On-Chip Thermoelectric Devices Based on Standard Silicon Processing.

The strong reduction of thermal conductivity with respect to bulk silicon makes nanostructured silicon one of the best materials for highly efficient direct conversion of heat into electrical power and vice-versa. The widespread technologies for the integration of silicon devices can be used to define on-chip micro thermoelectric generators (scavengers); similar structures could also be used for precise and well-localized cooling through the reverse process of heat pumping. However, the road to the fabrication of integrated thermal energy scavengers or cooler, based on silicon, is still very long.

Role of Lugol solution before total thyroidectomy for Graves' disease: randomized clinical trial.

Background: Lugol solution is often administered to patients with Graves' disease before surgery. The aim is to reduce thyroid vascularization and surgical morbidity, but its real effectiveness remains controversial. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of preoperative Lugol solution on thyroid vascularization and surgical morbidity in patients with Graves' disease undergoing total thyroidectomy.

Double CYP11B1/CYP11B2 Immunohistochemistry and Detection of KCNJ5 Mutations in Primary Aldosteronism.

Context: The search for somatic mutations in adrenals resected from patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is performed by Sanger sequencing, often implemented with immunohistochemistry (IHC)-guidance focused on aldosterone-producing (CYP11B2-positive) areas.

Objective: To investigate the impact of double IHC for CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 on Sanger and next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Methods: We investigated 127 consecutive adrenal aldosterone-producing adenomas from consenting surgically cured PA patients using double IHC for CYP11B1 and CYP11B2, by Sanger sequencing and NGS.

First Evidence of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Gene and Protein Expression in Rat and Human Thyroid Tissues and Cell Cultures.

Aldosterone (Aldo) exerts its action through binding with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Clinically, a link between primary aldosteronism (PA) and thyroid diseases has been hypothesised. However, the presence and activity of MR on the thyroid have not yet been demonstrated.

Editorial: focus on waste-heat harvesting via thermoelectric conversion: materials, devices and systems for sustainable energy technologies.

The focus collection 'Waste-heat harvestingthermoelectric conversion: Materials, devices and systems for sustainable energy technologies' collates several research articles and a Roadmap highlighting the most recent advances in the field of thermoelectricity from the viewpoint of both basic and applied research, with a special eye on the work of the Italian community.