Ambient Pressure MeV SIMS (AP MeV SIMS) is a special application of MeV SIMS technique for molecular detection and imaging under ambient conditions. There are several advantages of using ambient over ...non-ambient techniques such as minimising or completely avoiding sample preparation that can contribute to the reducing of costs and shortening of analysis. Moreover, by performing analysis in ambient conditions negative vacuum influence on samples will be avoided. The emergence of ambient mass spectrometry techniques over the past decade has been enormous with a broad range of applications such as food quality, environmental analysis and life sciences 1,2. On the other hand, the disadvantage of ambient pressure mass spectrometry techniques is the influence of the ambient background which can suppress the signal from the target. In AP MeV SIMS, molecular species present in ambient surrounding of the sampling site will also be ionised by ion beams hence secondary ions originating from the sample have to be transported in the most efficient manner from the site of interaction of ion beams and target into the mass spectrometer capillary and, finally, into the mass spectrometer 3. In this work, we present the optimisation of the mass spectrometer capillary temperature, distances of mass spectrometer and sheath gas, in our case helium, with respect to the beam axis and angle of the helium flow capillary with respect to the sample.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Megaelectronvolt-Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (MeV-SIMS) is an emerging Ion Beam Analysis technique for molecular speciation and submicron imaging. Various setups have been constructed in the ...recent years. Still a systematic investigation on the dependence of MeV-SIMS yields on different ion beam parameters is missing. A reliable measurement method of the beam current down to the attoampere range is needed for this investigation. Therefore, a new detector has been added to the MeV-SIMS setup at the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI), which measures the current directly using a Si PIN-diode. In this work, we present the constructed system, its characteristics, and results of the first yield measurements. These measurements have already identified important factors that have to be considered while constructing a MeV SIMS setup.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Objectives: To assess the efficacy of thoracoscopy and the outcome for children with thoracic neurogenic tumors. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 15 European centers between 2000 and ...2020 with patients who underwent thoracoscopy for a neurogenic mediastinal tumor. We assessed preoperative data, complications, and outcomes. Results were expressed with the median and range values. Results: We identified 119 patients with a median age of 4 years old (3 months–17 years). The diameter was 5.7 cm (1.1–15). INRG stage was L1 n = 46, L2 n = 56, MS n = 5, M n = 12. Of 69 patients with image-defined risk factors (IDRF), 29 had only (T9–T12) locations. Twenty-three out of 34 patients with preoperative chemotherapy had an 18 mm (7–24) decrease in diameter. Seven out of 31 patients lost their IDRF after chemotherapy. Fourteen had a conversion to thoracotomy. The length of the hospital stay was 4 days (0–46). The main complications included chylothorax (n = 7) and pneumothorax (n = 5). Long-term complications included Horner’s syndrome (n = 5), back pain, and scoliosis (n = 5). Pathology was 53 neuroblastomas, 36 ganglioneuromas, and 30 ganglioneuroblastomas. Fourteen had a postoperative residue. With a median follow-up of 21 months (4–195), 9 patients had a recurrence, and 5 died of disease. Relapses were associated with tumor biology, histology, and the need for chemotherapy (p = 0.034, <0.001, and 0.015, respectively). Residues were associated with preoperative IDRF (excluding T9–T12 only) and the need for preoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.04 and 0.020). Conclusion: Our results show that thoracoscopy is safe, with good outcomes for thoracic neurogenic tumors in selected cases. Surgical outcomes are related to the IDRFs, whereas oncologic outcomes are related to tumor histology and biology.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The technique of sputum induction and processing is a recognized non-invasive method allowing the collection and analysis of cells from the airways, which is interesting in various respiratory ...diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic cough, or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This technique is well tolerated, safe and non-invasive, but is currently limited to research services and specialized centers in clinical practice because it is technically demanding, time-consuming, and requires trained staff. The success rate of sputum induction and analysis is about 80%. Here, we describe the induction and laboratory processing of sputum samples. Sputum is induced by inhalation of hypertonic or isotonic saline with salbutamol. For the processing, we use the whole sputum technique. Dithiothreitol (DTT) is used to allow mucolysis of sputum samples. The primary aim of sputum processing is to obtain a differential cell count to study the cell types present in the airway lumen. Additional analyses may also be performed on sputum supernatant and sputum cells, which may allow further investigation into inflammatory processes and immune mechanisms. Examples include studying mediators in sputum supernatant and performing a large spectrum of analysis on sputum cells such as flow cytometry, genomics, or proteomics. Finally, representative results of sputum analysis in healthy controls, asthmatics, and COPD patients are presented.
The new French law about clinical laboratory medicine, the requirements of the ISO/CEI 15189 standard, the numerous abilities expected from the medical laboratory technologists and their involvement ...in blood bank management has led the working group "Recherche et démarche qualité" of the French Society of Blood Transfusion to initiate an inventory of blood transfusion teaching syllabus for medical laboratory technology students and to propose transfusion medicine teaching guidelines.
Seven worksheets have been established for that purpose including red blood cell antigen typing and antibody screening, blood sampling in immunohaematology, automation, clinical practices, blood products, blood delivery and haemovigilance.
These guidelines aim at contributing to the harmonization of transfusion medicine teaching and at providing objective elements to the medical laboratory managers regarding the practical and theoretical skills of theirs collaborators.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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