Objective To explore the value of thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC)combined with B-Raf proto-oncogene,serine/threonine kinase(BRAF)gene detection in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors.Methods According to the results of pathological examination,198 patients with thyroid nodules were divided into the benign lesion group(n=107)and the malignant lesion group(n=91).All patients underwent ultrasound-guided FNAC,and expression of BRAF gene was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The value of FNAC,BRAF gene detection and combined detection in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors was analyzed by Kappa consistency test and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results The nodules were mostly under envelope in the malignant lesion group,while in the benign lesion group,which were mostly located within glands(P＜0.05).FNAC results showed that 62 cases with type II Bethesda,26 cases with type III Bethesda,29 cases with type IV Bethesda,14 cases with type V Bethesda and 67 cases with type VI Bethesda.There were significant differences in diagnostic positive rates between FNAC,BRAF gene detection,combined detection and pathological examination(P＜0.05).The area under ROC curve(AUC)of FNAC combined with BRAF gene detection for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid tumors was 0.871(95%CI:0.816-0.914),sensitivity was 90.11%,specificity was 84.11%and Kappa value was 0.737.The AUC of FNAC diagnosis was 0.833(95%CI:0.774-0.882),sensitivity was 76.92%,specificity was 89.72%and Kappa value was 0.672.The AUC of BRAF gene detection was 0.829(95%CI:0.770-0.879),sensitivity was 78.02%,specificity was 87.85%and Kappa value was 0.663.Conclusion FNAC combined with BRAF gene detection can improve differential diagnosis efficiency for benign and malignant thyroid lesions,especially enhancing the diagnostic sensitivity.

Objective To investigatethe relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and clinicopathological characteristics, p53 expression, and survival of Chinese patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 3882 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, 970 matched patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and 970 matched patients with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma were included to compare the incidence of GERD symptoms. Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma were divided into two groups according to the presence and absence of GERD symptoms. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics and p53 expression between the two groups were compared by chi-square test, and the differences in survival between the two groups were compared by landmark analysis. Results The incidence of GERD symptoms increased successively in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, esophageal adenocarcinoma, and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. In patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, the proportions of male, less than 65 years old, lower thoracic tumors, tumors without squamous cell carcinoma, poorly differentiation, early tumors (stage 0-I), and p53-positive tumors in the group with GERD symptoms were higher than those in the group without GERD symptoms; moreover, the long-term survival (≥15 years) was better. Conclusion GERD symptom is an important clinical sign of esophageal adenocarcinoma. It is closely related to specific clinicopathological characteristics, p53 overexpression, and good long-term prognosis.

Objective To explore the value of thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC)combined with B-Raf proto-oncogene,serine/threonine kinase(BRAF)gene detection in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors.Methods According to the results of pathological examination,198 patients with thyroid nodules were divided into the benign lesion group(n=107)and the malignant lesion group(n=91).All patients underwent ultrasound-guided FNAC,and expression of BRAF gene was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The value of FNAC,BRAF gene detection and combined detection in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid tumors was analyzed by Kappa consistency test and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results The nodules were mostly under envelope in the malignant lesion group,while in the benign lesion group,which were mostly located within glands(P＜0.05).FNAC results showed that 62 cases with type II Bethesda,26 cases with type III Bethesda,29 cases with type IV Bethesda,14 cases with type V Bethesda and 67 cases with type VI Bethesda.There were significant differences in diagnostic positive rates between FNAC,BRAF gene detection,combined detection and pathological examination(P＜0.05).The area under ROC curve(AUC)of FNAC combined with BRAF gene detection for differentiating benign and malignant thyroid tumors was 0.871(95%CI:0.816-0.914),sensitivity was 90.11%,specificity was 84.11%and Kappa value was 0.737.The AUC of FNAC diagnosis was 0.833(95%CI:0.774-0.882),sensitivity was 76.92%,specificity was 89.72%and Kappa value was 0.672.The AUC of BRAF gene detection was 0.829(95%CI:0.770-0.879),sensitivity was 78.02%,specificity was 87.85%and Kappa value was 0.663.Conclusion FNAC combined with BRAF gene detection can improve differential diagnosis efficiency for benign and malignant thyroid lesions,especially enhancing the diagnostic sensitivity.