Medical Laboratory and Biomedical Science

Saturday, January 2, 2016

She might be a psychopath

Ordnung muss sein - There must be order

Original posting:
There's a special place in hell for people who do this

Source: Reddit via Labrats
Image credits: angelINline

Free Online Atlas of Thyroid Cytopathology

The thyroid web atlas contains close to 300 images of key thyroid lesions in an easy-to-search format. All images have been independently reviewed and approved by the committee members. Although the majority of the images presented here are from direct smears of an FNA sample, there are numerous examples of liquid-based preparations as well, illustrating the key morphologic differences. Emphasis has been placed on presenting "classic' examples of common thyroid lesions, but images from uncommon and rare diseases are included as well to make this as comprehensive as possible. The images are formatted to conform to the print atlas "The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology"

Open atlas here:
Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology Online Atlas Portal

New Diagnostic Test For Autism

In a study published in the current online issue of JAMA Psychiatry, an international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, report finding a highly accurate blood-based measure that could lead to development of a clinical test for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk in males as young as one to two years old. The test could be done in community pediatric settings. The degree of accuracy, they said, out performs other behavioral and genetic screens for infants and toddlers with ASD described in literature.

The study used an unbiased systems biology-based method to search for genes and gene pathways in blood samples that best distinguished ASD infants and toddlers from typically developing toddlers and toddlers with non-autism developmental delays. Specifically, the researchers measured leukocyte (white blood cell) RNA expression levels.

Read more:
Blood-based genetic biomarkers identify young boys with autism

Source: NeuroScientist News
Image credits: CDC Public Health Image Library

Friday, January 1, 2016

Interpretive Diagnostic Error Reduction in Surgical Pathology and Cytology

The College of American Pathologists Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center in association with the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology convened an expert panel to develop an evidence-based guideline to help define the role of case reviews in surgical pathology and cytology. A literature search was conducted to gather data on the review of cases in surgical pathology and cytology.

The panel drafted 5 recommendations, with strong agreement from open comment period participants ranging from 87% to 93%. The recommendations are: (1) anatomic pathologists should develop procedures for the review of selected pathology cases to detect disagreements and potential interpretive errors; (2) anatomic pathologists should perform case reviews in a timely manner to avoid having a negative impact on patient care; (3) anatomic pathologists should have documented case review procedures that are relevant to their practice setting; (4) anatomic pathologists should continuously monitor and document the results of case reviews; and (5) if pathology case reviews show poor agreement within a defined case type, anatomic pathologists should take steps to improve agreement.

Evidence exists that case reviews detect errors; therefore, the expert panel recommends that anatomic pathologists develop procedures for the review of pathology cases to detect disagreements and potential interpretive errors, in order to improve the quality of patient care.

Read more:
Interpretive Diagnostic Error Reduction in Surgical Pathology and Cytology: Guideline From the College of American Pathologists Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center and the Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology

Source: CAP

Gonorrhoea could become untreatable

BBC: Gonorrhoea could become an untreatable disease, England's chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies has written to all GPs and pharmacies to ensure they are prescribing the correct drugs after the rise of "super-gonorrhoea" in Leeds. Her warning comes after concerns were raised that some patients were not getting both of the antibiotics needed to clear the infection.

Sexual health doctors said gonorrhoea was "rapidly" developing resistance. Public Health England will continue to monitor, and act on, the spread of antimicrobial resistance and potential gonorrhoea treatment failures, to make sure they are identified and managed promptly.

Read more:
Gonorrhoea could become untreatable