Correlation between myoferlin expression and lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

Background@#Myoferlin is a multifunctional protein expressed in various normal and cancer cells, with novel oncogenic roles being newly discovered. Recently, correlations have been found between myoferlin expression and unfavorable prognosis in various carcinomas. This study investigated the prognostic role of myoferlin expression in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), specifically that associated with nodal metastasis. @*Methods@#We collected clinicopathological data and PTC tissues from 116 patients who had been admitted to Gyeongsang National University Hospital in 2010. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on surgical specimen-derived tissue microarray blocks. Myoferlin expression was graded, and the relationship between expression level and pathological features of tumors based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system was evaluated. @*Results@#Of the 116 patient samples, 100 cases exhibited positive myoferlin expression. Higher grade of myoferlin expression was correlated with lower T category group (p = .010). Presence of lymph node metastasis was determined to be significantly correlated with low-grade myoferlin expression (p = .019), with no significant difference between pN1a and pN1b tumors. @*Conclusions@#Our study revealed an adverse correlation between myoferlin expression and pathological features of PTC, evidence of the potential prognostic role of myoferlin in PTC lymph node metastasis.

Association between Serum Osteocalcin Levels and Metabolic Syndrome according to the Menopausal Status of Korean Women

Background@#Osteocalcin is known to regulate energy metabolism. Recently, metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been found to be associated with reduced levels of osteocalcin in men, as well as in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum osteocalcin and MetS in premenopausal women, compared with that in postmenopausal women. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on 5,896 participants who completed a health screening examination. They were classified according to their menopausal status. Each group was subdivided into non-MetS and MetS groups according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Serum osteocalcin levels were measured using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. @*Results@#Serum osteocalcin level was significantly lower in women with MetS than in those without MetS, after adjusting for confounders (14.12 ± 0.04 vs. 13.17 ± 0.13 [P = 0.004] in premenopausal women, and 20.34 ± 0.09 vs. 19.62 ± 0.21 [P < 0.001] in postmenopausal women), regardless of their menopausal status. Serum osteocalcin levels decreased correspondingly with an increasing number of MetS elements (P for trend < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that waist circumference (β = −0.085 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.137 [P < 0.001]) and hemoglobin A1c (β = −0.09 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.145 [P < 0.001]) were independent predictors of osteocalcin in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Triglyceride levels were also independently associated with osteocalcin levels in premenopausal women (β = −0.004 [P < 0.013]). The odds ratio (OR) for MetS was significantly higher in the lowest quartile than in the highest quartile of serum osteocalcin levels after adjusting for age, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and body mass index in all women (OR, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49–2.68) as well as in premenopausal (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.39–3.58) and postmenopausal (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.26–3.23) subgroups. @*Conclusion@#Lower serum osteocalcin concentrations were significantly associated with MetS in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and were therefore independent of menopausal status.

Association between Serum Osteocalcin Levels and Metabolic Syndrome according to the Menopausal Status of Korean Women

Background@#Osteocalcin is known to regulate energy metabolism. Recently, metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been found to be associated with reduced levels of osteocalcin in men, as well as in postmenopausal women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum osteocalcin and MetS in premenopausal women, compared with that in postmenopausal women. @*Methods@#This cross-sectional study was based on 5,896 participants who completed a health screening examination. They were classified according to their menopausal status. Each group was subdivided into non-MetS and MetS groups according to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Serum osteocalcin levels were measured using the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. @*Results@#Serum osteocalcin level was significantly lower in women with MetS than in those without MetS, after adjusting for confounders (14.12 ± 0.04 vs. 13.17 ± 0.13 [P = 0.004] in premenopausal women, and 20.34 ± 0.09 vs. 19.62 ± 0.21 [P < 0.001] in postmenopausal women), regardless of their menopausal status. Serum osteocalcin levels decreased correspondingly with an increasing number of MetS elements (P for trend < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that waist circumference (β = −0.085 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.137 [P < 0.001]) and hemoglobin A1c (β = −0.09 [P < 0.001] and β = −0.145 [P < 0.001]) were independent predictors of osteocalcin in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Triglyceride levels were also independently associated with osteocalcin levels in premenopausal women (β = −0.004 [P < 0.013]). The odds ratio (OR) for MetS was significantly higher in the lowest quartile than in the highest quartile of serum osteocalcin levels after adjusting for age, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and body mass index in all women (OR, 2.00; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49–2.68) as well as in premenopausal (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.39–3.58) and postmenopausal (OR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.26–3.23) subgroups. @*Conclusion@#Lower serum osteocalcin concentrations were significantly associated with MetS in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and were therefore independent of menopausal status.

Association of Subclinical Hypothyroidism with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Calcium Score

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the association between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and coronary artery calcification (CAC). This study investigated this association in patients who visited a health promotion center.METHODS: This study included patients who visited the Health Promotion Center at a University Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, free thyroxine level, and the CAC score (CACS) were measured in all patients. Patients were classified into euthyroid and SCH groups. An independent t-test and chi-squared test were performed to analyze the general characteristics. Patients were further classified into three groups based on serum TSH levels (serum TSH level < 4.0, 4.0–10, and >10 µIU/mL), and the one-way analysis of variance test was performed to assess the clinical differences among three groups. Partial correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the correlation between serum TSH levels and cardiovascular risk factors. Patients with CACS=0 were classified into the non-calcification group, and those with CACS >0 were classified into the calcification group. The odds ratios of SCH to CAC were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: Serum TSH levels were significantly associated with body mass index, waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. The risk of obesity, diabetes, and high triglyceride levels (>150 mg/dL) was significantly higher in the SCH group. Moreover, the SCH group with TSH levels >10 µIU/mL showed a significant risk of CAC (odds ratio, 3.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–9.21).CONCLUSION: SCH with TSH levels >10 µIU/mL is independently associated with the CACS.

Prognostic Role of S100A8 and S100A9 Protein Expressions in Non-small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung

BACKGROUND: S100A8 and S100A9 have been gaining recognition for modulating tumor growthand metastasis. This study aimed at evaluating the clinical significance of S100A8 and S100A9 innon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We analyzed the relationship between S100A8and S100A9 expressions, clinicopathological characteristics, and prognostic significance in tumorcells and peritumoral inflammatory cells. RESULTS: The positive staining of S100A8 in tumorcells was significantly increased in male (p < .001), smoker (p = .034), surgical method other thanlobectomy (p = .024), squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) (p < .001) and higher TNM stage (p = .022)compared with female, non-smoker, lobectomy, adenocarcinoma (ADC), and lower stage. Theproportion of tumor cells stained for S100A8 was related to histologic type (p < .001) and patientsex (p = .027). The proportion of inflammatory cells stained for S100A8 was correlated with patientage (p = .022), whereas the proportion of inflammatory cells stained for S100A9 was correlatedwith patient sex (p < .001) and smoking history (p = .031). Moreover, positive staining in tumorcells, more than 50% of the tumor cells stained and less than 30% of the inflammatory cellsstained for S100A8 and S100A9 suggested a tendency towards increased survivability in SQCCbut towards decreased survivability in ADC. CONCLUSIONS: S100A8 and S100A9 expressions might be potential prognostic markers in patients with NSCLC.

Gastric type mucinous endocervical adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: very rare and interesting case

Gastric type mucinous endocervical adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix (GAC) are a newly classified mucinous subtype with morphologically in 2014, WHO. They have a much more aggressiveness and show unusual metastatic patterns compared to usual type endocervical adenocarcinoma. They tend to present at higher stage and even in stage I, they have worse survival. Therefore, differential diagnosis of GAC from the usual type of endocervical adenocarcinoma is very important because they are related to a significant risk of recurrence and decreased 5-year disease-specific survival. Besides, GACs are mostly not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and p16 immunohistochemistry is also typically negative in GAC that is HPV-unassociated tumor. We report a very rare and interesting case of stage IB1 GAC with negative HPV DNA and p16.

A Rare Case of Nodular Mucinosis of the Breast

No abstract available.

Aurora Kinase A Is a Prognostic Marker in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Aurora kinase A (AURKA), or STK15/BTAK, is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family and plays important roles in mitosis and chromosome stability. This study investigated the clinical significance of AURKA expression in colorectal cancer patients in Korea. METHODS: AURKA protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 151 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma using tissue microarray blocks. We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and AURKA expression. In addition, the prognostic significance of various clinicopathological data for progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed. Also we evaluated copy number variations by array comparative genomic hybridization and AURKA gene amplification using fluorescence in situ hybridization in colorectal carcinoma tissues. RESULTS: AURKA gene amplification was found more frequently in the 20q13.2–13.33 gain-positive group than the group with no significant gain on the AURKA-containing locus. AURKA protein expression was detected in 45% of the cases (68/151). Positive staining for AURKA was observed more often in male patients (p = .035) and distally located tumors (p = .021). PFS was shorter in patients with AURKA expression compared to those with low-level AURKA expression (p < .001). Univariate analysis revealed that AURKA expression (p = .001), age (p = .034), lymphatic invasion (p = .001), perineural invasion (p = .002), and TNM stage (p = .013) significantly affected PFS. In a multivariate analysis of PFS, a Cox proportional hazard model confirmed that AURKA expression was an independent and significant prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma (hazard ratio, 3.944; p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: AURKA could serve as an independent factor to predict a poor prognosis in Korean colorectal adenocarcinoma patients.

Relationship between Triglyceride and Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Korean Men

BACKGROUND: As the elderly population increasing, the interest in osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases has increased in recent years. In accordance with such trend, many studies regarding correlations between bone density and hyperlipidemia have been conducted. However, the study outcomes have been inconsistent so far, and most of the studies focused on females. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum lipid levels and bone density in healthy Korean male adults. METHODS: This study surveyed 851 male adults, who visited an examination center at a university hospital, on smoking, drinking, hypertension, and diabetes history. A laboratory examination measured total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A-1, and apolipoprotein B. For bone density, lumbar, femoral neck, and femur were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) and bone density T-value showed a positive correlation. Triglyceride exhibited a positive correlation with bone density T-value, and they still revealed a significant positive correlation after correcting for age and BMI. While high density lipoprotein cholesterol showed a negative correlation with bone density, they were not correlated significantly after correcting for age and BMI. There was no correlation found between low density lipoprotein cholesterol and bone density. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that bone densities of all areas measured were significantly increased in Korean male adults as triglyceride increased. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol did not show a significant correlation with bone density.