Ultrasound characteristics of early-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

Background: Survival from ovarian cancer is strongly dependent on the stage at diagnosis. Therefore, when confronted with a woman with an isolated adnexal mass, clinicians worry about missing the opportunity to detect cancer at an early stage. High-grade serous ovarian cancers account for 80% of ovarian cancer deaths, largely because of their tendency to be diagnosed at a late stage.

Use of the probably benign (BI-RADS category 3) assessment for masses on breast MRI: Is it transferable to general clinical practice?

The purpose of this study was to identify potential BI-RADS 3 mass descriptors on breast magnetic resonance imaging by systematically defining positive predictive values (PPV). In a blinded retrospective review of BI-RADS 4 masses, reader 1 identified 132 masses and reader 2 identified 76 masses. PPV for mass descriptors and for descriptor combinations was determined.

Risk of thyroid cancer based on thyroid ultrasound imaging characteristics: results of a population-based study.

Importance: There is wide variation in the management of thyroid nodules identified on ultrasound imaging.

Objective: To quantify the risk of thyroid cancer associated with thyroid nodules based on ultrasound imaging characteristics.

Methods: Retrospective case-control study of patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound imaging from January 1, 2000, through March 30, 2005.

Breast MR imaging for extent of disease assessment in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

Breast cancer staging and surgical planning are affected by the burden of pathologically proven cancer detected on clinical examination and/or imaging. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has superior sensitivity and accuracy for the detection of invasive and in situ breast cancer as compared with physical examination, mammography, and ultrasound but can be limited in specificity. The use of preoperative breast MR imaging for evaluating the extent of disease remains controversial at present because studies have not definitively shown it to improve overall survival, decrease re-excision rates, or to decrease the cost of care.

Carotid atherosclerosis does not predict coronary, vertebral, or aortic atherosclerosis in patients with acute stroke symptoms.

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant atherosclerotic disease in the carotid arteries predicts significant atherosclerotic disease in the coronary arteries, vertebral arteries, or aorta in patients with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: Atherosclerotic disease was imaged using CT angiography in a prospective study of 120 consecutive patients undergoing emergent CT evaluation for symptoms of stroke. Using a comprehensive CT angiography protocol that captured the carotid arteries, coronary arteries, vertebral arteries, and aorta, we evaluated these arteries for the presence and severity of atherosclerotic disease.

Endovenous laser ablation and sclerotherapy for treatment of varicose veins.

Superficial venous insufficiency is a common problem associated with varicose veins. Venous insufficiency and varicose veins can be symptomatic, but more commonly they are a cosmetic concern. In this article, we discuss the relevant anatomy and pathophysiology of superficial venous insufficiency, review the current literature for varicose vein treatment, and cover the technical aspects of diagnosing and treating superficial venous insufficiency.

Relationship between CD8-dependent antigen recognition, T cell functional avidity, and tumor cell recognition.

Effective immunotherapy using T cell receptor (TCR) gene-modified T cells requires an understanding of the relationship between TCR affinity and functional avidity of T cells. In this study, we evaluate the relative affinity of two TCRs isolated from HLA-A2-restricted, gp100-reactive T cell clones with extremely high functional avidity. Furthermore, one of these T cell clones, was CD4- CD8- indicating that antigen recognition by this clone was CD8 independent.

Influence of human CD8 on antigen recognition by T-cell receptor-transduced cells.

The CD8 coreceptor on T cells has two functions. Namely, CD8 acts to stabilize the binding of the T-cell receptor (TCR) to the peptide-MHC complex while localizing p56(lck) (lck) to the TCR/CD3 complex to facilitate early signaling events. Although both functions may be critical for efficient activation of a CTL, little is known about how the structural versus signaling roles of CD8, together with the relative strength of the TCR, influences T-cell function.

Identification of a hepatitis C virus-reactive T cell receptor that does not require CD8 for target cell recognition.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been reported to elicit B and T cell immunity in infected patients. Despite the presence of antiviral immunity, many patients develop chronic infections leading to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure that can require transplantation. We have previously described the presence of HLA-A2-restricted, HCV NS3-reactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in the blood of HLA-A2- liver transplantation patients that received an HLA-A2+ liver allograft.

Antigen recognition and T-cell biology.

Despite the wealth of information that has been acquired regarding the way T cells recognize their targets, we are left with far more questions than answers regarding how to manipulate the immune response to better treat cancer patients. Clearly, most patients have a broad repertoire of T cells capable of recognizing their tumor cells. Despite the presence of these tumor reactive T cells and our ability to increase their frequency though vaccination or adoptive transfer, patients still progress.