Evaluation of circulating cell free DNA in plasma as a biomarker of different thyroid diseases

IntroductionMany studies have been done on proteomics, genomics, epigenetic, immunogenetics in many body fluids. Among these, circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) entered the literature in 1948, but it has not been studied for many years due to technological deficiencies. Following recent advances, geno-metastasis has been mentioned and new research is needed in this area. ccfDNA is known to be an important biomolecule in this regard.ObjectiveThe presence of cell-free DNA in the circulatory system may offer a tremendous opportunity to provide novel biomarkers for thyroid diseases. This experimental study was conducted to determine the amount of ccfDNA in different thyroid diseases, then to evaluate whether the ccfDNA concentration varied between the disease groups and control group.MethodsIn total, we included 121 individuals in the present study. We collected blood samples and then determined the ccfDNA concentration in plasma of collected blood samples from three groups: thyroiditis (n = 33), benign (n = 37), and malignant (n = 30) and from a control group (n = 21).ResultsThe median values of the ccfDNA groups were found as 1610, 1665, 1685 and 576 ng/mL for the thyroiditis, benign, malign, and control groups, respectively. Findings showed that the ccfDNA of the three groups was significantly higher than the control (p < 0.0001). Each group was compared in terms of ccfDNA and the p-values of benign-thyroiditis, benign-malign, and thyroiditis-malign were 0.09, 0.65, and 0.29, respectively.ConclusionsThe clear differences between thyroid diseases and controls suggest that ccfDNA is worthy of attention as a biomarker for further evaluation of different thyroid diseases. Likewise, it might indicate a clear tendency that ccfDNA can also be used to distinguish different thyroid diseases.     

促甲状腺素抑制治疗甲状腺癌患者的膳食调查分析

目的 对促甲状腺素(TSH) 抑制治疗期间的分化型甲状腺癌(DTC)患者进行膳食调查，为对患者进行个性化膳食指导及营养干预研究提供参考依据。方法 从湖南省肿瘤医院甲状腺内科的门诊患者中收集行TSH抑制治疗的DTC患者，根据抑制治疗副作用危险分层标准，收集低、中、高危患者各200例，共600例患者作为研究对象。对所有入选病例进行膳食调查:一年食物摄入频率和3天24小时回顾法膳食调查。结果 TSH抑制治疗的DTC患者整体人群膳食摄入不足且膳食结构不合理；整体人群畜肉类摄入过多，鱼类及水产品、蛋、奶、豆、蔬菜、水果则摄入过少；整体人群脂类、碳水化合物、维生素E摄入量基本达到要求；蛋白质、膳食纤维、钙、铁、锌、硒、维生素A、维生素B1、维生素B2、维生素C、烟酸摄入明显不足；碘摄入基本符合要求；低、中、高危组膳食摄入不足率分别是21.0%、8.0%、11.5%；中危组畜肉类摄入最多，碘摄入有0.5%的患者超标；高危组牛奶摄入最少。结论 TSH抑制治疗的DTC患者膳食结构不合理及多种营养素摄入不足，在临床工作中应加强对整体人群的营养教育及针对性的干预，以降低TSH抑制治疗对心血管系统及影响骨代谢的风险。     

注射氨基酮戊酸光动力疗法对大鼠痤疮样炎性结节模型的疗效及组织病理学影响

【摘要】 目的 探讨注射氨基酮戊酸（ALA）光动力疗法对大鼠痤疮样炎性结节模型的疗效及组织病理改变。方法 40只SPF级SD大鼠分为正常对照组、模型对照组、注射ALA组、外敷ALA组，每组10只。除正常对照组不处理外，其余3组大鼠右耳廓内侧接种痤疮丙酸杆菌，建立大鼠痤疮样炎性结节模型。造模成功后，模型对照组不处理，注射ALA组将5%ALA注射入结节内再予红光照射，外敷ALA组直接外敷5%ALA于鼠耳痤疮样结节处再予红光照射，均为每周1次，共2次。末次治疗24 h后观察各组大鼠耳部大体表现和组织病理学变化，测量耳廓厚度，并检测肝肾功能。采用单因素方差分析和LSD-t检验比较各组差异。结果 正常对照组、模型对照组、外敷ALA组、注射ALA组大鼠耳廓厚度分别为（0.435 ± 0.006）、（1.269 ± 0.071）、（1.088 ± 0.098）、（0.699 ± 0.095） mm，差异有统计学意义（F = 235.60，P < 0.001），模型对照组耳廓厚度高于正常对照组、外敷ALA组和注射ALA组（t 值分别为24.18、5.24、16.48，均P < 0.01）；注射ALA组低于外敷ALA组（t = 11.24，P < 0.01）。外敷ALA组和注射ALA组大鼠耳廓局部红肿程度、结节数均低于模型对照组，真皮及皮下组织浸润炎症细胞数量减少，注射ALA组结节消退更明显，亦未见团块状分布的炎症细胞或微脓肿形成。各组大鼠丙氨酸转氨酶、天冬氨酸转氨酶、肌酐、尿素氮水平差异均无统计学意义（均P > 0.05）。结论 注射ALA光动力疗法治疗大鼠痤疮样炎性结节模型较外敷ALA光动力疗法治疗更有效。     

紧张性头痛患者甲状腺功能改变及其临床意义

目的 探讨紧张性头痛患者甲状腺功能改变及其临床意义。方法 选择2016年1月-2019年6月本院收治的120例紧张性头痛患者作为观察组,选择同时期来本院进行体检的120名健康人作为对照组,比较2组研究对象的一般资料、匹兹堡睡眠指数PSQI评分、汉密尔顿17项抑郁评分、蒙特利尔认知功能MoCA-C评分、疼痛视觉量表VAS评分,检测2组患者血清中促甲状腺激素TSH、总甲状腺素TT4、总三碘甲状腺原氨酸TT3、游离甲状腺素FT4、游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸FT3、甲状腺球蛋白抗体TGAb、甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体TPOAb水平。结果 2组患者的年龄、性别及受教育年限均无明显差异(P>0.05),观察组PSQI评分、HAMD-17评分、TSH、TPOAb、TGAb水平均明显高于对照组(P<0.05),MoCA评分、TT3、TT4、FT3、FT4水平均明显低于对照组(P<0.05),VAS评分与PSQI评分、HAMD-17评分、TSH、TPOAb、TGAb水平呈正相关,与认知功能MoCA评分、TT3、TT4、FT3、FT4水平呈负相关。结论 甲状腺功能低下及自身免疫性损伤与紧张性头痛的发生密切相关,甲状腺激素及相关抗体的检测有助于紧张性头痛的诊断及预后判定     

甲状腺结核临床误诊探讨

目的 通过对甲状腺结核流行病学特点、临床及病理分型、临床表现、辅助检查提高对甲状腺结核的认识,提高该病的术前诊断率.方法回顾性分析2012年12月四川大学华西医院西藏成办分院收治的1例甲状腺结核患者的临床资料.结果 手术行甲状腺右叶峡部切除+左叶近全切除术.术后病理证实为甲状腺结核.结论 甲状腺结核发病率低,临床罕见,提高临床医师对甲状腺结核的认知度是避免误诊的关键.细针穿刺细胞学检查(FNAB),抗酸染色及活检组织培养,这是目前术前诊断甲状腺结核最准确和最有效的方法.     

Association between microRNA polymorphisms and papillary thyroid cancer susceptibility

Objectives: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common subtype of thyroid cancer, which accounts for 80-90% of all thyroid cancer cases. Though the pathological mechanism hasn’t been fully understood, it is reported that both environmental and genetic factor may contribute to the PTC susceptibility. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules which function as the suppressors to participate in a variety of biological processes. Accumulating evidence suggests that polymorphisms of miRNAs were associated with the tumorigenesis of various cancers, including PTC. In this article, we focus on the association between four common microRNA polymorphisms (miR-146a, miR-608, miR-933, and miR-149) and PTC risk in a Han Chinese population. Methods: In this case-control study, we recruited 1,398 participants in total, including 369 PTC patients, 278 patients with thyroid benign nodules (BN) and 751 normal controls. The miRNAs polymorphisms were genotyped and analyzed by using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The odd ratios and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated to evaluate the association between miRNAs polymorphisms and PTC risk. Furthermore, a meta-analysis based on previous studies was conducted to comprehensively assess the diagnostic performance of miR-146a in the PTC diagnosis. Results: The miR-146a polymorphisms were shown to be significantly correlated with elevated risk of PTC under the heterozygous, homozygous, dominant and allelic models by comparing the genotype distribution between PTC cases and healthy controls, as well as between PTC cases and BN cases. However, the result of meta-analysis showed no significant association between miR-146a polymorphisms and PTC risk. Conclusions: Our study indicated that the miR-146a polymorphism was significantly associated with PTC risk. In contrast, meta-analysis revealed no evidence of association between miR-146a variants and PTC risk. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of miR-146a in the etiology of PTC.     

Analysis of pattern of occurrence of thyroid carcinoma between 2001 and 2010

IntroductionAn ongoing discussion is found in medical literature about the reasons for changes in thyroid carcinoma incidence patterns over the last decades.ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of thyroid carcinoma cases over a decade.MethodsCross-sectional study over an historical cohort. Medical records of 628 thyroid cancer cases in a single center were reviewed. 597 patients were included. Microcarcinoma cases were selected for a qualitative analysis phase, in which medical records were reviewed for better understanding of thyroid nodule and thyroid cancer diagnosis process.ResultsAn increase in the proportion of cases with thyroid cancer diagnosis was observed throughout the decade; new cases were predominantly tumors of less than 2 cm, with histopathological signs of low aggressiveness. There was an increase in proportion of cases with malignant cytological results among microcarcinomas.ConclusionThere is a trend for increase in thyroidectomies due to cancer in this institution, with proportional increment of cases with histopathological characteristics indicative of early disease. Among microcarcinomas, there is an increasing group represented by cancer cases that were not incidentally diagnosed, related to an enhancement in preoperative diagnostic methods.     

Survivin、BRAF、Notch1在甲状腺良恶性肿瘤中的差异表达及其与血清指标的关系

目的:研究Survivin、BRAF、Notch1在甲状腺良恶性肿瘤中的差异表达及其与血清指标的关系.方法:将在本院就诊的100例甲状腺癌患者和100例甲状腺腺瘤患者纳入研究,采用Real-timePCR和Western-blot检测肿瘤组织中Survivin、BRAF、Notch1的表达情况,采用酶联免疫吸附法检测血清中血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)含量.结果:甲状腺癌组织中Survivin、BRAF、Notch1的mRNA和蛋白水平均高于甲状腺腺瘤组织,且TNM分期越差,Survivin、BRAF、Notch1的表达量越高;甲状腺癌患者血清中VEGFA、VEGFB、VEGFC的含量均高于甲状腺腺瘤患者;多元线性回归显示,VEGFA、VEGFB、VEGFC均与Survivin、BRAF、Notch1呈正相关.结论:甲状腺癌组织中Survivin、BRAF、Notch1呈高表达,且与血清中血管新生指标VEGF具有良好的相关性.