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Molecular analysis of microdissected tissue samples is used for analyzing tissue heterogeneity of histological specimens. We have developed a rapid one-step microdissection technique, which was applied for the selective procurement of tissue areas down to a minimum of 10 cell profiles. The special features of our microdissection system consist of an ultrasonically oscillating needle and a piezo-driven micropipette. The validity of this technique is demonstrated in human lung large-cell carcinoma by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays of vimentin, cyclin D1, and carcinoembryonic antigen after linear RNA amplification. mRNA expression values of microdissected samples scattered around those of bulk tumor tissue and showed differential mRNA expression between samples of tumor parenchyma and supportive stromal cells for vimentin and carcinoembryonic antigen as confirmed by immunohistochemistry. In conclusion, this procedure requires simple equipment, is easily performed, and delivers microdissected tissue samples of oligocellular clusters suitable for further molecular analysis.

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Under what conditions can regional and international courts (ICs) make decisions against their governments' preferences? To answer this much debated question, we develop a new, majoritarian model of state-IC relations. It posits that in cases where well-established ICs' positions are congruent with policy-specific public opinion in leading member states, ICs can rule against their governments' position. We apply our approach to a series of landmark decisions by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding United Nations sanctions against terror suspects. We find that the CJEU was able to harness growing public support to strengthen terror suspects' rights, punish states for superficial compliance with its rulings and ultimately broaden the Court's judicial review powers. Our analysis suggests that ICs can be agents of legal change and advance human rights against governments' resistance, but this role is conditional on the presence of public support.

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