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Genes V
Neuromu$c. Di~ord., Vol. 6. No. 5, pp. 395-396, 1996 Copyright ~ 1996 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights t~served Printed in Great Britain. 0960-8966/96 $15.00 + 0.00
Pergamon
BOOK REVIEWS
The Book Review Editor would be very happy to hear fi'om anyone who would be willing to review books of interest to readers of Neuromuscular D i s o r d e r s .
Genes V. Benjamin Lewin. Published 1994 by Oxford University Press. Oxford, New York ISBN 0-19-854287-9, 1272 pp. Price £65. As our knowledge of the genetic basis of neuromuscular disorders increases, questions arise as to how gene function might be modified in a particular disease. To answer such questions it is necessary to know what mechanisms and factors may be involved in modulating gene expression. Lewin's Genes is the reference book on the subject. It is a remarkable achievement for a single author. In the ten or so years since the first edition appeared it has increased considerably in size and in the detail presented. While this is not intended so much for those searching for information on a particular disease gene, though some information on this is provided, its main value lies in providing lucid explanations with clear illustrations of what genes are and how they function. Many topics will be familiar to readers of this journal, such as RFLP, repetitive DNA, polymerase chain reactions, and transgenic and "knock out" mice, the latter now being the most important, though technically difficult, means of producing animal analogues of human diseases when these do not occur naturally. Further topics include, for example, consideration of protein transport through nuclear pores (a subject now receiving much attention with regard to certain types of dystrophy) and the organisation of coding regions in human mitochondria as well as a host of other topics of relevance to anyone researching in the field. Though probably designed to be used as a textbook for a comprehensive course in molecular genetics, many will also find this an excellent work of reference. Alan Emery Budleigh Salterton, Devon 395
Pediatric Clinical Electromyography. H. Royden Jones Jr., Charles F. Bolton and C. Michael Harper Jr. Published 1995 by Lippincott-Raven. ISBN 0-7817-0288-7, 512 pp. Price £75.50. Most adult electromyographers' hearts sink when they are asked to undertake an investigation of a child or neonate. Not only is the technical challenge more severe and the investigation frequently fraught for child, parent and electromyographer, many neuro-. physiologists will feel anxious not to over-interpret the data they obtain. Clinical neurophysiologists whose practice contains any paediatric EMG will do well to read this excellent textbook which contains much useful advice on the conduct and interpretation of the investigation. Paediatric EMG is, like adult EMG, an extension of the clinical examination and the authors bring to their text a clinical maturity vital to maximise the information to be gleaned from EMG. Planning of the investigation and the need to consider other diagnostic possibilities in the light of test results is even more important in paediatric practice where cooperation may be limited and there may be only one chance to to do the study. The text is organised in chapters to deal with spinal muscular atrophies, plexus and root lesions, mononeuropathies, polyneuropathies, neuromuscular transmission disorders and myopathies. In addition, there is an excellent introductory chapter on the authors' approach to paediatric EMG, a chapter on evaluation of the floppy infant and a final chapter on EMG in the critical care unit. A most useful feature of the book is the inclusion of about 40 case reports, sprinkled throughout the chapters and enlivening a didactic text. The tables and illustrations are well presented.
Pergamon
BOOK REVIEWS
The Book Review Editor would be very happy to hear fi'om anyone who would be willing to review books of interest to readers of Neuromuscular D i s o r d e r s .
Genes V. Benjamin Lewin. Published 1994 by Oxford University Press. Oxford, New York ISBN 0-19-854287-9, 1272 pp. Price £65. As our knowledge of the genetic basis of neuromuscular disorders increases, questions arise as to how gene function might be modified in a particular disease. To answer such questions it is necessary to know what mechanisms and factors may be involved in modulating gene expression. Lewin's Genes is the reference book on the subject. It is a remarkable achievement for a single author. In the ten or so years since the first edition appeared it has increased considerably in size and in the detail presented. While this is not intended so much for those searching for information on a particular disease gene, though some information on this is provided, its main value lies in providing lucid explanations with clear illustrations of what genes are and how they function. Many topics will be familiar to readers of this journal, such as RFLP, repetitive DNA, polymerase chain reactions, and transgenic and "knock out" mice, the latter now being the most important, though technically difficult, means of producing animal analogues of human diseases when these do not occur naturally. Further topics include, for example, consideration of protein transport through nuclear pores (a subject now receiving much attention with regard to certain types of dystrophy) and the organisation of coding regions in human mitochondria as well as a host of other topics of relevance to anyone researching in the field. Though probably designed to be used as a textbook for a comprehensive course in molecular genetics, many will also find this an excellent work of reference. Alan Emery Budleigh Salterton, Devon 395
Pediatric Clinical Electromyography. H. Royden Jones Jr., Charles F. Bolton and C. Michael Harper Jr. Published 1995 by Lippincott-Raven. ISBN 0-7817-0288-7, 512 pp. Price £75.50. Most adult electromyographers' hearts sink when they are asked to undertake an investigation of a child or neonate. Not only is the technical challenge more severe and the investigation frequently fraught for child, parent and electromyographer, many neuro-. physiologists will feel anxious not to over-interpret the data they obtain. Clinical neurophysiologists whose practice contains any paediatric EMG will do well to read this excellent textbook which contains much useful advice on the conduct and interpretation of the investigation. Paediatric EMG is, like adult EMG, an extension of the clinical examination and the authors bring to their text a clinical maturity vital to maximise the information to be gleaned from EMG. Planning of the investigation and the need to consider other diagnostic possibilities in the light of test results is even more important in paediatric practice where cooperation may be limited and there may be only one chance to to do the study. The text is organised in chapters to deal with spinal muscular atrophies, plexus and root lesions, mononeuropathies, polyneuropathies, neuromuscular transmission disorders and myopathies. In addition, there is an excellent introductory chapter on the authors' approach to paediatric EMG, a chapter on evaluation of the floppy infant and a final chapter on EMG in the critical care unit. A most useful feature of the book is the inclusion of about 40 case reports, sprinkled throughout the chapters and enlivening a didactic text. The tables and illustrations are well presented.