[Objective] To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Nrf2-ARE (nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor-anti-oxidant response element) pathway on uremic serum-mediated endothelial dysfunction in human aortic endothelial ceils.[Methods] Human aortic endothelial cells were incubated in endothelial cell medium containing 10％ normal serum,10％ non-diabetic nuremic serum or 10％ diabetic uremic serum respectively,and 20 μmol/L tertiary butyl hydroquinone (tBHQ) were pretreated with cells to active Nrf2-ARE pathway.The cells apoptosis rate were measured by flow cytometry,and the synthesis of NO was detected by flow cytometry and immune fluorescent confocal,while the expression of P-eNOSer1177/eNOS,and quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) were measured by western blotting.The levels of malondialdehyde,superoxide dismutase,eatalase,and glutathione in these cells were also measured with kits.[Results] Aortic endothelial cells incubated with uremic serum had a higher level of apoptosis rate and MDA (P ＜ 0.05),and a lower level of NO systhesis,P-eNOSSer1177/eNOS expression,CAT,SOD,GSH (P ＜ 0.05).Pretreated with tBHQ can reduce the apoptosis rate and MDA level (P ＜ 0.05),improve the amount of NO systhesis,the expression of P-eNOSSer1177/eNOS,the levels of CAT,SOD,and GSH in these cells (P ＜ 0.05).[Conclusion] Activation of Nrf2-ARE pathway can improve endothelial dysfunction in aortic endothelial cells induced by uremic serum,and its mechanism might be related with enhancement of the antioxidant stress.

Objective To explore the technique and significance of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) for scarless in the neck endoscopic thyroidectomy (SET) via breast approach.Methods From Apr.2015 to Oct.2015,101 consecutive patients undergoing SET with IONM were included.During the operation,patients received radical resection of the thyroid cancer by Wang's seven-step method.The lymph nodes in the central area were dissected and Wang's multi-functional separation forceps were implemented for recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) positioning,monitoring and protection.Also,time required for RLN positioning and exposure,postoperative transient and permanent RLN damage incidence were calculated to assess the feasibility of IONM under SET.Results Among 101 patients,130 RLNs in total were exposed.The average time required for RLN positioning under IONM was (3.26 ± 1.08)min,with round-nerve management time of (13.95 ± 4.58)min.Nerve signal change happened in 16.9％(22/130) patients.Positive predictive value was 13.6％ and negative predictive value was 100％.The overall accuracy rate was 85.4％.Conclusion IONM during SET is feasible,and can be helpful for the localization and functional protection of RLN and was useful to predict vocal cord paralysis.

Objective: To summarize the preliminary experience with transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via vestibular approach (TOETVA). Methods: A total of 150 consecutive patients with thyroid disease underwent TOETVA from November 2014 to February 2017 at Department of Thyroid Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The patients were comprised of 138 females and 12 males. The mean age of the patients was (31.7±7.6) years (ranging from 15 to 51 years). There were 108 patients of differential thyroid carcinoma (T1 or T2 ≤3 cm, cN0 or cN1a, M0) and 42 patients of benign thyroid disease (solid nodule ≤6 cm). The criteria analyzed were clinicopathologic characteristics, types of operation, operation time, complications and results of follow-up. Results: Two cases were converted into open surgery due to an incredible unexpected tumor size and tracheal invasion, respectively. One hundred and three patients with papillary carcinoma underwent transoral central neck dissection (CND), with the mean operation time of (146±34) minutes for hemithyroidectomy with CND, and (187±36) minutes for total or near total thyroidectomy with CND. The mean number of lymph node yields was 8.2±4.7, and the lymph node metastasis rate was 41.7% (43/103). Regarding postoperative complications, transient hoarseness occurred in 3 patients, and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve occurred in 2 patients. One patient had local infection or transient mental nerve palsy. Transient hypocalcemia occurred in 31.8% of 22 patients who underwent total, near-total, or subtotalthyroidectomy, and no permanent hypocalcemia was registered. Mean hospital stay after operation was (3.5±0.6) days (ranging from 2 to 5 days). Mean follow-up period was (11.5±7.8) months (ranging from 1 to 28 months), no recurrence or metastasis occurred. Conclusions TOETVA is feasible and safe for strictly selective patients. It brings perfect cosmetic effect. Long-term follow-up and further study is needed to assess its curative effect.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) and BRAF V600E mutation in distinguishing papillary thyroid carcinoma and other thyroid nodules. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 93 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who treated at Department of Thyroid Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, College of Medicine from September 2016 to May 2018. There were 21 males and 72 females with age of (43.2±11.3) years (range: 19 to 67 years). All the patients got the examinations of FNA and BRAF V600E mutation by Amplification Refractory Mutation System, and subsequently underwent thyroid surgeries. The results of cytopathology, frozen section and pathology were collected and analyzed. The predictive accuracy of FNA cytology and BRAF V600E mutation was calculated. Results: In the 93 collected cases, 91 were diagnosed as papillary thyroid carcinoma postoperation, and the accurate predictive rate was 97.8%. Subgroup analysis was performed according to Bethesda System, the predictive rates were: unsatisfactory (Ⅰ) 6/6, benign (Ⅱ) 0/0, atypia of undetermined significance or follicular lesion of undetermined significance (Ⅲ) 16/17, follicular neoplasm or suspicious for follicular neoplasm (Ⅳ) 97.2% (35/36), suspicious for malignancy (Ⅴ) 100% (28/28), and malignant (Ⅵ) 6/6, respectively. Conclusion Thyroid nodules with BRAF V600E mutation can be strongly speculated as papillary thyroid carcinoma.