Preoperative Prediction of Metastatic Lymph Nodes Posterior to the Right Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve in cN0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: The advantages of the dissecting the metastatic lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) remain a great deal of controversies in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients without clinical evidence. The purpose of our retrospective research was to investigate the predictive factors of the LN-prRLN in cN0 PTC patients. Methods and Materials: Altogether 251 consecutive cN0 PTC participants accepted unilateral or bilateral thyroidectomy accompanied with LN-prRLN dissection between June 2020 and May 2023 were included in the research. Then, univariate and multivariate logical regression analysis were conducted to analyze the relationship between the LN-prRLN and these predictive factors, and a predictive model was also developed. Surgical complications of LN-prRLN dissection were also presented. Results: The rate of LN-prRLN was 17.9% (45/251) in cN0 PTC patients after the analysis of postoperative histology. The age <55 years, multifocality, microcalcification, and BRAFV600E mutation were identified to be predictive factors of LN-prRLN in cN0 PTC patients. The risk score for LN-prRLN was calculated: risk score = 1.192 × (if age <55 years) + 0.808 × (if multifocality) + 1.196 × (if microcalcification in nodule) + 0.918 × (if BRAFV600E mutation in nodule). The rates of the transient hypoparathyroidism and hoarseness were 1.2% (3/251) and 2.0% (5/251), respectively. Conclusion: The age <55 years, multifocality, microcalcification, and BRAFV600E mutation are independent predictors of the LN-prRLN in cN0 PTC patients. An effective predictive model was established for predicting the LN-prRLN in cN0 PTC patients, with the aim to better guide the surgical treatment of PTC. A thorough inspection of the lateral compartment is recommended in PTC patients with risk factors. The multicenter research with long-term follow-up should be carried out to ascertain the optimal surgical approach for patients with PTC.

Host-Guest Encapsulation to Promote the Formation of a Multicomponent Trigonal-Prismatic Metallacage.

An inclusion complex of a trigonal-prismatic metallacage with two coronene guests was constructed by multicomponent coordination-driven self-assembly from a 90° platinum(II) acceptor [cis-Pt(PEt3)2(OTf)2], disodium terephthalate, and 2,4,6-tri(4-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine in the presence of excess coronene. This platinum(II)-based trigonal prism was found to be a highly matched host to simultaneously encapsulate two coronene molecules. The encapsulation of coronene can effectively promote the formation of a pure single-prismatic metallacage and can stabilize the self-assembled structure via strong π-π-stacking interactions between coronene and the metallacage.

Preparation of organic-inorganic chitosan@silver/sepiolite composites with high synergistic antibacterial activity and stability.

Organic-inorganic antibacterial materials chitosan@silver/sepiolite (CTs@Ag/Sep) was prepared by grafting organometallic chelate of chitosan and silver on sepiolite. The prepared samples were characterized, and their antibacterial properties were detected. The carrier sepiolite was beneficial for the thermal stability of the composite material. The utilization of silver was enhanced and its amount of usage could be obviously reduced by introduction of nontoxic chitosan which was benefical for the formation of highly dispersed silver nanoparticles on the CTs@Ag/Sep by the interaction between the silver ion and the plentiful amino and hydroxyl groups on the chitosan, thus improved the antibacterial activities and stability. The average width of the inhibition zone of CTs@Ag/Sep against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Aspergillus niger were 51.8, 31.8, and 44.7 mm, respectively. The cytotoxicity of CTs@Ag/Sep was further evaluated with A549 cells, and the results indicated that it exhibited low cytotoxicity to eukaryotic cells.

Aspiration with or without lavage in the treatment of acute suppurative thyroiditis secondary to pyriform sinus fistula.

Objective There is currently no consensus regarding the optimal management of acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) secondary to pyriform sinus fistula (PSF). To investigate the benefits and adverse events of aspiration with or without lavage for the treatment of AST secondary to PSF. Subjects and methods This was a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with AST secondary to PSF who were admitted at the Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between August 2012 and December 2018. Clinical information, procedural data, and imaging data were analyzed. Results Seven patients (five women; mean age, 16.9 ± 6.3 years; range, 8-26 years) were included. The patients most presented with anterior neck pain and swelling (n = 7), fever (n = 7), or odynophagia (n = 5). Six cases of AST occurred on the left side of the thyroid and 1 on the right. All patients had thyroid abscess. AST was diagnosed by ultrasound-guided needle aspiration cytology in all cases. PSF was diagnosed during the inflammatory stage in five patients and during the quiescent stage in two. All patients were treated with empiric antibiotics. Needle aspiration without lavage was performed in three cases. Needle aspiration with lavage was performed in four cases. Repeat aspiration was performed in three cases. All patients recovered completely, with no procedure-related complications. During 18.3 ± 7.8 months of follow-up, AST recurred in one case. Excision of the PSF was performed in another case. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided aspiration with or without lavage had a good treatment effect and without adverse events for the management of AST secondary to PSF.