ObjectiveTo investigate the method of treating tuberculosis in the craniovertebral junction and its effectiveness.MethodsThe clinical data of 18 patients with tuberculosis in the craniovertebral junction between July 2010 and January 2019 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 14 males and 4 females, aged 21 months to 75 years (median, 35 years). The disease duration ranged from 2 weeks to 60 months (median, 4 months), and the affected segment was C0-C3. Preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.7±1.5 and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score was 16.1±1.8. The American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) grading system was applied to classify their neurological functions, according to which there were 6 cases of grade D and 12 cases of grade E. Among 18 patients, 4 patients underwent conservative treatment, 1 patient removed tuberculosis via transoral approach, 1 patient removed tuberculosis via posterior cervical approach, and 12 patients removed tuberculosis via transoral approach immediately after posterior cervical (atlantoaxial or occipitalcervical) fusion and internal fixation. The VAS score, ASIA grading, and JOA score were applied to evaluate effectiveness. X-ray film, CT, and MRI were taken after treatment to evaluate the tubercular recurrence, cervical stability, and bone healing.ResultsAll the patients were followed up 3 to 42 months (median, 12 months). At 3 months after treatment, the VAS score was 1.7±1.0, showing significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=15.000, P=0.000); and the JOA score was 16.7±1.0, showing no significant difference when compared with preoperative score (t=1.317, P=0.205). According to ASIA grading, 6 patients with grade D before treatment had upgraded to grade E after treatment, while the remaining patients with grade E had no change in grading. The imaging examinations showed the good stability of the cervical spine. All patients had complete tuberculosis resection and no recurrence, and the patients who underwent internal fixation via posterior cervical approach achieved atlantoaxial or occipitalcervical bone fusion.ConclusionOn the premise of regular chemotherapy, if there is no huge abscess causing dysphagia or dyspnea, atlantoaxial instability, and neurological symptoms, patients can undergo conservative treatment. If not, however, the transoral approach can be used to completely remove the tuberculosis lesion in the craniovertebral junction. One-stage debridement via transoral approach combined with posterior cervical fusion and internal fixation can achieve satisfactory effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the X-ray cross complementary repair gene-1 (XRCC1) rs1799782 locus and thyroid cancer.MethodsStudies investigating the association between SNP in the XRCC1 gene and thyroid cancer susceptibility were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang, and CBM (China Biology Medicine) databases (published date up to February 15, 2021). Eligible studies were screened according to inclusion/exclusion criteria and principles of quality evaluation. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 software. Odds ratios with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were pooled to assess the association between SNP in the XRCC1 gene rs1799782 locus and thyroid cancer susceptibility.ResultsTwelve articles were eligible for this meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results were shown as follows: No significant association was found between XRCC1 rs1799782 polymorphism and thyroid cancer in overall population [Dominant model: CT+TT vs CC, OR=1.07, 95%CI (0.84, 1.36). Recessive model: TT vs CT+CC, OR=1.48, 95%CI (0.95, 2.31). Allelic model: T vs C, OR=1.15, 95%CI (0.93, 1.43). Codominant model: TT vs CC: OR=1.44, 95%CI (0.83, 2.53); CT vs CC, OR=1.02, 95%CI (0.82, 1.28); TT vs CT, OR=1.40, 95%CI (0.98, 1.99)]. rs1799782 polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of thyroid cancer in Chinese population [Dominant model: CT+TT vs CC, OR=1.38, 95%CI (1.11, 1.71). Recessive model : TT vs CT+CC, OR=1.97, 95%CI (1.55, 2.50); Allelic model: T vs C, OR=1.40, 95%CI (1.16, 1.68). Codominant model: TT vs CC, OR=2.12, 95%CI (1.66, 2.71); CT vs CC, OR=1.26, 95%CI (1.09, 1.47); TT vs CT, OR=1.70, 95%CI (1.31, 2.21)]. rs1799782 polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of thyroid cancer in Asian population [Dominant model: CT+TT vs CC, OR=0.64, 95%CI (0.49, 0.83). Codominant model: TT vs CC: OR=0.50, 95%CI (0.33, 0.74); CT vs CC, OR=0.65, 95%CI (0.49, 0.86)].ConclusionsThere is no significant correlation between XRCC1 rs1799782 polymorphism and the risk of thyroid cancer in general population. The XRCC1 rs1799782 polymorphism may be associated with an increased thyroid cancer risk among Chinese, and a tendency for decreased thyroid cancer risk among Asians (Chinese excluded). The XRCC1 rs1799782 polymorphism is not associated with thyroid cancer susceptibility among Caucasians under all genetic models.