"An ideal immunohistochemical screening panel would be one in which each antibody is

100% sensitive and specific for the target cell type (e.g., markers for epithelial

neoplasms, lymphomas, sarcomas, etc.). Anyone who has practiced immunochemistry is

well aware that this situation does not exist. High sensitivity is hindered by the loss of

key antigens through formalin fixation and routine tissue processing" [104, p.59]. But

this same author concluded that IHC provides for rapid and cost-effective diagnosis and

that is why it is universally used for both clinical and academic applications.

 The results of the present study should be viewed as preliminary due to the lack of

statistical significance and other limitations discussed. As stated, the real importance of

this study might lie in the actual presence of the IGF-1 receptor in gingival tissue. A

finding that confirms what was previously only suspected. Further research in this area is

needed to substantiate these findings. These future studies together with previous studies

on this subject can guide treatment modalities that may limit or control co-morbid

conditions associated with diabetes.