Encephalomyelitis

Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are serious, debilitating conditions that affect millions of people in the United States and around the world. ME/CFS can cause significant impairment and disability. Despite substantial efforts by researchers to better understand ME/CFS, there is no known cause or effective treatment. Diagnosing the disease remains a challenge, and patients often struggle with their illness for years before an identification is made. Some health care providers have been skeptical about the serious physiological - rather than psychological - nature of the illness. Once diagnosed, patients often complain of receiving hostility from their health care provider as well as being subjected to treatment strategies that exacerbate their symptoms. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome proposes new diagnostic clinical criteria for ME/CFS and a new term for the illness - systemic exertion intolerance disease(SEID). According to this report, the term myalgic encephalomyelitis does not accurately describe this illness, and the term chronic fatigue syndrome can result in trivialization and stigmatization for patients afflicted with this illness. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome stresses that SEID is a medical - not a psychiatric or psychological - illness. This report lists the major symptoms of SEID and recommends a diagnostic process.One of the report's most important conclusions is that a thorough history, physical examination, and targeted work-up are necessary and often sufficient for diagnosis. The new criteria will allow a large percentage of undiagnosed patients to receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate care. Beyond Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome will be a valuable resource to promote the prompt diagnosis of patients with this complex, multisystem, and often devastating disorder; enhance public understanding; and provide a firm foundation for future improvements in diagnosis and treatment.

Autoimmune Neurology presents the latest information on autoimmune neurologic disease, the immune response to the body where organs run wild, causing the immune system to attack itself. Autoimmunity is a main element in numerous nervous system diseases and can target any structure within the central or peripheral nervous system. Over the past 20 years, significant advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of autoimmune disorders, including the use of biomarkers has led to new diagnosis and treatment options. Neurologic conditions associated with autoimmune reactions include dementia, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, sleep disorders, diabetes, and other common neurologic disorders and disease. This current tutorial-reference will be a must-have title for clinical neurologists, research neurologists, neuroscientists, and any medical professional working with autoimmune disease and disorders. Includes comprehensive coverage of autoimmune neurology Details the latest techniques for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders, including dementia, neuromuscular disease, epilepsy, and sleep disorders Presents a focused reference for clinical practitioners and the clinical neurology and neurology research communities

Multiple Sclerosis and CNS Inflammatory Disorders is a practical guide to effective care of patients with multiple sclerosis and other neuroimmunologic and CNS inflammatory disorders. It provides the scientific basis of multiple sclerosis including etiology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. It covers the diagnostic process, the course of the disease and prognosis, and the use of MRI in diagnosis and disease monitoring. Disease-modifying treatment algorithms for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, switching therapy, and progressive multiple sclerosis treatment algorithms are all discussed in detail. It also addresses multiple sclerosis in childhood and pregnancy and includes assessment of alternative therapies. This new addition to the Neurology in Practice series contains practical guidance and learning features: • Algorithms and guidelines • “Tips and Tricks” boxes on improving outcomes • “Caution” warning boxes to avoiding problems • “Science Revisited”—quick reminders of the basic science principles necessary for understanding Multiple Sclerosis and CNS Inflammatory Disorders is an ideal reference for neurologists in practice and training.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now considered the imaging modality of choice for the majority of disorders affecting the central nervous system. This is particularly true for gray and white matter disorders, thanks to the superb soft tis sue contrast in MRI which allows gray matter, unmyelinated, and myelinated white matter to be distinguished and their respective disorders identified. The pre sent book is devoted to the disorders of myelin and myelination. A growing amount of detailed in vivo information about myelin, myelination, and myelin dis orders has been derived both from MRI and from MR spectroscopy (MRS). This prompted us to review the clinical, laboratory, biochemical, and pathological data on this subject in order to integrate all available information and to provide im proved insights into normal and disordered myelin and myelination. We will show how the synthesis of all available information contributes to the interpretation of MR images. After a brief historical review about the increasing knowledge on myelin and my elin disorders, we propose a new classification of myelin disorders based on the subcellular localization of the enzymatic defects as far as the inborn errors of me tabolism are concerned. This classification serves as a guide throughout the book. All items of the classification will be discussed and, whenever relevant and possi ble, be illustrated by MR images.

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis - Models, Disease Biology and Experimental Therapy is totally focused on the model of multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The book chapters give a very good and in depth overview about the currently existing and most used EAE models. In addition, chapters dealing with novel experimental therapeutic approaches demonstrate the usefulness of the EAE model for MS research. With an international perspective, this book features contributions from authors throughout the world, Australia, Germany, Japan, Spain, Taiwan, and USA. There is an impressive international Faculty that provides insight into current research themes. This further demonstrates the importance of EAE in research all over the world. The book will provide established researchers and students with novel insights and guidance for their research and will help to push the field forward.