BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent the majority of primary non-epithelial neoplasms of the digestive tract, most frequently expressing the KIT protein detected by the immunohistochemical staining for the CD117 antigen. Extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) are neoplasms with overlapping immunohistological features, occurring in the abdomen outside the gastroin...

BACKGROUND Granular cell tumors are benign lesions that typically occur in the oral cavity, but can also be found in other sites. However, the characteristics of these tumors are unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the immunohistological characteristics of these tumors of the tongue. METHODS Seven patients were treated for granular cell tumors of the tongue at our institutio...

BACKGROUND In a previous in vitro study, we confirmed that small-caliber nanofibrous polyurethane (PU) vascular grafts have favorable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. In the present study, we examined the in vivo biocompatibility and stability of these grafts. METHODS Forty-eight adult male beagle dogs were randomly divided into two groups receiving, respectively, polyurethane (PU)...

The application of immunological concepts in morphological studies is in rapid progress. While many cell components can be studied by preor postembedment immunohistology, one would like to possess an alternative method in order to overcome all problems observed in preand postembedment staining due to penetration difficulties e.g. for antibodies and cell alterations by dehydration and resin curi...

Complement activation occurs in temporal correlation with the subendothelial deposition of LDL during early atherogenesis, and complement also plays a pathogenetic role in promoting lesion progression. Two lesion components have been identified that may be responsible for complement activation. First, enzymatic degradation of LDL generates a derivative that can spontaneously activate complement...

AIMS To use a sensitive test of acute myocardial damage--immunohistological detection of complement component C9--to assess the prevalence of damage in an unselected series of hearts taken at necropsy in adults. METHODS Sections of formalin fixed and paraffin wax embedded myocardium were cut from 128 consecutive necropsy cases on which a block of heart had been taken. These were stained with ...