not put it down from the time it arrived until I had finished it. It now occupies a very special place on my coffee table.

This is a technical book written by psychiatrists for physicians interested in Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and how these systems affect the metabolism of commonly prescribed drugs. Interest in these enzymes was heightened by problematic drug-drug interactions that lead to several fatalities and the removal of some prescription drugs from the market. Since then, there has been a heightened awareness by physicians, especially when prescribing drugs that inhibit one of these enzymes. From a clinical perspective, several questions are difficult to answer. For example, referring to commonly used tables or references it may be difficult to figure out why a particular drug has accumulated. It is also difficult at times to figure out a specific time course of action. When a drug is discontinued - how long does it have an effect on CYP systems? How immediate is the effect when it is started? Which drug-drug interactions are significant and which are not? This book provides a good deal of information in all of these areas.

The layout of the book is interesting and practical. The authors start out with a review of the 6 CYP systems as separate chapters. They start out with the most well characterized systems. They look at enzyme locations, metabolic activity, polymorphisms, inducers and inhibitors. They also provide vignettes of typical problems at the end of each chapter. A good example of the level of analysis in this book is contained in the brief vignette at the end of the 2C9 chapter. They describe a case of phenytoin toxicity that occurs when fluoxetine is added to phenytoin maintenance therapy. Their comment is: "Phenytoin is metabolized by 2C9, 2C19, and phase II conjugation systems. Although not a potent inhibitor of 2C9 and 2C19, fluoxetine does inhibit these enzymes and most certainly was the cause of this woman's increase in phenytoin levels". Comparison with other methods of checking these interaction usually does not provide this level of detail. Commonly used drug interaction programs may attribute the accumulation of phenytoin to "decreased metabolism" and point out that other compounds also have this effect. Drug interaction cards or charts might count on you being able to see both phenytoin and fluoxetine in two different columns and making the connection. The authors' analysis pulls all the relevant facts together in one place.

Chapters specific to Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Neurology, Oncology and Surgery follow the initial chapters on CYP enzymes. Specific clinical examples of relevant drug- drug interactions are given in each chapter. As an example, the Gynecology chapter discusses the issue of contraceptive failure due to enzyme induction. Specific prescription drugs and a potential problem with St. John's wort are discussed. These chapters are all clinically relevant and well referenced.

The book concludes with two appendices - one about how to search the literature and very well written Appendix A. Guidelines for Prescribing in a Polypharmacy Environment. Polypharmacy has become the rule rather than the exception these days as more therapeutic agents are added to treat multiple illnesses in the same patient. In fact, in some situations multiple agents from the same therapeutic class are being used to treat refractory problems. The authors suggest five principles for physicians to use that decrease the likelihood of drug-drug interactions. These guidelines are adaptable to individual practices and allow the clinician to choose a profile of medications with the greatest level of safety. The book also contains a pocket guide called "P450 Tables" that summarizes the interactions listed on specific chapters.

My particular bias as a practicing physician is that I need to know the information in this book. After attending seminars on the topic, reading journal articles and pharmacology texts, and using several computer programs on drug interactions the information presented in this book is comprehensive and unique. As a paperback book it is also inexpensive. It is a book that should be read by psychiatrists and other physicians who prescribe medications to patients using other prescription or over the counter medications.

George Dawson, MD

This book tells the tale of the rise of one of Ireland's greatest professional cyclists, Stephen Roche. It is co-authored by David Walsh, who also wrote the definitive biography of Ireland's other great professional cyclist, Sean Kelly.

Roche describes his humble beginnings as a milk man apprentice for his father through his rise through the ranks to become only the second cyclist to win the "Triple Crown," the Tour of Italy, The Tour of France and the World Championship in 1987.

Packed with details only an insider would know, Roche and Walsh have written a highly entertaining and informative book about the world of professional cycling, the greatest sport in the world.

I believe I have flown over Alaska flying back from Japan to California, however I am not sure about it. However, I have not been to Alaska, which makes it the only one of the 50 states left for me to visit. On my honeymoon several years back I made a point of traveling through Maine and dipping into Rhode Island in driving from Boston to Hartford just to make it state number 49. My expectation is to do a cruise, because everybody I know who has taken a cruise to Alaska has raved about it, so I think that will be the way to go. In her introduction to this America the Beautiful Second Series volume, Donna Walsh Shepherd makes it clear that are plenty of reasons to visit even if it is not on your places-to-visit list. Chapter One, "Alaska--A Great Land," sets up the dichotomy that exist in the largest state (and second least populated), a land that has both temperate rain forests and frozen deserts.

The next three chapters of this volume look at the history of the place that was the first part of North America to be populated. Chapter Two, "Coming to the New Continent," starts 7,000 years ago when people first left their homes in Asia and walked east to Alaska, and ends with Seward's Folly as the United States bought Alaska for $7.2 million dollars (2 cents an acre) in 1867. Chapter Three, "From Gold to War," covers from the discovery of gold in 1848 to what happened in World War II in the north. Chapter Four, "North to the Future," starts with Alaska's statehood in 1959 as the 49th state and ends with the importance of the black gold of oil to Alaska.

The "Spectacular Nature" of Alaska's geography is covered in Chapter Five, focusing more on the parklands and animals than the six distinct regions. Chapter Six, "Cities, Towns, and Villages," contrasts life in the large cities of Alaska with that in the bush communities (Nome got its name because a British navy cartographer creating maps from ships' charts misread the handwriting that said "?name" to mean "Nome"). Chapter Seven, "Government by the People," talks about what politics are like in a state where a few votes can decide an election. This is also where young students get to learn about the state symbols (the bowhead whale is the state marine mammal, but the state land mammal is the moose). If you cannot guess what the state sport is you are just not paying attention.

The economy of Alaska is covered in Chapter Eight, "Making a Living," which looks at the abundant natural resources and tourism (there is a list of the top-ten-most-visited places to help you plan ahead). You have to wait for this book's recipe until Chapter Nine, "Who Are Those Alaskans?" That would be citrus broiled Alaska salmon, which I am going to have to try (I poached salmon last month, I can handle this). Chapter Ten, "Alaskan Art and Alaskan Fun," starts with the idea that Mother Nature is the best artist in Alaska, but also covers native and winter art. Of course, the Iditarod shows up here as well. The back of the book has the expected Timeline, where U.S. and Alaska state history run in parallel columns, and the pages of Fast Facts with all sorts of statistics that young students can use researching the state. There are also lists of books, organizations, and Internet sites where students can go To Find Out More.

The American the Beautiful Second Series books are filled with color photographs of Alaska, original maps on things like topography and population density (by borough), and dozens of informative sidebars. These are always the treat in these books, and because there are not a lot of people up there in Alaska, Shepherd goes into some of them in some depth. There is a two-page spread on Alaska's current political leaders, whereas the life of a Salmon only gets a single page. But young readers will also find out about Gold Rush characters such as Klondike Kate, the Chilkoot Trail, Blue Babe the frozen steppe bison, and Jewel Kilcher. Teachers should take advantage of this series to have their students research the various states with an actual book (do they still do that?).

This rare item is probably the best fictional account I have read about what it means to be a woman with an alcohol problem.

From her first illicit teenage drink the lead character finds in alcohol both a release from the frustrations of the everyday world and the means of sustaining unsatisfactory relationships. When she marries she finds her husband is both physically and sexually abusive. Only by getting drunk can she live with her situation.

Over time being drunk becomes her normal state. When she finds a man who really does care the relationship breaks down because she is getting drunk every day. By the end of the novel her constant desire is for "just one more drink".

There is a glimmer of hope at the end of the book where she promises herself her latest binge will be her last. However, she still holds a bottle in her arms and is looking forward to enjoying its soothing effects...

This book was GREAT! What a revelation! This was a right now WORD for a RIGHT NOW SEASON! A truly MUST READ!

"All That Really Matters" encouraged me to really focus on what matters most to God. As a Christian, I struggle daily with the balancing act of God, family, church, service, etc. but in this book, Sheila directs us towards what is most important to God. She uses good illustrations and excellent biblical references throughout the book. I really loved this book!! It was the first book of hers that I have read, and I am now almost finished with another one. You can see her spiritual growth in this book if you have read the others (or if you go backwards like me). If I could give it more stars, I WOULD!! Thank you Jesus for inspiring Sheila Walsh to write this book!

This book was written by the eminent biochemist Christopher Walsh, whose broad research interests include the study of antibiotic action and resistance. It is extremely well written and organized, with an abundance of excellent illustrations. The approach is to give the reader an in depth but not exhausting coverage of several key topics in modern antibiotic research. Both novice and seasoned researcher will find much of value within the pages of this modest sized book. This important work is published at a period in time in which the resistance of a broad range of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics has grown to alarming levels. At the same time, many pharmaceutical companies have recently abandoned research and development of new antibiotic agents.

Walsh starts the book with a brief chapter on fundamental antibiotic concepts. Where do antibiotics come from? How do they work? How does resistance develop? He next launches into a thorough review of the main classes of antibiotics, interweaving antibiotic chemical structures and targets of the drugs with the underlying microbial physiology processes that are targeted. He begins with the various classes of bacterial cell wall inhibitors, emphasizing the members of the large beta-lactam class, as well as glycopeptides and moenomycin. Next he delves into the multiple classes of protein synthesis inhibitors. He makes full use of the latest structural data emerging from X-ray crystallography of ribosomal subunits, to illustrate the mechanisms of drug action. He covers the macrolides, tetracyclines, and aminoglycosides, as well as the new glycylcyclines and oxazolidinones. The DNA topoisomerases are next featured as targets, and the interactions of quinolone antibiotics with DNA gyrase and topoisomerase. This chapter was a bit short and sparse in some details as compared to the preceding chapters, but does hit the main highlights. A final chapter in this section addresses other antibiotic classes such as the folate metabolism antagonists (sulfa drugs and trimethoprim), as well as peptide antibiotics.

The next section addresses the many mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. These four chapters examine different types of mechanisms employed by bacteria to evade antibiotics. Succinct coverage of the broad range of beta-lactamases and the aminoglycoside modifying (inactivating) enzymes are found in a chapter on enzymatic destruction or modification of antibiotics. This is followed by a very nice summary chapter around antibiotic efflux pumps, which again incorporates some structural biology. Unfortunately, the book was published just prior to the latest crystallographic studies of the RND class AcrB pump, which has added much to our understanding of efflux pumps. The final resistance chapter highlights target modification or replacement. The methicillin resistance story in Staphylococcus, mediated by PBP2a, is detailed, as is the resistance mediated by the mosaic PBP genes in pneumococci. Macrolide resistance by ribosomal methylation and the fascinating story of vancomycin resistance by the restructuring the terminal D-alanine dipeptide target is covered (Walsh's laboratory was a major contributor to the vancomycin story).

The next section of the book deals with the biosynthesis of antibiotics by producing organisms, primarily Streptomyces species. These chapters interweave the genetics and biochemistry of secondary metabolism. The signaling pathways used among producer organisms, as well as the gene regulation of the individual antibiotic biosynthetic genes, which are clustered on the chromosome are discussed. There is a chapter on each on polyketide antibiotic synthesis (erythromycins and tylosin) and non-ribosomal synthesis of peptide antibiotics (penicillins, bacitracin, vancomycin).

The book ends with 3 chapters on identifying new antibiotics. A survey of targets, both "old" and new is presented, and several suggestions for novel ways to interfere with bacterial function are briefly reviewed. Another chapter examines identifying new chemical entities with antibacterial properties. The initial part of the chapter emphasizes combinatorial chemistry approaches. Unfortunately, this process to date has led to only sparse results, with some inhibitors identified. As Walsh notes, the conversion of a chemical inhibitor of an antibacterial enzyme target to a lead compound that can be subsequently endowed with all the myriad pharmacological properties necessary to be a drug is an extremely daunting task. The vast majority of compounds identified cannot be successfully modified to possess the properties necessary to be a drug. A second approach that he covers, the modification by genetic means of antibiotic producing organisms to synthesize new antibiotics (combinatorial biosynthesis), may be more promising.

Walsh closes out the book with some thought provoking chapters around the proper use of antibiotics, and strategies to minimize resistance development. He highlights the antibiotic resistant pathogens of the 21st century, and the continued problem of methicillin resistant staphylococci and vancomycin resistant enterococci. He makes it abundantly clear that there has been no victory in the fight against infectious diseases, and the reports from the front lines are less than encouraging for the future.

At the crossroads of America, the town of Arrow Rock was established in Missouri's Boonslick region where Indian traces, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Missouri River converge. Michael Dickey, the site administrator at the Arrow Rock State Historic Site, provides a rich narrative of Arrow Rock's rise in politcal and economic prowess, its decline after the Civil War, and its rebirth in the twenty century as a major historic site visited by nearly 200,000 people annually. Dickey's work is the most comprehensive history of Arrow Rock ever published and will stand as the primary reference for years to come. This statement is supported by the fact that he was given the Governor's Humanities Award by the Missouri Humanities Council in November of 2005 for his publication as a significant achievement in recording Arrow Rock's diverse heritage.

Dickey's narrative is divided into seven chapters, providing a detailed history of Arrow Rock within a broader framework of time and place. The first chapter begins in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with the Missouri and Osage Indians and their initial contact with the French and ends with the Louisanna Purchase. This is followed by a section on the first American settlers and their conflict with Native Americans, culminating with the War of 1812. During this period, he highlights the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the creation of Boone's Lick, the Arrow Rock Bluff, and Sibley's Fort, an Osage trading house. Chapter three, "Taking Up the Land," dicusses the wave of American settlers after the War of 1812, the establishment of the Arrow Rock ferry, the beginning of the Santa Fe Trail, and then the establishment of Arrow Rock, as a polical, commerical, and agricultural center in central Missouri. Chapter four highlights Arrow Rock's civic and cultural institutions, including churches, fraternal organizations, schools, and businesses, like the Huston Tavern. Chapter five focuses on the major players in Arrow Rock's history including Dr. John Sappington, who popularization the use of quinine to cure malaria, the political prowess of the Sappington family, which included three Missouri Governors, George Caleb Bingham, Missouri's famous nineteenth century artist, and John Sites, Arrow Rock's gunsmith. The sixth chapter provides an excellent summary of the pre-Civil War tension on slavery in Saline County, the harshness of the Civil War, and the postbellum reconstruction, which includes the establishment of African-American community in Arrow Rock. The final chapter highlights the town's transformation into a historic site and the beginning of heritage tourism.

The major strength of Dickey's work is that it combines primary and secondary resources, oral histories, maps, and archaeological research to tell Arrow Rock's story. In particular, this volume is filled with direct quotes from the people that actually lived and died in and around Arrow Rock, offering a rich insight into the mindset of the past. Supplementing this text are approximately 100 illustrations, including historic prints and images that have never been published previously.

The concluding chapter, which covers most recent history of Arrow Rock, lacks the same depth of insight as previous chapters. It would have been nice to read the preservation history through the personal accounts of the Daughters of American Revolution, the Missouri State Parks, or the Friends of Arrow Rock officers and members, who were instrumental in transforming this village into a National Landmark Site in 1963. What did these organizations say or do that had such great figures as President Harry S. Truman willing to serve as a trustee for the Friends of Arrow Rock or Bess Truman, Patricia Nixon, and Jacqueline Kennedy to contribute recipes for the Arrow Rock cookbook? What made Arrow Rock so important to these people that they wanted to save and celebrate this town's heritage? Dickey provides part of the answer with his publication - Arrow Rock's rich history.

Overall, this publication had few weaknesses and those that exist were caused by the lack of primary documents. For example, prominent, Euroamerican men were frequently highlighted in this history (e.g, John Sappington, George Caleb Bingham), with women, minorities, and children spoken of in less detail. Despite this criticism, Dickey does give some insight into this neglected history, including the gender roles of women during the Civil War as they operated both the house and farm activities (p. 231), the struggle of post-Civil War African-Americans to obtain their own homes and to create their own community (pp. 249-253), and children's activities and games (pp. 136-137). Future research is still needed to expand on these forgotten persons to tell the whole story of Arrow Rock.

Dickey's work was partially funded by the State Historical Society of Missouri through a Richard S. Brownlee Fund Grant and published by the Friends of Arrow Rock, Inc. The latter is Arrow Rock's local historical society, established in 1859 to help preserve and interpret the town's heritage. The quaility of this publication is on the same level as many academic presses. This is truly amazing, since this town only has about 70 people. Despite the town's small size, the Friends of Arrow Rock have been from their inception a pioneer and model for historic preservation in Missouri. This latest publication continues this great stewardship of past.