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Introduction. The carotid body is a chemoreceptor organ and the initial link of the reflex regulation of car-diovascular and respiratory systems. However, molecular genetic and immunohistochemical characteristics of the human carotid body remains underinvestigated. Although there are numerous studies of the second half of the 20th century devoted to the classical light-optical histology of the human organ, the immunohis-tochemical investigations are very few. The aim of our study was to clarify immunohistochemical features of the human carotid body in comparison with those of the most commonly used laboratory animals. Materials and methods. The study was performed on 10 carotid bodies of the adult human of different ages of both sexes using immunoperoxidase labeling with antibodies to bIII-tubulin, tyrosine hydroxylase, syn-aptophysin, PGP9.5, neurofilaments 200kDa, S100, and GFAP. Results. Nerve fibers passing between the lobules, as well as entering them, were positive for bIII-tubulin, tyrosine hydroxylase, PGP9.5 and neurofilaments. Type I cells had cytoplasmic reaction for bIII-tubulin and synaptophysin as well as cytoplasmic and nuclear staining for PGP9.5. At the same time, they had weaker reaction for tyrosine hydroxylase. Type II cells were positive for GFAP and S100. Conclusion. Immunohistochemical characteristics of the human carotid body were similar to those of rats and mice. The human carotid body cells and nerve fibers showed the same distribution of PGP9.5, bIII-tubulin, synaptophysin, neurofilaments, GFAP and S100 as rat and mouse carotid body cells. However, human carotid body reaction for tyrosine hydroxylase was much lower, which may indicate a smaller amount of synthesized catecholamines compared to the carotid body in rats and mice. Keywords: human carotid body, immunohistochemistry, sympathoadrenal system, tyrosine hydroxylase

Postmortem changes occurring in human carotid body were simulated on the Wistar rat model. It was shown that light, dark, and pyknotic (progenitor) subtypes of human carotid body cells are an artifact and cannot be used in clinical practice to study the characteristics of various human diseases. The differences between the control group of healthy individuals and individuals with the various pathologies are most likely due to the different levels of premortal hypoxia that the tissue had been exposed to. Moreover, widespread antigens used in practice were divided into 2 groups by their tolerance to autolysis: stable and unstable ones. This can be useful for the development of immunohistochemical test algorithms for the diagnostics on autopsy material.

Introduction. The cells in adrenal medulla, carotid body and the organ of Zuckerkandl have the common origin from the neural crest. Nevertheless, despite the similarity in both histological and biochemical characteristics of these organs, contemporary scientific paradigm contrasts the carotid body with the adrenal gland and the organ of Zuckerkandl. The adrenal gland and the organ of Zuckerkandl are considered to function as endocrine glands whereas carotid body is thought to be a chemoreceptor organ. The endocrine function of the carotid body is still in question. The aim of the work was to evaluate the possibility of the presence of endocrine function by the carotid body in the embryonic, prefetal and early fetal period of human development by immunohistochemistry and compare it with the function of the organ of Zuckerkandl and the adrenal medulla. Materials and methods. The study was performed on 5 fetal autopsies (gestational age 8–20 weeks) using immunoperoxidase labeling with antibodies to bIII-tubulin, tyrosine hydroxylase, synaptophysin and PGP9.5. Results. In all samples of the carotid body, the organ of Zuckerkandl and the adrenal medulla, the cells showed a positive reaction to all the markers. All carotid bodies showed very high TH/bIII ratio approaching unity. The organ of Zuckerkandl in all fetus showed much higher TH/bIII ratio than that inthe carotid body. In the adrenal glands at 11–20 weeks of gestation TH/bIII ratio was even greater. In the adrenal gland in 8-week embryo this ratio was lower than in the carotid body. Conclusion. We have showed that the number of TH-positive cells in the carotid body in the embryonic and early fetal periods is much higher than in postnatal period. Our data may indicate endocrine function of the carotid body during the antenatal period of development. Thus, the carotid body is likely to synthesize catecholamines while the adrenal medulla is functionally immature and cannot support the body’s homeostasis. Keywords: sympathoadrenal system, human development, carotid body, organ of Zuckerkandl, adrenal gland.

Submerged ship surfaces are often inhabited by diverse sessile and sedentary marine organisms, which can directly impact vessel operations and increase the likelihood of non-indigenous species (NIS) establishment and impacts. Ship in-water cleaning (IWC) systems are now being incorporated into biofouling policy, and rigorous, transparent, and predictive verification testing is vital to regulatory success. Performance criteria for IWC approval should focus on environmental protection goals by including: qualified and independent testing; quantitative, robust, and statistically sound data, rather than qualitative observations; water sampling at all critical control points to characterize the release of harmful materials, including dissolved and particulate biocides; measurable and protective endpoints, rather than percent reductions; determinations of presence or absence of macro-organisms, irrespective of species origins or physiological state; and appropriately trained IWC operators.

Introduction Due the low incidence of impending inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) erosion, low volume implanters may be challenged by these cases. In many situations, capsule formation around the implant may suffice to hinder cylinder migration. Nevertheless, severe cases may require prompt recognition and repair otherwise will transform into infected implantations once the implant exits the skin. Objective In this step-by-step video we demonstrate the Mulcahy technique for distal corporoplasty and cylinder realignment performed on a case of impending left side IPP erosion. We hope this video serves as an instructive resource for treating these particular cases. Methods Our case was a male patient who had a previously challenging implant revision with difficult corporal dilation into severely scarred corporal bodies. This may have been the potential cause for this complication. Through a conventional penoscrotal access, we began by utilizing the cutting current to access and explant all components of the old implant. Due to the difficulty in reservoir removal, we opted to drain it and leave it in place (“Drain and retain”). In addition to the conventional instruments required for IPP implantation, the special instruments we utilized were the Wilson's backward cutting scissors as well as the Uramix cavernotomes (http://www.uramix.com/category/og/). A second small incision was performed localized at the site of presumed distal corporal perforation for access and repair of the problem. After creating the correct corporal pathway and obliterating the false track, hence concluding distal corporoplasty, a new IPP was implanted. The new reservoir was implanted ectopically, contralateral to the retained one. Although the original technique does not include device exchange and wash out, we preferred the latter to avoid the increased risk of infection associated with same device revision implantations. Results A new IPP was successfully implanted into the newly realigned distal corporal pathway. The patient demonstrated an eventless postoperative follow-up period. After 7 months of implant usage, the patient had a normal looking erect penis and was highly satisfied with his implant. Conclusions We consider the Mulcahy distal corporoplasty to be a safe and feasible approach to address the daunting complication of impending IPP cylinder erosion, excluding the need for total corporal exposure. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Coloplast

The evolutionary and ontogenetic development of the carotid body is still understudied. Research aimed at studying the comparative morphology of the organ at different periods in the individual development of various animal species should play a crucial role in understanding the physiology of the carotid body. However, despite more than two centuries of study, the human carotid body remains poorly understood. There are many knowledge gaps in particular related to the antenatal development of this structure. The aim of our work is to study the morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the human carotid body in the antenatal and postnatal periods of development. We investigated the human carotid bodies from 1 embryo, 20 fetuses and 13 adults of different ages using samples obtained at autopsy. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of βIII-tubulin and tyrosine hydroxylase in the type I cells and nerve fibers at all periods of ontogenesis, synaptophysin and PGP9.5 in the type I cells in some of the antenatal cases and all of the postnatal cases, 200 kDa neurofilaments in nerve fibers in some of the antenatal cases and all of the postnatal cases, and GFAP and S100 in the type II cells and Schwann cells in some of the antenatal cases and all of the postnatal cases. A high level of tyrosine hydroxylase in the type I cells was a distinctive feature of the antenatal carotid bodies. On the contrary, in the type I cells of adults, the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase was significantly lower. Our data suggest that the human carotid body may perform an endocrine function in the antenatal period, while in the postnatal period of development, it loses this function and becomes a chemosensory organ.

The Inferior Fronto-Occipital fascicle (IFOF) is a multitasking white matter (WM) bundle bridging frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobe. Many papers describe its role in the physiology of language, attention and affective behavior but its anatomical components and cortical terminations remain unclear. We analyze the surgical anatomy of the IFOF in the light of our experience with awake surgery, anatomical dissection on 10 human adult hemispheres (Klingler method) and literature review. Dissecting the specimens from lateral to medial we can describe 3 segments: a vertical segment that runs along the frontal lobe; an horizontal segment that runs along frontal lobe; an horizontal segment that runs from the limen insulae, passes into to the temporal stem and arrives at the parietal and occipital lobes. We retrospectively analyzed also 23 awake surgeries. 2 responses were elicited at subcortical stimulation at the third segment of the IFOF; stimulation gave paraphasias on the first segment of the IFOF in one case. All IFOF responses were founded in the left hemisphere. Anatomical knowledge is the cornerstone of surgical orientation, it allows eloquent structures to be reached quickly and it is of primary importance in awake surgery to avoid patient fatigue with lack of concentration.