EFSUMB Recommendations and Guidelines for Gastrointestinal Ultrasound - Part 1: Examination Techniques and Normal Findings (Short version)

Abstract ▼ In October 2014 the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology formed a Gastrointestinal Ultrasound (GIUS) task force group to promote the use of GIUS in a clinical setting. One of the main objectives of the task force group was to develop clinical recommendations and guidelines for the use of GIUS under the auspices of EFSUMB. The first part, gives an overview of the examination techniques for GIUS recommended by experts in the field. It also presents the current evidence for the interpretation of normal sonoanatomical and physiological features as examined with different ultrasound modalities

EFSUMB Recommendations and Guidelines for Gastrointestinal Ultrasound - Part 1: Examination Techniques and Normal Findings (Long version).

Abstract ▼ In October 2014 the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology formed a Gastrointestinal Ultrasound (GIUS) task force group to promote the use of GIUS in a clinical setting. One of the main objectives of the task force group was to develop clinical recommendations and guidelines for the use of GIUS under the auspices of EFSUMB. The first part, gives an overview of the examination techniques for GIUS recommended by experts in the field. It also presents the current evidence for the interpretation of normal sonoanatomical and physiological features as examined with different ultrasound modalities

Development of a dairy fouling model to assess the efficacy of cleaning procedures using alkaline and enzymatic products

Dairy fouling is defined as the accumulation of thermally insulating materials or deposits from process fluids which are especially formed on heat transfer surfaces. The selection of suitable cleaning strategies to remove dairy fouling requires the understanding of its composition and the relationships with the surfaces where it is formed. For the industry, the development of novel strategies to test cleaning products, as well reducing water and energy consumption during the dairy processing operations is of enormous interest. The results showed the development of a laboratory-milk fouling model (MFM) with an average content of 52.8 mg/cm2 of fouling in the test coupons. Seven different cleaners were tested with a fouling removal effectiveness of between 55% and 97%. Additionally, for evaluating the cleaning process of the model, the turbidity of the cleaning solutions was assessed. We presented an enzymatic alternative to the use of traditional cleaning products, with a similar efficacy against the dairy fouling. 78% of fouling removal after the use of enzymatic solution, in comparison to the 72% of fouling removal after the use of alkaline cleaning products. A reduction in water (−33.3%) and temperature (−28.5%), as well as shorter cleaning times (−33%) than its chemical alternative, was observed.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy in noncardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The goal directed hemodynamic therapy is an approach focused on the use of cardiac output and related parameters as end-points for fluids and drugs to optimize tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Primary aim: To determine the effects of intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy on postoperative complications rates. Methods: A meta-analysis was carried out of the effects of goal directed hemodynamic therapy in adult noncardiac surgery on postoperative complications and mortality using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. A systematic search was performed in Medline PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (last update, October 2014). Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials in which intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy was compared to conventional fluid management in noncardiac surgery. Exclusion criteria were trauma and pediatric surgery studies and that using pulmonary artery catheter. End-points were postoperative complications (primary) and mortality (secondary). Those studies that fulfilled the entry criteria were examined in full and subjected to quantifiable analysis, predefined subgroup analysis (stratified by type of monitor, therapy, and hemodynamic goal), and predefined sensitivity analysis. Results: 51 RCTs were initially identified, 24 fulfilling the inclusion criteria. 5 randomized clinical trials were added by manual search, resulting in 29 randomized clinical trials in the final analysis, including 2654 patients. A significant reduction in complications for goal directed hemodynamic therapy was observed (RR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.62-0.79, p < 0.001). No significant decrease in mortality was achieved (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.45-1.28, p = 0.30). Quality sensitive analyses confirmed the main overall results. Conclusions: Intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy with minimally invasive monitoring decreases postoperative complications in noncardiac surgery, although it was not able to show a significant decrease in mortality rate

A human iPSC line capable of differentiating into functional macrophages expressing ZsGreen: a tool for the study and in vivo tracking of therapeutic cells

We describe the production of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line, SFCi55-ZsGr, that has been engineered to express the fluorescent reporter gene, ZsGreen, in a constitutive manner. The CAG-driven ZsGreen expression cassette was inserted into the AAVS1 locus and a high level of expression was observed in undifferentiated iPSCs and in cell lineages derived from all three germ layers including haematopoietic cells, hepatocytes and neurons. We demonstrate efficient production of terminally differentiated macrophages from the SFCi55-ZsGreen iPSC line and show that they are indistinguishable from those generated from their parental SFCi55 iPSC line in terms of gene expression, cell surface marker expression and phagocytic activity. The high level of ZsGreen expression had no effect on the ability of macrophages to be activated to an M(LPS + IFNγ), M(IL10) or M(IL4) phenotype nor on their plasticity, assessed by their ability to switch from one phenotype to another. Thus, targeting of the AAVS1 locus in iPSCs allows for the production of fully functional, fluorescently tagged human macrophages that can be used for in vivo tracking in disease models. The strategy also provides a platform for the introduction of factors that are predicted to modulate and/or stabilize macrophage function. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Designer human tissue: coming to a lab near you’

Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Hepatocytes Inhibit T Cell Proliferation In Vitro through Tryptophan Starvation.

Regenerative medicine aims to replace damaged tissues by stimulating endogenous tissue repair or by transplanting autologous or allogeneic cells. Due to their capacity to produce unlimited numbers of cells of a given cell type, pluripotent stem cells, whether of embryonic origin or induced via the reprogramming of somatic cells, are of considerable therapeutic interest in the regenerative medicine field. However, regardless of the cell type, host immune responses present a barrier to success. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the immunological properties of human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs). These cells expressed MHC class I molecules while they lacked MHC class II and co-stimulatory molecules, such as CD80 and CD86. Following stimulation with IFN-γ, HLCs upregulated CD40, PD-L1 and MHC class I molecules. When co-cultured with allogeneic T cells, HLCs did not induce T cell proliferation; furthermore, when T cells were stimulated via αCD3/CD28 beads, HLCs inhibited their proliferation via IDO1 and tryptophan deprivation. These results demonstrate that PSC-derived HLCs possess immunoregulatory functions, at least in vitro