Viewpoint in 2005

Currently, there is considerable scientific interest in modes of imaging that rely on the metabolic characteristics of tissues. Metabolic imaging is emerging as a promising diagnostic tool for the evaluation of cerebral gliomas, although it remains to be seen whether treatment decisions based on this approach will produce significant improvements in outcome.

It is estimated that epilepsy affects up to 1% of the world's population, and although many patients derive considerable benefits from antiepileptic drugs or resective surgery, new therapeutic approaches are still needed. In this Viewpoint, William Theodore assesses the potential of techniques that involve direct or indirect electrical stimulation of the epileptic focus.

Autoantibodies against nerve glycosphingolipid antigens have been shown to have a central role in Guillain–Barré syndrome pathogenesis. Until recently, research has focused on antibody reactivity to highly purified single species of gangliosides, but new findings highlight the importance of analyzing antibody reactivity to ganglioside complexes.

Spinal fusion is the conventional surgical option for treating degenerative disc disease, but it can decrease the spine's overall range of motion, thereby increasing stress on adjacent discs and accelerating their degeneration. Artificial disc replacement should allow motion to be retained at the operative level, and the results of initial trials have been encouraging, but randomized studies are still needed to assess the long-term outcome of this procedure.