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| ELSEVIER Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 97 (1995) 358-359

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Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery

Book reviews

The Human Memory: A multi-modal approach, revised translation of 'Das menschliche Gediiehtnis' (1991), by J. Engelkamp and H.D. Zimmer, 1994, Hogrefe and Huber, Toronto, 532 pages US$ 54.00, DM 89.00, ISBN 0-88937-116-4

What is so exciting about 'The Human Memory: A multi-modal ap- proach' written by Engelkamp and Zimmer? It is its thorough, well- constructed and clearly exposed attempt at a more encompassing the- ory on memory than we are used to. We know that the first linguistic concepts of children are integrations of motor and sensory experiences. We also know that these words rooted in sensomotor experience stand up relatively well against effects of cerebral damage causing aphasia. In memory theories, however, memory of meaningful action is ne- glected. The authors compared recall in the standard psychological experiment with recall after enacting the material to be learned. An action phrase ('comb your hair') was recalled about 50% more easily when the subject had acted the phrase in the encoding phase. Episodic memory, although memory of events, could not predict these findings. The authors claim that episodic memory is not a unitary function, but memory performance is the result of an interaction of partially inde- pendent subsystems. To explain how these subsystems interact is a major goal of their monograph. Verbal and nonverbal memory systems had already been elaborated by others; the novelty of this volume is its theoretical underpinning of a memory subsystem for actions.

A. Jennekens-Schinkel, MD Child Neurology

Academic Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands

Neurology of Critical Illness, Contemporary Neurology Series." 43, by E.F.M. Wijdicks, 1994, F.A. Davis Com- pany, Philadelphia, PA, £ 82.00, ISBN 0-8036-9316-8

In an era when the first intensive care units (ICUs) were regarded as the propriOtk privbe of surgeons, internists and anaesthesiologists, the neurologist's vision was seldom asked for. Finishing reading Wijdicks' monograph 'Neurology of Critical Illness' one wonders how this could have happened. Wijdicks systematically describes all possible neurolog- ical complications one might come across in an ICU.

The first part deals with general neurological complications, such as seizures, drug effects on consciousness, and neurotoxic side-effects. The second part meticulously describes neurological complications in a medical, non-surgical ICU, including items such as sepsis, cardiac ar- rest, posthypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, the frequently encountered acid-base and electrolyte disorders with intertwined risk of developing central pontine myelinolysis after a to rapid correction of severe hypo- natremia, but also giving clear guidelines for treatment, illustrated with

convenient algorithms. Many tables listing the most frequent causes of electrolyte, acid-base, and endocrine disorders enhance the book's readability. Two chapters on acute renal disease and hepatic failure pinpoint the neurological clinical features and possible treatment. The third part of the book features neurological complications in a surgical ICU, such as stroke after coronary by-pass surgery, spinal cord infarc- tion developing during e.g. thoraco-abdominal aneurysmal surgery, its diagnostic evaluation and some therapeutic options. Other chapters nicely illustrate possible neurologic complications seen in environ- mental injuries, such as burn encephalopathy, heat stroke, near-drown- ing, electrical burns, multisystem trauma, and organ transplantation. The final part deals with the outcome of acute central nervous system injury and brain death.

Each chapter is amply provided with a reasonably updated bibliogra- phy, and the book is lavishly illustrated with figures and tables. The lay-out is impeccable and the price acceptable. Taken altogether, Wijdicks confirms the indispensable, yes, sometimes vital role of the neurologist's presence in todays ICUs. His monograph should be in close reach of all those who care for patients in ICUs. I heartily wel- come its launch.

Richard RM. Bruyn, MD Department of Neurology

Oudenryn Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands

Stroke." 100 Maxims in Neurology 3, by Yatsu, F.M., Grotta, J.C. and Creed Pettigrew, L. (eds.), Edward Arnold, 1995, London, £24.99 (paperback)

This book is the third volume in the 100 Maxims in Neurology series. The first by Porter on Epilepsy was very successful. The editor of this series writes in his foreword that each maxim is intended to provide the reader with a clinical rule, a warning, an observation or therapeutic principle. The aim is not a reference book but a book that can be read from cover to cover.

The first volume by Porter I had appreciated very much but this one on Stroke was very disappointing. I had the impression that the authors have had difficulties in formulating 100 maxims. This would explain why several maxims are not very informative• Examples are: Diagnosis of arteritis may require angiography; Examine physical, economic and ethical factors when choosing treatment approach; Choice of therapeu- tic intervention is guided by the diagnosis; Prevent mortality after stroke by anticipating the possible causes; Neuroplasticity and neurore- generation offer hope for regaining lost function.

In the discussion of the maxims the references to the literature are often not adequate. Usually the authors refer to North-American stud- ies even if better European studies are available. The authors did not critically scrutinize the published studies on treatment. Many unproven statements on treatment can be found. Examples are: 350 mg of aspirin

0303-8467/95/$9.50 © 1995 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Book reviews/Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery 97 (1995) 358-359 359

is the minimum daily dose in TIA's; pentoxifylline enhances erythrocyte deformability and reduces blood viscosity, this enhancing bloodflow to ischemic microcirculation; in TIA's with intra-arterial thrombus de- monstrable on angiogram or MRI, heparinisation is prudent to prevent thrombus expansion; based on the known mechanisms of thrombus formation and because results of complete arterial occlusion are fre- quently devastating, anticoagulation is justified in patients with pro- gressing symptoms; use antifibrinolytic agents and calciumchannel blockers for aneurysmal SAH; with predominantly sagittal or trans- verse thrombosis, anticoagulation can be recommended with initial therapy using intravenous heparin; speech therapy should begin early.

This clearly shows that the authors have not carefully studied the available literature and therefore this book cannot be recommended.

Prof. Dr. M. Vermeulen, MD Neurology

Academisch Medisch Centrum Amsterdam, Netherlands

Atlas of Correlative Surgical Neuropathology and Imag- ing." Current Histopathology, by G.S . R u t h e r f o o r d a n d

R . H . H e w l e t t , K luwer , D o r d r e c h t , 1994, I S B N 0-7923-

8951-4, $225.00, £150.00 (Dfl. 375.00)

Since the introduction of computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an anatomy in vivo, a revolution has taken

place particularly in diagnosing neurological disorders. Especially with the advent of MRI, neuropathology receives quite rightly more atten- tion than the dusty image it often has.

The book, dedicated to the memory of Betty Brownell, starts with an introduction to neuroimaging techniques and principles of tissue examination in an easy understandable, lucid approach. In the follow- ing 6 chapters a wide range of clinical material, such as skull lesions, supra- and infratentorial extra- and intraparenchymal lesions, ventricu- lar lesions, sella lesions, and lesions of the spinal cord is dealt with. More than 600 CT and MRI images are presented and correlated with approximately 400 histopathological micrographs. All disorders are briefly discussed in terms of neuropathology and neuroimaging find- ings, and the authors very often explain also why a lesion, e.g. an abscess capsule, shows slightly TI hyperintense, but hypointense on the late T2 sequences.

All illustrations are of good quality, the lay-out is impeccable, but the price is rather steep, which may hamper a personal purchase.

The book is said to be primarily aimed for the general clinical (histo)pathologist, but I am sure it will find its way also to neurologists, neuroradiologists, and neurosurgeons, and I think it is a most valuable book for specialists in neuroscience.

Richard EM. Bruyn, MD Department of Neurology

Oudenrijn Hospital Utrecht, Netherlands