OBJECTIVE: In our organization, it has been necessary in our organization to calculate the risk categories according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA), the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AACE/ACE/AME), and the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TIRADS) classification systems for each patient, from the year 2019; these are also required to be registered in the database. This creates a barrier to medical collaboration in everyday radiological practice because using multiple rating systems can be confusing for both readers and patients. For the change in routine practice, this study aimed to compare diagnostic parameters of the ATA, AACE/ACE/AME, and ACR TIRADS classification systems for the detection of suspicious thyroid nodule(s) considering the results of fine-needle aspiration cytopathology as the reference standard. METHODS: Data on ultrasound characteristics (2,000 nodules) and fine-needle aspiration cytopathology (39 nodules) were included in the analysis. The decision making of fine-needle aspiration biopsies was evaluated from the ultrasound characteristics as per the ATA, AACE/ACE/AME, and ACR TIRADS classification systems. RESULTS: The ATA, AACE/ACE/AME, and ACR TIRADS recommended 26, 32, and 37 nodules for fine-needle aspiration biopsies, respectively. Considering the results of fine-needle aspiration cytopathology as the reference standard, the ATA, AACE/ACE/AME, and ACR TIRADS classification systems had 0.993, 0.996, and 0.998 sensitivity, respectively. The accuracies were 0.641, 0.795, and 0.923, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ACR TIRADS classification system is less invasive and can identify suspicious nodules more accurately than that of ATA and AACE/ACE/AME.

Renal fibrosis is one of the most significant pathological changes after ureteral obstruction. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays essential roles in kidney fibrosis regulation. The aims of the present study were to investigate effects of microRNA-302b (miR-302b) on renal fibrosis, and interaction between miR-302b and TGF-β signaling pathway in murine unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. Microarray dataset GSE42716 was downloaded by retrieving Gene Expression Omnibus database. In accordance with bioinformatics analysis results, miR-302b was significantly down-regulated in UUO mouse kidney tissue and TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells. Masson's trichrome staining showed that miR-302b mimics decreased renal fibrosis induced by UUO. The increased mRNA expression of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and decreased expression of E-cadherin were reversed by miR-302b mimics. In addition, miR-302b up-regulation also inhibited TGF-β1-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HK-2 cells by restoring E-cadherin expression and decreasing α-SMA expression. miR-302b mimics suppressed both luciferase activity and protein expression of TGF-βR2. However, miR-302b inhibitor increased TGF-βR2 luciferase activity and protein expression. Meanwhile, miR-302b mimics inhibited TGF-βR2 mRNA expression and decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, over-expression of TGF-βR2 restored the miR-302b-induced decrease of collagen I and α-SMA expression. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that miR-302b attenuated renal fibrosis by targeting TGF-βR2 to suppress TGF-β/Smad signaling activation. Our findings showed that elevating renal miR-302b levels may be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing renal fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the burden of bacillary dysentery in China, its cross-regional variations, trends in morbidity and mortality, the causative bacterial species and antimicrobial resistance patterns. METHODS: We extracted and integrated governmental statistics and relevant medical literature published from 1991 to 2000. Data were also collected from one general hospital each for the six provinces and Jin-an district, Shanghai, representative of six geographical regions and a modern city. FINDINGS: In 2000, 0.8-1.7 million episodes of bacillary dysentery occurred of which 0.5 to 0.7 million were treated at health-care facilities and 0.15-0.20 million patients were hospitalized. The highest morbidity and mortality rates were among the youngest and oldest age groups. Bacillary dysentery peaked during the summer months. The major causative species was Shigella flexneri (86%) and the predominant S. flexneri serotype was 2a (80%). About 74-80% of Shigella isolates remained susceptible to fluorinated quinolones. CONCLUSION: We conclude that while morbidity and mortality due to bacillary dysentery has decreased considerably in China in the past decade due to increasing access to affordable health care and antibiotics, a considerable burden exists among the youngest and oldest age groups and in regions with low economic development. We suggest that while a vaccine would be effective for short- and medium-term control of bacillary dysentery, improved water supply, sanitation, and hygiene are likely to be required for long-term control.

OBJETIVO: Decidimos determinar la carga de disentería bacilar en China, las diferencias interregionales en ese sentido, las tendencias de la morbilidad y la mortalidad, las especies bacterianas causantes, y la distribución de la resistencia a los antimicrobianos. MÉTODOS: Procedimos a extraer e integrar estadísticas gubernamentales y publicaciones médicas relacionadas aparecidas entre 1991 y 2000. También obtuvimos datos de un hospital general de cada una de las seis provincias consideradar y del distrito de Jin-an, Shanghai, como información representativa de seis regiones geográficas y una ciudad moderna. RESULTADOS: En 2000 se produjeron entre 0,8 y 1,7 millones de episodios de disentería bacilar, de los cuales 0,5 - 0,7 millones fueron tratados en establecimientos de salud, y 0,15 - 0,20 millones fueron hospitalizados. Las mayores tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad fueron las registradas entre los grupos más jóvenes y en las personas mayores. La disentería bacilar alcanzó la máxima cota en los meses de verano. La principal especie causante fue Shigella flexneri (86%), con la variante 2a como serotipo predominante (80%). Aproximadamente un 74% - 80% de las colonias de Shigella seguían siendo vulnerables a las quinolonas fluoradas. CONCLUSIÓN: Aunque la morbimortalidad por disentería bacilar ha disminuido considerablemente en China durante el último decenio, gracias al mayor acceso a la atención sanitaria y los antibióticos, sigue habiendo una carga considerable de la enfermedad entre los grupos más jóvenes y de mayor edad, así como en las regiones con bajo desarrollo económico. En nuestra opinión, aunque una vacuna sería una opción eficaz para controlar la disentería bacilar a corto y medio plazo, todo control a largo plazo exigirá probablemente mejoras del abastecimiento de agua, el saneamiento y la higiene.

OBJECTIF: L'étude visait à déterminer la charge de dysenterie bacillaire en Chine, les variations interrégionales, les tendances de la morbidité et de la mortalité, les agents étiologiques bactériens et les schémas de résistance aux antimicrobiens. MÉTHODES: Les statistiques publiques et les documents médicaux pertinents publiés de 1991 à 2000 ont été extraits et pris en compte dans l'étude. On a également recueilli des données auprès d'un hôpital général de chacune des six provinces considérées et du district de Jin an à Shanghai, ces hôpitaux étant représentatifs de six régions géographiques et d'une ville moderne. RÉSULTATS: En 2000, 0,8 à 1,7 million d'épisodes de dysenterie bacillaire on été enregistrés, dont 0,5 à 0,7 million ont été traités dans des établissements de soins et 150 000 à 200 000 ont donné lieu à des hospitalisations. Les taux de morbidité et de mortalité les plus élevés ont été relevés parmi les classes d'âge correspondant aux plus jeunes et aux plus âgés. La dysenterie bacillaire a atteint un pic au cours des mois d'été. Le principal agent étiologique était Shigella flexneri (86 %) et le sérotype prédominant de S. flexneri était le sérotype 2a (80 %). De 74 % à 80 % des isolements de Shigella étaient sensibles aux quinolones fluorés. CONCLUSION: Malgré une baisse considérable de la morbidité et de la mortalité dues à la dysenterie bacillaire en Chine au cours de la dernière décennie, imputable à l'amélioration de l'accès à des soins de santé et à des antibiotiques à des prix abordables, une importante charge de morbidité subsiste chez les classes d'âge extrêmes et dans les régions faiblement développées sur le plan économique. Si un vaccin constituerait un moyen efficace à court et à moyen terme pour lutter contre la dysenterie bacillaire, il est probable que la lutte à long terme contre cette maladie exige une amélioration de l'approvisionnement en eau, des installations d'assainissement et de l'hygiène.