Detection of medullary thyroid microcarcinoma using ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration cytology

G. C. H. Yang, K. Fried and P. H. Levine Detection of medullary thyroid microcarcinoma using ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration cytology Objective: Compared with incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (microPTC), incidental medullary thyroid microcarcinoma (microMTC) is clinically more significant. The objective of the present study was to summarize our experience in detecting microMTCs. Methods: From 1995 to 2011, there were 10 825 thyroid fine needle aspirates (FNAs) guided using high‐resolution ultrasound with on‐site preparation and evaluation by a cytopathologist. Of the 140 microcarcinomas detected, 132 were microPTCs and eight were microMTCs, which are the subject of the present study. Results: All eight cases were incidentalomas and none of the five women and three men, age 37–70 years, had a family history of MTC. One patient had two FNAs at an interval of 10 months, two had a single lymph node metastasis and one had a 0.1‐cm tumour nodule near the main tumour. Four of five plasmacytoid cell microMCTs had irregular borders; two round cell and one rectangular cell tumours had smooth borders. In contrast, 17 larger MTCs diagnosed in the same period included seven plasmacytoid, four giant cell and six spindle cell types. All five plasmacytoid microMTCs were correctly diagnosed on FNA, but the round cell and rectangular cell tumours were undercalled as follicular lesions. Sampling of colloid from adjacent follicles was noted in microMTCs. Two were diagnosed on histology following recommended surgery and one was diagnosed on recommended repeat FNA. Conclusions: US‐guided FNA of thyroid lesions is a powerful tool in the detection of microMTCs, provided that cytopathologists are alerted to the pitfalls described in the present study.     

Current Status of Cereal Root Diseases in Western Australia Under Intensive Cereal Production and Their Comparison with the Historical Survey Conducted During 1976–1982

Two separate surveys of root diseases of cereals in the Western Australian (WA) cereal belt were conducted: the first conducted annually for wheat and barley during 1976–1982 and the second for wheat during 2005–2007. For the 1976–1982 survey, the cereal belt was divided into 15 zones based on the location and rainfall. Sampling was representative of the actual cropping area, with both wheat and barley sampling sites selected by zone as a percentage of total sites. Over 31 000 plants were assessed from a total of 996 fields. Average take‐all incidence ranged from 3% in the northern low rainfall zone to 57% in the southern high rainfall zone. Other root diseases assessed included rhizoctonia root rot, fusarium crown rot and subcrown internode discolouration. During the 2005–2007 survey, around 20 000 plants from a total of 210 fields being intensively cropped with cereals were surveyed for take‐all, rhizoctonia root rot, fusarium crown rot, common root rot, root lesion nematode and cereal cyst nematode. The 2005–2007 survey results indicated that root and crown diseases prevailed in paddocks frequently cropped with cereals and occurred at damaging levels across all WA cropping districts surveyed. The more recent root disease survey identified that the fungal diseases rhizoctonia root rot and fusarium crown rot and the root lesion nematode were the most serious impediments to intensive cereal production, particularly in the southern region of WA. Comparing the 2005–2007 results with the previous survey of 1976–1982, the relative importance of take‐all appears to have declined over the past 30 years.     

The aluminium content of breast tissue taken from women with breast cancer

The aetiology of breast cancer is multifactorial. While there are known genetic predispositions to the disease it is probable that environmental factors are also involved. Recent research has demonstrated a regionally specific distribution of aluminium in breast tissue mastectomies while other work has suggested mechanisms whereby breast tissue aluminium might contribute towards the aetiology of breast cancer. We have looked to develop microwave digestion combined with a new form of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry as a precise, accurate and reproducible method for the measurement of aluminium in breast tissue biopsies. We have used this method to test the thesis that there is a regional distribution of aluminium across the breast in women with breast cancer. Microwave digestion of whole breast tissue samples resulted in clear homogenous digests perfectly suitable for the determination of aluminium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The instrument detection limit for the method was 0.48 μg/L. Method blanks were used to estimate background levels of contamination of 14.80 μg/L. The mean concentration of aluminium across all tissues was 0.39 μg Al/g tissue dry wt. There were no statistically significant regionally specific differences in the content of aluminium. We have developed a robust method for the precise and accurate measurement of aluminium in human breast tissue. There are very few such data currently available in the scientific literature and they will add substantially to our understanding of any putative role of aluminium in breast cancer. While we did not observe any statistically significant differences in aluminium content across the breast it has to be emphasised that herein we measured whole breast tissue and not defatted tissue where such a distribution was previously noted. We are very confident that the method developed herein could now be used to provide accurate and reproducible data on the aluminium content in defatted tissue and oil from such tissues and thereby contribute towards our knowledge on aluminium and any role in breast cancer.     

自动乳腺全容积扫描联合乳腺钼靶摄影在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值

目的：探讨自动乳腺全容积扫描（automated breast volume scanner,ABVS）联合乳腺钼靶摄影在乳腺疾病诊断中的价值。方法：观察随访130例就诊我科的乳腺疾病患者,进行ABVS、传统超声和乳腺钼靶检查。结果：130例患者中ABVS的疾病单独诊断准确率为91．5％（119／130）,传统乳腺超声的单独诊断准确率为84．6％（110／130）,乳腺钼靶的单独诊断准确率为86．9％（113／130）,而ABVS联合乳腺钼靶应用的诊断准确率为95．4％（124／130）,明显优于两者单独应用,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：ABVS是一种全新的乳腺检查方法,较传统乳腺超声、乳腺钼靶具有较高的疾病诊断准确率,而ABVS联合乳腺钼靶可以显著提高诊断的准确率,值得在临床推广。     

中国北方地区血清钙、维生素D水平与乳腺癌的相关性研究

目的:探讨中国北方地区血清钙、维生素D水平与乳腺癌及相关临床因素的关系.方法:选取2007年12月至2012年7月哈尔滨医科大学附属肿瘤医院794例女性乳腺癌患者及976例乳腺良性肿瘤患者,并以128例健康妇女为对照,取空腹血清采用原子吸收分光光度法检测三组血清钙含量,采用放免法检测三组中162例血清25(OH)D含量,结合相关临床资料进行分析.结果:乳腺癌组血清钙含量为2.26± 0.12 mmol/L,乳腺良性肿瘤组血清钙含量为2.26±0.09 mmol/L,正常对照组血清钙含量为2.25±0.24 mmol/L,经方差分析,三组总体均数差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05);乳腺癌患者的血清钙水平与年龄、TNM分期、BMI、绝经情况、乳腺癌家族遗传史无关(P＞0.05).乳腺癌组血清25(OH)D含量为41.91±7.55 ng/mL,乳腺良性肿瘤血清25(OH)D含量为54.62±7.48 ng/mL,正常对照组血清25(OH)D含量为56.15±8.87 ng/mL,经方差分析,乳腺癌患者血清25(OH)D含量低于乳腺良性肿瘤组,差别有统计学意义(P＜0.05),乳腺良性肿瘤组与正常对照组差别无统计学意义(P＞0.05);乳腺癌患者的维生素D水平与年龄、TNM分期、BMI、绝经情况有关(P＜0.05),而与乳腺癌家族遗传史无关(P＞0.05).结论:中国北方地区的乳腺癌患者血清钙水平与乳腺良性肿瘤患者无明显差异.乳腺癌患者的维生素D水平低于乳腺良性肿瘤患者,并且与年龄、TNM分期、BMI、绝经情况有关.维生素D水平降低可能与乳腺癌的发生有关,高水平的维生素D可能会降低女性患乳癌的风险.     

靶向治疗乳腺癌骨转移的研究进展

本文对双磷酸盐、狄诺塞麦、Sagopilone等特异性靶向药物在乳腺癌骨转移靶向治疗中的作用机制、临床应用、临床疗效等方面的相关研究进展情况进行了简要阐述。双磷酸盐在抑制骨转移和非骨转移中发挥作用,狄诺塞麦可能成为双磷酸盐的合理替代物,尤其在双磷酸盐治疗效果不佳的病人中,而新型抗癌药物Sagopilone、骨唾液酸蛋白抑制剂亦可通过多种机制参与乳腺癌转移过程,具有抑制骨转移的巨大潜力。     

Shift work,circadian gene variants and risk of breast cancer

Circadian (clock) genes have been linked with several functions relevant to cancer, and epidemiologic research has suggested relationships with breast cancer risk for variants in NPAS2, CLOCK, CRY2 and TIMELESS. Increased breast cancer risk has also been observed among shift workers, suggesting potential interactions in relationships of circadian genes with breast cancer. Relationships with breast cancer of 100 SNPs in 14 clock-related genes, as well as potential interactions with shift work history, were investigated in a case–control study (1042 cases, 1051 controls). Odds ratios in an additive genetic model for European-ancestry participants (645 cases, 806 controls) were calculated, using a two-step correction for multiple testing: within each gene through permutation testing (10,000 permutations), and correcting for the false discovery rate across genes. Interactions of genotypes with ethnicity and shift work (<2 years vs ≥2 years) were evaluated individually. Following permutation analysis, two SNPs (rs3816360 in ARNTL and rs11113179 in CRY1) displayed significant associations with breast cancer and one SNP (rs3027188 in PER1) was marginally significant; however, none were significant following adjustment for the false discovery rate. No significant interaction with shift work history was detected. If shift work causes circadian disruption, this was not reflected in associations between clock gene variants and breast cancer risk in this study. Larger studies are needed to assess interactions with longer durations (>30 years) of shift work that have been associated with breast cancer.     

Antihypertensive medications and survival in patients with cancer: A population-based retrospective cohort study

Background: The association between antihypertensive medications and survival in cancer patients remains unclear. Objectives: To explore the association between classes of antihypertensive drugs and survival in cancer patients. Methods: Provincial Cancer Registry data was linked with a Provincial Drug Program Information Network (DPIN) for patients with lung (n = 4241), colorectal (n = 3967), breast (n = 4019) or prostate (n = 3355) cancer between the years of 2004 and 2008. Cox regression analyses were used to compare survival of patients using beta blockers (BBs), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB), calcium channel blockers (CCBs) or thiazide diuretics (TDs) to survival of patients who did not use any of these antihypertensive drugs. Survival of patients using only one class of antihypertensive drugs were compared to each other, with BBs as the reference class. Results: Compared to the antihypertensive drug non-user cohort, BBs had no effect on survival for any of the cancers. ACEi/ARBs use was weakly associated with increased deaths for breast cancer (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04–1.44) and lung cancer (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03–1.21) patients. Deaths were also increased with CCB use in patients with breast cancer (HR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02–1.47) and with TD use in lung cancer patients (HR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.01–1.19). There was strong evidence (p-value <0.0001) of an increase in deaths with TD use for colorectal (HR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.15–1.42), and prostate (HR 1.41, 1.2–1.65) cancer patients. When including only antihypertensive drug users prescribed one drug class, lung cancer patients receiving CCBs had improved survival compared to BBs (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64–0.98). Conclusions: Some classes of antihypertensive agents are associated with a decreased survival in certain cancers. The decrease could be due to more comorbidities in antihypertensive drug users. However, CCB use was associated with improved survival in lung cancer patients.     

纳米紫杉类药物在乳腺癌治疗中的研究现状

紫杉醇虽被证明在多种肿瘤治疗中均具有良好的效果,但其有一个严重的缺陷:水溶性低。临床使用中需使用聚氧乙烯蓖麻油(CremphorEL)或无水乙醇作为溶剂,但其在体内降解时能释放组胺,导致严重的过敏反应以及肾毒性和神经毒性等不良反应,此外还存在患者耐受性差、血药浓度低、靶向性差等不足。在乳腺癌的诊断和治疗中,纳米技术改变了紫杉醇制剂的特征参数而使药物表现出缓释、控释性及靶向性等优势,解决了传统紫杉醇制剂水溶性差的缺点,提高了药物的生物利用度,并明显降低了紫杉醇的毒性和副作用,给紫杉醇药物在体内运输提供了新途径。     

ER/PR阳性和阴性乳腺癌的定量蛋白质组学和生物信息学比较研究

目的:建立雌/孕激素受体(ER/PR)阴性和阳性乳腺癌的蛋白质表达谱,寻找ER/PR阴性和阳性乳腺癌中差异表达蛋白,为乳腺癌患者提供新的预后预测指标和治疗新靶点。方法:应用蛋白质组学i TRAQ技术建立ER/PR阳性和阴性乳腺癌的蛋白质差异表达谱,鉴定两组乳腺癌的差异表达蛋白,对部分差异表达蛋白进行生物信息学分析,包括蛋白功能注释和分类GO分析和KEGG通路分析。结果:应用i TRAQ蛋白质组学技术对乳腺癌组织进行了蛋白组学分析,鉴定出ER/PR阳性和阴性组间有差异表达的蛋白4999种,以ER/PR阳性:ER/PR阴性≥3为上调标准,确定ER/PR阳性组上调蛋白101种。以ER/PR阳性:ER/PR阴性≤0.5为下调标准,ER/PR阳性组下调蛋白122种。GO分析结果显示ER/PR受体阴性和阳性乳腺癌的差异表达蛋白的分子功能、生物过程、细胞定位较为复杂,并且在上调蛋白和下调蛋白上存在分布差异。KEGG通路分析发现部分差异表达蛋白涉及201条信号通路。结论:ER/PR阳性和阴性乳腺癌间存在差异表达蛋白,这些蛋白涉及复杂的分子功能、生物过程和信号通路。