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Myotonic dystrophy
Book Reviews
CIRKUMVENTRICULARE ORGANE, Intemationales Symposion der Deutschen Akademie Naturforscher Leopoldina Schloss Reinharsbrunn vom 13-17 April, 1975 by G.STERBA andw. BARGMANN 252 p., 75 figs., 9 tables. Nova Acta Leopoldina. Suppl. nr. 9.
der
The present publication represents the proceedings of a Symposium held at the Schloss Reinhardsbrunn, in 1975, at which the morphology and physiology of the circumventricular organs were discussed. Special attention was given to the functional properties of the subcommissural organ, subfomical organ and tanycytes of the median eminence. The investigations were carried out with the most modem methods, including immunohistochemistry and sequential analysis of aminoacids in a given molecule. The subcommissural organ represents a secretory specialization of the ependyma. The secretory products are formed in the Golgi apparatus, from where they migrate to the apical part of the cell. The secretory products coalesce on the Aquaductus mesencephali and form the Reissner fibre. The substance of the Reissner libre is a sialoglycoprotein rich in cistine and glumatic acid. The subfornical organ contains many neurons susceptible to activation by angiotensin II. Direct application of this substance onto the surface of the subfomical cells elicits an increase of neuronal tiring with latencies varying between 5 and 10 sec. (Felit and Akert). The investigations of Kobayashi support the hypothesis of the absorptive function of the tanycytes of the median eminence. According to this hypothesis, the tanycytes absorb substances from the cerebrospinal fluid and transports them through their processes to the capillary loops of the zona palisadica. According to Kobayashi, the monoaminergic tibres which innervate the tanycytes might have a regulatory action on the absorptive function of these cells. This book has been produced as a supplement of the Nova Acta Leopoldina. The contributors are a selection of the most active investigators in this held. The book is well presented and contains many first class electron micrographs printed on art paper. It can be recommended to everyone interested in the field.
MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY by P.S.HARPER 1979. Saunders Company, London, Eastbome. Volume 9 in the series Major Problems in Neurology. ISBN 0.7216.4527.5, E 17.25, p. 331, 100 figs. This, without any doubt, is the most complete review of this intriguing disease, covering all the aspects one might think of, including clinical, pathological, physiological, genetic, radiological, therapeutic and many other points of view. The illustrations are numerous and render an extra value to this book on a disease in the diagnosis of which the eye of the examiner is of the utmost importance. Many tables and schemes are displayed to elucidate the relative value of findings and diagnostic criteria. As could be expected from the author a large deal of the text is dedicated to the fascinating genetics of myotonic dystrophy, including a full description of the disease in infancy and childhood. The review of basic aspects is concise and complete and gives a brilliant account of our knowledge as well as of our lack of knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms.
The book is warmly recommended and belongs in any well equipped medical library, and not in neurological ones only because of the multitude of medical aspects of the disease. A. R. Wintzen
FUNKTIONELLE NEUROLOGIE by 1. G. CHUSID Anatomische, diagnostische und klinische Grundlagen 6CKlp., 405 figs., 46 tabels, DM 58,- 1978 (April) Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 3 540 08610-2 Since its first edition in 1938, ‘Correlative Neuro-anatomy and Functional Neurology’ by Chusid and McDonald has served many neurologists, both beginners and those with more experience, as a quick reference to review a neurological problem. Its authentic drawings, diagrams and charts are well known; the well structured text is sometimes too compact for the student and too concise for the advanced specialist. The 16th edition has been translated into German and elaborated. The chapter on electroencephalography appears to be rewritten and has different illustrations, in chapter 19, Radiologic Examination, the echoencephalography is extended with the Doppler ronography. Many minor text alterations and slightly different subdivisions are made as an adoption to the German reader. Not all original drawings are included in the German edition and chapter 35, Selected Psychiatric Disorders, is omitted. Despite the more expensive paper and neatly printed text of the book, the American edition continues to have its text-appeal by sticking to the original characteristic typographic appearance. Moreover the price difference is remarkable, the recently appeared 17th American edition costs only f 131,20, whereas for the German edition f 173,OOhas to be paid. I think the Dutch reader will adhere to the original English text. J. P. W. F. Lakke
NEUROLOGICAL DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS by J. P. PATTEN An illustrated approach Springer-Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, ISBN 3 540 90264 3 500 p., 288 figs., DM 53,70, October 1977 The liberal offer of basic texts in neurology is enriched with a book with several outstanding features. This book centers arround a strong functional anatomical approach towards the major neurological symptoms and syndromes. This method is indeed so powerful a tool at getting at a correct diagnosis that the author has chosen quite correctly te reduce descriptions of the natural history of diseases to its bare essentials. Moreover he writes so lively that the text with well timed case histories reads like a novel. A minor criticism is that subjects are unevenly dealt with. Neuroopthalmology takes 48 pages (17% of the complete text) and may seem somewhat overrepresentated although the content is clear and practical. In contrast the examination of the mental state and the higher dysfunctions are covered in only 8 pages. Most neurologists will not agree with the definition of dyspraxia as ‘the equivalent of dysphasia in the non dominant hemisphere’. The examination of asphasia is so incomplete that it can not be used for localization. Testing comprehension for sproken language is limited to the execution of movements on verbal command. Here the author makes a common error because a patient who is impaired can have. either an apraxia or a comprehension deficit or both. So additorial testing is necessary. Another flaw pertains to the illustrations. Trying to schematize anatomy is of course commendable but some illustrations are so complex that their goal is not reached. A simplification would undoubtly add to their value. With the above reservations this book is highly recommanded for students and residents in neurology alike. Part of the text would equally serve the anatomists in guiding there endeavors towards a practical neuroanatomy course. R. Haaxma
CIRKUMVENTRICULARE ORGANE, Intemationales Symposion der Deutschen Akademie Naturforscher Leopoldina Schloss Reinharsbrunn vom 13-17 April, 1975 by G.STERBA andw. BARGMANN 252 p., 75 figs., 9 tables. Nova Acta Leopoldina. Suppl. nr. 9.
der
The present publication represents the proceedings of a Symposium held at the Schloss Reinhardsbrunn, in 1975, at which the morphology and physiology of the circumventricular organs were discussed. Special attention was given to the functional properties of the subcommissural organ, subfomical organ and tanycytes of the median eminence. The investigations were carried out with the most modem methods, including immunohistochemistry and sequential analysis of aminoacids in a given molecule. The subcommissural organ represents a secretory specialization of the ependyma. The secretory products are formed in the Golgi apparatus, from where they migrate to the apical part of the cell. The secretory products coalesce on the Aquaductus mesencephali and form the Reissner fibre. The substance of the Reissner libre is a sialoglycoprotein rich in cistine and glumatic acid. The subfornical organ contains many neurons susceptible to activation by angiotensin II. Direct application of this substance onto the surface of the subfomical cells elicits an increase of neuronal tiring with latencies varying between 5 and 10 sec. (Felit and Akert). The investigations of Kobayashi support the hypothesis of the absorptive function of the tanycytes of the median eminence. According to this hypothesis, the tanycytes absorb substances from the cerebrospinal fluid and transports them through their processes to the capillary loops of the zona palisadica. According to Kobayashi, the monoaminergic tibres which innervate the tanycytes might have a regulatory action on the absorptive function of these cells. This book has been produced as a supplement of the Nova Acta Leopoldina. The contributors are a selection of the most active investigators in this held. The book is well presented and contains many first class electron micrographs printed on art paper. It can be recommended to everyone interested in the field.
MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY by P.S.HARPER 1979. Saunders Company, London, Eastbome. Volume 9 in the series Major Problems in Neurology. ISBN 0.7216.4527.5, E 17.25, p. 331, 100 figs. This, without any doubt, is the most complete review of this intriguing disease, covering all the aspects one might think of, including clinical, pathological, physiological, genetic, radiological, therapeutic and many other points of view. The illustrations are numerous and render an extra value to this book on a disease in the diagnosis of which the eye of the examiner is of the utmost importance. Many tables and schemes are displayed to elucidate the relative value of findings and diagnostic criteria. As could be expected from the author a large deal of the text is dedicated to the fascinating genetics of myotonic dystrophy, including a full description of the disease in infancy and childhood. The review of basic aspects is concise and complete and gives a brilliant account of our knowledge as well as of our lack of knowledge of the fundamental mechanisms.
The book is warmly recommended and belongs in any well equipped medical library, and not in neurological ones only because of the multitude of medical aspects of the disease. A. R. Wintzen
FUNKTIONELLE NEUROLOGIE by 1. G. CHUSID Anatomische, diagnostische und klinische Grundlagen 6CKlp., 405 figs., 46 tabels, DM 58,- 1978 (April) Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, Springer-Verlag, ISBN 3 540 08610-2 Since its first edition in 1938, ‘Correlative Neuro-anatomy and Functional Neurology’ by Chusid and McDonald has served many neurologists, both beginners and those with more experience, as a quick reference to review a neurological problem. Its authentic drawings, diagrams and charts are well known; the well structured text is sometimes too compact for the student and too concise for the advanced specialist. The 16th edition has been translated into German and elaborated. The chapter on electroencephalography appears to be rewritten and has different illustrations, in chapter 19, Radiologic Examination, the echoencephalography is extended with the Doppler ronography. Many minor text alterations and slightly different subdivisions are made as an adoption to the German reader. Not all original drawings are included in the German edition and chapter 35, Selected Psychiatric Disorders, is omitted. Despite the more expensive paper and neatly printed text of the book, the American edition continues to have its text-appeal by sticking to the original characteristic typographic appearance. Moreover the price difference is remarkable, the recently appeared 17th American edition costs only f 131,20, whereas for the German edition f 173,OOhas to be paid. I think the Dutch reader will adhere to the original English text. J. P. W. F. Lakke
NEUROLOGICAL DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS by J. P. PATTEN An illustrated approach Springer-Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, ISBN 3 540 90264 3 500 p., 288 figs., DM 53,70, October 1977 The liberal offer of basic texts in neurology is enriched with a book with several outstanding features. This book centers arround a strong functional anatomical approach towards the major neurological symptoms and syndromes. This method is indeed so powerful a tool at getting at a correct diagnosis that the author has chosen quite correctly te reduce descriptions of the natural history of diseases to its bare essentials. Moreover he writes so lively that the text with well timed case histories reads like a novel. A minor criticism is that subjects are unevenly dealt with. Neuroopthalmology takes 48 pages (17% of the complete text) and may seem somewhat overrepresentated although the content is clear and practical. In contrast the examination of the mental state and the higher dysfunctions are covered in only 8 pages. Most neurologists will not agree with the definition of dyspraxia as ‘the equivalent of dysphasia in the non dominant hemisphere’. The examination of asphasia is so incomplete that it can not be used for localization. Testing comprehension for sproken language is limited to the execution of movements on verbal command. Here the author makes a common error because a patient who is impaired can have. either an apraxia or a comprehension deficit or both. So additorial testing is necessary. Another flaw pertains to the illustrations. Trying to schematize anatomy is of course commendable but some illustrations are so complex that their goal is not reached. A simplification would undoubtly add to their value. With the above reservations this book is highly recommanded for students and residents in neurology alike. Part of the text would equally serve the anatomists in guiding there endeavors towards a practical neuroanatomy course. R. Haaxma