Editorial Comment

Table of Contents

With the recognition of pediatric neurology as a distinct subspecialty with three years of structured training in Germany this year and with the approval of a European Paediatric Neurology Training Programme both by the Confederation of European Specialists in Paediatrics (CESP) of UEMS in December 2002 and by the Neurology Section of UEMS/Board of Neurology in March 2003 the field of neuropediatrics has taken a great step forward. In particular, the structured training will no doubt improve qualification of the individual doctor on one hand, but also help to safely anchor this subspecialty in academic structures such as universities or postgraduate medical schools.

Emphasis on the field-specific needs and skills should, however, not blur the vision for the vast clinical field covered by the neurosciences in their application to the development and diseases of children. The borders to the neighbouring fields are never sharp, and both at the everyday clinical level and at the scientific level crossing borders rather has a fertilizing effect. It is in this sense that Neuropediatrics has included articles on the varying topics of neurooncology [[1]], neuroimmunology [[2]], or the battered child from a forensic view [[3]].

Most of the disorders met with in pediatric neurology are rare. It is therefore not surprising that reports on rare and even new disorders are regular features of the Journal [[4], [5], [6]]. At the same time, while international efforts are increasingly geared towards channelling rare diseases into structured diagnostic or therapeutic networks (http://www.orpha.net/) such systematic approaches to rare disorders are also reflected in this year's publications such as the results of the first three years of the Swiss Neuropediatric Stroke Registry [[7]].

In spite of the seemingly overwhelming contribution of genetics to the diagnosis of neurological disorders in children Neuropediatrics is also proud to have published diagnostic breakthroughs which represent rather methodological innovation such as the sometimes higher diagnostic yield of liver over muscle biopsies in mitochondrial disorders [[8]] or the surprisingly simple and effective biochemical diagnosis of Alexander disease through determination of GFAP levels in CSF [[9]].

The variation and scientific depth of such a vast field could never be managed without the expert support of the members of the Editorial Board. The Journal gratefully acknowledges the wise council and help over many years from the outgoing Asian Editor, Prof. Kazuyoshi Watanabe, Nagoya, and warmly welcomes the new Asian Editor, Prof. Tsunekazu Yamano, Osaka. The Editor and the Journal are also deeply grateful to Dr. Mary King, Dublin, for her longstanding advice and support and welcome Dr. Barbara Plecko, Graz, as a new member of the Editorial Board. Moreover, the Editorial Board heavily relies on the expertise and support from scientists whose reviews significantly sharpen and shape the content of the manuscripts. Their names, with all due thanks, are listed below.

Finally, as indicated by an August Editorial, Neuropediatrics has gone electronic. This will ensure transparency and even more efficient handling of the steady manuscript flow.

Thomas Voit

Executive Editor

References

• 1 Calaminus G, Bamberg M, Harms D, Jurgens H, Kortmann R D, Sorensen N, Wiestler O D, Gobel U. AFP/beta-HCG secreting CNS germ cell tumors: long-term outcome with respect to initial symptoms and primary tumor resection. Results of the cooperative trial MAKEI 89.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 71-77
• 2 Rostasy K M. Inflammation and neuroaxonal injury in multiple sclerosis and AIDS dementia complex: implications for neuroprotective treatment.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 230-239
• 3 Oehmichen M, Meissner C, Saternus K S. Fall or shaken: traumatic brain injury in children caused by falls or abuse at home - a review on biomechanics and diagnosis.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 240-245
• 4 Fidzianska A, Kaminska A, Ryniewicz B. Congenital myopathy with tubular aggregates and tubulofilamentous IBM-type inclusions.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 35-39
• 5 Elleder M, Jerabkova M, Befekadu A, Hrebicek M, Berna L, Ledvinova J, Hulkova H, Rosewich H, Schymik N, Paton B C, Harzer K. Prosaposin deficiency - a rarely diagnosed, rapidly progressing, neonatal neurovisceral lipid storage disease. Report of a further patient.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 171-180
• 6 Pavone P, Incorpora G, Ruggieri M. A complex brain malformation syndrome with rhombencephalosynapsis, preaxial hexadactyly plus facial and skull anomalies.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 279-283
• 7 Steinlin M, Pfister I, Pavlovic J, Everts R, Boltshauser E, Capone Mori A, Gubser Mercati D, Hanggeli C A, Keller E, Luetschg J, Marcoz J, Ramelli G P, Roulet Perez E, Schmitt-Mechelke T, Weissert M. the Swiss Societies of Paediatric Neurology and Neonatology . The first three years of the Swiss Neuropaediatric Stroke Registry (SNPSR): a population-based study of incidence, symptoms and risk factors.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 90-97
• 8 Panetta J, Gibson K, Kirby D M, Thorburn D R, Boneh A. The importance of liver biopsy in the investigation of possible mitochondrial respiratory chain disease.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 256-259
• 9 Kyllerman M, Rosengren L, Wiklund L M, Holmberg E. Increased levels of GFAP in the cerebrospinal fluid in three subtypes of genetically confirmed Alexander disease.  Neuropediatrics. 2005;  36 319-323

Reviewers Consulted in 2005

Amthor, H

Angelini, L

Arzimanoglou, A

Ballauff, A

Bertini, E

Bourgeois, B

Brandl, U

Brockmann, K

Camfield, CS

Chiron, C

Conzelmann, E

Crow, J

Dammann, O

Dobyns, WB

Duffner, P

Forssberg, H

Gordon, N

Harzer, K

Heinen, F

Huppi, P

Hornyak, N

Ikonomidou, H

Jackson, L

Jansen, T

Kauschke, C

Kölker, S

Kohlschütter, A

Kramer, H

Kremens, B

Limmroth, V

Lochmüller, H

McLaughlin, JF

Munnich, A

Müller, SP

Neubauer, G

Nowak-Göttel, U

Omran, H

Plecko, B

Rasmussen, M

Rating, D

Reis, J

Rodnitzky, RL

Rostasy, K

Ruggieri, M

Rourke, BP

Schröder, JM

Senderek, J

Shane, AM

Staudt, M

Steinlein, O

Stephani, U

Sukonen, J

Surendran, S

Timmann-Braun, D

Thron, A

Throttenberg, T

Tulinius, M

Turnbull, D

Tuxhorn, J

Ullrich, K

Uyanik, G

Vielringer, A

Vincent, A

Vondris, KA

Walczak, TS

Walters, A

Wirrel, E

Zadik, Z