Comparative electron microscopic and immunohistochemical study of stromal cells in giant cell tumor of bone

Giant cell tumor of bone is an osseous neoplasm that is histologically benign but clinically shows local aggression and high rate of recurrence. The histogenesis of this lesion remains unclear. The histological appearance does not predict the clinical outcome and there are still many unanswered questions with regard to both its treatment and prognosis. In order to further clarify this lesion, we examined ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically the tumor mononuclear cells in ten patients operated on in our hospital for matrix metalloproteinase-9. Positive reaction was detected in the spindle-like stromal cells of giant cell tumor of bone and these cells had the ultrastructural characteristics of fibroblastic cells. The other mononuclear cells did not express matrix metalloproteinase-9 and showed ultrastuctural characteristics of macrophage-like cells. The positive reaction for matrix metalloproteinase-9 in all patients clearly shows that this protease may play a key role in the pathophysiology of giant cell tumor of bone

Quantitative X-ray microanalysis of precipitates in zinc-aluminium-copper

peer reviewedThe aim of the present study is to adapt the Cliff-Lorimer method for quantitative analysis of thin foils and to obtain information about the composition of fine metastable precipitates in Zn-Al-Cu alloys. The coefficients K(al-zn) and K(al-cu) were determined for accelerating voltage of 200 kV, about which there has no been data ever mentioned. Some applications of the method are given

Microstructural study of the metastable phases in Zn-Al alloys

peer reviewedDescription de la précipitation complexe observée durant le vieillissement des alliages zinc-aluminium avec de petites quantités de cuivre et de magnésiu

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Abstract. The implantation in pig is superficial and non-invasive, involving phases of apposition, adhesion and attachment of conceptuses to endometrial surface epithelium. The role of integrins and ECM proteins is suggested. In the study, the expression of α5β1 integrin and FN on conceptus trophectoderm and endometrium during implantation and early pregnancy was investigated. The immunohistochemical localization of α5β1 integrin and FN was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections using the ABC method. The results indicate that both conceptus and uterus expressed α5β1 integrin and FN during early porcine pregnancy. The most intensive staining for α5β1 integrin and FN was found in conceptus trophectoderm and endometrial surface epithelium in all investigated periods. During placentation the immunohistochemical staining for both α5β1 integrin and FN was increased in trophectoderm and all endometrial structures. Since placenta in pigs is non-invasive, it can be suggested that both α5β1 integrin and FN participate in molecular events leading to successful implantation and placentation in species with true epitheliochorial placenta

Microstructural study of Zn-Al alloy

It is well known that zinc-aluminium alloys posses very good mechanical properties. This is the reason why the investigation of their ageing characteristics is very important for the practice. Several solid state reactions between alpha, beta, epsilon and T phases have been established for such materials alloyed with copper, but there has been no detailed on the formation, development and transformation of metastable phases into stable ones. This is exactly the aim of our investigation

A Product Line Analysis of Software-Controlled Gastrointestinal Stimulators

The use of software-controlled gastrointestinal (GI) stimulators to regulate gastric activity promises to revolutionize treatment of GI-related diseases. Because this software area is relatively young, it is difficult to propose a concrete and detailed realization of a product line in GI. However, a comprehensive analysis of the domain will identify the main requirements and problems, which should be considered when developing software systems in that domain. The aim of the proposed analysis is also to spot the critical areas that require further investigation, including necessary conditions for a software-controlled GI stimulation system to be implementable. The result of this analysis should ideally produce an initial plan for product development so that there is an incremental delivery of value that also efficiently provides feedback on the actual nature of the domain