New insights into the diagnosis of nodular goiter

Exploring the potential of genetic analysis in historical blood spots for patients with iodine-deficient goiter and thyroid carcinomas in Switzerland and Germany (1929-1989)

Iodine deficiency-induced goiter continues to be a global public health concern, with varying manifestations based on geography, patient's age, and sex. To gain insights into clinical occurrences, a retrospective study analyzed medical records from patients with iodine deficiency-induced goiter or thyroid cancer who underwent surgery at the Community Hospital in Riehen, Switzerland, between 1929 and 1989. Despite today's adequate iodine supplementation, a significant risk for iodine-independent goiter remains in Switzerland, suggesting that genetic factors, among others, might be involved. Thus, a pilot study exploring the feasibility of genetic analysis of blood spots from these medical records was conducted to investigate and enhance the understanding of goiter development, potentially identify genetic variations, and explore the influence of dietary habits and other environmental stimuli on the disease.Blood prints from goiter patients' enlarged organs were collected per decade from medical records. These prints had been made by pressing, drawing, or tracing (i.e., pressed and drawn) the removed organs onto paper sheets. DNA analysis revealed that its yields varied more between the prints than between years. A considerable proportion of the samples exhibited substantial DNA degradation unrelated to sample collection time and DNA mixtures of different contributors. Thus, each goiter imprint must be individually evaluated and cannot be used to predict the success rate of genetic analysis in general. Collecting a large sample or the entire blood ablation for genetic analysis is recommended to mitigate potential insufficient DNA quantities. Researchers should also consider degradation and external biological compounds' impact on the genetic analysis of interest, with the dominant contributor anticipated to originate from the patient's blood.

Significance of CEP78 and WDR62 gene expressions in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: Possible predictors of lateral lymph node metastasis

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed at investigating the clinical significance of CEP78 and WDR62 in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). This study also aimed at finding predictors that help in detecting patients with DTC who have high risk for lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM).

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to examine CEP78, and WDR62 mRNA expressions in 40 tissue specimens of DTC, and 40 goiter tissue specimens. Additionally, we reviewed clinical, ultrasound, laboratory, pathological data of patients to analyze the associations between these characteristics and lateral LNM.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that relative CEP78 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in thyroid cancer tissues than goiter tissues (P = 0.002). ROC curve analysis confirmed the diagnostic value of CEP78 mRNA expression, providing an AUC equals to 0.698 (95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.583-0.813; P = 0.002). The relative WDR62 mRNA expression was not statistically different in DTC tissues and goiter tissues (P = 0.686). Furthermore, the DTC patients had been included to examine risk factors for lateral LNM. In multivariate analysis, the significant factors for predicting lateral LNM were low CEP78 mRNA expression (cut off value ≤0.54; P = 0.03; OR = 19.62; 95% CI, 1.3-296.23), central LNM (P = 0.011; OR = 33.6; 95% CI, 2.24-503.6) and calcifications (P = 0.023; OR = 27.187; 95% CI, 1.57-469.5).

CONCLUSIONS

CEP78 can be used as a promising molecular biomarker for differentiation between DTC and goiter tissues, in addition it might serve as a predictor of lateral LNM in DTC along with central LNM and calcifications. Unlike CEP78, WDR62 mRNA expression was not statistically different in DTC and goiter.

Diagnostic significance of CK19, galectin-3, CD56, TPO and Ki67 expression and BRAF mutation in papillary thyroid carcinoma

The aim of the present study was to examine the rate of BRAF mutation and the expression profiles of CK19, galectin-3, CD56, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and Ki67 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma (PTMC). A total of 246 cases of thyroid disease were collected, including PTC, PTMC, nodular goiter (NG) and Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). The results revealed that CK19 expression was 116/120 in PTC, 61/64 in PTMC, 2/34 in NG and 1/28 in HT. Galectin-3 positive expression was 115/120 in PTC, 60/64 in PTMC, 6/34 in NG and 4/28 in HT. TPO positive expression was 8/120 in PTC, 1/64 in PTMC, 30/34 in NG and 25/28 in HT. CD56-positive expression was 12/120 in PTC, 3/64 in PTMC, 33/34 in NG and 26/28 in HT. Ki67 labeling index was 2.52±0.46% in PTC (120 cases), 2.62±0.52% in PTMC (64 cases), 2.55±0.44% in NG (34 cases) and 2.58±0.48% in HT (28 cases). BRAF mutation rate was 93/120 in PTC, 47/64 in PTMC, 3/34 in NG and 2/28 in HT. These results suggested that expression patterns of CK19, galectin-3, CD56 and TPO and BRAF mutation exhibit diagnosis value in thyroid disease. However, Ki67-positive rate exhibits no notable diagnosis value in thyroid disease.

Association between single nucleotide variants of vascular endothelial growth factor A and the risk of thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter in a Han Chinese population

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether genetic variants in the vascular endothelial growth factor A gene (VEGFA) were risk factors for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or nodular goiter (NG) in Han Chinese. A total of 2,319 subjects (861 PTC patients, 562 NG patients, and 896 healthy controls) were included. Five tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs: rs3024997, rs3025040, rs833070, rs25648, and rs10434) in VEGFA were genotyped. SNP rs3025040 T allele was associated with a decreased risk of NG (P<0.05). SNP rs3024997 was associated with an increased risk of PTC (P<0.05) and NG (P<0.001) when an over-dominant model (AA+GG vs. AG) was considered. PTC patients carry the less frequent TT genotype (compared to the CC genotype) (P <0.05) of SNP rs3025040. Likewise, NG patients have the less frequent TC genotype compared to the CC (P <0.05). No significant association of SNPs rs833070, rs25648, and rs10434 with PTC or NG was observed. Haplotypes AT (rs3024997 and rs3025040) and GTA (rs10434, rs3025040, and rs3024997) showed a lower risk for NG (P <0.01 and P <0.05, respectively), while haplotypes GTT (rs833070, rs3025040, and rs3024997) and GGGT (rs833070, rs10434, rs3024997, and rs3025040) predicted the risk of progression to NG (both P <0.05). Haplotype AGAC (rs833070, rs10434, rs3024997, and rs3025040) conferred protection for PTC (P <0.05). In summary, this study indicated for the first time that SNPs rs3024997 and rs3025040 in VEGFA were significantly associated with PTC and/or NG. Haplotypes of the VEGFA may influence the risk of PTC and NG.

Expression profile and clinical significance of microRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma

This study screened microRNAs (miRNAs) that are abnormally expressed in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tissues to identify PTC and nodular goiter and the degree of PTC malignancy. A total of 51 thyroid tumor tissue specimens paired with adjacent normal thyroid tissues were obtained from the Department of Surgical Oncology of Hangzhou First People’s Hospital from June-December 2011. miRNA expression profiles were examined by microarrays and validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Expression levels of the miRNAs were analyzed to assess if they were associated with selected clinicopathological features. Eleven miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed between nodular goiter and PTC and between highly invasive and low invasive PTC. miR-199b-5p and miR-30a-3p were significantly differentially expressed among the three groups. miR-30a-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-136-5p, miR-146b-5p and miR-199b-5p were selected for further study by qRT-PCR and miR-146b-5p, miR-199b-5p and miR-30a-3p were different between the PTC and nodular goiter groups. miR-199b-5p was over-expressed in PTC patients with extrathyroidal invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis. In conclusion miR-146b-5p, miR-30a-3p, and miR-199b-5p may serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of PTC and miR-199b-5p is associated with PTC invasiveness.