Efficacy and safety of fibrin sealant application in patients undergoing thyroidectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Various studies have focused on the application of fibrin sealants (FS) in thyroid surgery. Utilizing a meta-analysis, this systematic review analyzed the findings of recent randomized controlled trials on the safety and efficacy of FS in patients who underwent thyroidectomy. The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, and Medline databases were searched for relevant studies, without any language restrictions. Seven randomized controlled trials were included in the originally identified 69 studies. Overall, 652 patients received FS during thyroid surgery; their outcomes were compared with those of conventionally treated patients. The primary outcomes were total volume of wound drainage, length of hospitalization, and operative time. Significant differences were observed in the total volume of wound drainage (mean deviation (MD): -29.75, 95% confidence interval (CI): -55.39 to -4.11, P = 0.02), length of hospitalization (MD: -0.84, 95% CI: -1.02 to -0.66, P < 0.00001), and surgery duration (MD: -7.60, 95% CI: -14.75 to -0.45, P = 0.04). Secondary outcomes were seroma and hypoparathyroidism development. The risk of hypoparathyroidism did not differ between the FS and conventional groups (I = 0%, relative risk = 1.31, P = 0.38). Analysis of "seroma formation that required invasive treatment" indicated that FS showed some benefit (I2 = 8%, relative risk 0.44, P = 0.15). Heterogeneity among the different trials limited their conclusions. The meta-analysis showed that although FS use did not significantly reduce seroma or hypoparathyroidism incidence in patients after thyroidectomy, it significantly reduced the total drainage volume, length of hospitalization, and duration of surgery.

Transfer RNA-Derived Small RNAs: Novel Regulators and Biomarkers of Cancers.

Transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are conventional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with a length between18 and 40 nucleotides (nt) playing a crucial role in treating various human diseases including tumours. Nowadays, with the use of high-throughput sequencing technologies, it has been proven that certain tsRNAs are dysregulated in multiple tumour tissues as well as in the blood serum of cancer patients. Meanwhile, data retrieved from the literature show that tsRNAs are correlated with the regulation of the hallmarks of cancer, modification of tumour microenvironment, and modulation of drug resistance. On the other side, the emerging role of tsRNAs as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis is promising. In this review, we focus on the specific characteristics and biological functions of tsRNAs with a focus on their impact on various tumours and discuss the possibility of tsRNAs as novel potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

Correlation analysis between single nucleotide polymorphisms of pulmonary surfactant protein A gene and pulmonary tuberculosis in the Han population in China.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 genes encoding pulmonary surfactant protein A (SP-A) with the susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Han population in China. METHODS: This study included 248 patients with active PTB (case group) and 124 normal individuals (control group). SNPs at loci aa19, aa50, aa62, aa133, and aa219 of SFTPA1, and at loci aa9, aa91, aa140, and aa223 of SFTPA2 were analyzed with PCR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation of age, sex, and SNPs with PTB. RESULTS: The frequencies of the G allele at aa91 and T allele at aa140 in SFTPA2 were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group (p=0.0002 and p=0.045). The distribution of haplotype CGAAC in SFTPA1 was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (p=0.025). In SFTPA2, the distributions of haplotypes 1A(6), 1A(10), 1A(9), and 1A(2) were higher (all p<0.05), but the distributions of haplotypes 1A(13), 1A(5), and 1A(12) were lower in the case group than in the control group (all p<0.05). When SFTPA1 and SFTPA2 were combined and analyzed, haplotype 6A(11)-1A(8) was only found in the case group (4.1%, p=0.001 compared with the control group), but the distribution of haplotype CGAAC-1A(0) or 6A(4)-1A(12) was significantly lower in the case group than in the control group (all p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SNP in SP-A is associated with PTB in the Han population in China. The G allele at aa91, T allele at aa140, and haplotype 6A11-1A8 are risk factors for PTB, but haplotype CGAAC-1A(0) and 6A(4)-1A(12) are protective factors for PTB.

The relationship between Lin28 and the chemotherapy response of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study reported here was to identify whether a stem cell biomarker, Lin28, may predict the pathologic tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: The study enrolled 47 patients with gastric cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery between July 2004 and March 2012. Cancer tissue was biopsied by gastroscopy and Lin28 expression in the tissue was measured by immunohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the relationship between Lin28 expression and tumor regression grade. RESULTS: Of the 47 cases, pathologic nonresponse was observed in 29 (61.7%) and pathologic response in 18 (38.3%). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the histoscore of Lin28 expression with 0.325 as a cutoff value could differentiate between pathologic response and nonresponse. Multivariable analysis showed that Lin28 expression was an independent predictive factor for pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Lin28 expression was associated with pathologic tumor response in locally advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This may suggest that Lin28 can serve as a predictive biomarker for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer.

Estrogen receptor α roles in breast cancer chemoresistance.

Resistance to chemotherapy treatment, which may lead to limited efficacy of systemic therapy in breast cancer patients, is multifactorial. Among the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy treatment, there are those closely related to estrogen receptor α, P-glycoprotein, multidrug resistance-related protein, glutathione S-transferase pi and topoisomerase-II. ERα is ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates gene expression and plays a critical role in endocrine signaling. In previous preclinical and clinical studies, positive ERα expression in breast cancer cells was correlated with decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy. This article reviews current knowledge on the predictive value of ERα with regard to response to chemotherapy. Better understanding of its role may facilitate patient selection of therapeutic regimens and lead to optimal clinical outcomes.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy predicts lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Minimally invasive treatments have emerged as the frontline therapy for patients with early gastric cancer (EGC). However, some cT1N0 patients with EGC may have lymph node metastasis because of inadequate evaluation. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of sentinel lymph node (SLN) and tried to find out feasible criteria for SLN-guided minimally invasive surgery for EGC. METHODS: A solitary metastasis lymph node was taken as SLN, the features of lymph node metastasis were analyzed retrospectively in 255 patients with EGC, and the result was then compared with a SLN biopsy in 23 patients with EGC. RESULTS: Depth of invasion and tumor size were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in EGC. The lymph node metastasis rate for mucosal carcinoma with a diameter <4 cm was 2.5%, and it was 13.3% when the diameter was ≥ 4 cm (p = 0.040). For submucosal carcinoma, it was 25.4% when the tumor diameter was <3 cm and 50.5% when the diameter was ≥ 3 cm (p = 0.003). The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of SLN biopsy in EGC was 100%, respectively. The distribution characteristics of SLN were consistent with those of lymph node metastasis in EGC. CONCLUSIONS: SLN-guided minimally invasive surgery could be safely performed in EGC according to feasible criteria.

Outcome of laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy vs. open gastrectomy for gastric cancer: a retrospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy is still controversial because of scant evidence of safety and feasibility. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using the laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy in treating gastric cancer and evaluate its outcome compared with conventional open gastrectomy. METHODOLOGY: Between November 2005 and November 2007, 31 patients underwent laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy and 95 patients underwent open gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Clinicopathological characteristics, total number of lymph nodes retrieved and overall survival were retrospectively compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the total number of retrieved lymph nodes (26.3±11.6 vs. 27.6±10.4) between the two groups. The mean follow-up and overall survival time after surgery was 30.8 (range 4-47) months and 40.9 months (95% confidence interval, 38.5-43.2 months), respectively. The mean survival time in patients of the laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy group was 42.4 months vs. 40.3 months in patients of the open surgery alone group (p=0.457). A logistic regression model revealed that node invasion (hazard ratio 1.149, p<0.001) and serosal invasion (hazard ratio 4.623, p=0.044) were associated with overall survival of gastric cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy-assisted gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection is a safe and feasible procedure with adequate lymphadenectomy for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Dystroglycan is associated with tumor progression and patient survival in gastric cancer.

Previous reports had indicated that there was a possible correlation of dystroglycan (DG) with biological behavior of cancer cells and cancer patients' survival. However, the role of DG expression in gastric cancer was rarely studied. In this study, α-DG and ß-DG expression were determined by immunohistochemistry in specimens of primary cancer, metastatic lymph node, distal metastatic lesion, and their normal counterpart tissues in 20 gastric cancer patients. Correlations between α-DG and ß-DG expression and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Our results found that positive expression of α-DG in normal mucosa, paired primary tumor, metastatic lymph node and distal metastatic site was detected in 95%, 70%, 25%, and 5% specimens, individually. Regarding ß-DG,it was 70%, 55%, 10%, and 10%, individually. Patients who had lower α-DG expression in tumors than in normal counterparts showed poor survival (p = 0.002), whereas such a correlation was not found in the case of ß-DG (p = 0.079). Difference of α-DG between primary tumor and its normal counterparts was an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer with distal metastasis. This study showed DG expression was gradually reduced during tumor progression. Different expression of α-DG, but not ß-DG, between primary tumor and normal specimen, correlated with patient survival, implicating a potential marker for gastric cancer prognosis.

[Managements of small thyroid nodules with contralateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnoses and treatments of small thyroid nodules (maximum diameter < 1 cm) with contralateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS: A total of 253 patients with unilateral PTMC and contralateral thyroid benign nodules identified by ultrasound before thyroidectomy was retrospectively analysed. All patients underwent near-total or total thyroidectomy. Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis and logistic regression test for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In 53 (20.9%) of 253 patients with unilateral PTMC, the contralateral thyroid benign nodules identified by ultrasound were confirmed pathologically as PTMC. Univariate analysis showed multifocality of the primary tumor and Hashimoto's thyroiditis were correlated with contralateral PTMC (χ(2) = 24.834, χ(2) = 5.182, P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences for the existence of contralateral PTMC in age, sex, tumor size, capsule invasion, lymph node metastasis, the number of nodules and Tg-level. Multivariate analysis showed only multifocal PTMC was an independent predictive factor for contralateral PTMC (OR = 5.352, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with unilateral multifocal PTMC have a high rate of PTMC in contralateral small thyroid nodules. However, it is very difficulty to define by ultrasonography preoperatively. The total thyroidectomy maybe serve as a useful treatment.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus surgery alone for locally advanced gastric cancer: a retrospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Preoperative chemotherapy is considered an effective treatment option for patients with gastric cancer. We retrospectively evaluated neoadjuvant chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, leucovorin and 5-flurouracil (OLF) in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer to determine its feasibility, as well as impact on the curative resection rate and patients' survival. METHODOLOGY: A total of 87 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer that underwent preoperative chemotherapy combined with surgery or surgery alone were randomly matched according to the clinical TNM stage. The clinical responses to chemotherapy were assessed. The curative rate, postoperative complications and patients' survival between both groups were compared. RESULTS: The two groups were well matched. Complete or partial response was observed in 51.7% (15/29) of patients in the OLF group, and three (10.3%) of them had complete pathologic response. The curative resection rates were 89.7% in the OLF group and 77.6% in the surgery alone group. The postoperative complications were equal for both groups. The mean survival is 20.6 months in the OLF group vs. 19.9 months in the surgery alone group (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy using OLF combination is active in gastric cancer and the toxicity level is acceptable. This treatment improves the curative resection rate and patients' survival in locally advanced gastric cancer.

Laparoscopic local resection based on sentinel node evaluation for early gastric cancer: a preliminary report.

We previously reported that lymphatic mapping using isosulfan blue can be used to identify sentinel nodes (SNs). This study was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of using the SN technique in treating early gastric cancer and to explore its usefulness for minimal invasive surgery. Twenty-three patients with early gastric cancer who underwent SN biopsy were retrospectively evaluated. Based on SN evaluation, individualized surgery was performed in five patients with T1N0M0 gastric cancer. When pathological examination of frozen sections revealed metastasis in SNs, we performed a standard D2 gastrectomy. Laparoscopic local resection was applied when the SN biopsy was negative. Our results showed that the success rate with SN biopsy in early gastric cancer was 100%, as were the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. All five patients with early gastric cancer had SNs negative for metastases both by frozen section and by postoperative pathology. Thus, all these patients underwent laparoscopic local resection without extended lymphadenectomy. We conclude that SN biopsy is a useful tool to individualize the operative procedure, and laparoscopic local resection can be safely performed using SN guidance in selected patients with early gastric cancer.

Changes of histology and expression of MMP-2 and nm23-H1 in primary and metastatic gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the changes of histology and expression of MMP-2 and nm23-H1 in primary and metastatic gastric cancer. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-seven gastric cancer patients with lymph node and/or distal metastasis between 1997 and 2001 were reviewed. Differences in histology of the primary and metastatic gastric cancer were assessed. MMP-2 and nm23-H1 immunoreactivity was compared in 44 patients with tumor infiltration to the serosa layer. RESULTS: Poorly and moderately differentiated metastatic gastric cancer was found in 88.7% (157/177) and primary gastric cancer in 75.7% (134/177) of the patients. The histological type of metastatic gastric cancer that was not completely in accordance with the preponderant histology of primary gastric cancer was observed in 25 patients (14.1%). MMP-2 immunoreactivity in metastatic gastric cancer was significantly stronger than that in primary gastric cancer, while nm23-H1 immunoreactivity showed no difference in primary and metastatic gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Metastatic gastric cancer presents more aggressive histological morphology and higher MMP-2 immunoreactivity than primary gastric cancer. This heterogeneity may elicit a possible mechanism of gastric cancer metastasis.