Prognostic Role of Mitochondrial Transcription Termination Factor 3 in Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: Studies have shown that the Mitochondrial Transcription Termination Factor 3 (MTERF3) negatively regulates mitochondrial gene expression and energy metabolism, and plays a significant role in many cancer types. Nevertheless, the expression and prognostic role of MTERF3 in patients with thyroid carcinoma (THCA) is still unclear. Thus, we investigated the expression, clinicopathological significance, and prognostic value of MTERF3 in THCA. Methods: The protein and mRNA expression levels of MTERF3 were, respectively, analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) from THCA tissues and RNA-Seq data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas. In addition, the relationships among the expression of MTERF3, the stemness feature, the extent of immune infiltration, drug sensitivity, the expression of ferroptosis, and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation regulators, were evaluated as prognostic indicators for patients with THCA using the Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Results: The IHC and RNAseq results showed that the protein and mRNA expression levels of MTERF3 in adjacent nontumor tissues were significantly higher than in THCA tissues. The survival analysis indicated that decreased expression of MTERF3 was associated with a poorer prognosis. Furthermore, the expression of MTERF3 not only negatively correlated with the enhancement of the stemness of THCA and the reduction of drug sensitivity but also was implicated in ferroptosis and m6A methylation. Conclusion: The data from this study support the hypothesis that decreased expression of MTERF3 in THCA is associated with a poor prognosis.

[Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer. METHODS: A sulfur hexafluoride-filled microbubble ultrasound contrast agent and a continuous real-time imaging technique of contrast pulse sequencing were used. Normal gastric wall was examined by CEUS in 8 healthy volunteers and the results were compared with the findings on multislice computed tomography. Sixty-two patients with gastric cancer proved by biopsies who received preoperative CEUS examination were involved in this study, and the CEUS result was compared with postoperative pathological findings. RESULTS: The normal gastric wall presented a one-layer structure in the portal venous phase and a three-layer structure in the arterial and equilibrium phase including a slightly hyper-enhanced inner layer, a hypo-enhanced intermediate layer, and a markedly hyper-enhanced outer layer, which corresponded histologically to the mucosal, submucosal, and muscular-serosal layer, respectively. The accuracy of transabdominal ultrasonography and CEUS in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 72.9% and 88.1% respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (chi(2)=4.37, P=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: CEUS shows the normal gastric wall as a one- or a three-layer structure, which provides a theory base for CEUS in preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer. CEUS is a useful diagnostic method for preoperative T-staging of gastric cancer.

[Diagnostic value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in preoperative staging of gastric cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical value of double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography using oral and intravenous contrast agents in preoperative staging of gastric cancer. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with biopsy-proven gastric cancer were enrolled into this study, and were examined by double contrast-enhanced gastric ultrasonography preoperatively. The results were compared with postoperative pathologic findings. RESULTS: The accuracy of oral contrast-enhanced gastric ultrasonography and double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 72.9% (T1: 66.7%, T2: 60.0%, T3: 76.9%, T4: 71.4%) and 88.1% (T1: 66.7%, T2: 80.0%, T3: 89.7%, T4: 100%), respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the two methods (P = 0.036). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and Youden index of oral contrast-enhanced gastric ultrasonography and double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in assessment of lymph node metastasis were 74.5%, 66.7%, 72.9%, and 0.41 versus 89.4%, 75.0%, 86.4%, 0.76, respectively. No significant difference in the accuracy of assessment for lymph node metastasis was observed (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Double contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is useful for preoperative staging of gastric cancer, especially for T staging.