RET rearrangements are relevant to histopathologic subtypes and clinicopathological features in Thai papillary thyroid carcinoma patients

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer. The RET gene rearrangements CCDC6::RET and NCOA4::RET are the most common RET gene rearrangements in PTC patients. Different RET::PTC rearrangements are associated with different PTC phenotypes. Methods: Eighty-three formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) PTC samples were examined. The prevalence and expression levels of CCDC6::RET and NCOA4::RET were determined using semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The association of these rearrangements with clinicopathological data was investigated. Results: The presence of CCDC6::RET rearrangement was significantly associated with the classic subtype and absence of angio/lymphatic invasion (p < 0.05). While NCOA4::RET was associated with the tall-cell subtype, and presence of angio/lymphatic invasion and lymph node metastasis (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that an absence of extrathyroidal extension and extranodal extension were independent predictive factors for CCDC6::RET, whereas the tall-cell subtype, large tumor size, angioinvasion, lymphatic invasion and perineural invasion were independent predictive factors for NCOA4::RET (p < 0.05). However, the mRNA expression level of CCDC6::RET and of NCOA4::RET were not significantly associated with clinicopathological data. Conclusion: CCDC6::RET was correlated with an innocent PTC subtype and characteristics, but NCOA4::RET correlated with an aggressive phenotype of PTC. Therefore, these RET rearrangements strongly associated with clinicopathological phenotypes and can be used as predictive markers in PTC patients.

Interleukin-6-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts activate STAT3 pathway contributing to gemcitabine resistance in cholangiocarcinoma

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the dominant component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can be beneficial to the generation and progression of cancer cells leading to chemotherapeutic failure via several mechanisms. Nevertheless, the roles of CAFs on anti-cancer drug response need more empirical evidence in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Herein, we examined the oncogenic roles of CAFs on gemcitabine resistance in CCA cells mediated via IL-6/STAT3 activation. Our findings showed that CCA-derived CAFs promote cell viability and enhance gemcitabine resistance in CCA cells through the activation of IL-6/STAT3 signaling. High expression of IL-6R was correlated with a poor overall survival rate and gemcitabine resistance in CCA, indicating that IL-6R can be a prognostic or predictive biomarker for the chemotherapeutic response of CCA patients. Blockade of IL-6R on CCA cells by tocilizumab, an IL-6R humanized antihuman monoclonal antibody, contributed to inhibition of the CAF-CCA interaction leading to enhancement of gemcitabine sensitivity in CCA cells. The results of this study should be helpful for modifying therapeutic regimens aimed at targeting CAF interacting with cancer cells resulting in the suppression of the tumor progression but enhancement of drug sensitivity.

Enhancement of growth and Cannabinoids content of hemp (Cannabis sativa) using arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to promote growth and cannabinoid yield of Cannabis sativa KKU05. A completely randomized design (CRD) was conducted with six replications for 60 days. Two different species of AMF, Rhizophagus prolifer PC2-2 and R. aggregatus BM-3 g3 were selected as inocula and compared with two non-mycorrhizal controls, one without synthetic fertilizer and one with synthetic NPK fertilizer. The unfertilized non-mycorrhizal plants had the lowest performance, whereas plants inoculated with R. aggregatus BM-3 g3 performed best, both in terms of plant biomass and concentrations of CBD and THC. There were no significant differences in plant biomass and cannabinoid concentrations between non-mycorrhizal plants that received synthetic fertilizer and mycorrhizal plants with inoculum of R. prolifer PC2-2. Our data demonstrate the great potential for cannabis cultivation without risking deterioration of soil structure, such as soil hardening and increased acidity, which might be induced by long-term use of synthetic fertilizer.

High Cell Density Cultivation of Paracoccus sp. on Sugarcane Juice for Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Production

High cell density cultivation is a promising approach to reduce capital and operating costs of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production. To achieve high cell concentration, it is necessary that the cultivation conditions are adjusted and controlled to support the best growth of the PHB producer. In the present study, carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio of a sugarcane juice (SJ)-based medium, initial sugar concentration, and dissolved oxygen (DO) set point, were optimized for batch cultivation of Paracoccus sp. KKU01. A maximum biomass concentration of 55.5 g/L was attained using the C/N ratio of 10, initial sugar concentration of 100 g/L, and 20% DO set point. Fed-batch cultivation conducted under these optimum conditions, with two feedings of SJ-based medium, gave the final cell concentration of 87.9 g/L, with a PHB content, concentration, and yield of 36.2%, 32.1 g/L, and 0.13 g/g-sugar, respectively. A medium-based economic analysis showed that the economic yield of PHB on nutrients was 0.14. These results reveal the possibility of using SJ for high cell density cultivation of Paracoccus sp. KKU01 for PHB production. However, further optimization of the process is necessary to make it more efficient and cost-effective.

Nasal resonance changes after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal skull base surgery: Analysis of voice quality

OBJECTIVES

To study the effect of endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery on voice quality in patients with pituitary lesions.

METHODS

An observational study comparing voice quality before and after surgery was conducted between September 2015 and September 2017 at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Pituitary tumor patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery were recruited. The nasal corridors were created with a type I (preserving both middle turbinates with a rescue flap) or type II (cutting one middle turbinate with a raised nasoseptal flap) for the binostril with four-hand technique. All patients were evaluated for nasal resonance, acoustic parameters, acoustic perception, and self-assessment of their satisfaction with postoperative voice changes with a visual analog scale (VAS). The patients were evaluated 1 day before surgery and at 1 and 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Forty-four patients, including 19 males and 25 females with a mean age of 50.0 ± 15.6 years, were enrolled. Mean scores for nasal resonance and all acoustic parameters were not significantly changed after surgery for either nasal corridor type (p > .05). Regarding acoustic perception, word and sentence and GIRBAS scores showed no significant difference before and after surgery (p > .09) in either type of nasal corridor. There was no incidence of hypernasality voice after surgery. Patients' self-satisfaction ratings (i.e., VAS) with voice quality were high and showed no significant change 1 and 3 months postsurgery (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

These endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approaches are minimally invasive skull base surgery techniques that have minimal effects on postsurgery voice quality.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT02828514).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4.