- Email: [email protected]
Brain vision
In Context
Books Emerging views of NeuroAIDS
Handbook of Clinical Neurology: HIV/AIDS and the Nervous System Edited by Peter Portegies and Joseph Berger. Elsevier, 2007. Pp 363. $234.00, ISBN 978 0 444 52010 4
More than 40 million people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), with an estimated death toll of over 3·5 million. Despite preventive efforts, the epidemic continues to spread, and more than 20% of all individuals infected with HIV will develop neurological complications. HIV/AIDS and the Nervous System comprehensively discusses the neurological and psychiatric manifestations of HIV. Many of the leading international researchers and clinicians in the various disciplines of neuroAIDS have contributed to this logical and concisely organised text. The authors should be complemented on the overall layout and style. The book is divided into 19 chapters that deal with the neuroepidemiology of HIV/AIDS, the neurological complications (including neurocognitive, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and infections), and the possible treatment paradigms that are currently available. Of note, the chapter that describes the molecular virology of HIV—how the virus might enter the brain, and where and why it might
become resident in the nervous system— provides an excellent summary of the current state of basic-science research on neuroAIDS. The chapter that focuses on neuropsychological testing and possible interpretation of results is extremely useful for both clinicians and neuropsychologists. The final chapter, which deals with possible neuropharmacology, provides an indepth assessment of current treatment paradigms and highlights possible adjunctive therapies. Each of the chapters has black and white figures and diagrams, which are supplemented by five pages of full-colour plates at the end of the book. The figures and tables throughout the book help to present concepts that are often complicated in a clear and easy-to-understand way. An extensive reference list, usually ending in 2005, supplements each chapter and provides ample opportunity for additional reading. The book is up to date and serves as a condensed companion to the definitive textbook on this subject, Neurology of AIDS by Gendelman, Grant, Everall, Lipton, and Swindells. In fact, many of
the same authors have written chapters for both books. Future editions of this book might benefit from a chapter on the neurological and psychiatric complications of HIV in children and adolescents. There is some redundancy throughout the book; in particular, the section on neuroimaging could be integrated into other chapters on neuroinfections. A chapter that details the various neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and single-photon emission computed tomography, might be helpful. This outstanding but expensive book provides a balanced account of current knowledge in the clinical and basicscience aspects of the neuropsychiatric manifestations of HIV infection. HIV/AIDS and the Nervous System is essential for students, residents, researchers, and clinicians who care for patients with HIV.
Beau Ances [email protected]
Brain vision Brain Imaging: Direct Diagnosis in Radiology Klaus Sartor, Stafen Haehnel, and Brodo Kress. Thieme Medical Publishing, 2008. Pp 307. $59.95. ISBN 978-1588905703
580
Direct diagnosis in radiology: brain imaging, authored by Sartor, Haehnel, and Kress, who are the leading authorities in neuroradiology, is remarkable by its conciseness and clarity. In 300 pages, the authors cover the entire field of neuroradiology, with their focus particularly on magnetic resonance neuroimaging. This handbook consists of 13 chapters, which all have a similar format, and is organised by topic, with reviews of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, imaging signs, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, course and prognosis, and therapeutic options. Imaging findings are discussed and
include the results of CT, MRI, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), with an emphasis on the modality of choice. Tips and pitfalls, as well as selected references, conclude each chapter, and an exhaustive index is present at the end of the book. The scope of this atlas is broad, and it covers the major topics in neuroradiology, which are presented in an accessible and didactic form. The use of icons, which mainly relates to MRI, is well chosen, of outstanding quality, and nicely shows the selected cases; the formatting enables quick recognition of the pathological process, which is highlighted by arrows. Later editions of this handbook
could include functional imaging and MR spectroscopy, which can be a great aid to differential diagnoses. This book, like others from the DxDirect series, will be of great interest to general radiologists and clinicians. I also recommend it as essential reading and as a handbook from which to train neuroradiologists. Students will regard it as a valuable resource that will enable them to review the key elements of diagnosis in the field of brain imaging and it will prove useful as a board examination revision text.
Jean Tamraz [email protected]
http://neurology.thelancet.com Vol 7 July 2008
Books Emerging views of NeuroAIDS
Handbook of Clinical Neurology: HIV/AIDS and the Nervous System Edited by Peter Portegies and Joseph Berger. Elsevier, 2007. Pp 363. $234.00, ISBN 978 0 444 52010 4
More than 40 million people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), with an estimated death toll of over 3·5 million. Despite preventive efforts, the epidemic continues to spread, and more than 20% of all individuals infected with HIV will develop neurological complications. HIV/AIDS and the Nervous System comprehensively discusses the neurological and psychiatric manifestations of HIV. Many of the leading international researchers and clinicians in the various disciplines of neuroAIDS have contributed to this logical and concisely organised text. The authors should be complemented on the overall layout and style. The book is divided into 19 chapters that deal with the neuroepidemiology of HIV/AIDS, the neurological complications (including neurocognitive, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and infections), and the possible treatment paradigms that are currently available. Of note, the chapter that describes the molecular virology of HIV—how the virus might enter the brain, and where and why it might
become resident in the nervous system— provides an excellent summary of the current state of basic-science research on neuroAIDS. The chapter that focuses on neuropsychological testing and possible interpretation of results is extremely useful for both clinicians and neuropsychologists. The final chapter, which deals with possible neuropharmacology, provides an indepth assessment of current treatment paradigms and highlights possible adjunctive therapies. Each of the chapters has black and white figures and diagrams, which are supplemented by five pages of full-colour plates at the end of the book. The figures and tables throughout the book help to present concepts that are often complicated in a clear and easy-to-understand way. An extensive reference list, usually ending in 2005, supplements each chapter and provides ample opportunity for additional reading. The book is up to date and serves as a condensed companion to the definitive textbook on this subject, Neurology of AIDS by Gendelman, Grant, Everall, Lipton, and Swindells. In fact, many of
the same authors have written chapters for both books. Future editions of this book might benefit from a chapter on the neurological and psychiatric complications of HIV in children and adolescents. There is some redundancy throughout the book; in particular, the section on neuroimaging could be integrated into other chapters on neuroinfections. A chapter that details the various neuroimaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy, functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, and single-photon emission computed tomography, might be helpful. This outstanding but expensive book provides a balanced account of current knowledge in the clinical and basicscience aspects of the neuropsychiatric manifestations of HIV infection. HIV/AIDS and the Nervous System is essential for students, residents, researchers, and clinicians who care for patients with HIV.
Beau Ances [email protected]
Brain vision Brain Imaging: Direct Diagnosis in Radiology Klaus Sartor, Stafen Haehnel, and Brodo Kress. Thieme Medical Publishing, 2008. Pp 307. $59.95. ISBN 978-1588905703
580
Direct diagnosis in radiology: brain imaging, authored by Sartor, Haehnel, and Kress, who are the leading authorities in neuroradiology, is remarkable by its conciseness and clarity. In 300 pages, the authors cover the entire field of neuroradiology, with their focus particularly on magnetic resonance neuroimaging. This handbook consists of 13 chapters, which all have a similar format, and is organised by topic, with reviews of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, imaging signs, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, course and prognosis, and therapeutic options. Imaging findings are discussed and
include the results of CT, MRI, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA), with an emphasis on the modality of choice. Tips and pitfalls, as well as selected references, conclude each chapter, and an exhaustive index is present at the end of the book. The scope of this atlas is broad, and it covers the major topics in neuroradiology, which are presented in an accessible and didactic form. The use of icons, which mainly relates to MRI, is well chosen, of outstanding quality, and nicely shows the selected cases; the formatting enables quick recognition of the pathological process, which is highlighted by arrows. Later editions of this handbook
could include functional imaging and MR spectroscopy, which can be a great aid to differential diagnoses. This book, like others from the DxDirect series, will be of great interest to general radiologists and clinicians. I also recommend it as essential reading and as a handbook from which to train neuroradiologists. Students will regard it as a valuable resource that will enable them to review the key elements of diagnosis in the field of brain imaging and it will prove useful as a board examination revision text.
Jean Tamraz [email protected]
http://neurology.thelancet.com Vol 7 July 2008