Towards applying NMR relaxometry as a diagnostic tool for bone and soft tissue sarcomas : a pilot study

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 668119 (project “IDentIFY”). This work received support from the EURELAX COST Action CA15209, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). The authors would like to thank Professor David Lurie for his continuous support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Analysis of musculoskeletal and breast tumours by fast field-cycling MRI

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Medical Applications of Fast Field Cycling MRI

Non peer reviewedPublisher PD

Intraperitoneal drain placement and outcomes after elective colorectal surgery: international matched, prospective, cohort study

Despite current guidelines, intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery remains widespread. Drains were not associated with earlier detection of intraperitoneal collections, but were associated with prolonged hospital stay and increased risk of surgical-site infections.Background Many surgeons routinely place intraperitoneal drains after elective colorectal surgery. However, enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines recommend against their routine use owing to a lack of clear clinical benefit. This study aimed to describe international variation in intraperitoneal drain placement and the safety of this practice. Methods COMPASS (COMPlicAted intra-abdominal collectionS after colorectal Surgery) was a prospective, international, cohort study which enrolled consecutive adults undergoing elective colorectal surgery (February to March 2020). The primary outcome was the rate of intraperitoneal drain placement. Secondary outcomes included: rate and time to diagnosis of postoperative intraperitoneal collections; rate of surgical site infections (SSIs); time to discharge; and 30-day major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo grade at least III). After propensity score matching, multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression were used to estimate the independent association of the secondary outcomes with drain placement. Results Overall, 1805 patients from 22 countries were included (798 women, 44.2 per cent; median age 67.0 years). The drain insertion rate was 51.9 per cent (937 patients). After matching, drains were not associated with reduced rates (odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95 per cent c.i. 0.79 to 2.23; P = 0.287) or earlier detection (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87, 0.33 to 2.31; P = 0.780) of collections. Although not associated with worse major postoperative complications (OR 1.09, 0.68 to 1.75; P = 0.709), drains were associated with delayed hospital discharge (HR 0.58, 0.52 to 0.66; P < 0.001) and an increased risk of SSIs (OR 2.47, 1.50 to 4.05; P < 0.001). Conclusion Intraperitoneal drain placement after elective colorectal surgery is not associated with earlier detection of postoperative collections, but prolongs hospital stay and increases SSI risk

A study of rat mammary parenchyma: cell sorting and clonal characterisation of luminal and myoepithelial cells

Rat mammary gland cell biology has been studied using a novel approach. Parenchymal cell types have been isolated and characterised by clonal behaviour in culture. Culture conditions with which normal mammary cells from adult virgin rats could be cloned with high efficiency were established. Several morphologically distinctive colony types were observed, and cells have been cloned from isolated ducts and alveoli. Luminal and myoepithelial cells were isolated from mammary gland using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). Cells were flow sorted on the basis of the differential expression of two membrane antigens - a 70KD luminal-specific antigen , and neutral endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.11 (NEP/CALLA), which is expressed by myoepithe­ lial cells in the intact gland. Sorted cells were then separately cloned so that the in situ origin of differ­ ent clone types could be unequivocally determined. Monoclonal antibodies recognising cell-type specific cytokeratin polypeptides were used to confirm clonal phenotypes derived from sorted cells. Primary clones have been studied with a panel of cell type-specific markers at various stages of growth, using indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. In order to determine the number of different stable phenotypes and follow their epithelial differentiation status, primary clones have been re-cloned and the phenotypes of progeny colonies examined. These studies demonstrated the existence of distinct multipotent clone types capable of generating cells of both luminal and myoepithelial phenotypes in culture. Responses of the different clones to various growth factors and hormones have been examined. Continuous cell lines have been established from both sorted luminal and myoepithelial cells by retroviral trans­ duction of a recombinant construct encoding a tempera­ ture-sensitive non-DNA binding SV40 large T protein. The behaviour of these lines has been compared with sorted primary cultures, and the organotypic differen­ tiation of both examined in fat pad transplants. The results are analysed in the context of the mechanisms and cellular interactions controlling growth and dif­ ferentiation of the mammary parenchyma in situ

Uncovering a Model for Innovation Practices Through Excelling SMEs

No abstract available

Uncovering a Model for Innovation Practices Through Excelling SMEs

No abstract available