Caveats still apply

Vagus rules still apply.

VNS has been proposed for treatment-resistant depression. A single, randomized controlled trial found no significant difference between real and sham VNS after 10 weeks. However, open studies suggest that prolonged treatment may be beneficial. Similar to other investigational neuromodulation techniques [e.g. transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), deep brain stimulation (DBS)], interpretation ...

Measuring dengue enhancing antibodies: caveats.

To the Editor-Laoprasopwattana et al. [1] concluded that "levels of preillness plasma EA [enhancing activity] or DV [dengue virus] infection in K562 cells did not correlate with the clinical severity or viral burden of secondary DV infection" (p. 510). Sadly, serious flaws in their study's design and methodology preclude rigorous interpretation of these data. Nonetheless, the authors have ident...

RNA interference: Perspectives and caveats

RNA interference (RNAi) can still be regarded as a recently discovered phenomenon, but it has already made its way as a widely used method in molecular biology. In 1998, Andrew Fire and Craig Mello were the first to describe the mechanism of RNAi in the nematode C. elegans (Fire et al, 1998). Long double-stranded RNA molecules were found to mediate posttranscriptional silencing of genes with a ...

Understanding stress: characteristics and caveats.

Exposure to stressful situations is among the most common human experiences. These types of situations can range from unexpected calamities to routine daily annoyances. In response to stressors, a series of behavioral, neurochemical, and immunological changes occur that ought to serve in an adaptive capacity. However, if those systems become overly taxed, the organism may become vulnerable to p...

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