New on PubMed:

Investigation of the regeneration potential of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) after compression injury, using neuromonitoring.

Moskalenko V, Hüller M, Gasser M, Demidchik Y, Thiede A, Timm S, Ulrichs K, Hamelmann W.

Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Hospital of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstr. 1, D-55131, Mainz, Germany. moskalenko@tut.by

INTRODUCTION:

The aim of this study was to investigate the regeneration potential of RLN after the compression of the nerve, without disrupting its continuity, using neuromonitoring.

METHODS: In the first operation, the RLN and nervus vagus of adult Goettingen minipigs were dissected free, and the neuromonitoring parameters (amplitude, threshold and lag time of signal) were measured. Injury of the RLN was induced using a "bulldog" clamp. When the signal was no longer detectable, after the 15 min regeneration phase, the operation was finished. The neuromonitoring studies (see above) were repeated in a second operation 6 months later. RESULTS: (1) After the first operation, acute clamping of the RLN led to a reduction in the amplitude of the neuromonitoring signal; the lag time and the threshold of signal remained. Complete restitution of the signal was observed during the first regeneration phase. Repeated clamping led to complete disappearance of the signal. (2) During the second operation, i.e., after 6 months of regeneration, the neuromonitoring signals of both RLN and nervus vagus were detected in 93% of the GMP. No statistical differences (p = 0.17) were noticed between the amplitude of the RLN before the nerve injury (first operation) and after nerve regeneration (second operation). A significant increase in the lag time (p <>

PMID: 18751999 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Nature Magazine and Review on Microscopy?

When I saw this news about "Nature Magazine's recent reviews on Microscopy,
I thought this is a good news for lots of readers and microscopy
specialists. I was thinking of writing about Microscopy and my personal
experiences in using various microscopes, good to know Nature carried out
this in the latest issue.

Out of the plethora of topics that I specialized during my graduation and research years, microscopy and tissue culture was one of them. I have been using microscopes ranging from a very basic compound microscope to dissection microcopes, bright field and phase contrast microscopes to microscopes with convulution set up, fluroscent microscope, TEM-Transmission Electron Microscope and 3D access Confocal Microscope...! I served as the editor of Connecticut Microscopy Society for a year and also helped in editorial for another year or so. This is just a honorary job and no support or financial help given, it is soley a interest in microscope based service to the society. For this service, I received Governors certificate of achievement and service from the Connecticut state Gov Jody Rell, my insterest in microscopy goes way back to school days and it is quite humbling to realize, sustained interest and practice leads to rewards and recognition. I will soon write more about microscopes.

For those who are interested to learn about the microcope and it's great use in
discovery, here is the Nature Journal editorial.

Nature Editorial:
Nature 459, 615 (4 June 2009) Microscopic marvels

Abstract
Microscopes are changing the face of biology. Researchers should innovate and collaborate if they want to be part of the new vision.
Watching molecular-scale events unfold in a living cell can be an inspiring experience. The inner workings of the nucleus, the shuttling of cellular cargo, the passage of messages through a membrane — seeing this tumultuous activity up close can fire the scientific imagination in a way that abstract data from genetic sequences or chemical analyses can never quite equal.