Abstract: The invention concerns a method and means for distinguishing malignant from benign tumor samples of the thyroid, by performing a RNA extraction in a standard fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) sample, in particular an air dried FNAB smear. The presence of gene-rearrangements and/or the expression of miRNA is analyzed in the isolated RNA, wherein the presence of a gene-rearrangement and/or the differential expression of miRNA is indicative for a malignant tumor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are small molecule modulators hormone receptors, including agonists and antagonists of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin, follicle stimulating hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone receptors. Exemplary disclosed compounds include those of the formula wherein X is —S(O)nR5; n is 0, 1 or 2; Y is —OR6 or —NR7R8 R1 and R2 independently are selected from optionally substituted lower aliphatic, alkoxy, aralkyl, halogen, H and —OR5, wherein R5 is selected from lower alkyl, H, aralkyl, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl and aminocarbonyl; R3 and R4 independently are selected from acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, aralkyl, H, lower alkyl and cycloalkyl; R5 is selected from lower alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl and haloalkyl; R6 is selected from H, lower alkyl and aralkyl; R7 and R8 independently are selected from H, lower alkyl, aralkyl and cycloalkyl.