Search

This study demonstrates a strong association of high urinary iodine with thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid cancer as well as aggressive cancer features, suggesting that high urinary iodine is a risk factor for thyroid cancer. The risk of high iodine intake for thyroid cancer has been suggested but not established. The objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between urine iodine levels and thyroid nodule and thyroid cancer. We preoperatively tested fasting urine iodine in 154 thyroid nodule patients and correlated the results with pathological diagnoses and compared with 306 subjects as normal control. The median urine iodine (MUI) was 331.33 μg/L in patients with benign thyroid nodules versus 466.23 μg/L in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) (P=0.003), both of which were in the excessive iodine state and higher than the MUI of 174.30 μg/L in the control group (P < 0.001), which was in the sufficient iodine state. Excessive iodine state (MUI>300 μg/L) was seen in 62.75% of patients with benign thyroid nodules and 66.99% of patients with PTC, both of which were significantly higher than the iodine excessive rate of 19.93% in the control group (P<0.001). Moreover, MUI in patients with PTC with lymph node metastasis was significantly higher than that of PTC patients without lymph node metastasis (P<0.001). Urine iodine of thyroid cancer patients with stage III and IV disease was significantly higher than that of patients with stage I and II diseases (P<0.001). Multivariable analyses showed that, like sand calcification of thyroid nodule and TSH, urine iodine was an independent risk factor for PTC. These data demonstrate a significant association between high urinary iodine and benign and malignant thyroid nodules and PTC aggressiveness, supporting high urinary iodine as a risk factor for thyroid malignancy. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Background: To date, over 150 genetically modified (GM) crops are widely cultivated. To comply with regulations developed for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including labeling policies, many detection methods for GMO identification and quantification have been developed., Results: To detect the entrance and exit of unauthorized GM crop events in China, we developed a novel quadruplex real-time PCR method for simultaneous detection and quantification of GM cotton events GHB119 and T304-40 in cotton-derived products (based on the 5'-flanking sequence) and the insect-resistance gene Cry2Ae. The limit of detection was 10 copies for GHB119 and Cry2Ae and 25 copies for T304-40. The limit of quantification was 25 copies for GHB119 and Cry2Ae and 50 copies for T304-40. Moreover, low bias and acceptable standard deviation and relative standard deviation values were obtained in quantification analysis of six blind samples containing different GHB119 and T304-40 ingredients., Conclusions: The developed quadruplex quantitative method could be used for quantitative detection of two GM cotton events (GHB119 and T304-40) and Cry2Ae gene ingredient in cotton derived products.

A new gelator 1 that included m-methyl red was synthesized and fully characterized. It was found that the organogel of 1 was stable in DMSO even if the organogel was stimulated by acid or light. The organogel was thoroughly characterized using various microscopic techniques including field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The organogel exhibited tunable structures and optical properties under different stimulation. The regular nanoring structure was turned into microspheres after the organogel in DMSO was stimulated at 254 nm light or acid. At the same time, the color of molecule 1 in gel state and solution state was all changed after stimulation by light or acid. The hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking were found to be the main driving forces for gel formation. This dual-responsive gel held promise for soft materials application in upscale smart responsive materials.

The external application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) results in a shallow penetration depth in thick or extensive condylomata acuminata (CA) lesions, thus demonstrating a poor therapeutic effect for those patients. To compare the efficacy of needle-free injection with external application of ALA in PDT for the treatment of CA, 160 CA patients with thick or extensive warts received ALA-PDT by means of external application or needle-free injection of ALA, respectively. The complete response (CR) rate and recurrence rate in the two groups were analyzed. The CR rate after the first treatment in the needle-free injection group (68.8%) was significantly higher compared with that in the external application group (52.5%; P=0.035). The recurrence rates in the needle-free injection group and external application group were 4.1 and 15.4%, respectively (P=0.022). The needle-free injection of ALA increases the therapeutic effect of PDT for CA patients with thick or extensive lesions. It shortens the treatment time and reduces the recurrence rate, and has great potential in the treatment of CA.

Incontinentia pigmenti or Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome is a rare X-linked dominant disorder with characteristic skin, hair, eye, dental and neurologic abnormalities mostly affecting females. We report a case of a female newborn exhibiting characteristic cutaneous and neurologic findings with one-year follow-up.