Abstract: Drug-naive and drug-free schizophrenic PBL were screened to identify additional markers that are differentially expressed compared to healthy individuals using microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (QRT-PCR) techniques. Genes for dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) and inwardly rectifying potassium channel (Kir2.3) were found to be overexpressed in microarray analysis. Increased mRNA levels were confirmed by QRT-PCR using SybrGreen method and dual labeled TaqMan probes. The invention relates to a method for diagnosing schizophrenia in a subject comprising assessing the level or the expression level of at least one of the following genes or proteins: Kir2.3 or DRD2 or a gene encoding Kir2.3 or DRD2. The invention further relates to agents and uses thereof, said agents specifically binding to said proteins or nucleic acids encoding them, diagnostic kits and screening methods.

Abstract: The tissue micro-array (TMA) building manual set, which includes a well-known SZK tissue core punch extractor and a TMA block mould (1) characterized as follows: the TMA block mould (1) consists of a lower (2) and an upper (3) part, the lower part (2) is equipped with mandrels (4) at right angles to the base unit arranged in the middle into lines and columns, the upper part (3) has a margin-containing (7) cleavage (6), which receives the mandrels (4) when the TMA block mould (1) is assembled, the margin (7) and size of the cleavage (6) fit to the shape and size of the paraffin block holder (PBK), and the lower (2) and upper (3) parts are connected to each other with directing nipples (5) and threaded arms (9) fixed horizontally.

Abstract: The tissue micro-array (TMA) building manual set, which includes a well-known SZK tissue core punch extractor and a TMA block mould (1) characterized as follows: the TMA block mould (1) consists of a lower (2) and an upper (3) part, the lower part (2) is equipped with mandrels (4) at right angles to the base unit arranged in the middle into lines and columns, the upper part (3) has a margin-containing (7) cleavage (6), which receives the mandrels (4) when the TMA block mould (1) is assembled, the margin (7) and size of the cleavage (6) fit to the shape and size of the paraffin block holder (PBK), and the lower (2) and upper (3) parts are connected to each other with directing nipples (5) and threaded arms (9) fixed horizontally.