How many mislabelled samples go unidentified? Results of a pilot study to determine the occult mislabelled sample rate.

BACKGROUND: Specimens with incorrect patient information are both a critical safety error and difficult to identify. Estimates of sample mislabelling rely on subjective identification of mislabelling, with the possibility that not all mislabelled samples are being caught. METHODS: We determined the blood type of two or more complete blood count specimens with the same patient label and assessed for discrepancies. We additionally determined the rate of identified sample mislabelling for the study period. RESULTS: We found a rate of 3.17 per 1000 discrepancies over the study period. These discrepancies most likely represent occult, or unidentified, mislabelled samples. In contrast, the rate of identified sample mislabelling was 1.15 per 1000. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that specimens identified as, or known to be, mislabelled represent only a fraction of those mislabelled. These findings are currently being confirmed in our laboratory and are likely generalisable to other institutions.

The Mexican Tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, as a Model System in Cell and Developmental Biology.

Our understanding of cell and developmental biology has been greatly aided by a focus on a small number of model organisms. However, we are now in an era where techniques to investigate gene function can be applied across phyla, allowing scientists to explore the diversity and flexibility of developmental mechanisms and gain a deeper understanding of life. Researchers comparing the eyeless cave-adapted Mexican tetra, Astyanax mexicanus, with its river-dwelling counterpart are revealing how the development of the eyes, pigment, brain, cranium, blood, and digestive system evolves as animals adapt to new environments. Breakthroughs in our understanding of the genetic and developmental basis of regressive and constructive trait evolution have come from A. mexicanus research. They include understanding the types of mutations that alter traits, which cellular and developmental processes they affect, and how they lead to pleiotropy. We review recent progress in the field and highlight areas for future investigations that include evolution of sex differentiation, neural crest development, and metabolic regulation of embryogenesis.

Effects of platelet-rich fibrin produced by three centrifugation protocols on bone neoformation in defects created in rat calvaria.

This study evaluated the potential of Leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF; fixed angle centrifugation protocol), Advanced-platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF; low-speed fixed angle centrifugation protocol), and Horizontal-platelet-rich fibrin (H-PRF; horizontal centrifugation protocol) in bone neoformation in critical size defects (CSDs) in rat calvaria. Thirty-two rats were divided into groups: Control (C), L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF. 5 mm diameter CSDs were created in the animals' calvaria. Defects from group Control (C) were filled with blood clots, while defects from groups L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF were filled with respective platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) membranes. L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF were prepared from animal blood collection and specific centrifugation protocols. At 14 and 30 days, calcein (CA) and alizarin (AL) injections were performed, respectively. Animals were euthanized at 35 days. Microtomographic, laser confocal microscopy, and histomorphometric analyzes were performed. Data were statistically analyzed (ANOVA, Tukey, p < .05). L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF groups showed higher values of bone volume (BV), newly formed bone area (NFBA), and precipitation of CA and AL than the C group (p < .05). The H-PRF group showed higher values of BV, number of trabeculae (Tb. N), NFBA, and higher precipitation of AL than the A-PRF and L-PRF groups (p < .05). Therefore, it can be concluded that: i) L-PRF, A-PRF, and H-PRF potentiate bone neoformation in CSDs in rat calvaria; ii) H-PRF demonstrated more biological potential for bone healing.

After tooth loss, the alveolar bone (which supports the teeth) undergoes a natural process called bone remodeling, which can lead to significant decreases in bone height and thickness over time. Faced with the need to replace missing teeth, especially when it comes to dental implants, the lack of supporting tissues can compromise their correct positioning, leading to negative impacts on the success and longevity of the treatment. Therefore, over the years, several materials and procedures have been proposed to preserve and regenerate oral tissues. Leukocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) consists of a membrane obtained by centrifuging the patient's blood in a fixed-angle centrifuge, allowing cells to be available to stimulate tissue regeneration directly at the place of action. Several reports demonstrate high potential in stimulating the formation of new tissues using L-PRF. In recent years, new protocols have been proposed to increase cell concentration and improve the regenerative potential of these membranes, changing the speed and time of centrifugation and introducing horizontal centrifugation. However, there still needs to be concrete evidence of the superiority of the new protocols in relation to the original protocol. In this study, we evaluated the healing of defects created in rat calvaria using platelet aggregates obtained through different centrifugation protocols. Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that platelet aggregates improve bone healing, and horizontal centrifugation promotes more satisfactory results compared to fixed-angle protocols.

Comparison of the effects of platelet concentrates produced by high and low-speed centrifugation protocols on the healing of critical-size defects in rat calvaria: a microtomographic and histomorphometric study.

The current study evaluated the healing of critical-size defects (CSD) created in rat calvaria treated with platelet concentrates produced by high-speed (Leukocyte- and Platelet-Rich Fibrin - L-PRF) and low-speed (Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin - A-PRF) protocols of centrifugation. Twenty-four rats were distributed into three groups: Control, L-PRF, and A-PRF. Five mm diameter CSD were created on the animals' calvaria. The defects of the L-PRF and A-PRF groups were filled with 0.01 ml of L-PRF and A-PRF, respectively. The control group defects were filled with a blood clot only. All animals were euthanized on the 35th postoperative day. Histomorphometric and microtomographic analyses were then performed. The L-PRF and A-PRF groups had significantly higher bone volume and neoformed bone area than those of the control group and lowered bone porosity values (p < .05). No significant differences were observed between A-PRF and L-PRF groups for the analyzed parameters. Therefore, it can be concluded that i) L-PRF and A-PRF potentiated the healing of CSD in rat calvaria; ii) high and low-speed centrifugation protocols did not produce PRF matrices with different biological impacts on the amount of bone neoformation.

RF Energy Absorption in Human Bodies Due to Wearable Antennas in the 2.4 GHz Frequency Band.

Human exposure to electromagnetic fields produced by two wearable antennas operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band was assessed by computational tools. Both antennas were designed to be attached to the skin, but they were intended for different applications. The first antenna was designed for off-body applications, i.e. to communicate with a device placed outside the body, while the second antenna model was optimized to communicate with a device located inside the body. The power absorption in human tissues was determined at several locations of adult male and female body models. The maximum specific absorption rate (SAR) value obtained with the off-body antenna was found on the torso of the woman model and was equal to 0.037 W/kg at 2.45 GHz. SAR levels increased significantly for the antenna transmitting inside the body. In this case, SAR values ranged between 0.23 and 0.45 W/kg at the same body location. The power absorbed in different body tissues and total power absorbed in the body were also calculated; the maximum total power absorbed was equal to 5.2 mW for an antenna input power equal to 10 mW. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020;41:73-79 © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Leveraging Technology to Manage Chagas Disease by Tracking Domestic and Sylvatic Animal Hosts as Sentinels: A Systematic Review.

Surveillance of Chagas in the United States show more is known about prevalence in animals and vectors than in humans. Leveraging health information technology (HIT) may augment surveillance efforts for Chagas disease (CD), given its ability to disseminate information through health information exchanges (HIE) and geographical information systems (GISs). This systematic review seeks to determine whether technological tracking of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected domestic and/or sylvatic animals as sentinels can serve as a potential surveillance resource to manage CD in the southern United States. A Boolean search string was used in PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Relevance of results was established and analysis of articles was performed by multiple reviewers. The overall Cohen statistic was 0.73, demonstrating moderate agreement among the study team. Four major themes were derived for this systematic review (n = 41): animals act as reservoir hosts to perpetuate CD, transmission to humans could be dependent on cohabitation proximity, variations in T. cruzi genotypes could lead to different clinical manifestations, and leveraging technology to track T. cruzi in domestic animals could reveal prevalent areas or "danger zones." Overall, our systematic review identified that HIT can serve as a surveillance tool to manage CD. Health information technology can serve as a surveillance tool to manage CD. This can be accomplished by tracking domestic and/or sylvatic animals as sentinels within a GIS. Information can be disseminated through HIE for use by clinicians and public health officials to reach at-risk populations.

Allele and haplotype frequencies of 12 X-STRs in Mexican population.

The use of X-chromosome short tandem repeats (X-STRs) to solve complex kinship cases has been facilitated by commercial human identification kits, such as the Argus X-12 kit (Qiagen), and the free-access software FamlinkX. For this purpose, allele and haplotype frequencies are required in the populations to be employed. Therefore, we obtained Argus X-12 haplotypes in 933 unrelated males from seven different geographic regions from Mexico. Forensic parameters for individual X-STRs and for three-loci linkage groups are reported. The observed homogeneity between the studied population samples support to use a global Mexican population database (Fst p-value >0.05). In brief, forensic validation of the Argus X-12 kit was performed to facilitate incorporation of X-STRs in forensic casework in this country.

Children's exposure assessment of radiofrequency fields: Comparison between spot and personal measurements.

INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency (RF) fields are widely used and, while it is still unknown whether children are more vulnerable to this type of exposure, it is essential to explore their level of exposure in order to conduct adequate epidemiological studies. Personal measurements provide individualized information, but they are costly in terms of time and resources, especially in large epidemiological studies. Other approaches, such as estimation of time-weighted averages (TWAs) based on spot measurements could simplify the work. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to assess RF exposure in the Spanish INMA birth cohort by spot measurements and by personal measurements in the settings where children tend to spend most of their time, i.e., homes, schools and parks; to identify the settings and sources that contribute most to that exposure; and to explore if exposure assessment based on spot measurements is a valid proxy for personal exposure. METHODS: When children were 8 years old, spot measurements were conducted in the principal settings of 104 participants: homes (104), schools and their playgrounds (26) and parks (79). At the same time, personal measurements were taken for a subsample of 50 children during 3 days. Exposure assessment based on personal and on spot measurements were compared both in terms of mean exposures and in exposure-dependent categories by means of Bland-Altman plots, Cohen's kappa and McNemar test. RESULTS: Median exposure levels ranged from 29.73 (in children's bedrooms) to 200.10 µW/m2 (in school playgrounds) for spot measurements and were higher outdoors than indoors. Median personal exposure was 52.13 µW/m2 and median levels of assessments based on spot measurements ranged from 25.46 to 123.21 µW/m2. Based on spot measurements, the sources that contributed most to the exposure were FM radio, mobile phone downlink and Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial, while indoor and personal sources contributed very little (altogether <20%). Similar distribution was observed with personal measurements. There was a bias proportional to power density between personal measurements and estimates based on spot measurements, with the latter providing higher exposure estimates. Nevertheless, there were no systematic differences between those methodologies when classifying subjects into exposure categories. Personal measurements of total RF exposure showed low to moderate agreement with home and bedroom spot measurements and agreed better, though moderately, with TWA based on spot measurements in the main settings where children spend time (homes, schools and parks; Kappa = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure assessment based on spot measurements could be a feasible proxy to rank personal RF exposure in children population, providing that all relevant locations are being measured.

A longer vernal window: the role of winter coldness and snowpack in driving spring transitions and lags.

Climate change is altering the timing and duration of the vernal window, a period that marks the end of winter and the start of the growing season when rapid transitions in ecosystem energy, water, nutrient, and carbon dynamics take place. Research on this period typically captures only a portion of the ecosystem in transition and focuses largely on the dates by which the system wakes up. Previous work has not addressed lags between transitions that represent delays in energy, water, nutrient, and carbon flows. The objectives of this study were to establish the sequence of physical and biogeochemical transitions and lags during the vernal window period and to understand how climate change may alter them. We synthesized observations from a statewide sensor network in New Hampshire, USA, that concurrently monitored climate, snow, soils, and streams over a three-year period and supplemented these observations with climate reanalysis data, snow data assimilation model output, and satellite spectral data. We found that some of the transitions that occurred within the vernal window were sequential, with air temperatures warming prior to snow melt, which preceded forest canopy closure. Other transitions were simultaneous with one another and had zero-length lags, such as snowpack disappearance, rapid soil warming, and peak stream discharge. We modeled lags as a function of both winter coldness and snow depth, both of which are expected to decline with climate change. Warmer winters with less snow resulted in longer lags and a more protracted vernal window. This lengthening of individual lags and of the entire vernal window carries important consequences for the thermodynamics and biogeochemistry of ecosystems, both during the winter-to-spring transition and throughout the rest of the year.

Characterisation of exposure to non-ionising electromagnetic fields in the Spanish INMA birth cohort: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Analysis of the association between exposure to electromagnetic fields of non-ionising radiation (EMF-NIR) and health in children and adolescents is hindered by the limited availability of data, mainly due to the difficulties on the exposure assessment. This study protocol describes the methodologies used for characterising exposure of children to EMF-NIR in the INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente- Environment and Childhood) Project, a prospective cohort study. METHODS/DESIGN: Indirect (proximity to emission sources, questionnaires on sources use and geospatial propagation models) and direct methods (spot and fixed longer-term measurements and personal measurements) were conducted in order to assess exposure levels of study participants aged between 7 and 18 years old. The methodology used varies depending on the frequency of the EMF-NIR and the environment (homes, schools and parks). Questionnaires assessed the use of sources contributing both to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) and Radiofrequency (RF) exposure levels. Geospatial propagation models (NISMap) are implemented and validated for environmental outdoor sources of RFs using spot measurements. Spot and fixed longer-term ELF and RF measurements were done in the environments where children spend most of the time. Moreover, personal measurements were taken in order to assess individual exposure to RF. The exposure data are used to explore their relationships with proximity and/or use of EMF-NIR sources. DISCUSSION: Characterisation of the EMF-NIR exposure by this combination of methods is intended to overcome problems encountered in other research. The assessment of exposure of INMA cohort children and adolescents living in different regions of Spain to the full frequency range of EMF-NIR extends the characterisation of environmental exposures in this cohort. Together with other data obtained in the project, on socioeconomic and family characteristics and development of the children and adolescents, this will enable to evaluate the complex interaction between health outcomes in children and adolescents and the various environmental factors that surround them.

Simplified formulae for the estimation of offshore wind turbines clutter on marine radars.

The potential impact that offshore wind farms may cause on nearby marine radars should be considered before the wind farm is installed. Strong radar echoes from the turbines may degrade radars' detection capability in the area around the wind farm. Although conventional computational methods provide accurate results of scattering by wind turbines, they are not directly implementable in software tools that can be used to conduct the impact studies. This paper proposes a simple model to assess the clutter that wind turbines may generate on marine radars. This method can be easily implemented in the system modeling software tools for the impact analysis of a wind farm in a real scenario.

Epidemia de intoxicação por chumbo em empresa de fundição secundária / Occupational lead poisoning epidemic in a secondary melting facility

A intoxicação por chumbo constitui importante problema de saúde dos trabalhadores em nosso meio, sendo causada principalmente pela montagem, reforma e reciclagem de baterias automotivas. Neste artigo, são apresentados os resultados de uma investigação realizada em uma empresa de fundição secundária de chumbo localizada na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte. A empresa foi inspecionada para estudo dos riscos à saúde dos trabalhadores. Foi ainda realizada revisão bibliográfica e estudo dos prontuários médicos dos trabalhadores atendidos no Centro de Referência Estadual em Saúde dos Trabalhadores- CEREST/MG ,no período de janeiro de 2005 a setembro de 2007. Os 18 trabalhadores do setor produtivo da empresa são homens e estavam expostos e intoxicados pelo chumbo. A idade média era de 33,6 anos. Quanto à escolaridade, 61,1% possuíam primeiro grau incompleto. O tempo médio de exposição ao chumbo metálico foi de 17,8 meses. Constatou-se que 66,7% dos trabalhadores mostraram níveis séricos de chumbo acima de 60µg/dl, e 33,3% mostraram níveis entre 40 e 60µg/dl. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram parestesias (72,2%), dor nas pernas (66,7%), fraqueza (55.6%), cefaleia (50%), irritabilidade (50%) e dor abdominal (44,4%). Dentre os pacientes, 61.1% foram submetidos à terapia quelante com versenato de sódio. O tempo médio de afastamento do trabalho dos pacientes que concluíram o tratamento foi de 14,3 meses. Os autores alertam para a gravidade do problema e enfatizam a necessidade de maior integração entre as agências públicas que implementam ações de proteção ambiental e saúde do trabalhador visando melhorar as condições de trabalho e eliminar a intoxicação por chumbo nas empresas de fundição secundária de chumbo.

Lead intoxication remains a significant occupational health concern in our environment, being primarily caused by the process of assembly, restoration, and recycling of automotive batteries. This paper presents research data collected from an automotive battery board recycling facility in greater Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and points out inappropriate workplace conditions. The facility was visited for researching workplace processes and identifying all risks to the workers’ health, a bibliographical review was conducted, as well as a study of facility's workers medical records from their visits to the Centro de Referência Estadual em Saúde dos Trabalhadores de Minas Gerais - CEREST/MG. All the 18 workers practically performed the same activities and were poisoned by lead. The mean age was 33.6 years and 100% of them were male. The mean time of metallic lead exposure was 17,8months. 66,7% of workers showed serum lead levels above 60µg/ dl, and 33,3% between 40 and 60µg/dl . The main symptoms were leg pain, paresthesia (72,2%), leg ache (66,7%),faintness (55,6%), headache (50%), irritation (50%) and abdominal pain (44,4%). Chelation therapy with calcium versenate was the treatment in 61,1% of them. The mean time sickleaves of patients that concluded the treatment was 14,3 months. The authors stress the need of institutional integration among public agencies that implemented occupational health andenvironmental protection actions, in order to improve the work conditions in secondary melting facilites.

Aspectos anatómicos de la disposición y anastomosis de las ramas terminales del plexo braquial: (nervus mediano, ulnar, radial y musculocutáneo) / Anatomical aspects of the disposition and anastomosis of the braquial plexus: (median nerve urnal, radial and musclecutaneous)

En los tiempos modernos, los múltiples traumatismos que ocurren en el miembro superior, exigen de los profesionales de la salud conocimiento preciso de la disposición del pedículo y sus posibles variaciones. Se estudiaron 40 miembros superiores de cadáveres adultos previamente tratados con solución de formol al 5 por ciento, glicerina y fenos durante al menos tres meses en el Instituto Anatómico José Izquierdo de la Escuela Luis Razetti de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Central de Venezuela. Los resultados fueron registrados en un protocolo, tras lo cual se obtuvo un 47,5 por ciento de variabilidad (19 variaciones), de las cuales el 35 por ciento correspondían al nervio mediano, 7,5 por ciento al nervio ulnar, y 5 por ciento al nervio musculocutáneo. Por otro lado se encontró mayor variabilidad en el miembro derecho (57,9 por ciento) y en el sexo masculino (84,2 por ciento)

Aspectos anatomo-quirúrgicos de la irrigación muscular / Aspect anatomical surgical of the muscle irrigation

En los últimos tiempos las modernas técnicas de cirugía plásticas y recostructivas han utilizado colgajos musculares y músculos cutáneos para reparar las perdidas de las sustancias superficiales de origen traumático o quirúrgico. El presente trabajo tiene por objeto estudiar las características anatómicas de la irrigación de los músculos glúteos maximus, tensor de la fasciae latae, rectus femoris y vastus laterales. Presentamos las conclusiones correspondientes a 56 miembros inferiores que corresponden a igual número de músculos estudiados. Se clasifican los músculos según su tipo de irrigación y se establece la correlación anatomo quirúrgica con las ventajas y desventajas para la utilización de los musculares y sus áreas de aplicación