Determination of trace elements in placenta by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: effects of sampling and sample preparation.

Placental elemental composition can serve as an indicator for neonatal health. Medical studies aiming at revealing such cause-and-effect relationships or studies monitoring potential environmental influences consist of large sample series to ensure statistically sufficient data. Several analytical techniques have been used to study trace metals in human placenta.

Loss of heterozygosity at 12p13 and loss of p27KIP1 protein expression contribute to melanoma progression.

Little is known about the mechanisms causing p27KIP1 decrease in melanomas. Therefore, we performed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis with polymerase chain reaction at seven different loci surrounding the p27KIP1/CDKN1B gene at 12p13 and direct DNA sequencing analysis of all exons. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical expression of p27KIP1 and Ki-67 was investigated.