Total thyroidectomy is safer with identification of recurrent laryngeal nerve

Objective： To investigate the effect of recurrent laryngeal nerve （RLN） identification on the complications after total thyroidectomy and lobectomy. Methods： Total 134 consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy from January 2003 to November 2004 were investigated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups： RLN identified （Group A） or not （Group B）. The two groups were compared for RLN injury and hypocalcaemia. Results： The numbers of patients and nerves at risk were 71 and 129 in Group A, and 63 and 121 in Group B, respectively, RLN injury in Group A （0） was significantly lower than that in Group B （5 [7.9%]） patients, 7 [5.8%] nerves） for the numbers of patients （P=0.016） and nerves at risk （P=0.006）. Temporary hypocalcaemia was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B （14 [24.1%] vs 6 [ 10.3%], P=0.049）, Permanent complications in Group B were significantly higher than those in Group A （13 [20.6%] vs 4 [5.6%], P=0.009）. Conclusion： RLN injury was prevented and permanent complications were decreased by identifying the whole course and branches of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during total thyroidectomy,     

Structure and dynamic regulation of Src-family kinases

Src-family kinases are modular signaling proteins involved in a diverse array of cellular processes. All members of the Src family share the same domain organization, with modular SH3, SH2 and kinase domains followed by a C-terminal negative regulatory tail. X-ray crystallographic analyses of several Src family members have revealed critical roles for the SH3 and SH2 domains in the down-regulation of the kinase domain. This review focuses on biological, biophysical, and computational studies that reveal conformationally distinct active states within this unique kinase family. Received 10 March 2008; received after revision 17 May 2008; accepted 21 May 2008