Gastrointestinal Ultrasound - measurements and normal findings. What do you need to know?

Background: A standardized examination procedure and correct bowel wall assessment are the prerequisites for correct findings and for distinguishing normal findings from pathological diagnoses. PubMed was searched for the time period from January 01, 1990 - March 29, 2024, using a Boolean search Summary: The present work provides knowledge and details of the examination of the gastrointestinal tract in transcutaneous ultrasound with examination procedure, transducer selection, transducer guidance, knowledge of the identification of anatomical structures and sonographic assessment. The sonographic reference values for the gastrointestinal tract were researched, compiled, and interpreted.

Transabdominal Ultrasound of the Stomach in Patients with Functional Dyspepsia: A Review.

Dyspepsia is a very common condition worldwide and has an immense impact on quality of life. Functional dyspepsia (FD) is defined by dyspeptic symptoms with the absence of any structural abnormality that can explain the cause. Ultrasonography (US) is a non-invasive imaging modality that can be applied to assess gastric function.

Multiparametric liver assessment in patients successfully treated for hepatitis C: a 4-year follow-up.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, in which liver stiffness increases. Liver stiffness measurements (LSM) are therefore essential in diagnosing liver diseases and predicting disease development. The study objective was to perform a comprehensive prospective assessment of the liver before, after and 4 years after treatment for HCV, including an assessment of the long-term outcome of fibrosis, steatosis and inflammation.

Factors underlying the long-term efficacy of faecal microbiota transplantation for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The long-term effects of the transplant dose, its administration route and repeated faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on the outcomes of FMT for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are unknown. This study included 171 patients (125 females and 46 males): 90 g of donor feces was administered into the large intestine (LI) in 58, into the small intestine (SI) in 57, and into the SI twice (repeated SI) in 56. The patients provided a fecal sample and completed five questionnaires at the baseline and at 2 years after FMT.

The acute effect of a β-glucan-enriched oat bread on gastric emptying, GLP-1 response, and postprandial glycaemia and insulinemia: a randomised crossover trial in healthy adults.

Background: The cereal fibre β-glucan reduces postprandial glycaemia, however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a β-glucan-enriched oat bread on gastric emptying half-time (T), gastric emptying lag phase (T), and gastric emptying rate (GER), and the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) as potential means to influence postprandial glycaemia.

Methods: A randomised crossover trial was conducted in 22 healthy adults (age 24.

Increasing the transplant dose and repeating faecal microbiota transplantation results in the responses of male patients with IBS reaching those of females.

Background: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) performed with a proper protocol is a safe treatment for IBS that has high efficacy and durable effects. Females have been reported to respond better than males to FMT. The present study aimed at determining whether increasing the transplant dose or repeating FMT improve the responses of males to FMT.

Comments and illustrations of the WFUMB CEUS liver guidelines: Rare benign focal liver lesion, part I.

Improved detection and characterization of common focal liver lesions (FLL) are the main topics of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) guidelines on the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). On stateof-the-art CEUS imaging, to create a library of rare FLL, especially concerning their atypical imaging characteristics, might be helpful for improving clinical diagnostic efficiency. In this review, we aim to summarize the ultrasound and CEUS features of rare benign FLL.

Comments and illustrations of the WFUMB CEUS liver guidelines: Rare benign focal liver lesion, part II.

It is important to be familiar with the typical imaging features of the uncommon or even extremely rare focal liver lesions (FLL). Current guidelines of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) is aimed at assessing the usefulness of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the management of various FLL. In this review, we aim to summarize the ultrasound and CEUS characteristics with literature review of some extremely rare benign FLL, which might be helpful for improving diagnostic efficiency clinically.

Factors affecting the outcome of fecal microbiota transplantation for patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: A previous study that introduced a Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) protocol with a high efficacy applied a combination of favorable factors.

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate some of these factors.

Methods: This study included 186 patients with IBS randomized 1:1:1 into transplant administered to the colon (single LI), to the duodenum (single SI), or to the duodenum twice with a 1-week interval (repeated SI).

Point-of-care Ultrasound of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

The widespread use of portable ultrasound scanners has promoted the concept of point of care ultrasound (POCUS), namely "ultrasound performed bedside and interpreted directly by the clinician." The purpose of this short review is to outline how POCUS can be used in patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. POCUS is not a replacement for comprehensive ultrasound, but rather allows physicians immediate access to clinical imaging for rapid diagnosis and efficient work-up and treatment of the patients.

Gastric dysmotility and gastrointestinal symptoms in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in ME/CFS, but there is a knowledge gap in the literature concerning gastrointestinal motility features and detailed symptom description.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to characterize gastric motility and gastric symptoms in response to a liquid meal.

Methods: We included 20 patients with ME/CFS with abdominal complaints who were recruited to a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial of Rituximab.

The outcome of primary per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) for treatment of achalasia: Norwegian single-center experience with long-term follow-up.

Background And Aims: Per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has become an established treatment for achalasia, but no Scandinavian studies with long-term follow-up exist. This study from a tertiary referral center in Norway investigates the short-, mid-, and long-term feasibility, safety, efficacy, and complications of POEM.

Methods: Prospective data from the first 84 patients who underwent POEM from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed.

Assessment of Small Bowel Motility and SMA Blood Flow Studied with Transabdominal Ultrasound.

Gastrointestinal ultrasound (GIUS) is a noninvasive imaging technique that may be used to study physiological changes in the small bowel. The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of measuring blood flow (BF) in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and regional motility in the small bowel with GIUS before and after a test meal and to compare ultrasound parameters to demographic factors such as age, sex, height, weight, and smoking habits. 122 healthy volunteers aged 20 to 80 were examined after an overnight fast.

History of Ultrasound in Medicine from its birth to date (2022), on occasion of the 50 Years Anniversary of EFSUMB. A publication of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound In Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB), designed to record the historical development of medical ultrasound.

The history of the European Federation of Societies in Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) is closely related to the general history of ultrasound. In the presented paper the physical background and history of technologies including A-mode, Time motion or M-mode, 2D Imaging (B-mode) are summarized. In addition, ultrasound tissue characterization, Doppler ultrasound, 3D and 4D ultrasound, intracavitary and endoscopic ultrasound, interventional ultrasound, ultrasonic therapy, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and key developments in echocardiography are discussed.

Formulation and characterisation of drug-loaded antibubbles for image-guided and ultrasound-triggered drug delivery.

The aim of this study was to develop high load-capacity antibubbles that can be visualized using diagnostic ultrasound and the encapsulated drug can be released and delivered using clinically translatable ultrasound. The antibubbles were developed by optimising a silica nanoparticle stabilised double emulsion template. We produced an emulsion with a mean size diameter of 4.

SonoVue vs. Sonazoid™ vs. Optison™: Which Bubble Is Best for Low-Intensity Sonoporation of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?

The use of ultrasound and microbubbles to enhance therapeutic efficacy (sonoporation) has shown great promise in cancer therapy from in vitro to ongoing clinical studies. The fastest bench-to-bedside translation involves the use of ultrasound contrast agents (microbubbles) and clinical diagnostic scanners. Despite substantial research in this field, it is currently not known which of these microbubbles result in the greatest enhancement of therapy within the applied conditions.

Ultrasound and Microbubbles Enhance Uptake of Doxorubicin in Murine Kidneys.

The use of ultrasound and microbubble-enhanced drug delivery, commonly referred to as sonoporation, has reached numerous clinical trials and has shown favourable results. Nevertheless, the microbubbles and acoustic path also pass through healthy tissues. To date, the majority of studies have focused on the impact to diseased tissues and rarely evaluated the impact on healthy and collateral tissue.

Development of and Gathering Validity Evidence for a Theoretical Test in Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is an imaging modality applied in a broad field of medical specialties for diagnostic uses, guidance during biopsy procedures and ablation therapies and sonoporation therapy. Appropriate training and assessment of theoretical and practical competencies are recommended before practicing CEUS, but no validated assessment tools exist. This study was aimed at developing a theoretical multiple-choice question-based test for core CEUS competencies and gathering validity evidence for the test.

Gastrointestinal transit and contractility in diabetic constipation: A wireless motility capsule study on diabetes patients and healthy controls.

Background: Diabetic constipation is traditionally attributed to slow colonic transit, despite limited evidence. More than half of patients find treatment unsatisfactory. To improve treatment, there is a need for better diagnostic understanding of the condition.

Fluctuating biomarkers in primary sclerosing cholangitis: A longitudinal comparison of alkaline phosphatase, liver stiffness, and ELF.

Background & Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a progressive liver disease characterised by fluctuating liver biochemistries and highly variable disease progression. The Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF®) test and liver stiffness measurements (LSMs) reflect fibrosis and predict clinical outcomes in PSC; however, longitudinal assessments are missing. We aimed to characterise the systematic change in ELF and LSM over time in a prospective cohort of patients with PSC, along with their longitudinal relationship to alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Transabdominal Ultrasound and Computed Tomography in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Head-to-Head Comparison.

Computed tomography (CT) is the most used imaging modality for diagnosing chronic pancreatitis (CP), but advances in transabdominal ultrasound (US) technology have given US a position as a viable alternative. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal CT and pancreatic US compared to the reference standard, a modified Mayo score. CT, US, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) were performed in patients referred due to suspected CP.