Biochemistry Courses and Textbooks

Discipline: BIOCHEMISTRY

Courses taught
The Department teaches 11 courses over 2 years, at the end of which is the in-house Professional 1 examination. Students are encouraged to take the external administered MRCP Part 1 examination after completing 2 years of study of the basic sciences or pre-clinical courses.

Year 1 Medicine

GMT 101 Cell & Tissue
GMT 102 Molecular Biology & Pharmacology
GMT 105 Respiratory System
GMT 106 Haemopoietic & Lymphoid System
GMT 107 Cardiovascular System
GMT 108 Gastrointestinal System
GMT 109 Genitourinary System

Year 2 Medicine

GMT 201 Nervous System & Psychology
GMT 202 Endocrine System
GMT 203 Reproductive System
GMT 204 Musculoskeletal System

Main Textbooks

1. Richard A. Harvey, Denise R. Ferrier, Biochemistry (Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews) 5th Edition (2010) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
2. Michael A. Lieberman, Allan D. Marks, Mark's Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach, 3th Edition (2009), Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Reference Textbooks

1. Murray, R, Harper's Biochemistry,.26th Ed (2003), Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT
2. Jeremy M Berg, John L Tymoczko, and Lubert Stryer, Biochemistry, 5th Edition (2002), W.H. Freeman Co, New York
3. McKee, T. & McKee, J.R. Biochemistry: An Introduction, 2nd Edition (1999) WCB/McGraw-Hill
4. Meisenberg G & Simmons WH, Principles of Medical Biochemistry, 2nd Ed (2006), Mosby

MRCP Part 1

1. Philippa J. Easterbrook. Basic Medical Sciences for MRCP Part 1. Third Edition (2005), Elsevier Churchill/Livingston.
2. Philip A. Kalra. Essential Revision Notes for MRCP. Fourth Edition (2014), Jaypee, The Health Sciences Publisher, New Delhi.  

The textbooks are available at the campus library at USM in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. 

The MRCP Part 1 revision books are sold by vendors from time to time when they come to campus. The vendors are based in Kuala Lumpur.

Medical books suppliers in Kuala Lumpur

1. Utama Medilink Books, Arun - Business Develoopment, hp 012-283-5794. G-2, Sinar Magna Apartment, No. 1 Jalan Prima - 10, Metro Prima, Kepong 52100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel/fax 03-6257-9695, email arumedik@gmail.com. Comments: This is a good bookseller. The gentlemen are polite.
2. Mediclink, handphone number is 012-2835794. The advantage of MedicLink is that you get your books first before you have to pay. 
3. Kamal Medical Book Supplies Sdn Bhd (better known as Kamal Medical Bookstore). Only 10 minutes walk from Chow Kit Monorail stop. There is limited parking (none nearby). Does not accept credit cards. For orders to Kamal,  customers must pay first before the books are delivered. Refer to ordering details at: http://www.lwjuan.com/2011/04/25/how-to-order-books-from-kamal-bookstore/ Comments: The comments about this supplier are on Facebook and Foursquare.

          Kamal Bookstore details:

          Opening hours:

                Monday to Saturday : 8 am to 8 pm

               Sunday : 8 am to 2 pm

         Address:

              Kamal Medical Book Supplies Sdn Bhd. (government contractor) aka

              Kamal Medical Bookstore

             138, Jalan Pahang (opposite General Hospital KL),

             53000 Kuala Lumpur.

             Tel: +6-03-4021-0548 / +6-03-4021-0575

        Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kamal-Bookstore/

        Foursquare: https://foursquare.com/v/kamal-medical-bookstore/

Medical books suppliers from India

1. Vijay Kumar (guest): Hi we are pleased to inform you that we are leading book distributor and exporter of all kind of books of all leading publishers, could you please let us know that do you buy books from India? Regards Vijay Kumar Vkmedicalbooks34@gmail.com
2. 
   

Biochemistry Textbooks

I have always been a biochemistry student, facilitator and lecturer. I have taught medical biochemistry since June 1982; this is my 31st year teaching my favourite subject. There is a big difference between what is needed in pure biochemistry and medical biochemistry. Pure biochemistry requires a good knowledge of basic and applied chemistry. Medical biochemistry requires a good knowledge of applications of biochemical and chemical pathology knowledge in clinical cases.

The way biochemistry is heading, students will need to know quite a lot of biochemistry methods and basic & applied knowledge to be able to appreciate the complexity of depth of knowledge we have today about our own bodies and what goes on inside us. That's makes it very interesting when we have access to good books.

I would always suggest students to read up whenever they come across a case that they know little about. It is very gratifying to be able to understand a case at hand fully when they is sufficient material to read, comprehend and explore more. Nothing is ever complete and studying a case is like that.

Textbooks only fill a part of basic reading we need to know. Higher reading materials are those produced by specialised research groups and institutes. These are published as articles in scientific journals and monographs. It will be good to always be on the lookout for developments in any research area and try to understand issues and challenges as and when they are published.

Even though we don't read textbooks once we enter into the workforce, I still think they are necessary once in a while. They are needed to see what the new developments are. We should be reminded that what goes into textbooks have been out there for at least 10 years. So textbooks are backward in this regard. Nevertheless, we need them to teach our students. They will in turn need to turn to journals and more recent research book publications to find out more about recent development and updates.

The language used in the textbooks sometimes confuse students. Here in Malaysia we use British English or UK English spellings and measures. US textbooks use US spellings and measures. I often tell the students the differences so that they are aware.

I noticed that it is easier to read textbooks written in US English as the sentence structure is straight forward. I noticed that textbooks written in UK English are harder to read and comprehend as the sentence structure is not so straight forward. I have seen Stryer written in Korean script. I have seen Biochemistry written in Malaysian Malay. The diagrams matter most when I don't understand the text when it is written in languages other than English.

The following are some of the books I have used and/or evaluated for teaching medical biochemistry to our first year medical and dental students at our medical school. I evaluate books for class use and suggest to students in class or here at my blog. Some are new books. I will add more when they come to my desk and attention.


Title: Basic Medical Biochemistry: A clinical approach.
Author: Dawn B. Marks, Allan D. Marks, Colleen M. Smith
Publisher: Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia
Textbook: International Edition, 1996
ISBN: 0-683-05595-X
Web: www.wwilkins.com
Email: custserv@wwilkins.com
Language: US English
Purchase date: May 1997 (softcover)
Review:

1. 2-tone texts, diagrams, titles and highlights (black and green). 
2. Two-part layout with a bigger column for text and a side column for additional texts, diagrams, reaction pathways, definitions, or cases. 
3. Well-drawn, clear simplified, annotated diagrams with bold and light texts.
4. The cases are laid out differently; they are introduced in one chapter and completed in other chapters; it is easy to lose track of the cases. To put an entire case together means flipping through several pages.
5. Each chapter opens with the scope that will be covered.
6. Easy to read for first year students.

Title: Essential Biochemistry
Author: Pratt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Year: 2014
ISBN: 1118083504
Complimentary copy was sent from Singapore office for evaluation (hardcover; 27 Oct 2013)
WILEY
BOOK DISTRIBUTION
1 FUSIONOPOLIS WALK
#07-01 SOLARIS SOUTH TOWER
SINGAPORE 138628
TEL. 65 66438000 (MAIN)
TEL. 65 66438333 (CSD HOTLINE)
FAX. 65 66438397
EMAIL. csd_ord@wiley.com

Review:

1. This is a good book if you need more recent structures on many biochemical compounds. 
2. Many of the diagrams feature 3D structures which were obtained from research labs
3. Colourful iStock photos appear at the start of each chapter
4. Colourful diagrams in most chapters
5. Very detailed mechanisms in some parts especially on nucleic acids and cell signalling
6. Detailed calculations for many reactions
7. Clinical correlates appear at the end of each chapter or section
8. More updated clinical information compared to many textbooks

List of textbooks and references for Year 1 Medicine, USM

I received a request from a parent whose son got accepted into our USM Medical School. The request is for a list of textbooks for Year 1 Medicine.



My comment for parents who are planning on buying medical textbooks for their children is, most textbooks are available in the medical library on campus. However, the medical library stocks only a few copies of most textbooks and reference books, and students often have to rush for such books. As such, some students will have problems getting hold of a copy to read before class or immediately after class.

For parents who can afford to buy textbooks for their children, please go ahead and buy them. Please purchase the most recent textbooks, or any book for that matter. There is Kamal Bookstore in KL which sells medical textbooks.

Here on campus, we organise book fairs or book sales and book vendors come to the campus to sell medical textbooks, often at cheaper price. Sometimes students can get good bargains and good copies of books, especially for missing pages (1-2 pages missing). Students can also make arrangement and place orders with the book vendors who will then post the books to the students.

New students can also purchase books from the 2nd-year students (students who passed Year 1 and are continuing Year 2). This can be done once students are on campus.

Otherwise, new students can join my Facebook (Faridah Abdul Rashid) and join the Phase 1 Group which is for Year 1 medical & dental students. New students can voice their concerns/queries/comments in my Facebook. I can pick up problems/concerns/queries/comments from my Facebook (if any) and try to help out new students.

Parents can also join my Facebook and I will try to help out in any way I can. Hopefully I can also help refer parents/students/queries to the right person(s), insyaAllah. Let's try make learning less of a hassle and more of fun and joy for all our children, insyaAllah.

Prof Faridah

BUKU TEKS DAN RUJUKAN

1.         ANATOMI

          Buku Teks

a.           Clinically Oriented Anatomy

                        Keith L. Moore; Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore

          b.          Functional Histology (a text and colour atlas)

                        Paul R. Wheater; Churchill Livingstone

          c.           Medical Embryology

                        Jan Langman; Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore

          d.          Neuroanatomi

                        Nah Seang Hoo; DBP: Kuala Lumpur

          Rujukan

a.           Clinical Anatomy for Medical Students

                        R.S. Snell; Brown: Boston.

b.          Histology - text and atlas

              Michael H. Ross; Williams & Wilkins: Baltimore

c.           Histology – an identification manual.

              Tallitsch, & Guastaferri, R. R.B.

              Mosby, Elsevier

d.          Clinical Neuroanatomy (for medical students)

              R.S. Snell; Little & Brown: Boston

e.           A text book of Neuroanatomy.

              Patestas, M.A. & Gartner, L.P.

              Blackwell Publishing

f.           The Developing Human

              K.L. Moore; W.B. Saunders: Philadelphia

g.          Basic Histology

Carlos Junqueira; Appleton & Lange

h.          P.L.W. Williams & R. Warwick

                        Churchill Livingstone

i.            Anatomi: Asas dan Klinikal-Anggota Atas

               Abdul Hamid Abdul Rashid and Mohamed Ruslan Abdul Halim.

               Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka

2.      FISIOLOGI

          Buku Teks

a.           Textbook of Medical Physiology

              Guyton A.C.

              W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia

b.          Review of Medical Physiology

                        William F. Ganong

        Appleton & Lange, Norwalk CT

          Rujukan

          a.           Human Physiology

        Schmidt R.F.H. and Thews G.

        Springer Verlag

b.          Fisiologi Manusia

                        Raman, A dan Ruby Hussain

                        Fajar Bakti, Shah Alam

3.      BIOKIMIA

          Buku Teks

a.           Basic Medical Biochemistry: A Clinical Approach

              D.B. Marks, A.D. Marks & C.M. Smith

              Williams and Wilkins Co, Baltimore

b.          Biochemistry, (Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews)

              P.C Champe and R.A. Harvey

              J.B. Lippincott Co

             

        Rujukan

a.           Harper’s Biochemistry

              Murray, R

              Appleton & Lange, Norwalk, CT

b.          Biochemistry

              Stryer, L., Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko

              W.H. Freeman Co, New York

c.           Biochemistry: An Introduction

                        T. Mckee & J.R. McKee

                        WCB/McGraw-Hill

                       

d.           Human Metabolism: Functional Diversity & Integration

                        R.J. Bronk

                        Addison Wesley Longman Ltd.

e.         Principles of Medical Biochemistry

                        G. Meisenberg & W.H. Simmons Mosby

4.     FARMAKOLOGI

Buku Teks

a.           Basic and Clinical Pharmacology

              Katzung BG,

              Mc-Graw-Hill Co.

Rujukan

a.           Katzung, B.G. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology 11^th ed. Stamford: Appleton & Lange, 2009.

b.          Lippincott’s Illustrated Reviews 2009- Pharmacology 4^th ed.

c.           Goodman and Gilman’s the pharmacological basis of therapeutics 11^th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0645/2004063122-t.html QV4.P536

d.          Rang & Dale’s Pharmacology 6^th ed. Elsevier: Churchill Livingstone, 2007.

5.     IMUNOLOGI

Buku Teks

a.           Roitt`s Essential Immunology

              Roitt I.M, Delves P.J. & Roitt I

              Blackwell Publishers

Rujukan

a.                Medical Immunology,

              Parslow T.G. Stited D.P., Terr AJ.,  Imboden JB

              McGraw-Hill Co.

6.      HEMATOLOGI

        Buku Teks

a.           Essential Haematology

        Hoffbrand A.V, Moss P.A.H., Pettit J.E

        (2006) Blackwell Publishing, London

Rujukan

a.           Practical Haematology

              Dacie S.J.V. and Lewis S.M.

                        ELBS, Churchill Livingstone

b.          Clinical Haematology Illustrated (atlas)

              Hoffbrand, AV & Pettit, JE 2nd edition (1994)

             

7.     SAINS TINGKAHLAKU

Buku Teks

a.           Human Behaviour, An Introduction for medical students

        Alan Stoudemire

        J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia

        Rujukan

a.           Behavioural Science. (The national medical series for independent study)

        Jerry M. Wiener

        Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore

          b.          Behavioural Sciences for Medical Student

F.S Sierles

                        Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore

c.           Introduction to Psychology

              Rod Plotnik

        Wodworth Pub. Company, USA

d.          Psychology of the Adaptive Mind

              James S. Nairne

              Wodsworth Pub. Company, USA

8.      MIKROBIOLOGI

Buku Teks

a.           Microbiology in Patient Care

              Wilson M.E., Mixer H.E. and Morello J.A.

              W.C. Brown, Dubuque, lowa

             

Rujukan

a.           Medical Microbiology, vol 1

                      Cruickshank R, Duguid J.P. Marmion B.P. and Swain R.H.A.

b.          MacKie & McCartney’s Practical Medical Microbiology

           MacKie, T., McCartney, JE & Collee, JG

           Churchill Livingstone

           

c.           Notes on Medical Virology

           Timbury, MC

           Churchill Livingstone

d.          Melnick and Adelberg’s Review of Medical Microbiology

           Jawetz, JL., Melnick, EA. Adelberg Jawetz

           Appleton and Lange, Norwalk CT

9.      PEMAKANAN

       

        Buku Teks

          a.             Present Knowledge in Nutrition

           Myrtle L Brown

          International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI)

Rujukan

          a.            Human Nutrition and Dietetics

                         Davidson, Passmore, Brock and Truswell

                         Churchill Livingstone

b.             Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease

Maurice and Shils

Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia

10.   PERTOLONGAN CEMAS

        Buku Teks

          a.             Pertolongan Cemas: Prinsip dan Amalan

Abdul Rahman Isa, Rusli Nordin, Abdul Manaf Hj. Hamid

          Crecent News (KL) Sdn Bhd

Rujukan

a.             First Aid Manual: The Authorised Manual of St. John Ambulance, St Andrew's Ambulance Association, and the British Red Cross.

                Dorling Kindersly Limited, London

11.    KEJURURAWATAN

       

        Buku Teks

a.             Clinical Nursing Skills. Basic to Advanced Skills

Sandra F. Smith, Donna J. Duell

Appleton & Lange, Colifornia

b.            Basic Nursing. Theory and Practice

Patricia A. Potter and Anne Griffin Perry

Mosby,  St. Louis

Rujukan

a.             Nursing  Issues in the 21st Century

Hein, E.C.

Lippincott, Philadelphia

b.             Current Issues in Nursing

Mc Closkey, J.C. & Grace, H.K.

Mosby,  St. Louis

c.             Fundamentals of Nursing Concepts: Process & Practice

Kozier, B.

Addison – Wellesly, California