Objective:To explore the relationship between B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation and clinical pathological features in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), and to evaluate the value of BRAF V600E mutation in predicting the efficacy and follow-up of 131I treatment in DTC patients with different risk stratification. Methods:From January 2018 to June 2022, 893 DTC patients (205 males, 688 females, age (42.3±11.9) years) treated with 131I after total thyroidectomy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into BRAF V600E mutation group ( n=729) and wild-type group ( n=164). According to the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines, patients were divided into low-risk (39 cases), medium-risk (498 cases) and high-risk (356 cases), and the curative effect was divided into excellent response (ER) and non-excellent response (NER). The χ2 test, independent-sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare differences between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the influencing factors of treatment effect in DTC patients with different risk stratification. Results:The differences in age≥45 years, N stage, unilateral or bilateral DTC, multifocus, mode of operation, number and size of metastatic lymph nodes were statistically significant between BRAF V600E mutation group and wild-type group ( χ2 values: 4.45-17.40, t=-4.08, z=-3.08, all P<0.05). In medium- and high-risk stratification, the stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) levels before and after 131I treatment were slightly higher in the BRAF V600E mutation group, while significantly sharp decreased of sTg and thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) in wild-type group ( z value: from -9.30 to -2.65, all P<0.05). In medium- and high-risk stratification, 69.0%(60/87) and 64.3%(45/70) of BRAF V600E wild-type patients reached ER after 131I treatment, which were higher than those of mutant patients (57.4%(236/411) and 45.8%(131/286); χ2 values: 3.96, 7.39, P values: 0.046, 0.007). BRAF V600E mutation was the independent predictor affecting the efficacy of 131I treatment in DTC patients with medium- and high-risk stratification (odds ratio ( OR): 0.411 (95% CI: 0.196-0.864), 0.192 (95% CI: 0.096-0.384), P values: 0.019, <0.001). Conclusions:DTC patients with BRAF V600E mutation are related to the high invasiveness, and show poor improvement in biochemical indicators after initial 131I treatment. In addition, BRAF V600E mutation is an important factor in predicting the therapeutic effect of 131I in DTC patients with medium- and high-risk stratification.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of 18F-FDG and 18F-9-fluoropropyl-(+ )-dihydrotetrabenazine (FP-(+ )-DTBZ; short for DTBZ) brain vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) PET/CT imaging and analyze its clinical diagnostic value in Parkinson′s disease (PD) patients with or without rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). Methods:From July 2022 to June 2023, 50 patients clinically confirmed with primary PD who underwent 18F-FDG and 18F-DTBZ PET/CT imaging in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were prospectively collected. Among them, 18 patients with PD accompanied by RBD (PD-RBD(+ ) group; 16 males, 2 females, age (59.2±9.3) years); 32 patients without RBD (PD-RBD(-) group; 16 males, 16 females, age (57.7±10.2) years). Moreover, 10 healthy controls matched with the age of PD patients were included (5 males, 5 females, age (60.3±9.6) years). 18F-DTBZ specific uptake ratio (SUR) of bilateral striatum, caudate nucleus, anterior putamen, posterior putamen, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra and other brain regions were obtained with occipital cortex as the reference region. Striatal anterior-posterior gradient and other related semi-quantitative indicators were calculated according to the corresponding formula. One-way analysis of variance (the least significant difference (LSD)- t test), Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test (Bonferroni correction), independent-sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze the data. Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses were used to evaluate the correlations. ROC curve analysis was also performed. The differences in global glucose metabolism in two groups were compared using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Results:PD-RBD(+ ) group had a significantly lower Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) or PD Sleep Scale (PDSS) score than PD-RBD(-) group ( z values: -3.12, -3.08, both P<0.01), and its contralateral striatal anterior-posterior gradient of the predominantly affected limbs was significantly lower than that in PD-RBD(-) group ( t=-2.73, P=0.009). SPM analysis showed that the glucose metabolism in the contralateral prefrontal lobe was higher than that in the PD-RBD (-) group ( t values: 3.11-3.57, all P<0.001). 18F-DTBZ SUR in the bilateral striatum, caudate nucleus, anterior putamen, posterior putamen, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra were considerably lower in both groups compared to the healthy control group ( F values: 6.24-147.61, H values: 8.66-24.43, all P<0.05; post-hoc: LSD- t test, Bonferroni correction, all P<0.01). In the PD-RBD(-) group, contralateral striatal anterior-posterior gradient were negatively correlated with unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) score and modified Hoehn-Yahr (mH-Y) stage ( r=-0.35, P=0.048; rs=-0.39, P=0.026). The AUC for distinguishing PD-RBD(+ ) and PD-RBD(-) with a contralateral striatal anterior-posterior gradient was 0.706 (95% CI: 0.562-0.851, P=0.016), with the sensitivity and specificity of 59.4%(19/32) and 16/18, respectively. Conclusions:The decrease of contralateral striatal anterior-posterior gradient of VMAT2 is more obvious in patients with PD-RBD(+ ), and there are differences in brain metabolism between the two groups, suggesting that there may be different neuropathological changes and different pathophysiological mechanisms between PD patients with and without RBD. 18F-DTDZ PET/CT can provide imaging basis for the differential diagnosis of the disease subtypes.

Objective To study the biomechanical properties of porous titanium cages used for different lumbar interbody fusion surgeries. Methods The three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the lumbar spine was constructed, and mechanical parameters of porous materials were obtained by mechanical test. The biomechanical properties of porous titanium cages in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF), direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) were compared. Results After lumbar interbody surgery, the predicted range of motion (ROM) and the maximum stress in cage of DLIF model and ALIF model were substantially lower than those of PLIF model and TLIF model. The maximum stress in endplate of DLIF model, ALIF model and TLIF model were obviously lower than that of PLIF model. Conclusions DLIF with the porous cage showed advantages in biomechanical properties, which was simple to operate and suitable for minimally invasive surgery in clinical practice. DLIF performed the superior comprehensive properties.