ERA’S JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH VOL.3 NO.
2
Book Review
TEXTBOOK OF BIOCHEMISTRY FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS
Brijesh Rathore
Department of Biochemistry,
Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow- 226003
Received : November 2016
Accepted : December 2016
This second edition of this book"Textbook of
Biochemistry For Medical Students" is extensively Address for correspondence
revised by Rafi MD & Published by Universities Press Dr Brijesh Rathore
Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad The book presents a detailed and
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Department of Biochemistry
authoritative exposition of the basic principles and
applications of biochemistry. It now covers the Era's Lucknow Medical College and
complete syllabus prescribed by the Medical Council Hospital, Lucknow- 226003
of India for the MBBS course. Although it is designed Email: bsr2911@gmail.com
as a basic textbook for the undergraduate student, it Phone: +91-9415765207
has resource material for postgraduates and advanced
learners in biochemistry and medicine. Six new
chapters have been added in Section X, Contemporary
topics. The text is organized into ten sections quick revision of the core concepts.
comprising 45 chapters which are arranged in a
seamless progression. However, to enable teachers to This book has a avour of its own both, in scope and
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present topics in the order they desire, there is content, distinctly different from a number of already
extensive cross referencing between the chapters. The existing textbooks on Medical Biochemistry. Print has
topics are developed in a manner that encourages the been enlarged and colour pattern changed to make it
student to develop analytical ability as well as it more soothing to eyes. Author has successfully met the
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enhances memory-based learning. Each chapter requirements of a student-centred and need-based,
begins with at a glance which gives a birds eye view of innovative curriculum and compiled it in right
the content, thus facilitating better comprehension of proportion with pertinent aspects of basic, applied and
the topic. At the end of each chapter, MCQs, Clinical clinical concepts relevant to Health Sciences. The
case studies, Problem based exercises and Riddles “how and why” of the health problems not only seeks
have been given. This is of immense help to the to unravel underlying basic mechanisms but asking
students preparing for various competitive
examinations in India and abroad that include questions and nding answers evoke yet another
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USMLE, PLAB, and All India MD/MS entrance method of active learning rather than sitting with
examinations. voluminous books. While main concepts of chemical
and molecular basis of diseases have not been lost
The book explains the underlying biochemical sight of and the emerging frontiers of recombinant
mechanisms and the molecular dynamics of body DNA research and genetic engineering have been
function extensively. Detailed flow charts enable easy given due importance, the student is not burdened with
understanding, while the diagrams, tables, clinical the details linked to and inherent in the present day
correlates, boxes, examples and the exercises avalanche of information. A rather balanced view of
reinforce the concepts expounded in the main text. The facts ranging from molecular to organismal levels has
large number of reproducible, full length colour been undertaken. Author's approach appears to be to
illustrations facilitate visual exploration of the “understand biochemistry through health problems”
complex metabolic pathways. The tables are or better perhaps to “understand health problems
organized such that the essence of the chapter is through biochemistry”.
covered in a nutshell, enabling a quick revision before
the examination. Numerous line diagrams, in an More emphasis in this edition is to systemize
attractive two-colour format, are provided to illustrate presentation and make reading soothing and
the concepts and help the students in grasping their pleasurable by deleting redundant details, adding new
significance. Medical applications of biochemistry are text and figures, improvement of earlier figures,
discussed through extended examples and clinical supplementing text with easy to comprehend
cases. The chapter summaries help develop a concise flowcharts, without changing basic framework of the
review and aid effective learning. Key points have book.
been highlighted and boxed at the end of each topic for
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