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Autonomic and enteric ganglia: Transmission and its pharmacology
BOOK REVIEWS
August 1987
for these grand volumes. Clinicians who employ them to support their bridging responsibilities can do no better. HARVEY J. DWORKEN, M.D
Cleveland.
Ohio
A CoJour Atlas of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. By K.F.R. Schiller, R. Cockel, and R.H. Hunt. 240 pp., $110.00. Chapman and Hall, Ltd., London, 1986. ISBN 04122-559-01.
The authors of CoJour Atlas of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have made an outstanding contribution to the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. It is the most well-done endoscopic atlas that I have ever seen. The book begins with a (photographic) study of the pharynx, continues through the gastrointestinal tract to the colon, and ends with a chapter on endoscopic photography. In just 240 pages, the authors cover the gamut of gastrointestinal endoscopy: esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and operative choledochoscopy. The authors also demonstrate the normal endoscopic appearance of each area of the gastrointestinal tract so that the reader better appreciates the common and not so common pathologic conditions that are shown in the endoscopic photographs. They supplement excellent endoscopic photos with occasional line drawings and many fine radiographs. The overall quality of the endoscopic photos, with rare exception, is excellent. The legends accompanying these photos are concise and well written. This text will be a valuable addition to the library of all endoscopic units, as well as to the personal library of all those with an interest in gastrointestinal disease. This book is well worth the price of $110.00. JAN M. NOVAK, M.D. Buffalo, ru’ew York
Liver Pathology. Volume 8 in the Contemporary Issues in Surgical Pathology series. Edited by R. L. Peters and J. R. Craig. 390 pp. $65.00. Churchill Livingstone, Inc., New York, New York, 1986. The editing of this volume was begun by the late Dr. Robert Peters and completed by Dr. John Craig. Seventeen additional authors with distinguished reputations contributed. Dr. Peters himself wrote the chapters on viral inflammatory diseases and neoplastic diseases, and they are every bit as excellent as one would have expected from this fine pathologist. He also wrote an illuminating introduction that gives an overview on how to approach the interpretation of a liver biopsy and reveals the secret of how a pathologist can come to be regarded as a consultant rather than a slide-reading technician. The chapters prepared by other contributors are comprehensive and their contents are up to date. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is covered, and you can also find amiodorone toxicity. Chapters are devoted to all the standard topics. Transplant rejection is not covered. This omission is more than compensated for by a useful chapter
403
on conditions resembling alcoholic liver disease. The author of this chapter and several other authors make it a point to include a section on “Prevalence and Experience” in which they let the reader know how many cases of a particular entity they themselves have seen and have used to enlighten their reading of the literature-a worthy innovation. This is a handsome volume, profusely illustrated. The quality of the reproductions is so high that one can almost forget they are not in color. This volume is a fine memorial to Dr. Peters and a tribute to Dr. Craig, who ensured its completion. COLIN E. ATTERBURY, M.D. New Haven, Connecticut
Autonomic and Enteric Ganglia: Transmission and Its Pharmacology. Edited by A. G. Karczmar, H. Koketsu, and S. Nishi. 514 pp., $75.00. Plenum Press, New York, New York, 1986. ISBN O-306-42039-2. This multi-authored book is an exhaustive survey dealing with transmission in autonomic and enteric ganglia. The book is organized under five main sections: (a) history and anatomic bases of ganglionic and enteric transmision; (b) transmission and modulation in sympathetic ganglia and their neuropharmacology; (c) parasympathetic and enteric ganglia and their neuropharmacology; (d) spinal and reflex activities of the ganglia; and (e) clinical and central nervous system-related effects of ganglionic transmission. Each section is further divided into a number of chapters. The section on transmission and modulation in sympathetic ganglia and their neuropharmacology is the longest one, consisting of 11 chapters and 263 pages. In the last chapter, Dr. Karczmar relates the basic knowledge and understanding of autonomic and enteric ganglia with clinical facts, details on ganglionic malfunction and disease, and the clinical uses of ganglionic agents. The following diseases are briefly discussed: familial dysautonomia; congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung’s disease); ocular disorders; metabolic, idiopathic, and postinfectious long-course neuropathies; acute autonomic neuropathy; old-age dysautonomia; drug-induced neuropathies; hypertension; and mental disease and the autonomic nervous system. The general uses of ganglionic drugs and their use in essential or chronic hypertension are briefly discussed. The book nicely describes why autonomic and enteric ganglia deserve the second name “little brains” and, in many ways, serve as convenient models for study of the brain. Overall, this book is an excellent compendium of a vast array of studies concerning the physiology and pharmacology of autonomic and enteric ganglia. It covers most of the recent concepts in the field of autonomic physiology and pharmacology. However, because this is an explosive field and keeping up with it is difficult if not impossible, some newer neuropeptides were not included in the book; e.g., calcitonin gene-related peptide and galanin. This book is not intended for those having a passing
404
BOOK REVIEWS
interest in neurophysiology because the detailed discussions of research studies throughout the text make it less readable for those not having extensive background in the field. The particular value of this book will be to investigators and graduate students dealing with research in these areas. The exhaustive use of references throughout
GASTROENTEROLOGYVol. 93, No. 2
the text makes it a great resource for citations. As a matter of fact, I picked up a number of references concerning my own research investigation. SATISH RATTAN, D.V.M.
Boston, Massachusetts
August 1987
for these grand volumes. Clinicians who employ them to support their bridging responsibilities can do no better. HARVEY J. DWORKEN, M.D
Cleveland.
Ohio
A CoJour Atlas of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. By K.F.R. Schiller, R. Cockel, and R.H. Hunt. 240 pp., $110.00. Chapman and Hall, Ltd., London, 1986. ISBN 04122-559-01.
The authors of CoJour Atlas of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have made an outstanding contribution to the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. It is the most well-done endoscopic atlas that I have ever seen. The book begins with a (photographic) study of the pharynx, continues through the gastrointestinal tract to the colon, and ends with a chapter on endoscopic photography. In just 240 pages, the authors cover the gamut of gastrointestinal endoscopy: esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and operative choledochoscopy. The authors also demonstrate the normal endoscopic appearance of each area of the gastrointestinal tract so that the reader better appreciates the common and not so common pathologic conditions that are shown in the endoscopic photographs. They supplement excellent endoscopic photos with occasional line drawings and many fine radiographs. The overall quality of the endoscopic photos, with rare exception, is excellent. The legends accompanying these photos are concise and well written. This text will be a valuable addition to the library of all endoscopic units, as well as to the personal library of all those with an interest in gastrointestinal disease. This book is well worth the price of $110.00. JAN M. NOVAK, M.D. Buffalo, ru’ew York
Liver Pathology. Volume 8 in the Contemporary Issues in Surgical Pathology series. Edited by R. L. Peters and J. R. Craig. 390 pp. $65.00. Churchill Livingstone, Inc., New York, New York, 1986. The editing of this volume was begun by the late Dr. Robert Peters and completed by Dr. John Craig. Seventeen additional authors with distinguished reputations contributed. Dr. Peters himself wrote the chapters on viral inflammatory diseases and neoplastic diseases, and they are every bit as excellent as one would have expected from this fine pathologist. He also wrote an illuminating introduction that gives an overview on how to approach the interpretation of a liver biopsy and reveals the secret of how a pathologist can come to be regarded as a consultant rather than a slide-reading technician. The chapters prepared by other contributors are comprehensive and their contents are up to date. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is covered, and you can also find amiodorone toxicity. Chapters are devoted to all the standard topics. Transplant rejection is not covered. This omission is more than compensated for by a useful chapter
403
on conditions resembling alcoholic liver disease. The author of this chapter and several other authors make it a point to include a section on “Prevalence and Experience” in which they let the reader know how many cases of a particular entity they themselves have seen and have used to enlighten their reading of the literature-a worthy innovation. This is a handsome volume, profusely illustrated. The quality of the reproductions is so high that one can almost forget they are not in color. This volume is a fine memorial to Dr. Peters and a tribute to Dr. Craig, who ensured its completion. COLIN E. ATTERBURY, M.D. New Haven, Connecticut
Autonomic and Enteric Ganglia: Transmission and Its Pharmacology. Edited by A. G. Karczmar, H. Koketsu, and S. Nishi. 514 pp., $75.00. Plenum Press, New York, New York, 1986. ISBN O-306-42039-2. This multi-authored book is an exhaustive survey dealing with transmission in autonomic and enteric ganglia. The book is organized under five main sections: (a) history and anatomic bases of ganglionic and enteric transmision; (b) transmission and modulation in sympathetic ganglia and their neuropharmacology; (c) parasympathetic and enteric ganglia and their neuropharmacology; (d) spinal and reflex activities of the ganglia; and (e) clinical and central nervous system-related effects of ganglionic transmission. Each section is further divided into a number of chapters. The section on transmission and modulation in sympathetic ganglia and their neuropharmacology is the longest one, consisting of 11 chapters and 263 pages. In the last chapter, Dr. Karczmar relates the basic knowledge and understanding of autonomic and enteric ganglia with clinical facts, details on ganglionic malfunction and disease, and the clinical uses of ganglionic agents. The following diseases are briefly discussed: familial dysautonomia; congenital megacolon (Hirschsprung’s disease); ocular disorders; metabolic, idiopathic, and postinfectious long-course neuropathies; acute autonomic neuropathy; old-age dysautonomia; drug-induced neuropathies; hypertension; and mental disease and the autonomic nervous system. The general uses of ganglionic drugs and their use in essential or chronic hypertension are briefly discussed. The book nicely describes why autonomic and enteric ganglia deserve the second name “little brains” and, in many ways, serve as convenient models for study of the brain. Overall, this book is an excellent compendium of a vast array of studies concerning the physiology and pharmacology of autonomic and enteric ganglia. It covers most of the recent concepts in the field of autonomic physiology and pharmacology. However, because this is an explosive field and keeping up with it is difficult if not impossible, some newer neuropeptides were not included in the book; e.g., calcitonin gene-related peptide and galanin. This book is not intended for those having a passing
404
BOOK REVIEWS
interest in neurophysiology because the detailed discussions of research studies throughout the text make it less readable for those not having extensive background in the field. The particular value of this book will be to investigators and graduate students dealing with research in these areas. The exhaustive use of references throughout
GASTROENTEROLOGYVol. 93, No. 2
the text makes it a great resource for citations. As a matter of fact, I picked up a number of references concerning my own research investigation. SATISH RATTAN, D.V.M.
Boston, Massachusetts