The effects of total laboratory automation on the management of a clinical chemistry laboratory. Retrospective analysis of 36 years

BACKGROUND: Thirty-six years of data and history of laboratory practice at our institution has enabled us to follow the effects of analytical automation, then recently pre-analytical and post-analytical automation on productivity, cost reduction and enhanced quality of service. METHODS: In 1998, we began the operation of a pre- and post-analytical automation system (robotics), together with an advanced laboratory information system to process specimens prior to analysis, deliver them to various automated analytical instruments, specimen outlet racks and finally to refrigerated stockyards. By the end of 3 years of continuous operation, we compared the chemistry part of the system with the prior 33 years and quantitated the financial impact of the various stages of automation. RESULTS: Between 1965 and 2000, the Consumer Price Index increased by a factor of 5.5 in the United States. During the same 36 years, at our institution's Chemistry Department the productivity (indicated as the number of reported test results/employee/year) increased from 10,600 to 104,558 (9.3-fold). When expressed in constant 1965 dollars, the total cost per test decreased from 0.79 dollars to 0.15 dollars. Turnaround time for availability of results on patient units decreased to the extent that Stat specimens requiring a turnaround time of <1 h do not need to be separately prepared or prioritized on the system. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that the introduction of a robotics system for perianalytical automation has brought a large improvement in productivity together with decreased operational cost. It enabled us to significantly increase our workload together with a reduction of personnel. In addition, stats are handled easily and there are benefits such as safer working conditions and improved sample identification, which are difficult to quantify at this stage.     

异基因脾细胞诱导大鼠心脏移植及二次皮肤移植的免疫耐受

目的:比较不同时间输注脾细胞诱导大鼠同种异体心脏移植免疫耐受效果的差异,并观察其对二次皮肤移植的耐受情况。方法:实验于2005-03/2006-01在广西医科大学医学实验动物中心外科实验室完成。在SD(供体)→Wistar(受体)大鼠之间进行心脏移植手术。将29只受体大鼠按随机数字表法分为4组:①对照组(n=8):直接进行心脏移植手术。②环磷酰胺组(n=7):心脏移植术后2d,给予受体大鼠腹腔注射环磷酰胺80mg/kg。③脾细胞 环磷酰胺组(n=7):心脏移植术后经门静脉注入供体大鼠脾细胞2×108个,2d后再经腹腔注射环磷酰胺80mg/kg。④脾细胞预处理组(n=7):受体大鼠经门静脉注入供体脾细胞2×108个,1周后行心脏移植手术。术后常规观察移植心脏的存活情况;术后第6天各组随机取1只大鼠的移植心脏进行病理学检查;术后1周测定受体大鼠外周血CD25 的表达水平;术后30d对诱导耐受的脾细胞 环磷酰胺组、脾细胞预处理组大鼠进行二次异体皮肤移植,并以未进行诱导耐受的大鼠作为对照组,以移植皮片出现排斥为标准,观察移植皮肤的存活情况。结果:29只受体大鼠中4只大鼠取供心行常规病理学检查,最终25只受体大鼠进入结果分析。①脾细胞 环磷酰胺组、脾细胞预处理组受体大鼠移植心脏的存活时间均长于未作耐受诱导的对照组和环磷酰胺组[(30.17±2.79,30.67±3.44;5.29±0.76,5.50±0.55)d(P<0.01)]。②病理检查显示,未经过脾细胞诱导处理大鼠的移植心脏均表现出明显的急性排斥反应,脾细胞 环磷酰胺组、脾细胞预处理组大鼠的移植心脏未发生排斥反应。③脾细胞 环磷酰胺组、脾细胞预处理组大鼠心脏移植术后1周外周血的CD25 T淋巴细胞水平均显著低于对照组、环磷酰胺组[(5.10±0.38)%,(4.89±0.51)%;(7.88±0.43)%,(7.12±0.40)%(P<0.01)]。④脾细胞 环磷酰胺组、脾细胞预处理组、对照组大鼠移植皮肤的平均存活时间差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05)。结论:术中/术前输注异基因脾细胞均可以诱导受体大鼠产生针对供体的特异性心脏移植耐受,但并不能诱导产生针对二次皮肤移植的免疫耐受。     

Symptoms and treatment burden associated with cancer treatment: results from a cross-sectional national survey in the U.S.

GOALS: To examine the prevalence of chemotherapy-or radiotherapy-associated side effects and related treatment burden, and correlates of fatigue and missed work days among cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a dual sampling frame of 63,949 cancer patients (35,751 from an online panel and 28,198 from telephone listings) > or = 18 years receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy at the time of the survey or during the previous 12 months. Data were collected on cancer type, time since diagnosis, treatment side effects, visits, caregiver burden, missed work days, and sociodemographic characteristics. Data are presented only for patients receiving cancer treatment at the time of the survey. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 15,532 patients (24%) who responded to the screening questionnaire, 1,572 met the eligibility criteria and 1,569 completed the survey; 814 received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy at the time of the survey. The most common side effects were fatigue (80%), pain (48%), and nausea/vomiting (48%). Patients spent 4.5 h, on average, per visit to treat side effects. Approximately 43% of the patients were employed; of these, 78% were actively working. Employed patients missed, on average, 18 work days annually for side effect treatment. Females, younger and unemployed patients, and those with higher levels of anxiety and depression experienced more fatigue; patients with a greater number of side effects endured more missed work days. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the symptomatic experience of side effects, patients reported a considerable time burden for treatment. It is important to consider supportive care strategies that may effectively reduce side effects and their associated treatment burden.     

Pseudomonal infection in cystic fibrosis: the battle continues

Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis. Infection usually begins in childhood and is responsible for respiratory failure and death in most patients with cystic fibrosis. The organism triggers an exuberant chronic inflammatory reaction which damages the airways and leads to progressive loss of lung function. Over the last decade significant advances have been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis airways disease. These should assist the development of new and better therapies to treat this pathogen. This review provides an overview of pseudomonal infection in cystic fibrosis, including mechanisms by which the bacteria may colonize the cystic fibrosis airway, persistence of pseudomonal infection and the biofilm mode of growth. Available treatments and possible novel approaches to therapy will be discussed.     

Changes in screening behaviors and attitudes toward screening from pre‐test genetic counseling to post‐disclosure in Lynch syndrome families

The purpose of this study was to examine colonoscopy adherence and attitudes toward colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in individuals who underwent Lynch syndrome genetic counseling and testing. We evaluated changes in colonoscopy adherence and CRC screening attitudes in 78 cancer‐unaffected relatives of Lynch syndrome mutation carriers before pre‐test genetic counseling (baseline) and at 6 and 12 months post‐disclosure of test results (52 mutation negative and 26 mutation positive). While both groups were similar at baseline, at 12 months post‐disclosure, a greater number of mutation‐positive individuals had had a colonoscopy compared with mutation‐negative individuals. From baseline to 12 months post‐disclosure, the mutation‐positive group demonstrated an increase in mean scores on measures of colonoscopy commitment, self‐efficacy, and perceived benefits of CRC screening, and a decrease in mean scores for perceived barriers to CRC screening. Mean scores on colonoscopy commitment decreased from baseline to 6 months in the mutation‐negative group. To conclude, adherence to risk‐appropriate guidelines for CRC surveillance improved after genetic counseling and testing for Lynch syndrome. Mutation‐positive individuals reported increasingly positive attitudes toward CRC screening after receiving genetic test results, potentially reinforcing longer term colonoscopy adherence.     

The diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration in parotid lumps

Mallon DH, Kostalas M, MacPherson FJ et al. The diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration in parotid lumps. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2013; 95: 258–262 doi 10.1308/003588413X13511609958370We read with interest the article by Mallon et al and would like to make further comment. Their paper documents what is becoming increasingly clear about fine needle aspiration (FNA) in the salivary glands. In experienced hands, it is capable of a high degree of accuracy, and is quick and safe to perform. FNA performance is optimised by the use of ultrasonography guidance, presence of cytologist/cytology technician to allow repeat aspiration and use of ancillary cytology techniques. Outside specialised units, however, the performance of FNA varies widely, as demonstrated in the recent meta-analysis by Schmidt et al.¹Even in optimised circumstances, FNA remains associated with both a high rate of non-diagnostic sampling and also false negative results.¹ These perceived failings have led to investigation into alternative biopsy techniques, which may more reliably provide an accurate preoperative diagnosis, allowing informed patient consent and appropriate operative selection.Ultrasonography guided core biopsy (USCB) has been described recently in the parotid glands, and has been shown to be both highly accurate and well tolerated.² USCB obtains a core of tissue, using a small bore needle (18G or 20G) deployed via an automated biopsy device, which can be sent for immunohistochemical analysis. This enables typing and grading of tumours. Furthermore, it allows improved diagnosis of nodal hyperplasia and the differentiation of reactive node from low grade lymphoma. USCB does not appear to be associated with either the high non-diagnostic and false negative rates or the variability in performance associated with FNA.³ We would recommend that USCB should be considered the biopsy technique of choice for parotid lump diagnosis, particularly in units where FNA is undertaken in non-optimised circumstances.     

Root canal treatment using thermoplasticized carrier condensation technique

Background: The management of pulpally and apically infected teeth has evolved into a modality of conservation with predictable degree of success. Root canal treatmentoften requiresprotracted chairside time. A new technique involving placement of thermoplasticized core carrier obturators was compared with conventional lateral condensation technique.