Factors predictive of lymph node metastasis in the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The treatment of papillary thyroid carcinomas larger than 1 cm usually consists of total thyroidectomy and central lymph node dissection (LND). In patients with the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC), preoperative cytology and intraoperative frozen-section analysis cannot always establish the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with FVPTC and to identify patients who might benefit from LND. METHODS: The study included patients with FVPTC treated by total thyroidectomy and LND between 2000 and 2010 in four departments. When fewer than six non-involved lymph nodes were removed, the patient was excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: Some 199 patients were included. The median tumour size was 17 (range 1-85) mm, and tumours were classified as T1a in 28 patients, T1b in 40, T2 in 53, and T3 in 78. Eighty-one patients (40·7 per cent) had lymph node metastasis (51 classified as N1a and 30 as N1b). Four risk factors were predictive of lymph node metastasis in the multivariable analysis: multifocality (odds ratio (OR) 2·36, 95 per cent confidence interval 1·15 to 4·86), angiolymphatic invasion (OR 3·67, 1·01 to 13·36), absence of tumour capsule (OR 3·00, 1·47 to 6·14) and tumour involvement of perithyroid tissue (OR 3·89, 1·85 to 8·18). The rate of lymph node metastasis varied between 14 and 94 per cent depending on the presence of risk factors. CONCLUSION: The rate of lymph node metastasis in patients with FVPTC varies widely according to the presence or absence of predictive risk factors

Genome-wide microRNA screening in Nile tilapia reveals pervasive isomiRs’ transcription, sex-biased arm switching and increasing complexity of expression throughout development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression in multicellular organisms. The elucidation of miRNA function and evolution depends on the identification and characterization of miRNA repertoire of strategic organisms, as the fast-evolving cichlid fishes. Using RNA-seq and comparative genomics we carried out an in-depth report of miRNAs in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), an emergent model organism to investigate evo-devo mechanisms. Five hundred known miRNAs and almost one hundred putative novel vertebrate miRNAs have been identified, many of which seem to be teleost-specific, cichlid-specific or tilapia-specific. Abundant miRNA isoforms (isomiRs) were identified with modifications in both 5p and 3p miRNA transcripts. Changes in arm usage (arm switching) of nine miRNAs were detected in early development, adult stage and even between male and female samples. We found an increasing complexity of miRNA expression during ontogenetic development, revealing a remarkable synchronism between the rate of new miRNAs recruitment and morphological changes. Overall, our results enlarge vertebrate miRNA collection and reveal a notable differential ratio of miRNA arms and isoforms influenced by sex and developmental life stage, providing a better picture of the evolutionary and spatiotemporal dynamics of miRNAs

Does intraoperative neuromonitoring of recurrent nerves have an impact on the postoperative palsy rate? Results of a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND: The impact of intraoperative neuromonitoring on recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy remains debated. Our aim was to evaluate the potential protective effect of intraoperative neuromonitoring on recurrent laryngeal nerve during total thyroidectomy. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter French national study. The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring was left at the surgeons\u27 choice. Postoperative laryngoscopy was performed systematically at day 1 to 2 after operation and at 6 months in case of postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Univariate and multivariate analyses and propensity score (sensitivity analysis) were performed to compare recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rates between patients operated with or without intraoperative neuromonitoring. RESULTS: Among 1,328 patients included (females 79.9%, median age 51.2 years, median body mass index 25.6 kg/m), 807 (60.8%) underwent intraoperative neuromonitoring. Postoperative abnormal vocal cord mobility was diagnosed in 131 patients (9.92%), including 69 (8.6%) and 62 (12.1%) in the intraoperative neuromonitoring and nonintraoperative neuromonitoring groups, respectively. Intraoperative neuromonitoring was associated with a lesser rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in univariate analysis (odds ratio = 0.68, 95% confidence interval, 0.47; 0.98, P = .04) but not in multivariate analysis (oddsratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval, 0.47; 1.17, P = .19), or when using a propensity score (odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval, 0.53; 1.07, P = .11). There was no difference in the rates of definitive recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (0.8% and 1.3% in intraoperative neuromonitoring and non-intraoperative neuromonitoring groups respectively, P = .39). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of intraoperative neuromonitoring for detecting abnormal postoperative vocal cord mobility were 29%, 98%, 61%, and 94%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of intraoperative neuromonitoring does not decrease postoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate. Due to its high specificity, however, intraoperative neuromonitoring is useful to predict normal vocal cord mobility. From the CHU de Nantes, Clinique de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Nantes, France; CHU Lille, Université de Lille, Chirurgie Générale et Endocrinienne, Lille, France; CHU Nancy-Hôpital de Brabois, Service de Chirurgie Digestive, Hépato-Biliaire, et Endocrinienne, Nancy, France; CHU Angers, Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Angers, France; CHU de Toulouse-Hôpital Larrey, Chirurgie Thoracique, Pôle Voies Respiratoires, Toulouse; CHU Saint-Etienne-Hôpital Nord, ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale et Plastique, Saint-Etienne, France; CHU de Limoges-Hôpital Dupuytren, Chirurgie Digestive, Générale et Endocrinienne, Limoges, France; CHU de Besançon-Hôpital Jean Minjoz, Chirurgie Digestive, Besançon, France; Centre Hospitalier du Mans, Service ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Le Mans, France; Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Chirurgie Générale, Endocrinienne, Digestive et Thoracique, Pierre Bénite, France; AP-HM-Hôpital de La Conception, Chirurgie Générale, Marseille, France; CHU de Rennes-Hôpital Pontchaillou, Service ORL et Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Rennes, France; CHU de Caen, ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Caen, France; CHU d\u27Angers, ORL et Chirurgie Cervico-Faciale, Angers, France; CHU de Nantes, Service ORL, Nantes, France; AP HP URCEco île-de-France, hôpital de l\u27Hôtel-Dieu, Paris, France; DRCI, département Promotion, Nantes, France

Impact of body mass index on post-thyroidectomy morbidity

BACKGROUND: The impact of obesity on total thyroidectomy (TT) morbidity (recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypocalcaemia) remains largely unknown. METHODS: In a prospective study (NCT01551914), patients were divided into five groups according to their body mass index (BMI): underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, and severely obese. Preoperative and postoperative serum calcium was measured. Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) function was evaluated before discharge, and if abnormal, at 6 months. RESULTS: In total 1310 patients were included. Baseline characteristics were similar across BMI groups except for age and sex. Postoperative hypocalcaemia was more frequent in underweight compared to obese patients but the difference was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis. There was no difference between groups in terms of definitive hypocalcaemia, transient and definitive RLN palsy, and postoperative pain. CONCLUSION: Obesity does not increase intraoperative and postoperative morbidity of TT, despite a longer duration of the procedure

A Potential Regulatory Role for Intronic microRNA-338-3p for Its Host Gene Encoding Apoptosis-Associated Tyrosine Kinase

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulators that are abundantly expressed in both the developing and adult mammalian brain. These non-coding gene transcripts are involved in post-transcriptional regulatory processes by binding to specific target mRNAs. Approximately one third of known miRNA genes are located within intronic regions of protein coding and non-coding regions, and previous studies have suggested a role for intronic miRNAs as negative feedback regulators of their host genes. In the present study, we monitored the dynamic gene expression changes of the intronic miR-338-3p and miR-338-5p and their host gene Apoptosis-associated Tyrosine Kinase (AATK) during the maturation of rat hippocampal neurons. This revealed an uncorrelated expression pattern of mature miR-338 strands with their host gene. Sequence analysis of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of rat AATK mRNA revealed the presence of two putative binding sites for miR-338-3p. Thus, miR-338-3p may have the capacity to modulate AATK mRNA levels in neurons. Transfection of miR-338-3p mimics into rat B35 neuroblastoma cells resulted in a significant decrease of AATK mRNA levels, while the transfection of synthetic miR-338-5p mimics did not alter AATK levels. Our results point to a possible molecular mechanism by which miR-338-3p participates in the regulation of its host gene by modulating the levels of AATK mRNA, a kinase which plays a role during differentiation, apoptosis and possibly in neuronal degeneration

Mechanism of endothelial progenitor cell recruitment into neo-vessels in adjacent non-tumor tissues in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Background We investigated the distribution and clinical significance of mobilized endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We found that many more EPCs were recruited to nonmalignant liver tissue (especially into adjacent non-tumor tissues (AT)) than to tumor vessels. These results suggest that the mechanism underlying the recruitment of EPCs into microvessels in AT merits further investigation Methods Angiogenic factors were detected in three tissue microarrays comprising normal liver, paired tumor tissue (TT) and AT from 105 patients (who had undergone hepatectomy for HCC) using immunohistochemistry. Also, the number of EPCs (positive for Sca-1, Flk-1 and c-Kit) in the blood and liver of cirrhotic mice were determined by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. The distribution of these labeled EPCs in tumor and non-tumor tissues was then studied. Results The results from the tissue microarrays showed that the expression levels of VEGF-A, bFGF, TGF-β, MCP-1, TSP-1, MMP-9, TIMP-2, and endostatin were significantly higher in AT than in either normal liver or TT (p Conclusions Both liver cirrhosis and HCC led to increased expression of pro-angiogenic factors, which resulted in the recruitment of EPCs into AT. Also, EPCs were mobilized, recruited and homed to cirrhotic liver. The unique pathology of HCC coupled with liver cirrhosis may, therefore, be associated with the distribution and function of EPCs.</p

Quantitative Proteomics Identify Novel miR-155 Target Proteins

Background: MicroRNAs are 22 nucleotides long non-coding RNAs and exert their function either by transcriptional or translational inhibition. Although many microRNA profiles in different tissues and disease states have already been discovered, only little is known about their target proteins. The microRNA miR-155 is deregulated in many diseases, including cancer, where it might function as an oncoMir. Methodology/Principal Findings: We employed a proteomics technique called ‘‘stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture’ ’ (SILAC) allowing relative quantification to reliably identify target proteins of miR-155. Using SILAC, we identified 46 putative miR-155 target proteins, some of which were previously reported. With luciferase reporter assays, CKAP5 was confirmed as a new target of miR-155. Functional annotation of miR-155 target proteins pointed to a role in cell cycle regulation. Conclusions/Significance: To the best of our knowledge we have investigated for the first time miR-155 target proteins in the HEK293T cell line in large scale. In addition, by comparing our results to previously identified miR-155 target proteins i

Particular distribution and expression pattern of endoglin (CD105) in the liver of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endoglin (CD105) has been considered a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and widely used as an appropriate targeting for antiangenesis therapy in some cancers. Our aim was to evaluate the distribution and expression of CD105 in the liver of patients with HCC, and to discuss whether CD105 may be used as an appropriate targeting for antiangenesis therapy in HCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three parts of liver tissues from each of 64 patients with HCC were collected: tumor tissues (TT), adjacent non-tumor (AT) liver tissues within 2 cm, and tumor free tissues (TF) 5 cm far from the tumor edge. Liver samples from 8 patients without liver diseases served as healthy controls (HC). The distribution and expression of CD105 in tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting analysis, and real-time PCR. HIF-1alpha and VEGF₁₆₅protein levels in tissues were analyzed by Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis or ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CD105 was positively stained mostly in a subset of microvessels 'endothelial sprouts' in TT of all patients while CD105 showed diffuse positive staining, predominantly on hepatic sinus endothelial cells in the surrounding of draining veins in TF and AT. The mean score of MVD-CD105 (mean ± SD/0.74 mm²) was 19.00 ± 9.08 in HC, 153.12 ± 53.26 in TF, 191.12 ± 59.17 in AT, and 85.43 ± 44.71 in TT, respectively. Using a paired <it>t </it>test, the expression of CD105 in AT and TF was higher than in TT at protein (MVD, <it>p </it>= 0.012 and <it>p </it>= 0.007, respectively) and mRNA levels (<it>p </it>< 0.001 and <it>p </it>= 0.009, respectively). Moreover, distribution and expression of CD105 protein were consistent with those of HIF-1alpha and VEGF₁₆₅protein in liver of patients with HCC. The level of <it>CD105 </it>mRNA correlated with VEGF₁₆₅level in TF (r = 0.790, <it>p </it>= 0.002), AT (r = 0.723, <it>p </it>< 0.001), and TT (r = 0.473, <it>p </it>= 0.048), respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is demonstrated that CD105 was not only present in neovessels in tumor tissues, but also more abundant in hepatic sinus endothelium in non-tumor tissues with cirrhosis. Therefore, CD105 may not be an appropriate targeting for antiangenesis therapy in HCC, especially with cirrhosis.</p

Identification of Gemin5 as a Novel 7-Methylguanosine Cap-Binding Protein

A unique attribute of RNA molecules synthesized by RNA polymerase II is the presence of a 7-methylguanosine (m(7)G) cap structure added co-transcriptionally to the 5' end. Through its association with trans-acting effector proteins, the m(7)G cap participates in multiple aspects of RNA metabolism including localization, translation and decay. However, at present relatively few eukaryotic proteins have been identified as factors capable of direct association with m(7)G.Employing an unbiased proteomic approach, we identified gemin5, a component of the survival of motor neuron (SMN) complex, as a factor capable of direct and specific interaction with the m(7)G cap. Gemin5 was readily purified by cap-affinity chromatography in contrast to other SMN complex proteins. Investigating the underlying basis for this observation, we found that purified gemin5 associates with m(7)G-linked sepharose in the absence of detectable eIF4E, and specifically crosslinks to radiolabeled cap structure after UV irradiation. Deletion analysis revealed that an intact set of WD repeat domains located in the N-terminal half of gemin5 are required for cap-binding. Moreover, using structural modeling and site-directed mutagenesis, we identified two proximal aromatic residues located within the WD repeat region that significantly impact m(7)G association.This study rigorously identifies gemin5 as a novel cap-binding protein and describes an unprecedented role for WD repeat domains in m(7)G recognition. The findings presented here will facilitate understanding of gemin5's role in the metabolism of non-coding snRNAs and perhaps other RNA pol II transcripts