Distinct neural signatures underlying information maintenance and manipulation in working memory.

Previous working memory research has demonstrated robust stimulus representations during memory maintenance in both voltage and alpha-band activity in electroencephalography. However, the exact functions of these 2 neural signatures have remained controversial. Here we systematically investigated their respective contributions to memory manipulation. Human participants either maintained a previously seen spatial location, or manipulated the location following a mental rotation cue over a delay. Using multivariate decoding, we observed robust location representations in low-frequency voltage and alpha-band oscillatory activity with distinct spatiotemporal dynamics: location representations were most evident in posterior channels in alpha-band activity, but were most prominent in the more anterior, central channels in voltage signals. Moreover, the temporal emergence of manipulated representation in central voltage preceded that in posterior alpha-band activity, suggesting that voltage might carry stimulus-specific source signals originated internally from anterior cortex, whereas alpha-band activity might reflect feedback signals in posterior cortex received from higher-order cortex. Lastly, while location representations in both signals were coded in a low-dimensional neural subspace, location representation in central voltage was higher-dimensional and underwent a representational transformation that exclusively predicted memory behavior. Together, these results highlight the crucial role of central voltage in working memory, and support functional distinctions between voltage and alpha-band activity.

Direct Access to 3,4,6-Trisubstituted 2-Pyrones via Carbene Catalysis.

An N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed [4 + 2] annulation of ß,γ-unsaturated α-keto esters and phenylacetate esters was developed for the direct and efficient construction of 2-pyrones. This approach provides a practical synthesis pathway for various 3,4,6-trisubstituted 2-pyrones in moderate to good yields and features broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. Moreover, the products can also be readily transformed to naphthalene and acylamide.

An updated review of immunotherapy in esophageal cancer: PD-L1 footprint.

Esophageal cancer is considered one of the most significant challenges to public health worldwide. While various therapeutic options exist for esophageal cancer, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, several adverse effects of these medications have been reported. Therefore, a new generation of therapeutic lines should be applied to minimize complications. In this regard, immunotherapy is a novel approach that aims to kill tumor cells directly by targeting them. Specifically, monoclonal antibodies can target specific markers of esophageal cancer tumor cells, keeping other normal cells safe. Multiple monoclonal antibodies optimized for esophageal cancer, such as pembrolizumab, ramucirumab, trastuzumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab, are available. On the other hand, esophageal cancer tumor cells express a specific inhibitory ligand and its receptor called programmed cell death, which can suppress T cell immune responses. This receptor provides an inhibitory signal, causing the highest expression of the PD-L1 ligand on tumor cells. The outcomes of this interaction lead to the suppression of the activation and function of T lymphocytes. Therefore, immunotherapy for esophageal cancer targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway has shown a remarkable correlation with cancer care. This study presents a comprehensive review of the latest findings related to immunotherapy in esophageal cancer.

Expression and subcellular localization of Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1) define prostate cancer aggressiveness.

BACKGROUND: The Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1) is one of the two members of a unique family of receptor tyrosine kinase receptors that signal in response to collagen, which has been implicated in cancer progression. Here, we examined the expression of DDR1 in prostate cancer (PCa), and assessed its potential value as a prognostic marker, as a function of grade, stage and other clinicopathologic parameters. METHODS: We investigated the association between the expression level and subcellular localization of DDR1 protein and PCa aggressiveness by immunohistochemistry, using tissue microarrays (TMAs) encompassing 200 cases of PCa with various Gleason scores (GS) and pathologic stages with matched normal tissue, and a highly specific monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: DDR1 was found to be localized in the membrane, cytoplasm, and nuclear compartments of both normal and cancerous prostate epithelial cells. Analyses of DDR1 expression in low GS (≤ 7[3 + 4]) vs high GS (≥ 7[4 + 3]) tissues showed no differences in nuclear or cytoplasmic DDR1in either cancerous or adjacent normal tissue cores. However, relative to normal-matched tissue, the percentage of cases with higher membranous DDR1 expression was significantly lower in high vs. low GS cancers. Although nuclear localization of DDR1 was consistently detected in our tissue samples and also in cultured human PCa and normal prostate-derived cell lines, its presence in that site could not be associated with disease aggressiveness. No associations between DDR1 expression and overall survival or biochemical recurrence were found in this cohort of patients. CONCLUSION: The data obtained through multivariate logistic regression model analysis suggest that the level of membranous DDR1 expression status may represent a potential biomarker of utility for better determination of PCa aggressiveness.

A flexible, room-temperature and solution-processible copper nanowire based transparent electrode protected by reduced graphene oxide exhibiting high performance and improved stability.

Advances in flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices have caused higher requirements for fabricating high-performance and low cost flexible transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs). Copper nanowires (Cu NWs) possess excellent electrical and optical properties, but the large contact resistance and poor stability limit their practical application in optoelectronic devices. In this work, we report a robust, convenient and environment-friendly method to assemble copper nanowires/reduced graphene oxide (Cu NWs/rGO) TCEs with enhanced conductivity, flexibility and stability at room temperature. The NaBH4 treatment was used to remove the organics and oxides on the surface of Cu NWs, and the graphene oxide (GO) capping layer was also effectively reduced at the same time. The best Cu NWs/rGO composite TCEs show a good optical-electrical performance with a sheet resistance of ∼50 Ω/sq and transmittance of 83% as well as superior mechanical flexibility. The oxidation resistance of Cu NWs in normal environment and even at a relatively high temperature has also been greatly improved. Additionally, the Cu NWs/rGO TCEs based heaters presented high saturation temperature and rapid response time under a low voltage. The high-performance composite Cu NWs TCEs with good stability are expected to be applied in various types of flexible optoelectronic devices.

Ultrasound measurement of laryngeal structures in the parasagittal plane for the prediction of difficult laryngoscopies in Chinese adults.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal laryngeal structures are likely to be associated with a difficult laryngoscopy procedure. Currently, laryngeal structures can be measured by ultrasonography, however, little research has been performed on the potential role of ultrasound on the evaluation of a difficult laryngoscopy. The present study investigated the value of laryngeal structure measurements for predicting a difficult laryngoscopy. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to explore the value of laryngeal structure measurements for predicting a difficult laryngoscopy. METHODS: Two hundred and eleven adult patients (over 18 years old) were recruited to undergo elective surgery under general anesthesia via endotracheal intubation. Ultrasound was utilized to measure the distance between the skin and thyroid cartilage (DST), the distance between the thyroid cartilage and epiglottis (DTE), and the distance between the skin and epiglottis (DSE) in the parasagittal plane. These metrics were then investigated as predictors for classifying a laryngoscopy as difficult vs easy, as defined by the Cormack and Lehane grading scale. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression showed that the DSE, but not DST or DTE, was significantly related to difficult laryngoscopies. Specifically, a DSE ≥ 2.36 cm predicted difficult laryngoscopies with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.818 (95% CI: 0.766-0.870) and 0.856 (95% CI: 0.809-0.904). Furthermore, when combining the best model constructed of other indicators (i.e. sex, body mass index, modified Mallampati test) to predict the difficult laryngoscopy, the AUC reached 93.28%. CONCLUSION: DSE is an independent predictor of a difficult laryngoscopy; a DSE cutoff value of 2.36 cm is a better predictor of a difficult laryngoscope than other ultrasound or physiological measurements for predicting a difficult laryngoscope. Nevertheless, it's more valuable to apply the best model of this study, composed of various physiological measurements, for this prediction purpose.

WITHDRAWN: Comparison of the accuracy between imageless navigation and manual freehand approaches for total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal.

Origin and formation mechanism of salty water in Zuli River catchment of the Yellow River.

The Zuli River is one of the branches of the upper Yellow River, as an inland catchment with semiarid climate in northwestern China, and the formation, evolution, and development of brackish water at such a large scale have remained unclear. This study aims to find clues about the origin and formation mechanism of salty water through multiple methods of hydrochemistry and isotope hydrology. The results show that groundwater is dominantly recharged by precipitation, and the river water was mainly recharged by groundwater discharge. The relatively high tritium content of groundwater (>5.0 TU) clearly suggests the occurrence of a modern recharge and rapid circulation. The dissolution of evaporate minerals, followed by incongruent dissolution of carbonate minerals (dolomite), constituted the main processes controlling groundwater salinization. In addition, the intense evaporation and unreasonable use of fertilizers further increase the TDS of the river, which should be the primary external mechanism of water salinization. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The authors aimed to find clues about the formation mechanism of salty water in an inland catchment of the Yellow River. The results of this research shows that the dissolution of dissolved minerals constituted the main processes controlling groundwater salinization. In addition, the intense evaporation and unreasonable use of fertilizers, which should be the primary external mechanism of water salinization. This work would provide a theoretical basis for government to develop rational utilization of brackish water resources in the study area, which is also significant for understanding the mechanism of water salinization in an inland mountain watershed and even in similar inland watersheds around the world.

Effect of carrier transfer process between two kinds of localized potential traps on the spectral properties of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells.

Two InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) samples with identical epitaxial structures are grown at different growth rates via metal-organic chemical vapor deposition system. The room temperature photoluminescence intensity of the fast-grown sample is much stronger than that of the slow-grown one. In addition, the fast-grown sample has two luminescence peaks at low temperatures, and the height of main peak anomalously increases with increasing temperature below 100 K. Such improved emission efficiency and the untypical temperature-induced increase of peak height can be attributed to the carrier's transferring between two kinds of localized traps with different potential depth in the fast-grown sample, where the distribution of indium is seriously inhomogeneous. The enhanced fluctuation of indium is caused by the reduced migration time of adsorbed atoms due to the increased growth rate during the epitaxial growth of MQW region.

Fabrication of high-quality copper nanowires flexible transparent conductive electrodes with enhanced mechanical and chemical stability.

Copper nanowires (Cu NWs) become a potential functional material in future optoelectronic devices owing to their high optical transmittance, super electrical conductivity, and good flexibility as well as low cost. However, the drawbacks of Cu NWs with large contact resistance and poor stability make them far from the practical implementations. Herein we report a robust method to fabricate high-quality Cu NWs transparent conductive electrodes (TCEs) with enhanced mechanical and chemical stability at room temperature. Firstly, we used a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) treatment to remove the organics and oxides on surface of Cu NWs and thus greatly improved the conductivity of Cu NWs TCEs. Subsequently, followed by decorating a dense hydrophobic dodecanethiol (DT) protective layer, the formed Cu NWs TCEs showed superior mechanical and chemical stability compared to the raw ones. The optimized Cu NWs TCEs exhibit a sheet resistance of ∼38 Ω/sq at an optical transmittance of 83% (550 nm). Unlike the bare Cu NWs, the DT-decorated Cu NWs showed good stability under humid conditions at (85% RH) at 85 °C for 12 h. Moreover, the DT-decorated Cu NW TCEs were tested as transparent heaters, showing the fast response time and high saturation temperature under a low DC voltage. Our studies demonstrate that the proper post treatments for Cu NWs TCEs would make them more competitive in application of next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices.

A comparative efficacy evaluation of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment in the gastrocnemius in managing plantar heel pain: a randomized and controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of plantar heel pain is highly challenging. We report ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment (UG-PRF) in the gastrocnemius to treat plantar heel pain and minimize the safety issues. DESIGN: This study compared UG-PRF with sham treatment in 100 patients with plantar heel pain. Primary outcome measures include the pain subscale of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ-pain) and "first step" pain as measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS-"first-step" pain). The secondary outcome measures include the FHSQ-foot function and general foot health, and health related quality of life (assessed using the Short Form-36 questionnaire [SF-36]). All outcomes were measured at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. RESULTS: The results showed the efficacy of UG-PRF in terms of pain management, as reflected by higher FHSQ-pain score (increased by 20.0 (P < 0.0001) and 17.9 (P = 0.001) compared with the sham treatment at 3 or 6 months, respectively) and lower VAS-"first-step" pain (reduced by 26.1 (P < 0.0001) and 14.3 (P = 0.01) compared with the sham group at 3 or 6 months, respectively). The FHSQ-foot function and FHSQ-general foot health were increased by the UG-PRF (P < 0.05, vs sham treatment at 3 or 6 months). The SF-36 physical component score in the sham group was 10.8 (P = 0.042) and 10.4 (P = 0.044) lower than the UG-PRF group at 3 or 6 months, respectively. No severe complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the UG-PRF is both safe and efficacious in managing plantar heel pain.

Tomography-guided palisade sacroiliac joint radiofrequency neurotomy versus celecoxib for ankylosing spondylitis: a open-label, randomized, and controlled trial.

Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is a common symptom in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Palisade sacroiliac joint radiofrequency neurotomy (PSRN) is a novel treatment for the SIJ pain. In the current clinical trial, we treated AS patients with significant SIJ pain using PSRN under computed tomography guidance and compared the results with the celecoxib treatment. The current study included 155 AS patients. Patients were randomly assigned to receive PSRN or celecoxib treatment (400 mg/day for 24 weeks). The primary endpoint was global pain intensity in visual analog scale, at week 12. Secondary endpoints included pain intensity at week 24, disease activity, functional and mobility capacities, and adverse events at week 24. In comparison with the baseline collected immediately prior to the interventions, global pain intensity was significantly lower at both 12 and 24 weeks after the treatment in both arms. Pain reduction was more robust in the PSRN arm (by more than 1.9 and 2.2 cm at 12 and 24 weeks in comparison with the celecoxib arm, P < 0.0001 for both). The PSRN was also more effective in improving physical function and spinal mobility (P < 0.05 vs. celecoxib for both). Gastrointestional irritation was more frequent in the celecoxib arm than in the PSRN arm (P < 0.05). No severe complications were noted in either arm. PSRN is both efficacious and safe in managing SIJ pain in patients with AS.

Intelligent mine safety risk based on knowledge graph: hotspots and frontiers.

The safety of mining has always been a concern. The occurrence of safety accidents not only endangers human health, but also causes serious damage to the ecological environment. With the continuous upgrade and improvement of mining technology, most mines are undergoing intelligent construction and transformation. In order to analyze security risks that should be focused on the construction of intelligent mines and the technical challenges that will be faced, we used the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection to identify 283 publications on the field of security risks in intelligent mines from 2013 to 2022. We combined the Vosviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix R software packages to conduct an in-depth analysis and exquisite visualization of the literature, including the authors, journals, countries, hot topics, and research frontiers. This paper can help scholars comprehensively and quickly understand the research status and hotspots in the field of intelligent mine safety and risk, and it provides theoretical support for further research and exploration in the future.

A case report of melanosis of the bladder within a bladder diverticulum and associated Aerococcus urinary infection.

Background: Melanosis vesicae is a rare condition characterized by the deposition of melanin within the bladder urothelium. Case presentation: We present a case of a 72-year-old male with a history of recurrent urinary retention, bladder diverticula, and concurrent Aerococcus urinary tract infection who presented with left-sided abdominal pain. Cystoscopy revealed diffuse black splotch lesions throughout the bladder and two diverticula. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of melanosis vesicae. The patient ultimately underwent an open bladder diverticulectomy. Conclusion: The potential associations between melanosis vesicae, urinary tract malignancies and concurrent conditions such as bladder diverticula and urinary infections warrant further investigation.

Facile construction of 2-pyrones under carbene catalysis.

2-Pyrones are valuable structural motifs in organic chemistry, found in numerous natural products and pharmaceuticals. The synthesis of these heterocycles has been significantly advanced by the application of N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) catalysis. This review examines the recent advancements in NHC-catalyzed synthesis of 2-pyrones, highlighting key methodologies, mechanisms, and synthetic applications. NHC catalysis has revolutionized the synthesis of 2-pyrones, providing efficient, selective, and versatile methods for constructing these valuable heterocycles.

Phase II Trial of Concurrent Nivolumab and Radiation Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer of Older or Chemotherapy-Ineligible Patients.

PURPOSE: Bladder cancer is predominantly a disease of older individuals. Concurrent chemotherapy and radiation is a bladder-sparing strategy for management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer; however, many patients are not candidates for chemotherapy due to comorbidities or impaired performance status. We conducted a study in a chemotherapy-ineligible patient population with the objectives of evaluating the safety, efficacy, and quality-of-life effect of the combination of nivolumab and radiation therapy in patients with localized/locally advanced urothelial cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Eligible patients had muscle-invasive bladder cancer and were not candidates for standard chemoradiation strategy due to at least one of the following: performance status of 2, creatinine clearance ≤60 mL/min, cardiac disease, neuropathy, and intolerance to previous treatment. Creatinine clearance ≥40 mL/min, normal marrow, and liver function were required. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival at 12 months. Nivolumab was started within 3 days of radiation therapy and administered at a dose of 240 mg intravenously every 2 weeks for a maximum of 6 months. Radiation therapy was per standard of care for bladder cancer. Imaging and cystoscopy and biopsy evaluation were required at months 3, 6, and 12 and then annually until progression. RESULTS: Twenty patients were enrolled, with a median age of 78.5 years (range, 58-95 years); 80% of patients were >70 years of age, and 8 (40%) were >80 years of age. Median creatinine clearance was 52 mL/min. Nine patients (48%) were progression free at 12 months. Median progression-free survival was 11.4 months (90% CI, 7.5-23.7 months), and median overall survival was 15.6 months (90% CI, 9.1-26.1 months). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent nivolumab and radiation therapy is tolerable but demonstrated limited efficacy in an older population with multiple comorbidities. Immune correlates demonstrated that patients with baseline programmed cell death ligand 1 combined prognostic score ≥5% had numerically longer progression-free survival.

PTEN regulates PDGF ligand switch for ß-PDGFR signaling in prostate cancer.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family members are potent growth factors that regulate cell proliferation, migration, and transformation. Clinical studies have shown that both PDGF receptor ß (ß-PDGFR) and its ligand PDGF D are up-regulated in primary prostate cancers and bone metastases, whereas PDGF B, a classic ligand for ß-PDGFR, is not frequently detected in clinical samples. In this study, we examined the role of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in the regulation of PDGF expression levels using both a prostate-specific, conditional PTEN-knockout mouse model and mouse prostate epithelial cell lines established from these mice. We found an increase in PDGF D and ß-PDGFR expression levels in PTEN-null tumor cells, accompanied by a decrease in PDGF B expression. Among Akt isoforms, increased Akt3 expression was most prominent in mouse PTEN-null cells, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt activity was essential for the maintenance of increased PDGF D and ß-PDGFR expression. In vitro deletion of PTEN resulted in a PDGF ligand switch from PDGF B to PDGF D in normal mouse prostate epithelial cells, further demonstrating that PTEN regulates this ligand switch. Similar associations between PTEN status and PDGF isoforms were noted in human prostate cancer cell lines. Taken together, these results suggest a mechanism by which loss of PTEN may promote prostate cancer progression via PDGF D/ß-PDGFR signal transduction.

Diffusion Characteristics of Airflow and CO in the Dead-End Tunnel with Different Ventilation Parameters after Tunneling Blasting.

After tunnel blasting, a large amount of CO will be produced and accumulated in the dead-end tunnel. If the ventilation discharge is not proper and the entry time into the dead-end tunnel is not appropriate, then it can cause workers to suffer from poisoning, hypoxia, and suffocation. Therefore, to understand the airflow and diffusion characteristics of CO in the dead-end tunnel after excavation and improve the working environment quality of the heading excavation tunnel, this paper uses numerical simulation and on-site verification to study the influence of different ventilation parameters on the airflow and CO diffusion characteristics in the dead-end tunnel after excavation and blasting. The research results show that the higher the air velocity of the duct, the smaller the distance between the duct and the working face, and the higher the hanging height of the duct, the easier it is for CO to be discharged from the dead-end tunnel. The larger the distance between the duct and the side wall, the more vortices there are in the dead-end tunnel and the more difficult it is to discharge CO from the tunnel. This study provides theoretical guidance for the research of the migration law of CO after tunnel blasting and has important value for ensuring a safe working environment and clean production in tunnel excavation.

Dual color multiplex TTF-1 + Napsin A and p63 + CK5 immunostaining for subcategorizing of poorly differentiated pulmonary non-small carcinomas into adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in fine needle aspiration specimens.

BACKGROUND: The distinction of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has important therapeutic implications. Napsin A is a recently developed marker, which has shown high specificity for lung tissue in the surgical pathology specimens. In this study, we have evaluated whether the use of a panel of novel multiplex cocktails of TTF-1 + Napsin A and p63 + CK5 for dual color immunostaining will improve the diagnostic accuracy of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens, usually with relatively scant microfragments of diagnostic material. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, adequately cellular FNA cell blocks with a confirmed diagnosis of either ADC (n = 22), SCC (n = 20) or poorly differentiated carcinoma (PDC; n = 7), from a total of 49 consecutive cases, were studied. All these cases had subsequently confirmed diagnosis in biopsies or resection specimens. The sections were immunostained with two color methods of TTF-1 + Napsin A and p63 + CK5 multiplex cocktails. The presence of one or more unequivocal individual tumor cells with convincing brown nuclear TTF-1 and red cytoplasmic Napsin A staining, and cells with brown nuclear p63 and membranous / cytoplasmic CK5 staining were interpreted as 'positive'. RESULTS: All 20 FNA cell blocks from SCC cases were positive for dual stain p63 + CK5 and negative for dual stain TTF-1 + Napsin A. The sensitivity and specificity of the dual immunoexpressions of p63 + CK5 for SCC of lung FNAs were both 100%. All 22 ADC cases were positive with dual stain of TTF-1 + Napsin A and negative for dual stain of p63 + CK5. On follow-up of the surgical pathology specimens, 22 cases were confirmed as ADC. The sensitivity of the dual immunoexpression of TTF-1 + Napsin A for ADC of lung FNAs was 100% and the specificity was also 100%. Of the seven PDC cases, five cases that were positive for dual stain p63 + CK5 and negative for dual stain TTF-1 + Napsin A could be categorized as SCC. Two of the seven (2 / 7) PDC cases were positive for dual stain TTF-1 + Napsin A and negative for dual stain p63 + CK5, consistent with ADC. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous coordinate or individual immunostaining for Napsin A / TTF-1 in ADC and p63 / CK5 in SCC demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity. The panel with multiplex Napsin A / TTF-1 and p63 / CK5 dual color immunostains could specifically subcategorize PDC into ADC and SCC in lung FNA specimens. Multiplex dual color Napsin A / TTF-1 and p63 / CK5 immunostaining is especially recommended for evaluation of FNA specimens with relatively scant cellularity.

The Bethesda System thyroid diagnostic categories in the African-American population in conjunction with surgical pathology follow-up.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that African-Americans (AA) have a higher prevalence of overall malignancy compared to Caucasians, in the United States, yet the incidence of thyroid malignancy is half. The aim of this study is to assess the rate of malignant versus benign thyroid disease in AA from an urban-based hospital with an academic setting. Our study analyzed the AA population with respect to fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid lesions, in correlation with final surgical pathology. This is the first study of its kind to our knowledge. DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed thyroid FNA cytology between January 2005 and February 2011. Consecutive FNA specimens with corresponding follow-up surgical pathology were included. The patients were categorized as African- American (AA) and Non-African-American (NAA), which included Caucasians (C), Hispanics (H), and Others (O). The FNA results were classified using the latest edition of The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBS-Thy) and the follow-up surgical pathology was used for the final categorization. RESULTS: We studied 258 cases: 144 AA (56%) and 114 NAA [43 C (17%), 3 H (1%), and 68 O (28%)]. The average age for AA was 51 years (range 20 - 88) and for NAA was 53 years (range 25 - 86). There were more females than males in the AA versus the NAA group (85 vs. 75%). The incidence of thyroid lesions in the FNA specimens was similar between these two populations. The distribution of benign versus malignant diagnosis on follow-up surgical pathology was examined across TBS-Thy class. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that distribution of benign versus malignant lesions in the thyroid FNA of AA versus NAA, with follow-up surgical pathology, is comparable for TBS-Thy classes, non-diagnostic (I), benign (II), suspicious for malignancy (V), and malignant (VI) in AA versus NAA.