Optimization of molecular detection of GD2 synthase mRNA in retinoblastoma.

Extraocular dissemination is the main cause of death in patients with retinoblastoma (RB) in developing countries, and there are few molecular markers that are useful for the evaluation of minimal disseminated disease. The GD2 ganglioside is known to be expressed by RB cells that metastasize in bone marrow, and the activity of the enzyme responsible for its synthesis, GD2 synthase, can be detected in neuroblastoma, which shares many phenotypic features with RB. The purpose of the present study was to optimize the detection of GD2 synthase expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by nested-PCR in human RB cell lines and patient samples.

A modification of the staining technique of reticular fibres for image analysis of the cardiac collagen network.

Introduction: Silver stain of reticular fibres demonstrates the fine structure of the cardiac collagen network. However, nuclei are also stained with current techniques, a drawback that makes computer image analysis difficult. To solve this problem our study was designed to modify Gomori's method.