Evaluation of the structure, autoimmunity, and functions of the thyroid gland in familial Mediterranean fever patients

ABSTRACT Objective Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder that is frequently seen in the eastern Mediterranean region. The thyroid gland can be affected in FMF patients through autoimmunity or amyloidosis. Here, we aimed to evaluate the structure and functions of the thyroid gland in addition to possible autoimmunity in FMF patients. Subjects and methods The study was conducted by the Endocrinology and Metabolism and Internal Medicine Departments. Thirty FMF patients and 30 age and gender-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Free thyroxin (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) autoantibodies were investigated. Detailed thyroid grayscale and Doppler Ultrasonography examinations and shear-wave elastosonography (SWE) were performed in the patient and control groups. Results Anti-TPO was detected in 24% (n = 7) of the patients. On the grayscale US, mean thyroid volumes were similar between the FMF and the control groups (p > 0.05). By Doppler US, thyroid vascularity observed was detected in 10.3% (n = 3) of the patients. SWE revealed that the mean velocity value of right vs. left lobe in the patient group was 1.77 ± 0.45 m/s and 1.95 ± 0.51 m/s, respectively. Compared to the control group, the mean velocity values were significantly higher in the right (p = 0.004) and left (p = 0.01) lobes of the patient group. The mean stiffness value in the patient group was also significantly higher in the right and left lobes [10.13 ± 5.65 kPa (p = 0.005) and 12.24 ± 6.17 kPa (p = 0.02), respectively]. Conclusion Recognizing the complications of FMF early in the course of the disease is as important as the early diagnosis of the disorder. Based on this, thyroid functions and changes in its structure should be evaluated carefully for early diagnosis of a possible coexisting thyroid disorder. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2020;64(1):66-70

Relationship of ultrasonic elastography and serologic indexes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma / 天津医药

Objective To evaluate the elastic score (ES) and strain ratio (SR) in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients, and analyse their relationship with serologic index. Methods Totally one hundred and six patients with thyroid neoplasm were divided into papillary thyroid carcinoma group (n=56) and thyroid adenoma group ( n=50) according to histopathology results. Another fifty cases of healthy people were chosen as normal control group at the same period. The ES and SR were evacuated by color Doppler ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus in three groups of patients. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb), and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TpoAb) were detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Data of galectin-3 (Gal-3), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra21.1) were tested by automatic optical inspection. Results Indexes of ES, SR, Gal-3, VEGF and Cyfra21.1 showed statistically increasing tendency in the control group, thyroid adenoma group and papillary thyroid carcinoma group sequentially (P<0.05). Serum levels of TSH, TgAb and TpoAb were significantly higher in the papillary thyroid carcinoma group than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). And there were no significant differences in serum TSH, TgAb and TpoAb between the control group and thyroid adenoma group (P>0.05). There were positive correlation between ES, SR and TSH, TgAb, TpoAb, Gal-3, VEGF, Cyfra21.1 in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (P<0.05). Conclusion Papillary thyroid carcinoma shows increased ES and SR detected by ultrasound, and which are relevant to related serological indicators. The two indices may be used for auxiliary diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Diagnostic value of ultrasonic elastosonography in choroidal melanoma / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of ultrasonic elastography in choroidal melanoma. Methods A total of 96 cases (97 eyes) of choroidal melanoma were included in present study from June 2016 to June 2017 in Eye Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University. The control group consisted of 18 patients with choroidal hemangioma (18 eyes). All eyes were examined by color Doppler ultrasound and ultrasonic elastosonography. The strain ratio of the tumor and surrounding normal tissue was calculated for each case. By comparing the strain ratio between choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma, the diagnostic value of ultrasound elastography in choroidal melanoma was investigated. Results The strain ratios of the two groups were 39.51±15.79 for choroidal melanoma and 13.15±10.40 for choroidal hemangioma. The independent sample t-test was performed between the two sets of data. The difference of the strain ratio between choroidal melanoma and choroidal hemangioma was statistically significant (t=6.802, P<0.001). Conclusions The stiffness of ocular malignant tumor (choroidal melanoma) is significantly higher than that in intraocular benign tumor (choroidal hemangioma). Ultrasonic elastography can be used as an important examination for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of choroidal melanoma.

Primary study of real time elastosonography in estimating the characteristic of nodes in resected hepatocirrhosis specimens / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of real time elastosonography in estimating the characteristic of nodules in resected hepatocirrhosis specimens.Methods Thirty-eight reseeted hepatocirrhosis specimens underwent elastosonography.The nodules that have drawn attention were performed elastosonography through rhythmic pressing and releasing the probe by manual form on the liver.The hepatic strain on the region of interest was shown by chromatic scale.To compare nodules rigidity with surrounding hepatic tissues, hepatocirrhosis nodules were classified into hard nodules, medium rigidity nodules, mixture of hard and soft nodules, and soft nodules.All nodules were confirmed by pathology.Results Forty-four nodules of 38 hepatocirrhosis exemplar received real time elastosonography.Of 44 nodules, hard nodules were 18,of which 12 (66.7%) were hepatoeellular carcinomas, 2 (11.1%) were dysplasia nodules, 4 (22.2%) were regenerative nodules.Medium rigidity nodules were 7,all were regenerative nodules.Mixture of hard and soft nodules were 11, of which 8 (72.7%) were hepatocellular carcinomas, including 4 accompanied necrotic tissue, 1 (9.1%) was dysplasia nodules accompanied necrotic tissue, the other 2 (18.2%) were regenerative nodules accompanied necrotic tissue.And soft nodules were 8, of which 4(50.0%) were necrotic nodules, 1 (12.5%) was dysplasia nodules accompanied canceration, 1 (12.5%) was hepatocellular carcinoma,2(25.0 %) were regenerative nodules.Conclusions Real time elastosonography can effectively evaluate the comparative rigidity on hepatoeirrhosis nodules,and thus may have potential usefulness on estimating the characteristic of hepatocirrhosis nodules.