The American Society for Clinical Pathology 2022 Vacancy Survey of medical laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent and distribution of laboratory workforce shortages within the nation's medical laboratories. METHODS: The Vacancy Survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Institute for Science, Technology and Public Policy in Washington, DC, and the Evaluation, Measurement, and Assessment Department and ASCP Board of Certification in Chicago, IL. Data were collected through an internet survey distributed to individuals who were able to report on staffing and certifications for their laboratories. RESULTS: Results of the ASCP 2022 Vacancy Survey show increased overall vacancy rates for laboratory positions in all departments compared with 2020. Overall retirement rates for laboratory professionals increased across most departments. CONCLUSIONS: Current Vacancy Survey data show continued increases in the numbers of laboratory vacancies and retirements as well as changes in certification requirements, with trends amplified during the pandemic continuing into the present. Qualitative analysis results showed that there is an urgent need to focus not only on recruitment but-equally important-on retention of laboratory professionals.

Examining the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in mitigating workforce burnout in laboratory medicine.

OBJECTIVES: The clinical laboratory workforce plays a crucial role in health care delivery, yet little is known about the unique pressures and challenges this workforce faces. The objective of this study was to identify factors that contribute to burnout, discrimination, exclusion, and inequity in pathology and laboratory medicine. METHODS: A nationwide survey was conducted in 2 phases. In phase 1, 2391 laboratory professionals were surveyed over a 1-week period about their experiences with burnout, discrimination, and work-related stress. In phase 2, the survey was extended to 1 month and questions were added to elicit more detailed information about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as well as wellness. RESULTS: Results showed a high prevalence of burnout, discrimination, and stress among laboratory professionals, with significant differences among certain demographic groups. Women, Black, indigenous, or people of color individuals and those with disabilities reported higher rates of discrimination. The study also showed a need for mentorship and resources to address educational barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study highlight the urgent need for interventions to address burnout, discrimination, exclusion, and inequity in the laboratory workforce. Initiatives to increase workforce diversity, promote mentorship and diversity training programs, and improve recognition of the laboratory workforce are recommended. The results underscore the pressing need to addressing the challenges and apprehensions laboratory professionals face, including enhancing recognition of their role in patient care, tackling systemic problems related to discrimination and equity, and enhancing the provision of support and resources for managing burnout and fostering well-being.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2021 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To inform the pathology and laboratory field of the most recent national wage data. Historically, the results of this biennial survey have served as a basis for additional research on laboratory recruitment, retention, education, marketing, certification, and advocacy. METHODS: The 2021 Wage Survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy in Washington, DC, and the ASCP Board of Certification in Chicago, IL. RESULTS: Compared with 2019, results show that mean hourly wage for staff-level personnel increased for only two occupations-cytologist and medical laboratory scientist/medical technologist/clinical laboratory scientist-after adjusting for inflation. Geographically, laboratory professionals from urban areas continue to earn more than their rural counterparts. Most respondents reported no change in their salaries during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic had a significant effect on staffing, workload, and work-life balance of many laboratory professionals. Even with the salary increases reported from the results of this survey, it is evident that the increases have not kept up with the current inflation. Focus on visibility, recruitment and retention, and diversity are essential to develop long- and short-term solutions.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology 2020 Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent and distribution of workforce shortages within the nation's medical laboratories. METHODS: The survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy in Washington, DC, and the Evaluation, Measurement, and Assessment Department and Board of Certification in Chicago, IL. Data were collected via an internet survey distributed to individuals who were able to report on staffing and certifications for their laboratories. RESULTS: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted the staffing of clinical laboratories and the stream of incoming graduates entering the workforce. Results show decreased vacancy rates for the majority of laboratory positions across all departments surveyed. The overall anticipated retirement rates continue to decline, which suggests that the field has already lost personnel with vast amounts of experience. CONCLUSIONS: Addressing the current and future needs of the laboratory workforce requires a collective effort by numerous groups of stakeholders at all levels, including the laboratory employers, laboratory training programs, health care executives/hospital administrators, and professional organizations. The time is now to address the future shortage of laboratory professionals and to create a resilient clinical laboratory professional workforce.

Covid-19 e a fome: reflexões sobre um futuro agroecológico / Covid-19 and hunger: reflections about an agroecological future

RESUMO A pandemia de Covid-19 gerou grande impacto sobre a sociedade e a economia, desnudando as faces da desigualdade no Brasil e traçando um caminho em direção à fome e à insegurança alimentar e nutricional. Desde fevereiro de 2020, com notificação do primeiro caso no País, as medidas de isolamento social e lockdown aumentaram as taxas de desemprego e desalento, assim como o fechamento de feiras locais, que concediam acesso aos alimentos frescos às periferias, elevando o preço dos gêneros in natura e aumentando o consumo de produtos industrializados. Essas questões trazem a reflexão da fragilidade das cadeias de produção e consumo, que são longas, dependentes de insumos externos e de infraestrutura para o transporte. Na perspectiva de subsidiar estratégias de enfretamento da fome, acesso à comida e mudanças na lógica da produção alimentícia, foi realizada uma revisão da literatura científica e de textos jornalísticos do período pandêmico. Este texto disserta sobre políticas de proteção social e de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (SAN), relacionando com a potencialidade das práticas agroecológicas nesse contexto, entendendo que a agroecologia tem em seus princípios a liberdade, a autonomia e a saúde, dialogando com os conceitos de soberania alimentar e da luta pela equidade.

ABSTRACT The Covid-19 pandemic had a major impact on society and the economy, stripping the faces of inequality in Brazil, and tracing a path towards hunger and food and nutritional insecurity. Since February 2020, with the notification of the first case in the country, social isolation and lockdown measures have increased unemployment and discouragement rates, as well as the closing of local fairs, which granted access to fresh food to the peripheries, raising the price of unprocessed food and increasing the consumption of industrialized products. These issues reflect on the fragility of the production and consumption chains, which are dependent on external inputs and transport infrastructure. A review of the scientific literature and journalistic texts of the pandemic period was carried out with the perspective of subsidizing strategies to fight hunger, access to food, and changes in the logic of food production. This text discusses policies of social protection and Food and Nutritional Security, relating the potential of agroecological practices in this context, understanding that agroecology has in its principles freedom, autonomy, and health, dialoguing with the concepts of food sovereignty and the struggle for equity.

Revised Reporting (Issuing Addenda and Amendments) in Pathology.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to align the current experiences and best practices in revised reporting (issuing of addenda and amendments) in pathology. Pathology specialties explored in the survey include anatomic pathology, surgical pathology, cytopathology, and hematopathology. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design in which an online revised reporting survey was deployed to a large national sample represented by pathologists, pathology residents, pathology fellows, pathology managers, and laboratory directors. RESULTS: Qualitative and quantitative results from this survey highlight significant variation in standards for creating, issuing, and tracking quality indicators related to addenda and amendments. The most notable findings were a lack of standardization and the potential for widespread adoption of revised reporting best practices within and between pathology services. CONCLUSIONS: Survey insight provides the potential for improving patient safety outcomes, engaging with consumers of our reports, providing a current state view of revised reporting, and assessing the attitudes of pathologists and laboratory professionals on how their individual approaches and team-based workflows achieve revised reports. The data generated from this survey will provide patient safety opportunities associated with accurate pathology reporting and will encourage further development of optimal pathology revised reporting guidelines.

American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2019 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To inform the pathology and laboratory field of the most recent national wage data. Historically, the results of this biennial survey have served as a basis for additional research on laboratory recruitment, retention, education, marketing, certification, and advocacy. METHODS: The 2019 Wage Survey was conducted through collaboration of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy in Washington, DC, and the ASCP Board of Certification in Chicago, Illinois. RESULTS: Compared with 2017, results show an overall increase in salaries for most laboratory occupations surveyed except cytogenetic technologists, laboratory information systems personnel, and performance improvement or quality assurance personnel. Geographically, laboratory professionals from urban areas earned more than their rural counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: As retirement rates continue to increase, the field needs to intensify its efforts on recruiting the next generation of laboratory personnel. To do so, the report urged the field to highlight advocacy for better salaries for laboratory personnel at the local and national levels when developing recruitment and retention strategies.

Effect of anticoagulant adjustment on prothrombin time test using two different PT reagents in patients with elevated hematocrit.

The recommendations for adjustment of citrate volume in sample tubes with high hematocrit (Ht) are based on indirect studies of underfilled tubes or artificially constructed Ht values. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of citrate volume adjustment in sample tubes from patients with hematocrit >55% using two different prothrombin time (PT) tests. METHODS: Paired citrate-adjusted and unadjusted blood specimens were obtained from 181 patients from the pulmonary hypertension ambulatory with high Ht values and on warfarin therapy. The samples were tested using recombinant human tissue factor (RTF) and reagents extracted from rabbit brain (HS Plus). The results are expressed as the international normalized ratio (INR). The correlation and percent change (% change) between sample pairs were calculated. RESULTS: INR-RTF results from adjusted and unadjusted citrate blood specimens showed a strong correlation (R2 â€‹= â€‹0.8226, p â€‹< â€‹0.0001). The INR median was 2.25 (95% CI 2.10 to 2.41) for citrate-adjusted samples and was 2.22 (95% CI 2.06 to 2.38) for citrate-unadjusted samples. For samples with Ht >62%, the % change between sample pairs was >10%. Results using HS Plus showed a moderate correlation between citrate-adjusted and unadjusted samples (R2 â€‹= â€‹0.4267, p â€‹< â€‹0.0001). The INR median was 2.51 (95% CI 2.35 to 2.68) for citrate-adjusted samples and 3.45 (95% CI 3.11 to 3.80) for citrate-unadjusted samples. For samples with Ht>55%, the % change between sample pairs was higher than 10%. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that in patients with polycythemia on warfarin therapy, INR-RTF does not require anticoagulant adjustment for assessment of samples with Ht <62%.

Job Stress, Burnout, Work-Life Balance, Well-Being, and Job Satisfaction Among Pathology Residents and Fellows.

OBJECTIVES: The study explored job stress, burnout, work-life balance, well-being, and job satisfaction among pathology residents and fellows. The aims were to examine the prevalence and sources of stress and burnout, as well as identify resources to promote work-life balance and well-being and prevent burnout. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional survey deployed online to a large national sample of pathology residents and fellows. RESULTS: Job stress and burnout were prevalent, with more than a third of the respondents reporting that they were currently experiencing burnout. The respondents, particularly residents, were struggling with academics, and higher percentages were struggling with work-life balance and emotional well-being. Overall, the majority of respondents who rated their work-life balance indicated that it was poor or fair. Among the factors contributing to job stress and burnout and detracting from work-life balance, workload was the leading factor. CONCLUSIONS: The factors contributing to job stress and burnout included organizational factors such as workload, value, and aspects of the learning environment, as well as personal factors such as work-life integration. One of the overarching implications is the need to address a range of interdependent considerations in designing resources to reduce job stress, promote work-life balance, and prevent burnout.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's Job Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Burnout Survey of Laboratory Professionals.

OBJECTIVES: To examine job satisfaction, well-being, job stress, and burnout among laboratory professionals. METHODS: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The survey was administered online via the American Society for Clinical Pathology's survey tool, to elicit information about job satisfaction, well-being, job stress, and burnout among medical laboratory professionals. RESULTS: Although this survey shows high job satisfaction among respondents, overall job-related stress is high and burnout is prevalent. The majority of the respondents rated their work-life balance as "fair." The main contributing factors to job stress, burnout, and work-life balance are quantity of workload and understaffing. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this survey, creating targeted interventions may help improve the quality of well-being programs for laboratory professionals. A comprehensive wellness program developed at the institutional, local, and national levels may improve morale and alleviate the recruitment and retention challenges faced by medical laboratory professionals.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's Job Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Burnout Survey of Pathologists.

OBJECTIVES: To examine job satisfaction, well-being, job stress, and burnout among pathologists. METHODS: The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. The survey was administered online via the American Society for Clinical Pathology's (ASCP's) survey tool to elicit information about job satisfaction, well-being, job stress, and burnout among pathologists. RESULTS: Job satisfaction is high and well-being is rated fair to good by most respondents. However, feelings of anxiety or worry about work, high levels of stress, and burnout are prevalent among pathologists. The main contributing factor to job stress, burnout, and work-life balance is quantity of workload. CONCLUSIONS: Creating targeted interventions based on the results of this survey may help improve the type and quality of wellness programs for pathologists. Trust among team members, managers and clinicians, and institutions can help reduce stress and increase collaboration, engagement, and motivation.

Segurança do paciente no uso de antibiótico hospitalar: uma revisão da literatura / Patient safety in hospital antibiotic use: a review of the literature / Seguridad del paciente en el uso de antibiótico hospitalario: una revisión de la literatura

Justificativa e objetivos: Os antimicrobianos estão entre os medicamentos de uso mais preocupantes dentro do ambiente hospitalar por conta de erros relacionados a sua prescrição, dispensação, preparo e administração. O presente estudo tem por objetivo verificar os principais erros descritos na literatura relacionados ao uso de antibiótico em pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de caráter exploratório e abordagem descritiva. Os dados formam buscados nas bases eletrônicas: PubMed, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe, Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) e Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SCIELO), utilizando os Descritores em Ciência da Saúde (Decs): "medication errror" and "patient safety" and "antibiótic", entre os anos de 2013 e 2017. Resultados: foram encontrados 40 artigos, destes, 14 foram selecionados, catalogados e analisados, a partir de uma comparação sobre os principais tipos de erros de medicamentos, intervenções realizadas e custos dos principais desfechos. Conclusão: Embora os estudos analisados não abordem especificamente os erros de medicação, pode-se constatar que os principais erros consistem na prescrição dos antibióticos. Reforça-se, portanto, a necessidade de educação continuada dos profissionais envolvidos e o uso da tecnologia na forma de sistemas informatizados para reduzir os erros deste e dos demais tipos de medicação em hospitais.(AU)

Justifications and objectives: The antimicrobials are among the most worrying drugs in the hospital environment due to the errors related to their prescription, dispensing, preparation and administration. the present study has the objective to verify the main errors described in the literature related to the use of antibiotics in hospitalized patients. Methods: This is a integrative exploratory review and a descriptive approach. The data were searched in electronic databases: PubMed, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe, Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) and Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SCIELO), using the Health Science Descriptors (Decs): "medication errors" and "Patient safety" and "antibiotic" between the years of 2013 and 2017. Results: There were 40 articles found, from these 14 articles were selected, registered and analyzed, based on a comparison about the main types of medication errors, interventions and costs of the main outcomes. Conclusion: Although the studies analyzed do not approach specifically the medication errors, it can verify that the main errors consist in the antibiotic's prescription. It reinforces the necessity for the continued education for the involved professionals and the use of computerized systems to reduce these errors and other types of medication errors in hospitals.(AU)

Justificación y objetivos: Los antimicrobianos están entre los medicamentos más preocupantes dentro del ambiente hospitalario debido a errores relacionados con su prescripción, dispensación, preparación y administración. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo verificar los principales errores descritos en la literatura relacionados con el uso de antibióticos en pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos: Se trata de una revisión integradora de carácter exploratorio y enfoque descriptivo. Los datos se fueron buscados en las bases electrónicas: PubMed, Centro Latinoamericano y del Caribe de información en Ciencias de la Salud (LILACS) y Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SCIELO), utilizando los Descriptores en Ciencia de la Salud (Decs): "errores de medicación" y "Seguridad del paciente" y "antibiótico", entre los años 2013 y 2017. Resultados: fueron encontrados 40 artículos, de éstos, 14 fueron seleccionados, catalogados y analizados, a partir de una comparación sobre los principales tipos de errores de medicamentos, intervenciones y los costos de los principales resultados. Conclusión: Aunque los estudios analizados no abordan específicamente los errores de medicación, se puede constatar que los principales errores consisten en la prescripción de los antibióticos. Se refuerza, por lo tanto, la necesidad de educación continuada de los profesionales involucrados y el uso de la tecnología en la forma de sistemas informatizados para reducir los errores de éste y de los demás tipos de medicación en los hospitales.(AU)

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2018 Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent and distribution of workforce shortages within the nation's medical laboratories. METHODS: The survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology's Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy in Washington, DC, and the Evaluation, Measurement, and Assessment Department and Board of Certification in Chicago, IL. Data were collected via an internet survey distributed to individuals who were able to report on staffing and certifications for their laboratories. RESULTS: Results show increased vacancy rates for laboratory positions across all departments surveyed. The overall retirement rates are at its lowest, suggesting that the field has already experienced loss of personnel with a vast amount of experience. CONCLUSIONS: Focus on retention of qualified and certified laboratory professionals would be crucial factors in addressing the needs of the laboratory workforce. The field also needs to intensify its efforts on recruiting the next generation of laboratory personnel.

Cardiometabolic risk factors associated with active commuting to school / Fatores de risco cardiometabólicos associados ao deslocamento ativo à escola

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify if there is an association between cardiometabolic risk factors and active daily commuting to school among children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 1,743 schoolchildren aged 7 to 17 years old were evaluated in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul (RS). The way of commuting to school was investigated with a questionnaire, and the cardiometabolic risk factors analyzed were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC) and fractions, LDL and HDL. Results: The prevalence of active commuting among schoolchildren was 48.0% (95%CI 45.7-50.4), and it was associated, in the crude analysis, with blood glucose and LDL cholesterol levels. Passive schoolchildren had a 1.1 higher prevalence ratio of high glucose and LDL cholesterol levels. However, when sociodemographic variables were included in the model, these associations were not maintained. Conclusions: The prevalence of active commuting in the sample studied is low and it was shown to have a crude association with glucose and LDL cholesterol levels in students. However, sociodemographic factors seem to influence these associations.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar se existe associação entre fatores de risco cardiometabólicos e deslocamento ativo à escola em crianças e adolescentes. Métodos: Foram avaliados 1.743 escolares, de sete a 17 anos, do município de Santa Cruz do Sul (RS). A forma de deslocamento até a escola foi investigada por meio de questionário e os fatores de risco cardiometabólicos analisados foram: o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), a circunferência da cintura (CC), a pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e a diastólica (PAD), glicose, triglicerídeos, colesterol total (CT), LDL e HDL. Resultados: A prevalência de deslocamento ativo entre os escolares foi de 48,0% (IC95% 45,7-50,4) e associou-se, na análise bruta, com os níveis de glicose e colesterol LDL. Escolares que se deslocavam de forma passiva apresentaram uma razão de prevalência (RP) 1,1 vez maior de glicose e colesterol LDL elevados. No entanto, ao serem incluídas variáveis sociodemográficas no modelo, essas associações não se mantiveram. Conclusões: Conclui-se que a prevalência de deslocamento ativo na amostra estudada é baixa e que o deslocamento ativo à escola apresentou associação bruta com os níveis sanguíneos de glicose e de colesterol LDL dos escolares, sendo que se deslocar de forma ativa parece auxiliar na redução desses níveis. Porém, fatores sociodemográficos parecem exercer influência sobre estas associações.

Parvifoline Derivatives as Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors.

A series of functionalized sesquiterpenoids derived from benzocyclooctene, including natural parvifoline (1), isoparvifoline (3), epoxyparvifoline (5), epoxyisoparvifoline (7), 8,12-oxyparfivoline (9), 8,14-oxyparvifoline (11), and the respective benzoyl derivatives 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, were prepared and tested for their inhibitory effect on the in vitro α,ß-tubulin polymerization process. The structural analysis and characterization of the new compounds 5-7 and 9-12 were achieved by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction analysis of 6, 7, and 9. Preparation of 9 and 12 involved molecular rearrangements of the epoxide group with transannular 1,5-hydride shifts. At 10 µM compounds 1, 5, and 8 inhibited the polymerization of the α,ß-tubulin heterodimer by 24%, 49%, and 90% as compared to colchicine. These compounds were subjected to docking analysis that supported their interactions in a colchicine binding site located in the α-tubulin subunit, in the pocket formed by Phe296, Pro298, Pro307, His309, Tyr312, Lys338, Thr340, Ile341, and Gln342. Competitive inhibition assays with colchicine were also performed for the three compounds, which supported their binding at the colchicine secondary site in α-tubulin. Also, evaluations of their cytotoxicity on MCF7 breast carcinoma, HeLa cervix carcinoma, and HCT 116 colon carcinoma cell lines were carried out and showed that 8 is active against the HeLa and HCT 116 cell lines with IC50 3.3 ± 0.2 and 5.0 ± 0.5 µM, respectively.

CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ACTIVE COMMUTING TO SCHOOL.

OBJECTIVE: To verify if there is an association between cardiometabolic risk factors and active daily commuting to school among children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1,743 schoolchildren aged 7 to 17 years old were evaluated in the city of Santa Cruz do Sul (RS). The way of commuting to school was investigated with a questionnaire, and the cardiometabolic risk factors analyzed were body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC) and fractions, LDL and HDL. RESULTS: The prevalence of active commuting among schoolchildren was 48.0% (95%CI 45.7-50.4), and it was associated, in the crude analysis, with blood glucose and LDL cholesterol levels. Passive schoolchildren had a 1.1 higher prevalence ratio of high glucose and LDL cholesterol levels. However, when sociodemographic variables were included in the model, these associations were not maintained. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of active commuting in the sample studied is low and it was shown to have a crude association with glucose and LDL cholesterol levels in students. However, sociodemographic factors seem to influence these associations.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2017 Wage Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States.

Objectives: To inform the pathology and laboratory field of the most recent national wage data. Historically, the results of this biennial survey have served as a basis for additional research on laboratory recruitment, retention, education, marketing, certification, and advocacy. Methods: The 2017 Wage Survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology's (ASCP's) Institute of Science, Technology, and Policy in Washington, DC, and the ASCP Board of Certification in Chicago, IL. Results: Compared with 2015, results show an overall increase in salaries for most of the laboratory occupations surveyed except histotechnologists and pathologists' assistants. Geographically, laboratory professionals from urban areas earn more than their rural counterparts. Conclusions: Survey results encourage laboratory professionals to be actively engaged in advocating for the profession in the workforce and educational training programs. Awareness of the career opportunities and value of the profession is needed to strengthen the future of the field.

Release of interleukin-10 and neurotrophic factors in the choroid plexus: possible inductors of neurogenesis following copolymer-1 immunization after cerebral ischemia.

Copolymer-1 (Cop-1) is a peptide with immunomodulatory properties, approved by the Food and Drug Administration of United States in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Cop-1 has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and induce neurogenesis in cerebral ischemia models. Nevertheless, the mechanism involved in the neurogenic action of this compound remains unknown. The choroid plexus (CP) is a network of cells that constitute the interphase between the immune and central nervous systems, with the ability to mediate neurogenesis through the release of cytokines and growth factors. Therefore, the CP could play a role in Cop-1-induced neurogenesis. In order to determine the participation of the CP in the induction of neurogenesis after Cop-1 immunization, we evaluated the gene expression of various growth factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, neurotrophin-3) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and IL-17), in the CP at 14 days after ischemia. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of these genes and neurogenesis. Our results showed that Cop-1 was capable of stimulating an upregulation in the expression of the genes encoding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, neurotrophin-3 and IL-10 in the CP, which correlated with an increase in neurogenesis in the subventricular and subgranular zone. As well, we observed a downregulation of IL-17 gene expression. This study demonstrates the effect of Cop-1 on the expression of growth factors and IL-10 in the CP, in the same way, presents a possible mechanism involved in the neurogenic effect of Cop-1.

Percepções sobre a Rede de Cuidados à Pessoa com Deficiência em uma Região de Saúde / Perceptions on the Care Network for Disabled Persons in a Health Region

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi o de analisar o processo de implantação da Rede de Cuidados à Pessoa com Deficiência em uma Região de Saúde. Por meio de pesquisa exploratória, realizou-se um estudo de caso empregando questionários e entrevistas com 49 sujeitos, de forma a mapear, descrever e analisar o contexto, relações e percepções de distintos atores envolvidos no processo de implantação da referida rede. Os dados revelaram a existência de movimentos que denunciam uma 'rede viva de cuidados' em permanente construção, em processo gradual de incorporação de suas diretrizes, embora ainda se enfatizem os serviços especializados de reabilitação como centralizadores do cuidado.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the implementation process of the network for disabled people in a regional health system in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. An exploratory study was used to conduct a case study, which applied questionnaires and interviews with 49 individuals so to map, describe and analyze the context, relations and perceptions) of different actors involved in the network implementation process. The results revealed the existence of movements reporting a 'living healthcare network' in permanent construction, following a gradual process of guidelines incorporation, although specialized rehabilitation services are still emphasized as care centralizers.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology's 2016-2017 Vacancy Survey of Medical Laboratories in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent and distribution of workforce shortages within the nation's medical laboratories. METHODS: The 2016-2017 Vacancy Survey was conducted through collaboration between the American Society for Clinical Pathology's Institute of Science, Technology, & Policy in Washington, DC, and the Evaluation, Measurement, and Assessment division and Board of Certification in Chicago, Illinois. Data were collected via an internet survey that was distributed to individuals who were able to report on staffing and certifications for their laboratories. RESULTS: Results of the 2016-2017 Vacancy Survey shows decreased vacancy rates for laboratory positions across all departments surveyed compared with 2014. While overall, the data show that vacancy rates are decreasing, overall retirement rates and certification requirements are higher. CONCLUSIONS: Focus on the qualifications and certification status of laboratory professionals would be crucial factors in addressing the needs of the laboratory workforce. The field needs to intensify its efforts on recruiting the next generation of laboratory personnel.