BACKGROUND

Postpartum abdominal laxity is a growing concern for women. Noninvasive options like microwave technology and fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) laser show promise, but their combined efficacy and safety require further investigation.

To compare the efficacy and safety of microwaves versus combined microwaves and fractional CO2 laser in the treatment of postpartum abdominal laxity among Filipino patients.

Thirty-two patients with Fitzpatrick skin type III-V and postpartum abdominal laxity received three microwaves sessions, with one side randomly assigned an additional fractional carbon dioxide laser session (designated as side B, while the other as side A). Global aesthetic improvement scale (GAIS) scores and patient satisfaction (PS) scores were determined at every follow-up. Baseline and completion body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were taken, and adverse effects were recorded.

Significant improvements in GAIS and PS scores were noted for both sides across all sessions, with side B showing superior scores post-CO2 laser. These improvements were attributed to epidermal thickening and dermal collagen and elastin remodeling, the latter seen histologically in a representative patient. Adverse effects were mild and noted only with CO2 laser.

The combined use of the microwaves system and fractional CO2 laser is safe and well-tolerated and is superior to microwaves alone in the treatment of postpartum abdominal laxity.

For the detection and identification of abnormal nodular tissues on the body surface, a microwave sensor structure loaded with a spiral resonator is proposed in this paper, a sensor simulation model is established using HFSS software, the structural parameters are optimized, and the actual sensor is fabricated. The S21 parameters of the tissue were obtained when nodules appeared by simulation, and the characteristic relationship between the difference of S21 parameters with position was analyzed and tested experimentally. The results showed that when nodules were present in normal tissues, the curve of S21 parameter difference with position change had obvious inverted bimodal characteristics, and the extreme value of S21 parameter difference appeared when the sensor was directly above the nodules, which was easy to identify the position of nodules. It provides an objective detection tool for the identification of abnormal nodular tissues on the body surface.
Microwaves ; Recognition, Psychology ; Computer Simulation ; Software

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of"leverage pry-off method"for preventing thermal injury during microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: From July, 2017 to September, 2019, a total of 348 patients with benign thyroid nodules underwent ultrasound-guided microwave ablation. For protecting from thermal injury during the ablation, "hydrodissection technique" was used in 174 of the patients (admitted from July, 2017 to August, 2018) and "leverage pry-off method" in the other 174 patients (admitted from September, 2018 to September, 2019). All the patients were followed up for 1 to 12 months after the operation for observation of severe complications and nodular residues. RESULTS: Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation was completed in all the 348 patients. The most common severe complication associated with the ablation was voice change, occurring in 3 cases (1.7%) in "hydrodissection technique" group and in 4 (2.3%) in the "leverage pry-off method" group, showing no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). During the follow-up, no significant difference was found in the rate of nodular residues between the "hydrodissection technique" group and "hydrodissection technique" group (9.8% vs 10.9% (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The "leverage pry-off method" is simple and effective for preventing thermal injury during microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules.
Humans ; Microwaves/therapeutic use* ; Thyroid Nodule/surgery* ; Burns ; Hospitalization ; Radiofrequency Ablation

Because mammary glands are regulated by endocrine factors, they are prone to various abnormalities and disorders. Breast nodules are common and occur frequently in clinical practice. The clinical management of breast nodules mainly includes follow-up observation, lesion biopsy, and surgical intervention, and surgical intervention is an effective treatment. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation is a new minimally invasive treatment technology developed in recent years. It has the advantages of short operation time, no scarring, less damage to the lactiferous duct, quick recovery, and good curative effects without bleeding. The establishment of an expert consensus on microwave ablation for benign breast nodules aims to provide a reliable clinical basis for microwave ablation of benign breast nodules, standardize the treatment process, and improve treatment efficacy, so as to serve as a reference for physicians in clinical practice.
Humans ; Consensus ; Microwaves/therapeutic use* ; Catheter Ablation ; Thyroid Nodule/surgery* ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Treatment Outcome

We report a case of functional parathyroid cyst treated by ultrasound-guided anhydrous ethanol sclerotherapy and microwave ablation. The 63-year-old female patient was diagnosed to have functional parathyroid cyst with hypercalcemia, high PTH and cystic space-occupying lesions in the neck by ultrasound, radionuclide scanning and PTH measurement of the cystic fluid. The patient refused to receive cyst resection, and anhydrous ethanol sclerotherapy with microwave ablation was performed under ultrasound guidance. The procedure was completed smoothly without any complications either during or after the operation. Follow-up examination of the patient at 18 months after the operation showed a significant reduction of the mass and normal blood calcium and iPTH levels, demonstrating a clinical cure of the patient. Ablative treatment of functional parathyroid cyst has not been documented so far. This approach provides a minimally invasive treatment modality for such cases where surgical resection is not an option, but its efficacy and safety need to be evaluated in more cases with longer follow-up time.
Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Microwaves/therapeutic use* ; Plastic Surgery Procedures ; Cysts ; Ethanol/therapeutic use* ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Catheter Ablation ; Graves Disease/surgery* ; Humans ; Microwaves/therapeutic use* ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Treatment Outcome ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Animals ; Autophagy ; Microwaves/adverse effects* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective: The hippocampus is thought to be a vulnerable target of microwave exposure. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) acted as a fate regulator of adult rat hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs). Furthermore, we investigated if 20E attenuated high power microwave (HMP) radiation-induced learning and memory deficits. Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal controls, radiation treated, and radiation+20E treated. Rats in the radiation and radiation+20E treatment groups were exposed to HPM radiation from a microwave emission system. The learning and memory abilities of the rats were assessed using the Morris water maze test. Primary adult rat hippocampal NSCs were isolated in vitro and cultured to evaluate their proliferation and differentiation. In addition, hematoxylin & eosin staining, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were used to detect changes in the rat brain and the proliferation and differentiation of the adult rat hippocampal NSCs after HPM radiation exposure. Results: The results showed that 20E induced neuronal differentiation of adult hippocampal NSCs from HPM radiation-exposed rats via the Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway in vitro. Furthermore, 20E facilitated neurogenesis in the subgranular zone of the rat brain following HPM radiation exposure. Administration of 20E attenuated learning and memory deficits in HPM radiation-exposed rats and frizzled-related protein (FRZB) reduced the 20E-induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin, while FRZB treatment also reversed 20E-induced neuronal differentiation of NSCs in vitro. Conclusion These results suggested that 20E was a fate regulator of adult rat hippocampal NSCs, where it played a role in attenuating HPM radiation-induced learning and memory deficits.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Ecdysterone/pharmacology* ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Male ; Memory Disorders ; Microwaves ; Neural Stem Cells/physiology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta Catenin/metabolism*

Hippocampus ; Learning ; Maze Learning ; Memory ; Microwaves/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of anthocyanins extracted from Vaccinium Uliginosum (VU) on retinal 661W cells against microwave radiation induced retinal injury. METHODS: 661W cells were divided into 6 groups, including control, model [661W cells radiated by microwave (30 mW/cm², 1 h)] and VU groups [661W cells pretreated with anthocyanins extracted from VU (25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL, respectively) for 48 h, and radiated by microwave 30 mW/cm², 1 h]. After treatment with different interventions, the cell apoptosis index (AI) was determined using Heochst staining; contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutataione (GSH), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) were detected by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of HO-1 protein was examined by Western blot analysis. Nucleus and cytoplasm were separated and Nrf2 protein expression was further verified by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: There was significant difference in AI among the groups (F=322.83, P<;0.05). Compared with the control group, AI was significantly higher in the model group and was lower in 4 VU-pretreated groups (P<;0.05). Linear regression analysis showed the decline of AI was in a dose-dependent manner with VU treatment (r=0.8419, P<;0.05). The MDA and GSH contents of 661W cells in VU-treated groups were significantly lower than the model group (P<;0.05). Compared with the model group, the SOD activity in the VU-treated groups (50, 100 and 200 µg/mL) was significantly higher (all P<;0.05). The Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expressions were slightly increased after irradiation, and obviously increased in 100 µg/mL VU-treated group. After irradiation, the relative expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2 proteins in nucleus were slightly increased (P<;0.05), and the changes in cytoplasm were not obvious, whereas it was significantly increased in both nucleus and cytoplasm in the VU treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Anthocyanins extracted from VU could reduce apoptosis, stabilize cell membrane, and alleviate oxidant injury of mouse retinal photoreceptor 661W cells. The mechanism might be through activating Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway and inducing HO-1 transcription and translation.
Animals ; Anthocyanins/therapeutic use* ; Blueberry Plants/metabolism* ; Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism* ; Mice ; Microwaves ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*