Bioelectronic modulation of carotid sinus nerve activity in the rat: a potential therapeutic approach for type 2 diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: A new class of treatments termed bioelectronic medicines are now emerging that aim to target individual nerve fibres or specific brain circuits in pathological conditions to repair lost function and reinstate a healthy balance. Carotid sinus nerve (CSN) denervation has been shown to improve glucose homeostasis in insulin-resistant and glucose-intolerant rats; however, these positive effects from surgery appear to diminish over time and are heavily caveated by the severe adverse effects associated with permanent loss of chemosensory function. Herein we characterise the ability of a novel bioelectronic application, classified as kilohertz frequency alternating current (KHFAC) modulation, to suppress neural signals within the CSN of rodents.

Fraud and deceit in medical research.

Fraud and deceit in medical research is a serious issue that may be more prevalent than currently thought. This article examines the extent and history of medical research fraud and looks at the current and future mechanisms for detection and prevention.

Cytokeratins in primary cutaneous amyloidosis.

The expression of keratins was investigated immunohistochemically on formalin-fixed and snap-frozen primary cutaneous amyloidosis tissue with a panel of monospecific and polyspecific antikeratin antibodies, with recognized keratins K1, K5, K6, K7, K8, K10, K14, K16, K17, K18 and K19. Amyloid deposits in frozen sections of seven cases of macular amyloidosis and lichen amyloidosus always reacted with antibodies LP34 (labelling K5, K6 and K18), MNF 116 (labelling K5, K6, K8, K10, K17 and K18), and RCK 102 (labelling K5 and K8); frozen sections in one case each of the seven cases also reacted with antibodies LL001 (labelling K14), LP1K (labelling K7 and K17), and LP2K (labelling K19). In formalin-fixed sections of 13 cases of macular amyloidosis and lichen amyloidosus, amyloid deposits were labelled with LP34 in three sections, MNF 116 in four sections, LL020 (labelling keratins K5 and K6) in one section, and LP2K in two sections.

Excision of selected skin tumours using Mohs' micrographic surgery with horizontal paraffin-embedded sections.

Histological interpretation of frozen sections made during Mohs' micrographic surgery may be difficult, depending on the morphological and staining characteristics of the tumour and on the nature of the associated inflammatory infiltrate. We have employed an adaptation of micrographic surgery in which horizontal, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were used to improve histological assessment in the excision of 18 non-melanoma skin tumours in which frozen sections had been or were likely to be unsatisfactory. We describe our experience of this method in the management of squamous cell carcinomas (11), extramammary Paget's disease (two), microcystic adnexal cell carcinomas (two), dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (two), and primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma (Merkel cell carcinoma) (one).

Basal cell carcinoma: rapid techniques using cytokeratin markers to assist treatment by micrographic (Mohs') surgery.

In micrographic (Mohs') surgery, routine haematoxylin and eosin stains may present difficulties in interpretation of infiltrative (morphoeic) basal cell carcinoma. To supplement these routine stains rapid immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence techniques are described using cytokeratin markers Dako LP34, MNF 116 or Novocastra NCL-Pan CK on frozen sections to help in the histological evaluation of these tumours.