UNASSIGNED: To explore the feasibility and safety of a microwave ablation (MWA) strategy involving intraductal chilled saline perfusion (ICSP) via percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage (PTCD) combined with ultrasound-magnetic resonance (US-MR) fusion imaging for liver tumors proximal to the hilar bile ducts (HBDs).
UNASSIGNED: Patients with liver tumors proximal to the HBDs (≤5 mm) who underwent MWA at our hospital between June 2020 and April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The strategy of US-MR fusion imaging combined with PTCD-ICSP was used to assist the MWA procedures. The technical success, technique efficacy, local tumor progression, intrahepatic distant recurrence and complications were recorded and analyzed.
UNASSIGNED: In total, 12 patients with 12 liver tumors were retrospectively enrolled in this study. US-MR fusion imaging was utilized in all patients, and PTCD-ICSP assistance was successfully used for 4 nodules abutting HBDs (0 mm). The rates of technical success, technique efficacy, local tumor progression and intrahepatic distant recurrence were 91.7%, 83.3%, 0% and 8.3%, respectively. The major complication of biliary infection occurred in only one patient who had previously undergone left hemihepatectomy and bile-intestinal anastomosis.
UNASSIGNED: MWA for liver tumors proximal to HBDs assisted by US-MR fusion imaging combined with PTCD-ICSP was feasible and safe. This strategy made MWA of liver tumors abutting HBDs possible.

Recently, a novel method for the growth inhibition of malaria parasites using microwaves was proposed. However, the apparatuses used to demonstrate this method are high-cost and immovable, hindering the progression in this field of research, which is still in its early stages. This paper presents the redesign, construction, and validation of an equivalent system, converting it into a portable and low-cost system, capable of replacing the existing one. The proposed system is mainly composed of an RF generator (MAX2870), an RF amplifier (SKYWORKS 66292-11) and a graphical user interface. Likewise, the RF applicator proposed by the original study was redesigned, resulting in a five-fold improvement in return loss. The obtained results indicate that the proposed system achieves 90% parasite growth inhibition, matching the performance of its counterpart at less than 1% of its cost. These results represent a breakthrough for the creation of smaller, enhanced devices that open new possibilities for an alternative treatment to combat this devastating disease.

In this study, a two-port network-based microwave sensor for liquid characterization is presented. The suggested sensor is built as a miniature microwave resonator using the third iteration of Hilbert\'s fractal architecture. The suggested structure is used with the T-resonator to raise the sensor quality factor. The suggested sensor is printed on a FR4 substrate and has a footprint of 40×60×1.6mm3. Analytically, a theoretical investigation is made to clarify how the suggested sensor might function. The suggested sensor is created and put to the test in an experiment. Later, two pans to contain the urine Sample Under Test (SUT) are printed on the sensor. Before loading the SUT, it is discovered that the suggested structure\'s frequency resonance is 0.46 GHz. An 18 MHz frequency shift is added to the initial resonance after the pans are printed. They monitor the S-parameters in terms of S12 regarding the change in water content in the urine samples, allowing for the sensing component to be completed. As a result, 10 different samples with varying urine percentages are added to the suggested sensor to evaluate its ability to detect the presence of urine. Finally, it is discovered that the suggested process\' measurements and corresponding simulated outcomes agreed quite well.

Botulinum toxin A (BTX) and microwave thermolysis (MWT) are standard axillary hyperhidrosis treatments, but comparison of their subclinical effects is lacking. Line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT) is a promising non-invasive imaging tool for visualizing tissue-interactions. This study aimed to describe subclinical effects of BTX and MWT for axillary hyperhidrosis with LC-OCT-imaging compared to histology. This study derived from an intra-individual, randomized, controlled trial, treating axillary hyperhidrosis with BTX versus MWT. Subclinical effects based on LC-OCT images from baseline and 6-month follow-up (n = 8 patients) were evaluated and compared to corresponding histological samples. At baseline, LC-OCT visualized eccrine pores at the skin surface and ducts in the upper dermis (500 μm), but not deeper-lying sweat glands. Histology identified entire sweat glands. Six months post-treatment, LC-OCT revealed no detectable morphology changes in any BTX-treated axillae (100%), while recognizing obstructed eccrine pores and atrophy of eccrine ducts in most MWT-treated axillae (75%). Histology corroborated LC-OCT findings, while also showing substantial changes to entire sweat glands. LC-OCT enabled visualization of subclinical alterations of superficial eccrine ducts after MWT and unchanged morphology after BTX. LC-OCT is a promising tool for non-invasive assessment of treatment-specific tissue-interactions that can be complementary to histology.

Olive oil production is characterized by large amounts of waste, and yet is considerably highly valued. Olive pomace can serve as a cheap source of bioactive compounds (BACs) with important antioxidant activity. Novel technologies like Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) and High Pressure (HP) and microwave (MW) processing are considered green alternatives for the recovery of BACs. Different microwave (150-600 W), PEF (1-5 kV/cm field strength, 100-1500 pulses/15 µs width), and HP (250-650 MPa) conditions, in various product/solvent ratios, methanol concentrations, extraction temperatures, and processing times were investigated. Results indicated that the optimal MW extraction conditions were 300 W at 50 °C for 5 min using 60% v/v methanol with a product/solvent ratio of 1:10 g/mL. Similarly, the mix of 40% v/v methanol with olive pomace, treated at 650 MPa for the time needed for pressure build-up (1 min) were considered as optimal extraction conditions in the case of HP, while for PEF the optimal conditions were 60% v/v methanol with a product/solvent ratio of 1:10 g/mL, treated at 5000 pulses, followed by 1 h extraction under stirring conditions. Therefore, these alternative extraction technologies could assist the conventional practice in minimizing waste production and simultaneously align with the requirements of the circular bioeconomy concept.

UNASSIGNED: Self-monitoring of glucose is important to the successful management of diabetes; however, existing monitoring methods require a degree of invasive measurement which can be unpleasant for users. This study investigates the accuracy of a noninvasive glucose monitoring system that analyses spectral variations in microwave signals.
UNASSIGNED: An open-label, pilot design study was conducted with four cohorts (N = 5/cohort). In each session, a dial-resonating sensor (DRS) attached to the wrist automatically collected data every 60 seconds, with a novel artificial intelligence (AI) model converting signal resonance output to a glucose prediction. Plasma glucose was measured in venous blood samples every 5 minutes for Cohorts 1 to 3 and every 10 minutes for Cohort 4. Accuracy was evaluated by calculating the mean absolute relative difference (MARD) between the DRS and plasma glucose values.
UNASSIGNED: Accurate plasma glucose predictions were obtained across all four cohorts using a random sampling procedure applied to the full four-cohort data set, with an average MARD of 10.3%. A statistical analysis demonstrates the quality of these predictions, with a surveillance error grid (SEG) plot indicating no data pairs falling into the high-risk zones.
UNASSIGNED: These findings show that MARD values approaching accuracies comparable to current commercial alternatives can be obtained from a multiparticipant pilot study with the application of AI. Microwave biosensors and AI models show promise for improving the accuracy and convenience of glucose monitoring systems for people with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess histopathological outcomes, as well as feasibility and safety of targeted microwave ablation (TMA) via the Trinity® system (KOELIS, La Tronche, France).
METHODS: Prospective, single-institution, interventional Phase IIa study with an \'ablate-and-resect\' design. In all, 11 patients diagnosed with localised prostate cancer (PCa) underwent TMA via the Trinity system under conscious sedation in an outpatient setting using a single transrectal TATO® 18-G antenna with different treatment regimens. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) were conducted at 7 days and 1 month after TMA, respectively. Nine patients received RARP, and two patients chose to withdraw their consent following TMA. These men chose an active surveillance protocol upon confirmation of a low-risk prostate cancer diagnosis. Functional outcomes and adverse events were evaluated at baseline and follow-up visits using validated questionnaires. Prostate volumetry and confirmation of necrosis were carried out through MRI and whole-mount histopathological examination.
RESULTS: The TMA was successfully executed, and all patients were discharged on the same day. No severe adverse events (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Grade ≥3) were reported at the 7-day and 1-month follow-up visits. Additionally, no declines were observed in urinary, sexual and ejaculation functional outcomes. T1-weighted MRI revealed clear and well-defined ablation zones. The RARP was executed without difficulty, particularly during the dissection of the posterior plane. As a result, no intraoperative complications were encountered. Histopathological assessment on surgical specimens confirmed the absence of viable cells, indicating complete necrosis of the ablative zone if a power intensity >10 W was used during TMA. Ablation zone volumetry revealed no notable distinctions between the three-dimensional segmentation of the virtual ablation zone at TMA (median volume: 2 mL) and MRI (median volume: 1.923 mL). Conversely, a significant reduction was noted in the surgical specimen (median volume: 0.221 mL).
CONCLUSIONS: Targeted microwave ablation via the Trinity system for localised PCa treatment proves to be a secure and feasible procedure, with complete necrosis evidence within the ablation zone on surgical specimens.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: 2054 cases with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage 0~B at the Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese People\'s Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2006 to September 2020 were retrospectively collected. All patients were followed up for at least 2 years. The primary endpoint of overall survival and secondary endpoints (tumor-related survival, disease-free survival, and postoperative complications) of patients treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous MWA were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for stratified survival rate analysis. Fine-and-Gray competing risk model was used to analyze overall survival. Results: A total of 5 503 HCC nodules [mean tumor diameter (2.6±1.6) cm] underwent 3 908 MWAs between January 2006 and September 2020, with a median follow-up time of 45.6 (24.0 -79.2) months.The technical effectiveness rate of 5 375 tumor nodules was 97.5%. The overall survival rates at 5, 10, and 15-years were 61.6%, 38.8%, and 27.0%, respectively. The tumor-specific survival rates were 67.1%, 47.2%, and 37.7%, respectively. The free tumor survival rates were 25.8%, 15.7%, and 9.9%, respectively. The incidence rate of severe complications was 2.8% (108/3 908). Further analysis showed that the technical effectiveness and survival rate over the passing three time periods from January 2006-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-September 2020 were significantly increased, with P < 0.001, especially for liver cancer 3.1~5.0 cm (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Microwave ablation therapy is a safe and effective method for BCLC stage 0-B, with significantly enhanced technical efficacy and survival rate over time.
目的： 评估经皮微波消融（MWA）治疗肝细胞癌的长期疗效。 方法： 回顾性收集2006年1月至2020年9月中国人民解放军总医院第五医学中心巴塞罗那临床肝癌（BCLC）0～B期患者2 054例，所有患者至少随访2年。分析患者超声引导经皮MWA治疗后的主要终点总生存率和次要终点（肿瘤相关生存率、无瘤生存率和术后并发症）。生存率使用Kaplan-Meier法进行分层分析。总生存使用Fine-and Gray竞争风险模型进行分析。 结果： 2006年1月至2020年9月共有5 503个肝癌结节[平均肿瘤长径（2.6±1.6）cm]接受3 908次MWA，中位随访时间为45.6 (24.0～79.2)个月，总队列的技术成功率为97.6%（5 376/5 503）。5 、10 、15年总生存率分别为61.6%、38.8%、27.0%；肿瘤特异性生存率分别为67.1%、47.2%和37.7%；无瘤生存率分别为25.8%、15.7%和9.9%；严重并发症发生率2.8%（108/3 908）。进一步分析显示，在2006-2010年、2011-2015年和2016年1月-2020年9月的3个时间段内，随时间推移，技术有效率和生存率明显增高，P值均<0.001 ，特别是对于肿瘤长径为3.1～5.0 cm的肝癌结节(P < 0.001)。 结论： 微波消融治疗对于BCLC 0～B期肝癌是一种安全有效的方法，技术有效率和生存率随时间显著提升。.

This paper presents the findings of a comprehensive study exploring the synergistic effects arising from the combination of microwave ablation and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on prostate cancer cells. The research encompassed five distinct experimental groups, with continuous electric field measurements conducted during the entire treatment process. Group 1 and Group 2, subjected to microwave power below 350 W, exhibited specific electric field values of 72,800 V/m and 56,600 V/m, respectively. In contrast, Group 3 and Group 4, exposed to 80 W microwave power, displayed electric field levels of approximately 1450 V/m, while remaining free from any observable electrical discharges. The migratory and invasive capacities of PC3 cells were assessed through a scratch test in all groups. Notably, cells in Group 3 and Group 4, subjected to the combined treatment of microwave ablation and PEMF, demonstrated significantly accelerated migration in comparison to those in Groups 1 and 2. Additionally, Group 5 cells, receiving PEMF treatment in isolation, exhibited decreased migratory ability. These results strongly suggest that the combined approach of microwave ablation and PEMF holds promise as a potential therapeutic intervention for prostate cancer, as it effectively reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis, and impeded migration ability in PC3 cells. Moreover, the isolated use of PEMF demonstrated potential in limiting migratory capacity, which could hold critical implications in the fight against cancer metastasis.
In this study, a new approach to treat prostate cancer by combining microwave ablation (MWA) and pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is explored. We used specific devices like rectangular waveguides for MWA and circular coils for PEMF. The energy sources utilized in the study comprised a magnetron tube system, similar to the microwave source found in a microwave oven, for generating microwaves, and a signal generator for producing PEMF. We used specialized equipment for MWA and PEMF to maintain controlled conditions, ensuring precise and reliable results. The research included testing various groups of prostate cancer cells exposed to different intensities of microwave power and magnetic flux density. The movement of cancer cells in different groups was examined through a wound healing assay, where cancer cells were placed on a flat surface, and we observed whether they filled the gap created by their movement. Interestingly, cells treated with both MWA and PEMF demonstrated faster movement compared to cells treated with MWA alone or PEMF alone. This combined treatment not only effectively decreased cell movement but also showed the potential cell death. The results showed that the combination of MWA and PEMF suggest a promising therapeutic strategy. The findings contribute to the development of precise and effective therapies that could enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. However, further research and validation are essential before translating these findings into clinical applications.

Herein, we report a spectroscopic study of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, an important antioxidant drug, using Fourier-transform microwave techniques and in isolated conditions. Two conformers are observed, where most stable structure adopts a cis disposition, and the second conformer has a lower abundance and adopts a trans disposition. The rotational constants and the barriers to methyl internal rotation are determined for each conformer, allowing a precise conformation identification. The results show that the cis form adopts an identical structure in the crystal, solution, and gas phases. Additionally, the structures are contrasted against those of cysteine.