The 272-Page Illustrated MS Dictionary Defines More Than 600
                      Terms Relevant to the MS Community

    ROME, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Serono Symposia International
Foundation and Taylor & Francis Medical Books announced today the publication
of the first edition of the Dictionary of Multiple Sclerosis.
    Compact in size, illustrated, easy to use, specific and comprehensive, the
272-page Dictionary of Multiple Sclerosis and accompanying CD-ROM aim to serve
as a practical resource for clinicians, neurologists, nurses and paraclinical
personnel, as well as for patients and caregivers who are increasingly
interested in all aspects of multiple sclerosis. The dictionary provides a
quick and easy way to develop a comprehensive understanding of the key terms
relating to this chronic progressive disease of the central nervous system.
    "We did not set out to write a textbook because there are many excellent
examples already available," said Professor Lance D. Blumhardt, Professor
Emeritus of Clinical Neurology, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom and
Editor-in-Chief of the Dictionary of Multiple Sclerosis. "Instead we aimed to
compile a unique resource that could provide a brief introduction to a
wide-range of commonly encountered terms, supported by one or more key
references."
    "The dictionary defines all the main terms related to multiple sclerosis
and provides a much needed key to the more complex texts available," said
Christine Purdy, CEO of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
(MSIF). "It is an invaluable reference tool for both clinicians and
paraclinical personnel, as well as for those personally affected by multiple
sclerosis."
    The Dictionary of Multiple Sclerosis defines over 600 terms and includes
844 related references from clinical neurology, genetics, molecular biology,
biochemistry, immunology, pathology, radiology, pathogenesis, clinical trial
methodology, therapeutics and epidemiology. In addition to providing quick and
easy access to the definitions, the CD-ROM version of the dictionary allows
physicians to reproduce and print a series of tables, figures and rating
scales for customized use in their day-to-day practice.
    Professor Lance D. Blumhardt and Dr. Xia Lin, respectively Editor-in-Chief
and Associate Editor of the dictionary, drafted terms and definitions, and a
panel of international experts(1) checked lists under specific headings and
advised them on the inclusion or exclusion of terms and their definitions.
    "The inherent difficulties included the huge and expanding terminology and
the decision on sensible cut-off points for definitions," added Professor
Blumhardt. "I am indebted to all the contributors' efforts to write this
dictionary and hope it will prove to be a useful desktop reference for
everyone interested in multiple sclerosis."
    The publication of this book reflects the commitment of Serono Symposia
International Foundation, a non-profit organization, to provide leading edge
medical information.
    The Dictionary of Multiple Sclerosis is available worldwide via the
distributors of Taylor & Francis Medical Books(2) and in leading medical
bookstores.

    (1) Chris S Constantinescu (United Kingdom), George C Ebers (United
        Kingdom), Gavin Giovannoni (United Kingdom), Jurg Kesselring
        (Switzerland), John F Kurtzke (USA), Hans Lassmann (Austria), David KB
        Li (Canada), Clarence Liu (United Kingdom), Per S Sorensen (Denmark),
        John N Whitaker (USA)

    (2) Standard book reference number: BN 1-85317-866-7

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        E-mail: orders@crcpress.com

        Distributed in the rest of the world by
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