Microwave-assisted antigen retrieval and incubation with cox-2 antibody of archival paraffin-embedded human oligodendroglioma and astrocytomas.

Immunohistochemistry is an important tool that is often used for the diagnosis of pathologies; however, the length of time required to process the tissue is relatively long. Furthermore, the quality and sensitivity of immunohistochemical staining is affected by formalin fixation which results in variable loss of antigenicity, known as masking effect. Here we assess the effect of microwave irradiation on the incubation time required to obtain high quality immunohistochemical staining for cox-2 using archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas. The results show that intermittent microwave irradiation during the incubation with the primary antibody reduced the time requirement to 5 min while the staining quality was indistinguishable from 1 or 24 h long incubations. Thus, the use of this procedure results in a significant saving of time which is important for a timely diagnosis of pathological conditions that await treatment.

Pars plana vitrectomy and removal of the internal limiting membrane in the treatment of chronic macular oedema.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the results of pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in eyes with chronic macular oedema. METHODS: PPV with indocyanine green (ICG) assisted peeling of the ILM was performed in 33 eyes with diabetic (21 eyes) or non-diabetic (12 eyes) macular oedema. Postoperatively, resolution of macular oedema, improvement of visual acuity (VA) and complications were documented. The peeled membranes were submitted for light and transmission electron microscopic evaluation. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 12.2 months. The macular oedema decreased or was resolved in 17 (81%) eyes in the diabetic group and in 11 (92%) eyes in the non-diabetic group. VA improved by at least 2 lines in 11 (52%) eyes in the diabetic group and in 7 (58%) eyes in the non-diabetic group. The difference between visual acuity improvements of the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, in the diabetic group the difference of visual improvement between cystoid and diffuse type of macular oedema eyes was statistically significant (14% versus 71%, P=0.02). Light and transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of ILM in all specimens. During the follow-up period no recurrence of macular oedema or epiretinal membrane formation was observed. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy with peeling of the ILM and epiretinal membrane leads to the resolution of macular oedema in the majority of eyes. This however, is not always associated with VA improvement. In diabetic eyes, cystoid type of macular oedema appears to be a poor prognostic factor for improved VA.

Effect of lyophilized heterologous collagen on new cartilage formation from perichondrial flaps in rabbits: an experimental study.

New cartilage formation originated from perichondrium has previously been researched in many clinical and experimental studies. 1-6 After these studies, the use of perichondrium for the repair of cartilage defects has been used clinically when enhancing neochondrogenesis has been found to be of great value in decreasing the recovery period. Collagen is the major protein of whole connective tissue, and in vitro positive effects of collagen matrices on neochondrogenesis have also been studied before. 7-9 In this experimental study, in vivo effects of heterologous collagen sponge in perichondrial neochondrogenesis were examined in an animal model, and acceleration and enhancement effects were observed.

[The effect of heterologous collagen in neochondrogenesis from free perichondrial grafts, in rabbits: an experimental study]. / Tavsanlarda perikondrium greftlerinden yeni kikirdak olusumuna heterolog kollajenin etkisi: deneysel çalisma.

BACKGROUND: After chondrogenic potential of perichondrium was recognized, perichondrial grafts have been used in reconstruction of cartilage defects. Enhancing neochondrogenesis has many advantages, in this regard. This experimental study was done in the aim of identifying whether the heterologous collagen has an accelerating effect on neochondrogenesis from perichondrial grafts or not. METHODS: We placed perichondrial grafts, onto the dorsal muscles of twelve white New-Zealand rabbits, on both sides. On one side, heterologous collagen sponge was inserted between the graft and the muscle, the other side served as a control. RESULTS: As a result of histological assessment on days 45, 120 and 180, we obtained that heterologous collagen enhanced the neochondrogenesis. CONCLUSION: We believe that, if any cartilage defect would be reconstructed with a Perichondrial graft, additional use of heterologous collagen will be helpful.