Localization of ceramide and glucosylceramide in human epidermis by immunogold electron microscopy.

Ceramides and glucosylceramides are pivotal molecules in multiple biologic processes such as apoptosis, signal transduction, and mitogenesis. In addition, ceramides are major structural components of the epidermal permeability barrier. The barrier ceramides derive mainly from the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucosylceramides.

EnVision+, a new dextran polymer-based signal enhancement technique for in situ hybridization (ISH).

Seventy paraffin-embedded cervical biopsy specimens and condylomata were tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) by conventional in situ hybridization (ISH) and ISH with subsequent signal amplification. Signal amplification was performed either by a commercial biotinyl-tyramide-based detection system [GenPoint (GP)] or by the novel two-layer dextran polymer visualization system EnVision+ (EV), in which both EV-horseradish peroxidase (EV-HRP) and EV-alkaline phosphatase (EV-AP) were applied. We could demonstrate for the first time, that EV in combination with preceding ISH results in a considerable increase in signal intensity and sensitivity without loss of specificity compared to conventional ISH.

The prognostic value of the expression of collagenase IV, cathepsin D and metallothionein in squamous cell carcinomas of the skin determined by immunohistochemistry.

We analyzed 53 specimens from primary squamous cell carcinomas of the skin for the expression of collagenase IV, cathepsin D and metallothionein by means of immunohistochemistry along with histological data. We compared tumors that metastasized (30) with tumors that did not (23) during a follow-up period of at least 5 years. The expression of the two proteolytic enzymes cathepsin D and collagenase IV was also assessed at the invading front of the tumors.

Diagnostic value of immunohistochemically detected surfactant--apoprotein-A in malignant tumors located in the lungs: report of two cases.

We report two cases of patients suffering from multiple tumors in the lungs with questionable origin. In these cases, the expression of Surfactant-apoprotein-A (SP-A) by the tumor cells has been a helpful feature in the process of diagnosis by indicating primary carcinomas of the lungs. Surfactant-apoprotein-A is expressed by the pneumocytes II in lung tissue and a portion of non-small cell lung carcinomas and has not yet been found to be expressed by other tumors when detected immunohistochemically by use of the monoclonal antibody PE-10.

A receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP zeta is expressed in human cutaneous melanomas.

We describe the expression of a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP zeta (or RPTP beta) in human cutaneous melanomas as detected by means of immunohistochemistry. The expression of PTP zeta has been described to be restricted to the central nervous system. In developing mice brain high levels of PTP zeta have been detected indicating its developmental importance; PTP zeta is also expressed in glioblastoma and neuroblastoma.

DNA-printing: utilization of a standard inkjet printer for the transfer of nucleic acids to solid supports.

The use of total cDNA as a probe for hybridization enables the transcription level of a large number of genes to be analyzed at the same time. Some effort has been spent to develop high density gene arrays on different solid supports to facilitate this hybridization. We achieved a high resolution by utilizing inkjet printer technology as a useful alternative to blotting the target genes onto a membrane.

Epipodite and fat cells as sites of hemoglobin synthesis in the branchiopod crustacean Daphnia magna.

In contrast to the malacostracan crustaceans that use hemocyanin as the oxygen carrier, a number of branchiopod crustaceans, such as the water flea Daphnia magna, utilize hemoglobin (Hb) as the respiratory protein. By means of in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques with subsequent signal amplification using catalyzed reporter deposition, sites of Hb synthesis were localized in Daphnia magna. Based on a previously reported Hb-cDNA sequence, a specific ISH probe was designed and hybridized with the Hb-mRNA in histological sections of adult D.

The expression of proteolytic enzymes at the dermal invading front of primary cutaneous melanoma predicts metastasis.

The expression of three proteinases Cathepsin B (Cath. B), Cathepsin D (Cath. D) and Collagenase IV (Coll.

Prognostic classification of malignant melanomas by combining clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical parameters.

In a retrospective study the prognostic relevance of clinical, histopathological, immunohistochemical, and flow-cytometric parameters in primary malignant melanomas was evaluated using both the receiver operating characteristic ROC procedure and the logistic regression model. The proteolytic enzymes collagenase IV, cathepsin B, and cathepsin D proved to be significant prognostic factors. Combining the results obtained with these enzymes with gender, anatomic site, tumour thickness, Clark's level, ulceration, pattern of invasive growth, and presence of large round cells resulted in greatly improved discrimination between metastasized and non-metastasized cases.

Tumor characteristics involved in the metastatic behaviour as an improvement in primary cutaneous melanoma prognostics.

We report the results of a retrospective immunohistochemical study on routinely fixed, paraffin embedded tissues from 147 primary cutaneous melanomas belonging to the classes pT3 and pT4, the development of which has been followed for at least five years. The parameters Cathepsin B, Cathepsin D, Collagenase IV, Metallothionein and PCNA were selected from previous studies on small collectives. All parameters showed statistically significant differences between tumors of the metastatic and the nonmetastatic group.

Transparent polyamide: a promising new material for microscopic slides.

We report the use of transparent Polyamide as a new material for microscopical slides intended to be used for immunohistochemical stainings. Polyamide slides provide a strongly increased adhesion of the sections compared to conventionally coated glass slides. They are sensitive to mechanical scratches and become turbid during deparaffinization, and revert to transparency within about eight hours.