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Weimer JM, Kuhn E, Ludwig M, Malle GL, Kapipi G, Schäfer VS, Sadiq A, Henke O. Effectiveness of an ultrasound basic cancer training program through on-site training and virtual case discussions in rural Tanzania: a proof-of-concept study. Ecancermedicalscience 2024; 18:1722. [PMID: 39026658 PMCID: PMC11257097 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2024.1722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cancer rates are rising in low- and middle-income countries. While point-of-care ultrasound is now available globally and could serve to mitigate against this rise, its use in diagnosing cancers is inconsistent in lower-resourced healthcare contexts. This proof-of-concept study investigates the feasibility of an ultrasound training concept in a low-resource setting. It evaluates whether this educational concept led to improved knowledge and application of ultrasound diagnostics, cancer screening and staging and patient care. Material and methods The curriculum was developed through expert exchange and is based on the World Health Organisation's Manual of Diagnostic Ultrasound. It consisted of two didactic components: an on-site training phase across 5 days for a total of 24 hours, and a digital follow-up phase involving the meeting of a bi-weekly tumor board online. The learning objectives of the on-site training were normal imaging and recognition of common pathologies of the abdominal organs, vessels, lymph nodes, female breasts and lungs. The virtual tumour boards met to discuss cases and ultrasound findings, thus aiding continuing professional development after the training sessions had concluded. The face-to-face course component was accompanied by tests given before and after training as well as an evaluation sheet (Likert-scale with 1 = 'completely/very good' and 7 'not at all/very poor'). Results Of 20 participants from a rural hospital in Tanzania, a total of 16 were included in the analysis (clinical officers n = 6; medical officers n = 10). A significant increase in knowledge (p < 0.01) was measured both in the subjective self-assessment and in the theoretical competence tests. In multivariate linear regression, the status 'medical officers yes' (β = 5.4; p = 0.04) had a significant influence on theory test results at T2. During the 24 virtual tumour board meetings, 28 cases were discussed and a continuous improvement in image acquisition quality was observed. Conclusion The ultrasound education concept comes with a sustainable increase in clinical competence and improved oncological ultrasound screening locally. There is potential for the transfer of the concept to other locations, which can be explored in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Matthias Weimer
- Rudolf -Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz 55131, Germany
| | - Eva Kuhn
- Section Global Health, Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany
| | - Michael Ludwig
- Section Global Health, Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hospital of the German Armed Forces, Berlin 10115, Germany
| | | | - Godfrid Kapipi
- Marangu Lutheran Hospital, PO Box 107, Marangu, Tanzania
| | - Valentin Sebastian Schäfer
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Clinic of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Adnan Sadiq
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi 2240, Tanzania
| | - Oliver Henke
- Section Global Health, Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany
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Cardoso-Lezama I, Ramos-Tovar E, Arellanes-Robledo J, Vargas-Pozada EE, Vásquez-Garzón VR, Villa-Treviño S, Muriel P. Serum α-SMA is a potential noninvasive biomarker of liver fibrosis. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:13-19. [PMID: 37528633 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2244061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
The severity of fibrosis is central to the therapeutic course for patients with chronic liver disease; therefore, early detection of liver fibrosis is critical for timely therapeutic interventions. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis; however, it is contraindicated in several pathological conditions. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main cells for fibrotic tissue synthesis, such as that of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). This study aimed to determine whether serum α-SMA levels are a suitable noninvasive, sensitive, and reliable liver fibrosis marker. Fibrosis was induced in male Wistar rats via chronic CCl4 administration. Fibrosis was determined in the liver tissues by quantifying the hydroxyproline content and visualized using Masson's trichrome staining. Rats chronically administered CCl4 exhibited a progressive increment in the hepatic collagen content, as well as both hepatic and serum α-SMA levels in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, serum levels of α-SMA significantly correlated with hepatic α-SMA levels (p ≤ 0.001), as well as with the severity of liver fibrosis (p ≤ 0.001). These findings suggest that increased levels of serum α-SMA can be considered a potential reliable and noninvasive biomarker for early liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Cardoso-Lezama
- Departamento de Farmacología, Laboratorio de Hepatología Experimental, Centro de Investigación y de estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Erika Ramos-Tovar
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Jaime Arellanes-Robledo
- Laboratorio de Enfermedades Hepáticas, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica, Ciudad de México, México. Dirección de Cátedras, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Eduardo E Vargas-Pozada
- Departamento de Farmacología, Laboratorio de Hepatología Experimental, Centro de Investigación y de estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Verónica Rocío Vásquez-Garzón
- CONACYT-Facultad de Medicina y Cirugía, Universidad Autónoma 'Benito Juárez' de Oaxaca, Ex Hacienda de Aguilera S/N, Oaxaca, México
| | - Saúl Villa-Treviño
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigación y de estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Pablo Muriel
- Departamento de Farmacología, Laboratorio de Hepatología Experimental, Centro de Investigación y de estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
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Merkel D, Züllich TF, Schneider C, Yousefzada M, Beer D, Ludwig M, Weimer A, Künzel J, Kloeckner R, Weimer JM. Prospective Comparison of Handheld Ultrasound Devices from Different Manufacturers with Respect to B-Scan Quality and Clinical Significance for Various Abdominal Sonography Questions. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3622. [PMID: 38132206 PMCID: PMC10742722 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13243622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Handheld ultrasound (HHUS) devices have chiefly been deployed in emergency medicine, where they are considered a valid tool. The data situation is less clear in the case of internal questions in abdominal sonography. In our study, we investigate whether HHUS devices from different manufacturers differ in their B-scan quality, and whether any differences are relevant for the significance of an internal ultrasound examination. METHOD The study incorporated eight HHUS devices from different manufacturers. Ultrasound videos of seven defined sonographic questions were recorded with all of the devices. The analogue recording of the same findings with a conventional high-end ultrasound (HEUS) device served as an evaluation criterion. Then, the corresponding findings were played side by side and evaluated by fourteen ultrasound experts using a point scale (5 points = very good; 1 point = insufficient). RESULTS The HHUS devices achieved relatively good results in terms of both the B-scan quality assessment and the ability to answer the clinical question, regardless of the manufacturer. One of the tested HHUS devices even achieved a significantly (p < 0.05) higher average points score in both the evaluation of B-scan quality and in the evaluation of clinical significance than the other devices. Regardless of the manufacturer, the HHUS devices performed best when determining the status/inferior vena cava volume and in the representation of ascites/free fluid. CONCLUSION In various clinical abdominal sonography questions, HHUS systems can reliably reproduce findings, and are-while bearing their limitations in mind-an acceptable alternative to conventional HEUS systems. Irrespective of this, the present study demonstrated relevant differences in the B-scan quality of HHUS devices from different manufacturers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Merkel
- BIKUS—Brandenburg Institute for Clinical Ultrasound, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane (MHB), 16816 Neuruppin, Germany;
- Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany; (T.F.Z.); (C.S.); (M.Y.); (D.B.)
| | - Tim Felix Züllich
- Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany; (T.F.Z.); (C.S.); (M.Y.); (D.B.)
| | - Christoph Schneider
- Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany; (T.F.Z.); (C.S.); (M.Y.); (D.B.)
| | - Masuod Yousefzada
- Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany; (T.F.Z.); (C.S.); (M.Y.); (D.B.)
| | - Diana Beer
- Immanuel Klinik Rüdersdorf, University Hospital of the Brandenburg Medical School, 15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin, Germany; (T.F.Z.); (C.S.); (M.Y.); (D.B.)
| | - Michael Ludwig
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Hospital of the German Armed Forces Berlin, 10115 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Andreas Weimer
- Center of Orthopedics, Trauma Surgery and Spinal Cord Injury, Heidelberg University Hospital Heidelberg, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Julian Künzel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany;
| | - Roman Kloeckner
- Institute of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein—Campus Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany;
| | - Johannes Matthias Weimer
- Rudolf Frey Learning Clinic, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Franks PW, Cefalu WT, Dennis J, Florez JC, Mathieu C, Morton RW, Ridderstråle M, Sillesen HH, Stehouwer CDA. Precision medicine for cardiometabolic disease: a framework for clinical translation. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2023; 11:822-835. [PMID: 37804856 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-8587(23)00165-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
Cardiometabolic disease is a major threat to global health. Precision medicine has great potential to help to reduce the burden of this common and complex disease cluster, and to enhance contemporary evidence-based medicine. Its key pillars are diagnostics; prediction (of the primary disease); prevention (of the primary disease); prognosis (prediction of complications of the primary disease); treatment (of the primary disease or its complications); and monitoring (of risk exposure, treatment response, and disease progression or remission). To contextualise precision medicine in both research and clinical settings, and to encourage the successful translation of discovery science into clinical practice, in this Series paper we outline a model (the EPPOS model) that builds on contemporary evidence-based approaches; includes precision medicine that improves disease-related predictions by stratifying a cohort into subgroups of similar characteristics, or using participants' characteristics to model treatment outcomes directly; includes personalised medicine with the use of a person's data to objectively gauge the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of therapeutics; and subjectively tailors medical decisions to the individual's preferences, circumstances, and capabilities. Precision medicine requires a well functioning system comprised of multiple stakeholders, including health-care recipients, health-care providers, scientists, health economists, funders, innovators of medicines and technologies, regulators, and policy makers. Powerful computing infrastructures supporting appropriate analysis of large-scale, well curated, and accessible health databases that contain high-quality, multidimensional, time-series data will be required; so too will prospective cohort studies in diverse populations designed to generate novel hypotheses, and clinical trials designed to test them. Here, we carefully consider these topics and describe a framework for the integration of precision medicine in cardiometabolic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul W Franks
- Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Science, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Hellerup, Denmark; Lund University Diabetes Centre, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden; Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - William T Cefalu
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John Dennis
- Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jose C Florez
- Diabetes Unit and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Programs in Metabolism and Medical & Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chantal Mathieu
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, UZ Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robert W Morton
- Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Science, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Hellerup, Denmark
| | | | - Henrik H Sillesen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical Science, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Hellerup, Denmark
| | - Coen D A Stehouwer
- CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands; Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, Netherlands
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