Microneedle fractional radiofrequency treatment of facial photoageing as assessed in a split-face model.

BACKGROUND: A new therapeutic device passes radiofrequency energy through microneedles to targeted tissue. Three-dimensional photography may be useful for evaluating the clinical efficacy of microneedle fractional radiofrequency (MFR) used on the appearance of rhytids and to improve facial laxity. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of MFR in the treatment of facial photoageing. METHODS: In total, participants with facial photoageing were enrolled in the study. All volunteers were randomized to receive split-face treatments with MFR 2 months apart. The participants self-evaluated at baseline, Days 1-7, and Months 1 and 3 after the final treatment. Objective evaluation was provided by a three-dimensional in vivo imaging system. In addition, skin melanin index, erythema index, immediate reactions, healing times and other adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated side, the treated side of most participants improved, based on clinical assessments at the 1- and 3-month follow-up visits after treatment. Both objective and participative assessments were satisfactory. The participants demonstrated a decrease of roughness parameter (Sa) value at each follow-up visit. Compared with pretreatment value, Sa decreased significantly at Months 1 and 3 on the treated side (P < 0.05). Minimal and reversible adverse effects and rapid healing were recorded. CONCLUSIONS: MFR appears to be an excellent treatment for photodamaged facial skin in Chinese patients.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a critical issue particularly in the endemic areas. This paper summarizes the literature in the recent 4 years and the author's data. Substantial progress has been found in the treatment of HCC during the recent decades, which was mainly a result of advances in medical imaging, aggressive surgical approach, regional cancer therapies and multidisciplinary approach. Surgical approaches that resulted in significant prolonged survival included: resection (particularly small HCC resection), re-resection for subclinical recurrence, cytoreduction and sequential resection for initially unresectable HCC, and liver transplantation for small HCC. In nonsurgery, regional cancer therapy has been a new trend, which includes transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, percutaneous ethanol injection for small HCC, and others. As a result of multimodality combination treatment and changing concepts in surgical oncology, the role of surgery in the treatment of HCC has become bigger. However, the inadequacy of regional cancer therapies, its multicentric origin and tumor invasiveness remain major targets to be studied for a curative treatment.