Surgical resection of recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer: patterns, detection, staging, and treatment of 683 patients

BackgroundDespite improvements in overall survival, the recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is becoming more common and remains a challenge necessitating accurate reappraisal of the patient. This study aimed to describe the characteristics, reasons, morbidity, and strategies of second operations for DTC.MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study of patients with DTC who underwent a second surgery between June 2008 and June 2021 in the Department of Thyroid Surgery at China–Japanese Union Hospital, Jilin University, P.R. China. All clinical characteristics were recorded, and the analysis was estimated using SPSS.ResultsSecond surgeries were detected in 683 patients. The proportion of second operations changed with the update of international guidelines from 2015 (P < 0.001). The true recurrence rate progressively increased from 21.3% to 61.5%. The rate of an “absence of preoperative FNA” or an “absence of intraoperative pathology at first surgery” decreased from 49.8% to 12.7%, while that of a “misdiagnosis of preoperative FNA at second surgery” decreased from 10% to 1.8%. The most common tumor location during the second surgery was the lateral lymph nodes (n = 104, 36.5%), with a median time to relapse of 36 months. Completion of thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection correlated with the second operation.ConclusionAfter 2015, second surgeries were more standardized, the incidence of complications decreased, and real recurrence became the most common reason for a second DTC surgery

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Spectrum Sensing for Unidentified Primary User Condition

Recently, a survey released by Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shows that the utilization rate of the allocated spectrum in the US is only 30 %, which means there is still a great proportion of spectrum that are expected to be made better use of. As an efficient spectrum utilization technique, Cognitive Radio (CR) is a temping solution to the spectral congestion problem by introducing opportunistic usage of the frequency band that are not heavily occupied by licensed users 1. This research focuses on one of the three essential components of CR – spectrum sensing. The other two are dynamic spectrum management and adaptive communications. To be more specific, this research narrows the range of study into “unidentified” PUs as the title goes, implying the unknown circumstances of the information of the transmission channel and the PUs such as the power of the random Gaussian noise and the modulation type. Previous research has accomplished great advancement in spectrum sensing algorithms, however, seldom of which has ever put these techniques together and provide an overall review. The merit of this research lies in the combined evaluation of the selected four algorithms: energy detection based sensing, eigen-value based sensing, cyclostationary based sensing and entropy based sensing. Based on MATLAB, simulations were implemented using multiple types of signal sources as input to test the performances of the algorithms. Finally, an innovative comparison approach using the idea of correlation coefficient is adopted to evaluate the utility of the four different approaches

Finite-Time Stability of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems with Time-Varying Delay

The problem of finite-time stability for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with time-varying delay and external disturbances is investigated. By using the Lyapunov stability theory, sufficient conditions for the existence of finite-time state feedback controller for this class of systems are derived. The results can be applied to finite-time stability problems of linear time-delay systems with parameter uncertainties and external disturbances. Finally, two numerical examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained theoretical results

Immune Regulation and Antitumor Effect of TIM-1

T cells play an important role in antitumor immunity, and the T cell immunoglobulin domain and the mucin domain protein-1 (TIM-1) on its surface, as a costimulatory molecule, has a strong regulatory effect on T cells. TIM-1 can regulate and enhance type 1 immune response of tumor association. Therefore, TIM-1 costimulatory pathways may be a promising therapeutic target in future tumor immunotherapy. This review describes the immune regulation and antitumor effect of TIM-1

Liao dynasty Stele, Yunju Temple (雲居寺)

Stele commemorating the rebuilding the Monument to the Temple of Thousand People in Yunju Temple (重修雲居寺壹千人都邑會之碑). The monument is located beside the North Tower of Yunju Temple 雲居寺, and it was established in 965. It is 286cm high, 105cm wide and 26cm thick. It is made of bluestone, moderately weathered. The top is semi-circular. The body of the inscription records the rebuilding of Yunju Temple. There is no text on the back of the monument.Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor Affiliations: Peking University, Jilin University, Sichuan UniversityPostdoctoralGraduat

Xianjie Thousand Buddha Stele (Xian Jie Qian Fo Bei 賢劫千佛碑) , Yunju Temple (雲居寺)

Xianjie Thousand Buddha Stele (Xian Jie Qian Fo Bei 賢劫千佛碑) was engraved in the Sui Dynasty 隋 (581-618) and made of bluestone. The text contains 340 words. Four sides of the stele body are full of tiny shrines with 1009 Buddha statues carved inside, sitting in a lotus position with different gestures. There is an inscription stating the stele was engraved in 621. The words of inscription have are blurred. The words engraved in seal script on the upper part of the back of stele read: “The stele of thousands Buddhas engraved in the Sui Dynasty (元 , 1271-1368)”.Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor Affiliations: Peking University, Jilin University, Sichuan UniversityPostdoctoralGraduat

Sun Shilin Shinto Stele (Sun Shi Lin Shen Dao Bei 孫士林神道碑), Yunju Temple (雲居寺)

Sun Shilin Shinto Monument (Sun Shi Lin Shen Dao Bei 孫士林神道碑) is a stele made of bluestone in 885. It is 2.12 meters high and 0.85 meters wide. The head of stela is semicircular, with the dragon heads on both sides drooping down. The anaglyph of dragon is especially delicate for its proficient cutting way, smooth lines, and vivid gesture.Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor Affiliations: Peking University, Jilin University, Sichuan UniversityPostdoctoralGraduat

Qing dynasty Stele, Yunju Temple (雲居寺)

Yongliu incense monument (永留香火碑). The monument is located in Yunju Temple (雲居寺) and was established in 1763. It is 112cm high and 63cm wide. The monument is made of white stone, with serious weathering and illegible writing. The head of the monument depicts Xiangyun 祥雲 or auspicious clouds, the body is integrated, and the body is embedded in the wall. The stele records the story of Tan Yue’s application to Yunju Temple 雲居寺.Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor Affiliations: Peking University, Jilin University, Sichuan UniversityPostdoctoralGraduat

North Pagoda, Yunju Temple (雲居寺)

The North pagoda (Beita 北塔) of Yunju Temple 雲居寺 is painted with red paint, so it is also called "Red Pagoda". The pagoda was first built in the Sui 隋 (581-618) and Tang 唐 (618-907) Dynasties, and after continuous maintenance in Liao 遼 (916-1125), Yuan 元 (1271-1368) and Ming 明 (1368-1644) dynasties, it eventually became the Bell and Drum Tower pagoda it is known as today. The interior of the tower has steps to climb up. The relief of the tower is rich and exquisite with inscriptions.Non UBCUnreviewedAuthor Affiliations: Peking University, Jilin University, Sichuan UniversityPostdoctoralGraduat