Choi IY, Gruetter R, eds. Neural Metabolism In Vivo. Springer 2012, 1169 pages, 287 illustrations, $209.
The field of neurobiology and its application to translational medicine is extremely important. Neural Metabolism In Vivo provides a comprehensive review of the basic principles of cerebral metabolism and the state of the art imaging techniques that provide functional information of these complex processes. The book editors, Drs. In-Young Choi and Rolf Gruetter, have involved 99 expert authors and composed an 1169-page, 41-chapter hardcover book.
The book discusses the applications of several cutting edge quantitative techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, neuroreceptor imaging, optical imaging, microdialysis and microfiltration to characterize morphology, physiology, biochemical and energy metabolism of the brain. The book is divided into 5 sections that include: Non-invasive Methods for Neural Metabolism; In Vivo Assessment of Neural Activity Via Neurovascular Coupling; Cerebral Energy Metabolism and substrates In Vivo; In Vivo Assessment of Metabolic Compartmentation Between Neurons and Astrocytes; and Cerebral Metabolism of Antioxidants, Osmolytes and Others In Vivo.
The focus audience of this book would be for neuroscientists interested in translational research of brain metabolism and potential clinical application of a variety of brain pathologic processes. The concepts in this book form the basis of imaging biomarkers, a very important emerging neuroscience tool. Neuroradiologists that are interested in functional neuroradiology research will find the first section on non-invasive methods for neural metabolism most enlightening. The second part is also a good review of the physiological principles of neurovascular coupling and fMRI. Basic MRI physical principles and hardware are also reviewed.
The book is heavily weighted to a comprehensive review of brain metabolism, and there are a limited number of images in this book, which goes along with the neuroscientist target audience. The topic of imaging biomarkers is very timely, dealing with concepts that will undoubtedly evolve into greater research and clinical applications in the future. This section should be expanded in future editions to include more imaging examples. Also, given the length and the bulky 6 x 9 inch page format of the book, the next edition would work much better in a standard 81/2 x 11 inch page format.
Neural Metabolism In Vivo is a very good review of complex cerebral metabolism and the use of in vivo quantitative state of the art neuroimaging techniques. This book is recommended primarily to neuroscientists interested in brain biomarkers and translational neurobiology research.
