Evidence-based Ultrasound Education? - A Systematic Literature Review of Undergraduate Ultrasound Training Studies.

Despite a large number of studies previously conducted on educational concepts of ultrasound teaching in medical school, various controversial issues remain. Currently, recommendations for ultrasound curricula that aim to standardize ultrasound teaching are frequently based on expert panel advice instead of relying on valid evidence-based literature. In December 2022, a systematic literature review on the subject of undergraduate ultrasound education was conducted.

Transorbital ultrasound in the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of transorbital ultrasound (TOS) in patients newly diagnosed with giant cell arteritis (GCA), presenting with visual symptoms.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed, untreated GCA were examined using TOS, assessing central retinal artery flow velocity [peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI)], and optic nerve diameter (OND). Vascular ultrasound was conducted to evaluate the superficial temporal arteries, their branches, facial, axillary, carotid, and vertebral arteries.

Comparative analysis of contemporary anti-double stranded DNA antibody assays for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Elevated double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels in blood serum are considered a disease-specific marker in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), correlate with disease activity and the incidence of lupus nephritis, and can be detected in up to 86% of all SLE cases. Despite the high clinical relevance, the variety of dsDNA antibody testing methods with heterogenous performance in clinical use remains challenging. This study is the first to prospectively investigate the performance of two of today's most commonly applied anti-dsDNA testing methods head-to-head under real-world conditions, as well as their correlation with other clinical and serological disease parameters in SLE patients.

The Current Situation of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Education: A Systematic Literature Review.

As a radiation-free and dynamic imaging tool, musculoskeletal ultrasound improves diagnostic and therapeutic safety. With its growing application, the demand for training opportunities rises rapidly. Therefore, this work was aimed at mapping the current state of musculoskeletal ultrasonography education.

Preoperative exercise induces endothelial progenitor cell mobilisation in patients undergoing major surgery - A prospective randomised controlled clinical proof-of-concept trial.

Introduction: Prehabilitation is increasingly recognised as a therapeutic option to reduce postoperative complications. Investigating the beneficial effects of exercise on cellular mechanisms, we have previously shown that a single episode of exhaustive exercise effectively stimulates endothelial progenitor cells (a cell population associated with vascular maintenance, repair, angiogenesis, and neovascularization) in correlation with fewer postoperative complications, despite the ongoing debate about the appropriate cell surface marker profiles of these cells (common phenotypical definitions include CD45dim, CD133+, CD34+ and/or CD31+). In order to translate these findings into clinical application, a feasible prehabilitation programme achieving both functional and cellular benefits in a suitable timeframe to expedite surgery is necessary.

Acute Exercise Increases the Expression of KIR2DS4 by Promoter Demethylation in NK Cells.

Positive effects of exercise on cancer prevention and progression have been proposed to be mediated by stimulating natural killer (NK) cells. Because NK cell receptors are regulated by epigenetic modifications, we investigated whether acute aerobic exercise and training change promoter DNA methylation and gene expression of the activating and the inhibiting gene. Sixteen healthy women (50-60 years) performed a graded exercise test (GXT) and were randomized into either a passive control group or an intervention group performing a four-week endurance exercise intervention.