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Objective: This study explores the potential use of high-resolution magic angle spinning proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy as an ancillary diagnostic technique for papillary thyroid carcinoma in thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies. The method has already been shown to be effective in the classification of various other nonthyroid cancers. Study Design: Twenty-six samples (13 paired cytologic and histologic samples) from patients being evaluated for thyroid abnormalities at the Massachusetts General Hospital were spectroscopically analyzed, and included: papillary thyroid carcinomas (n = 4), follicular adenomas (n = 4), and normal thyroid samples (n = 5). Metabolic profiles were statistically generated based on the spectroscopy results, which were then correlated with the final cytologic and histologic diagnoses from the same samples to determine the diagnostic capacity of the profiles. Results: Principal component analysis of the tissue samples revealed statistically significant correlations among principal components and various cytologic and histologic features. Canonical score 1, calculated with principal components in correlation with analyzed pathologies, revealed the ability of the metabolic profile to differentiate all three examined histologic tissue groups (ANOVA, p < 0.0001). Applying coefficients of principal components and canonical scores obtained with tissue samples directly onto spectral results of cytology samples, the calculated canonical score 1 also revealed similar trends among the three fine-needle aspiration biopsy groups. In particular, the papillary thyroid carcinoma group exhibited significant differences from both the adenomatous and normal cytology groups (p < 0.0170). Conclusions: The results indicate the potential of high-resolution magic angle spinning proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy as an ancillary marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma in fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens.

jPAP (Java Pedigree Analysis Package) performs variance components linkage analysis of either quantitative or discrete traits. Multivariate linkage analysis of two or more traits (all quantitative, all discrete, or any combination) allows the inference of pleiotropy between the traits. The inclusion of multiple quantitative trait loci in linkage analysis allows the inference of epistasis between loci. A user-friendly graphical user interface facilitates the usage of jPAP.

Background/Aims: Glucocorticoids effectively manage autoimmune hearing loss, although the cochlear mechanisms involved are unknown. Previous studies of steroid-responsive hearing loss in autoimmune (lupus) mice showed glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids were equally effective, suggesting the ion homeostasis functions of glucocorticoids may be as relevant as immunosuppression for control of autoimmune-induced inner ear disease. Therefore, to better characterize the role of the glucocorticoid receptor in autoimmune hearing loss therapy, its function was blocked with the antagonist RU-486 (mifepristone) during glucocorticoid (prednisolone) treatments. Methods: Following baseline auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds, MRL/MpJ-Faslpr autoimmune mice were implanted with pellets providing combinations of 1.25 mg/kg of RU-486, 4 mg/kg of prednisolone, or their respective placebos. After 1 month, animals were retested with ABR and blood was collected for immune complex analyses. Results: Mice receiving no prednisolone (placebo + placebo and placebo + RU-486) showed continued declines in hearing. On the other hand, mice receiving prednisolone (prednisolone + placebo and prednisolone + RU-486) had significantly better hearing (p < 0.05) than the non-prednisolone groups. Immune complexes were significantly elevated in the placebo + RU-486 group, suggesting RU-486 effectively blocked glucocorticoid receptor-mediated immune suppression. These results showed that blockage of the glucocorticoid receptor with RU-486 did not prevent prednisolone’s effects in the ear, suggesting its ion homeostasis actions via the mineralocorticoid receptor were more relevant in hearing control. Conclusion: The mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated actions of glucocorticoids are potentially relevant in steroid-responsive hearing disorders, implying disrupted cochlear ion transport functions may underlie the vascular problems proposed in some forms of immune-mediated hearing loss.