[Aberrant methylation of hMLH1 gene promoter in papillary thyroid cancer and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the aberrant promoter methylation of hMLH1 gene promoter and its clinical significance in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS: methylation of hMLH1 gene promoter in the cancer tissue and matched tumor-adjacent normal tissue of 152 PTC patients were detected by real-time methylation specific PCR (qMSP). The relationship between the methylation of hMLH1 gene promoter and clinicopathological features was analyzed. RESULTS: The methylation rate of hMLH1 gene promoter in cancer tissues was 37.5% (57/152), of which 33 cases were totally methylated and 24 cases were partially methylated. The methylation rate of adjacent normal tissues was 5.3% (8/152)(all were partially methylated). The methylation rate of PTC tissues was significantly higher than that in the tumor-adjacent normal tissue (P < 0.01). The promoter methylation of hMLH1 gene in PTC was significantly correlated with age, size and number of the primary lesion, local invasion, T stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05) , but not correlated with gender and clinical stage (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Promoter methylation of hMLH1 gene is a common molecular event in PTC tissue, and it is significantly correlated with the progression of PTC.

The incidence trends of oral cancers worldwide from 1988 to 2012 and the prediction up to 2030.

BACKGROUND: This paper aims to analyze the time trend of OCs incidence in 43 countries (1988-2012) and predict the incidence trend of OCs (2012-2030). METHODS: In the database for Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, the annual data on OCs incidence grouped by age and gender were obtained from 108 cancer registries in 43 countries. The age-standardized incidence rates were calculated, and the Bayesian age-period-cohort model was used to predict the incidence in 2030. RESULTS: South Asia and Oceania had the highest ASR in 1988 (9.24/100 000) and 2012 (6.74/100 000). It was predicted that India, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Japan would be the countries with an increased incidence of OCs in 2030. CONCLUSION: Regional custom is an important factor affecting the incidence of OCs. According to our predictions., it is necessary to control risk factors according to local conditions and enhance screening and education.

Case report: Successful treatment of a rare case of combined parathyroid adenoma, cervical bronchogenic cyst, and tracheal diverticulum with gasless endoscopic resection of neck masses via an axillary approach: A case report and literature review.

Parathyroid adenoma (PA), one of the most common causes of hyperparathyroidism, generally involves a single parathyroid gland and is manifested as hyperparathyroidism. Bronchogenic cysts are rare congenital cystic lesions caused by a development malformation in bronchi during the embryonic period, which mostly occur in the lung and mediastinum, with an extremely low morbidity rate in the neck. A 27-year-old young female was found to suffer from hyperparathyroidism on routine physical examination, and further examination suggested a cystic lesion in the right inferior parathyroid area combined with a tracheal diverticulum. Therefore, she was initially diagnosed with cystic hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands complicated by a tracheal diverticulum. Gasless endoscopic resection of neck masses via an axillary approach was performed because of the high requirements for the surgical cosmetic effect of the patient. During the surgery, we observed that the preoperatively diagnosed cystic lesion was a combination of two masses, which were successfully resected under endoscopy. Based on the postoperative pathology and clinical features, the patient was eventually diagnosed with a rare case of triple diseases including PA, cervical bronchial cyst, and tracheal diverticulum. Now, the patient recovered well as per the follow-up with no signs of recurrence and was extremely satisfied with the cosmetic effect of the surgery.

Clinical application of endoscopic surgery using a gasless unilateral transaxillary approach in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives: To investigate the safety and feasibility of gasless axillary parathyroid surgery in the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Methods: A total of 12 patients who received gasless axillary parathyroidectomy (endoscope group) and 14 patients who received traditional open parathyroidectomy (open group) from January 2019 to April 2022 were screened and included. The differences in baseline characteristics, surgical efficiency, incidence rate of complications, changes in biochemical indicators, and incision satisfaction between the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results: The proportion of young patients was higher in the endoscopic group than in the open group, and the difference was statistically significant [(41.33 ± 13.65) years vs. (58.00 ± 9.44) years, P < 0.01]. The differences in operation time, intra-operative blood loss, post-operative drainage volume, hospital stay, and surgical efficiency between the two groups yielded no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Patients in the open group had more significant neck pain 3 days after surgery (P = 0.046), but the degree of pain 3 months after surgery was the same in the 2 groups (P = 0.432). Evaluation of post-operative mature stage scar and incision satisfaction regarding aesthetics in the endoscope group were significantly superior to that in the open group [(1.92 ± 0.92) points vs. (0.92 ± 1.00) points, P = 0.017 and (1.57 ± 0.51) points vs. (1.00 ± 0.013) points, P = 0.013, respectively]. No statistical significance was found in terms of incidence rate of post-operative fever (P > 0.05). No temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, post-operative bleeding, incision hematoma infection, or other complications were observed. Comparing the two groups, the extent of the level decrease of PTH was similar to that of serum calcium and phosphorus (P < 0.05), where most patients experienced transient hypocalcemia after operation yielding no significant difference in incidence (P = 0.225). During a follow-up period of 3 to 36 months, a total of 1 patient in the open group experienced recurrence at 10 months after surgery and was treated non-surgically. Conclusion: Gasless axillary approach to parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism possesses good safety and patient satisfaction in terms of aesthetics.

[RUNX3 expression and its methylation of 5'-CpG island in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines ACC-2, ACC-3 and ACC-M].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the methylation of 5'-CpG island and expression of RUNX3 in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines. METHODS: RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and Western blot were used to detect the expression of RUNX3 gene and protein in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma cell lines, ACC-2, ACC-3, and ACC-M, before/after a treatment of 5-Aza-dc respectively. RESULTS: A weak expression of RUNX3 was found in ACC-2 and ACC-3. And no expression of RUNX3 was found in ACC-3 cell line. After a treatment of 300 nmol/L 5-Aza-dc for 72 hours, the expression of RUNX3 in ACC-2 and ACC-3 cells was enhanced, and in ACC-M was restored. LSCM results showed that the RUNX3 protein was located mainly in the cytoplasm of ACC cell lines. After a treatment of 300 nmol/L 5-Aza-dc for 72 h, both nuclear and cytoplasmic location of RUNX3 positive signals were found in the ACC-2 and ACC-3 cells. However, a weak positive signal was still only found in the cytoplasm of ACC-M cells. Partial methylation in promoter 5'-CpG island of RUNX3 gene was found in all three cell lines. And the methylation degree of CpG island was 50%, 75% and 33% in ACC-2, ACC-M and ACC-3 respectively. After a treatment of 5-Aza-dc, the RUNX3 gene showed unmethylated status in all three cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: The methylation of RUNX3 plays an important role in the silencing of RUNX3 expression in ACC cell lines. The cytoplasmic mislocalization of RUNX3 may be correlated with the inhibition of its function in ACC cells.

Chemical reaction between sodium pyruvate and ammonium sulfate in aerosol particles and resultant sodium sulfate efflorescence.

The hygroscopicity of aerosols is dependent upon their chemical composition. When their chemical compositions are altered, the water content in aerosols often changes, which may further modify phase behaviour. However, the study of phase behaviour dependence on chemical reactions is still limited. In this work, internally mixed sodium pyruvate (SP)/ammonium sulfate (AS) droplets were studied using an in-situ ATR-FTIR spectrometer. FTIR spectral analysis showed that solid sodium sulfate (SS) formed during the dehydration process, indicating a chemical reaction between SP and AS. In addition, the water content decreased after a dehydration-hydration process despite organic salt (SS) to inorganic salt (AS) mole ratios (OIRs) During the second relative humidity (RH) cycle, the water content remained constant, however, the efflorescence relative humidity (ERH) was lower than that in the first dehydration. The crystal relative humidities (CRHs) of SS are 66.7-53.1%, 66.0-58.2%, 62.2-57.1% and 49.6-43.6% for OIRs of 3:1, 2:1, 1:1 and 1:3, respectively, suggesting the crystallization of SS was favoured by higher SP content. For 2:1 OIRs, the solid SS was the greatest and an excess of either SP or AS blocked the solid SS formation. At a constant 80% RH, depletion of reagents was ∼0.97, and water loss was ∼0.6 in ∼40 min. After 90 min, solid SS formed. The chemical reaction was faster than water loss; furthermore, water loss from the chemical reaction led to solid SS above the ERH of pure SS particles (∼75% RH). When the RH changed rapidly, the reaction was slow and solid SS decreased.

Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes and Ratio of Metastatic Lymph Nodes to Total Number of Retrieved Lymph Nodes Are Risk Factors for Recurrence in Patients With Clinically Node Negative Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: The number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) and the ratio between the number of metastatic LNs and the total number of retrieved LNs (the LN ratio [LNR]) have been proposed as risk factors for recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the significance of the number of LNs and the LNR in patients with clinically node negative PTC has not been clearly determined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate their significance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 382 patients with PTC who had undergone total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central neck dissection (CND) between January 2000 and December 2010. We excluded patients with lobectomy, concurrent lateral compartment neck dissection, a follow-up period less than at least 2 years, number of harvested central LNs less than or equal to one, clinically positive LN, distant metastasis, recurrent cancer or other types of malignancy. The correlations between recurrence and various clinicopathologic characteristics including tumor size, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), stage, number of metastatic central LNs, and the LNR were investigated. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up period of 82.2±26.4 months, recurrence occurred in 14 patients (3.7%). Tumor size ≥20 mm, maximal ETE, presence of central LN metastasis, number of metastatic LNs ≥2, and LNR ≥0.31 correlated with recurrence in the univariate analysis. However, tumor size ≥20 mm, maximal ETE, number of metastatic LNs ≥2, and LNR ≥0.31 were significantly associated with recurrence in the multivariate analysis (hazard ratio=6.61, 7.17, 3.43, and 11.23, respectively). CONCLUSION: The LNR and the number of metastatic LNs are independent prognostic risk factors for recurrence in patients with clinically node negative PTC, and these factors can be used to guide postoperative adjuvant therapy and follow-up strategy after prophylactic CND.

Preliminary screening and analysis of metastasis-related lncRNA and co-expressed papillary thyroid carcinoma mRNA.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA expression profiles that are associated with the invasion and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Transwell invasion assays were used to screen three highly invasive sub-strains of the human PTC IHH4 cell line: IHH4-M1, IHH4-M2 and IHH4-M3. In addition, tumor-bearing nude mice were used to identify the invasive and metastatic capacity of the three sub-strains. Agilent lncRNA microarray chips were used to screen 795 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 788 differentially expressed mRNAs. A total of 10 lncRNAs and 10 mRNAs were randomly selected for RT-qPCR validation to confirm that the results were consistent with the microarray chips, suggesting that the results of the microarray chip analysis were relatively accurate. Gene ontology enrichment-based cluster analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with steroid biosynthesis, bioadhesion, intercellular adhesion and other metastasis-associated biological processes. The results of the pathway cluster analysis identified that the differentially expressed genes were associated with tumor metastasis-associated signaling pathways, including the cholesterol metabolic signaling pathway, the sterol regulatory element-binding protein signaling pathway and the integrin signaling pathway, suggesting that lncRNA may regulate PTC metastasis through various signaling pathways. The present study screened and constructed PTC metastasis-associated lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles, and it provides a molecular basis for the future study of high-risk molecular markers of PTC.

The significance of Delphian lymph node in papillary thyroid cancer.

AIM: To investigate the clinical significance of the DLN metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS: A total of 231 PTC patients who underwent first surgical treatment in the Department of Hand and Neck Surgery of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from January 2013 to June 2014 were enrolled. The relationship between Delphian lymph node (DLN) metastasis and patient age, gender, tumor size, tumor number, unilateral or bilateral, capsular invasion, pretracheal and paratracheal node metastasis, and lateral node metastasis was analyzed. RESULTS: Within 231 cases, 69 showed DLN, but only 19 (8.23%) were found with metastasis. In the univariate analysis, DLN metastasis was significantly associated with tumor size (P = 0.023), capsular invasion (P = 0.001), pretracheal or paratracheal node metastasis (P = 0.003) and lateral node metastasis (P = 0.001), while there were no significant correlation between DLN metastasis and gender (P = 0.976), age (P = 0.976), tumor number (P = 0.234) and unilateral or bilateral (P = 0.724). In the multivariate analysis, capsular invasion was an independent risk factor of DLN metastasis (P < 0.05, odds ratio = 10.15). CONCLUSION: Capsular invasion is an independent risk factor of DLN metastasis and DLN metastasis could be used as a predictor of lateral node metastasis. The dissection of DLN in PTC patients is recommended and lateral lymph node should be evaluated for patients with DLN positive.

Identification of potential therapeutic targets for papillary thyroid carcinoma by bioinformatics analysis.

The aim of the present study was to identify potential therapeutic targets for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to investigate the possible mechanism underlying this disease. The gene expression profile, GSE53157, was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Only 10 chips, including 3 specimens of normal thyroid tissues and 7 specimens of well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas, were analyzed in the present study. Differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between PTC patients and normal individuals were identified. Next, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses of DEGs were performed. Modules in the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were identified. Significant target genes were selected from the microRNA (miRNA) regulatory network. Furthermore, the integrated network was constructed with the miRNA regulatory and PPI network modules, and key target genes were screened. A total of 668 DEGs were identified. Modules M1, M2 and M3 were identified from the PPI network. From the modules, DEGs of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A, S100 calcium binding protein A6 (S100A6), dual specificity phosphatase 5, keratin 19, met proto-oncogene (MET) and lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 were included in the Malacards database. In the miRNA regulatory and integrated networks, genes of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (CDKN1C), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, basic helix-loop-helix family, member e40 and reticulon 1 were the key target genes. S100A6, MET and CDKN1C may exhibit key roles in the progression and development of PTC, and may be used as specific therapeutic targets in the treatment of PTC. However, further experiments are required to confirm these results.

Oral cavity cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2010.

PURPOSE: To analyze the incidence and mortality of oral cavity cancer in the cancer registration areas of China in 2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Until June 1, 2013, 219 population-based cancer registries submitted the data of 2010 to the National Central Cancer Registry of China covering about 207,229,403 population, and 120 cancer registries were selected after the quality evaluation for this analysis. Oral cavity cancer cases were selected from the database according to the International Classification of Diseases-10 coded as "C00-C10, C11-C12." We calculated the crude incidence and mortality rates of oral cavity cancer by sex, age, and location (urban/rural). The China population in 2000 and Segi's population were used as standardized populations for the calculation of age standardized rates. RESULTS: In 2010, it was estimated that there were 34,319 new cases diagnosed as oral cavity cancer in China, including 23,096 males and 11,223 females. The crude incidence rate of oral cavity cancer was 2.61/100,000 in 2010, accounting for 1.11% of overall new cancer cases, ranked the 20th in all cancer sites. The age standardized by China population (ASRcn) and by world population (ASRwld) were 2.06/100,000 and 2.02/100,000, respectively. Cumulative rate (0-74 years old) and truncated age standardized rate (35-64 years old) were 0.23% and 3.82/100 000, respectively. In 2010, it was estimated that there were 14,652 cases died in oral cavity cancer in China, including 10,363 males and 4289 females. The crude mortality rate of oral cavity cancer was 1.11/100,000 in 2010, accounting for 0.75% of overall cancer deaths, ranked the 20th in all cancer sites. The ASRcn and ASRwld were 0.86/100,000 and 0.85/100,000, respectively. Cumulative rate and truncated age standardized rates were 0.10% and 1.30/100,000, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both the incidence and mortality of oral cavity cancer in China were still low in 2010. Primary prevention such as smoking control, reducing alcohol consumption, changing the habit of chewing betel nut, and chemical prevention should be enhanced in the general population.

Suppression of NaNO3 crystal nucleation by glycerol: micro-Raman observation on the efflorescence process of mixed glycerol/NaNO3/water droplets.

Although the hygroscopicity of a NaNO(3)/water microdroplet and a polyalcohol/water microdroplet, two of the most important aerosols in atmosphere, has been widely studied, little is known about the relationship between the hygroscopic behavior of mixed NaNO(3)/polyalcohol/water droplets and their structures on the molecular level. In this study, the hygroscopicity of mixed glycerol/NaNO(3)/water droplets deposited on a hydrophobic substrate was studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy with organic-to-inorganic molar ratios (OIRs) of 0.5, 1, and 2. In the mixed glycerol/NaNO(3)/water droplets, glycerol molecules tended to combine with Na(+) and NO(3)(-) ions by electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding, respectively. On the basis of the analyses of the changes of symmetric stretching (v(s)-CH(2)), asymmetric stretching (v(a)-CH(2)), their area ratio (Av(a)-CH(2)/Av(s)-CH(2)) of glycerol, and symmetric stretching band of NO(3)(-) (ν(1)-NO(3)(-)) with relative humidity (RH), it was found that the conformation of glycerol was transformed from αα mainly to γγ and partly to αγ with a decreasing RH in the mixed droplets, contrary to the case in the glycerol/water droplet. In addition, the glycerol with γγ and αγ conformation had strong interaction with Na(+) and NO(3)(-) respectively, which suppressed the formation of contact of ions and delayed the efflorescence relative humidity (ERH) for the mixed droplets compared to the NaNO(3)/water droplet.