Beyond a pedagogical tool: 30 years of Molecular biology of the cell.

In 1983, a bulky and profusely illustrated textbook on molecular and cell biology began to inhabit the shelves of university libraries worldwide. The effect of capturing the eyes and souls of biologists was immediate as the book provided them with a new and invigorating outlook on what cells are and what they do.

Meeting report - Dynamic Cell III.

Dynamic Cell III, a meeting jointly organized by the British Society of Cell Biology (BSCB) and the Biochemical Society, took place at the Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester, UK in March 2018. It brought together a diverse group of scientists from around the world, all with a shared interest in understanding how dynamic functions of the cell are fulfilled. A particular focus was the regulation of the cytoskeleton: in cell division, cell migration and cell-cell interactions. Moreover, a key theme that ran through all presented work was the development of new and exciting technologies to study dynamic cell behaviour.

Deducing protein function by forensic integrative cell biology.

Our ability to sequence genomes has provided us with near-complete lists of the proteins that compose cells, tissues, and organisms, but this is only the beginning of the process to discover the functions of cellular components. In the future, it's going to be crucial to develop computational analyses that can predict the biological functions of uncharacterised proteins. At the same time, we must not forget those fundamental experimental skills needed to confirm the predictions or send the analysts back to the drawing board to devise new ones.

[Pre-analytical quality in fluid samples cytopathology: Results of a survey from the French Society of Clinical Cytology]. / Qualité pré-analytique en cytopathologie des liquides biologiques : résultats d'une enquête de la Société française de cytologie clinique.

INTRODUCTION: The pre-analytical step includes sample collection, preparation, transportation and storage in the pathology unit where the diagnosis is performed. The pathologist ensures that pre-analytical conditions are in line with expectations. The lack of standardization for handling cytological samples makes this pre-analytical step difficult to harmonize. Moreover, this step depends on the nature of the sample: fresh liquid or fixed material, air-dried smears, liquid-based cytology. The aim of the study was to review the different practices in French structures of pathology on the pre-analytical phase concerning cytological fluids such as broncho-alveolar lavage (BALF), serous fluids and urine. METHODS: A survey was conducted on the basis of the pre-analytical chapter of the ISO 15189 and sent to 191 French pathological structures (105 public and 86 private). RESULTS: Fifty-six laboratories replied to the survey. Ninety-five per cent have a computerized management system and 70% a manual on sample handling. The general instructions requested for the patients and sample identification were highly correctly filled with a short time routing and additional tests prescription. By contrast, information are variable concerning the clinical information requested and the type of tubes for collecting fluids and the volumes required as well as the actions taken in case of non-conformity. For the specific items concerning BALF, serous fluids and urine, this survey has shown a great heterogeneity according to sample collection, fixation and of clinical information. CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates that the pre-analytical quality for BALF, serous fluids and urine is not optimal and that some corrections of the practices are recommended with a standardization of numerous steps in order to increase the reproducibility of additional tests such as immunocytochemistry, cytogenetic and molecular biology. Some recommendations have been written.

[Technical recommendations and best practice guidelines for May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining: literature review and insights from the quality assurance]. / Recommandations techniques et règles de bonne pratique pour la coloration de May-Grünwald-Giemsa : revue de la littérature et apport de l'assurance qualité.

May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) stain is a Romanowsky-type, polychromatic stain as those of Giemsa, Leishman and Wright. Apart being the reference method of haematology, it has become a routine stain of diagnostic cytopathology for the study of air-dried preparations (lymph node imprints, centrifuged body fluids and fine needle aspirations). In the context of their actions of promoting the principles of quality assurance in cytopathology, the French Association for Quality Assurance in Anatomic and Cytologic Pathology (AFAQAP) and the French Society of Clinical Cytology (SFCC) conducted a proficiency test on MGG stain in 2013. Results from the test, together with the review of literature data allow pre-analytical and analytical steps of MGG stain to be updated. Recommendations include rapid air-drying of cell preparations/imprints, fixation using either methanol or May-Grünwald alone for 3-10minutes, two-step staining: 50% May-Grünwald in buffer pH 6.8 v/v for 3-5minutes, followed by 10% buffered Giemsa solution for 10-30minutes, and running water for 1-3minutes. Quality evaluation must be performed on red blood cells (RBCs) and leukocytes, not on tumour cells. Under correct pH conditions, RBCs must appear pink-orange (acidophilic) or buff-coloured, neither green nor blue. Leukocyte cytoplasm must be almost transparent, with clearly delineated granules. However, staining may vary somewhat and testing is recommended for automated methods (slide stainers) which remain the standard for reproducibility. Though MGG stain remains the reference stain, Diff-Quik(®) stain can be used for the rapid evaluation of cell samples.

[Present situation and future prospects of the certification system for medical technologists--from the viewpoint of the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology].

The circumstances surrounding the certification examination for cytotechnologists in Japan are closely related with the history of the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology. The examination for cytotechnologists is open only to medical technologists. The examination has two parts: primary and secondary. Qualification for candidacy for the secondary examination requires candidates to have passed the primary examination. The rate of successful applicants in the past 10 years was approximately 25-40%. Certified cytotechnologists are required to renew their qualifications every 4 years for their study and job history. I will present the purpose of the qualification update system, future themes, the reporting system for cytodiagnosis, and the possibility that the certification examination for cytotechnologists will become a national examination.

IAC standardized reporting of breast fine-needle aspiration cytology, Yokohama 2016: A critical appraisal over a 2 year period.

BACKGROUND: Breast cytology is a significant component of the "Triple approach" for pre-operative diagnosis of breast lumps, the other two being clinical assessment and radiological imaging. The role of Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) as a first line investigation in diagnosing breast lesions is well documented, however histopathology is the gold standard. Cyto-histopathological correlation is of great relevance and also increases precision.AIMS \& OBJECTIVES:The present study was conducted with the aim to categorize breast lesions according to the latest standardized reporting system proposed by International academy of cytologists (IAC) in 2016. Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in diagnosing breast lesions and cyto-histopathological correlation was planned. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All FNAs of breast lesions over a period of 2 years were included in the study. The cases were grouped into five standardized categories proposed by the International academy of cytology: Category I (Insufficient material), Category II (Benign), Category III (Atypical, probably benign), Category IV (Suspicious, probably in situ or invasive) & Category V (Malignant) respectively. Specificity, sensitivity, diagnostic accuracy, negative and positive predictive value of FNAC were calculated and cyto-histopathological correlation assessed wherever possible. RESULTS: Out of 468 breast lesions reported on FNAC, the category wise distribution was - Category I, II, III, IV & V accounting for 23(4.9%), 342(73.07%), 7(1.5%), 11(2.35%) and 85(18.16%) respectively. Histopathology was performed in 331/468 cases with cyto histological concordance of 98.4% and a type agreement rate of 90.9%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy was 98.90%, 99.16%, 97.82%, 99.58% and 99.09% respectively. CONCLUSION: FNAC is a simple, reliable, cost effective, first line diagnostic procedure for all breast lumps. In collaboration with physical examination and imaging studies (triple approach), FNAC is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool. Adopting a universally acceptable standardized reporting system for breast cytology can enhance the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC.

Impact of Internet on Cytology Information Management.

UNLABELLED: Internet technologies and services impose global information standards in the sphere of healthcare as a whole, which are then implied and applied in the domain of cytology laboratories. Web-based operations form a significant operating segment of any contemporary cytology laboratory as they enable operations by the use of technology, which is usually free of the restrictions imposed by the traditional way of business (geographic area and narrow localisation of activities). In their operations, almost all healthcare organisations currently create and use electronic data anddocuments, which can originate both inside and outside the organisation. An enormous amount of information thus used and exchanged may be processed timely and in a high-quality way only by integrated information systems, given three basic safety requirements: data confidentiality, integrity and availability. In the Republic of Croatia, integration of private and public healthcare information systems has been ongoing for several years but the private healthcare does not yet operate as an integrated system. Instead, each office operates using its own separate information system, i.e. DATABASE: This paper elaborates the argument that the sample private cytology laboratory possesses an IT system that meets current market and stakeholder needs of the healthcare sector in Croatia, given that private doctors' offices/polyclinics use IT technologies in their operations but make only partial use of Internet capacities in the segment of communication with their business associates and patients, implying the need to continue the research on a statistically relevant sample of EU countries.

Automated screening of cervical cytology specimens.

After more than four decades of research into automation of the process of screening Papanicolaou (Pap) smears, attempts to develop commercially viable automated screening machines have increased in recent years. These developments have been made possible in part because of the improving price-to-performance ratios in computers and other electronics. Although the Pap smear has been responsible for a very significant decrease in mortality of cervical cancer over the past 40 years, concern has arisen over false-negative cases, with their effects on patients, and the associated legal liability, particularly in the United States. In addition, shortages of cytotechnologists, which have been exacerbated by new regulations limiting the number of slides that may be examined per day, have caused concern about handling the workload, which will probably increase as more individuals gain access to preventive health care. Automated screening machines can potentially allow detection of abnormal cases that are missed with conventional screening, although they may substantially increase the cost of Pap smears. The use of automated screening machines represents a change in the way cervical cytology specimens are processed, and with some machines, a significant change in the operation of the cytology laboratory. Current methods for processing and evaluating Pap smears have not changed significantly for the past four decades. This review discusses some of the principles of operation and practical aspects of automated screening machines.

Choosing between competing technologies in the cytology laboratory.

Technological change often is internal to anatomic pathology services. When new technology requires collaborative development with clinical staff, it is important to systematically approach the rationale for the new technology, and be prepared to deal with its medical, financial, and, sometimes, even personal implications. Such a systematic approach involves sequentially evaluating the acceptability and the potential benefits of technologic alternatives among the laboratory leadership, with each potential vendor, the laboratory staff, and the clinical and institutional leadership, and must ultimately include effective communication with the entire clinical community. Among the benefits of such a systematic approach are resiliency of the process when challenged, and credibility of its leadership, within and outside of the laboratory.

[Fiftieth anniversary of the French Society for Connective Tissue Research]. / Cinquantenaire de la Société Française des Tissus Conjonctifs--introduction.

The Society was founded in 1962, at an international meeting organized at the Biomedical Institute rue des Saints-Pères, in Paris in the Department of Biochemistry headed at that time by Pr. Max F. Jayle, and published in the "Exposés Annuels de Biochimie Médicale" in 1963. At its beginnings a "Club", with a limited number of participants, it expanded rapidly into a Society, renamed recently "French Society of the Biology of Extracellular Matrix", with approximately 200 members working on a variety of subjects. Only six of these teams could present an oral report at the meeting of the Biological Society on January 18, 2012, celebrating this anniversary at the Curie Institute. A few more could send written contributions for this special issue of "Biologie Aujourd'hui". In this short introduction we shall recall some important stages of the developing connective tissue science. Besides such classical subjects, as the macromolecular components of connective tissue matrix, this discipline incorporated progressively receptors, integrins and other molecules, that mediate cell-matrix interactions.