Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for regulating glucose levels, including treating diabetes, in accordance with the present disclosure may include a catheter having an expandable or inflatable portion, one or more electrodes disposed on the expandable or inflatable portion of the catheter, wherein the electrodes are configured to deliver energy to a patient's gastrointestinal tract, and a drug delivery mechanism for delivering a drug therapy subsequent to energy delivery by the electrodes. A method for regulating glucose levels according to the present disclosure may include inserting a catheter into a patient's gastrointestinal tract, positioning the catheter in a duodenum of the patient's gastrointestinal tract, expanding or inflating a portion of the catheter in the duodenum, the expandable or inflatable portion of the catheter including electrodes, applying energy to the duodenum via the electrodes to ablate tissue of the duodenum, and delivering a drug therapy to the ablated tissue of the duodenum.

Abstract: This document provides endotracheal tube designs with features that can improve the efficacy, patient safety, and efficiency of endobronchial access. For example, this document provides endotracheal tube designs with features for atraumatic passage of the tube's distal tip through the vocal folds. In addition, this document provides endotracheal tubes that have variations in strength and flexibility properties along the length of the tube in an advantageous pattern to enhance the efficacy of the endotracheal tube.

Abstract: This document provides medical device systems and methods for obtaining tissue samples. For example, this document provides medical device systems and methods for transbronchial needle biopsy tissue acquisition. In some cases, a needle biopsy system includes an actuator device, an outer needle with a lumen therethrough, and an inner needle at least partially disposed within the lumen. The outer needle can extend distally from the actuator device. A distal tip of the inner needle can be capable of being fully disposed within the lumen. The inner needle can extend distally from the actuator device. The actuator device can be configured to translate the outer needle proximally and distally. The actuator device can be configured to translate the inner needle proximally and distally independently of the outer needle.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, surgical meshes are provided which release one or more antimicrobial agents in an amount sufficient to reduce the risk of microbial infection upon implantation of the mesh. Other aspects of the invention pertain to methods of making and using such surgical meshes.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, medical devices are provided that comprise a substrate, at least one therapeutic agent disposed over or in the substrate, and at least one inorganic layer disposed over the therapeutic agent and the substrate, wherein the inorganic layer is either a porous inorganic layer or is a non-porous layer that becomes a porous inorganic layer in vivo. Other aspects of the invention comprise methods for forming medical devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for field-injection electrostatic spray deposition of medical devices like stents. The apparatus includes a medical device holder, which applies a first electrical potential to the medical device, and an electrically insulative electrostatic spray dispensing device having an electrically conductive electrode, which applies a second electrical potential, creating an electrical potential difference sufficient to attract charged coating material particles emitted from an orifice of the dispensing device toward the medical device. The electrode may be sharpened to create a localized, high-strength electric field to improve the charge injection into the coating material or coating solution.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for killing internal parasites, especially trematodes or nematodes, affecting warm blooded animals such as cattle, sheep and goats by administering an effective amount of a composition containing as active ingredient a compound of the formula ##STR1## Certain of the compounds of formula I are novel and in further embodiments the invention provides novel compounds and compositions for use in the process of the invention. The process of the invention is especially applicable to the tretment of warm blooded animals infected with the trematodes Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke).

Abstract: A process for killing internal parasites of warm blooded animals which process comprises treating the infected animal with an effective amount of a composition comprising as active ingredient a compound of the general formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkenoyl, aroyl or CH.sub.2 COOR.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; B, C and D, which may be the same or different, are halogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, or COR.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is hydroxy, lower alkoxy or NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen or lower alkyl; A, E, X, Y and Z, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, or COR.sup.5 wherein R.

Abstract: A method for killing internal parasites of warm blooded animals by treating the animals with an effective amount of a composition comprising a bis-(2-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)methane derivative; and novel bis(2-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)methane derivatives.

Abstract: A process for killing internal parasites of warm blooded animals which process comprises treating the infected animal with an effective amount of a composition comprising as active ingredient a compound of the general formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkanoyl, lower alkenoyl, aroyl or CH.sub.2 COOR.sup.4 wherein R.sup.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl; B, C and D, which may be the same or different, are halogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, or COR.sup.5 wherein R.sup.5 is hydroxy, lower alkoxy or NR.sup.6 R.sup.7 wherein R.sup.6 and R.sup.7, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen or lower alkyl; A, E, X, Y and Z, which may be the same or different, are hydrogen, halogen, optionally substituted lower alkyl, optionally substituted aryl, lower alkenyl, lower alkoxy, hydroxy, cyano, nitro, or COR.sup.5 wherein R.