Objective. The aims of this study are to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RFA in the treatment of benign thyroid nodule(s) and to find independent factors related to the volume reduction rate of the nodule(s). Materials and Methods. This short-term prospective study from a single medical center was conducted on 93 benign thyroid nodules in 93 patients treated with RFA. Two basic techniques were used: the trans-isthmic approach and moving-shot technique. Clinical and ultrasonography examinations were performed at 1- and 3-month follow-up after the treatment session. Primary outcomes included volume reduction ratio (VRR) at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups; secondary outcomes were therapeutic success rate and complications. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine independent factors associated with VRR. Results. A final sample of 78 patients with 78 nodules, given participant rate 83.8% (including 60 solid nodules, 16 predominantly cystic nodules, and 2 thyroid cysts), was followed up for 3 months. The mean volume reduction ratio was 41.47% and 64.72% after 1-month and 3-month follow-ups, respectively. The therapeutic success rate was 30.8% at 1-month and 84.6% at 3-month follow-ups. Symptom score and cosmetic score improved significantly. There was no change in thyroid function tests. Two minor complications (transient voice change) were found. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that the internal component of the nodules significantly related to the VRR during the 3-month follow-up (β = 23.00; 95%CI (7.59–38.45)). Conclusion. RFA was demonstrated as a safe and effective option for benign thyroid nodules treatment. It can be used as an alternative treatment with encouraging results.

Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic disease with a rising global prevalence. It is associated with slowly progressive end-organ damage in the eyes and kidneys, but also in the brain. The latter complication is often referred to as "diabetic encephalopathy" and is characterized by mild to moderate impairments in cognitive functioning. It is also associated with an increased risk of dementia. Diabetic encephalopathies are now accepted complications of diabetes. To date, its pathogenetic mechanisms are largely unclear. They appear to differ in type 1 and type 2 diabetes as to underlying mechanisms and the nature of resulting cognitive deficits. The increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, and commonly accompanying attributes such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and obesity. However, cognitive impairement in type 1 diabetes have other differences with type 2 diabetes. The major underlying component here appears to be insulin deficiency with downstream effects on the expression of neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters, oxidative and apoptotic stressors resulting in defects in neuronal integrity, connectivity and loss commonly occurring in the still developing brain.

Objectives: To predict the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in ten years by applying FINDRISC. Methods: 131 patients were diagnosed pre-diabetes according to the ADA (2010) criteria using fasting plasma glucose, 2h after 75g oral glucose load and/or HbA1c. FINDRISC includes eight parameters: age, abdominal obesity, waist circumference, family history of diabetes, physical activity, history of increased glucose and using of anti-hypertensive medications and eating habit of vegetables fruits or berries. Results: In the eight element of FINDRISC, BMI and waist circumference, family history of diabetes, history of hypertension and antihypertensive drug use are risk factors are most important. The area under the curve order is 0.912; 0.879; 0.819; 0.720 and 0.664 respectively. Application FINDRISC- South Asian we recorded the optimal cut points 9 points (Se = 0.61, Sp = 0.85, p <0.001) to detect pre-diabetes and 15 points (Se = 1.00 and Sp=0.91, p< 0.0001) to detect diabetes. Risk of diabetes in 10 years by using FINDRISC-Asian scale is higher than using FINDRISC- European scale: 7.68% vs 4.91% in men, 9.64% vs 8.17% in female and 8.74% vs 6.68% for both sexes, respectively. Conclusion: We can use FINDRISC to predict the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and screening type 2 undiagnosed diabetes mellitus in Vietnam if the BMI and waist circumference are change criteria for South Asia.

Objectives: We suggested and validated a self-assessment score for diabetes risk in Vietnamese adults and compared it with other established screening models. Methods: A cross sectional study of 131 subjects (over 45 years old without previous diabetes) were performed the test FPG, HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance tests, and then applied the diabetes risk scores including FINDRISC, IDRS, FRAMINGHAM OFFSPRING, THAI SCORE, DESIR and AUSDRISC for predicting the type 2 diabetes mellitus and screening to prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent factors concerning diabetes. Results: The FINDRISC tool was more valuable for screening of the type 2 prediabetes and diabetes than the other scales. With plasma G2 levels ≥ 7.8 mmol: ROC-UAC of FINDRISC was 61.2%, the optimal cut points: 12 (Se = 32.7%; 1-Sp = 7.4%); with plasma G2 concentration ≥ 11.1 mmol: ROC-AUC of FINDRISC was 89.3%, the optimal cut point of 13 (Se = 90% 1-Sp = 22.3%). With HbA1c levels ≥ 5.7%: ROC-UAC was 76.3%, the optimal cut point of 9 (Se = 57.3%; 1-Sp = 7.1%), with HbA1c ≥ 6.5%: ROC-AUC was 86.7%, the optimal cut points: 13 (Se = 90.9%; 1-Sp = 21.7). Values for screening to prediabetes and diabetes in the VNDRISC 1 were 10 and 14 point and VNDRISC 2 were 12 and 16 point respectively, but the ROC-AUC of VNDRISC 2 was not significantly different than those VNDRISC 1. Conclusions: FINDRISC have most valuable screening prediabetes and undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in social (when change body mass index and waist circumference follow Vietnamese people) compaired with others score. VNDRISC 1 was the most valuable diabetes risk score for predicting the type 2 diabetes mellitus and screening to prediabetes and diabetes in subjects over 45 years old on the community.