Book excerpt: You've read your textbook and your course notes. Now you need to apply your knowledge to real life clinical situations. Core Clinical Cases guides you to think of the patient as a whole, rather than as a sequence of unconnected symptoms. With its practical approach strongly linked to underlying theory, the series integrates your knowledge with the realities of managing clinical problems, and provides a basis for developing problem-solving skills. The core areas of undergraduate study are covered in a logical sequence of learning activities: each case is followed by a detailed answer, along with a number of OSCE-style questions to help you practise for the exam. Related OSCE counselling style questions and answers also feature at the end of each section. Key concepts and important information are highlighted, and the reader-friendly layout reflects exactly the type of question you will encounter, making the perfect revision aid for all types of case-based examination. The comprehensive volume, General Medicine and Surgery, focuses on the following topics: Diabetes Endocrinology Rheumatology Renal medicine Cardiology Care of the Elderly Respiratory Medicine Gastrointestinal medicine General Surgery The Core Clinical Cases series is absolutely invaluable in the run up to clinical, written or OSCE examinations, and an essential revision aid for all undergraduate medical students at various stages in their clinical training. Steve Bain MA MD FRCP Professor of Medicine (Diabetes), University of Wales, Swansea & Honorary Consultant Physician, Swansea NHS Trust, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK Janesh K. Gupta MSc MD FRCOG Clinical Senior Lecturer & Honorary Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham Women's Hospital, UK