Ex vivo normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) of donor kidneys prior to transplantation provides a platform for direct delivery of cellular therapeutics to optimize organ quality prior to transplantation. Multipotent Adult Progenitor Cells (MAPC®) possess potent immunomodulatory properties that could minimize ischemia reperfusion injury. We investigated the potential capability of MAPC cells in kidney NMP. Pairs (5) of human kidneys, from the same donor, were simultaneously perfused for 7 hours. Kidneys were randomly allocated to receive MAPC treatment or control. Serial samples of perfusate, urine, and tissue biopsies were taken for comparison. MAPC‐treated kidneys demonstrated improved urine output (P = .009), decreased expression of injury biomarker NGAL (P = .012), improved microvascular perfusion on contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (cortex P = .019, medulla P = .001), downregulation of interleukin (IL)‐1β (P = .050), and upregulation of IL‐10 (P < .047) and Indolamine‐2, 3‐dioxygenase (P = .050). A chemotaxis model demonstrated decreased neutrophil recruitment when stimulated with perfusate from MAPC‐treated kidneys (P < .001). Immunofluorescence revealed prelabeled MAPC cells in the perivascular space of kidneys during NMP. We report the first successful delivery of cellular therapy to a human kidney during NMP. Kidneys treated with MAPC cells demonstrate improvement in clinically relevant parameters and injury biomarkers. This novel method of cell therapy delivery provides an exciting opportunity to recondition organs prior to transplantation.

Aim Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal ablative option in patients unsuitable for standard thermal ablation, due to its potential to preserve collagenous structures (vessels and ducts) and a reduced susceptibility to heat sink effects. In this series from two large tertiary referral hepatobiliary centres, we aim to assess the safety/outcomes of hepatic IRE. Materials and Methods Bi-institutional retrospective, longitudinal follow-up series of IRE for primary hepatic malignancy; [hepatocellular carcinoma ( n = 20), cholangiocarcinoma ( n = 3)] and secondary metastatic disease; colorectal ( n = 28), neuroendocrine ( n = 1), pancreatic ( n = 1), breast ( n = 1), gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST, n = 1) and malignant thymoma ( n = 1). Outcome measures included procedural safety/effectiveness, time to progression and time to death. Results Between 2013 and 2017, 52 patients underwent percutaneous IRE of 59 liver tumours in 53 sessions. All tumours were deemed unsuitable for thermal ablation. Cases were performed using ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT) guidance. A complete ablation was achieved in n = 44, (75%) of cases with an overall complication rate of 17% ( n = 9). Of the complete ablation group, median time to progression was 8 months. At 12 months, 44% were progression-free (95% CI 30–66%). The data suggest that larger lesion size (> 2 cm) is associated with shorter time to progression and there is highly significant difference with faster time to progression in mCRC compared with HCC. Median survival time was 38 months. Conclusion This bi-institutional review is the largest UK series of IRE and suggests this ablative technology can be a useful tool, but appears to mainly induce local tumour control rather than cure with HCC having better outcomes than mCRC.

This study shows that 3DUS diagnosis correlates well with 2DUS with regard to most gallbladder problems and could be sufficient as a stand-alone technique.

CEUS will detect perfusion defects seen with Tc-DTPA and due to increased spatial and temporal resolution and multiple scanning angles, will detect further perfusion defects not seen on Tc-DTPA. 3 D CEUS is useful in the quantification of perfusion defects. CEUS is an accurate examination for detecting renal transplant perfusion defects and will detect significantly more defects than DTPA.

Nick (2017) The prevalence and significance of renal perfusion defects in early kidney transplants quantified using 3D contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). European Radiology, 27 (11 Northumbria University has developed Northumbria Research Link (NRL) to enable users to access the University's research output. Copyright © and moral rights for items on NRL are retained by the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. Single copies of full items can be reproduced, displayed or performed, and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided the authors, title and full bibliographic details are given, as well as a hyperlink and/or URL to the original metadata page. The content must not be changed in any way. Full items must not be sold commercially in any format or medium without formal permission of the copyright holder. The full policy is available online: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/policies.html This document may differ from the final, published version of the research and has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies. To read and/or cite from the published version of the research, please visit the publisher's website (a subscription may be required.) Paper accepted by European RadiologyThe prevalence and significance of renal perfusion defects in early kidney transplants quantified using 3D contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)Stenberg B, Wilkinson M, Elliott S, Caplan N Paper accepted by European Radiology AbstractObjectives Vascular complications are one of the most common causes of early kidney transplant dysfunction. Contrast enhanced ultrasound increases sensitivity to tiny vascular changes.. The aim was to assess the prevalence and size of vascular abnormalities in renal transplantation patients following surgery using 3D CEUS to determine the significance of perfusion defects on renal function.Methods Ninety nine renal transplant patients underwent 3D CEUS after surgery to quantify perfusion defects as percentage total renal volume (TRV). Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were recorded up to three months post-surgery.