predictive factors for longer operative times for thyroidectomy

Background/Objective: Conventional open thyroidectomy is considered as a safe surgery nowadays. However, surgeons sometimes encounter unexpected difficulty when performing thyroidectomies. The aim of this paper was to identify the predictors of a difficult thyroidectomy for the management of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: A database of patients who underwent open conventional thyroidectomy with cervical lymph node dissection after diagnosed papillary thyroid carcinoma between July 2008 and June 2013 was examined. In addition, the patients were subgrouped by difficult thyroidectomy (DT) and nondifficult thyroidectomy to determine the predictors of DT according to operation time. Clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, and postoperative morbidities were investigated. Results: No between-group differences in clinicopathologic factors and postoperative complications, except for male sex (p < 0.001) and tumor size (p = 0.039), were noted. Male sex [odds ratio (OR) 4.158, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.020–8.559, p = 0.043] and age < 45 years (OR 2.239, 95% CI 1.304–3.843, p = 0.003) were independent factors associated with DT in a multivariate logistic regression model. Elevated antithyroglobulin antibody (OR 1.004, 95% CI 1.000–1.008, p = 0.030) was a variable which is statistically significant, but not clinically significant. Discussion: Young age and male sex might be regarded as predictors of DT. Expecting DT before surgery might help surgeons, especially beginners, prevent troublesome situations

A More Appropriate Cardiac Troponin T Level That Can Predict Outcomes in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Purpose: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT), a useful marker for diagnosing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the general population, is significantly higher than the usual cut-off value in many end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients without clinically apparent evidence of AMI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of cTnT in ESRD patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Materials and methods: Two hundred eighty-four ESRD patients with ACS were enrolled between March 2002 and February 2008. These patients were followed until death or June 2009. Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. The cut-off value of cTnT for AMI was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. We calculated Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and potential outcome predictors were determined by Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: AMIs were diagnosed in 40 patients (14.1%). The area under the curve was 0.98 in the ROC curve (p<0.001; 95% CI, 0.95-1.00). The summation of sensitivity and specificity was highest at the initial cTnT value of 0.35 ng/mL (sensitivity, 0.95; specificity, 0.97). Survival analysis showed a statistically significant difference in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities for the group with an initial cTnT ≥0.35 ng/mL compared to the other groups. Initial serum cTnT concentration was an independent predictor for mortality. Conclusion: Because ESRD patients with an initial cTnT concentration ≥0.35 ng/mL have a poor prognosis, it is suggested that urgent diagnosis and treatment be indicated in dialysis patients with ACS when the initial cTnT levels are ≥0.35 ng/mL.ope

The genome sequence of Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae KACC10331, the bacterial blight pathogen of rice

The nucleotide sequence was determined for the genome of Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae (Xoo) KACC10331, a bacterium that causes bacterial blight in rice (Oryza sativa L.). The genome is comprised of a single, 4 941 439 bp, circular chromosome that is G + C rich (63.7%). The genome includes 4637 open reading frames (ORFs) of which 3340 (72.0%) could be assigned putative function. Orthologs for 80% of the predicted Xoo genes were found in the previously reported X.axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) and X.campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) genomes, but 245 genes apparently specific to Xoo were identified. Xoo genes likely to be associated with pathogenesis include eight with similarity to Xanthomonas avirulence (avr) genes, a set of hypersensitive reaction and pathogenicity (hrp) genes, genes for exopolysaccharide production, and genes encoding extracellular plant cell wall-degrading enzymes. The presence of these genes provides insights into the interactions of this pathogen with its gramineous host

The genetic architecture of type 2 diabetes

The genetic architecture of common traits, including the number, frequency, and effect sizes of inherited variants that contribute to individual risk, has been long debated. Genome-wide association studies have identified scores of common variants associated with type 2 diabetes, but in aggregate, these explain only a fraction of heritability. To test the hypothesis that lower-frequency variants explain much of the remainder, the GoT2D and T2D-GENES consortia performed whole genome sequencing in 2,657 Europeans with and without diabetes, and exome sequencing in a total of 12,940 subjects from five ancestral groups. To increase statistical power, we expanded sample size via genotyping and imputation in a further 111,548 subjects. Variants associated with type 2 diabetes after sequencing were overwhelmingly common and most fell within regions previously identified by genome-wide association studies. Comprehensive enumeration of sequence variation is necessary to identify functional alleles that provide important clues to disease pathophysiology, but large-scale sequencing does not support a major role for lower-frequency variants in predisposition to type 2 diabetes

Host range of Septoria glycines, quantification of partial resistance, and brown spot evaluation of soybeans regenerated from calli

Septoria glycines Hemmi causes brown spot of soybeans. Brown spot is a foliar disease distributed throughout the world. The host range of S. glycines, partial resistance to brown spot in soybean, and brown spot and yield evaluation of soybeans regenerated from calli resistant to a pathotoxin produced by S. glycines were studied.Thirteen genera representing 30 legume species, two weed species (Abutilon theophrastii and Cynanchum leave), and five cultivars of soybean were inoculated with Septoria glycines in the field and greenhouse. Of these, 29 legume species and A. theophrastii had leaf symptoms. Only Cicer arietinum and C. leave were symptomless. Leaf symptoms were separated into three types. Two isolates of Septoria spp. obtained from leaf lesions on A. theophrastii and C. leave were similar in conidia and pycnidia sizes when compared to an isolate from soybean. In cross inoculation studies, soybeans and A. theophrastii developed brown spot lesions. The fungus was reisolated from both hosts.Eleven soybean genotypes in four maturity groups were evaluated for partial resistance to S. glycines in the field and greenhouse. In the field, the area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), the area under defoliation progress curve (AUFPC), and lesion and pycnidia counts were useful parameters for evaluating partial resistance. Plant introductions 347814A and 347556 were considered to have the highest level of partial resistance and susceptibility, respectively, based on AUDPC, AUFPC, incubation period, and number of lesions and pycnidia. In the greenhouse, parameters for measuring partial resistance were not differentiated on the genotypes except for the number of pycnidia. Disease parameters measured in the greenhouse and field were generally not correlated.Regenerated soybean lines were evaluated from the \rm R\sb3 to \rm R\sb7 generations for resistance to Septoria glycines in the field from 1991 to 1994. These regenerated lines were derived from calli of cvs. BSR201, Fayette, and L86P-1615 which were selected based on resistance to a pathotoxin produced by S. glycines. Selected resistant plants from the \rm R\sb3 generation produced \rm R\sb4 progeny that were both susceptible and resistant in 1991. Brown spot resistance was intermediate and susceptible among the \rm R\sb3 to \rm R\sb7 generations in 1992, 1993, and in 1994. Regenerated \rm F\sb3 families obtained from a cross between \rm R\sb3 regenerants and cv. BSR201 had low heritability (23.1%) for resistance to S. glycines. Ten and nine lines from calli of cv. BSR201 with an intermediate and susceptible reaction, respectively, to S. glycines in 1992 of either \rm R\sb5 or \rm R\sb6 generations, and five commercial cultivars were evaluated for brown spot resistance, the number of days to maturity, and yield in 1993 and 1994. AUDPC, days to maturity, and yield varied among entries. The 10 lines selected with an intermediate reaction had lower AUDPC, matured later, and had higher yields than the nine susceptible lines. Three regenerated lines, 2728, 2733, and 2734, had significantly $(P = 0.05)$ lower AUDPC, later maturity, and higher yields. Regenerated lines, R91-3773, R92-2654, and R92-2657, were screened for resistance to Phialophora gregata and to Heterodera glycines race 3 and race 4. All lines and cv. BSR201 had brown stem rot resistance and were susceptible to soybean cyst nematode.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio

Polydiacetylene supramolecules embedded in PVA film for strip-type chemosensors

Blue-to-red color change of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films embedded with functional polydiacetylene supramolecules was observed by thermal stress or specific molecular recognition.close1