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Show BOOK REVIEWS Section Editor: Steven A. Newman, MD Merritt's Neurology, 11th Edition Lewis P. Rowland, MD, Editor. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2005. ISBN: 0- 7817- 5311- 2, $ 110.00. Scope: This is the 11th edition of one of the great single-volume general textbooks of neurology. Although the first four editions were written by H. Houston Merritt himself, by the 5th edition he had invited contributions from colleagues, and the 7th edition began the tradition of multiple authors linked by their connection as Merritt's students and, in turn, their students. Hence, the majority of authors are from New York, many of them still affiliated with Columbia University. The general organization of previous editions has been retained. A section that briefly reviews the general symptoms of neurologic disorders ( impaired vision and ocular motility, for example, is covered in 6 pages!) is followed by a section on how to select diagnostic tests and then by subsequent sections on individual disease processes and neurologic diseases ( infections, vascular diseases, tumors, and trauma). Additions to this edition include chapters on endovascular neurology, psychiatric conditions, and diseases of DNA translation. As one would expect, the impact of molecular genetics has required substantial updating. Illustrations are black and white, with the exception of five figures reproduced in color on a separate sheet at the front of the book. The preface indicates that this book is intended for medical students, house officers, practicing neurologists, non-neurologist clinicians, nurses, and other health care workers. Strengths: This textbook is a catalogue of every neurologic disease; it is comprehensive and easy to use. It is perfect for a quick refresher or a first exposure to a topic. Its language is clear and succinct. Surprising in a multi- authored text, a uniformity of style has been preserved, as has a general philosophy Thisisagreat " go- to" book for general neurology. Weaknesses: Because the book is a catalogue of diseases, it most certainly does not teach you to think like a neurologist. It is not a book to be read from cover to cover. Many readers will notice the absence of a review of neurologic anatomy. The illustrations are black and white, often quite small, relatively few in number, and frequently outdated. For example, there far more CT scans than MR images. Recommended Audience: The intended audience is broad but appropriate. This is the kind of reference book that can be used by medical students as well as by specialists in fields related to neurology, by graduate students, and by allied health professionals. Critical Appraisal: This book remains a classic single-volume textbook of neurology that deserves a place on one's reference shelf. Nancy J. Newman, MD Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia Pediatric Ophthalmology, Neuro- Ophthalmology, Genetics B. Lorenz, MD and A. T. Moore, FRCOphth, Editors. Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2006. ISBN: 3- 540- 22594- 3, $ 119.00. Scope: This book is one volume of an eight- volume series on " Essentials in Ophthalmology" ( the series editors are G. K. Krieglstein and R. N. Weinreb). Each subspecialty volume has from 10 to 20 chapters overseen by two volume editors and written by a specialist in that subject. The authors are predominantly American and European. The intent of this series is to review progress in a field, in particular, current issues and developments that can be applied to clinical practice. This volume contains a wide range of topics of timely interest to practicing pediatric ophthalmologists. Strengths: Each section will be published every 2 years in an attempt to disseminate clinically relevant knowledge as soon as possible. The layout is appealing with good photographs and summary boxes. Chapters that are particularly informative include " Molecular Mechanisms of Retinopathy of Prematurity," " Pediatric Ocular Oncology," " Pediatric Electrophysiology," " Molecular Genetics of Leber's Congenital Amaurosis," " Childhood Retinal Detachment," and " Eye Manifestations of Intrauterine Infections." Weaknesses: Despite the title, neuro- ophthalmology is not covered. Recommended Audience: This book is recommended for general ophthalmologists, pediatric ophthalmologists, neuro- ophthalmologists who double as pediatric ophthalmologists, and pediatricians. Critical Appraisal: This series is reminiscent of the annual " Year Book of Ophthalmology" approach. However, even though the aim of the series is to get information to the clinician quickly, the references are still several years old. This volume is a good overall balance of issues of concern to pediatric ophthalmologists. Thomas Tredici, MD University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 300 J Neuro- Ophthalmol, Vol. 26, No. 4, 2006 Book Reviews J Neuro- Ophthalmol, Vol. 26, No. 4, 2006 Electrophysiology of Vision: Clinical Testing and Applications Byron L. Lam, MD. Taylor and Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, 2005. ISBN: 0- 8247- 4068- 8, $ 149.95. Scope: This book provides a clinical approach to the methods and interpretation of visual electrophysiologic testing. The first section of this book is a summary of essential features and practical tips on performing visual evoked potentials ( VEPs); full- field, focal, multifocal, and pattern electroretinograms ( ERGs); and electro- oculograms ( EOGs). The physiologic effects of maturation and aging on the interpretation of these tests are also highlighted. The second section of this book outlines symptoms and signs of various ophthalmic diseases with pathognomonic visual electrophysiologic abnormalities. The book covers a range of conditions, including optic nerve and other visual pathway disorders, genetic, inflammatory, vascular, nutritional, and toxic retinopathies, pharmacologic effects, and non- organic visual loss. Strengths: This comprehensive, yet concise, review of the clinical applications of electrophysiologic testing in ocular disorders offers very practical and useful information that is required in the diagnosis and management of patients. The writing style is clear with enough tables and photographs for easy understanding of the topic. Weaknesses: As with any book, some material may quickly become dated. Because of the rapidly emerging advances in focal and multifocal evoked potentials and electroretino-graphy, these aspects may require updating in 5 years. Recommended Audience: Caregivers who examine patients with visual pathway disorders and those interested in improving their knowledge of the application of VEPs, ERGs, and EOGs will benefit from reading this book. Critical Appraisal: This is one of the few practically oriented books in visual electrophysiology that is not only enjoyable to read but useful in the clinical setting. Jane W Chan, MD University of Nevada School of Medicine Las Vegas, Nevada Pediatric Neuroimaging, 4th Edition A. James Barkovich, MD. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2005. ISBN: 0- 7817- 5766- 5, $ 219.00. Scope: This is an extensive summary encompassing the entire gamut of neuroimaging in children. It is essentially a single- authored text with the exception of the final chapter. The text begins with a chapter on imaging methods, followed by another on normal development of the brain, skull, and spine. Subsequent chapters focus on toxic and metabolic central nervous system disorders, injuries, and trauma, congenital cranial and spinal malformations, and intracranial, orbital, neck, and spinal masses. Separate chapters are devoted to the phakomatoses and to hydrocephalus. The two final chapters concern central nervous system infections and cerebrovascular anomalies with an excellent focus on diagnostic and therapeutic endovascular considerations of pertinent childhood conditions. Strengths: The text is remarkably uniform and fluid, and the book is accompanied by a plethora of representative images, all of good to excellent quality. The chapters on chiasmal and parasellar lesions will be of excellent value to neuro- ophthalmologists. The final portion on pediatric endovascular considerations is particularly excellent and represents a unique source. Weaknesses: As in any encyclopedic volume, some entities are sparsely covered. In this instance, two notably sparse areas are those of orbital masses and congenital ocular and orbital anomalies. Although the material is accurate and well presented, there is probably little new information to the pediatric neuro- ophthalmologist accustomed to seeing a large volume of patients with such conditions. Finally, as this text contains wonderful educational material, a CD-ROM of the images would have been very helpful. Recommended Audience: Neuro- ophthalmologists and pediatric ophthalmologists, neurologists, and radiologists would benefit from this book. Critical Appraisal: The text and images are excellent. This is a unique resource on diseases and anomalies requiring neuroimaging in children. R. Michael Siatkowski, MD Dean A. McGee Eye Institute University of Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Forensic Neuropathology and Neurology Manfred Oehmichen MD, Roland N. Auer MD, PhD, and Hans Giinter Konig, MD. Springer- Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 2006. ISBN: 3- 540- 23500- 0, $ 399.00. Scope: The ambitious authors of this comprehensive textbook have succeeded in taking a difficult subject and producing abeautifully illustrated, easy- to- read reference for students of the neurologic sciences. Forensic pathologists, neurologists, coroners, and anyone interested in neuropathogenesis will be pulling this volume from the bookshelf. The book consists of 31 chapters, grouped in 6 sections: forensic neuropathology, physical trauma, ischemia and asphyxia, intoxication, pediatric neuropathology, 301 J Neuro- Ophthalmol, Vol. 26, No. 4, 2006 Book Reviews and clinical neuropathology. Each disorder is described macroscopically and microscopically with correlation to the clinical features and pathogenesis. The entries are very concise and readable, owing to liberal use of bullet points to distinguish confusing features. Strengths: This book is richly illustrated with very high resolution color plates of gross and microscopic changes described in the text. A bibliography and extensive references at the end of each chapter lead the reader to more detailed information. The plates, along with the extensive references, make this text valuable as a quick reference source. The authors have included newer cytologic staining techniques that help the pathologist in diagnosis. Weaknesses: The long index is difficult to navigate and requires flipping back and forth to multiple listings of the same subject to find specific information. Anyone expecting to find all of the details of neuropathology in this book will be disappointed. It is intended as a quick reference source for forensic specialists seeking diagnosis of fatal neurologic disorders. Recommended Audience: Although written for the forensic pathologist, this volume will be valuable to neurologists and neurosurgeons who serve as expert witnesses. For the neuropathologist, it should serve as a quick reference and guide to the literature. Critical Appraisal: The authors have produced a book that can be used by the forensic specialist to differentiate neurologic causes of death. Coroners, forensic pathologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons will find this book useful in supporting their opinions as to the cause of death in malpractice and criminal cases. August L. Reader, III, MD, FACS California Pacific Medical Center San Francisco, California Molecular Neurosurgery With Targeted Toxins Ronald G. Wiley, MD, PhD and Douglas A. Lappi, PhD. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 2005. ISBN: 1- 58829- 199- 5, $ 149.50. Scope: Stereotactic surgical lesioning of neural pathways allows the neuroscientist to create disease models with precision and reproducibility. The use of biochemically directed toxins provides an even more selective and precise method compared with microsurgery alone, because subsets of neurons may be targeted on the basis of their secretory properties. In this book, the reader is introduced to the theory and practice of the creation of experimental models of neurologic diseases using such targeting agents. The editors, who are pioneers in targeted toxin technology, have enlisted a number of researchers to detail their work in the study of several neurologic diseases. The first two chapters give a short explanation of cell-specific targeting and the rationale behind the agents used. The discovery and selection of particular toxins is discussed, and the concept of conjugating these molecules to particular immunoglobulins is explained. Most of the research using targeted toxins has involved the cholinergic pathways of the basal forebrain with the goal of creating models of cognitive dysfunction and memory loss ( with Alzheimer disease as an exemplar). The next five chapters detail experiments performed in rodents and non- human primates. The remaining chapters present the results of experiments targeting non-cholinergic pathways, including those involved in cardiac regulation and the sleep- wake cycle. Studies focused on understanding pain signal generation and modulation also are described. Of particular interest to neuro- ophthalmologists is the final chapter on development of a model for demyeli-nating disease using cholera toxin to target oligodendrocytes while leaving neurons relatively unaffected. Strengths: The editors and chapter authors are all active researchers who use the techniques described in the book daily in their own laboratories. The material is presented in a logical fashion within each chapter, and numerous figures ( some in color) are included within the text. The depth and breadth of coverage are to be commended. Weaknesses: This work is not so much a textbook as a compilation of scientific review articles. As such, it suffers from a lack of cohesion of style and substance. Several of the figures may have been more informative with additional labeling or elaboration within the legends. Recommended Audience: In their preface, the editors suggest that this text will be of use to researchers intending to conduct experiments with targeted toxins. Apart from researchers, anyone with an interest in animal models of neurologic disease ( particularly cognitive and memory disorders) will be fascinated and educated by this material. Critical Appraisal: This collection of scientific papers is a representative compendium of ongoing studies in a number of neurologic disease processes. It offers insights into an exciting and evolving field and is accessible to novice readers without being simplistic. Several of the chapters provide the needed methodological detail a researcher would need to replicate or expand on the available data, making this text an excellent reference for the basic neuroscientist as well as the clinical neuro- ophthalmologist. Prem S. Subramanian, MD, PhD The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Bethesda, Maryland 302 © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |