Association between muscle quality index and pulmonary function in post-COVID-19 subjects.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-CoV2 pandemic impacted many critically ill patients, causing sequelae, affecting lung function, and involving the musculoskeletal system. We evaluated the association between lung function and muscle quality index in severely ill post-COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a post-COVID-19 cohort at a third-level center. The study included patients who had experienced severe-to-critical COVID-19. Anthropometric measurements, such as body mass index (BMI) and handgrip strength, were obtained to calculate the muscle quality index (MQI). Additionally, spirometry, measurements of expiratory and inspiratory pressure, and an assessment of DLCO in the lungs were performed. The MQI was categorized into two groups: low-MQI (below the 50th percentile) and high-MQI (above the 50th percentile), based on sex. Group differences were analyzed, and a multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between respiratory function and MQI. RESULTS: Among the 748 patients analyzed, 61.96% required mechanical ventilation, and the median hospital stay was 17 days. In patients with a low MQI, it was observed that both mechanical respiratory function and DLCO were lower. The multivariate analysis revealed significantly lower findings in mechanical respiratory function among patients with a low MQI. CONCLUSION: The Low-MQI is an independent predictor associated with pulmonary function parameters in subjects with Post-COVID-19 syndrome.

NCOA4 is regulated by HIF and mediates mobilization of murine hepatic iron stores after blood loss.

The mechanisms by which phlebotomy promotes the mobilization of hepatic iron stores are not well understood. NCOA4 (nuclear receptor coactivator 4) is a widely expressed intracellular protein previously shown to mediate the autophagic degradation of ferritin. Here, we investigate a local requirement for NCOA4 in the regulation of hepatic iron stores and examine mechanisms of NCOA4 regulation. Hepatocyte-targeted Ncoa4 knockdown in nonphlebotomized mice had only modest effects on hepatic ferritin subunit levels and nonheme iron concentration. After phlebotomy, mice with hepatocyte-targeted Ncoa4 knockdown exhibited anemia and hypoferremia similar to control mice with intact Ncoa4 regulation but showed a markedly impaired ability to lower hepatic ferritin subunit levels and hepatic nonheme iron concentration. This impaired hepatic response was observed even when dietary iron was limited. In both human and murine hepatoma cell lines, treatment with chemicals that stabilize hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), including desferrioxamine, cobalt chloride, and dimethyloxalylglycine, raised NCOA4 messenger RNA. This NCOA4 messenger RNA induction occurred within 3 hours, preceded a rise in NCOA4 protein, and was attenuated in the setting of dual HIF-1α and HIF-2α knockdown. In summary, we show for the first time that NCOA4 plays a local role in facilitating iron mobilization from the liver after blood loss and that HIF regulates NCOA4 expression in cells of hepatic origin. Because the prolyl hydroxylases that regulate HIF stability are oxygen- and iron-dependent enzymes, our findings suggest a novel mechanism by which hypoxia and iron deficiency may modulate NCOA4 expression to impact iron homeostasis.

Low iron promotes megakaryocytic commitment of megakaryocytic-erythroid progenitors in humans and mice.

The mechanisms underlying thrombocytosis in patients with iron deficiency anemia remain unknown. Here, we present findings that support the hypothesis that low iron biases the commitment of megakaryocytic (Mk)-erythroid progenitors (MEPs) toward the Mk lineage in both human and mouse. In MEPs of transmembrane serine protease 6 knockout (Tmprss6-/-) mice, which exhibit iron deficiency anemia and thrombocytosis, we observed a Mk bias, decreased labile iron, and decreased proliferation relative to wild-type (WT) MEPs. Bone marrow transplantation assays suggest that systemic iron deficiency, rather than a local role for Tmprss6-/- in hematopoietic cells, contributes to the MEP lineage commitment bias observed in Tmprss6-/- mice. Nontransgenic mice with acquired iron deficiency anemia also show thrombocytosis and Mk-biased MEPs. Gene expression analysis reveals that messenger RNAs encoding genes involved in metabolic, vascular endothelial growth factor, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathways are enriched in Tmprss6-/- vs WT MEPs. Corroborating our findings from the murine models of iron deficiency anemia, primary human MEPs exhibit decreased proliferation and Mk-biased commitment after knockdown of transferrin receptor 2, a putative iron sensor. Signal transduction analyses reveal that both human and murine MEP have lower levels of phospho-ERK1/2 in iron-deficient conditions compared with controls. These data are consistent with a model in which low iron in the marrow environment affects MEP metabolism, attenuates ERK signaling, slows proliferation, and biases MEPs toward Mk lineage commitment.

A bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406 pathogen opportunistic, produce a biosurfactant with tolerance to changes of pH, salinity and temperature.

A bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406 catalogued as pathogen opportunistic was capable to grow with waste cooking oil as only carbon source and produce a biosurfactant. Stability to pH (from 2 to 12), salinity (% NaCl from 0 to 20%) and temperature (from -20 °C up to 120 °C), of biosurfactants was evaluated using a response surface methodology. Biosurfactants reduced surface tension from 50 to 29 ± 1.0 mN/m. Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406 showed a high biosurfactant yield 4.17 g/L ± 0.38. Biosurfactants stability applying a response surface methodology was observed with combining effect of pH, salinity and temperature. The three factors combined do not affect surface tension of biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa B0406. Therefore, this biosurfactants are of interest for medical, cosmetic even environmental applications.

Perivascular Adipocytes Store Norepinephrine by Vesicular Transport.

Objective- Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) contains an independent adrenergic system that can take up, metabolize, release, and potentially synthesize the vasoactive catecholamine norepinephrine. Norepinephrine has been detected in PVAT, but the mechanism of its protection within this tissue is unknown. Here, we investigate whether PVAT adipocytes can store norepinephrine using VMAT (vesicular monoamine transporter). Approach and Results- High-performance liquid chromatography identified norepinephrine in normal male Sprague Dawley rat aortic, superior mesenteric artery, and mesenteric resistance vessel PVATs, and retroperitoneal fat. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed VMAT1 and VMAT2 mRNA expression in the adipocytes and stromal vascular fraction of mesenteric resistance vessel PVAT. Immunofluorescence demonstrated the presence of VMAT1 and VMAT2, and the colocalization of VMAT2 with norepinephrine, in the cytoplasm of adipocytes in mesenteric resistance vessel PVAT. A protocol was developed to capture real-time uptake of Mini 202-a functional and fluorescent VMAT probe-in live rat PVAT adipocytes. Mini 202 was taken up by freshly isolated and differentiated adipocytes from mesenteric resistance vessel PVAT and adipocytes from thoracic aortic and superior mesenteric artery PVATs. In adipocytes freshly isolated from mesenteric resistance vessel PVAT, addition of rose bengal (VMAT inhibitor), nisoxetine (norepinephrine transporter inhibitor), or corticosterone (organic cation 3 transporter inhibitor) significantly reduced Mini 202 signal. Immunofluorescence supports that neither VMAT1 nor VMAT2 is present in retroperitoneal adipocytes, suggesting that PVAT adipocytes may be unique in storing norepinephrine. Conclusions- This study supports a novel function of PVAT adipocytes in storing amines in a VMAT-dependent manner. It provides a foundation for future studies exploring the purpose and mechanisms of norepinephrine storage by PVAT in normal physiology and obesity-related hypertension.

Organic cation transporter 3 contributes to norepinephrine uptake into perivascular adipose tissue.

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) reduces vasoconstriction to norepinephrine (NE). A mechanism by which PVAT could function to reduce vascular contraction is by decreasing the amount of NE to which the vessel is exposed. PVATs from male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to test the hypothesis that PVAT has a NE uptake mechanism. NE was detected by HPLC in mesenteric PVAT and isolated adipocytes. Uptake of NE (10 µM) in mesenteric PVAT was reduced by the NE transporter (NET) inhibitor nisoxetine (1 µM, 73.68 ± 7.62%, all values reported as percentages of vehicle), the 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (SERT) inhibitor citalopram (100 nM) with the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) inhibitor corticosterone (100 µM, 56.18 ± 5.21%), and the NET inhibitor desipramine (10 µM) with corticosterone (100 µM, 61.18 ± 6.82%). Aortic PVAT NE uptake was reduced by corticosterone (100 µM, 53.01 ± 10.96%). Confocal imaging of mesenteric PVAT stained with 4-[4-(dimethylamino)-styrl]-N-methylpyridinium iodide (ASP(+)), a fluorescent substrate of cationic transporters, detected ASP(+) uptake into adipocytes. ASP(+) (2 µM) uptake was reduced by citalopram (100 nM, 66.68 ± 6.43%), corticosterone (100 µM, 43.49 ± 10.17%), nisoxetine (100 nM, 84.12 ± 4.24%), citalopram with corticosterone (100 nM and 100 µM, respectively, 35.75 ± 4.21%), and desipramine with corticosterone (10 and 100 µM, respectively, 50.47 ± 5.78%). NET protein was not detected in mesenteric PVAT adipocytes. Expression of Slc22a3 (OCT3 gene) mRNA and protein in PVAT adipocytes was detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry, respectively. These end points support the presence of a transporter-mediated NE uptake system within PVAT with a potential mediator being OCT3.

Multiplexed quantification of venlafaxine and metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Venlafaxine (VEN) and its O-demethylated metabolite, O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV), are commonly prescribed serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, approved for the treatment of depression and anxiety. Both are metabolized to inactive metabolites via cytochrome P450 enzymes. While previous studies have focused on quantifying VEN and ODV, bioanalytical methods for the simultaneous measurement of all metabolites are needed to fully characterize the pharmacology of VEN and ODV. METHODS: K2EDTA plasma was spiked with VEN, ODV, N-desmethylvenlafaxine (NDV), N,O-didesmethylvenlafaxine (NODDV), and N,N-didesmethylvenlafaxine (NNDDV). Drugs and metabolites were extracted via protein precipitation and quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The multiplexed assay was validated in accordance with regulatory recommendations, and evaluated in remnant plasma samples from persons prescribed venlafaxine. RESULTS: The analytical measuring range for venlafaxine and all four metabolites was 5-800 ng/mL. Standard curves were generated via weighted quadratic (NNDDV) or linear (VEN, ODV, NDV, NODDV) regression of calibrators. Inter-assay imprecision was between 1.9-9.3% for all levels of all analytes. Minor matrix effects were observed, and both recovery efficiency and process efficiency were >96% for all analytes. All other assay validation assessments met acceptance criteria. Drug concentrations measured from remnant plasma specimens obtained from patients with current venlafaxine prescriptions (37.5-450 mg/day) yielded NDDV, NDV, and NODDV metabolite concentrations in 6/21, 14/21, and 20/21 samples, respectively. The ratio of active to inactive analytes ranged from 0.74 to 14.5, with a median of 6.39. CONCLUSIONS: An efficient and accurate LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of VEN, ODV, and all three inactive metabolites in plasma. The assay met all acceptance criteria, and may be used in future studies of the pharmacokinetics of these drugs.

The Association between Body Composition Phenotype and Insulin Resistance in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome Patients without Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional, Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: The most frequent body composition alterations in post-COVID-19 syndrome include low muscle mass, dynapenia, sarcopenia, and obesity. These conditions share interconnected pathophysiological mechanisms that exacerbate each other. The relationship between body composition phenotypes and metabolic abnormalities in post-COVID-19 syndrome remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between body composition phenotypes and insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic abnormalities in non-diabetic individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome. METHODS: A cross-sectional, single-center study involving 483 subjects with post-COVID-19 syndrome following moderate to severe acute COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. Individuals with diabetes, those who declined to participate, or those who could not be contacted were excluded. Body composition phenotypes were classified as normal weight, dynapenia, sarcopenia, dynapenic obesity, and sarcopenic obesity (SO). RESULTS: The average age was 52.69 ± 14.75 years; of note, 67.08% were male. The prevalence of body composition phenotypes was as follows: 13.25% were of normal weight, 9.52% had dynapenia, 9.94% had sarcopenia, 43.69% had obesity, 18.84% had dynapenic obesity, and 4.76% had SO. Additionally, 58.18% had IR. Obesity (OR: 2.98, CI95%; 1.64-5.41) and dynapenic obesity (OR: 4.98, CI95%; 1.46-6.88) were associated with IR. CONCLUSION: The most common body composition phenotypes were obesity, dynapenic obesity, and dynapenia. Furthermore, obesity and dynapenic obesity were associated with IR in post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Analysis of Electronic Health Records Reveals Medication-Related Interference on Point-of-Care Urine Drug Screening Assays.

Point-of-care (POC) urine drug screening (UDS) assays provide immediate information for patient management. However, POC UDS assays can produce false-positive results, which may not be recognized until confirmatory testing is completed several days later. To minimize the potential for patient harm, it is critical to identify sources of interference. Here, we applied an approach based on statistical analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data to identify medications that may cause false positives on POC UDS assays. From our institution's EHR data, we extracted 120,670 POC UDS and confirmation results, covering 12 classes of target drugs, along with each individual's prior medication exposures. Our approach is based on the idea that exposure to an interfering medication will increase the odds of a false-positive UDS result. For a given assay-medication pair, we quantified the association between medication exposures and UDS results as an odds ratio from logistic regression. We evaluated interference experimentally by spiking compounds into drug-free urine and testing the spiked samples on the POC device. Our dataset included 446 false-positive UDS results (presumptive positive screen followed by negative confirmation). We quantified the odds ratio of false positives for 528 assay-medication pairs. Of the six assay-medication pairs we evaluated experimentally, two showed interference capable of producing a presumptive positive: labetalol on the 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) assay (at 200 µg/mL) and ranitidine on the methamphetamine assay (at 50 µg/mL). Ranitidine also produced a presumptive positive for opiates at 1,600 µg/mL and for propoxyphene at 800 µg/mL. These findings highlight the generalizability and the limits of our approach to use EHR data to identify medications that interfere with clinical immunoassays.

Urine phosphoethanolamine is a specific biomarker for hypophosphatasia in adults.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the utility of urine phosphoethanolamine (PEA) as a marker to aid in diagnosing and/or confirming hypophosphatasia (HPP) in adults and for monitoring patients on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). METHODS: Data was collected from seventy-eight adults who were referred to the Vanderbilt Program for Metabolic Bone Disease for evaluation of a possible or confirmatory HPP diagnosis between July 2014 through December 2019. Fifty-nine patients were diagnosed with HPP and nineteen were excluded from a diagnosis of HPP. The urine PEA results of those patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HPP and those patients with a diagnosis of HPP excluded were captured and compared to other laboratory and clinical parameters consistent with HPP, including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), the presence of musculoskeletal abnormalities, and genetic testing for pathogenic mutations in ALPL. RESULTS: Initial urine PEA values in patients in our HPP cohort and not on ERT were significantly higher (median = 150.0 nmol/mg creatinine, IQR = 82.0-202.0) compared patients in our HPP negative group (median 18.0 nmol/mg creatinine, IQR = 14.0-30.0, p < 0.0001) and higher than patients on ERT (median 65.0 nmol/mg creatinine, IQR = 45.3-79.8). Patients who began ERT had a decline in urine PEA levels after treatment with a mean decrease of 68.1 %. Plasma ALP levels were significantly lower in the group of patients with HPP and not on ERT group (median = 24.0 U/L, IQR = 15.0-29.50) compared to the patients without HPP (median = 45.50 U/L, IQR = 34.0-62.0;) and plasma PLP levels were significantly higher in the HPP non-ERT group (median = 284.0 nmol/L, IQR = 141.0-469.4) compared to the patients without HPP (median = 97.5 nmol/L, IQR = 43.7-206.0;). The area under the curve (AUC) of urine PEA, ALP, and PLP to distinguish between HPP and non-HPP patients is 0.968, 0.927 and 0.781, respectively, in our cohort. Urine PEA had 100 % specificity (95 % CI of 83.2 % to 100.0 %) for diagnosing HPP at a value >53.50 nmol/mg creatinine with a sensitivity of 88.4 %; 95%CI 75.5 to 94.9 %. ALP had a 100 % specificity (95 % CI of 82.4 % to 100.0 %) for diagnosing HPP at a value <30.5 U/L with a sensitivity of 77.2 %; (95%CI 64.8 to 86.2 %). PLP had a 100 % specificity (95 % CI of 81.6 % to 100.0 %) for diagnosing HPP at a value >436 nmol/L with a sensitivity of 26.9 %; (95%CI 16.8 to 40.3 %). The most common pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations in our cohort were c.1250A>G (p.Asn417Ser), c.1133A>T (p.Asp378Val), c.881A>C (p.Asp294Ala), c.1171C>T (p.Arg391Cys), and c.571G>A, (p.Glu191Lys). CONCLUSIONS: Urine PEA is a promising diagnostic and confirmatory marker for HPP in patients undergoing investigation for HPP. Urine PEA also has potential use as a marker to monitor ERT compliance. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the association between PEA levels and clinical outcomes.

Effect of pH and Carbon Source on Phosphate Solubilization by Bacterial Strains in Pikovskaya Medium.

Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) transform precipitated inorganic phosphorus into soluble orthophosphates. This study evaluated the efficiency of tricalcium and iron phosphate solubilization in Pikovskaya medium using five bacterial strains (A1, A2, A3, A5, and A6) cultured in acidic and alkaline pH levels. The bacterial strain that proved to be more efficient for P solubilization and was tolerant to pH variations was selected for assessing bacterial growth and P solubilization with glucose and sucrose in the culture medium. The bacterial strains were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Pseudomonas libanensis A1, Pseudomonas libanensis (A2), Bacillus pumilus (A3), Pseudomonas libanensis (A5), and Bacillus siamensis (A6). These five bacterial strains grew, tolerated pH changes, and solubilized inorganic phosphorus. The bacterial strain A3 solubilized FePO4 (4 mg L-1) and Ca3(PO4)2 (50 mg L-1). P solubilization was assayed with glucose and sucrose as carbon sources for A3 (Bacillus pumilus MN100586). After four culture days, Ca3(PO4)2 was solubilized, reaching 246 mg L-1 with sucrose in culture media. Using glucose as a carbon source, FePO4 was solubilized and reached 282 mg L-1 in six culture days. Our findings were: Pseudomonas libanensis, and Bacillus siamensis, as new bacteria, can be reported as P solubilizers with tolerance to acidic or alkaline pH levels. The bacterial strain B. pumilus grew using two sources of inorganic phosphorus and carbon, and it tolerated pH changes. For that reason, it is an ideal candidate for inorganic phosphorus solubilization and future production as a biofertilizer.

Procalcitonin Correlates With but Is Not Superior to Other Diagnostic Markers of Bacterial Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: Despite extensive research on procalcitonin (PCT)-guided therapy in lower respiratory tract infections, the association between PCT and bacterial pneumonia remains unclear. METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively the performance of PCT in patients presenting with lower respiratory tract infection symptoms and grouped by seven diagnoses. All patients had microbial testing, chest imaging, and CBC counts within 1 day of PCT testing. RESULTS: Median PCT level in patients diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia was significantly higher than in patients diagnosed with other sources of infections or those not diagnosed with infections. Median PCT levels were not different among patients grouped by type or quantity of pathogen detected. They were significantly higher in patients with higher pathogenicity scores for isolated bacteria, those with abnormal WBC count, and those with chest imaging consistent with bacterial pneumonia. A diagnostic workup that included imaging, WBC count, and Gram stain had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.748, and the addition of PCT increased it to 0.778. CONCLUSIONS: PCT was higher in patients diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. Less clear is its diagnostic ability to detect bacterial pneumonia over and above imaging and laboratory data routinely available to clinicians.

Physiology and Pharmacology of Neurotransmitter Transporters.

Regulation of the ability of a neurotransmitter [our focus: serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, acetylcholine, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] to reach its receptor targets is regulated in part by controlling the access the neurotransmitter has to receptors. Transporters, located at both the cellular plasma membrane and in subcellular vesicles, carry a myriad of responsibilities that include enabling neurotransmitter release and controlling uptake of neurotransmitter back into a cell or vesicle. Driven largely by electrochemical gradients, these transporters move neurotransmitters. The regulation of the transporters themselves through changes in expression and/or posttranslational modification allows for fine-tuning of this system. Transporters have been best recognized as targets for psychoactive stimulants and remain a mainstay target of primarily central nervous system (CNS) acting drugs for treatment of debilitating diseases such as depression and anxiety. Studies reveal, however, that transporters are found and functional in tissues outside the CNS (gastrointestinal and cardiovascular tissues, for example). The importance of neurotransmitter transporters is underscored with discoveries that dysfunction of transporters can cause life-changing disease. This article provides a high-level review of major classes of both plasma membrane transporters and vesicular transporters. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:2279-2295, 2021.

ABO blood group and COVID-19: an updated systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Following the first reports in the literature, the association between the ABO blood group and SARS-CoV-2 infection has been investigated by a number of studies, although with varying results. The main object of this systematic review was to assess the relationship between the ABO blood group and the occurrence and severity of COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search using appropriate MeSH terms was performed through Medline and PubMed. The outcomes considered were the prevalence of the blood group O vs non-O types in SARS-CoV-2 infected and non-infected subjects, and the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection according to ABO group. The methodological quality of the studies included in the analysis was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and the overall quality of the available evidence using the GRADE system. Benchmarks used to evaluate the effect size were odd ratios (ORs) for case control studies and risk ratios (RRs) for cohort studies. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in the analysis. Overall, individuals with group O had a lower infection rate compared to individuals of non-O group (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.86). However, the difference in the effect size was significantly lower in cohort studies compared to case control studies. No evidence was found indicating an effect of the O type on the disease severity in the infected patients. DISCUSSION: We have found low/very low evidence that group O individuals are less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those in the non-O group. No evidence was found indicating an effect of the O type on disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A Computational Approach to Identify Interfering Medications on Urine Drug Screening Assays without Data from Confirmatory Testing.

Urine drug screening (UDS) assays can rapidly and sensitively detect drugs of abuse but can also produce spurious results due to interfering substances. We previously developed an approach to identify interfering medications using electronic health record (EHR) data, but the approach was limited to UDS assays for which presumptive positives were confirmed using more specific methods. Here we adapted the approach to search for medications that cause false positives on UDS assays lacking confirmation data. From our institution's EHR data, we used our previous dataset of 698,651 UDS and confirmation results. We also collected 211,108 UDS results for acetaminophen, ethanol and salicylates. Both datasets included individuals' prior medication exposures. We hypothesized that the odds of a presumptive positive would increase following exposure to an interfering medication independently of exposure to the assay's target drug(s). For a given assay-medication pair, we quantified potential interference as an odds ratio from logistic regression. We evaluated interference of selected compounds in spiking experiments. Compared to the approach requiring confirmation data, our adapted approach showed only modestly diminished ability to detect interfering medications. Applying our approach to the new data, we discovered and validated multiple compounds that can cause presumptive positives on the UDS assay for acetaminophen. Our approach can reveal interfering medications using EHR data from institutions at which UDS results are not routinely confirmed.

Using data to make the case for program resources and sustainability: the BEST action inventory case study.

Career development programs are a valuable part of any student's experience, and increasingly is an expected part of graduate school training. While such programs are commonly available to undergraduates, there is a growing need for career support to be offered to graduate students. Making the case for resources can be a challenge in this domain, however. Research on the impact of career services for graduate students and post-doctoral scholars is a growing scholarly concern. However, there remains a need to better understand what level of intervention is most appropriate: What kind of activities, how much time, and what resources would best serve the professional development needs of graduate students and post-doctoral scholars? And to answer these questions, a more foundational one: what activities are drawing the attention of graduate students and post doctoral trainees, and in what activities are they spending their time? In this manuscript, we describe how Our University approached this research question by developing an online data tracking system to capture graduate and post-doctoral trainee participation in one co-curricular professional development program. We demonstrate how this data tracking system can be used to advocate for institutional resources in career development programming, for research, and for practical purposes such as advocating for institutional support and for program design and assessment.

Comparative evaluation of blood collection tubes for clinical chemistry analysis.

BACKGROUND: Routine chemistry testing is typically performed using serum or plasma to assess a patient's clinical status. At our institution, serum is the specimen type used. To reduce processing times, evaluation of plasma-based and rapid serum gel separator tubes was performed. METHODS: We compared the results of routine chemistry analytes collected in serum gel separator tubes (SST), plasma gel separator tubes (PST), rapid serum gel separator tubes (RST), and plasma tubes without gel separators (DGT). Result concordance was assessed at baseline (immediate testing after processing) and up to one week of refrigerated storage. Other parameters assessed were the susceptibility to hemolysis and lipemia interference, and changes in results after re-centrifugation. Percent changes were compared against the SST and evaluated according to established bias thresholds. RESULTS: Total protein and potassium results at baseline in plasma-based tubes had percent changes from the SST that exceeded acceptability thresholds. Stability was significantly shortened for glucose, potassium, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) when collected in the PST as compared to the SST. The RST was the least susceptible to hemolysis and lipemia interferents. Re-centrifugation affected the serum-based analysis of potassium. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma may reduce processing time at the expense of shortened sample stability and may require specimen source-specific reference intervals for potassium and total protein. The RST provides an alternate option to reduce processing time, while maintaining storage stability.