Second generation of familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma: A meta-analysis on the clinicopathologic features and prognosis.

Whether the second generation of parent/offspring type familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC) is more aggressive and has worse prognosis than their first generation counterpart is controversial. To evaluate the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of the second generation via a comparison between the two groups, We searched three databases (PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library) to review studies published before November 25, 2016. All original studies comparing the clinicopathologic features and prognosis in the first generation of parent/offspring type FNMTC with its second generation counterpart were included. The Q-test and I2 test were used to evaluate homogeneity and funnel plot with Egger's test was used to evaluate publication bias. 6 studies, including 424 subjects were included. There was significant difference between the first and second generation of parent/offspring type FNMTC in the age of onset (SMD = -1.20, 95% CI: -2.38, -0.03, p = 0.045), gender distribution (OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.90, p = 0.022) and lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.16, 2.92, p = 0.01), while no significant difference in other variables. Thus we conclude that the second generation of parent/offspring type FNMTC patients is in higher risk than their first generation counterpart. We believe continuous study is needed to confirm the result.

Evaluating the effectiveness of prophylactic central neck dissection with total thyroidectomy for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma: An updated meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) following total thyroidectomy (TT) in patients with clinical node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is still controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the outcome of pCND and to provide quantitative evidence. METHOD: A detailed literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrails.gov and Cochrane Library electronic databases for articles published up to October 2016 was carried out. This meta-analysis was performed by the random method (Mantel-Haenszel) model. Locoregional recurrence (LRR) and surgical complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies comparing pCND + TT (combined) and TT alone in cN0 PTC patients were analyzed. A total of 6930 cases were enrolled, including 2381 cases in the combined group and 4009 cases in the TT-alone group. Compared with TT alone, patients in the combined group showed a significantly lower rate of overall LRR (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.48-0.89) and central compartment recurrence (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.22-0.73). There was no statistical difference in the rate of lateral compartment recurrence. However, the combined group showed a significantly higher rate of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism (OR = 2.28, 95% CI = 1.92-2.27/OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.15-2.95) and temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (LNR) (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.08-2.16). There was no statistical difference in the rate of permanent LNR, hematoma, hemorrhage or wound infection. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis revealed that pCND with TT was a significantly efficient way to reduce the risk of LRR. However, pCND + TT increased the incidence rate of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism and temporary LNR.

Ultrasonic pretreatment and acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse for succinic acid production using Actinobacillus succinogenes.

Immense interest has been devoted to the production of bulk chemicals from lignocellulose biomass. Diluted sulfuric acid treatment is currently one of the main pretreatment methods. However, the low total sugar concentration obtained via such pretreatment limits industrial fermentation systems that use lignocellulosic hydrolysate. Sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate is used as the carbon and nitrogen sources to achieve a green and economical production of succinic acid in this study. Sugarcane bagasse was ultrasonically pretreated for 40 min, with 43.9 g/L total sugar obtained after dilute acid hydrolysis. The total sugar concentration increased by 29.5 %. In a 3-L fermentor, using 30 g/L non-detoxified total sugar as the carbon source, succinic acid production increased to 23.7 g/L with a succinic acid yield of 79.0 % and a productivity of 0.99 g/L/h, and 60 % yeast extract in the medium could be reduced. Compared with the detoxified sugar preparation method, succinic acid production and yield were improved by 20.9 and 20.2 %, respectively.

Succinic acid production by Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113 using corn steep liquor powder as nitrogen source.

In this study, corn steep liquor powder (CSL) was used as nitrogen source to replace the relatively costly yeast extract typically used for the production of succinic acid with Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113. Moreover, when heme was added to the fermentation medium and the culture was agitated at a low speed, a maximum succinic acid concentration of 37.9 g/l was obtained from a glucose concentration of 50 g/l, and a productivity of 0.75 g/l/h was achieved. These yields are almost as high as for fermentation with glucose and yeast extract. These results suggest that heme-supplemented CSL may be a suitable alternative nitrogen source for a cost-effective method of producing succinic acid with A. succinogenes NJ113 while consuming less energy than previous methods.

Succinic acid production from cellobiose by Actinobacillus succinogenes.

In this study, cellobiose, a reducing disaccharide was used to produce succinic acid by Actinobacillus succinogenes NJ113. A final succinic acid concentration of 30.3g/l with a yield of 67.8% was achieved from an initial cellobiose concentration of 50 g/l via batch fermentation in anaerobic bottles. The cellobiose uptake mechanism was investigated and the results of enzyme assays revealed that the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PEP-PTS) played an important role in the cellobiose uptake process. In batch fermentation with 18 g/l of cellobiose and 17 g/l of other sugars from sugarcane bagasse cellulose hydrolysates, a succinic acid concentration of 20.0 g/l was obtained, with a corresponding yield of 64.7%. This study found that cellobiose from incomplete hydrolysis of cellulose could be a potential carbon source for economical and efficient succinic acid production by A. succinogenes.