Objective:To analyze the factors related to metastasis of contralateral central lymph node (CLN) in cN0 papillary thyroid car-cinoma (PTC) and discuss the indications for CLN dissection. Methods:We enrolled 149 unilateral PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic bilateral (CLN) dissection. This work analyzed the relationship of gender, age, extrathyroidal extension, multifocality, thyroiditis, ipsilateral central lymph nodes, and prelaryngeal lymph node with CLNs. Results:The rates of metastasis to ip-silateral and contralateral central compartments were 73.2%and 23.5%, respectively. In univariate analysis, gender, age, tumor size, multifocality, and thyroiditis were not important in predicting contralateral central compartment lymph node metastasis (P=0.792, 0.097, 0.531, 0.269, and 1.000, respectively);by contrast, extrathyroidal extension (P=0.017), prelaryngeal lymph nodes (P=0.006), and ipsilateral CLNs (P<0.001) are related to CLN metastasis. However, multivariate analysis showed that ipsilateral central metastasis was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in the contralateral central region when the number of ipsilateral central metas-tases is≥3 (P=0.010). Conclusion:Extracapsular invasion, prelaryngeal lymph nodes, and ipsilateral CLN influence the metastases of CLN. Bilateral CLN dissection should be performed when the number of ipsilateral central metastases is≥3 and there is merger of ex-tra-laryngeal lymph nodes or capsule invasion.

Objective To investigate the relationship between subgroups of central lymph node metastasis (sCLNM) and lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM) of unilatal papillary thyroid carcinoma (uPTC) with cervical lymph node negative(cN0).Methods The clinical and pathological data of 161 patients with cN0-uPTC who underwent total thyroidectomy+central lymph node dissection+lateral lymph node dissection from Jan.2016 to Dec.2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The relationship between the lymph node metastasis of each subarea in the central area of the affected side and the lymph node metastasis of the affected side was investigated.Results Binary logistic regression analysis of cN0-uPTC subregions in the affected central region showed:pre-laryngeal lymph node metastasis,pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis and paratracheal lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the affected lateral region(P=0.008,0.016,0.035,respectively).Prelaryngeal lymph node metastasis was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in the affected area Ⅱ (P=0.015).Pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in affected area Ⅲ (P=0.004).Pre-tracheal and para-tracheal lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the affected Ⅳ area (P=0.035,0.011,respectively).Conclusions The lymph node metastasis pathway of thyroid cancer had certain regularity.The pre-laryngeal lymph node metastasis has the prediction value for the lymph node metastasis of the affected area Ⅱ.The pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis has the prediction value for the lymph node metastasis of the affected area Ⅲ.The pre-tracheal and paratracheal lymph node metastasis have the prediction value for lymph node metastasis of the affected area Ⅳ.Lymph node dissection in affected areas Ⅲ and Ⅳ needs to be considered in patients with pre-tracheal or paratracheal lymph node metastases.On this basis,lymph node dissection on the affected areas Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ might be considered if there is pre-laryngeal lymph node metastasis at the same time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the indications of the pretemporal transcavernous approach for cavernous sinus tumors resection and design individually tailored surgery according to the extent of tumors and operation requirements.

METHODSA retrospective analysis of clinical data, surgical outcomes and complications in a series of 31 cases with cavernous sinus tumor operated via the individually tailored pretemporal transcavernous approach between May 2012 and September 2015 in Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University. There were 13 male and 18 female patients, aging from 17 to 67 years with a mean of (41±14) years. The patients included 18 cases of shwannomas, 4 cases of meningiomas, 3 cases of cavernous hemangiomas, 2 cases of invasive pituitary adenomas, 1 case of chordoma, 1 case of chondroma, 1 case of recurrent teratoma, 1 case of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The first followed-up visit was on the 3(rd) month after surgery, and if tumor progression or recurrence was observed on MRI, the Gamma knife treatment was recommended, the patient was followed up every 6 months, otherwise the patient was followed up again 6 months later, then, every 12 months.

RESULTSGross total removal of tumors was achieved in 22 cases of 31 patients (71.0%), containing 17 cases of shwannomas, 3 cases of hemangiomas, 1 case of chondroma, 1 case of teratoma; subtotal removal in 6 cases (19.3%), including 3 cases of meningiomas, 1 case of pituitary adenoma, 1 case of chordoma, 1 case of metastatic carcinoma; partial removal in 3 cases (9.7%), comprising 1 case of meningioma, 1 case of recurrent shwannoma, 1 case of recurrent pituitary adenoma. The symptoms of cranial never aggravated in 5 cases, the new postoperative cranial never palsy was observed in 7 cases. There was no surgical mortality, intracranial hematoma, intracranial infection and cerebrospinal fluid leakage cases, ect. Twenty-eight cases were followed up for more than 3 months (3 to 40 months), 1 case of chordoma had tumor progression; the nerve function was restored in 5 cases, among the 12 cases with postoperatively new occurred or deteriorated cranial nerve paralysis.

CONCLUSIONSThe pretemporal transcavernous approach can be used to resect tumors limited in cavernous sinus or tumors simultaneously involving the cavernous sinus and its vicinity areas, it can be individually tailored based on the extent and exposure of the tumor. This approach can improve the surgical results in terms of high tumor resection rate, less complication, is an ideal approach for cavernous sinus tumor resection.

Adenoma ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cavernous Sinus ; pathology ; surgery ; Chordoma ; surgery ; Female ; Hemangioma ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningioma ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Radiosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective:To explore any effect of working memory training on executive functioning and ability in the activities of daily living after a stroke.Methods:Forty-six stroke survivors were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, each of 23. Both groups received conventional cognitive rehabilitation (including computer-assisted cognition training and virtual reality training using upper limb rehabilitation robots), while the experimental group also received working memory training. Before, as well as after 4 and 8 weeks of the treatment, both groups′ executive functioning was evaluated using the Trail Making test, the Frontal Assessment Battery and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64. Ability in the activities of daily living was quantified using the functional independence measures (FIMs).Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurements before the training. After 4 weeks the average scores of the experimental group on all four instruments were significantly higher than the control group′s averages. After 8 weeks the average scores had improved significantly more. The treatment group performed significantly better than the control group throughout.Conclusions:Working memory training can improve executive functioning and the daily life of stroke survivors.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the surgical outcome of pituitary adenomas by identifying and preserving the pituitary stalk and the gland during surgery. METHODS: From October 2010 to September 2012, the author from the Department of Neurosurgery of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University operated on 51 patients with pituitary adenoma. During the operations, we carefully identified the normal adenohypophysis, pituitary stalk, neurohypophysis and the abnormal tissues either by direct observation or by medical images, aiming to excise the tumor thoroughly, protect the pituitary function and reduce the postoperative complications. RESULTS: Totally 37 patients (72.5%, 37/51) had total resection of the tumor, 12 (23.5%, 12/51) had subtotal tumor resection and the other 2 had major removal. The gland and the pituitary stalk were well identified and reserved. Detection of hormone content proved that the operation had little effect on the free triiodothyronine (FT3) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), while for free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and postoperative followup significant alleviation was found. There was no significant fluctuation for the testosterone in the men preoperatively and postoperatively (all the above results were obtained without hormone replacement therapy). The main postoperative complications were as follows: temporary diabetes insipidus in 5 patients (9.8%, 5/51); electrolyte disorder (the appearance of hyponatremia) in 17 (33.3%, 17/51); and cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea and postoperative intracranial infection in 1 (2%, 1/51). No one died during the perioperation period. CONCLUSION Microscopic transsphenoidal surgery is effective for pituitary adenomas including tumors violating the cavernous sinus. Accurate identification of the pituitary stalk, the gland and the abnormal tissue during the microscopic transsphenoidal operation plays a critical role in preserving the pituitary function and promoting postoperative rehabilitation.
Adenoma ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Pituitary Gland ; surgery ; Pituitary Hormones ; blood ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the regularity and risk factors of skip metastasis (central lymph node negative and lat-eral lymph node positive) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods:A total of 521 PTC patients underwent total thyroidectomy and central plus lateral lymph node dissection at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2013 to De-cember 2016. Clinicopathological characteristics of the patients were collected and analyzed. Results:Skip metastasis rate of PTC was 8.3％(43/521). Tumors in the upper lobe (OR=3.401, 95％CI:1.770-6.536;P=0.001) and in the lateral part (OR=3.424, 95％CI:1.182-9.920;P=0.023) of the thyroid, as well as age above 45 (OR=2.856, 95％CI:1.488-5.482;P=0.002), were independent risk factors for skip metastases for this disease. Clinically node-negative (cN0) PTC patients with tumors in the upper lobe had higher possibility of skip metastases than those with clinically involved lateral neck nodes(cN1b) (P=0.022). Conclusion:Skip metastasis of PTC is not un-common. Thus, preoperative clinical assessment and imaging examination for lateral lymph node is necessary, especially for PTC pa-tients who are above 45 years old and with tumors in the upper lobe and/or unilateral area of thyroid. The lateral lymph node dissec-tion should be performed when necessary.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase H-type receptor (PTPRH) gene encodes a gastric cancer associated protein, which exerts its biological function through tyrosine phosphorylation in the post-translational COOH- terminal region. PTPRH is abnormally expressed in a variety of tumors, and its biological function is closely related to the occurrence, development and prognosis of tumors.
Humans ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; Proteins ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Tyrosine

Objective To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the phagocytosis of MH-S alveolar macrophages and its related mechanisms. Methods A mouse acute lung injury (ALI) model was constructed by instilling lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the airway. ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In vitro cultured MH-S cells, in the presence or absence of signal transducer and activator 3 of transcription(STAT3) inhibitor Stattic (5 μmol/L), IL-6 (10 ng/mL~500 ng/mL) was added to stimulate for 6 hours, and then incubated with fluorescent microspheres for 2 hours. The phagocytosis of MH-S cells was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), actin-related protein 2 (Arp2) and filamentous actin (F-actin). Results The content of IL-6 in BALF was significantly increased after the mice were injected with LPS through the airway. With the increase of IL-6 stimulation concentration, the phagocytic function of MH-S cells was enhanced, and the expression levels of Arp2 and F-actin proteins in MH-S cells were increased. The expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins increased in MH-S cells stimulated with IL-6(100 ng/mL). After blocking STAT3 signaling, the effect of IL-6 in promoting phagocytosis of MH-S cells disappeared completely, and the increased expression of Arp2 and F-actin proteins in MH-S cells induced by IL-6 was also inhibited. Conclusion IL-6 promotes the expression of Arp2 and F-actin proteins by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the phagocytic function of MH-S cells.
Animals ; Mice ; Actins ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-6 ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVE To explore the action mechanism of kushenol F （KSCF） in treating ulcerative colitis （UC） in mice. METHODS The potential targets of KSCF intervening in UC were predicted with network pharmacology and molecular docking. C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided by body weight into model group， positive control group （sulfasalazine， 703 mg/kg）， KSCF group （100 mg/kg）， and normal group， with 6 mice per group. The UC model of mice was induced by dextran sulfate sodium solution. During the modeling period， the mice were given relevant medicine intragastrically， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. After the last administration， the disease activity index （DAI） of the mice was scored； the length of the mice’s colon was measured； pathological changes in the colon tissue of mice were observed； the levels of lipopolysaccharide （LPS） in serum， myeloperoxidase （MPO）， nitric oxide （NO） and superoxide dismutase （SOD） in the colon were detected in mice； the expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in colon tissue of mice were detected； the proportions of CD3+T， CD4+T， and CD8+T lymphocytes in the spleen and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were detected； changes in colonic microbiota were analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. RESULTS Results of network pharmacology indicated that KSCF may treat UC by regulating signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/AKT） and nuclear factor kappa B （NF- κB）. Molecular docking results showed that KSCF bound most stably with NF-κB p65 protein. Animal experiment results demonstrated that， compared with the model group， the pathological characteristics of colon tissue in mice were improved in KSCF group. DAI scores， serum levels of LPS， the levels of MPO，NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and NLRP3 protein expression in the colon， and the proportion of CD8+T lymphocytes in the spleen were reduced significantly （P＜0.05）. Body weight， SOD levels， expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 in the colon， proportions of CD3+T and CD4+T lymphocytes， and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the spleen were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； the abundance of Firmicutes， Actinobacteria， Akkermansia， and Lactobacillus genera were increased， while Proteobacteria decreased； the microbial community structure tended towards that of the normal group. CONCLUSIONS KSCF alleviates UC by restoring intestinal microbial imbalance， enhancing immune response， and inhibiting colonic inflammatory responses， thereby improving intestinal barrier integrity.