scholarly journals The renal parenchyma—evaluation of a novel ultrasound measurement to assess fetal renal development: protocol for an observational longitudinal study

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. e019369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Brennan ◽  
Michal Schneider ◽  
David Watson ◽  
Yogavijayan Kandasamy ◽  
Donna Rudd

IntroductionDisorders of fetal growth, such as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and large for gestational age (LGA), have been found to have a profound effect on the development of the fetal kidney. Abnormal kidney development is associated with hypertension and chronic kidney disease later in life. This study will use a novel ultrasound measurement to assess the renal parenchymal growth and kidney arterial blood flow in the fetus to evaluate the development of the fetal kidneys and provide an indirect estimate of nephron number. Measurements in normally grown, IUGR and LGA fetuses will be compared to determine if changes in renal parenchymal growth can be detected in utero.Methods and analysisThis longitudinal, prospective, observational study will be conducted over 12 months in the Ultrasound Department of the Townsville Hospital, Australia. The study will compare fetal renal parenchymal thickness (RPT) and renal artery Doppler flow between IUGR fetuses and appropriately grown fetuses, and LGA fetuses and appropriately grown fetuses between 16 and 40 weeks. The fetal RPT to renal volume ratio will also be compared, and correlations between RPT, renal parenchymal echogenicity, fetal Doppler indices and amniotic fluid levels will be analysed.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Townsville Health District Human Research Ethics Committee. The study results will form part of a thesis and will be published in peer-reviewed journals and disseminated at international conferences.

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-169
Author(s):  
Eiji Kobayashi ◽  
Shin Enosawa

Abstract: Introduction: Research has made progress in organ fabrication using an extracellular matrix, cell sheets, or organoids. Human liver tissue has been constructed using a 3-dimensional (3D) bioprinter and showed evidence that an in vitro generated liver bud was reformed in a rodent liver model. This study describes the stages of development of rat fetal organs and liver structure and reviews recent progress in liver organoid transplantation. Methods: The authors developed the procedures for creating a transected plane for use in experimental microsurgery in rats. A liver lobe was fixed vertically with gauze and it was ligated with 6-0 silk suture in the cut line; the parenchyma was cut, and major vessels were ligated to create the transected plane. The ligated tissue was carefully resected. Hemostasis was not required and hepatic components remained on the transected plane. The plane was covered by omentum. Results: Using this model, we transplanted fetal liver or a 3D bioprinted liver organoid. This microsurgical method enabled creation of an intact liver parenchyma plane. No bleeding was observed. The transplanted liver components successfully engrafted on the liver. Conclusion: This method may provide an essential environment for growing liver using portal and arterial blood flow.


2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xenia Descovich ◽  
Giuseppe Pontrelli ◽  
Sauro Succi ◽  
Simone Melchionna ◽  
Manfred Bammer

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Jayasree Nair ◽  
Lauren Davidson ◽  
Sylvia Gugino ◽  
Carmon Koenigsknecht ◽  
Justin Helman ◽  
...  

The optimal timing of cord clamping in asphyxia is not known. Our aims were to determine the effect of ventilation (sustained inflation–SI vs. positive pressure ventilation–V) with early (ECC) or delayed cord clamping (DCC) in asphyxiated near-term lambs. We hypothesized that SI with DCC improves gas exchange and hemodynamics in near-term lambs with asphyxial bradycardia. A total of 28 lambs were asphyxiated to a mean blood pressure of 22 mmHg. Lambs were randomized based on the timing of cord clamping (ECC—immediate, DCC—60 s) and mode of initial ventilation into five groups: ECC + V, ECC + SI, DCC, DCC + V and DCC + SI. The magnitude of placental transfusion was assessed using biotinylated RBC. Though an asphyxial bradycardia model, 2–3 lambs in each group were arrested. There was no difference in primary outcomes, the time to reach baseline carotid blood flow (CBF), HR ≥ 100 bpm or MBP ≥ 40 mmHg. SI reduced pulmonary (PBF) and umbilical venous (UV) blood flow without affecting CBF or umbilical arterial blood flow. A significant reduction in PBF with SI persisted for a few minutes after birth. In our model of perinatal asphyxia, an initial SI breath increased airway pressure, and reduced PBF and UV return with an intact cord. Further clinical studies evaluating the timing of cord clamping and ventilation strategy in asphyxiated infants are warranted.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e041458
Author(s):  
Vicki Anderson ◽  
Vanessa C Rausa ◽  
Nicholas Anderson ◽  
Georgia Parkin ◽  
Cathriona Clarke ◽  
...  

IntroductionWhile most children recover from a concussion shortly after injury, approximately 30% experience persistent postconcussive symptoms (pPCS) beyond 1-month postinjury. Existing research into the treatment of pPCS have evaluated unimodal approaches, despite evidence suggesting that pPCS likely represent an interaction across various symptom clusters. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multimodal, symptom-tailored intervention to accelerate symptom recovery and increase the proportion of children with resolved symptoms at 3 months postconcussion.Methods and analysisIn this open-label, assessor-blinded, randomised clinical trial, children with concussion aged 8–18 years will be recruited from The Royal Children’s Hospital (The RCH) emergency department, or referred by a clinician, within 17 days of initial injury. Based on parent ratings of their child’s PCS at ~10 days postinjury, symptomatic children (≥2 symptoms at least 1-point above those endorsed preinjury) will undergo a baseline assessment at 3 weeks postinjury and randomised into either Concussion Essentials (CE, n=108), a multimodal, interdisciplinary delivered, symptom-tailored treatment involving physiotherapy, psychology and education, or usual care (UC, n=108) study arms. CE participants will receive 1 hour of intervention each week, for up to 8 weeks or until pPCS resolve. A postprogramme assessment will be conducted at 3 months postinjury for all participants. Effectiveness of the CE intervention will be determined by the proportion of participants for whom pPCS have resolved at the postprogramme assessment (primary outcome) relative to the UC group. Secondary outcome analyses will examine whether children receiving CE are more likely to demonstrate resolution of pPCS, earlier return to normal activity, higher quality of life and a lower rate of utilisation of health services, compared with the UC group.Ethics and disseminationEthics were approved by The RCH Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC: 37100). Parent, and for mature minors, participant consent, will be obtained prior to commencement of the trial. Study results will be disseminated at international conferences and international peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberACTRN12617000418370; pre-results.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadao Kuribara ◽  
Tatsuo Ichikawa ◽  
Kiyoshi Osa ◽  
Takeshi Inoue ◽  
Satoshi Ono ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is rarely performed for pancreatic cancer with hepatic arterial invasion owing to its poor prognosis and high surgical risks. Although there has been a recent increase in the reports of PD combined with hepatic arterial resection due to improvements in disease prognosis and operative safety, PD with major arterial resection and reconstruction is still considered a challenging treatment. Case presentation A 61-year-old man with back pain was diagnosed with pancreatic head and body cancer. Although distant metastasis was not confirmed, the tumor had extensively invaded the hepatic artery; therefore, we diagnosed the patient with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer. After gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP) therapy, the tumor considerably decreased in size from 35 to 20 mm. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a gap between the tumor and the hepatic artery. Tumor marker levels returned to their normal range, and we decided to perform conversion surgery. In this case, an artery of liver segment 2 (A2) had branched from the left gastric artery; therefore, we decided to preserve A2 and perform PD combined with hepatic arterial resection without reconstruction. After four cycles of GnP therapy, we performed hepatic arterial embolization to prevent postoperative ischemic complications prior to surgery. Immediately after embolization, collateral arterial blood flow to the liver was observed. Operation was performed 19 days after embolization. Although there was a temporary increase in liver enzyme levels and an ischemic region was found near the surface of segment 8 of the liver after surgery, no liver abscess developed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and S-1 was administered for a year as adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient is currently alive without any ischemic liver events and cholangitis and has not experienced recurrence in the past 4 years since the surgery. Conclusions In PD for pancreatic cancer with hepatic arterial invasion, if a part of the hepatic artery is aberrant and can be preserved, combined resection of the common and proper hepatic artery without reconstruction might be feasible for both curability and safety.


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 2779-2789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claus Christian Pieper ◽  
Winfried A. Willinek ◽  
Daniel Thomas ◽  
Hojjat Ahmadzadehfar ◽  
Markus Essler ◽  
...  

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