- Email: [email protected]
Infections of the nervous system
234 .INS 142~B
JNS 1425B
Essentials' of Neural Det'elopment. by M.C. Brown. W.G. Hopkins and R.J. Keynes. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, MA, 176 pages. $14.95 paper. $49.50 hardback, ISBN 0-521-37698-X This short volume is a collaborative effort among three authors (M.C. Brown, W.G. Hopkins and R.J. Keynes) witln a long standing interest in neurodevelopment. It represents a revised edition of a book first published i~ 1984 as Decelopment of Nerve Cells and their ('otmeetions. Essentials provides a rapid-fire rewew of the current state of the field of neurodevclopmem, drawing from experimentation on a host of systems including the neuromuscular junction and the central and peripheral nervous system of vertebrates and invertebrates. The reference list is extensive for a w)lume of this size and contains references up to 98q. The book is divided into five sections, roughly corresponding to the traditional partitions of the developmental process: I 1) an introduction including a short outline of development and a section on techniques (one of the better parts of the book and includes current transgenic and rctrovirus techniques). (2) nerve cell genesis. (3) synaptogenesis, (4) cell death and synapse elimination, and (5) adult plasticity. An introductory paragraph m the book claims that il Is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, and as a source book h~r instructors. Most undergraduates will bc qaickly saturated by the large number of experiments and methodologies ntentioned in each section. Even graduate students with a background in neurobiotog3 will have difficulty, l gave m~ students the secnon on the genetic basis of cell identity in invertebrates tincludes a discussion of segmentation, and homeotic genest, and they were clearly ovcrwhchned by the discussion of 12 different gent products in 3 pages of text. Also distracting for students is the use of figures and figure legends that are only briefly discussed in the text. Thesc are often reprinted from original articles, and the accompanying legends make rcference to information that does not appear relevant to thc issues addressed in the text. This book will be most useful to the researcher that might warn a quick overview of an area outside his or her area of expertise, The large number of model systems described will also make this w)lume useful to researchers who needs background on experiments in species unrelated to the one they employ. In this regard, the authors should be recommended for the attention paid to invertebrate stud ies that are often slighted, despite the important insight that has been gained from these systems. &lso laudable is the authors- al tempt to bring an historical perspective to their writing (e.g. b~, reminding the reader that the first successful tissue culture experiments were done by R.G. tfarrison using nervous system tissue). The field of developmental neurobiology is notorious for ns ability to produce numerous well controlled studies, whose conclusions are seemingly contradictory, hr response to this. the authors make a valiant attempt to present several sides of given theory or hypothesis (e.g. on the importance of activity in synaptogenesis). Unfortunately, in a volume as short as this, the result is often a list ot names and experiments, instead of a coherent synthesis ot the available data. The only solution to this problem, is to decrease the number of studies presented land run the risk of being accused ot scientific prejudice), or write a much longer book. Until the authors decide what do to with the nexl edition, this one can se~'e as a quick reference source, that is bound to contain useful citations lot most researchers in the field, BRIAN M. DAVIS. Ph.D. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology University of Kentucky Medicul ('enter I,exington. KY 40536-1)1)84, U.S.A.
Noradrenergtc Neurons. by Marianne Fillenz. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. MA. 1990. 231 pages. £19.95 ISBN: 0-521-28780-4 This book is enjoyable and a well-written account m which a single author attempts to cover the wide field of noradrenergic ncuronat morphology, neurotransmrtter metabolism, adrenergic receptors and neuronal plasticity. Unlike the usual disjointed multi-authored texL this book presents a unified perspective on the development of research concerning CNS noradrenergic mechanisms. The disadvantage of a single author text lies in the impossibility of covering all aspects of current research in detail. In lrarticular, the recent cloning of the adrenoceptor subtypes is not discussed, but there are several recent reviews available for readers desiring more information on this particular topic. Additionally, the references in the text are no more current than early 1988. The author's excellent writing presents the progress of the field and serves as a good introduction to noradrenergic pharmacology and effectively conveys the excitement of research. The result is a concise book which is ideal fo~ students and researchers in search ot ,~ general guide and overview of noradrenergic neurons_
R()SEMARIE M. Boozt-. PtI.D. Department of Pharmacok)gy University ot Kentucky College of Medicine I,exington. KY 405364~1084 L1 S.A.
JNS 142915
Infections of the Nervous System By David Schlossberg, Editor, 396 pp., illustrated. New York. Springer-Verlag, 1991. $169.00. tSBN:0-387-97332-X Infections ot the nerwms system are a challenging and difficult part of a clinician's practice, This book. which is part of a ,series on clinical topics in infectious disease, is to be an excellent information source because it provides numerous differential diagnoses, di~usses individual infections in depth, advises the clinician of potential complications, and outlines both old and new methods ti}r treatment. To accx)mplish this. forty five authors have contributed their knowledge enabling it to provide a consensus of current thinking. Its objective is to provide a comprehensive review of central nepcous sbstem infections in one w~lume for easy reference and is meant nol only for neurologists and neurosurgeons but also for all individuals who might address infections of the nervous system. The volume begins with a comprehensive consideration of meningitis, including an excellent analysis of the diagnosis and therapy of acute bacterial meningitis, complications of bacterial meningitis, the aseptic meningitis syndrome, chronic meningitis, posttraumatic memngttis, infectkms of CNS shunts and noninfectious causes ol acute CNS inflammation. Then there is an extensive consideration ot diffuse and focal processes which affect the brain especially abscesses, viral encephalitis, l~)St infectious complications, and a timely took into prions as a cause for transmissible neurodegenerative diseases Also, cerebellar, spinal cord iuld peripheral nerve disotxlers arc reviewed. Included here is a discussion of spinal epidural abscess.
235 myelitis and peripheral ncr~'c disease caused by infection, toxins and
poslmfectious synctrornc~,. Other discussions delvc into tuhcrcuh~sis. fungal hlfcctiOllS, parasitic infestations, syphilis, l+ymc discasc and immunocompromiscd states. The hook finishes with an tip [o d~llc description o l di:ignoslic imaging and cwiJualion o f ("St" as thc~ rt.'lalu Io diagnosi', and tllallagclllL'lll. All in ul] Ilqs Icxtbook has trial1)strengths and i'ew fla~s, l la~ine
hcen ~,~,littt_'ll I\)r :ill spcc'ialtics of medicine, it does ilot require UXICIlSIVC knowledge of llt2uroailatOm} and neurology knowledge and is concist: cind undc'rslandabl,a, t[owcvur neurological specialists will nol lind it redundant or tlilc. Nulilt'lOUS illustrations hlcluding ('T. M R I ~llld diagramc arc included. l h c s c arc clear anti c'llt~ancc thc c~mtc'nl o f lhu corrcspondirlg IL'xl. Ncuropatllology is ollcn shoWll
with ntllllel-OUS picture's ol hoth nlicroscopic and gross tissue. Whcnc,
.INS 1427P,
Checkliste ]+i,urologi~che NoR['dlh', Gehlen,
G. Lausberg
by t t . W .
Dclank,
W.
a n d E. M[i/ler (eds.), 2 n d r e v i s e d
cdition, T h i e m c Vcrlag, Stuttgart, New, York, DM 44.00, ISBN 3-13-710302-9
1091,
The second cditMn o l tl~is handy pc,ckct-I~o~lk ,,izcd guide has hccn lhorot£ghly updated, partJcuhtrly with rcspucl to the suction tin -apoplcx),". The original C~ltCgOliCs. grcy-ccdoutcd scclion on cxami-
nation techniques, t'Jltlc-col(ItllCd SL'CIion~,on CatlSt', pathogencsis, SylllplOlllS, and (diflcrcnlial) diagnosis, and red co]otlled s¢ctiOllS Oil hHcnsive and surgical care I11klll~lg~_qllCI11, ]I~I\C hC~_'I1 retained. Thu hook ix a luirl> c~wnplclc compilation ol clinical options. The addition o l flow-charts in a ncx! cditMn ~,ould enhance its usufulI1U~";.
(;.W. l?,m:YN+M.I). M.D.
Dupl. of Ncuroh)gy
I)epartment o l Neurology Bo\,~mun Gray School of Medicine
Acadcnlic t lospital Luidcn Ix:idun+ i l l u Netherlands
,himcs M. l'\l
]o'-,.
JNS 1425B
Essentials' of Neural Det'elopment. by M.C. Brown. W.G. Hopkins and R.J. Keynes. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, MA, 176 pages. $14.95 paper. $49.50 hardback, ISBN 0-521-37698-X This short volume is a collaborative effort among three authors (M.C. Brown, W.G. Hopkins and R.J. Keynes) witln a long standing interest in neurodevelopment. It represents a revised edition of a book first published i~ 1984 as Decelopment of Nerve Cells and their ('otmeetions. Essentials provides a rapid-fire rewew of the current state of the field of neurodevclopmem, drawing from experimentation on a host of systems including the neuromuscular junction and the central and peripheral nervous system of vertebrates and invertebrates. The reference list is extensive for a w)lume of this size and contains references up to 98q. The book is divided into five sections, roughly corresponding to the traditional partitions of the developmental process: I 1) an introduction including a short outline of development and a section on techniques (one of the better parts of the book and includes current transgenic and rctrovirus techniques). (2) nerve cell genesis. (3) synaptogenesis, (4) cell death and synapse elimination, and (5) adult plasticity. An introductory paragraph m the book claims that il Is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, and as a source book h~r instructors. Most undergraduates will bc qaickly saturated by the large number of experiments and methodologies ntentioned in each section. Even graduate students with a background in neurobiotog3 will have difficulty, l gave m~ students the secnon on the genetic basis of cell identity in invertebrates tincludes a discussion of segmentation, and homeotic genest, and they were clearly ovcrwhchned by the discussion of 12 different gent products in 3 pages of text. Also distracting for students is the use of figures and figure legends that are only briefly discussed in the text. Thesc are often reprinted from original articles, and the accompanying legends make rcference to information that does not appear relevant to thc issues addressed in the text. This book will be most useful to the researcher that might warn a quick overview of an area outside his or her area of expertise, The large number of model systems described will also make this w)lume useful to researchers who needs background on experiments in species unrelated to the one they employ. In this regard, the authors should be recommended for the attention paid to invertebrate stud ies that are often slighted, despite the important insight that has been gained from these systems. &lso laudable is the authors- al tempt to bring an historical perspective to their writing (e.g. b~, reminding the reader that the first successful tissue culture experiments were done by R.G. tfarrison using nervous system tissue). The field of developmental neurobiology is notorious for ns ability to produce numerous well controlled studies, whose conclusions are seemingly contradictory, hr response to this. the authors make a valiant attempt to present several sides of given theory or hypothesis (e.g. on the importance of activity in synaptogenesis). Unfortunately, in a volume as short as this, the result is often a list ot names and experiments, instead of a coherent synthesis ot the available data. The only solution to this problem, is to decrease the number of studies presented land run the risk of being accused ot scientific prejudice), or write a much longer book. Until the authors decide what do to with the nexl edition, this one can se~'e as a quick reference source, that is bound to contain useful citations lot most researchers in the field, BRIAN M. DAVIS. Ph.D. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology University of Kentucky Medicul ('enter I,exington. KY 40536-1)1)84, U.S.A.
Noradrenergtc Neurons. by Marianne Fillenz. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. MA. 1990. 231 pages. £19.95 ISBN: 0-521-28780-4 This book is enjoyable and a well-written account m which a single author attempts to cover the wide field of noradrenergic ncuronat morphology, neurotransmrtter metabolism, adrenergic receptors and neuronal plasticity. Unlike the usual disjointed multi-authored texL this book presents a unified perspective on the development of research concerning CNS noradrenergic mechanisms. The disadvantage of a single author text lies in the impossibility of covering all aspects of current research in detail. In lrarticular, the recent cloning of the adrenoceptor subtypes is not discussed, but there are several recent reviews available for readers desiring more information on this particular topic. Additionally, the references in the text are no more current than early 1988. The author's excellent writing presents the progress of the field and serves as a good introduction to noradrenergic pharmacology and effectively conveys the excitement of research. The result is a concise book which is ideal fo~ students and researchers in search ot ,~ general guide and overview of noradrenergic neurons_
R()SEMARIE M. Boozt-. PtI.D. Department of Pharmacok)gy University ot Kentucky College of Medicine I,exington. KY 405364~1084 L1 S.A.
JNS 142915
Infections of the Nervous System By David Schlossberg, Editor, 396 pp., illustrated. New York. Springer-Verlag, 1991. $169.00. tSBN:0-387-97332-X Infections ot the nerwms system are a challenging and difficult part of a clinician's practice, This book. which is part of a ,series on clinical topics in infectious disease, is to be an excellent information source because it provides numerous differential diagnoses, di~usses individual infections in depth, advises the clinician of potential complications, and outlines both old and new methods ti}r treatment. To accx)mplish this. forty five authors have contributed their knowledge enabling it to provide a consensus of current thinking. Its objective is to provide a comprehensive review of central nepcous sbstem infections in one w~lume for easy reference and is meant nol only for neurologists and neurosurgeons but also for all individuals who might address infections of the nervous system. The volume begins with a comprehensive consideration of meningitis, including an excellent analysis of the diagnosis and therapy of acute bacterial meningitis, complications of bacterial meningitis, the aseptic meningitis syndrome, chronic meningitis, posttraumatic memngttis, infectkms of CNS shunts and noninfectious causes ol acute CNS inflammation. Then there is an extensive consideration ot diffuse and focal processes which affect the brain especially abscesses, viral encephalitis, l~)St infectious complications, and a timely took into prions as a cause for transmissible neurodegenerative diseases Also, cerebellar, spinal cord iuld peripheral nerve disotxlers arc reviewed. Included here is a discussion of spinal epidural abscess.
235 myelitis and peripheral ncr~'c disease caused by infection, toxins and
poslmfectious synctrornc~,. Other discussions delvc into tuhcrcuh~sis. fungal hlfcctiOllS, parasitic infestations, syphilis, l+ymc discasc and immunocompromiscd states. The hook finishes with an tip [o d~llc description o l di:ignoslic imaging and cwiJualion o f ("St" as thc~ rt.'lalu Io diagnosi', and tllallagclllL'lll. All in ul] Ilqs Icxtbook has trial1)strengths and i'ew fla~s, l la~ine
hcen ~,~,littt_'ll I\)r :ill spcc'ialtics of medicine, it does ilot require UXICIlSIVC knowledge of llt2uroailatOm} and neurology knowledge and is concist: cind undc'rslandabl,a, t[owcvur neurological specialists will nol lind it redundant or tlilc. Nulilt'lOUS illustrations hlcluding ('T. M R I ~llld diagramc arc included. l h c s c arc clear anti c'llt~ancc thc c~mtc'nl o f lhu corrcspondirlg IL'xl. Ncuropatllology is ollcn shoWll
with ntllllel-OUS picture's ol hoth nlicroscopic and gross tissue. Whcnc,
.INS 1427P,
Checkliste ]+i,urologi~che NoR['dlh', Gehlen,
G. Lausberg
by t t . W .
Dclank,
W.
a n d E. M[i/ler (eds.), 2 n d r e v i s e d
cdition, T h i e m c Vcrlag, Stuttgart, New, York, DM 44.00, ISBN 3-13-710302-9
1091,
The second cditMn o l tl~is handy pc,ckct-I~o~lk ,,izcd guide has hccn lhorot£ghly updated, partJcuhtrly with rcspucl to the suction tin -apoplcx),". The original C~ltCgOliCs. grcy-ccdoutcd scclion on cxami-
nation techniques, t'Jltlc-col(ItllCd SL'CIion~,on CatlSt', pathogencsis, SylllplOlllS, and (diflcrcnlial) diagnosis, and red co]otlled s¢ctiOllS Oil hHcnsive and surgical care I11klll~lg~_qllCI11, ]I~I\C hC~_'I1 retained. Thu hook ix a luirl> c~wnplclc compilation ol clinical options. The addition o l flow-charts in a ncx! cditMn ~,ould enhance its usufulI1U~";.
(;.W. l?,m:YN+M.I). M.D.
Dupl. of Ncuroh)gy
I)epartment o l Neurology Bo\,~mun Gray School of Medicine
Acadcnlic t lospital Luidcn Ix:idun+ i l l u Netherlands
,himcs M. l'\l
]o'-,.