ObjectiveThe objective of this retrospective study was to develop and validate a simple diagnostic prediction model by using ultrasound (US) features of thyroid nodules obtained from multicenter retrospective data.Materials and MethodsPatient data were collected from 20 different institutions and the data included 2000 thyroid nodules from 1796 patients. For developing a diagnostic prediction model to estimate the malignant risk of thyroid nodules using suspicious malignant US features, we developed a training model in a subset of 1402 nodules from 1260 patients. Several suspicious malignant US features were evaluated to create the prediction model using a scoring tool. The scores for such US features were estimated by calculating odds ratios, and the risk score of malignancy for each thyroid nodule was defined as the sum of these individual scores. Later, we verified the usefulness of developed scoring system by applying into the remaining 598 nodules from 536 patients.ResultsAmong 2000 tumors, 1268 were benign and 732 were malignant. In our multiple regression analysis models, the following US features were statistically significant for malignant nodules when using the training data set: hypoechogenicity, marked hypoechogenicity, non-parallel orientation, microlobulated or spiculated margin, ill-defined margins, and microcalcifications. The malignancy rate was 7.3% in thyroid nodules that did not have suspicious-malignant features on US. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.867, which shows that the US risk score help predict thyroid malignancy well. In the test data set, the malignancy rates were 6.2% in thyroid nodules without malignant features on US. Area under the ROC curve of the test set was 0.872 when using the prediction model.ConclusionThe predictor model using suspicious malignant US features may be helpful in risk stratification of thyroid nodules.

Abstract"Nano tungsten oxide (WO3) particles were synthesized on the surface of graphene (GR) sheets by using a simple sonochemical method. The obtained composite, WO3@GR, was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N-2 adsorption/desorption analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra measurements. It was found that chemical bonds between the nano WO3 particles and the GR sheets were formed. The average particle size of the WO3 was evidenced to be around 12 nm on the GR sheets. When used as photocatalyst for water splitting, the amount of evolved O-2 from water for the WO3@GR composite with 40 wt% GR inside was twice and 1.8 times as much as that for pure WO3 and mixed-WO3/GR, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic property of the WO3@GR composite is due to the synergistic effects of the combined nano WO3 particles and GR sheets. The sensitization of WO3 by GR enhances the visible light absorption property of WO3@GR. The chemical bonding between WO3 and GR minimizes the interface defects, reducing the recombination of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, the GR sheets in the WO3@GR composite enhance electrons transport by providing low resistance conduction pathways, leading to improved photo-conversion efficiency. The methodology opens up a new way of obtaining photoactive GR-semiconductor composites for photodissociating water under visible light." Nano tungsten oxide (WO 3 ) particles were synthesized on the surface of graphene (GR) sheets by using a simple sonochemical method. The obtained composite, WO 3 @GR, was characterized by X-ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption/desorption analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra measurements. It was found that chemical bonds between the nano WO 3 particles and the GR sheets were formed. The average particle size of the WO 3 was evidenced to be around 12 nm on the GR sheets. When used as photocatalyst for water splitting, the amount of evolved O 2 from water for the WO 3 @GR composite with 40 wt% GR inside was twice and 1.8 times as much as that for pure WO 3 and mixed-WO 3 /GR, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic property of the WO 3 @GR composite is due to the synergistic effects of the combined nano WO 3 particles and GR sheets. The sensitization of WO 3 by GR enhances the visible light absorption property of WO 3 @GR. The chemical bonding between WO 3 and GR minimizes the interface defects, reducing the recombination of the photo-generated electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, the GR sheets in the WO 3 @GR composite enhance electrons transport by providing low resistance conduction pathways, leading to improved photo-conversion efficiency. The methodology opens up a new way of obtaining photoactive GR-semiconductor composites for photodissociating water under visible light.

Increased iron deposition in the putamen and caudate nucleus in VaD and AD patients was not associated with age or the severity of cognitive deficits. Further evaluations are needed to determine the temporal changes in iron load and their diagnostic role in dementia pathology.