Neurologia

The importance of chloride ions in cell physiology has not been fully recognized until recently, in spite of the fact that chloride (Cl-), together with bicarbonate, is the most abundant free anion in animal cells, and performs or determines fundamental biological functions in all tissues. For many years it was thought that Cl- was distributed in thermodynamic equilibrium across the plasma membrane of most cells. Research carried out during the last couple of decades has led to a dramatic change in this simplistic view. We now know that most animal cells, neurons included, exhibit a non-equilibrium distribution of Cl- across their plasma membranes. Over the last 10 to 15 years, with the growth of molecular biology and the advent of new optical methods, an enormous amount of exciting new information has become available on the molecular structure and function of Cl- channels and carriers. In nerve cells, Cl- channels and carriers play key functional roles in GABA- and glycine-mediated synaptic inhibition, neuronal growth and development, extracellular potassium scavenging, sensory-transduction, neurotransmitter uptake and cell volume control. Disruption of Cl- homeostasis in neurons underlies pathological conditions such as epilepsy, deafness, imbalance, brain edema and ischemia, pain and neurogenic inflammation. This book is about how chloride ions are regulated and how they cross the plasma membrane of neurons. It spans from molecular structure and function of carriers and channels involved in Cl- transport to their role in various diseases. This is the first comprehensive book on the structure, molecular biology, cell physiology, and role in diseases of chloride transporters / channels in the nervous system in almost 20 years. Chloride is the most abundant free anion in animal cells. This book summarizes and integrates for the first time the important research of the past two decades that has shown that Cl- channels and carriers play key functional roles in GABA- and glycine-mediated synaptic inhibition, neuronal growth and development, extracellular potassium scavenging, sensory-transduction, neurotransmitter uptake and cell volume control. This is the first book that systematically discusses the result of disruption of Cl- homeostasis in neurons which underlies pathological conditions such as epilepsy, deafness, imbalance, brain edema and ischemia, pain and neurogenic inflammation. Spanning topics from molecular structure and function of carriers and channels involved in Cl- transport to their role in various diseases. This title involves all of the leading researchers in the field. It includes an extensive introductory section that covers basic thermodynamic and kinetics aspects of Cl- transport, as well as current methods for studying Cl- regulation, spanning from fluorescent dyes in single cells to knock-out models to make the book available for a growing population of graduate students and post docs entering the field.

"Practical Neuroimaging in Stroke", by Alejandro Rabinstein, MD, and Steven J. Resnick, is a neurology reference designed for anyone involved in treating stroke patients. It offers unique, thorough guidance - driven by nearly 500 completely original high-quality images from actual stroke cases - to help you learn and understand the clinical value of diagnostic neuroimaging. Examples of different diagnostic modalities - accompanied by succinct teaching messages - highlight a preference for those most commonly used in clinical practice and most typically interpreted by clinicians caring for patients at bedside. A consistent section format from chapter to chapter enables you to easily access the material. Brilliantly illustrated and clinical relevant, "Practical Neuroimaging in Stroke" is the closest thing to treating real-life patients!

Neurodevelopmental disabilities are a common problem in child health. This book takes a comprehensive approach to addressing these often challenging clinical diagnoses. In particular, it focuses on the two most common of childhood neurodevelopmental disabilities: global developmental delay and developmental language impairment. It seeks to put forward our present conceptualization of these entities as well as their proper evaluation and assessment and diagnosis from a variety of perspectives. It also provides details on our current understanding of the scientific basis of these disorders and their underlying causes. Issues related to medical management, rehabilitation, and eventual outcomes are also addressed in a detailed way. The book has wide appeal to those in paediatrics, developmental paediatrics, child neurology, and paediatric rehabilitation. Its geographic appeal includes both developed and developing nations as some chapters are devoted to the particular issues faced in underdeveloped countries. The book's focus on both clinical and scientific aspects is invaluable in this field. It also provides extensive information in a single source relating to often-overlooked areas such as medical management, rehabilitation, public policy, and ethics.