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Rationale and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between BRAFV600E mutation, the American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging, reporting and data system (TI-RADS) on ultrasound and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with a solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 397 patients with a solitary PTC, proved pathologically. BRAFV600E mutation status was detected in postoperative samples by real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction. Associations of BRAFV600E mutation with the ACR TI-RADS and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.Results: In this study, the incidence of BRAFV600E mutation was 81.4% (323/397) in patients with a solitary PTC. Univariate analyses showed that BRAFV600E mutation was significantly associated with margin, higher ACR TI-RADS point scores, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In multivariate analyses, lobulated or irregular margin was independently associated with BRAFV600E mutation in total solitary PTC. Furthermore, both in total solitary PTC and papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, BRAFV600E mutation was associated with ACR TI-RADS point scores, which was positively correlated with the risk of BRAFV600E mutation. There was no significant relationship between BRAFV600E mutation and ACR TI-RADS point scores in PTC >10 mm. In addition, Hashimoto's thyroiditis had a significant negative association with BRAFV600E mutation.Conclusion: A lobulated or irregular margin of the thyroid nodule is independently associated with BRAFV600E mutation in patients with PTC. In addition, higher ACR TI-RADS point scores is an independent risk factor for BRAFV600E mutation, and ACR TI-RADS point scores is positively associated with the risk of BRAFV600E mutation in solitary PTC, especially in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Our findings may be helpful for preoperative identification and medical management of PTC patients with BRAFV600E mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effect of different root canal preparation methods on the incidence of interappointment emergencies (IAE) and root canal filling., Methods: A total of 96 teeth requiring root canal therapy due to pulpitis or periapical periodontitis from August 2018 to August 2021 were selected. They were randomly divided into 2 groups: MT group was treated with Mtwo root canal preparation method modified by Mtwo machine nickel-titanium file, while synchronous group was treated with modified Mtwo preparation method and synchronous root canal length measurement. After root canal preparation, the trial point film was taken, calcium hydroxide was used to seal the root canal, and routine thermoplasticizied gutta-percha root canal filling was performed during the follow-up visit. SPSS 22.0 software package was used to analyze the incidence of IAE and filling effect after root canal therapy., Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of IAE between the two groups immediately after operation, three days and 1 week after operation(P＞0.05); the incidence of IAE in synchronous group was significantly lower than that in MT group at 1 and 2 days after operation(P＜0.05). The qualified rate of root canal filling in synchronous group was significantly higher than that in MT group (P＜0.05)., Conclusions: Synchronous method can reduce mechanical stimulation of apical area during root canal preparation, strictly control the working length of root canal and maintain apical barrier, thus reducing the incidence of IAE and effectively improving the qualification rate of root canal filling.

Objective: To analyze the factors contributing to recurrence in patients with pT 3 N 0 M 0 thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC)., Methods: Patients with pT 3 N 0 M 0 thoracic ESCC who underwent esophagectomy from January 2008 to December 2012 were included retrospectively. The last date of follow-up was 1 December 2016. Multivariate proportional hazard Cox models were used to identify factors associated with total (i.e., any) recurrence (TR), locoregional recurrence (LR), and distant metastasis (DM)., Results: A total of 692 patients were included. The median follow-up was 53 months (range: 3-107). The 3- and 5-year TR, LR, and DM rates were 35.8% and 41.0%, 28.7% and 32.1%, and 16.8% and 21.1%, respectively. The Cox analyses showed that the tumor location, number of dissected lymph nodes, and postoperative therapies were significantly associated with LR. The subgroup analysis showed that postoperative therapies could significantly decrease LR in the mediastinum but not in the neck and upper abdomen regions., Conclusions: The recurrence rate of pT 3 N 0 M 0 thoracic ESCC patients was high, especially for LR in the mediastinum. Postoperative therapies can significantly reduce the incidence of mediastinal recurrence.

Rationale and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between BRAF V600E mutation, the American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging, reporting and data system (TI-RADS) on ultrasound and clinicopathological characteristics in patients with a solitary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC)., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 397 patients with a solitary PTC, proved pathologically. BRAF V600E mutation status was detected in postoperative samples by real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction. Associations of BRAF V600E mutation with the ACR TI-RADS and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed., Results: In this study, the incidence of BRAF V600E mutation was 81.4% (323/397) in patients with a solitary PTC. Univariate analyses showed that BRAF V600E mutation was significantly associated with margin, higher ACR TI-RADS point scores, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In multivariate analyses, lobulated or irregular margin was independently associated with BRAF V600E mutation in total solitary PTC. Furthermore, both in total solitary PTC and papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, BRAF V600E mutation was associated with ACR TI-RADS point scores, which was positively correlated with the risk of BRAF V600E mutation. There was no significant relationship between BRAF V600E mutation and ACR TI-RADS point scores in PTC >10 mm. In addition, Hashimoto's thyroiditis had a significant negative association with BRAF V600E mutation., Conclusion: A lobulated or irregular margin of the thyroid nodule is independently associated with BRAF V600E mutation in patients with PTC. In addition, higher ACR TI-RADS point scores is an independent risk factor for BRAF V600E mutation, and ACR TI-RADS point scores is positively associated with the risk of BRAF V600E mutation in solitary PTC, especially in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Our findings may be helpful for preoperative identification and medical management of PTC patients with BRAF V600E mutation., (Copyright © 2018 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the features of parotid neoplasms on real-time elastosonography., Methods: The elastograms of parotid lesions in 43 patients with 48 neoplasms were analyzed and classified into 5 grades, with pathologic diagnosis as the gold standard for comparision. The data was statistically analyzed with SPSS13.0 software package., Results: The elastographic grades of most benign neoplasms were I-II, while those of malignancies were III-IV. The elastographic grades of benign and malignant lesions were of significant difference (P<0.05)., Conclusions: Some typical features of different parotid lesions on elastosonography are found, which are useful for differential diagnosis of parotid lesions.

Objective: To assess the left ventricular longitudinal rotation (LR) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)., Methods: Conventional echocardiography (GE-Vivid7) was performed in 35 healthy subjects and 42 DCM patients. Left atrial diameter was measured by M-mode echocardiography, left ventricular end-systolic, end-diastolic volume and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were calculated by bi-plane simpson's method. The peak velocity during early diastole (Ve) and late diastole (Va) of anterior mitral valve were measured by pulse-waved doppler, and the ratio Ve/Va was calculated. The peak radial systolic strain, strain rate in systolic, early and late diastolic periods were measured. Segmental LR and global LR were assessed using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI)., Results: The peak radial systolic strain, strain rate in systolic, early and late diastolic periods in DCM group were significantly lower than in healthy subjects, the rotation degrees of the middle and base lateral, the apex and the base septum walls were significantly lower than those of the healthy subjects. A prominent counterclockwise LR (0.76° ± 2.63°) was shown in healthy subjects while prominent clockwise LR (-1.58° ± 3.42°) was present in DCM patients. The time delay between the left ventricular lateral wall and the base septum wall in DCM patients significantly correlated with the peak LR of the left ventricular (r = 0.409, P < 0.01; r = 0.396, P < 0.01)., Conclusions: 2D-STI can be used to assess the LR in DCM patients and a clockwise LR is present in DCM patients which might be caused by the time delay between the left ventricular lateral wall and the base-septum wall.

Objective: To establish a duplex TaqMan RT-PCR assay for urine DD3/PSA mRNA ratio, and to evaluate its effect in diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa)., Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 34 patients with PCa and 44 patients with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) by prostate massage. A duplex TaqMan RT-PCR assay was developed: PCR primers were designed to amplify the fragments between the exon1 and exon2 in the PSA mRNA and between the exon1 and exon3 in the DD3 mRNA, and the PCR TaqMan-MGB probes were labeled with HEX and FAM respectively in 5' for PSA mRNA. LNCaP cells were used as template. DD3/PSA mRNA ratio was measured. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn so as to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy., Results: Sequencing showed that the PCR products were specific for PSA mRNA and DD3 mRNA. The minimum detection level was approximately 0.6 cells/reaction for PSA mRNA and was 60 cells/reaction for DD3 mRNA in the LNCaP cell cDNA. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of DD3/PSA mRNA were 3.8%-4.7% and 4.1%-4.9% respectively. Urine DD3/PSA mRNA ratio in PCa group was significantly higher than the BPH group (P < 0.01). When the cutoff value was defined as 0.254, the area under curve (AUC) of DD3/PSA mRNA ratio was 0.746 (95% CI: 0.630-0.862), and the sensitivity and specificity were 64.7% and 77.3% respectively. The urine DD3/PSA mRNA ratio positive rate was not correlated with clinical and pathological parameters., Conclusion: A duplex TaqMan RT-PCR assay for urine DD3/PSA mRNA ratio has been established with an excellent clinical performance and specificity for PCa, saving time and reducing costs. It may be a promising method in the early diagnosis of PCa.

Objective: To analyze the expression of DD3 mRNA in the prostate tissues., Methods: DD3 mRNA was detected by realtime fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) based on the Taqman technique in the tissues of 27 patients with non-prostate cancer( NPCa), 21 prostate cancer( PCa), 39 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 15 normal prostate (NP). The ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of DD3 mRNA., Results: DD3 mRNA expression was not detected in the NPCa tissues. The median expressions of DD3 mRNA in PCa, BPH and NP tissues were 7. 2 x 10(6), 2. 5 x 10(4) and 1.5 x 10(4) copies/mg tissue, respectively. The DD3 mRNA expression levels were significantly different between nonmalignant and malignant tissues (P < 0.01). No significant differences in DD3 mRNA expression were detected between the NP and BPH tissues and no significant correlation was found between the DD3 mRNA expression and clinical pathological parameters. The AUC-ROC was 0.937 (95% CI: 0.879 - 0.995) at cutoff value 1.4 x 10(5) copies/mg tissue. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio for DD3 were 90.5%, 85.0%, 86.7%, 76.0%, 94.3%, 6.03 and 0.11 respectively., Conclusion: The DD3 mRNA expression is confined to prostate tissues and highly upregulated in PCa tissues. It has a potential application value in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer and the follow-up of the patient.

Objective: To investigate the expression of DD3 mRNA in the peripheral blood and its value in diagnostic of prostate cancer (Pca)., Methods: Thirty-five untreated Pca patients, aged 72 (53 - 83), 58 Pca patients treated with endocrinotherapy, aged 74 (53 - 86), and 59 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, aged 71 (48 - 85), underwent peripheral blood sample collection one week before or after digital examination. RT-PCR was used to examine the level of DD3 mRNA. The level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) was detected too. Ten healthy male frontiers, aged 33 (21 - 38), were used as controls. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was drawn to evaluate the diagnostic performance of DD3 mRNA., Results: The DD3 mRNA level of the untreated Pca patients was 2741 copies/ml, significantly higher than those of the Pca patients treated with endocrinotherapy, patients with benign hyperplasia, and healthy persons (all < 24 copies, all P < 0.001). The DD3 mRNA level of the endocrinotherapy-treated Pca patients was significantly higher than those of the patients with benign hyperplasia, and healthy persons (both P < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that when the critical value was 846 copies/ml the area under curve of ROC (AUC-ROC) was 0.8233 (95% CI: 0.725 - 0.910). and the sensitivity was 74.34%, the specificity was 89.8%. The DD3 mRNA in the peripheral blood increased along with the increase of clinical staging (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: The level of DD3 mRNA in the peripheral blood is an excellent marker for diagnosis pf Pca, and may help in monitoring of the curative effects of endocrinotherapy.