The Impact of Glucocorticoid Treatment on Hypocalcemia Following Thyroid Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Patients undergoing thyroidectomy often develop hypocalcemia. While there is evidence suggesting that the prophylactic administration of dexamethasone in patients undergoing thyroidectomy can reduce the risk of postoperative complications including nausea, vomiting, and pain, it remains uncertain as to whether such treatment has a similar impact on hypocalcemia risk. Here, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focused on comparing the risk of postoperative hypocalcemia in thyroidectomy patients that either were or were not administered a single preoperative dose of dexamethasone were systematically evaluated. These RCTs were identified by searching the Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for all relevant publications as of April 2023. Primary study outcomes included biochemical hypocalcemia and symptomatic hypocalcemia incidence within 24 h after thyroidectomy, while the incidence of permanent hypocalcemia was a secondary outcome in this analysis. Random-effects models were used for all comparisons in this meta-analysis. In total, 8 RCTs enrolling 1666 patients were incorporated when conducting this meta-analysis. Relative to placebo control treatment, dexamethasone administration was associated with significant reductions in the rates of postoperative symptomatic hypocalcemia (OR = 0.40; 95%CI 0.16-1.00; p = 0.050) and biochemical hypocalcemia (OR = 0.34;95%CI 0.14-0.83; p = 0.020 (p < 0.05). No differences were detected between these groups with respect to the incidence of permanent hypocalcemia, and no trials revealed any evidence of glucocorticoid-associated complications. Significant heterogeneity was detected among studies, but the exclusion of any single study did not significantly alter study outcomes. The present pooled analyses suggested that one preoperative dexamethasone dose was sufficient to reduce the odds of thyroidectomy patients developing biochemical or symptomatic hypocalcemia within 24 h after the procedure. The prophylactic administration of steroids was both safe and effective, suggesting that it warrants consideration as a component of routine clinical care. However, additional prospective work will be vital to validate the efficacy of dexamethasone as a means of preventing objective hypocalcemia in this patient population.

miRNA-101 inhibits ovarian cancer cells proliferation and invasion by down-regulating expression of SOCS-2.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of miRNA-101 in normal and malignant ovarian tissues and cells as well as its impact on the proliferation and invasion of human ovarian cancer H08910 and SKOV3 cell lines. METHODS: Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to detect the miR-101 and SOCS-2 expression in 20 separate ovarian cancer tissues and para-carcinoma tissues, human ovarian cancer cells (H08910 and SKOV3) and normal human ovarian epithelial cells (HUM-CELL-0088). After H08910 and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were respectively transfected with miR-NC (H08910/NC and SKOV3/NC) and miR-101 (H08910/miR-101 and SKOV3/miR-101), Western Blot was employed to detect the SOCS-2 expression in transfected cells. CCK-8 and clone formation and Transwell assays were employed to determine the proliferation and invasion ability of wild type and transfected ovarian cancer cells. RESULTS: The expression of miR-101 in ovarian cancer tissues and cells was significantly lower than that in para-carcinoma tissues (t=19.12, P=0.002) and normal human ovarian epithelial cells (HUM-CELL-0088) (F=14.37, P=0.000), respectively. In contrast, the SOCS-2 expression in ovarian cancer tissues and cells was significantly higher than that in para-carcinoma tissues (t=25.03, P=0.000) and HUM-CELL-0088 cells (F=14.9, P=0.000) by Western Blotting analysis, respectively. Compared with wild type and empty vector transfected cells, the expression of SOCS-2 was significantly decreased in miR-101 transfected H08910 (t=10.9, P=0.001) and SKOV3 cells (t=21.03, P=0.000). The results of CCK-8, clone formation and Transwell assays revealed that the proliferation and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells was markedly inhibited by the transfection of miR-101. CONCLUSION: MiR-101 was validated to be reduced and SOCS-2 expression increased in ovarian cancer tissues and cells. The over expression of miR-101 can remarkably reduce the in vitro proliferation and invasion ability of ovarian cancer cells through the down-regulation of SOCS-2.

[Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the prostate: a report of 2 cases and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathological characteristics of primary Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) of the prostate. METHODS: Two cases of primary NHL of the prostate were studied by analyzing the clinical data, pathological features, prognosis and review of the literature. RESULTS: HE showed that the normal prostatic tissues were replaced by diffuse-type cancer tissues composed of oval or round medium- to large- size lymphoid cells, with vesicular nuclei, fine chromatin, 2-4 membrane-bound nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm, with either amphophilic or basophilic. Immunohistochemistry revealed: CD20 +, CD79a +, CD10 -, CD5 -, CD3 - and CD45 - in Case 1 and CD20+ + +, PSA +/-, CKpan -, Syn -, CgA -, 34betaE12 -, P504S - and CD3 - in Case 2. Case 1 received chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy, relapsed 4 years later and stabilized by repeated chemotherapy. Case 2 experienced no recurrence after treated by chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment could be avoided by preoperative pathological diagnosis of primary NHL of the prostate, for which combined chemotherapy should be the first preference.

Protective effects of bendazac lysine on early experimental diabetic nephropathy in rats.

AIM: To investigate the preventive and protective effects of bendazac lysine (BDL) on experimental early diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats. METHODS: After an early DN model was induced by streptozotocin, rats were administered BDL at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg for 8 weeks. Blood glucose, microalbuminuria, kidney index, total antioxidative capacity, laminin, advanced glycation end products (AGE), aldose reductase (AR) activity, and the relative quantity of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF- beta1) mRNA were measured by different methods. The ultrastructural morphology was observed by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: The physical behaviors of early DN rats were hypopraxia, cachexia, and polyuria, while those treated with high doses of BDL were vibrant and vigorous. For BDL-treated DN rats, when compared with vehicle-treated DN rats, the blood glucose level and the intensity of oxidative stress were ameliorated. Also, the microalbuminuria level, AGE either in serum or in renal, and AR activity were significantly reduced. Furthermore, the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in the kidney cortex was declined and the thickness of glomerular base membrane was decreased significantly. The ultrastructure of glomerulus and mesangial matrix of BDL-treated DN rats were ameliorated. CONCLUSION: BDL has protective effects on several pharmacological targets in the progress of DN and is a potential drug for the prevention of early DN.

[A clinicopathologic study of dysembryoplstic neuroepithelial tumor].

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE To study the clinicopathologic features, radiologic findings, treatment modalities and prognosis of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT). METHODS: The clinical features, histopathologic findings, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy of 18 cases of DNT were analyzed. Results Among the 18 cases studied, 14 were males and 4 females. The age of these patients ranged from 3 to 46 (mean age = 22. 8 years). Partial seizure was the main presenting symptom in all patients. The history of epilepsy could be as long as 17 years. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study, the tumor was hypodense on T1 and hyperdense on T2. There was neither edema nor mass effect. All but 2 cases were supratentorial and intracortical in location. Ten cases were treated by complete surgical excision and the remaining 8 tumors were partially excised. In the 14 patients with follow-up data available, 13 survived for 1.4 to 11 years after the operation (with more than 10 years survival observed in 2 patients). The average survival period was 5.5 years. None of the cases showed tumor recurrence after operation. Histologically, all tumors demonstrated a multinodular architecture and were intracortical in location, sometimes with extension into the white matter. The characteristic "glioneuronal constituent" was an essential feature for making the diagnosis of DNT. The tumor was formed by an admixture of oligodendrocyte-like cells, mature neurons and astrocytes, with obvious microcystic changes. These neurons were often dispersed singly in the mucoid matrix. In most cases, the foci of cortical dysplasia were found in adjacent areas. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated positivity for synaptophysin, neurofilament and S-100 protein in the neurons and some oligodendrocyte-like cells. The staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the oligodendrocyte-like cells was negative. Electron microscopy showed early neuronal, astrocytic and oligodendroglial differentiation of the oligodendrocyte-like cells. CONCLUSIONS: DNT is a benign tumor (corresponding to WHO grade I) that can be cured by surgical excision, despite sometimes incomplete tumor removal. A correct diagnosis of this entity requires thorough understanding of the clinical, radiologic, histologic and immunohistochemical features.

Effect of matrine on cold ischemia and reperfusion injury of sinusoidal endothelial cells in rat orthotopic liver transplantation.

AIM: To study the mechanism and prevention of matrine (Mat) on cold ischemia/reperfusion injury of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) in rat orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six syngeneic SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=18): untreated group, 40 mg/kg treated group, 80 mg/kg treated group, and pseudo-treated group. After 5 h of preservation in Ringer's (LR) solution, orthotopic implantation of the donor liver was performed. At 1, 2, and 4 h after reperfusion of the portal vein, 6 rats were killed in each group to collect the serum and the median lobe of liver for assay. RESULTS: The level of hylluronic acid (HA) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) decreased significantly in both treated groups at different times post-transplantation, and their pathological changes of SEC were ameliorated, too. CONCLUSION: Matrine can prevent SEC from ischemia and reperfusion injury in rat orthotopic liver transplantation.