MyMedR

Fulltext Susuk or charm needle: a strange object detected on orthodontic diagnostic radiographs

Varghese E, Samson RS, Nagraj SK, Chandrappa PR

BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Nov 01;2017.

PMID: 29092975 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-222497

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

PEDOT coated microneedles towards electrochemically assisted skin sampling

Ajmal Mokhtar SM, Yamada M, Prow TW, Moore M, Strudwick XL, Evans DR

J Mater Chem B, 2023 Jun 07;11(22):5021-5031.

PMID: 37226634 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb00485f

Skin sampling is a diagnostic procedure based on the analysis of extracted skin tissues and/or the observation of biomarkers in bodily fluids. Sampling using microneedles (MNs) that minimize invasiveness is gaining attention over conventional biopsy/blood lancet. In this study, new MNs for electrochemically assisted skin sampling are reported, specifically tailored for combined skin tissue biopsy and interstitial fluid (ISF) extraction. To overcome risks associated with using metal MNs, a highly electroactive, mechanically flexible, and biocompatible organic conducting polymer (CP) coated onto plastic is chosen as an alternative. Two different variants of doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) are coated on polymethyl methacrylate and used in combination as a MN pair with subsequent testing via a variety of electrochemical techniques to (i) give real-time information of the MN penetration depth into the skin, and (ii) yield new information on various salts present in the ISF. The MN skin sampler shows the ability to extract ions from the hydrated excised skin as a step towards in vivo ISF extraction. The presence of ions was analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This added chemical information in conjunction with the existing biomarker analysis increases opportunity for disease/condition detection. For example, in the case of psoriasis, information about salt in the skin is invaluable in combination with pathogenic gene expression for diagnosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Observation on cadavers and through ultrasonography using a 2 mm needle length for intradermal injections

Yi KH, Lee B, Kim MJ, Lee SH, Hidajat IJ, Lim TS, et al.

Skin Res Technol, 2023 Nov;29(11):e13529.

PMID: 38009043 DOI: 10.1111/srt.13529

BACKGROUND: An intradermal injection is a medical procedure that involves administering a small amount of medication or substance into the dermal layer of the skin. This research focused on identifying the most suitable injection needle for precise intradermal administration of skin boosters.

METHODS: The study involved conducting intradermal injections on four cadavers and participants using a 2 mm length, 34-gauge needle (N-Finders, Inc., South Korea). During the cadaveric study, the polynucleotide prefilled syringe was dyed green, and an anatomist performed dissections, removing only the skin layer. Ultrasonographic observations were carried out to ensure accurate intradermal injection placement.

RESULTS: In all four cadavers, the facial injections at the anterior cheek region were precisely administered intradermally at a 30-degree injection angle. However, the 90-degree injection was found just below the dermal layer upon skin layer removal.

DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that using a 2 mm needle length allows for easy and convenient intradermal injections.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Fulltext Cutaneous tumour seeding at percutaneous transhepatic biliary drain (PTBD) site from pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Ho, C.C.K., Razman, J., Shaharin, S.

International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2007;6(1):1-5.

MyJurnal

Percutaneous needle procedures are known to carry the rare complication of seeding along the tract. Here we would like to present a case of seeding along a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) tract, to the skin, from a pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Thermal and thermal damage responses during switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation employing bipolar needles: A computational study on the effects of different electrode configuration, input voltage and ablation duration

Cheong JKK, Ooi EH, Ooi ET

Int J Numer Method Biomed Eng, 2020 09;36(9):e3374.

PMID: 32519516 DOI: 10.1002/cnm.3374

Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of switching bipolar radiofrequency ablation (bRFA) in treating liver cancer. Nevertheless, the clinical use of the treatment remains less common than conventional monopolar RFA - likely due to the lack of understanding of how the tissues respond thermally to the switching effect. The problem is exacerbated by the numerous possible switching combinations when bRFA is performed using bipolar needles, thus making theoretical deduction and experimental studies difficult. This article addresses this issue via computational modelling by examining if significant variation in the treatment outcome exists amongst six different electrode configurations defined by the X-, C-, U-, N-, Z- and O-models. Results indicated that the tissue thermal and thermal damage responses varied depending on the electrode configuration and the operating conditions (input voltage and ablation duration). For a spherical tumour, 30 mm in diameter, complete ablation could not be attained in all configurations with 70 V input voltage and 5 minutes ablation duration. Increasing the input voltage to 90 V enlarged the coagulation zone in the X-model only. With the other configurations, extending the ablation duration to 10 minutes was found to be the better at enlarging the coagulation zone.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Incidental radiographic finding of the concealed art of susuk

Devang Divakar D, Mavinapalla S, Al Kheraif AA, Ramakrishnaiah R, Abd Rahim MF, Khan AA

Med Sci Law, 2016 Jul;56(3):230-2.

PMID: 26271077 DOI: 10.1177/0025802415599567

Susuk, or charm needles, are small, metallic needles inserted under the skin, considered to enhance beauty, health and luck. This hidden secret of inserting susuk is a traditional superstitious ritual, widely practiced among women of Southeast Asia. Here, we present an interesting case of incidental radiographic finding of the concealed art of susuk, which was exposed on a panoramic radiograph taken on a routine basis as a part of diagnostic work up at our centre. An orthopantomogram revealed bilateral metallic foreign bodies in the maxillo-facial region. Anamnestic data affirmed the practice of the body art of susuk. The charm needles were present in the orofacial region without the patient experiencing any pathological signs or symptoms.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Some radiological observations on the practice of insertion of charm needles

Soo YS, Singh J

Med J Malaya, 1972 Sep;27(1):40-2.

PMID: 4264823

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Case 263: Malaysian Charm Needles (Susuk)

Martin JL, Vlachou PA

Radiology, 2019 03;290(3):843-847.

PMID: 30789811 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2019162113

History A 58-year-old woman was seen in the rheumatology clinic for bilateral wrist and knee pain that was unresponsive to physiotherapy and intra-articular steroid injections. Remote fracture of the left tibia from a motor vehicle collision was reported and was previously treated with conservative management. Serologic work-up for inflammatory disease was negative. The patient reported no prior surgical or medical history. Social history revealed remote immigration from Malaysia. Radiographs of the hands and knees were obtained.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

"Charm needles"

Oon CL

Med J Malaysia, 1973 May;27(3):231-2.

PMID: 4270065

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Ingested pins - A potential hazard for hijabis: A case report

Siti Soraya AR

Med J Malaysia, 2020 01;75(1):78-79.

PMID: 32008026

Accidental swallowing of objects commonly occurs among children and most of the objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract and out with the stool without any complications. However, recent reports have shown that there is an increasing occurrence of accidental ingestion of hijab pins among young hijab-wearing Muslim women or "hijabi". We highlight one such case, in which a young lady accidentally swallowed a pin that she was holding between her lips while she was styling her hijab. The pin was not successfully retrieved via endoscopy but was fortunately excreted spontaneously without any serious complications.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

An orang asli blowpipe with a syringe-type dart for the liver capture of wild parimates in Malaysia

Dewey RW, Rudnick A

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1973 Jun;4(2):285.

PMID: 4201361

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Fulltext A Transesophageal Cardiovascular Intervention

Loch A, Teoh VWY, Hilmi IN

Tex Heart Inst J, 2023 Dec 07;50(6).

PMID: 38087478 DOI: 10.14503/THIJ-23-8230

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided transesophageal pericardiocentesis was performed for a posteriorly located effusion not amenable to transthoracic drainage in a 58-year-old woman with a history of recurrent breast adenocarcinoma who presented with dyspnea. The patient had a pericardial effusion that resulted in cardiac tamponade. Transthoracic pericardiocentesis was unsuitable because of the posterior location of the effusion. Pericardiocentesis via the transesophageal route was performed. The pericardial sac was punctured with a 19-gauge needle, and 245 mL of pericardial fluid were aspirated, resulting in the resolution of the tamponade physiology. Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided transesophageal drainage is a novel and promising therapeutic option for posteriorly located pericardial effusions.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles/adverse effects

Fulltext Forced convection boundary layer flow over a moving thin needle

Arifin, N.M., Pop, I., Nazar, R., Ahmad, S.

ASM Science Journal, 2010;4(2):149-157.

MyJurnal

In this paper, the problem of steady laminar boundary layer flow of an incompressible viscous fluid over a moving thin needle is considered. The governing boundary layer equations were first transformed into non-dimensional forms. These non-dimensional equations were then transformed into similarity equations using the similarity variables, which were solved numerically using an implicit finite-difference scheme known as the Keller-box method. The solutions were obtained for a blunt-nosed needle. Numerical computations were carried out for various values of the dimensionless parameters of the problem which included the Prandtl number Pr and the parameter a representing the needle size. It was found that the heat transfer characteristics were significantly
influenced by these parameters. However, the Prandtl number had no effect on the flow characteristics due to the decoupled boundary layer equations.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Development of 3-dimensional Co3O4 catalysts with various morphologies for activation of Oxone to degrade 5-sulfosalicylic acid in water

Li MH, Da Oh W, Lin KA, Hung C, Hu C, Du Y

Sci Total Environ, 2020 Jul 01;724:138032.

PMID: 32408427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138032

Since 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SFA) has been increasingly released to the environment, SO4--based oxidation processes using Oxone have been considered as useful methods to eliminate SFA. As Co3O4 has been a promising material for OX activation, the four 3D Co3O4 catalysts with distinct morphologies, including Co3O4-C (with cubes), Co3O4-P (with plates), Co3O4-N (with needles) and Co3O4-F (with floral structures), are fabricated for activating OX to degrade SFA. In particular, Co3O4-F not only exhibits the highest surface area but also possesses the abundant Co2+ and more reactive surface, making Co3O4-F the most advantageous 3D Co3O4 catalyst for OX activation to degrade SFA. The mechanism of SFA by this 3D Co3O4/OX is also investigated and the corresponding SFA degradation pathway has been elucidated. The catalytic activities of Co3O4 catalysts can be correlated to physical and chemical properties which were associated with particular morphologies to provide insights into design of 3D Co3O4-based catalysts for OX-based technology to degrade emerging contaminants, such as SFA.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Fulltext The Agony of the Mystical Practice of Susuk: A Case Report

Rusly MFR, Md Yasin M, Kamaruddin KN, Nasir NMNM, Mat Nor K

Am J Case Rep, 2022 Oct 24;23:e937633.

PMID: 36279262 DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.937633

BACKGROUND Charm needle, otherwise known as susuk, is a needle-shaped pin inserted subcutaneously into various body parts. It is most commonly inserted by shamans in the orofacial region to grant magical powers to the wearer, such as health, wealth, beauty, and other benefits. These talismans are prevalent among women in South-East Asia countries. CASE REPORT A 75-year-old woman presented with recurrent musculoskeletal symptoms over multiple sites, but physical assessment only revealed mild tenderness over the right hip joint. A plain pelvic radiograph showed incidental findings of susuk around the genital regions, with older skull and pelvic radiograph displaying similar findings. The patient had a susuk insertion more than 20 years ago for marriage stability and beauty. After this incidental discovery, the patient had repeated visits to the clinic to request more imaging to determine whether the susuk were still present after the shaman's attempted mystical removal. She also developed persistent preoccupation, worry, and guilt related to the susuk presence and was referred to psychiatry for further assessment. She was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. She was then started on psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment, with simultaneous spiritual therapy. CONCLUSIONS This case report describes the link between susuk implantation and psychological illness. Even though there are no reports that specifically correlate susuk with generalized anxiety disorder, it has been established that guilt and shame have a strong relationship with anxiety.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Emergence of microneedles as a potential therapeutics in diabetes mellitus

Zahoor I, Singh S, Behl T, Sharma N, Naved T, Subramaniyan V, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2022 Jan;29(3):3302-3322.

PMID: 34755300 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-17346-0

Diabetes mellitus is a severe condition in which the pancreas produces inadequate insulin or the insulin generated is ineffective for utilisation by the body; as a result, insulin therapy is required for control blood sugar levels in patients having type 1 diabetes and is widely recommended in advanced type 2 diabetes patients with uncontrolled diabetes despite dual oral therapy, while subcutaneous insulin administration using hypodermic injection or pump-mediated infusion is the traditional route of insulin delivery and causes discomfort, needle phobia, reduced adherence, and risk of infection. Therefore, transdermal insulin delivery has been extensively explored as an appealing alternative to subcutaneous approaches for diabetes management which not only is non-invasive and easy, but also avoids first-pass metabolism and prevents gastrointestinal degradation. Microneedles have been commonly investigated in human subjects for transdermal insulin administration because they are minimally invasive and painless. The different types of microneedles developed for the transdermal delivery of anti-diabetic drugs are discussed in this review, including solid, dissolving, hydrogel, coated, and hollow microneedles. Numerous microneedle products have entered the market in recent years. But, before the microneedles can be effectively launched into the market, a significant amount of investigation is required to address the numerous challenges. In conclusion, the use of microneedles in the transdermal system is an area worth investigating because of its significant benefits over the oral route in the delivery of anti-diabetic medications and biosensing of blood sugar levels to assure improved clinical outcomes in diabetes management.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Optical manipulation of nano-micro needle array for large volume molecular diagnosis

Aziz MS, Jalil MA, Suwanpayak N, Ali J, Yupapin PP

Artif Cells Blood Substit Immobil Biotechnol, 2012 Aug;40(4):266-70.

PMID: 22409282 DOI: 10.3109/10731199.2012.658470

Optical vorticesare generated and controlled to form trapping tools in the same way as optical tweezers. By using the intense optical vortices generated within the PANDA ring resonator, the required atoms/molecules can be trapped and moved (transported) dynamically within the wavelength router or network. The advantage of the proposed system is that a transmitter and receiver can be formed within the same system, which is available for atoms/molecules storage and transportation based on methods that have been proposed to deliver drugs into cells for specific diagnosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles*

Uncommon radiological findings: a case report

Tandjung YR, Hong CP, Nambiar P, Ibrahim N

Int Dent J, 2007 Jun;57(3):173-6.

PMID: 17695738

A 50-year-old friendly and attractive Chinese lady was examined by the Primary Care Unit, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya. Her requests for treatment included implants and crowns. Two periapical radiographs of teeth 16 and 48 were taken to aid diagnosis. Interestingly, pin-like radio-opaque objects were found over the crown of the impacted tooth 15 and also tooth 17. These objects were initially interpreted as silver points or radiographic artifacts but further investigation employing panoramic radiography revealed the distribution of more radio-opaque objects in the orofacial region. Based on a review of the literature and the opinion of experienced radiology and oral surgery lecturers, these foreign radio-opaque objects were diagnosed as susuks or charm needles.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Special Ultrasound Phantom for Interventional Training: Construction, Advantages, and Application

Qurash MT, Yaacob NY, Azuan N, Khaleel YS, Zakaria R

J Med Ultrasound, 2018 06 18;26(4):210-214.

PMID: 30662153 DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_40_18

Interventional radiology procedures are becoming more challenging over time; thus, there is a need for excellent and reliable training methods. Training on live patients is neither safe nor an ethical solution. Alternatives are many and varied, but the most popular is ultrasound guided simulators. This report shows how a simple, homemade, low-cost phantom material, and construction modules can provide several advantages over ordinary gelatin phantoms. A new layering technique and target synthesis are described for the biopsy phantom, including tips on decreasing the needle pass artifact as well as controlling the mixture echogenicity.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Impact of electrical stimulation on the growth of mycelium of lignosus rhinocerus (cooke) ryvarden

Jamil NAM, Gomes C, Kadir Z, Gomes A

Electromagn Biol Med, 2020 Oct 01;39(4):356-363.

PMID: 32878496 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2020.1812080

Corona discharge from multiple needles at an electrical potential of 5 kV generated by a Van de Graff generator increased the growth rate of the mycelium of tiger's milk mushroom by 10.3% at the end of the first eight days. A similar growth rate enhancement was observed for the next eight days as well. Mycelium of tiger's milk mushroom was cultured on agar media in Petri dish for five days prior to the exposure to various forms of electrical stimulations. The direct current injection (1.1-1.3 A) to the growing medium, application of an electric potential to the growing environment at low strength (30 V) and high strength (5 kV) with single and multiple needles showed varying degrees of success. This suggests that the mycelium of tiger's milk mushroom could positively be stimulated by specific electrical stimulation techniques with selected parameters. This will pave the way to a highly beneficial growth enhancement technique that can be up-scaled to apply in mass production of mushroom.

Matched MeSH terms: Needles

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 71 in total