Objective To investigate the clinical significance of the carbon nanoparticles (CN) in prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection (PCCND) in treatment of clinically node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods A total of 102 cN0 patients in our department from Dec.2016 to Jun.2017 were enrolled in our study and randomly allocated to the control group (n=51) and the CN group (n=51).All the patients have received (near) total unilateral lobectomy or bilateral thyroidectomy plus the affected side PCCND.The baseline characteristics,lymph node-related indices (including number of total dissected lymph nodes and metastatic lymph nodes at central area) and postoperative complication indices were collected and compared between the 2 groups.Results The differences of baseline characteristics between CN group and the control group were not significant (all P＞0.05).The total number of dissected lymph nodes was 573 in CN group and 334 in the control group.The average lymph nodes in each patient was 11.2±5.46 in CN group,which was higher than 6.5±4.3 of the control group (P＜0.001).The average count of positive lymph nodes was higher in CN group than in the control group (2.0±3.3 vs 0.8±1.5) (P＜0.05).Transient hypocalcaemia happened to 2 patients in CN group and 9 patients in the control group (P=0.025).Conclusions CN can increase the number of lymph nodes in central neck dissection and the rate of metastatic lymph nodes resection.It can decrease the risk of transient parathyroid injury.CN is clinically valuable in treatment of cN0 papillary thyroid cancer undergoing PCCND.

Objective:To evaluate the feasibility of the gasless transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy using an innovative space maintaining method.Methods:From Dec. 2018 to Apr. 2019, patients from Anhui Tumor Hospital treated with gasless transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Index such as intraoperative blood loss, operative time, postoperative hospital stay, and complications were recorded.Results:A total of 24 patients were included into this analysis. All operations were successfully completed. The mean blood loss was (41.3±26.4) ml, operation time was (191.8±40.8) min, postoperative hospital stay was (6.3±1.0) d. Nobody had drinking cough, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, massive bleeding, hypoparathyroidism or infection with use of preventive antibacteria. Transient lower jaw numbness was found in 8 patients and almost recovered within one month.Conclusions:Gasless transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy with the suspension device seems to be feasible and safe. Further study is needed to verify its validity.

Objective: To investigate whether the artermisinin has beneficial efficacy to improve the learning and memory in aged mice, as well as the possible mechanisms regarding the inflammatory cytokines and monoamlne neurotransmitters. Methods: 30 aged mice(22 month old) were randomly divided into the aged mouse model control group(n=10), the artemisinin low dose group(artemisinin 0.1% in feed, n=10)and the artemisinin high dose group(artemisinin 0.3% in feed, n=10). Another 10 mice(2 month old) served as young mouse model control group. The artemisinin low dose group and the artemisinin high dose group fed artemisinin feed for 10 weeks. The aged mouse model control group and the young mouse model control group were fed standard feed.Morris water maze test was performed to assess learning and memory capacities for evaluation of the cognitive degree. Serum TNF-α and IL-6 were also detected by ELISA and dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin in the brain were analyzed by HPLC. Results: (1) Morris water maze test showed, the retention time of the aged mouse model control group was significantly longer than that of the young mouse model control group (P<0.05). The retention time of the artemisinin low dose group and the artemisinin high dose group was significantly shorter than that of the aged mouse model control group (P<0.05). In the ninth days of the reverse recessive platform experiment, the retention time of the artemisinin low dose group ((50.1±19.9) s) and the artemisinin high dose group ((43.2±17.6) s) was significantly shorter than that of the aged mouse model control group ((66.1±29.1)s, P<0.05). (2) Serum inflammatory factors test showed, the level of IL-6 and TNF-αin the artemisinin low dose group (IL-6 : (28.4±4.3) pg/ml, TNF-α: (51.8±8.2) pg/ml) and the artemisinin high dose group(IL-6 : (17.6±2.3) pg/ml, TNF-α: (38.6±12.5) pg/ml) were significantly lower than those in aged mouse model control group(IL-6 : (36.12±7.98)pg/ml), TNF-α : (67.32±10.27) pg/ml, P<0.05). (3) Neurotransmitter content test in the brain showed, the content of DA((19.96±3.89) mmol/ml) and 5-HT((5.73±0.93)mmol/ml) in low dose artemisinin group was higher than that in aged mouth model control group. The content of DA((26.13±5.66) mmol/ml), NE((16.31±2.69) mmol/ml) and 5-HT((8.03±1.93) mmol/ml) in high dose artemisinin group was higher than that in aged mouth model group(DA(13.96±3.89) mmol/ml, NE(8.73±2.16) mmol/ml, 5-HT (3.82±1.09)mmol/ml, all P<0.05). Conclusion Artemisinin can improve the ability of learning and memory in aged mice. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the inflammation and promoting the level of neurotransmitters in the brain of aged mice.