Significance of Surgery Options for Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Extent of Surgery Affects Survival for Papillary Thyroid Cancer is a paper published in the Annals of Surgery. It is authored by Karl Y. Bilimoria, MD, David J. Bentrem, MD, Clifford Y. Ko, MD, MS, MSHS, Andrew K. Stewart, MA, David P. Winchester, MD, Mark S. Talamonti, MD, and Cord Sturgeon, MD, MS. The paper takes note of the encouraging fact that papillary thyroid cancer is the most common but, at the same time, least aggressive form of thyroid cancer. An excellent prognosis is the norm for PTC.

But the paper also notes a controversy that has centered on surgical options with respect to tumors that are less than 4 centimeters in diameter. It is this controversy about which the referenced study is concerned namely, which of the surgical options is optimal. The study focused on the hypothesis that total thyroidectomy yields improved outcomes compared with lobectomy. 52,173 patients, who underwent surgery for PTC from 1985 to 1998, were the basis for the data generated. The study sought to answer the question of whether total thyroidectomy improved long-term survival rates for PTC patients. Also targeted was the issue of whether total thyroidectomy was associated with a decreased risk of death for tumor sizes exceeding a specified threshold.

The paper noted that, for the sizable group studied, lobectomy procedures on tumors, that were equal to or greater than one centimeter, resulted in a higher risk of death. For tumors smaller than one centimeter the difference between lobectomy and total thyroidectomy with respect to survival was not statistically significant. Note the conclusion in the words of the authors:

The results of this study demonstrate that total thyroidectomy results in lower recurrence rates and improved survival for PTC ≥1.0 cm compared with lobectomy. This is the first study to demonstrate that total thyroidectomy for PTC ≥1.0 cm improves outcomes.

Grapes, Berries and Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene, a compound found in grapes and berries, may inhibit brain impairment associated with the aging process. This according to a Science Daily article titled Berry Compound Reduces Aging Effect which refers to a study conducted on rats and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Pterostilbene appears capable of preventing oxidative stress. Improved memory seems to be a benefit

Colorectal Cancer and Hormone Treatment

Hormone Therapy Associated With Reduced Colorectal Cancer Risk is an article published at Doctor's Guide. The article cited a study indicating that taking the combination of hormones, oestrogen and progestin, may result in a decreased likelihood of colorectal cancer in women. The study was published in a January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. The greatest risk reduction was found among women whose use of the hormones spanned five or more years and the percentage of that group was 45%. A biological mechanism, explaining the results, was not identified but left to a further study to uncover. The American Association for Cancer Research was identified as the source of the information obtained in the cited article.

A Killer Memory

Natural Killer Cells Never Forget is a HUM-MOLGEN article citing a study in Nature with the title Adaptive immune features of natural killer cells. Joseph C. Sun, Joshua N. Beilke and Lewis L. Lanier are the authors (Nature, | doi:10.1038/nature07665). The study revealed that some innate immune system cells (not to be confused with the adaptive immune system) have a "memory" of infectious pathogens. Adaptive immune system cells include B cells and T cells, known to have immunological memory.

There is also what is called the innate immune system and there are cells known as natural killer (NK) cells which are part of this system. Natural killer cells help do away with virus-infected cells. The study in question involved viral infected mouse cells. The physical marker of "memory" is that some NK cells become memory cells for previously encountered viruses and this enables a better and faster immunological response to another infection by the same virus.

Quoting from the abstract of the Nature article:

In an adaptive immune response, naive T cells proliferate during infection and generate long-lived memory cells that undergo secondary expansion after a repeat encounter with the same pathogen. Although natural killer (NK) cells have traditionally been classified as cells of the innate immune system, they share many similarities with cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We use a mouse model of cytomegalovirus infection to show that, like T cells, NK cells bearing the virus-specific Ly49H receptor proliferate 100-fold in the spleen and 1,000-fold in the liver after infection. After a contraction phase, Ly49H-positive NK cells reside in lymphoid and non-lymphoid organs for several months. These self-renewing 'memory' NK cells rapidly degranulate and produce cytokines on reactivation. Adoptive transfer of these NK cells into naive animals followed by viral challenge results in a robust secondary expansion and protective immunity. These findings reveal properties of NK cells that were previously attributed only to cells of the adaptive immune system.

Anthocyanins from Black Raspberries

A Science Daily article titled Chemopreventive Agents In Black Raspberries Identified reveals that a study published in Cancer Prevention Research, identified flavenoids found in black raspberries which inhibited growth and stimulated programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, in the esophagus of rats. This particular class of flavenoids are called anthocyanins and are believed capable of preventing cancer.

During the study researchers were able to form an extract of black raspberries rich in anthocyanin and use it to inhibit esophageal cancer. The ability to concentrate anthocyanins makes it possible confirm its preventative powers and its usefullness for medicinal purposes. It is hoped that anthocyanins will replace berry powder; a substance less concentrated with anthocyanin. More effective means of administering anthocyanins remains a challenge.

A Quick Cancer Detector

Blood-analyzing computer chip, detects cancer in 10 minutes sounds almost too good to be true right? Perhaps not. James Heath, a Caltech chemistry professor and LeRoy Hood, the founder of the Institute for Systems Biology are the developers of a microfluidic chip which is reportedly part of a process that segregates cells and proteins in a single drop of blood and then tags the proteins. The indicator would be seeing them light up when viewed microscopically.

Beneficial Effects of Listening to Music

Listening To Music Can Reduce Chronic Pain And Depression By Up To A Quarter is a Science Daily article revealing findings that health benefits accrue from listening to music. A related paper was published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing which is based in the UK. Listening to music seems to decrease pain and depression. Also encouraging is the fact that reported improvement in physical and psychological symptoms occurred after only one week of listening to music for an hour a day. Many of us would willingly embrace such musical therapy.

Genomic Stability and Kinetochore–Microtubule Dynamics

Genome stability is ensured by temporal control of kinetochore–microtubule dynamics is authored by Samuel F. Bakhoum, Sarah L. Thompson, Amity L. Manning and Duane A. Compton. The paper appears in Nature Cell Biology (27 - 35, January 2009 Volume 11, Issue 1). The authors state that during mitosis genomic stability in human cells is linked to the control of microtubule attachment to chromosomes. Specifically shown was "a causal relationship between deregulation of kinetochore–microtubule dynamics and chromosomal instability." This was accomplished by demonstrating that chromosomal stability can be restored within chromosomally unstable tumor cells by stimulating microtubule dynamics at kinetochores. In the words of the authors:

Chromosome segregation requires stable microtubule attachment at kinetochores, yet those attachments must be sufficiently dynamic to permit correction of mal-orientations.

How this balance is achieved is unknown, and the permissible boundaries of attachment stability versus dynamics essential for genome stability remain poorly understood.

The Thyroid

Endocrine Web is a wonderful information resource. I'll focus on parts of the site providing information about the thyroid in this blog entry. Let's start with Your Thyroid Gland. As the webpage states:

"The function of the thyroid therefore is to regulate the body's metabolism." We notice immediately that the function of the thyroid is essential. Metabolism is a basic function of all life forms. The same web page briefly describes different thyriod disorders in easy to read style.

How Your Thyroid Works is another page at the site. As the author indicates the thyroid gland utilizes iodine, an element found in trace levels in foods we consume. Interestingly thyroid cells are the only ones in our body which absorb iodine. This fact can be exploited in the treatment of certain thyriod disorders. Two important hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are synthesized within the thyriod, released into our blood and then transported to the cells in our body. Thyriod hormones regulate our metabolism.

Thyroid Nodules is another helpful page. These basic facts are well worth reviewing (quoting):

One in 12 to 15 young women has a thyroid nodule
One in 40 young men has a thyroid nodule
More than 95 percent of all thyroid nodules are benign (non-cancerous growths)
Some are actually cysts which are filled with fluid rather than thyroid tissue
Most people will develop a thyroid nodule by the time they are 50 years old
The incidence of thyroid nodules increases with age
50% of 50 year olds will have at least one thyroid nodule
60% of 60 year olds will have at least one thyroid nodule
70% of 70 year olds will have at least one thyroid nodule

As we have seen thyriod hormones are connected with the function of mitochondria. But what are mitochondria? Mitochondria are organelles (compartments within cells) surrounded by two membranes. Within the inner membrane are contained enzymes vital to energy metabolism (the source of the energy we need to function). Mitochondria are about the size of bacteria, meaning they are much smaller than our own cells. Hundreds of mitochondria are found in each cell. Mitochondria frequently and accurately are dubbed the power plants of eukaryotic cells (the more complex cells composing multi-celluar organisms). Carbohydrates and other constituents of the food we consume are metabolized (broken down chemically) in mitochondria. Energy is stored in that process enabling our cells to call on that stored energy when needed.1



1. Biochemistry by Garrett and Grisham; Chapter One.

Sleep Aids

Skip the Sleeping Pills -- These 6 All-Natural Herbs Can Ease Your Insomnia is a Healthy Living piece which identifies some sources of relief for insomnia and stress. Mentioned are valerian root and chamomile tea. I was more surprised though by the mention of celery which is said to have a good amount of sedatives. Also discussed was lavender. The smell of it is said to have a relaxing effect on the nervous system through a reduction of stress hormones. It reportedly helps with migraines as well. The linked article is itself filled with links.

Linking Specific Chromatin Remodeling to Pathogenic Defenses

The Chromatin Remodeler SPLAYED Regulates Specific Stress Signaling Pathways is a paper authored by Justin W. Walley, Heather C. Rowe, Yanmei Xiao, E. Wassim Chehab, Daniel J. Kliebenstein, Doris Wagner and Katayoon Dehesh. It was published in PLOS Pathogens. Chromatin is a complex which includes proteins, primarily histones, as well as DNA. Access to genes can be determined by a process known as chromatin remodeling. Chromatin remodeling enables the timely expression of genes. The linked paper details the investigation of chromatin remodeling which relates to transcription of proteins needed by the plant Arabidopsis to mount an effective defense against a specific pathogen. Researchers focused particularly on the SPLAYED protein and its role in chromatin remodeling. They found that SPLAYED functions within specified biotic stress signaling networks.

The abstract:

Organisms are continuously exposed to a myriad of environmental stresses. Central to an organism's survival is the ability to mount a robust transcriptional response to the imposed stress. An emerging mechanism of transcriptional control involves dynamic changes in chromatin structure. Alterations in chromatin structure are brought about by a number of different mechanisms, including chromatin modifications, which covalently modify histone proteins; incorporation of histone variants; and chromatin remodeling, which utilizes ATP hydrolysis to alter histone-DNA contacts. While considerable insight into the mechanisms of chromatin remodeling has been gained, the biological role of chromatin remodeling complexes beyond their function as regulators of cellular differentiation and development has remained poorly understood. Here, we provide genetic, biochemical, and biological evidence for the critical role of chromatin remodeling in mediating plant defense against specific biotic stresses. We found that the Arabidopsis SWI/SNF class chromatin remodeling ATPase SPLAYED (SYD) is required for the expression of selected genes downstream of the jasmonate (JA) and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways. SYD is also directly recruited to the promoters of several of these genes. Furthermore, we show that SYD is required for resistance against the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea but not the biotrophic pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. These findings demonstrate not only that chromatin remodeling is required for selective pathogen resistance, but also that chromatin remodelers such as SYD can regulate specific pathways within biotic stress signaling networks.