Women with endometriosis had a significantly higher expression of HLA molecules whereas in adenomyosis there was a tendency of lower expression of these molecules. This could explain the suppression of cellular immunity in the peritoneal cavity.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression and disease resistance are related to transmural degenerative processes and an inflammatory infiltration (INF). Diabetes is associated with low prevalence and growth rate of AAA. We sought to characterize INF in established AAA (INFAAA), in diabetic patients. From 89 male patients aged 52 to 83 years, aneurysm specimens obtained at open asymptomatic nonruptured AAA repair were graded for INF and immunostained using antibodies against T-lymphocytes (CD3) and macrophages (CD68). Diabetic patients had an odds ratio (OR) 3.8, 95% confidence interval ([CI] 1.14-12.96), P = .03, of experiencing above-median INFAAA. These associations were affected by serum glucose (SG) levels (OR 3.6, 95% CI [0.72-18.77]; P = .1). Macrophage subpopulations higher in diabetic patients (1.44 ± 0.78 versus 0.98 ± 0.76; P = .02) were correlated with SG (r = .21, P = .044). Abdominal aortic aneurysms in diabetic patients are associated with higher INF. Macrophage densities are correlated with SG.

The aim of this study was to further investigate the immunocytochemical expression of p53, PTEN, Fas, p16, and HPV L1 capsid proteins in cervical smears with low and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL and HSIL, respectively). A total of 92 ThinPrep cervical samples, comprising 11 cases of HSIL, 61 cases of LSIL, and 20 negative cases were studied by immunocytochemical methods. The results obtained in LSIL cases were correlated with the available follow up data. Abnormal p53, PTEN, or Fas expression was found in a subset of HSIL cases, while positive expression for p16 was significantly associated with the diagnosis of HSIL (P < 0.0001, P = 0.001, P < 0.0001, and P < 0.0001, respectively). Among cases positive for p16 expression, the staining pattern was weak in 88.9% of LSIL cases and strong in 80% of HSIL cases (P < 0.0001). The p16 negative/L1 positive and p16 positive/L1 negative staining patterns were significantly associated with the presence of LSIL and HSIL, respectively (P < 0.0001). None of these markers had a significant prognostic value in LSIL cases (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that loss of PTEN or Fas expression and p53 overexpression may be involved in the process of neoplastic transformation of the cervical epithelium. Furthermore, negative or weak immunocytochemical staining for p16 in a Pap smear may strongly argue against the presence of a high grade lesion, while the combined p16/L1 staining pattern may be useful as a diagnostic adjunct for differentiating between LSIL and HSIL.

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