Cell block preparation by inverted filter sedimentation is useful in the differential diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance in ThinPrep specimens.

Background: Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS) is not a well defined entity in the Bethesda system for reporting cervical cytology diagnoses. An AGUS diagnosis can reflect a variety of conditions ranging from the benign to the malignant. To help differentiate abnormalities associated with suspected AGUS in ThinPrep specimens, the authors devised a novel technique to prepare cell blocks that avoids disruption of glandular structures during preparation.

Performance of a fluid-based, thin-layer papanicolaou smear method in the clinical setting of an independent laboratory and an outpatient screening population in New England.

Background: A patented, fluid-based, thin-layer method for preparation of Papanicolaou (Pap) smears (ThinPrep Pap test) has been reported to be significantly more effective than the conventional smear invented by George Papanicolaou. We tested this position by comparing the cytologic diagnosis and specimen adequacy results obtained using the ThinPrep method with data from conventional Pap smears obtained from a similar population.

Methods: Test results of 56 339 ThinPrep specimens were compared with results from 74 756 conventional smear cases obtained from the same sources in a corresponding period of the previous year.

Implantation site in complete molar pregnancy: a study of immunologically competent cells with monoclonal antibodies.

The nature and intensity of inflammatory cellular infiltrate in the implantation sites of 10 complete molar pregnancies were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of frozen tissue sections with monoclonal antibodies. As compared to the implantation site in normal pregnancy, there was an increase in the number of infiltrating inflammatory cells in the molar implantation site. Most of the inflammatory cells were T cells with predominance of T4+ (Leu-3a+) cells over T8+ cells.

Implantation site in normal pregnancy. A study with monoclonal antibodies.

In the present study, the presence of major histocompatibility complex antigens (MHC) and the degree and nature of inflammatory response in the human placenta were determined by staining frozen tissue sections with monoclonal antibodies and an immunoperoxidase technique. Although class I (HLA-A, B, and C) and Class II (HLA-DR, Ia-like) MHC antigens were not demonstrated in the syncytiotrophoblast, Class I antigens were found in trophoblast of the placental septum, shell, and implantation site and in the chorionic villous stroma. There was no staining for Ia-like antigens in the fetal components of the placenta.

Expression of major histocompatibility antigens and nature of inflammatory cellular infiltrate in ovarian neoplasms.

Expression of histocompatibility antigens and the intensity of inflammatory cellular infiltrate were evaluated in frozen tissue sections from 70 human ovarian tumors and six normal ovaries using monoclonal antibodies and an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. In the normal human ovary, surface epithelial cells, mature granulosa cells and lutein cells reacted with anti-HLA-A,B,C (HLA) and beta2-microglobulin antibodies but not with anti-Ia (Ia-like, HLA-DR). Stromal cells and granulosa cells of the primordial follicles did not react with any of the antibodies.