Neurosurgery Quarterly 

About: Neurosurgery Quarterly is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Lumbar & Aneurysm. It has an ISSN identifier of 1050-6438. Over the lifetime, 1026 publications have been published receiving 5967 citations.

Networks of the Brain

Abstract: Models of Network Growth All networks, whether they are social, technological, or biological, are the result of a growth process. Many of these networks continue to grow for prolonged periods of time, continually modifying their connectivity structure throughout their entire existence. For example, the World Wide Web has grown from a small number of cross-linked documents in the early 1 990s to an estimated 30 billion indexed web pages in 2009.3 The extraordinary growth of the Web continues unabated and has occurred without any top-down design, yet the topology of its hyperlink structure exhibits characteristic statistical patterns (Pastor-Satorras and Vespig­ nani, 2004). Other technological networks such as the power grid, global transportation networks, or mobile communication networks continue to grow and evolve, each displaying characteristic patterns of expansion and elaboration. Growth and change in social and organizational

Drug delivery to the central nervous system: A review

Abstract: Drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenging area of investigation both for clinical and basic neuroscientists. We review the current understanding of the morphology and physiology of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the pharmacological parameters that determine drug penetration into the CNS, and the spectrum of strategies used to improve drug delivery to the brain and spinal cord. Cerebral capillary endothelial cells can be distinguished from endothelial cells in other tissues by the increased number of mitochondria, paucity of pinocytic vesicles, and presence of occlusive intercellular tight junctions and a glial sheath around the capillary. Drug delivery to the CNS is primarily determined by the blood-brain barrier, but also depends on the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier and on the CSF-brain barrier. The physicochemical properties of drugs that determine access into the CNS include molecular size, molecular complexity, bioavailability, lipid solubility, ionization, and molecular recognition by membrane-based facilitative and active transporters. Current strategies for improving drug delivery to the brain fall into three categories: (a) drug modification, (b) blood-brain barrier modification, and (c) alternative routes for drug delivery. The most successful techniques for drug modification have been those involved in the design of lipophilic analogues, prodrugs, and carrier-mediated drugs. BBB modification has been accomplished through transient osmotic opening of the cerebral capillary endothelium. Alternative routes for drug delivery include intraarterial, intraventricular, intrathecal, and interstitial administration of agents into the CNS. Interstitial administration of drugs into the brain can be accomplished using either catheters or controlled release polymeric matrices. A wide range of rational strategies for drug delivery to the CNS has been developed in the 25 years since the site of the BBB was identified, and many other advances are anticipated in the near future.

Models of Seizures and Epilepsy

Abstract: The authors are the editors and their invited guests have created an extremely detailed account of modern epileptology. They have assembled a comprehensive and prestigious authorship, which represents the international community for the study of epilepsy. This book is an invaluable resource for those interested in the details of epilepsy. It will be an excellent resource for all neurologists and neurosurgeons involved in research or clinical treatment for the disease. The book begins with a series of chapters, which basically cover the entire field of slice preparations. There is a particularly interesting chapter on in vitro epilepsy studies utilizing the human brain. Animal models of seizures are described in detail. Many of these are well known, but are up-to-date descriptions of techniques that are in many cases a half a century old. The new section on genetics is quite interesting and something that will be new to most who are not directly related to this field. The next sections of the book describe a broad spectrum of models for the study of epilepsy. The topics include such things as the time honored cortical freezing lesion. This model is also a standard for the study of brain edema. The pharmacological methods of creating focal epilepsy are described in detail and there is an excellent chapter on kindling by McIntyre. The chapters on head trauma and stroke are also particularly interesting to clinical neurosurgeons. The hemorrhage iron deposition thesis is presented in Chapter 39 and this will be of interest to all practicing neurosurgeons. The remainder of the book describes drug development and ways to characterize epilepsy models. The book is summarized by a discussion of the value of animal models and modeling in general in order to determine the mechanisms and treatment of human epilepsy. The book begins with a foreword by Dom Purpura, which is an excellent exposition of the value of animal studies. At a time when animal research is being attacked so vigorously, this statement is well worth reading for all of us who have to depend on animal-based research. This excellent book is principally a handbook for the researchers in the field. It is an excellent resource for any new researcher. It is basically going to appeal the people in the field, but that does not detract from its value. Many neurosurgeons will enjoy looking through it and reading selected portions. This is a worthy successor to the 1972 text of Penry and Purpura.