The editors of this short book have drawn together theProceedings of the 6th International Symposium on Mechanisms of Secondary Brain Damage including Novel Developments, which was held in Mauls/Sterzing, Italy in February 1998. It takes the form of a supplement forActa Neurochirurgica, which traditionally contributed significantly to the subject.

The topics covered are variable, written by multiple authors from different nations. They address both the experimental and clinical aspects of brain injury in ischaemia, touching on modern concepts. They are organised under the headings of molecular and cellular mechanisms, cerebral ischaemia, and remaining problems in severe head injury. Each chapter provides comprehensive up to date references.

Although clinical issues are touched on, the general theme of the book is promoting novel ideas in experimental brain ischaemia and their potential extrapolation into the clinical field. As such, it is of great interest to those involved in the experimentation of cerebral trauma and ischaemia, and to those clinicians with a very high subspecialty interest in this arena. Although most of the chapters are of high calibre, those addressing mechanisms of secondary mitochondrial failure, molecular signals for glial activation, gene expression, and recovery from cerebral ischaemia and modelling of the ischaemic penumbra I found particularly informative.