- Email: [email protected]
Brain Edema XI
163
Book re6iews
Notwithstanding some critical notes the authors are to be commended for producing a well-written comprehensive overview of modern epilepsy diagnosis and management at a reasonable price. H. Meinardi Department of Physiology, Leiden Uni6ersity, PO Box 9604, 2300 Leiden, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected]
this volume is of interest to those involved in brain injury research and is a useful addition to libraries of neurosurgical departments. G.J. Bouma, D.A. Bosch Department of Neurosurgery, Academic Medical Center, Meiburgdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands PII: S 0 3 0 3 - 8 4 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 0 2 - 1
PII: S 0 3 0 3 - 8 4 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 1 9 8 - 6
Brain Edema XI Edited by A.D. Mendelow et al., Springer-Verlag, Vienna, 1999. ISBN 3-211-83561-X This book represents the Proceedings of the 11th International Brain Edema Symposium, held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, in 1999. The book starts with a historical review of the previous Brain Edema meetings by their ‘founding fathers’ Klatzo and Marmarou. These meetings are held since 1965 and provide a forum for basic and clinical scientists to exchange ideas and results of recent research both from the laboratory and the clinical perspective. Consequently, the topics of the over 150 contributions range from molecular biology to randomized controlled trials. Inherent to this type of books is the wide variety in subject matter and quality of the different papers, which makes it difficult for the average reader to sort out the important messages. The editors have attempted to deal with this problem by arranging the articles in different sections, each one beginning with a summary and review by its editor of the important highlights so as to provide a quick and balanced overview of each topic. This certainly has improved the readability of the book. There are sections on imaging, molecular and cellular mechanisms, experimental models, pharmacology, head injury and monitoring, stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, hypothermia and finally, hydrocephalus. The editors state that perhaps the most important highlight of the symposium was the demonstration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques allowing for the in vivo detection and quantification of the nature of brain edema experimentally and clinically. In addition, it is reassuring to learn that the original classification of cytotoxic and vasogenic edema apparently still holds out. Brain edema is not just an epiphenomenon, but an important pathophysiological event that plays an important role in function, metabolism and blood flow regulation in relations to brain damage. In conclusion,
Neuronal Environment: the Brain Homeostasis in Health and Disease W. Waltz, Humana Press, ISBN 0-89603-882-3, $145.00 This book is a timely collection of reviews of fundamental processes in the compartments and chemical components of the cerebral micro-environments. Although mainly intended for the basic neuroscientist, its contents prove rewarding reading for the neuroclinician for a few simple reasons. The brain’s extracellular space (too often neglecting in due attention) and its ion concentrations deeply affect ion-channel characteristics, potentially harbouring explanations for such diseases as cerebral oedema, ‘canalopathies’, epilepsy and migraine. The numerically most prominent category of neuronal elements—the glial cells— affect in their relation with the neurons, the synaptic transmission, ion transport, neuronal firing dysregulation and (de-)myelination. The limited storage capacity of glucose, the exclusive fuel for cerebral energy consumption, has, when deranged in circumstances of anoxia or anaemia, vital consequences in such conditions as ischaemia. One could go on. Accordingly, a logical series of reviews is provided by this book’s text: dependence of neuronal firing on abovementioned factors; energy requirements; extracellular space; transmitter–receptor derangements, astrocyte homeostasis, glutamate-mediated neuronoglial interchange, axonal conduction related with blood flow and myelin condition; the CSF/intercellular space system; the blood–brain barrier; the circumventricular organs, and processes underlying immunopathologies. The book, over 400 pages of well-referenced text, is printed on good quality paper and reasonably priced. G.W. Bruyn Depatment of Neurology, Uni6ersity Hospital Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands PII: S 0 3 0 3 - 8 4 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 1 0 - 0
Book re6iews
Notwithstanding some critical notes the authors are to be commended for producing a well-written comprehensive overview of modern epilepsy diagnosis and management at a reasonable price. H. Meinardi Department of Physiology, Leiden Uni6ersity, PO Box 9604, 2300 Leiden, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected]
this volume is of interest to those involved in brain injury research and is a useful addition to libraries of neurosurgical departments. G.J. Bouma, D.A. Bosch Department of Neurosurgery, Academic Medical Center, Meiburgdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands PII: S 0 3 0 3 - 8 4 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 0 2 - 1
PII: S 0 3 0 3 - 8 4 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 1 9 8 - 6
Brain Edema XI Edited by A.D. Mendelow et al., Springer-Verlag, Vienna, 1999. ISBN 3-211-83561-X This book represents the Proceedings of the 11th International Brain Edema Symposium, held in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, in 1999. The book starts with a historical review of the previous Brain Edema meetings by their ‘founding fathers’ Klatzo and Marmarou. These meetings are held since 1965 and provide a forum for basic and clinical scientists to exchange ideas and results of recent research both from the laboratory and the clinical perspective. Consequently, the topics of the over 150 contributions range from molecular biology to randomized controlled trials. Inherent to this type of books is the wide variety in subject matter and quality of the different papers, which makes it difficult for the average reader to sort out the important messages. The editors have attempted to deal with this problem by arranging the articles in different sections, each one beginning with a summary and review by its editor of the important highlights so as to provide a quick and balanced overview of each topic. This certainly has improved the readability of the book. There are sections on imaging, molecular and cellular mechanisms, experimental models, pharmacology, head injury and monitoring, stroke and cerebral hemorrhage, hypothermia and finally, hydrocephalus. The editors state that perhaps the most important highlight of the symposium was the demonstration of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques allowing for the in vivo detection and quantification of the nature of brain edema experimentally and clinically. In addition, it is reassuring to learn that the original classification of cytotoxic and vasogenic edema apparently still holds out. Brain edema is not just an epiphenomenon, but an important pathophysiological event that plays an important role in function, metabolism and blood flow regulation in relations to brain damage. In conclusion,
Neuronal Environment: the Brain Homeostasis in Health and Disease W. Waltz, Humana Press, ISBN 0-89603-882-3, $145.00 This book is a timely collection of reviews of fundamental processes in the compartments and chemical components of the cerebral micro-environments. Although mainly intended for the basic neuroscientist, its contents prove rewarding reading for the neuroclinician for a few simple reasons. The brain’s extracellular space (too often neglecting in due attention) and its ion concentrations deeply affect ion-channel characteristics, potentially harbouring explanations for such diseases as cerebral oedema, ‘canalopathies’, epilepsy and migraine. The numerically most prominent category of neuronal elements—the glial cells— affect in their relation with the neurons, the synaptic transmission, ion transport, neuronal firing dysregulation and (de-)myelination. The limited storage capacity of glucose, the exclusive fuel for cerebral energy consumption, has, when deranged in circumstances of anoxia or anaemia, vital consequences in such conditions as ischaemia. One could go on. Accordingly, a logical series of reviews is provided by this book’s text: dependence of neuronal firing on abovementioned factors; energy requirements; extracellular space; transmitter–receptor derangements, astrocyte homeostasis, glutamate-mediated neuronoglial interchange, axonal conduction related with blood flow and myelin condition; the CSF/intercellular space system; the blood–brain barrier; the circumventricular organs, and processes underlying immunopathologies. The book, over 400 pages of well-referenced text, is printed on good quality paper and reasonably priced. G.W. Bruyn Depatment of Neurology, Uni6ersity Hospital Leiden, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands PII: S 0 3 0 3 - 8 4 6 7 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 1 0 - 0