Is new American Thyroid Association risk classification for hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma applicable to Chinese patients? A single-center study

Objective: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) proposed a new risk classification for hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in 2015. This study aimed to assess whether the new guidelines are suitable for the Chinese population, and reported our experience on prophylactic thyroidectomy. Methods: A total of 73 patients from 22 families were screened as rearranged during transfection (RET) mutation carriers from 2010 to 2016 in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science; the medical history for each patient was collected. Based on the initial treatment, we identified the risk factors for poor prognosis by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Then, 4 RET mutation carriers were enrolled for prophylactic thyroidectomy, and their pathological data and follow-up outcomes were recorded. Results: In univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, age at initial surgery and risk classification were significant risk factors for stage III/IV hereditary MTC at initial diagnosis. The likelihood was increased by 11.6% per year of age at initial surgery [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.040-1.198; P=0.002). It was 7.888 times more likely to have III/IV stage disease for ATA highest risk patients, compared to ATA moderate risk individuals (95% CI, 1.607-38.717; P=0.003). Postoperative pathological results showed all 4 multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) patients had C-cell hyperplasia (CCH); multifocal malignancies were detected in 3 of them. All 4 patients were cured biochemically, and none developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusions: In Chinese individuals, hereditary MTC aggressiveness is in line with the new ATA risk classification. Germline RET gene mutation carriers should undergo prophylactic thyroidectomy according to basal serum calcitonin levels.

Comparative study of the stoichiometric characteristics of karst and non-karst forests in Guizhou, China

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P) levels and their stoichiometry in plant components (leaves, branch trunks, roots) of trees in a karst forest and non-karst forest are compared. The results show that the C contents, C:N and C:P ratios of dominant species in the karst forest were lower than those in the non-karst forest, but the N and P and the N:P ratio were higher;C:N:P ratios in plant organs of trees in the karst forest were in the order of trunks>roots>branches>leaves. However, C:N:P ratio in the non-karst forest trees were trunks>branches>roots>leaves. Moreover, ratio of C:N:P in trunks was highest and lowest in leaves in both forests. In non-karst forest trees, N:P was in the order of leaves> roots>branches>trunks. There were no significant differences in the ratio of N:P in different plant components of trees in the karst forest. However, in karst and non-karst forest trees, the ratio of N:P in leaves was highest;positive correlations between N and P contents, and N and N:P ratios were observed in both karst and non-karst forests (p<0.001). Negative correlations between P and N:P ratios (p<0.05) were observed in karst forest trees, while positive correlations were observed in non-karst forest trees.

Identification of floral fragrance components in an F_(1) population derived from Paeonia ostii 'Fengdan' × P. suffruticosa 'Chunguihuawu' Cross

Tree peony(Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.)is a unique aromatic plant famous for its huge flowers,bright colors and strong fragrance,having high ornamental,medicinal,and edible value.Research on tree peony's flower fragrance has mainly focused on the comparative analysis among its varieties,leaving the inheritance of aroma compounds in this plant an overlooked area of study.Here,the volatile components of flowers at three different flowering stages of the light fragrance-type cultivar P.ostii'Fengdan'and the strong fragrance-type cultivar P.suffruticosa'Chunguihuawu',as well as the half-opening stage flowers of 109 F_(1) progeny,were collected and characterized in-depth by dynamic headspace sampling technique combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Diverse profiles of volatiles that included alcohols,esters,aldehydes,terpenes,benzenes,and hydrocarbons were identified from the evaluated accessions.These results revealed that the volatile components and content of parents were significantly different,and that hybridization generated more complex volatile components.Most volatile compounds in the hybrids,especially the main aromatic components,existed in at least one of the parents,being characterized by intermediate or transgressive inheritance for the floral trait;this demonstrated that volatile compounds can be inherited from parents to progeny.Further,seven de novo aroma compounds—those present in progeny yet absent in their parents—were found in progeny.This study preliminarily clarified the segregation performance of aroma traits in tree peony hybrids,which might provide a theoretical basis for selecting breeding parents and the breeding of new varieties for aroma traits.