C-TIRADS及BRAFV600E基因检测对细针穿刺细胞学难以定性的甲状腺结节的诊断价值

目的 探讨中国版甲状腺影像数据与报告系统（C-TIRADS）、BRAFV600E 基因检测及二者联合对细针穿刺细胞学难以定性的甲状腺结节的诊断价值。方法 纳入我院2020年1月—2021年4月的甲状腺手术患者53例行回顾性分析,术前完成超声、细针穿刺抽吸及BRAFV600E基因检测,选取细针穿刺细胞学难以定性的患者作为研究对象,53例患者共62个结节。以手术病理结果作为金标准,比较C-TIRADS、BRAFV600E基因检测及二者联合诊断对甲状腺结节的诊断效能。结果 C-TIRADS诊断甲状腺癌的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值及准确性分别为92.50%、50.00%、77.08%、78.57%、77.42%。BRAFV600E基因诊断甲状腺癌的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值及准确性分别为55.00%、100.00%、100.00%、55.00%、70.97%。C-TIRADS联合BRAFV600E基因诊断甲状腺癌的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值、阴性预测值及准确性分别为95.00%、50.00%、77.55%、84.62%、79.03%。C-TIRADS及联合诊断对甲状腺癌诊断的敏感性高于BRAFV600E基因检测（P<0.001）,BRAFV600E基因检测特异性及阳性预测值高于C-TIRADS及联合诊断（P<0.05）。C-TIRADS、BRAFV600E基因检测及联合诊断对甲状腺癌诊断的阴性预测值和准确性差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。结论 C-TIRADS及BRAFV600E基因检测对于细胞学难以定性的甲状腺结节均有良好的诊断效能,术前联合应用可以更好地评估甲状腺结节     

血清Tg、TgAb对甲状腺癌根治术联合131I治疗后随访期间复发/转移的评估价值

目的 研究血清甲状腺球蛋白（Tg）、甲状腺球蛋白抗体（TgAb）对甲状腺癌根治术联合¹³¹I治疗后随访期间复发/转移的评估价值。方法 回顾性分析2018年6月—2020年6月中国贵航集团三〇二医院收治的106例分化型甲状腺癌患者的临床资料,患者均接受甲状腺癌根治术治疗,术后均采用¹³¹I进行清除残留的甲状腺组织（清甲）治疗。随访24个月,将患者分为复发转移组（21例）和未复发转移组（85例）。比较两组临床资料、¹³¹I治疗情况及血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）、Tg、TgAb。绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析血清Tg、TgAb检测对甲状腺癌根治术联合¹³¹I治疗后复发/转移的预测价值。采取非条件一般Logistic回归模型进行多因素分析。结果 与未复发转移组比较,复发转移组原位肿瘤T₄分期、手术方式为腺叶切除或近全切、残余甲状腺质量≥1 g、手术至¹³¹I治疗时间> 3个月、24 h摄¹³¹I率≤ 20%患者的占比均较高（P <0.05）;复发转移组血清Tg和TgAb水平均较高（P <0.05）;ROC曲线分析结果显示：血清Tg预测甲状腺癌根治术联合¹³¹I治疗后复发或转移的最佳截断值为1.674 μg/L,AUC为0.803（95% CI：0.721,0.884）,敏感性为81.1%（95% CI：0.724,0.898）,特异性为63.8%（95% CI：0.585,0.691）;血清TgAb预测的最佳截断值为44.19 3 IU/mL,AUC为0.911（95% CI：0.859,0.963）,敏感性为89.2%（95% CI：0.813,0.971）,特异性为72.5%（95% CI：0.674,0.774）。非条件Logistic一般回归分析结果显示：原位肿瘤T₄分期［O^R=2.916（95% CI：1.325,6.417）］、腺叶切除或近全切［O^R=3.243（95% CI：2.174,4.838）］、残余甲状腺质量≥ 10 g［O^R=1.835（95% CI：1.514,2.224）］、手术至¹³¹I治疗时间> 3个月［O^R=1.962（95% CI：1.371,2.808）］、24 h摄¹³¹I率≤ 20%［O^R=2.638（95% CI：1.219,5.709）］、血清Tg ≥ 1.674 μg/L［O^R=2.503（95% CI：1.430,4.360）］、血清TgAb≥ 44.193 IU/mL［O^R=2.944（95% CI：2.016,4.299）］可能是甲状腺癌根治术联合¹³¹I治疗后复发或转移的危险因素（P <0.05）;风险因素预测模型预测甲状腺癌根治术联合¹³¹I治疗后复发/转移的ROC曲线下面积为0.961（95% CI：0.935,0.987）,标准误为0.010,临界值为73.162,敏感性为91.9%（95% CI：0.863,0.957）,特异性为88.2%（95% CI：0.845,0.922）。结论 甲状腺癌根治术联合¹³¹I治疗后出现复发/转移的患者血清Tg、TgAb水平明显升高,Tg、TgAb对预测复发/转移具有较好的价值,联合其他危险因素建立风险因素预测模型可进一步提高预测价值。     

Galectin-3 does not reliably distinguish benign from malignant thyroid neoplasms

AIMS: To determine whether galectin-3 is a sensitive indicator of thyroid malignancy. It has been suggested as a potential marker for differentiating thyroid carcinoma from benign or non-neoplastic lesions in preoperative fine-needle aspirates (FNAs). METHODS: Galectin-3 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed thyroid tissues from 124 patients with histological diagnoses of papillary carcinoma (n = 38), follicular carcinoma (n = 19), follicular adenoma (n = 32) and dominant nodules of multinodular goitre (n = 35). Expression of galectin-3 was also assessed by Western blotting in 24 fresh thyroid tissues. RESULTS: Galectin-3 expression was observed in the majority of carcinomas (papillary 92%; follicular 74%). However, a large proportion of follicular adenomas (72%) and multinodular goitres (57%) also expressed galectin-3. In addition, galectin-3 expression was observed in epithelial cells of normal thyroid tissue and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Galectin-3 immunopositivity was significantly greater in papillary carcinomas than in dominant nodules or follicular adenomas (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0005, respectively). However, galectin-3 expression was no greater in follicular carcinomas than in follicular adenomas (P = 0.8735). Western blotting analysis confirmed both the specificity of the antiserum and expression of galectin-3 in multinodular goitres, follicular adenomas/carcinomas and papillary carcinomas. CONCLUSION: The data demonstrate that galectin-3 is not a reliable immunohistochemical marker to distinguish benign from malignant thyroid follicular lesions.     

全喉切除术中保留甲状软骨膜对手术进程和术后恢复影响的探讨

目的：探讨保留甲状软骨膜对全喉切除手术进程和病人术后恢复情况的影响。方法：在甲状软骨膜下游离甲状软骨并切断其上角。不结扎和切断舌骨下肌群和喉上动脉。保留之甲状软骨膜用以加强修复咽壁黏膜。结果：本组病例较经典全喉切除术手术时间缩短30min以上。手术中出血在100ml以下。患者术后第2d下床活动，第4d开始进食流质。手术创口均一期愈合。结论：全喉切除术中保留甲状软骨膜可有效地简化手术步骤，减少创伤和出血。利用甲状软骨膜加强咽壁黏膜缝合口，进一步减少了咽漏的发生.     

Levothyroxine treatment in thyroid peroxidase antibody-positive women undergoing assisted reproduction technologies: a prospective study

BACKGROUND: Infertile women positive for thyroid antibodies suffer from a poor pregnancy/delivery outcome, although conflicting data have been published. Our objective was to investigate if levothyroxine (LT4) exerts any effect on pregnancy and/or delivery rates in thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)-positive (+) women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. METHODS: Patients undergoing treatment were screened for TPOAb, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). A total of 72 (15%) out of the 484 euthyroid women selected were TPOAb (+). These 72 patients were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n = 36) underwent LT4 treatment, group B (n = 36) placebo. Group C consisted of 412 women (85%) who were TPOAb negative (-). All patients received controlled ovarian stimulation. The endpoints of treatment were pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and delivery rate. RESULTS: No differences in pregnancy rate were observed between the three groups. Miscarriage rate was higher in TPOAb (+) in comparison to TPOAb (-) [relative risk: 2.01 (95% CI = 1.13-3.56), P = 0.028]. CONCLUSIONS: The pregnancy rate is not affected either by presence of TPOAb or treatment with LT4. However, TPOAb (+) women show a poorer delivery rate compared to TPOAb (-). LT4 treatment in TPOAb (+) does not affect the delivery rate.     

Cost-effectiveness of fine-needle-aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules with intranodular vascular pattern using two different needle types

Objective: To compare the cytological findings of hypoechoic thyroid nodules with intranodular vascular pattern (pattern II) obtained by two different needles (Neolus 25 gauge, Chemil, Wenzhou, China vs Yale Spinal 25 gauge, Becton Dickinson, Madrid, Spain) in euthyroid patients and to evaluate their cost-effectiveness. Methods: From January 2001 to December 2003, 480 euthyroid patients with a hypoechoic thyroid nodule pattern II were referred for US-FNAC. The nodules were alternatively evaluated by Neolus or by Yale Spinal with the stylet (YS+) or without the stylet (YS−), in order to evaluate if the cytological results could be due to the presence of the stylet or to the different length of the two needles. For each nodule two passes were performed and the material was obtained by capillary action. Material was smeared on slides, fixed, and stained by Papanicolaou techniques. Cytological specimens were evaluated in blind by the same experienced cytopathologist. Results: Inadequate cytological specimens because of blood contamination were present in 30 (18.7%) samples by Neolus needle and in 22 (13.8%) by YS− compared to only 5 (3.1%) by YS+. In 6 (20%) cases of the 30 repeated US-FNAC by Neolus and in 4 (18%) of the 22 US-FNAC by YS−, material remained inadequate for diagnosis because of blood contamination. All the five repeated samples obtained by YS+ became adequate for diagnosis and resulted benign nodules. Direct costs of US-FNAC procedure are currently Э 72.30 including cytological examination. The cost of Neolus and Yale needles is Э 0.19 and Э 3.0, respectively. The estimated total cost to obtain a cytological diagnosis by a Neolus needle (160 + 30 repeated US-FNAC) was Э 13809.2 vs Э 12919.5 by Yale Spinal needle (160 + 5 repeated US-FNAC). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the use of Yale Spinal needles greatly reduces inadequate cytological specimens, and therefore limits both direct and indirect costs.     

Ultrastructural observations on the histogenesis of localized fibrous tumours of the pleura (benign mesothehoma)

Summary Five localized fibrous tumours of the pleura (benign mesothelioma) were studied ultrastructurally in order to elucidate their histogenesis. The histological subtypes of this benign fibrous lesion of the visceral pleura, i.e. the cellular, the collagenous, and the hyaline, were separately analysed.The tumours are composed of undifferentiated mesenchymal cells, intermediate and differentiated fibroblasts as well as collagenous interstitial tissue. The varying distribution of these cell elements account for the various histological subtypes. Morphological similarities between the mesenchymal tumour cells and the superficial mesothelial cells, which are always separated from the true tumour tissue by an intact basement membrane, were not observed.The different cellular elements can be regarded as parts of a continuous spectrum of cytodifferentiation, in which the mature fibroblasts are derived via intermediate forms from the undifferentiated cells. It is concluded that the localized fibrous tumours of the pleura arise from immature mesenchymal stem cells, which seems to be normally found in the submesothelial layer of the visceral pleura.     

Computer-Assisted Detection of Pulmonary Nodules: Preliminary Observations Using a Prototype System with Multidetector-Row CT Data Sets

The continued revolution in multidetector-row CT (MDCT) scanning increases the quality of lung imaging but at the cost of a greater burden of data for review and interpretation. This article discusses our preliminary experience with prototype software for lung nodule detection and characterization using MDCT data sets. We discuss the potential role of computer-assisted detection (CAD) as applied to the automatic detection of lung nodules. We also review the process of CAD, outline its potential results, and explore how it may fit into existing radiology practice. Finally, we discuss MDCT data-acquisition parameters and how they may affect the performance of CAD.     

Thymus Ontogeny in Frogs: T-Cell Renewal at Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis in amphibians presents a unique problem for the developing immune system. Because tadpoles are free-living, they need an immune system to protect against potential pathogens. However, at metamorphosis, they acquire a variety of new adultspecific molecules to which the tadpole immune system must become tolerant. We hypothesized that Xenopus laevis tadpoles may avoid potentially destructive antiself responses by largely discarding the larval immune system at metamorphosis and acquiring a new one. By implanting triploid (3N) thymuses into diploid (2N) hosts, we examined the influx and expansion of host T-cell precursors in the donor thymus of normally metamorphosing and metamorphosis-inhibited frogs. We observed that donor thymocytes are replaced by host-derived cells during metamorphosis, but inhibition of metamorphosis does not prevent this exchange of cells. The implanted thymuses export T cells to the spleen. This donor-derived pool of cells declines after metamorphosis in normally developing frogs but is retained to a greater extent if metamorphosis is inhibited. These studies confirm previous observations of a metamorphosis-associated wave of expansion of T cells and demonstrate that it is not dependent on the relatively high concentrations of thyroid hormones required for metamorphosis. Although some larval T cells persist through metamorphosis, others may be destroyed or the larval population is significantly diluted by the expanding adult population.     

Anti-human thyroid peroxidase and anti-human thyroglobulin antibodies present no cross-reactivity on recombinant peptides.

Thyroglobulin (Tg) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) are two antigens largely recognized by the sera from patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). Recently, the complete mapping of both antigens was established with rabbit polyclonal antibodies by the use of recombinant proteins expressed in prokaryotic vector. Several investigators have argued for the existence of a cross-reactivity of some hetero- and autologous antibodies versus these two proteins. In the present study, using rabbit polyclonal antibody, mouse polyclonal antibody and autoimmune antibody (aAb), we observed no common epitope on human Tg (hTg) and human TPO (hTPO).