[SFBC working group "Biochemical markers of COVID-19"]. / Groupe de travail SFBC « Marqueurs biochimiques de COVID-19 ¼.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for an epidemic disease called COVID-19, which was initially evidenced in Wuhan, China, and spread very rapidly in China and around the world. In France, the first isolated case seems now to be reported in December 2019, stage 3 of the COVID-19 epidemic was triggered on March 14th, the start of the planned containment exit from May 11th. Healthcare services have faced a large influx of patients who may be beyond their capacity to receive and care, particularly in the Large-East and Ile-de-France regions. Some patients show an evolution of the disease never observed before with other coronaviruses and develop in a few days a very important inflammatory reaction, which can lead to death of patients. A working group of the French Society of Clinical Biology (SFBC) was set up with the objective of providing updated information on the current status of the biological prescriptions (focusing on biochemistry ones) and their evolution during the epidemic, and of analyzing the biological parameters associated with comorbidities and patient evolution in order to link biological results with medical events. The expanded working group covers all sectors of medical biology in France and extends to the French-speaking world: hospital sectors (CHU and CH, Army Training Hospitals) and the private sector opening a field of view on the biological situation in establishments for dependent elderly, social establishments and clinical medical institutions. The purpose of this article is the presentation of this working group and its immediate and future actions.

Recertificación de los especialistas en Análisis Clínicos y Bioquímica Clínica / Re-accreditation of specialists in Clinical Analysis and Clinical Biochemistry

La recertificación consiste en certificar la renovación de las competencias específicas de los profesionales titulados referidos en la ley de ordenación de las profesiones sanitarias. El objetivo es certificar que el profesional esté cualificado para realizar un ejercicio profesional con el fin de garantizar una asistencia sanitaria de calidad. Las organizaciones colegiales profesionales y las sociedades científicas deben contribuir a facilitar el camino del desarrollo profesional y a la Administración sanitaria le corresponde ser valedora y garante en todo el proceso (AU)

Re-accreditation consists in certifying the renewal of specific competencies of qualified professionals as mentioned in the health profession management law. The objective is to certify that the professional is qualified to perform a professional exercise in order to guarantee quality healthcare. The professional bodies and scientific societies should contribute by facilitating the continuing professional development, and the Health Administration should be responsible for guaranteeing the whole process (AU)

Desafíos de la Bioquímica en la era hipertecnológica / Challenges of Biochemistry in the hyper technological era / Desafios da Bioquímica na era da hipertecnologia

En la era hipertecnológica, ¿somos asistidos por la Tecnología o asistentes de la Tecnología? La máquina inteligente, el robot ideal, ¿puede realizar todas las tareas del laboratorio, con igual o mayor eficacia que el hombre? Creemos que no, ya que la máquina puede tener solamente "pensamiento calculador". En cambio, el hombre posee "pensamiento reflexivo" y juicio ético, que le permiten un discernimiento crítico fundamental. La máquina debe asistirnos, pero es el profesional quien debe decidir lo atinente al pre y post análisis, al control del instrumental en la fase analítica, y a la atención al paciente. La simplificación de los métodos analíticos conlleva a la realización de los análisis deslocalizados, "al lado del paciente". Los progresos técnicos como la miniaturización, la automatización y la informática favorecen el proceso de deslocalización, que puede tener lugar en unidades críticas, guardias, quirófanos o, incluso, fuera del ámbito hospitalario. La rapidez de respuesta en casos críticos puede justificar los análisis deslocalizados, pero existen claras limitaciones: Aseguramiento de la Calidad, Bioseguridad y aspectos bioéticos, respeto de la confidencialidad y capacidad para brindar información adecuada al paciente. En este contexto, es imperativo repensar las Ciencias de la Salud en la importancia de la tecnología pero, también, y sobre todo, en el factor humano y en el rol social del Bioquímico integrante del equipo de salud.

In the hyper technological era, are we assisted by technology or assistants of technology? The intelligent machine, the ideal robot can perform all tasks in the laboratory, with equal or greater efficacy than man? We think not, because the machine can only have "calculating thinking". Instead, man has "reflexive thinking" and ethical judgment, which allow a fundamental critical discernment. The machine must assist professionals, but is the professional who must decide about questions relative to pre and post analysis, control of instruments in the analytical phase, and patient care. Simplification of analytical methods leads to the realization of delocalized analysis, or "point of care". Technical advances such as miniaturization, automation and computing favour delocalized analysis, which can take place in critical units, emergencies, surgeries or even outside the hospital setting. The speed of response in critical cases can justify the delocalized analysis, but there are clear limitations: Quality Assurance, biosafety and bioethical aspects: confidentiality and ability to provide adequate information to the patient. In this context, in the Health Sciences, it is imperative to rethink the importance of technology, but also, and especially, the human factor and the social role of the Biochemist as health team member.

Na era hipertecnológica, somos assistidos pela Tecnologia ou assistentes da Tecnologia? A máquina inteligente, o robô ideal: pode realizar todas as tarefas de laboratório com igual ou maior eficiência do que o homem? Acreditamos que não, visto que a máquina só pode ter "pensamento calculador". Contudo, o homem possui "pensamento reflexivo" e juízo ético que lhe permitem um discernimento crítico fundamental. A máquina deve assistir-nos, porém, é o profissional quem deve tomar as decisões a respeito das pré e pós-análises, do controle do instrumental na fase analítica e do atendimento do paciente. A simplificação dos métodos analíticos conduz à realização das análises deslocadas, "ao lado do paciente". Os avanços técnicos como a miniaturização, a automação e a informática favorecem o processo de deslocação que pode ter lugar em unidades críticas, plantões, salas de cirurgia, ou até mesmo, fora do ambiente hospitalar. A velocidade de resposta em casos críticos pode justificar as análises deslocadas, porém existem claras limitações: segurança na Qualidade, Biossegurança e aspectos bioéticos; a respeito da confidencialidade e capacidade para fornecer ao paciente informação adequada. Nesse contexto, é imperativo repensar as Ciências da Saúde não só na importância da Tecnologia, mas também, e principalmente, no fator humano e no papel social do Bioquímico como integrante da equipe de saúde.

Capillary blood sampling: national recommendations on behalf of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

Capillary blood sampling is a medical procedure aimed at assisting in patient diagnosis, management and treatment, and is increasingly used worldwide, in part because of the increasing availability of point-of-care testing. It is also frequently used to obtain small blood volumes for laboratory testing because it minimizes pain. The capillary blood sampling procedure can influence the quality of the sample as well as the accuracy of test results, highlighting the need for immediate, widespread standardization. A recent nationwide survey of policies and practices related to capillary blood sampling in medical laboratories in Croatia has shown that capillary sampling procedures are not standardized and that only a small proportion of Croatian laboratories comply with guidelines from the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of this document is to provide recommendations for capillary blood sampling. This document has been produced by the Working Group for Capillary Blood Sampling within the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Our recommendations are based on existing available standards and recommendations (WHO Best Practices in Phlebotomy, CLSI GP42-A6 and CLSI C46-A2), which have been modified based on local logistical, cultural, legal and regulatory requirements. We hope that these recommendations will be a useful contribution to the standardization of capillary blood sampling in Croatia.

H2S2014 in Kyoto: the 3rd International Conference on H2S in Biology and Medicine.

About 20 years ago, a pungent gas was found to be the physiological mediator of cognitive function and vascular tone. Since then, studies on hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have uncovered its numerous physiological roles such as protecting various tissues/organs from ischemia and regulating inflammation, cell growth, oxygen sensing, and senescence. These effects of H2S were extensively studied, and some of the corresponding mechanisms were also studied in detail. Previous studies on the synergistic interaction between H2S and nitric oxide (NO) have led to the discovery of several potential signaling molecules. Polysulfides are considerably potent and are one of the most active forms of H2S. H2S has a significant therapeutic potential, which is evident from the large number of novel H2S-donating compounds and substances developed for manipulating endogenous levels of H2S. The Third International Conference on H2S was held in Kyoto in June 2014. One hundred and sixty participants from 21 countries convened in Kyoto to report new advances, discuss conflicting findings, and make plans for future research. This article summarizes each oral presentation presented at the conference.

Institutional practices and policies in acid-base testing: a self reported Croatian survey study on behalf of the Croatian society of medical biochemistry and laboratory medicine Working Group for acid-base balance.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this survey study was to assess the current practices and policies in use related to the various steps in the blood gas testing process, across hospital laboratories in Croatia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First questionnaire was sent by email to all medical biochemistry laboratories (N = 104) within general, specialized and clinical hospitals and university hospital centres to identify laboratories which perform blood gas analysis. Second questionnaire with detailed questions about sample collection, analysis and quality control procedures, was sent only to 47 laboratories identified by the first survey. Questionnaire was designed as combination of questions and statements with Likert scale. Third questionnaire was sent to all participating laboratories (N=47) for additional clarification for either indeterminate or unclear answers. RESULTS: Blood gas analysis is performed in 47/104 hospital laboratories in Croatia. In 25/41 (0.61) of the laboratories capillary blood gas sampling is the preferred sample type for adult patient population, whereas arterial blood sample is preferentially used in only 5/44 laboratories (0.11). Blood sampling and sample processing for capillary samples is done almost always by laboratory technicians (36/41 and 37/44, respectively), whereas arterial blood sampling is almost always done by the physician (24/29) and only rarely by a nurse (5/28). Sample acceptance criteria and sample analysis are in accordance with international recommendations for majority of laboratories. 43/44 laboratories participate in the national EQA program. POCT analyzers are installed outside of the laboratory in 20/47 (0.43) institutions. Laboratory staff is responsible for education and training of ward personnel, quality control and instrument maintenance in only 12/22, 11/20 and 9/20 institutions, respectively. CONCLUSION: Practices related to collection and analysis for blood gases in Croatia are not standardised and vary substantially between laboratories. POCT analyzers are not under the direct supervision by laboratory personnel in a large proportion of surveyed institutions. Collective efforts should be made to harmonize and improve policies and procedures related to blood gas testing in Croatian laboratories.

[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.

[Józef Heller-one of organizers of Polish biochemistry in 1942-1973]. / Józef Heller-wspóltwórca polskiej biochemii w latach 1942-1973 z historii biochemii.

The article commemorates the activity of Józef Heller starting in 1921 with Jakub Parnas's group in Lvov which investigated the phosphorolysis of glycogen. The unknown events of His biography were disclosed, like military service in the Pilsudski's Legions at the rebirth of the Polish State and, subsequently, during the Nazi occupation of Poland--participation in the clandestine teaching of medical students. In the post-war times Józef Heller undertook teaching of medical students in Wroclaw and next in Warsaw. In 1954 He begun to organize the Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences--it now continues its activity. Professor Heller initiated the publication in Poland of three major biochemical journals, including Postepy Biochemii (1954). Thanks to His leadership the first Polish Medical Dictionary was published (1981). The article summarizes the pursuit of Józef Heller in various branches of academic life, which were and still are appreciated by subsequent generations of Polish biochemists.

Comunicación de valores críticos: resultados de una encuesta realizada por la comision de la calidad extraanalítica de la SEQC / Critical values reporting: results of a Spanish laboratories survey

Introducción. La detección y comunicación de valores críticos es una de las funciones del laboratorio que más repercusión tiene sobre la seguridad del paciente. La Comisión de la Calidad Extraanalítica de la SECQ ha realizado unas encuestas para conocer la situación de los laboratorios españoles. Material y métodos. Se enviaron dos encuestas a 728 laboratorios participantes en el Programa de Garantía Externa de la Calidad de Bioquímica suero, para conocer diferentes aspectos relacionados con la comunicación de los mismos y el límite establecido para diferentes magnitudes, diferenciando entre consulta externa y hospitalización. Resultados. La mayoría de los laboratorios encuestados tienen definidos valores críticos (81,5 %) y es el facultativo del laboratorio quien los notifica (87,3 %) telefónicamente (91,1 %) al médico responsable del paciente (86,6 %). Un 58 % de laboratorios comprueba que el aviso se ha recibido, un 54,8 % no ha definido el plazo de entrega y el 87,9 % no utiliza un indicador para controlar este proceso. Resultados. Las medianas obtenidas para la mayoría de constituyentes no difieren según el origen de los pacientes, siendo parecidas para consulta externa y hospitalización. Sin embargo, se encuentran diferencias en el nivel bajo del calcio y en el nivel alto de la creatinina, la glucosa y la urea. Conclusiones. Se observa una falta de estandarización y consenso en el tratamiento de estos valores. Debido a que su detección implica una actuación médica urgente, consideramos necesario que los laboratorios en colaboración con los clínicos desarrollen estrategias adecuadas para el establecimiento y notificación de estos valores (AU)

Introduction. Detection and reporting of critical values have great implications on patient safety. The SEQC Committee for the extra-analytical quality assessment has carried out a survey in order to evaluate these in Spanish laboratories. Material and methods. Two surveys were distributed among 728 participants registered in the External Quality Assessment Scheme (clinical chemistry, serum). Participants were asked to provide information regarding reporting of critical values and their decision limits. Outpatient and in-patient reporting were considered separately. Results. Most laboratories (81.5 %) had their critical values already defined; physicians assumed the responsibility of notifying critical results in 87.3 % of cases; critical results were mainly informed by telephone (91.1 %); 58 % of laboratories further verified that such notifications were received; delivery time was not taken into account in 54.8 % of laboratories; 87.9 % did not employ any indicator to track this process. Results. Median values obtained for most constituents did not differ and were similar for outpatient and hospital settings. Nevertheless, differences were found for the lower calcium critical value and for high critical values for creatinine, glucose and urea. Conclusions. Handling of critical values lacks standardization and a consensus among Spanish laboratories. Suitable strategies should be developed between laboratories and clinicians in order to correctly define and set up critical values, as their detection requires urgent medical action (AU)

[Rashba Olena Iakivna--a gifted scientist and science organizer].

Professor Olena Yakivna Rashba, doctor of science in biology, was born in Kyiv, to the physician's family; graduated from the Medical-Prophylactic Faculty of the First Medical Institute (1927-1931). Since 1933 she had been working at the Institute of Biochemistry of the Academy of Sciences of Ukr.SSR: first as a laborant and then as a junior and as a senior scientific worker. In 1939 O. Ya. Rashba defended a thesis for the Candidates degree in biology, and in 1951 the thesis for the Doctor's degree. From 1943 to 1945 O. Ya. Rashba was at the front as the major of Medical Service. She was awarded the Red Star Order and medals For Capture of Berlin and For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Before 1941 Olena Yakivna investigated, under the supervision of Acad. O. V. Palladin, biochemical topography of departments of the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as variations in content of protein and its metabolism products in different departments of brain during embryonal development of vertebral animals. In 1945-1951 O. Ya. Rashba began investigating peculiarities of carbohydrate metabolism in the brain. The data obtained by the scientist evidence that two enzymes (amylase and maltase) function in the brain which split glycogen to glucose in hydrolytic way. Interrelation between amylolytic and phospholytic enzymatic systems was detected in these experiments. Olena Yakivna has also developed the method of obtaining nuclei from the cells of nerve tissue and studied their composition. From 1951 to 1973 O. Ya. Rashba headed the Department of Microorganisms of the Institute of Microbiology of AS of Ukr.SSR and was a co-author of the efficient drug against bacterial cancer of tomatos "Arenarin". O. Ya. Rashbe has published about 100 scientific works, 2 monographs among them; she obtained 2 author's certificates.