Predictors of impaired effectiveness of carbon nanoparticle-based central lymph node tracing in patients who underwent surgery for papillary thyroid cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

Carbon nanoparticles (CNs) are used in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) surgery to facilitate central lymph node dissection (CLND) and protect the parathyroid glands (PGs). However, some cases develop hypoparathyroidism after using CNs. This cohort study was undertaken to explore the predictors of the reduced effectiveness of CNs. Data on patients with PTC who underwent surgery wherein CNs were used during CLND were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who did not develop hypoparathyroidism and developed hypoparathyroidism were classified into Group A and B, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the 2 groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed on related variables. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictors of the binary logistic model and the cutoff value of each predictor was obtained. A total of 265 patients were included. Compared with Group A, the patients in Group B had a higher body mass index (BMI) (P = .003), were more frequently associated with Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) (P = .001), and tumors were larger in size (P = .026). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed on these variables and showed that HT (P = .001) and tumor size (P = .001) predicted the impaired role of CNs. CNs are not always useful in protecting PG function in patients who undergo CLND for PTC. In patients with coexisting HT (blood thyroid peroxidase antibody [TPOAb] level higher than 44.0 IU/mL or blood anti-thyroglobulin antibody [ATG] level higher than 125.0 IU/mL) or a tumor size exceeding 1.1 cm in diameter, the protective role of CNs may be impaired.

Risk factors and outcomes of conversion to open surgery in endoscopic thyroidectomy via bilateral areola approach: a retrospective Chinese population study.

BACKGROUND: Although endoscopic thyroidectomy via the bilateral areola approach (ETBAA) has shown cosmetic advantage over open surgery, the risk factors of conversion to open surgery and its impact on patients remain unknown. The objective of this study is to analyze the predictors for conversion to open procedure in patients who underwent ETBAA and its related outcomes. METHODS: The clinical data of patients who underwent ETBAA from May 2010 to May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to operation notes: the conversion group and the non-conversion group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the risk factors for conversion to open surgery. RESULTS: Altogether, 140 patients were included in this study. Sixteen (11.4%) patients underwent conversion during ETBAA. Four factors demonstrated significant difference between the two groups: sex (P = 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.021), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) level (P = 0), and antithyroglobulin antibody (ATG) level (P = 0). Further univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male sex (P = 0.006), TPOAb level>7.8 IU/ml (P = 0.005), and ATG level>79 IU/ml (P = 0.003) had a significant correlation with conversion to open surgery in ETBAA. Prolonged operative time, increased surgical cost, and less patient cosmetic satisfaction were demonstrated in the conversion group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Male sex, high TPOAb level, and high ATG level were independent risk factors for conversion. Conversion to open surgery in ETBAA is associated with prolonged operative time, increased surgical cost and less patient cosmetic satisfaction.

Metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to the thyroid gland with widespread nodal involvement: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death. Some patients with esophageal cancer have distant metastases at the time of diagnosis, but metastasis to the thyroid gland (MTG) and multifocal thyroid lesions alone are extremely rare. CASE SUMMARY: In this case report, we present a case of a 69-year-old male with esophageal MTG. The patient visited our hospital for a routine body check-up, which revealed multifocal nodules in his thyroid lobes and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. A fine needle aspiration biopsy showed malignancies in both thyroid lesions and lymph nodes. The patient was initially diagnosed with primary bilateral thyroid cancer that spread to his lymph nodes, and a total thyroidectomy was performed. The histology showed MTG and therefore, a diagnostic work-up was implemented to determine the primary tumor. A fluorine-18-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan showed that the lower part of the esophagus and the lymph nodes in the neck, chest, and abdomen were involved. An esophagogastroscopy and corresponding pathology revealed distal esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The esophageal MTG diagnosis was confirmed with pathological immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: This case report highlights the difficulty in diagnosing esophageal MTG. Patients may have no malignancy history and be asymptomatic. Further diagnostic procedures are necessary after MTG is confirmed by cytology or histology, and the final diagnosis should be made according to the identification of the primary malignancy combined with pathological immunohistochemistry findings.

Comparison of indocyanine green and carbon nanoparticles in endoscopic techniques for central lymph nodes dissection in patients with papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: Injection of carbon nanoparticle (CN) into the thyroid gland is used to stain CLNs in endoscopic surgery of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The black-dye technique facilitates the central lymph nodes (CLNs) harvest and parathyroid protection, but improper handling of CN during injection leads to unwanted staining of surrounding tissues and increases the difficulty in anatomical identification. Therefore, a new method is needed to overcome this problem. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with PTC underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy via breast approach. Patients were randomized into the indocyanine green (ICG) group (Group ICG; n = 23) and CN group (Group CN; n = 25). After thyroid gland exposure, ICG was injected into the thyroid lobes. Fluorescent CLNs were identified and dissected in Group ICG. In Group CN, CN was used instead. Black dyed CLNs were harvested. The following was compared between groups: demographic characteristics, surgical time, drainage amount, hospital stay duration, number of CLNs harvested, frequency of postoperative hoarseness and hypothyroidism, and surgical cost. RESULTS: Group ICG showed decreased hypoparathyroidism frequency than Group CN (1/23 vs. 7/25, p = 0.028) and more harvested CLNs (4.6 ± 1.0 vs. 3.8 ± 1.2, p = 0.020). There was no difference between drainage amount, hospital stay duration, and frequency of postoperative hoarseness. The cost of Group ICG was less than that of Group CN (p = 0). CONCLUSION: Injection of ICG into the thyroid gland using fluorescence imaging in endoscopic surgery in patients with PTC is safer and more effective in identifying CLNs than injection with CN. This novel method can lead to improved identification and subsequent harvesting of CLNs.

Clinical feasibility of imaging with indocyanine green combined with carbon nanoparticles for sentinel lymph node identification in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although several previous studies demonstrated the feasibility and efficacy of indocyanine green (ICG) for thyroid cancer surgery, ICG was administered through venous injection and focused on parathyroid gland protection. We thus aimed to study the feasibility of imaging using ICG combined with carbon nanoparticles (CNs) in the identification of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). METHODS: Two approaches were applied to detect lymph nodes in PTMC surgery. Patients were randomized into 2 groups. ICG and CNs were injected into the thyroid in Group A. In Group B, only CNs was injected. Black-stained or fluorescent nodes observed using near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems were defined as SLNs. SLN and central lymph node (CLN) dissection was completed in both groups. The pathological and postoperative outcomes were compared between 2 groups. RESULTS: There were 40 patients in Group A and 60 in Group B. A total of 138 SLNs were identified; 72 and 66 SLNs were detected and dissected in Groups A and B, respectively. The number of SLNs identified (per patient) in Group A was higher than that in Group B (P = .027). The number of harvested CLNs was 161 and 192 in Groups A and B, respectively, out of which 45 and 48 lymph nodes with metastasis were confirmed by permanent pathology. The CLN metastatic rate in Group A was higher than that in Group B (P = .048). CONCLUSION: Imaging using ICG combined CNs is feasible and safe for SLN identification in PTMC patients. Compared with using only CNs, more SLNs can be removed and more metastatic lymph nodes can be confirmed when using the combined method. Although the combined method appears to accurately stage tumors, further research is needed.

GSTT1 polymorphism and breast cancer risk in the Chinese population: an updated meta-analysis and review.

BACKGROUND: Although a number of studies have been conducted on the association between GSTT1 polymorphism and breast cancer in China, this association remains elusive and controversial. To clarify the effects of GSTT1 polymorphism on the risk of breast cancer, an updated meta-analysis was performed in the Chinese population. MATERIAL/METHODS: Related studies were identified from PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM) to up 28(th) January 2015. Pooled ORs and 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of the associations. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies including 3387 breast cancer cases and 5085 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significant association (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.02-1.67) was found between the null GSTT1 and breast cancer risk when all studies in Chinese population pooled into the meta-analysis. In subgroup analyses stratified by geographic areas and source of controls, it revealed the significant results in population-based studies (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.23-1.65) and South China (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.27-1.70). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that the null GSTT1 may be potential biomarkers for breast cancer risk in Chinese, and further studies with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions are required for definite conclusions.

Enteral supplementation of alanyl-glutamine attenuates the up-regulation of beta-defensin-2 protein in lung injury induced by intestinal ischemia reperfusion in rats.

BACKGROUND: Beta-defensin-2 (BD-2), an endogenous antimicrobial peptide, plays a key role in immune response against microbial invasion. This study aimed to observe the effect of Alanyl-Glutamine (Ala-Gln) on BD-2 protein expression in pulmonary tissues after intestinal ischemia reperfusion (IIR) in rats and to investigate its correlations to pulmonary inflammatory and oxidative injury. METHODS: Rats in IIR and the two treatment groups were subjected to intestine ischemia for 60 min and those in the treatment groups were administered orally with Ala-Gln or alanine (Ala) respectively. Lung tissues were harvested to detect the BD-2 protein expression. Concentrations of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in lung tissues were determined simultaneously. RESULTS: Ala-Gln attenuated the up-regulation of BD-2 expression (p < 0.05) and TNF-α (p < 0.05), MDA (p < 0.05) levels, as well as the reduction of SOD activity (p < 0.05) in lung tissues after IIR. But Ala did not exert significant effects. BD-2 protein in lung tissues was positively correlated to local TNF-α level (p < 0.01) and MDA concentration (p < 0.01) with statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Ala-Gln can relieve the IIR-induced up-regulation of BD-2 protein expression in the lung of rats, which involves anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation mechanisms.

Genetic landscape of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the deadliest cancers. We performed exome sequencing on 113 tumor-normal pairs, yielding a mean of 82 non-silent mutations per tumor, and 8 cell lines. The mutational profile of ESCC closely resembles those of squamous cell carcinomas of other tissues but differs from that of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Genes involved in cell cycle and apoptosis regulation were mutated in 99% of cases by somatic alterations of TP53 (93%), CCND1 (33%), CDKN2A (20%), NFE2L2 (10%) and RB1 (9%). Histone modifier genes were frequently mutated, including KMT2D (also called MLL2; 19%), KMT2C (MLL3; 6%), KDM6A (7%), EP300 (10%) and CREBBP (6%). EP300 mutations were associated with poor survival. The Hippo and Notch pathways were dysregulated by mutations in FAT1, FAT2, FAT3 or FAT4 (27%) or AJUBA (JUB; 7%) and NOTCH1, NOTCH2 or NOTCH3 (22%) or FBXW7 (5%), respectively. These results define the mutational landscape of ESCC and highlight mutations in epigenetic modulators with prognostic and potentially therapeutic implications.

Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen and splenic vessels for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A laparoscopic surgery can be beneficial in a spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. AIMS: This report shows a 60-year-old woman who presented with persistent upper abdominal and bilateral lumbodorsal distending pain for one year. A computed tomography scan demonstrated a 4cm×5cm×5cm solid space-occupying mass in the distal pancreas. The patient was referred to minimally invasive surgery service for resection of the pancreatic lesion. METHODS: A laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy was performed. RESULTS: The mass was completely excised, the pathological examination revealed grade II pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The postoperative advantages of this approach were the early return of bowel function, minimal complications, and early resumption of normal activities. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates that minimally invasive surgery in the performance of a spleen-and-splenic-vessel preserving distal pancreatectomy is a feasible procedure without compromising the splenic function. (Wang WJ, Li JG, Li ZT, Fang Q, Zheng YG. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen and splenic vessels for pancreatic adenocarcinoma.