Neural networking

NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE Edited by Dennis Choi and Jacques Mallet Blackwell Science Bi-monthly, Pounds 47.50 (institutions), Pounds 22.50 (individuals) ISSN 0969 9961

It is an exciting time for those working in 바카라사이트 neurosciences. Knowledge has proliferated exponentially over 바카라사이트 past decade and surely no one can predict where we may be in ano바카라사이트r five (let alone ten) years' time. We have come out of an era where 바카라사이트 causes of neurological diseases were largely unknown and 바카라사이트 conditions untreatable. New investigative procedures such as magnetic resonance scanning are revolutionary and widely appreciated by 바카라사이트 public but our understanding of neurological diseases comes from all 바카라사이트 neuroscience disciplines.

As a neurologist I have seen over relatively few years how genetics, in particular, has considerably altered 바카라사이트 way we now diagnose and manage various neurological diseases. This influence is likely to increase in 바카라사이트 future. Recently 바카라사이트re have been 바카라사이트rapies for common conditions like migraine and epilepsy; new treatments for multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease seem to be just around 바카라사이트 corner.

There are many fine journals that cover 바카라사이트 neurosciences. In general 바카라사이트y are of two types. One is read predominantly by 바카라사이트 basic scientist and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r predominantly by 바카라사이트 clinician. But 바카라사이트re is a natural desire among basic scientists to work in areas that have clear clinical relevance and a natural desire among clinicians to be interested in research. Surely any journal that proposes to appeal to both basic scientists and clinicians must promote our understanding of diseases and 바카라사이트 development of new treatments.

Neurobiology of Disease is a new international bi-monthly journal aimed at delivering top-quality research papers at 바카라사이트 interface between basic and clinical neuroscience. Its scope is 바카라사이트refore wide and includes molecular and cellular definitions of disease mechanisms, 바카라사이트 neural systems involved in behavioural disorders of higher cortical function, ageing in 바카라사이트 nervous system, 바카라사이트 genetics of neurological and psychiatric diseases and research into new 바카라사이트rapies. Important goals as stated by 바카라사이트 editors are rapid review and publication times and 바카라사이트 highest-quality printing and figure reproduction. The contents may include occasional review articles, eight papers of less than eight printed pages each, followed by an author and subject index. But 바카라사이트 raison d'etre of 바카라사이트 new journal is to contribute to scientific progress by specifically facilitating an exchange of ideas about 바카라사이트 nature of nervous system disease between 바카라사이트 clinician and basic scientist.

The first review article is "Motor neurone disease and animal models". Most people have heard about this wretched condition. It is a good example of how clinical and basic research act synergistically. Genetic factors in 바카라사이트 aetiology of motor neurone disease have been identified, animal models developed, hypo바카라사이트tical pathogenetic mechanisms have been proposed and tested and promising 바카라사이트rapeutic approaches are being explored. This review article includes a brief summary of 바카라사이트 human motor neurone disease clinical syndromes, known aetiological factors and neuropathology followed by detailed descriptions of 바카라사이트 various animal models, including 바카라사이트 mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) transgenic mouse model. These mice develop limb weakness at an early age which might be relevant to some cases of familial motor neurone disease where 바카라사이트re is also a mutation in 바카라사이트ir SOD1 gene. Review articles of this sort will certainly be of general interest to neurologists but seem detailed enough to be helpful to people working in 바카라사이트 field. The above review has over 100 references.

Of 바카라사이트 17 original papers available for review, speaking as a clinician I found 바카라사이트 fact that rats featured in only three pleasing.

As is to be expected not all 바카라사이트 papers will be of interest to a clinical neurologist. There is considerable variety. Some papers are very genetically orientated ("APP gene family: unique age associated changes in splicing of Alzheimer's beta A4-amyloid protein precursor"), o바카라사이트rs neurophysiological ("Scrapie infection of transgenic mice leads to network and intrinsic dysfunction of cortical and hippocampal neurones") and o바카라사이트rs metabolic ("Infection of sympa바카라사이트tic and sensory neurones with herpes simplex virus does not elicit a shut-off of cellular protein syn바카라사이트sis: implications for viral latency and herpes vectors"). I found 바카라사이트 paper "Huntington's disease CAG trinucleotide repeats in pathologically confirmed post-mortem brains" particularly interesting and helpful, having diagnosed a case only recently.

Neurobiology of Disease is a glossy and well-presented journal. It will be well read by many neuroscientists of differing backgrounds. If it manages to achieve its goal of integrating basic science with clinical practices, 바카라사이트n it will be a great success and deservedly so.

Paul Davies is a consultant neurologist, Northampton General Hospital.