Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor amplification correlates with adverse pathological features and poor clinical outcome in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor(MET)gene participates in multiple tumor biology and shows clinical potential for pharmacological manipulation in tumor treatment.MET amplification has been reported in CRC,but data are very limited.Investigating pathological values of MET in CRC may provide new therapeutic and genetic screening options in future clinical practice.AIM To determine the pathological significance of MET amplification in CRC and to propose a feasible screening strategy.METHODS A number of 205 newly diagnosed CRC patients undergoing surgical resection without any preoperative therapy at Shenzhen Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were recruited.All patients were without RAS/RAF mutation or microsatellite instability-high.MET amplification and c-MET protein expression were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)and immunohistochemistry(IHC),respectively.Correlations between MET aberration and pathological features were detected using the chi-squared test.Progression free survival(PFS)during the two-year follow-up was detected using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test.The results of MET FISH and IHC were com pared using one-way ANOVA.RESULTS Polysomy-induced MET amplification was observed in 14.4%of cases,and focal MET amplification was not detected.Polysomy-induced MET amplification was associated with a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis(LNM)(P<0.001)and higher tumor budding grade(P=0.02).In the survival analysis,significant difference was detected between patients with amplified-and non-amplified MET in a two-year follow-up after the first diagnosis(P=0.001).C-MET scores of 0,1+,2+,and 3+were observed in 1.4%,24.9%,54.7%,and 19.0%of tumors,respectively.C-MET overexpression correlated with higher frequency of LNM(P=0.002),but no significant difference of PFS was detected between patients with different protein levels.In terms of concordance between MET FISH and IHC results,MET copy number showed no difference in c-MET IHC 0/1+(3.35±0.18),2+(3.29±0.11)and 3+(3.58±0.22)cohorts,and the MET-to-CEP7 ratio showed no difference in three groups(1.09±0.02,1.10±0.01,and 1.09±0.03).CONCLUSION In CRC,focal MET amplification was a rare event.Polysomy-induced MET amplification correlated with adverse pathological characteristics and poor prognosis.IHC was a poor screening tool for MET amplification.

Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Clinical features and prognostic factors of duodenal neuroendocrine tumours:A comparative study of ampullary and nonampullary regions

BACKGROUND Duodenal neuroendocrine tumours(DNETs)are rare neoplasms.However,the incidence of DNETs has been increasing in recent years,especially as an incidental finding during endoscopic studies.Regrettably,there is no consensus regarding the ideal treatment of DNETs.Even there are few studies on the clinical features and survival analysis of DNETs.AIM To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with duodenal neuroendocrine tumours.METHODS The clinical data of DNETs diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from June 2011 to July 2022 were collected.Neuroen-docrine tumours located in the ampulla area of the duodenum were divided into the ampullary region group;neuroendocrine tumours in any part of the duo-denum outside the ampullary area were divided into the nonampullary region group.Using a retrospective study,the clinical characteristics of the two groups and risk factors affecting the survival of DNET patients were analysed.RESULTS Twenty-nine DNET patients were screened.The male to female ratio was 1:1.9,and females comprised the majority.The ampullary region group accounted for 24.1%(7/29),while the nonampullary region group accounted for 75.9%(22/29).When diagnosed,the clinical symptoms of the ampullary region group were mainly abdominal pain(85.7%),while those of the nonampullary region groups were mainly abdominal distension(59.1%).There were differences in the composition of staging of tumours between the two groups(Fisher's exact probability method,P=0.001),with nonampullary stage II tumours(68.2%)being the main stage(P<0.05).After the diagnosis of DNETs,the survival rate of the ampullary region group was 14.3%(1/7),which was lower than that of 72.7%(16/22)in the nonampullary region group(Fisher's exact probability method,P=0.011).The survival time of the ampullary region group was shorter than that of the nonampullary region group(P<0.000).The median survival time of the ampullary region group was 10.0 months and that of the nonampullary region group was 451.0 months.Multivariate analysis showed that tumours in the ampulla region and no surgical treatment after diagnosis were independent risk factors for the survival of DNET patients(HR=0.029,95%CI 0.004-0.199,P<0.000;HR=12.609,95%CI:2.889-55.037,P=0.001).Further analysis of nonampullary DNET patients showed that the survival time of patients with a tumour diameter<2 cm was longer than that of patients with a tumour diameter≥2 cm(t=7.243,P=0.048).As of follow-up,6 patients who died of nonampullary DNETs had a tumour diameter that was≥2 cm,and 3 patients in stage IV had liver metastasis.Patients with a tumour diameter<2 cm underwent surgical treatment,and all survived after surgery.CONCLUSION Surgical treatment is a protective factor for prolonging the survival of DNET patients.Compared to DNETs in the ampullary region,patients in the nonampullary region group had a longer survival period.The liver is the organ most susceptible to distant metastasis of nonampullary DNETs.

Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Antifungal Resistance Profile of Candida auris in Africa: Systematic Review

Candida auris since it discovery in 2009 is becoming a severe threat to human health due to its very quickly spread, its worldwide high resistance to systemic antifungal drugs. In resource-constrained settings where several conditions are met for its emergence and spread, this worrisome fungus could cause large hospital and/or community-based outbreaks. This review aimed to summarize the available data on C. auris in Africa focusing on its epidemiology and antifungal resistance profile. Major databases were searched for articles on the epidemiology and antifungal resistance profile of C. auris in Africa. Out of 2,521 articles identified 22 met the inclusion criteria. In Africa, nearly 89% of African countries have no published data on C. auris. The prevalence of C. auris in Africa was 8.74%. The case fatality rate of C. auris infection in Africa was 39.46%. The main C. auris risk factors reported in Africa were cardiovascular disease, renal failure, diabetes, HIV, recent intake of antimicrobial drugs, ICU admissions, surgery, hemodialysis, parenteral nutrition and indwelling devices. Four phylogenetic clades were reported in Africa, namely clades I, II, III and IV. Candida auris showed a pan-African very high resistance rate to fluconazole, moderate resistance to amphotericin B, and high susceptibility to echinocandins. Finally, C. auris clade-specific mutations were observed within the ERG2, ERG3, ERG9, ERG11, FKS1, TAC1b and MRR1 genes in Africa. This systematic review showed the presence of C. auris in the African continent and a worrying unavailability of data on this resilient fungus in most African countries.

Focus on laboratory tests related to the pathological types of lupus nephritis to implement renal biopsy as early as possible:clinical and pathological analysis of 217 cases of single center lupus nephritis

Objective:To analyze the clinical and laboratory indices of patients with lupus nephritis(LN)of different pathological types and explore the related factors of LN pathological classification,it is helpful to grasp the timing of renal biopsy.Methods:The clinical manifestations,laboratory parameters and renal pathological types of LN patients in recent 20 years were analyzed retrospectively by SPSS 26.0 software.Results:In this study,the first three pathological types were V,IV,V+IV;latent nephritis was common in type II and V;nephritic syndrome was common in type V;nephrotic syndrome was common in type V+IV;chronic renal insufficiency group was mostly type IV;pathological types were correlated with serum creatinine,C3,albumin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(r=0.315,P<0.001),and serum creatinine was moderately correlated(r=0.315,P<0.001);AI,CI and SLEDAI scores were significantly different among LN patients of different pathological types.Conclusion:LN is closely related to clinical pathology,clinical manifestations,comprehensive analysis of laboratory indicators and SLEDAI score to make a preliminary prediction of LN pathological type,help to initially assess the severity of pathology,improve the timing of renal biopsy implementation,optimize the timing of treatment.

Research Progress on the Relationship between Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Pathological Characteristics of Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is one of the main malignant tumors in the digestive system.Early detection and treatment have positive significance in improving patient prognosis and reducing mortality.MRI is the main method for liver cancer examination,which mainly uses computers to compare imaging of different energy regions of tumors,observe the density and signal changes of liver cancer,and the degree of tumor enhancement.In particular,various new MRI functional imaging technologies,such as diffusion-weighted imaging,perfusion weighted imaging,delayed imaging,liver cell specific contrast agent enhanced imaging,etc.,can be used at the molecular level Multiple aspects such as cell function provide clinicians with richer diagnostic information.Therefore,further comparative analysis of MRI manifestations and pathological results of liver cancer can help to gain a deeper understanding of the biological behavior of tumors and provide a basis for treatment decision-making and prognosis evaluation.

Clinical manifestations,diagnosis and long-term prognosis of adult autoimmune enteropathy:Experience from Peking Union Medical College Hospital

BACKGROUND Autoimmune enteropathy(AIE)is a rare disease whose diagnosis and long-term prognosis remain challenging,especially for adult AIE patients.AIM To improve overall understanding of this disease’s diagnosis and prognosis.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical,endoscopic and histopathological characteristics and prognoses of 16 adult AIE patients in our tertiary medical center between 2011 and 2023,whose diagnosis was based on the 2007 diagnostic criteria.RESULTS Diarrhea in AIE patients was characterized by secretory diarrhea.The common endoscopic manifestations were edema,villous blunting and mucosal hyperemia in the duodenum and ileum.Villous blunting(100%),deep crypt lymphocytic infiltration(67%),apoptotic bodies(50%),and mild intraepithelial lymphocytosis(69%)were observed in the duodenal biopsies.Moreover,there were other remarkable abnormalities,including reduced or absent goblet cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 62%),reduced or absent Paneth cells(duodenum 94%,ileum 69%)and neutrophil infiltration(duodenum 100%,ileum 69%).Our patients also fulfilled the 2018 diagnostic criteria but did not match the 2022 diagnostic criteria due to undetectable anti-enterocyte antibodies.All patients received glucocorticoid therapy as the initial medication,of which 14/16 patients achieved a clinical response in 5(IQR:3-20)days.Immunosuppressants were administered to 9 patients with indications of steroid dependence(6/9),steroid refractory status(2/9),or intensified maintenance medication(1/9).During the median of 20.5 months of followup,2 patients died from multiple organ failure,and 1 was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.The cumulative relapse-free survival rates were 62.5%,55.6%and 37.0%at 6 months,12 months and 48 months,respectively.CONCLUSION Certain histopathological findings,including a decrease or disappearance of goblet and Paneth cells in intestinal biopsies,might be potential diagnostic criteria for adult AIE.The long-term prognosis is still unsatisfactory despite corticosteroid and immunosuppressant medications,which highlights the need for early diagnosis and novel medications.

Clinical characteristics and treatment compounds of obesity-related kidney injury

Disorders in energy homeostasis can lead to various metabolic diseases,particularly obesity.The obesity epidemic has led to an increased incidence of obesityrelated nephropathy(ORN),a distinct entity characterized by proteinuria,glomerulomegaly,progressive glomerulosclerosis,and renal function decline.Obesity and its associated renal damage are common in clinical practice,and their incidence is increasing and attracting great attention.There is a great need to identify safe and effective therapeutic modalities,and therapeutics using chemical compounds and natural products are receiving increasing attention.However,the summary is lacking about the specific effects and mechanisms of action of compounds in the treatment of ORN.In this review,we summarize the important clinical features and compound treatment strategies for obesity and obesityinduced kidney injury.We also summarize the pathologic and clinical features of ORN as well as its pathogenesis and potential therapeutics targeting renal inflammation,oxidative stress,insulin resistance,fibrosis,kidney lipid accumulation,and dysregulated autophagy.In addition,detailed information on natural and synthetic compounds used for the treatment of obesity-related kidney disease is summarized.The synthesis of detailed information aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the clinical treatment modalities for obesity-related kidney diseases,fostering the anticipation of novel insights in this domain.

Liver injury in COVID-19: Clinical features, potential mechanisms, risk factors and clinical treatments

The coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been a serious threat to global health for nearly 3 years.In addition to pulmonary complications,liver injury is not uncommon in patients with novel COVID-19.Although the prevalence of liver injury varies widely among COVID-19 patients,its incidence is significantly increased in severe cases.Hence,there is an urgent need to understand liver injury caused by COVID-19.Clinical features of liver injury include detectable liver function abnormalities and liver imaging changes.Liver function tests,computed tomography scans,and ultrasound can help evaluate liver injury.Risk factors for liver injury in patients with COVID-19 include male sex,preexisting liver disease including liver transplantation and chronic liver disease,diabetes,obesity,and hypertension.To date,the mechanism of COVID-19-related liver injury is not fully understood.Its pathophysiological basis can generally be explained by systemic inflammatory response,hypoxic damage,ischemia-reperfusion injury,and drug side effects.In this review,we systematically summarize the existing literature on liver injury caused by COVID-19,including clinical features,underlying mechanisms,and potential risk factors.Finally,we discuss clinical management and provide recommendations for the care of patients with liver injury.

Clinical features and prognostic factors in 49 patients with follicular lymphoma at a single center:A retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND Follicular lymphoma(FL)is a type of B-cell lymphoma that originates at the germinal center and has a low malignancy rate.FL has become the most common inert lymphoma in Europe and America but has a relatively low incidence in Asia.AIM To explore the clinical features,curative effects,and prognostic factors of FL.METHODS Completed medical records of 49 patients with FL who were admitted to the Ningbo First Hospital from June 2010 to June 2021 were examined.These patients were definitively diagnosed by pathological biopsy or immunohistochemical staining.The diagnostic criteria were based on the 2008 World Health Organization classification of lymphomas.Ann Arbor staging was performed according to the imaging and bone marrow examination results.Risk stratification of all patients was performed based on the International Prognostic Index(IPI),age-adjusted IPI,Follicular Lymphoma International Prognosis Index(FLIPI),and FLIPI2 to compare the efficacy of different treatment regimens and analyze the related prognostic factors.RESULTS The age of onset in patients ranged from 24 to 76 years,with a median age of 51 years.Most patients developed the disease at 40–59 years of age,and the male:female ratio was 1.6:1.No significant difference was noted in the curative effect between the non-chemotherapy,combined chemotherapy,and other chemotherapy regimens(P>0.05).Hemoglobin(Hb)level<120 g/L,Ki-67 value>50%,bone marrow involvement,and clinical stagesⅢ–IV were associated with a poor prognosis of FL(P<0.05).However,the influence of other indicators was not statistically significant.Risk grouping was performed using the FLIPI,and the results showed that 24.5%,40.8%,and 34.7%of patients were in the low-,moderate-,and high-risk groups,respectively.According to the survival analysis results,the survival rate of patients was lower in the high-risk group than in the other low-risk and moderate-risk groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION FL mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly men,primarily affecting lymph nodes and bone marrow.Hb level,Ki-67 value,bone marrow involvement,and clinical staging were used to evaluate prognosis.

Benign Nasosinus Tumors: Epidemiological, Clinical, Morphological, Therapeutic, and Evolutionary Aspects at the Adolphe SICE General Hospital in Pointe-Noire (Congo-Brazzaville)

Introduction: Benign nasosinus tumors (BNST) of epithelial origin are relatively rare and arise from the various lining tissues of the nasal and sinus cavities, and from glands developed from these epithelial invaginations. These include nasosinusal polyps, pleiomorphic adenoma and inverted papilloma. The aim of our study was to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, morphological, therapeutic, and evolutionary particularities of these three clinical entities, including two tumors with the potential for progressive malignancy (pleiomorphic adenoma and inverted papilloma) and one strictly benign tumor with a favorable evolution (nasosinus polyp or Schneider polyp). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional study conducted from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2019 (13 years), in the Department of Otolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery at Adolphe SICE Hospital, Pointe-Noire, Congo-Brazzaville. Results: During the study period, 74 patients were registered for a nasosinus tumor, of which 23 were benign tumors of epithelial origin (31%) distributed as follows: 15 cases of nasosinus polyp, 5 cases of pleomorphic adenoma and 3 cases of inverted papilloma. The mean age was 42.5 for polyps, with an estimated median of 38, and 42.9 for the other two entities (pleomorphic adenoma and inverted papilloma), with an estimated median of 41. Nasosinus allergy accounted for 17% of cases, followed by chronic sinusitis (12%);however, in 49% of cases, the patient’s history was not specified. There was no sexual predominance, the sex ratio being 1.08. Occupation, socio-economic level, and education had no impact on the development of these tumors. Most of our patients (52%, 12 cases) had a consultation delay of more than one (1) year, whatever the histological nature of the tumor. The complete nasosinus syndrome (NSS) included nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, epistaxis, and anosmia, and was found in 19 cases (83%), most often reflecting a nasosinus polyp. CT scans were performed in all patients, with hyperdense images predominating in 22 cases. Management of benign nasosinus tumors was mainly surgical. Postoperative management was straightforward in 15 cases (65%). Conclusion: Benign nasosinus tumors are dominated by nasosinus polyps. Management of these tumors is essentially surgical, with the best clinical outcome.

Clinical Analysis of 128 Children and Adolescents with Echinococcosis

Objective:To comprehend the clinical characteristics and treatment approaches for children and adolescents in Qinghai Province with two types of echinococcosis,cystic echinococcosis(CE)and alveolar echinococcosis(AE).Methods:A total of 128 pediatric inpatients with echinococcosis at the People’s Hospital of Qinghai Province and the Clinical Research Institute of Echinococcosis of Qinghai Province between January 2016 and December 2021 were chosen as subjects.Demographic and clinical data were collected,and double data entry was executed using EpiData 3.02.Factors influencing the cure of echinococcosis were analyzed with echinococcosis cure as the dependent variable,employing statistical analysis via SPSS 19.0.Results:Of the cases,35.9%had CE,and 64.1%had AE.Both types were observed in patients of all ages,with the majority aged 13-18.The number of cysts and their sizes varied between CE and AE.Complications were prevalent,including liver,gallbladder,lung,and nutritional complications.Univariate analyses revealed significant differences in outcomes based on factors such as cyst size(for CE),liver function grade(for AE),hydatid hypersensitivity test,operation,and length of hospital stay(P<0.05).Conclusion:This comprehensive analysis of hospitalized cases sheds light on the clinical data of echinococcosis in children and adolescents in Qinghai Province.The findings contribute to a scientific foundation for formulating effective prevention and control measures tailored to this demographic,facilitating an improved understanding of echinococcosis in Qinghai province.

Clinical and pathological features and risk factors for primary breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women all around the world.According to the latest statistics in 2018,there were more than 2.08 million new breast cancer cases all around the world and more than 620000 deaths;the proportion of breast cancer deaths in women with cancer is 15%.By studying age,clinicopathological characteristics and molecular classification,age at menarche,age at birth,number of births,number of miscarriages,lactation time,surgical history of benign breast lesions,history of gynecological diseases,and other factors,we retrospectively summarized and compared the disease history of patients with primary breast cancer and patients with benign thyroid tumors admitted to our hospital in the past 10 years to explore the clinicopathological characteristics and risk factors for primary breast cancer.AIM To investigate the clinical and pathological features and risk factors for primary breast cancer treated at our center in order to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in the Zhuhai-Macao region.METHODS Through a retrospective case-control study,149 patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed and treated at Zhuhai Hospital of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2013 to March 2020 were included as a case group,and 165 patients with benign breast tumors diagnosed and treated from January 2019 to March 2020 were included as a control group.The data collected included age,age at menarche,age at first birth,number of births,number of miscarriages,lactation time,history of surgery for benign breast lesions,history of familial malignant tumors,history of gynecological diseases,history of thyroid diseases,and the tumor characteristics of the patients in the case group including pathological diagnosis,pathological type,tumor size,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,stage,and molecular classification,among others.In the case group,the chi-square test was used to analyze the clinical and pathological features of patients in three age groups(<40,40-59,and≥60 years).A multifactor logistic regression analysis was used to analyze correlations between the two groups.RESULTS Among 149 patients with primary breast cancer,the average age was 48.20±12.06 years,and the proportion of patients at 40-59 years old was the highest,accounting for 61.8%of cases.The molecular type was mainly luminal B type,accounting for 69.2%of cases,and at the time of diagnosis,the tumor stage was mainly stage I/II,accounting for 62.4%of cases.There were no statistically significant differences in the distributions of tumor location,pathological type,tumor size,lymph node metastasis,stage,or molecular classification among the three age groups(<40,40-59,and≥60 years)(P≥0.05).The differences in the distribution of distant metastasis among the three age groups(<40,40-59,and≥60 years)were statistically significant(P<0.01).The differences in lactation time,history of familial malignant tumors,history of gynecological diseases,and history of thyroid diseases between the two groups were not statistically significant(P≥0.05).The differences in age at disease diagnosis,age at menarche,and history of surgery for benign breast lesions were statistically significant(P<0.01).The difference in age at first birth was also statistically significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The highest incidence of breast cancer in the Zhuhai-Macao region is present among women aged 40-59 years.There is a larger proportion of stage I/II patients,and the luminal B type is the most common molecular subtype.Distant metastasis occurs mainly in the≥60-year-old group at the first diagnosis;increased age,late age at menarche,and late age at first birth may be risk factors for primary breast cancer,and a history of surgery for benign breast lesions may be a protective factor for primary breast cancer.

Assessment of clinical and pathological features of patients who underwent thyroid surgery: A retrospective clinical study

AIM To evaluate whether there was any correlation between the clinical parameters and final pathological results among patients who underwent thyroid surgery. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed parameters, including age, sex, complete blood cell count parameters, nodule diameter, nodule localization, thyroid function testing, and pathology reports, in patients who underwent thyroid surgery. The patients were divided into malignant (n = 92) and benign (n = 413) groups depending on the final pathological results. Both groups were compared for demographic and clinicalparameters. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was used to determine if the quantitative variables had a normal distribution. The nonparametric MannWhitney U test was used to compare quantitative data that were not normally distributed, and Pearson's chisquared test was used to compare the qualitative data. The correlation between the final pathological results and fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings was calculated using the cross-tabulation method.RESULTS This study included 406 women and 99 men aged between 15 and 85 years. No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to age, sex, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, thrombocyte count, red cell distribution width, platelet distribution width, mean platelet volume, platecrit, nodule localization, and thyroid function testing. On the other hand, there were significant differences between the groups with respect to nodule size (P = 0.001), cervical lymphadenopathy(P = 0.0001) and nodular calcification (P = 0.0001). Compared with the malignant group, the benign group had a significantly greater nodule size (35.4 mm vs 27.6 mm). The best cut-off point (≤ 28 mm) for nodule size, as determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve, had a sensitivity and specificity of 67.7% and 64.4%, respectively. The correlation between fine-needle aspiration biopsy and the final pathological results was assessed using the cross-table method. The sensitivity and specificity of fine-needle aspiration biopsy were 60% and 98%, respectively.CONCLUSION This study showed that significant differences existed between the malignant and benign groups with regard to nodule size, cervical lymphadenopathy, and nodular calcification.

Clinical and Pathological Features of Riedel's Thyroiditis

Objective To evaluate the clinical and pathological features of Riedel's thyroiditis(RT),and current diagnostic and treatment methods for that disease.Methods Five RT cases identified by surgery and pathological examinations at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1985 to 2009 were analyzed and compared with the cases reported in the literature in terms of clinical and pathological features.Immunohistochemical staining of kappa and lambda light chains was carried out for RT tissues from all the five patients.Results All the five cases were females,aged 45-55 years.Elevation of serum thyroid autoantibodies was found in only one patient,who had longer disease duration than the others.Pathological examination revealed invasive fibrosclerosis of the thyroid follicles,thyroid capsule,and the surrounding tissues.In RT tissues,the number of cells containing lambda chains was a little higher than those containing kappa chains.Conclusions RT is a rare disease which might be more common in middle-aged females than in other populations.Pathological features include the destruction of thyroid follicle,extension into surrounding tissues by inflammatory cells and fibrous tissues.Immunohistochemical staining of kappa and lambda chains could help diagnose RT.

Clinical and pathological features of Devic’s neuromyelitis optica and multiple sclerosis in Chinese patients

BACKGROUND：Devic＇s neuromyelitis optica （DNMO） and multiple sclerosis in Asian populations have been considered to be the same disease. However, there is an increasing number of studies suggesting that DNMO and multiple sclerosis are different diseases.OBJECTIVE：Little information is available regarding comparisons of DNMO patients between China and other countries, as well as clinical manifestations of Chinese patients with DNMO and multiple sclerosis. The present study performed a multi-center, pathological, retrospective analysis.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING：A retrospective analysis of clinical data from seven patients with DNMO diagnosed between 1957 and 1998.PARTICIPANTS：Data from Chinese DNMO patients was provided by the Shanghai Second Medical University, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in China.METHODS：Clinical and pathological data from Chinese patients with DNMO were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics of DNMO were compared between Chinese and Caucasian patients. In addition, clinical and pathological differences between DNMO and multiple sclerosis Chinese patients were compared.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES：Clinical and pathological features of Chinese patients with DNMO.RESULTS：All seven Chinese patients with DNMO exhibited abrupt onset of vision disturbance, with a disease course of 3 clays to 9 years. DNMO recurred in two of the patients. Demyelinating lesions were observed in all patients, with necrotic lesions and gitter cells in five patients, collagenous hyperplasia in one patient, and perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration in six patients. Comparison between Chinese and Caucasian DNMO patients revealed no significant differences in age at onset, clinical onset, duration, or interval between optic neuritis and myelitis. Compared with Chinese multiple sclerosis patients, Chinese DNMO patients presented with fewer recurrences, higher occurrence of necrosis, perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration and gitter cells, and a lower occurrence of collagenous hyperplasia.CONCLUSION：There was no difference in DNMO clinical features between Chinese and Caucasian patients. However, the clinical and pathological features of DNMO were different compared with multiple sclerosis in Chinese patients. Results suggested that the characteristics of DNMO in Chinese patients were significantly different than multiple sclerosis.

Endoscopic and pathological characteristics of de novo colorectal cancer:Retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Endoscopy has rapidly developed in recent years and has enabled further investigation into the origin and features of intestinal tumors.The small size and concealed position of these tumors make it difficult to distinguish them from nonneoplastic polyps and carcinoma in adenoma(CIA).The invasive depth and metastatic potential determine the operation regimen,which in turn affects the overall survival and distant prognosis.The previous studies have confirmed the malignant features and clinicopathological features of de novo colorectal cancer(CRC).AIM To provide assistance for diagnosis and treatment,but the lack of a summary of endoscopic features and assessment of risk factors that differ from the CIA prompted us to conduct this retrospective study.METHODS In total,167 patients with small-sized CRCs diagnosed by endoscopy were reviewed.The patients diagnosed as advanced CRCs and other malignant cancers or chronic diseases that could affect distant outcomes were excluded.After screening,63 cases were excluded,including 33 de novo and 30 CIA cases.Patient information,including their follow-up information,was obtained from an electronic His-system.The characteristics between two group and risk factors for invasion depth were analyzed with SPSS 25.0 software.RESULTS Nearly half of the de novo CRCs were smaller than 1 cm(n=16,48.5%)and the majority were located in the distal colon(n=26,78.8%).The IIc type was the most common macroscopic type of de novo CRC.In a Pearson analysis,the differential degree,Sano,JNET,and Kudo types,surrounding mucosa,and chicken skin mucosa(CSM)were correlated with the invasion depth(P<0.001).CSM was a significant risk factor for deep invasion and disturbed judgment of endoscopic ultrasound.A high degree of tumor budding and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are accompanied by malignancy.Finally,de novo CRCs have worse outcomes than CIA CRCs.CONCLUSION This is the first comprehensive study to analyze the features of de novo CRCs to distinguish them from nonneoplastic polyps.It is also the first study paying attention to CSM invasive depth measurement.This study emphasizes the high metastatic potential of de novo CRCs and highlights the need for more research on this tumor type.

Relationship between autophagy and perineural invasion, clinicopathological features, and prognosis in pancreatic cancer

AIM To investigate the relationship between autophagy and perineural invasion(PNI), clinical features, and prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. METHODS Clinical and pathological data were retrospectively collected from 109 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who underwent radical resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2011 to August 2016. Expression levels of the autophagy-related protein microtubuleassociated protein 1 A/1 B-light chain 3(LC3) and PNI marker ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase(UCH) in pancreatic cancer tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlations among LC3 expression, PNI, and clinical pathological features in pancreatic cancer were analyzed. The patients were followed for further survival analysis. RESULTS In 109 cases of pancreatic cancer, 68.8%(75/109) had evidence of PNI and 61.5%(67/109) had high LC3 expression. PNI was associated with lymph node metastasis, pancreatitis, and CA19-9 levels(P < 0.05). LC3 expression was related to lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05) and was positively correlated with neural invasion(P < 0.05, r = 0.227). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that LC3 expression, lymph node metastasis, pancreatitis, and CA19-9 level were factors that influenced neural invasion, whereas only neural invasion itself was an independent factor for high LC3 expression. Univariate analysis showed that LC3 expression, neural invasion, and CA19-9 level were related to the overall survival of pancreatic cancer patients(P < 0.05). Multivariate COX regression analysis indicated that PNI and LC3 expression were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer(P < 0.05). CONCLUSION PNI in patients with pancreatic cancer is positively related to autophagy. Neural invasion and LC3 expression are independent risk factors for pancreatic cancer with a poor prognosis.

Risk Factors, Clinical Features and Prognosis for Subtypes of Ischemic Stroke in a Chinese Population

It is unanimously accepted that stroke is a highly heterogeneous disorder. Different subtypes of ischemic stroke may have different risk factors, clinical features, and prognoses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and prognoses of different subtypes of ischemic stroke defined by the Trial of ORG10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment （TOAST） criteria. We prospectively analyzed the data from 530 consecutive patients who were admitted to our hospital with acute ischemic stroke within 7 days of stroke onset during the study period. Standardized data assessment was used and the cause of ischemic stroke was classified according to the TOAST criteria. Patients were followed up till 30 and 90 days after stroke onset. It was found that large-artery atherosclerosis was the most frequent etiology of stroke （37.4%）, and showed the highest male preponderance, the highest prevalence of previous transient ischemic attack, and the longest hospital stay among all subtypes. Small artery disease （36.4%） was associated with higher body mass index, higher plasma triglycerides, and lower plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than cardioembolism. Cardioembolism （7.7%）, which was particularly common in the elderly （i.e., individuals aged 65 years and older）, showed the highest female preponderance, the highest prevalence of atrial fibrillation, the earliest presentation to hospital after stroke onset, the most severe symptoms on admission, the maximum complications associated with an adverse outcome, and the highest rate of stroke recurrence and mortality. Our results suggest that ischemic stroke should be regarded as a highly heterogeneous disorder. Studies involving risk factors, clinical features, and prognoses of ischemic stroke should differentiate between etiologic stroke subtypes.

Clinical,Laboratory and Imaging Features of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema in Tibetan Plateau

Objective To analyze characteristics of high altitude pulmonary edema(HAPE)in Chinese patients.Methods We performed a retrospective study of 98 patients with HAPE.We reviewed the medical records and summarized the clinical,laboratory and imaging characteristics of these cases,and compared the results on admission with those determined before discharge.Results Forty-eight(49.0%)patients developed HAPE at the altitude of 2800 m to 3000 m.Ninty-five(96.9%)patients were man.Moist rales were audible from the both lungs,and moist rales over the right lung were clearer than those over the left lung in fourteen patients.The white blood cells[(12.83±5.55)versus(8.95±3.23)×109/L,P=0.001)]as well as neutrophil counts[(11.34±3.81)versus(7.49±2.83)×109/L,P=0.001)]were higher,whereas the counts of other subsets of white blood cells were lower on admission than those after recovery(all P<0.05).Serum levels of alkaline phosphatase(115.8±37.6 versus 85.7±32.4 mmol/L,P=0.020),cholinesterase(7226.2±1631.8 versus 6285.3±1693.3 mmol/L,P=0.040),creatinine(85.2±17.1 versus 75.1±12.8 mmol/L,P=0.021),uric acid(401.9±114.2 versus 326.0±154.3 mmol/L,P=0.041),and uric glucose(7.20±1.10 versus 5.51±1.11 mmol/L,P=0.001)were higher,but carbondioxide combining power(CO2CP,26.7±4.4 versus 28.9±4.5 mmol/L,P=0.042)and serous calcium(2.32±0.13 versus 2.41±0.10 mmol/L,P=0.006)were lower on admission.Arterial blood gas results showed hypoxemia and respiratory alkalosis on admission.Conclusions In the present research,men were more susceptible to HAPE than women,and in the process of HAPE,the lesions of the right lung were more serious than those of the left lung.Some indicators of routine blood test and blood biochemistry of HAPE patients changed.