TAL and high Treg frequency in primary thyroid tumors correlates with more aggressive disease. Future prospective studies may identify Treg frequency as a predictive factor in PTC, and the suppressive effects of Treg should be considered in the design of immune-based therapies.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the discriminatory ability of ultrasound in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), using microscopic analysis of menisci and knee hyaline cartilage (HC) as reference standard.MethodsConsecutive patients scheduled for knee replacement surgery, due to osteoarthritis (OA), were enrolled. Each patient underwent ultrasound examination of the menisci and HC of the knee, scoring each site for presence/absence of CPPD. Ultrasound signs of inflammation (effusion, synovial proliferation and power Doppler) were assessed semiquantitatively (0–3). The menisci and condyles, retrieved during surgery, were examined microscopically by optical light microscopy and by compensated polarised microscopy. CPPs were scored as present/absent in six different samples from the surface and from the internal part of menisci and cartilage. Ultrasound and microscopic analysis were performed by different operators, blinded to each other’s findings.Results11 researchers from seven countries participated in the study. Of 101 enrolled patients, 68 were included in the analysis. In 38 patients, the surgical specimens were insufficient. The overall diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for CPPD was of 75%—sensitivity of 91% (range 71%–87% in single sites) and specificity of 59% (range 68%–92%). The best sensitivity and specificity were obtained by assessing in combination by ultrasound the medial meniscus and the medial condyle HC (88% and 76%, respectively). No differences were found between patients with and without CPPD regarding ultrasound signs of inflammation.ConclusionUltrasound demonstrated to be an accurate tool for discriminating CPPD. No differences were found between patents with OA alone and CPPD plus OA regarding inflammation.

Objective We evaluated the clinical relevance of catenins, cadherins and cell cycle regulators in stage IV or recurrent endometrial carcinoma in a multi-center phase II trial (GOG protocol #119). Methods Tissue microarrays of metastatic or recurrent (n=42) tumor were developed and immunohistochemistry performed. Average expression (percent staining × intensity) was assessed in tumor epithelium (E) and stroma (S) and categorized into tertiles (T1, T2, T3) for E-cadherinE, N-cadherinE, alpha-cateninE, beta-cateninE, gamma-cateninE, p120-cateninE and Ki-67E; as negative, below median or above median for p16E, p27E and CD44S; or as negative or positive for p53E, Ki-67S and APCS (adenomatous polyposis coli). End points included response and survival. Results E-cadherinE, p16E, and p53E varied by race (p=0.003, p=0.024, p=0.002,) and N-cadherinE, Ki-67E, p16E and p27E by tumor type (p=0.015, p=0.011, p=0.005, p=0.021). Correlations were observed among E-cadherinE with p120E (r=0.66), p53E (r=−0.32), alpha-cateninE (r=0.52), beta-cateninE (r=0.58), and gamma-cateninE (r=0.58). High E-cadherinE (T2 or T3) versus low (T1) expression was associated with better survival in unadjusted (hazard ratio [HR]=0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.06–0.37 or HR=0.17, 95% CI=0.07–0.42) and adjusted models (HR=0.18, 95% CI=0.05–0.59 or HR=0.22, 95% CI=0.07–0.70). High p16E versus negative expression was associated with worse survival in unadjusted (HR=3.87, 95% CI=1.74–8.61) and adjusted (HR=4.18, 95% CI=1.28–13.6) models. Positive versus negative expression of p53E was associated with worse survival in unadjusted (HR=2.31, 95% CI=1.16–4.60) but not adjusted models. Conclusions E-cadherinE and p16E appear to be clinically relevant, independent prognostic factors in stage IV or recurrent endometrial cancers treated with T+M, and merit further study.

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