Abstract
Objectives
In a clinical laboratory, the design of the workspace directs the workflow and significantly affects the productivity of clinical laboratory scientists (CLS). With the chronic ...shortage of CLS, a well-designed workspace is essential to take full advantage of available staff, especially in high-volume laboratories.
Methods
Through the use of quality improvement tools, a manual body fluid testing workspace was redesigned to address weaknesses in the layout that led to excessive physical steps taken by staff.
Results
System engineering tools such as a fishbone diagram, spaghetti diagrams, Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, and a counterbalance measure were all used in a CLS-led quality improvement initiative to redesign a workspace in the manual body fluid processing area of a clinical laboratory at Mayo Clinic.
Conclusions
After the redesign, physical steps taken and time to process body fluids were reduced by an average of 40% and 32%, respectively, demonstrating the utility of quality improvement tools in clinical laboratory settings.
The Spirit landing site in Gusev Crater on Mars contains dark, fine-grained, vesicular rocks interpreted as lavas. Pancam and Mini-Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectra suggest that all of ...these rocks are similar but have variable coatings and dust mantles. Magnified images of brushed and abraded rock surfaces show alteration rinds and veins. Rock interiors contain ≤25% megacrysts. Chemical analyses of rocks by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer are consistent with picritic basalts, containing normative olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase, and accessory FeTi oxides. Mössbauer, Pancam, and Mini-TES spectra confirm the presence of olivine, magnetite, and probably pyroxene. These basalts extend the known range of rock compositions composing the martian crust.
The Spirit landing site in Gusev Crater on Mars contains dark, fine-grained, vesicular rocks interpreted as lavas. Pancam and MiniâThermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) spectra suggest that all ...of these rocks are similar but have variable coatings and dust mantles. Magnified images of brushed and abraded rock surfaces show alteration rinds and veins. Rock interiors contain â¤25% megacrysts. Chemical analyses of rocks by the Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer are consistent with picritic basalts, containing normative olivine, pyroxenes, plagioclase, and accessory FeTi oxides. MoÌssbauer, Pancam, and Mini-TES spectra confirm the presence of olivine, magnetite, and probably pyroxene. These basalts extend the known range of rock compositions composing the martian crust.
Abstract Genes from Ugt1a family in placenta and fetal liver are responsible for hormone, nutrient and chemical balance during pregnancy. Assisted reproduction technologies (ART) i.e. ...intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) alter steroid homeostasis in pregnancy through increased glucuronidation. Here we show that ART (particularly ICSI) upregulates Ugt1a1 , 1a2 , 1a6 and 1a9 expression in murine placentas and fetal livers with higher mRNA related to lower progesterone ( 1a1 ) and cholesterol ( 1a2 , 1a6 ) in placentas. Greater steroid clearance in ART through transcriptional upregulation of Ugt1a in the placental-fetal unit may decrease the availability of essential molecules, mediating negative reproductive outcomes.
Abstract Background Glioblastomas (GBMs) are central nervous system tumors that resist standard-of-care interventions and even immune checkpoint blockade. Myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment ...can contribute to GBM progression; therefore, emerging immunotherapeutic approaches include reprogramming these cells to achieve desirable antitumor activity. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is a myeloid signaling regulator that has been implicated in a variety of cancers and neurological diseases with contrasting functions, but its role in GBM immunopathology and progression is still under investigation. Methods Our reverse translational investigations leveraged single-cell RNA sequencing and cytometry of human gliomas to characterize TREM2 expression across myeloid subpopulations. Using 2 distinct murine glioma models, we examined the role of Trem2 on tumor progression and immune modulation of myeloid cells. Furthermore, we designed a method of tracking phagocytosis of glioma cells in vivo and employed in vitro assays to mechanistically understand the influence of TREM2 signaling on tumor uptake. Results We discovered that TREM2 expression does not correlate with immunosuppressive pathways, but rather showed strong a positive association with the canonical phagocytosis markers lysozyme (LYZ) and macrophage scavenger receptor (CD163) in gliomas. While Trem2 deficiency was found to be dispensable for gliomagenesis, Trem2+ myeloid cells display enhanced tumor uptake compared to Trem2- cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that TREM2 mediates phagocytosis via Syk signaling. Conclusions These results indicate that TREM2 is not associated with immunosuppression in gliomas. Instead, TREM2 is an important regulator of phagocytosis that may be exploited as a potential therapeutic strategy for brain tumors.
We undertook this study to assess the agreement between fetal umbilical cord drug levels and maternal self-report.
Cord samples were collected from 103 placentas after delivery as a subproject of the ...larger Pacific Research Center for Early Human Development (PRCEHD) study. These cord samples were then processed to obtain cord lysates and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed for cotinine and illicit drugs. Levels of each of these substances were compared with clinical information.
We found fair agreement between self-reported smoking and cotinine levels (κ = 0.26 (0.07 to 0.5)) as well as slight agreement with current drug use and positive drug levels (κ = 0.19 (-0.05 to 0.4)). Compared with maternal self-report, sensitivity of cotinine levels was 27% and specificity was 98%. Sensitivity of positive cord illicit drug levels was 32% and specificity was 85%.
Umbilical cords provide another independent measure of maternal drug use and are readily available. To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure cotinine levels in the umbilical cord tissue.
Rocks on the floor of Gusev crater are basalts of uniform composition and mineralogy. Olivine, the only mineral to have been identified or inferred from data by all instruments on the Spirit rover, ...is especially abundant in these rocks. These picritic basalts are similar in many respects to certain Martian meteorites (olivine‐phyric shergottites). The olivine megacrysts in both have intermediate compositions, with modal abundances ranging up to 20–30%. Associated minerals in both include low‐calcium and high‐calcium pyroxenes, plagioclase of intermediate composition, iron‐titanium‐chromium oxides, and phosphate. These rocks also share minor element trends, reflected in their nickel‐magnesium and chromium‐magnesium ratios. Gusev basalts and shergottites appear to have formed from primitive magmas produced by melting an undepleted mantle at depth and erupted without significant fractionation. However, apparent differences between Gusev rocks and shergottites in their ages, plagioclase abundances, and volatile contents preclude direct correlation. Orbital determinations of global olivine distribution and compositions by thermal emission spectroscopy suggest that olivine‐rich rocks may be widespread. Because weathering under acidic conditions preferentially attacks olivine and disguises such rocks beneath alteration rinds, picritic basalts formed from primitive magmas may even be a common component of the Martian crust formed during ancient and recent times.
These studies were undertaken to determine methamphetamine (METH) and smoking effects on umbilical vascular dynamics and pregnancy outcomes.
Umbilical cords (54) were collected prospectively at ...birth, washed of blood, and stored at -80°C. Cords were thawed and lysates prepared, then catecholamine levels quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Catecholamine levels in umbilical cords were not associated with maternal or gestational age, gravidity, parity, neonatal or placental weight. Neither smoking nor METH affected dopamine or epinephrine. However, smoking (two-fold) and METH (four-fold) decreased norepinephrine and together a 60-fold reduction occurred (p = 0.025). Cesarean section and hypertension were both associated with lower norepinephrine levels (p < 0.001) regardless of drug status. In normotensive pregnancies, smoking and METH significantly decreased norepinephrine levels (two-fold and 3.5-fold each, respectively) with a 40-fold decrease for METH/smoking together.
Depletion of norephinephrine by METH and smoking likely contributes to pregnancy complications, including the higher incidence of respiratory distress and postpartum hemorrhage in cesarean section.
Gusev crater, previously interpreted as the depocenter for the Gusev‐Ma'adim Vallis fluvio‐lacustrine system, is a proposed landing site for one of the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER). Here we use new ...remote‐sensing data from the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) supplemented by data from the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) to characterize the geology of Gusev crater. Thermal infrared data from THEMIS and TES were used to map thermophysical units on the basis of relative albedos and diurnal temperature variations. THEMIS and MOC visible images were used to map unit morphologies and to estimate crater density ages. MOLA data were used to identify unit contacts and stratigraphic relationships. Various data were then combined to construct a new surface unit map and stratigraphy for units on the floor of Gusev. Seven surface units were identified in Gusev, mostly Hesperian in age, but with two showing evidence of later modification and redistribution. Five or more surface units and layering are present within the MER‐A landing ellipse, attesting to the geologic diversity of this site. Surface units show features that could be consistent with fluvio‐lacustrine, aeolian, and/or volcanoclastic deposition, but the spatial resolution of visible/infrared data does not allow for the identification of unambiguous volcanic or fluvio‐lacustrine textures. However, a MER landing in Gusev may provide the opportunity to analyze multiple units, distinguish rock types, examine stratigraphic relationships, and shed light on the ancient depositional environment.
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