Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: Correlation Between Molecular and Clinical Features.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is prevalent worldwide, including in China, where its incidence is on the rise. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the predominant subtype. Investigating the relationship between clinical data associated with PTC and gene mutations is crucial for improving detection and treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected samples and associated clinical data from 700 PTC patients at Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital. Using a panel of 57 genes linked to thyroid cancer, we sequenced the samples to determine the mutation frequency of thyroid cancer-associated genes in PTC. We further analyzed the correlation between gene variants and clinical information. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in this study was 42.5 years. Females predominated, comprising 507 of the total patient population, resulting in a female-to-male ratio of 2.63 (507:193). Tumor distribution revealed 198, 257, and 142 cases on the left, right, and both sides, respectively. Among the 57 thyroid cancer-related genes analyzed, we identified at least one driver gene in 83.6% of patients. Notably, 76.4% had BRAF mutations, mainly BRAFV600E, which constituted 90.9% of all BRAF mutations, with 535 cases exhibiting these mutations. Other significant driver genes included CHEK2 (n = 84), RET (n = 42), PIK3CA (n = 7), and EGFR (n = 7). RET fusions (n = 28) were also identified. Notably, patients under 55 years old exhibit a higher tendency towards advanced N staging, suggesting that younger individuals may be more prone to lymph node metastasis. Additionally, male patients were more likely to have advanced N stages. Importantly, a positive correlation was observed between higher BRAF allele frequencies and more advanced T and N stages. Similarly, correlation analysis revealed that a greater frequency of RET fusions correlated with later T and N stages. CONCLUSION: This study uncovered several significant insights. Younger PTC patients exhibited a higher propensity for lymph node metastasis. An elevated mutation frequency of BRAF was correlated with a higher occurrence of RET fusions, predisposing individuals to lymph node metastasis and potentially indicating a poorer prognosis.

The relationship between dietary total flavonoids and thyroid function in U.S.adults, NHANES 2007-2010.

BACKGROUND: Although small studies have shown that flavonoids can affect thyroid disease, few epidemiological studies have explored the relationship between dietary total flavonoids (TFs) intake and serum thyroid function. The aim of this research was to evaluate the relationship between TFs and serum thyroid function. METHODS: Our study included 4,949 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2010. Multivariable linear regression, subgroup analyses, and interaction terms were used to explore the relationships between TFs and thyroid function. And we also used restricted cubic splines (RCS) to investigate possible nonlinear relationships. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, we found that log10-transformated dietary total flavonoids intake (LgTFs) was negatively associated with total thyroxine (TT4) (ß = -0.153, 95% CI = -0.222 to -0.084, P<0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed a stronger and statistically supported association in subjects with high annual family income (ß = -0.367, P<0.001, P for interaction = 0.026) and subjects with high poverty to income ratio (PIR) (ß = -0.622, P<0.001, P for interaction = 0.042). And we found a U-shaped curve association between LgTFs and free triiodothyronine (FT3) (inflection point for LgTFs: 2.063). CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrated that a higher intake of total flavonoids in the diet was negatively associated with a lower TT4. Furthermore, the associations were more pronounced in high annual family income and high PIR adults. And we found a U-shaped relationship between LgTFs and FT3. These findings provided guidance for future thyroid dysfunction diet guidelines.

Effect of disulfidptosis-related genes SLC3A2, SLC7A11 and FLNB polymorphisms on risk of autoimmune thyroiditis in a Chinese population.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between disulfidptosis related genes-SLC3A2, SLC7A11 and FLNB polymorphisms and risk of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). METHODS: Six SNPs in the SLC3A2, SLC7A11 and FLNB were genotyped in 650 AIT cases and 650 controls using a MassARRAY platform. RESULTS: Minor alleles of SLC3A2-rs12794763, rs1059292 and FLNB-rs839240 might lead to a higher risk of AIT (p < 0.001), while SLC7A11-rs969319-C allele tends to decrease the risk of the disease (p = 0.006). Genetic model analysis showed that SLC3A2-rs12794763, SLC3A2-rs1059292 and FLNB-rs839240 polymorphisms were risk factors for AIT (p < 0.001); while SLC7A11-rs969319 showed a protective role for the disease in all genetic models (p < 0.005). Stratification analysis showed that SLC3A2-rs1059292 and rs12794763 were correlated with higher risk of AIT regardless of sex (p < 0.05). Moreover, FLNB-rs839240 exhibited higher risk of disease only in females (p < 0.05). By contrast, SLC7A11-rs969319 showed a protective role only in females (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results shed new light on the association between disulfidptosis-related genes and AIT risk.