[Quality management in the field of gastroenterology - Proposals of the Quality Commission of the German Society of Gastroenterology, Digestive and Metabolic Diseases (DGVS) for Outpatient and Inpatient Quality Assurance]. / Qualität in der Gastroenterologie ­ "Vorschläge der Kommission Qualität der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten zur ambulanten und stationären Qualitätssicherung".

The quality of the medical care depends on numerous factors that can often be influenced by the doctor itself. It is a great challenge to follow the constant scientific progress in practice. Scientific standards in gastroenterology are defined in DGVS guidelines and regularly revised. The implementation of evidence-based recommendations in practice remains challenging. On the basis of the DGVS guidelines, the Quality Commission has therefore developed a selection of quality indicators with particular relevance using standardized criteria, the broad implementation of which could contribute to improved patient care in gastroenterology.

["Choosing wisely" - mission and aims]. / Was wollen wir mit "Klug entscheiden" erreichen?

"Klug entscheiden" addresses the problem of over- and undersupply in medicine. Following the American model "Choosing wisely" an interdisciplinary team of all internal medicine societies develops evidence-based recommendations to improve the quality of indications. In contrast to guidelines, the initiative does not provide comprehensive medical recommendations, but focuses on problems that are particularly relevant to health care. In addition, it is intended to promote communication between doctors and patients, but also the national debate on the responsible and sensible use of medical resources.

[Updated S2k-Guideline "Complications of liver cirrhosis". German Society of Gastroenterology (DGVS)]. / Aktualisierte S2k-Leitlinie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie, Verdauungs- und Stoffwechselkrankheiten (DGVS) "Komplikationen der Leberzirrhose".

This guideline provides evidence-based key recommendations for diagnosis and therapy of complications of liver cirrhosis and upgrades the 2011 version. An interdisciplinary team of medical experts and patient support groups developed the guideline following the AWMF recommendations for evidence based consensus guidelines. New chapters concerning diagnosis and therapy of hepatic encephalopathy were added.

Polypropylene mesh implantation for hernia repair causes myeloid cell-driven persistent inflammation.

Polypropylene meshes that are commonly used for inguinal hernia repair may trigger granulomatous foreign body reactions. Here, we show that asymptomatic patients display mesh-associated inflammatory granulomas long after surgery, which are dominated by monocyte-derived macrophages expressing high levels of inflammatory activation markers. In mice, mesh implantation by the onlay technique induced rapid and strong myeloid cell accumulation, without substantial attenuation for up to 90 days. Myeloid cells segregated into distinct macrophage subsets with separate spatial distribution, activation profiles, and functional properties, showing a stable inflammatory phenotype in the tissue surrounding the biomaterial and a mixed, wound-healing phenotype in the surrounding stromal tissue. Protein mass spectrometry confirmed the inflammatory nature of the foreign body reaction, as characterized by cytokines, complement activation, and matrix-modulating factors. Moreover, immunoglobulin deposition increased over time around the implant, arguing for humoral immune responses in association with the cell-driven inflammation. Intravital multiphoton microscopy revealed a high motility and continuous recruitment of myeloid cells, which is partly dependent on the chemokine receptor CCR2. CCR2-dependent macrophages are particular drivers of fibroblast proliferation. Thus, our work functionally characterizes myeloid cell-dependent inflammation following mesh implantation, thereby providing insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of foreign body reactions to implanted biomaterials.