Tuning template for radiography in Europe

The following document is the Tuning Template for Radiography Education in Europe. Radiography is one of the Socrates Thematic Networks which will incorporate Tuning methodology. The Higher Education Network for Radiography in Europe (HENRE Network) will thus play a central role in describing and updating radiography qualifications making considerable strides in relation to the Bologna agenda. The first draft of this Tuning Template was originally prepared by Phil Harris, Anja Kettunen, Luís Lança, Margarida Ribeiro and Luísa Vieira in sub-group 1 meeting held at Lancaster, UK 18/19 May 2007

Overview of the tuning template for radiography in Europe

HENRE II (Higher Education Network for Radiography in Europe)The following is an overview of the Tuning Template for Radiography Education in Europe developed by subgroup 1 of the HENRE II Thematic Network. In this context, a template provides a description of a subject area (in this case radiography) as a guide for subject specialists to develop their own programme of study and for others to identify the scope of the subject area. Tuning Educational Structures in Europe (Tuning), an EU funded Socrates Life Long Learning project, developed a methodology to design and to deliver degree programmes using a learning outcomes and competence framework approach linked to ECTS credits based on student workload. The Tuning methodology consists of 5 lines: Line 1. Generic Competences; Line 2. Subject Specific competences; Line 3. The role of ECTS as a credit transfer and accumulation system; Line 4. Approaches to learning, teaching and assessment; Line 5. The role of quality enhancement in the educational process. The Tuning Template for radiography, which deals with the Lines 1 to 4 inclusive, therefore provides particular reference points which allow for flexibility and autonomy in curriculum design and construction providing a common language and thus understanding to permit points of convergence in radiography programme development. Programmes of study therefore should become comparable, compatible and transparent. Across Europe. The Higher Education Network for Radiography in Europe (HENRE) has been instrumental in developing this template for the development of radiography degree courses thus making considerable strides in relation to the Bologna process. The Bologna process aims to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010 making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe to enable students choice from a wide range of quality courses. It is named after the University of Bologna, when in 1999, the Bologna declaration was signed by Ministers of Education from 29 European countries

SARS-CoV-2, alcohol consumption and liver injury

: Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor sites for severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the disease called Covid-19 are present in the liver, especially in correspondence with cholangiocytes. Liver damage during SARS-Cov-2 infection can be due to several mechanism including direct cytopathic effect, synergy of intestinal damage / liver damage (lipopolysaccharides / Kupfer and other cells interaction), uncontrolled immune reaction (lymphopenia and significant increase in C reactive protein, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer, interleukin (IL)-6, IL- 10, IL-2, interferon-gamma ...), sepsis, drug-induced liver injury, hypoxia and thromboembolic events. An increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from 14 to 58% and alanine transaminase (ALT) from 21 to 76% has been reported. The mean level of AST and ALT has been reported to be higher in patients admitted to the intensive care unit than in those hospitalized in the ordinary hospital unit. The correlation of liver damage with worse prognosis is now a known fact, confirmed by numerous studies, in all pandemic phases. The consumption of alcohol reduces both innate and acquired immune activity and it has been hypothesized that this habit is correlated with liver increase of ACE2 receptors. Furthermore, non-alcoholic and alcoholic steatosis / steatohepatitis is a breeding ground for the development of oxidative stress. In this context, any encounter with SARS-Cov-2 infection can support and aggravate the systemic cytokine tsunami

Quantification of ultrasound imaging in the staging of hepatic fibrosis

The need for a staging of hepatic fibrosis has become particularly urgent in the last few years in order to start new therapeutic treatments. The objective of this study is to identify ultrasound descriptors and achieve a staging of hepatic fibrosis with non-invasive, rapid and inexpensive methods, both as an alternative and a support to the ultrasound elastography examination

Overview of the Tuning Template for Radiography in Europe

The following is an overview of the Tuning Template for Radiography Education in Europe developed by subgroup 1 of the HENRE II Thematic Network. In this context, a template provides a description of a subject area (in this case radiography) as a guide for subject specialists to develop their own programme of study and for others to identify the scope of the subject area. Tuning Educational Structures in Europe (Tuning), an EU funded Socrates Life Long Learning project, developed a methodology to design and to deliver degree programmes using a learning outcomes and competence framework approach linked to ECTS credits based on student workload. The Tuning methodology consists of 5 lines: Line 1 Generic Competences. Line 2 Subject Specific competences. Line 3 The role of ECTS as a credit transfer and accumulation system. Line 4 Approaches to learning, teaching and assessment. Line 5 The role of quality enhancement in the educational process. The Tuning Template for radiography, which deals with the Lines 1 to 4 inclusive, therefore provides particular reference points which allow for flexibility and autonomy in curriculum design and construction providing a common language and thus understanding to permit points of convergence in radiography programme development. Programmes of study therefore should become comparable, compatible and transparent. Across Europe. The Higher Education Network for Radiography in Europe (HENRE) has been instrumental in developing this template for the development of radiography degree courses thus making considerable strides in relation to the Bologna process. The Bologna process aims to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010 making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe to enable students choice from a wide range of quality courses. It is named after the University of Bologna, when in 1999, the Bologna declaration was signed by Ministers of Education from 29 European countries. The three priorities for Bologna are the recognition of a three cycle degree system (bachelor, masters, doctorate), quality assurance and qualification recognition. Since Bologna, further Ministerial meetings have been held in Prague (2001), Berlin (2003), Bergen (2005) and London ( 2007) with a further meeting to be held in Leuven/Louvain-La-Neuve in April 2009. For more information on Bologna, visit the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/educ/bologna/bologna_en.htm

May standard basal echocardiogram allow to obtain predictors of asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction in alcoholics?

Background: Long-lasting heavy alcohol intake has been progressively recognized as a leading cause of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, involving 10% of all people who use alcohol. It is of huge importance to identify the earliest markers of this dysfunction and it is known that the newest echocardiographic techniques such as speckle tracking may allow to do it. In this study we investigated if standard basal echocardiogram features allow to obtain predictors of asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction in alcoholics. Methods: A population of 80 consecutive asymptomatic alcoholics was enrolled. None presented history, signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease. All of them underwent a conventional transthoracic mono-bidimensional and doppler echocardiography. Results: Our cohort did not present echocardiographic findings of increased left ventricular sizes, mass or relative wall thickness. Hence, a significant rate of systolic dysfunction was not found. Furthermore, statistical analysis displayed an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure as well as between alcohol abuse and left atrium enlargement. This may be explained by a potential vasodilator mechanism occurring in the earliest stages of alcohol intake. On the contrary, a positive correlation with the E/A ratio was found, and this might be ascribed to state of high cardiac output determined by alcohol abuse. There were modes sex-related differences. Conclusions: This study has demonstrated that standard echocardiography may allow to predict cardiac dysfunction in asymptomatic alcoholics, and sex-related differences may be identified in this regard. These data need to be confirmed by further studies involving larger population

Beyond biologics: advanced therapies in inflammatory bowel diseases

: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are conditions characterized by persistent and relapsing inflammation involving the gastrointestinal tract at various levels. Although the etiopathogenesis of IBDs is partially understood, a deregulated activation of intestinal immune cells in genetically susceptible patients is thought to be key for the disease onset and evolution. Artificial Nutrition might affect favorably on inflammation and related cytokine storm. However, the discovery of monoclonal antibodies blocking pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α - TNF-α) changed radically the management of IBDs. Anti-TNF-α agents represent the prototype molecule of the so-called 'biologics' / 'biologicals'. These compounds have significantly improved the therapeutic management of IBDs refractory to standard medications, achieving clinical remission, mucosal healing and preventing extra-intestinal manifestations. However, about 50% of patients treated with biologicals experienced drawbacks, such as primary failure or loss of response, requiring new effective treatments. Translational studies have identified other pathways, different from the TNF-α blockade, and new molecules, e.g. sphingosine-1-phosphate agonists and the JAK kinase inhibitors, have been proposed as potential therapeutic options for IBDs. These novel therapeutic approaches represent a "new era" of IBD management, especially for patients poorly responsive to biologicals. In this review, we will summarize the new pharmacological strategies to treat IBDs, and discuss their effectiveness and safety, along with future perspectives for IBD treatment

Proposal for the enhancement of alcohology (prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol problems): the position of Società Italiana di Alcologia (SIA), Federazione Italiana degli Operatori dei Dipartimenti e dei Servizi delle Dipendenze (FeDerSerD) and Società Italiana Tossicodipendenze (SITD)

Proposal for the enhancement of alcohology (prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol problems): the position of Società Italiana di Alcologia (SIA), Federazione Italiana degli Operatori dei Dipartimenti e dei Servizi delle Dipendenze (FeDerSerD) and Società Italiana Tossicodipendenze (SITD

Alcohol-related chronic exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: diagnosis and therapeutic management. A proposal for treatment by the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas (AISP) and the Italian Society of Alcohology (SIA)

Current estimates of the prevalence of chronic pancreatitis, one of the most common causes of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, are in the range of 3-10 per 100,000 people in many parts of the world. Alcohol consumption is a very important risk factor for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and is involved in nearly half of all cases. The main hypothesis regarding the role of chronic alcohol consumption in pancreatitis is that there must be additional environmental or genetic risk factors involved for ongoing damage to occur. Treatment of patients with alcohol-related exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is complex, as the patient has two concomitant pathologies, alcohol-use disorder (AUD) and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency/chronic pancreatitis. Alcohol abstinence is the starting point for treatment, although even this along with the most advanced therapies allow only a slowdown in progression rather than restoration of function. This position paper of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas and the Italian Society of Alcohology provides an overview of the pathogenesis of alcohol-related pancreatitis and discuss diagnostic issues. Treatment options for both exocrine pancreatic insufficiency/chronic pancreatitis (with a focus on pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy) and AUD (acamprosate, disulfiram, oral naltrexone, long-acting injectable naltrexone, sodium oxybate, nalmefene, baclofen, and psychosocial interventions) are also reviewed