Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: Basic Principles and Clinical Application

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been gaining popularity as a minimally invasive treatment for benign thyroid nodules regardless of the extent of the solid component. RF ablation of benign nodules demonstrated volume reductions of 33–58% after one month and 51–85% after six months, while solving nodule-related clinical problems. RF ablation has recently shown positive short-term results for locoregional control as well as symptom improvement in patients with recurrent thyroid cancers. This paper reviews the basic physics, indications, patient preparation, devices, procedures, clinical results, and complications of RF ablation

Viable stretchable plasmonics based on unidirectional nanoprisms

Well-defined ordered arrays of plasmonic nanostructures were fabricated on stretchable substrates and tunable plasmon-coupling-based sensing properties were comprehensively demonstrated upon extension and contraction. Regular nanoprism patterns consisting of Ag, Au and Ag/Au bilayers were constructed on the stretchable polydimethylsiloxane substrate. The nanoprisms had the same orientation over the entire substrate (3 x 3 cm(2)) via metal deposition on a single-crystal microparticle monolayer assembly. The plasmonic sensor based on the Ag/Au bilayer showed a 6-fold enhanced surface enhanced Raman scattering signal under 20% uniaxial extension, whereas a 3-fold increase was observed upon 6% contraction, compared with the Au nanoprism arrays. The sensory behaviors were corroborated by finite-difference time-domain simulation, demonstrating the tunable electromagnetic field enhancement effect via the localized surface plasmon resonance coupling. The advanced flexible plasmonic-coupling-based devices with tunable and quantifiable performance herein suggested are expected to unlock promising potential in practical bio-sensing, biotechnological applications and optical devices.11Ysciescopu

Successful Treatment of Cutaneous Lesions of Dermatomyositis with Topical Pimecrolimus

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory process characterized by proximal muscle weakness and cutaneous lesions, such as the Gottron's sign, heliotrope rash, and erythematous photosensitive rash. Administration of systemic agents for the treatment of underlying systemic diseases leads to remission of the cutaneous lesions in many cases. However, cutaneous lesions may remain refractory to treatment. Pimecrolimus is a calcineurin inhibitor with combined anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. It has high affinity to the skin and low permeation potential, even in patients with acute skin inflammation and in those undergoing post-topical corticosteroid therapy. We herein report two DM patients whose cutaneous lesions were refractory to conventional treatment but showed dramatic response to topical pimecrolimus. The clinical outcomes suggest that topical pimecrolimus may be a good therapeutic alternative for the management of the cutaneous lesions of DM

Isolated Weakness of Middle, Ring, and Little Fingers due to a Small Cortical Infarction in the Medial Precentral Gyrus

Small cortical strokes can produce predominant isolated weakness in a particular group of fingers: radial or ulnar. The traditional views are of point-to-point representations of each finger to neurons located in the precentral gyrus of the motor cortex such that the neurons of the radial fingers are located laterally and those of the ulnar fingers are located medially. We present a case of isolated weakness of middle, ring, and little fingers due to a small cortical infarction in the medial precentral gyrus