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Clinical neurophysiology: EMG, nerve conduction and evoked potentials
JOURNAL
OF THE
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
EISEVIER
Journal of the Neurological Sciences 132 (1995193
Book review Immunocytochemical Methods and Protocols, by Lorette C. Javois (editor), 1994, Humana Press Inc., 452 pages, US $64.50, ISBN 0-89603-285-X Immunocytochemical Methods is a collection of laboratory methods which is useful for both the experienced scientist as well as the beginner in any laboratory setting. The book is divided into several sections, and covers a wide range of topics which cover a range from antibody preparation to fluorescence activated all sorting. One of the particularly useful aspects of this book is that the introductory chapter under each section clearly discusses an overview of the theoretical background of the method to be discussed. In the section of Light Microscopy there is a very useful overview of fluorophores which discusses practical methods and tips to enhance or maximize fluorescence with any of the commonly employed fluorophores. This is followed by a variety very carefully spelled out methods involving the use of detection systems. The book provided a theoretical background on which the methods are developed, followed by a step by step guide to method application. There are detailed methods for a variety of techniques including assays for phagocytosis, chemoattractant binding and oxidative metabolism. As such, this work serves as a useful laboratory reference and is quite useful for both the experienced scientist as well as graduate students and post-doctoral fellows alike. Of additional utility is that protocols include trouble shooting tips as well as alternative procedures, and clear explanations as to why certain steps are necessary. They also provide a comprehensive list of reagents as well as suppliers. The methods delineated in this book can be applied to a wide variety of experimental systems and demonstrate their usefulness in similar systems. It is an excellent laboratory manual reference book for immunocytochemical methods in today’s basic sciences. Douglas R. Jeffery, MD, PhD Department of Neurology BGSM Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Clinical Neurophysiology: EMG, Nerve Conduction and Evoked Potentials, J.W. Osselton (editor-in-chief), C.D. Binnie, R. Cooper, C.J. Fowler, F. Maugui&re and P.F. Prior (editors), 1994, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 572 pages, US $125.00, ISBN o-7506-1183-9 This is the first of 2 volumes encompassing clinical neurophysiology. This includes EMG, nerve conduction, and evoked potentials. The contributors have written an excellent overview covering most aspects of electrophysiology, including several newer topics (i.e., quantitative sensory testing, assessment of autonomic function, and intraoperative evoked potential monitoring). The writing is concise, well-organized, accompa-
0022-510X/95/$09.50 0 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved SSDI 0022-510X(95)00157-3
nied by easy-to-follow illustrations and tables, and is referenced up to 1992. The book is divided into 3 parts, entitled “Origins and Techniques,” “Electromyography and Nerve Conduction,” and “Evoked Potentials.” Part I is a brief account of the fundamentals and techniques used in neurophysiological testing. This includes cellular anatomy, physiology, and instrumentation. While this section is brief (42 pages), it is probably adequate for most clinicians. Part II starts with a section on anatomy and changes in peripheral nervous system in response to disease states. This is followed by a section on routine nerve conduction studies and EMG sampling. Both normal and abnormal findings are discussed. A more thorough discussion of single fiber technique and is discussed at the end of the second section. The coverage of stimulating and recording of individual nerves and muscles is basics only. For a text of this size, coverage should have been more extensive. However, the subsection on guidelines to designing a study and the criteria needed to reach electrodiagnosis is an invaluable resource for electromyographers of any level of experience. It is strongly recommended for beginners who are trying to get beyond a “cookbook” approach to electromyography and nerve conduction studies. The latter parts of this section include short reviews on assessment of autonomic function evaluation, quantitative sensory testing, EMG and nerve conduction study in pelvic floor disorders, and single fiber EMG. Part III covers evoked potentials. Basic principles, methods, and guidelines for stimulation and recording of the various modalities of evoked potentials are covered in detail. This is followed by sections discussing normal and abnormal findings by modality and their correlation with neurologic disease. One drawback in a book of this length, I believe, lies in the excessive amount of text devoted to evoked potentials in general and also to lesser utilized techniques for neurologists, including electroretinography and electrocochleography. Possibly, more emphasis should have been placed on intraoperative use of evoked potentials, magnetic stimulation, or a more thorough discussion of some electromyography topics that are referenced to a yet-to-be-published Volume II. The field of similar books includes well-established texts by Aminoff, Brown and Bolton, Chiappa, Daly and Pedley, Kimura, Oh, and Neidermeyer. With the exception of one or two of these references, the volume presently being reviewed is eminently more readable, and better organized. It is an excellent choice for one looking for a complete review of nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and evoked potentials in one volume. This will probably be of interest to residents, electrophysiology fellows, and those clinicians studying for clinical neurophysiology boards. However, in matters of technique, recordings, and physiologic correlations to abnormal findings found on studies, I often found myself referring back to the above-mentioned references as a first choice.
John A. Hamjian, MD Department of Neurology Bowman Gray School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1078, USA
OF THE
NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES
EISEVIER
Journal of the Neurological Sciences 132 (1995193
Book review Immunocytochemical Methods and Protocols, by Lorette C. Javois (editor), 1994, Humana Press Inc., 452 pages, US $64.50, ISBN 0-89603-285-X Immunocytochemical Methods is a collection of laboratory methods which is useful for both the experienced scientist as well as the beginner in any laboratory setting. The book is divided into several sections, and covers a wide range of topics which cover a range from antibody preparation to fluorescence activated all sorting. One of the particularly useful aspects of this book is that the introductory chapter under each section clearly discusses an overview of the theoretical background of the method to be discussed. In the section of Light Microscopy there is a very useful overview of fluorophores which discusses practical methods and tips to enhance or maximize fluorescence with any of the commonly employed fluorophores. This is followed by a variety very carefully spelled out methods involving the use of detection systems. The book provided a theoretical background on which the methods are developed, followed by a step by step guide to method application. There are detailed methods for a variety of techniques including assays for phagocytosis, chemoattractant binding and oxidative metabolism. As such, this work serves as a useful laboratory reference and is quite useful for both the experienced scientist as well as graduate students and post-doctoral fellows alike. Of additional utility is that protocols include trouble shooting tips as well as alternative procedures, and clear explanations as to why certain steps are necessary. They also provide a comprehensive list of reagents as well as suppliers. The methods delineated in this book can be applied to a wide variety of experimental systems and demonstrate their usefulness in similar systems. It is an excellent laboratory manual reference book for immunocytochemical methods in today’s basic sciences. Douglas R. Jeffery, MD, PhD Department of Neurology BGSM Medical Center Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
Clinical Neurophysiology: EMG, Nerve Conduction and Evoked Potentials, J.W. Osselton (editor-in-chief), C.D. Binnie, R. Cooper, C.J. Fowler, F. Maugui&re and P.F. Prior (editors), 1994, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 572 pages, US $125.00, ISBN o-7506-1183-9 This is the first of 2 volumes encompassing clinical neurophysiology. This includes EMG, nerve conduction, and evoked potentials. The contributors have written an excellent overview covering most aspects of electrophysiology, including several newer topics (i.e., quantitative sensory testing, assessment of autonomic function, and intraoperative evoked potential monitoring). The writing is concise, well-organized, accompa-
0022-510X/95/$09.50 0 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved SSDI 0022-510X(95)00157-3
nied by easy-to-follow illustrations and tables, and is referenced up to 1992. The book is divided into 3 parts, entitled “Origins and Techniques,” “Electromyography and Nerve Conduction,” and “Evoked Potentials.” Part I is a brief account of the fundamentals and techniques used in neurophysiological testing. This includes cellular anatomy, physiology, and instrumentation. While this section is brief (42 pages), it is probably adequate for most clinicians. Part II starts with a section on anatomy and changes in peripheral nervous system in response to disease states. This is followed by a section on routine nerve conduction studies and EMG sampling. Both normal and abnormal findings are discussed. A more thorough discussion of single fiber technique and is discussed at the end of the second section. The coverage of stimulating and recording of individual nerves and muscles is basics only. For a text of this size, coverage should have been more extensive. However, the subsection on guidelines to designing a study and the criteria needed to reach electrodiagnosis is an invaluable resource for electromyographers of any level of experience. It is strongly recommended for beginners who are trying to get beyond a “cookbook” approach to electromyography and nerve conduction studies. The latter parts of this section include short reviews on assessment of autonomic function evaluation, quantitative sensory testing, EMG and nerve conduction study in pelvic floor disorders, and single fiber EMG. Part III covers evoked potentials. Basic principles, methods, and guidelines for stimulation and recording of the various modalities of evoked potentials are covered in detail. This is followed by sections discussing normal and abnormal findings by modality and their correlation with neurologic disease. One drawback in a book of this length, I believe, lies in the excessive amount of text devoted to evoked potentials in general and also to lesser utilized techniques for neurologists, including electroretinography and electrocochleography. Possibly, more emphasis should have been placed on intraoperative use of evoked potentials, magnetic stimulation, or a more thorough discussion of some electromyography topics that are referenced to a yet-to-be-published Volume II. The field of similar books includes well-established texts by Aminoff, Brown and Bolton, Chiappa, Daly and Pedley, Kimura, Oh, and Neidermeyer. With the exception of one or two of these references, the volume presently being reviewed is eminently more readable, and better organized. It is an excellent choice for one looking for a complete review of nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and evoked potentials in one volume. This will probably be of interest to residents, electrophysiology fellows, and those clinicians studying for clinical neurophysiology boards. However, in matters of technique, recordings, and physiologic correlations to abnormal findings found on studies, I often found myself referring back to the above-mentioned references as a first choice.
John A. Hamjian, MD Department of Neurology Bowman Gray School of Medicine Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1078, USA