This issue of Radiologic Clinics of North America focuses on The Spine, and is edited by Dr. Lubdha M. Shah. Articles will include: Pearls and Pitfalls in Spine Imaging; Traumatic Spinal Cord; Vascular Disorders of the Spine; Approach to (acute, subacute, chronic) Myelopathy; Acute Low Back Pain; Spinal Manifestations of Systemic Disease; Intraspinal Tumors; Spinal Osseous Tumors and Oncology; Spinal Marrow Imaging: Clues to Disease; Postoperative Spine: What the Surgeons Wants to Know; Beyond the Spinal Canal; CSF Leak in Spontaneous Intracranial Hypotension: Diagnosis and Intervention; and more!

This collection of articles on oxidative stress in clinical practice surveys essential current research in what is a rapidly evolving field. As well as giving the reader a mechanistic overview of how oxidative stress affects cardiovascular disease, it analyzes the potential of a number of therapeutic options that target these pathways. Understanding the complexity of the cellular redox system could lead to the development of better targeted interventions that facilitate patient recovery. Even as large-scale clinical trials of so-called simple' antioxidant approaches such as vitamins C and E show that significant benefits for cardiovascular patients remain elusive, Studies on Cardiovascular Disorders demonstrates that such approaches are too simplistic. Beginning with a summary of redox signalling models that could induce the progression of redox-associated cardiovascular disorders, the volume moves on to examine redox-mediated protein modification under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. It provides an outline of the signalling pathways in cardiovascular development during embryogenesis and what impact these might have in the differentiation process of resident cardiac and blastocyst-derived stem cells. Further chapters detail our current knowledge of the influence the sensory nervous system exerts on the cardiovascular system, and the paradoxical role of mitochondria-derived ROS in cardiac protection. In all, almost 30 contributions cover issues as diverse as the antioxidant properties of statins in the heart and the oxidative risk factors for cardiovascular disease in women. A range of medical practitioners will find the contents of Studies on Cardiovascular Disorders provides illuminating insight into the Janus-faced role of ROS in the cardiovascular system.

With a growing population of young patients with congenital heart disease reaching adulthood, this unique new book offers an in-depth guide to managing the challenges and issues related to device therapy in this patient group. * The only book resource dedicated to pacing, cardiac resynchronization therapy and ICD therapy for the pediatric and congenital heart disease patient * Contains practical advice for pacemaker and ICD implantation, programming, trouble-shooting, managing complications and follow up * Up-to-date with the latest in device technology * Contains multiple graphics, device electrogram tracings, and radiographic images for clarity * Includes video clips and over 150 multiple choice questions with extended answers on companion website, ideal for self test * An invaluable resource for both the specialist pediatric cardiologist and the general cardiologist responsible for children with heart disease and pacing devices

The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cardiovascular system is Jan- faced. Whereas low concentrations of ROS are involved in variety of physiological signalling events, oxidative stress resulting from deregulated overproduction of ROS and/or impaired antioxidant defences contributes to cardiovascular disease. The actions of ROS in the cardiovascular system are a fascinating topic, not only for the basic science researcher but also for the clinician who is interested in seeking new therapies for his patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. The current book provides a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms and pathoph- iological settings in which chronic and detrimental oxidative stress arises within the heart and vasculature. The book also considers currently discussed strategies in avoiding chronic redox stress resulting from exposure to risk factors or various cardiovascular interventions. The series starts with an overview by Denise de Castro Fernandes, Diego Bonatto and Francisco Laurindo of redox signaling models that could underlie the dev- opment of redox-associated cardiovascular disorders. The interactions of proteins within signalling cascades with ROS and the regulation of such interactions by the anti-oxidative capacity of the cell are discussed. Rebecca Charles, Joseph Burgoyne and Philip Eaton report on redox-mediated modi cations of proteins under ph- iological and pathophysiological conditions and the variety of post-translational oxidative modi cations that explain redox sensing and signal transduction by proteins at the molecular level. ROS are generated during embryogenesis and may be involved in the proper development of the cardiovascular system.

Reflecting the central place of neurological evaluation and management in the daily practice of emergency medicine, this clinician's reference systematically reviews the main interventions in emergency neurology. It addresses all levels of emergency care--from prehospital management to the emergency department to final disposition of the patient. The book is in seven sections, each integrating neurological concepts with the practical realities and demands of emergency care. Coverage extends from the neurological examination and neurodiagnostic testing to common neurological presentations to specific neurological conditions and recent developments in brain resuscitation. The volume also includes contributions that specifically address pediatric neurology and neurological emergencies of pregnancy. Generously illustrated with scans and line diagrams, the book features management algorithms for many conditions, and each chapter ends with a list of "pearls and pitfalls." This resource is a comprehensive survey of best practice for emergency physicians, neurologists, and residents in emergency medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, and critical care.

Reflecting the central place of neurological evaluation and management in the daily practice of emergency medicine, this clinician's reference systematically reviews the main interventions in emergency neurology. It addresses all levels of emergency care--from prehospital management to the emergency department to final disposition of the patient. The book is in seven sections, each integrating neurological concepts with the practical realities and demands of emergency care. Coverage extends from the neurological examination and neurodiagnostic testing to common neurological presentations to specific neurological conditions and recent developments in brain resuscitation. The volume also includes contributions that specifically address pediatric neurology and neurological emergencies of pregnancy. Generously illustrated with scans and line diagrams, the book features management algorithms for many conditions, and each chapter ends with a list of "pearls and pitfalls." This resource is a comprehensive survey of best practice for emergency physicians, neurologists, and residents in emergency medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, and critical care.

The design of a federal system to deal with growth, stabilization, and regional and local development issues is the primary concern of this volume, edited by Anwar Shah. The book provides analytical tools to address issues arising from globalization, localization, and regional integration. It discusses tax harmonization issues associated with subnational value added tax administration. It provides a framework for fiscal discipline in a federal system. Lessons from international experiences from policies to deal with lagging regions are drawn. The book empirically examines the effect of fiscal decentralization on the overall size of the public sector. Finally, it draws lessons from industrial countries' experiences on local governance. This important new series represents a response to several independent evaluations in recent years that have argued that development practitioners and policy makers dealing with public sector reforms in developing countries and, indeed, anyone with a concern for effective public governance could benefit from a synthesis of newer perspectives on public sector reforms. This series distills current wisdom and presents tools of analysis for improving the efficiency, equity, and efficacy of the public sector. Leading public policy experts and practitioners have contributed to the series.

The editors of Emergency Neurology bring their expertise to a handbook for the emergency department. The symptom-based emphasis guides the emergency physician in the diagnosis and management of common and complex neurological disorders. Integrating fundamental neurological concepts with the demands of emergency care, this reference tool recommends brief examination techniques. It provides critical information for emergency physicians diagnosing and managing neurologic disorders such as headache, seizure, and spinal cord injury.

Although benign biliary disease is an area in which many surgeons have experience, there are many nuances to providing the highest quality of surgical care. The biliary anatomy is unique but presents with anatomical variances and can be distorted by benign pathology. Biliary surgery has been one of the areas where minimally invasive techniques were first applied in the late 1980s. However, surgical technique has continued to evolve due to acquisition of advanced minimal surgical skills and improvement in surgical technology. The expertise, sage, and knowledge of the members of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgery (SAGES) have prioritized the creation of this manual on modern biliary surgery. This manual will provide the standard for the current state of biliary surgery in the 21st century. The SAGES Manual of Biliary Surgery will align with the new SAGES University Masters program. The Manual supplements the Masters Program Biliary Surgery Pathway. Its goal is to help the surgeon progress from the competent to the proficient and finally to the mastery level. Both for the surgical trainee and senior surgeon, this guidebook will also give insight into modern evaluation and management. The highlights will emphasize what is both feasible and safe from a minimally invasive approach in biliary surgery. The concept of Safe Cholecystectomy will be defined and expounded on in detail. The difficult cholecystectomy will be given ample coverage to include management of intraoperative bile duct injury, indications and techniques of subtotal cholecystectomy, and special attention to intraoperative diagnostic imaging that serve as adjuncts, including cholangiograpy, ultrasound, as well as indocyanine green biliary fluorescence. We will review the updated international Tokyo guidelines for acute cholecystitis. Furthermore, the evolution of treatment of choledocohlithiasis has evolved the most in recent years, and thus requires an extensive discussion of the non-operative and operative management of bile duct stones. This text will serve as an important contribution to the medical literature sponsored by SAGES, an international leading authority in gastrointestinal surgery with a keen interest in safe and proficient biliary surgery. Leaders in the field of biliary surgery will impart their insight and considerable experience in the chapters planned for this manual. The intent for this manual is to be the cited resource for high quality and applicable knowledge for the treatment of benign biliary disease.

Paracrine and autocrine regulation of cardiac function by "endothelial" mediators is becoming important both physiologically and pathophysiologically. This volume brings the researcher completely up to date with all aspects of endothelial regulation and cardiac function. Acknowledged experts in each field have contributed, making this work indispensable for researchers and of great interest to the clinical cardiologist.
The Endothelial Cell Research Series publishes significant reviews by experts in the field. The individual volumes provide invaluable guides to researchers studying endothelial cells and are effective reference texts for anyone working in the general areas of vascular biology and neurotransmission.
Endothelium was originally considered to be an inert lining for the blood vessels, but during the last fifteen years, this view has had to be completely revised. It is now accepted that the endothelium plays an important role in many diverse functions. This volume concentrates on the effect of the endothelium on cardiac function. It has been widely demonstrated that the endothelium exerts a paracrine influence on contraction of adjacent cardiac muscle through the release of several mediators, such as endothelin and nitric oxide. Recent studies also show that the effects of such mediators upon the heart are not limited to contraction alone.