Easily understood, up-to-date and clinically relevant, this book provides junior anaesthetists with an essential physiology resource.

Intended for clinicians who perform electrodiagnostic procedures as an extension of their clinical examination, and for neurologists and physiatrists who are interested in neuromuscular disorders and noninvasive electrodiagnostic methods, particularly those practicing electromyography (EMG) this book provides a comprehensive review of most peripheral nerve and muscle diseases, including specific techniques and locations for performing each test.

The extremely potent substance botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) has attracted much interest in diverse fields. Originally identified as cause for the rare but deadly disease botulism, military and terrorist intended to misuse this sophisticated molecule as biological weapon. This caused its classification as select agent category A by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and the listing in the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. Later, the civilian use of BoNT as long acting peripheral muscle relaxant has turned this molecule into an indispensable pharmaceutical world wide with annual revenues >$1.5 billion. Also basic scientists value the botulinum neurotoxin as molecular tool for dissecting mechanisms of exocytosis. This book will cover the most recent molecular details of botulinum neurotoxin, its mechanism of action as well as its detection and application.

Part of the Oxford Textbooks in Clinical Neurology series, the Oxford Textbook of Clinical Neurophysiology includes sections that provide a summary of the basic science underlying neurophysiological techniques, a description of the techniques themselves, including normal values, and a description of the use of the techniques in clinical situations. Much of diagnostic neurophysiology is essentially pattern recognition which is illustrated throughout the text using audio and video examples. Divided into four key sections, this book begins with the scientific basis of clinical neurophysiology (Section 1) before exploring specific techniques including Electromyography, Intracranial EEG recordings, and Magnetoencephalography (Section 2). The final two sections explore clinical aspects of both the peripheral nervous system (Section 3) and the central nervous system (Section 4).

Although the perioperative care of patients by anesthesiologists draws on diverse clinical skills, the principles of anesthesiology and pain management are rooted in the neurosciences. The Neuroscientific Foundations of Anesthesiology thoroughly examines the anesthetic modulation of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems and will help redefine anesthesiology as a fundamentally neuroscientific field. The book is organized by sections, with each focusing on a different part of the nervous system. State-of-the-art chapters written by thought-leaders in anesthesiology and neuroscience provide a novel and invaluable resource.

In recent years our understanding of molecular mechanisms of drug action and interindividual variability in drug response has grown enormously. Meanwhile, the practice of anesthesiology has expanded to the preoperative environment and numerous locations outside the OR. Anesthetic Pharmacology: Basic Principles and Clinical Practice, 2nd edition, is an outstanding therapeutic resource in anesthesia and critical care: Section 1 introduces the principles of drug action, Section 2 presents the molecular, cellular and integrated physiology of the target organ/functional system and Section 3 reviews the pharmacology and toxicology of anesthetic drugs. The new Section 4, Therapeutics of Clinical Practice, provides integrated and comparative pharmacology and the practical application of drugs in daily clinical practice. Edited by three highly acclaimed academic anesthetic pharmacologists, with contributions from an international team of experts, and illustrated in full colour, this is a sophisticated, user-friendly resource for all practitioners providing care in the perioperative period.

Cellular Physiology of Nerve and Muscle, Fourth Edition offers a state of the art introduction to the basic physical, electrical and chemical principles central to the function of nerve and muscle cells. The text begins with an overview of the origin of electrical membrane potential, then clearly illustrates the cellular physiology of nerve cells and muscle cells. Throughout, this new edition simplifies difficult concepts with accessible models and straightforward descriptions of experimental results. An all-new introduction to electrical signaling in the nervous system. Expanded coverage of synaptic transmission and synaptic plasticity. A quantitative overview of the electrical properties of cells. New detailed illustrations.

At the Fifth International Neuromuscular Meeting held in Tokyo in 1994, leading experts in the field came together to discuss the physiology and pharmacology of neuromuscular receptor sites and neuromuscular blocking agents (NBAs). The proceedings of the meeting present a review of the history of muscle relaxants and a comprehensive examination of recent research, with a primary focus on clinical considerations. Among the topics covered by specific chapters are aspects of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), pharmacokinetics, metabolism and metabolites of neuromuscular blocking agents, and drug interaction. Presenting the most up-to-date knowledge of the physiology and pharmacology of the NMJ and NBAs, this volume will be highly valuable to clinicians and researchers in anesthesiology, physiology, and pharmacology.

Three distinct types of contractions perform colonic motility functions. Rhythmic phasic contractions (RPCs) cause slow net distal propulsion with extensive mixing/turning over. Infrequently occurring giant migrating contractions (GMCs) produce mass movements. Tonic contractions aid RPCs in their motor function. The spatiotemporal patterns of these contractions differ markedly. The amplitude and distance of propagation of a GMC are several-fold larger than those of an RPC. The enteric neurons and smooth muscle cells are the core regulators of all three types of contractions. The regulation of contractions by these mechanisms is modifiable by extrinsic factors: CNS, autonomic neurons, hormones, inflammatory mediators, and stress mediators. Only the GMCs produce descending inhibition, which accommodates the large bolus being propelled without increasing muscle tone. The strong compression of the colon wall generates afferent signals that are below nociceptive threshold in healthy subjects. However, these signals become nociceptive; if the amplitudes of GMCs increase, afferent nerves become hypersensitive, or descending inhibition is impaired. The GMCs also provide the force for rapid propulsion of feces and descending inhibition to relax the internal anal sphincter during defecation. The dysregulation of GMCs is a major factor in colonic motility disorders: irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and diverticular disease (DD). Frequent mass movements by GMCs cause diarrhea in diarrhea predominant IBS, IBD, and DD, while a decrease in the frequency of GMCs causes constipation. The GMCs generate the afferent signals for intermittent short-lived episodes of abdominal cramping in these disorders. Epigenetic dysregulation due to adverse events in early life is one of the major factors in generating the symptoms of IBS in adulthood.