RENEB Inter-Laboratory Comparison 2021: The FISH-Based Translocation Assay.

Translocation analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is the method of choice for dose assessment in case of chronic or past exposures to ionizing radiation. Although it is a widespread technique, unlike dicentrics, the number of FISH-based inter-laboratory comparisons is small. For this reason, although the current Running the European Network of Biological and Physical retrospective Dosimetry (RENEB) inter-laboratory comparison 2021 was designed as a fast response to a real emergency scenario, it was considered a good opportunity to perform an inter-laboratory comparison using the FISH technique to gain further experience. The Bundeswehr Institute of Radiobiology provided peripheral blood samples from one healthy human volunteer. Three test samples were irradiated with blinded doses of 0, 1.2, and 3.5 Gy, respectively. Samples were then sent to the seven participating laboratories. The FISH technique was applied according to the standard procedure of each laboratory. Both, the frequency of translocations and the estimated dose for each sample were sent to the coordinator using a special scoring sheet for FISH. All participants sent their results in due time. However, although it was initially requested to send the results based on the full analysis, evaluating 500 equivalent cells, most laboratories only sent the results based on triage, with a smaller number of analyzed cells. In the triage analysis, there was great heterogeneity in the number of equivalent cells scored. On the contrary, for the full analysis, this number was more homogeneous. For all three samples, one laboratory showed outlier yields compared to the other laboratories. Excluding these results, in the triage analysis, the frequency of translocations in sample no. 1 ranged from 0 to 0.013 translocations per cell, and for samples no. 2 and no. 3 the genomic mean frequency were 0.27 ± 0.03 and 1.47 ± 0.14, with a coefficient of variation of 0.29 and 0.23 respectively. Considering only results obtained in the triage analysis for sample no. 1, all laboratories, except one, classified this sample as the non-irradiated one. For sample no. 2, excluding the outlier value, the mean reported dose was 1.74 ± 0.16 Gy indicating a mean deviation of about 0.5 Gy to the delivered dose of 1.2 Gy. For sample no. 3 the mean dose estimated was 4.21 ± 0.21 Gy indicating a mean deviation of about 0.7 Gy to the delivered dose of 3.5 Gy. In the frame of RENEB, this is the second FISH-based inter-laboratory comparison. The whole exercise was planned as a response to an emergency, therefore, a triage analysis was requested for all the biomarkers except for FISH. Although a full analysis was initially requested for FISH, most of the laboratories reported only a triage-based result. The main reason is that it was not clearly stated what was required before starting the exercise. Results show that most of the laboratories successfully discriminated unexposed and irradiated samples from each other without any overlap. A good agreement in the observed frequencies of translocations was observed but there was a tendency to overestimate the delivered doses. Efforts to improve the harmonization of this technique and subsequent exercises to elucidate the reason for this trend should be promoted.

[Adherence to antibiotherapy guidelines for acute community-acquired pneumonia in adults, in a teaching hospital]. / Audit des prescriptions d'antibiotiques dans les pneumonies aiguës communautaires de l'adulte dans un centre hospitalier universitaire.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to assess the conformity of antibiotic prescription with guidelines, for the management of community-acquired pneumonia, in a French University Hospital. DESIGN: This prospective study included adults patients hospitalized for pneumonia over a period of six months. The attending physician estimated the severity of pneumonia. The adequacy to guidelines focused on: first antibiotic choice and prescription modality, antibiotic choice in case of treatment modification at 48 to 72 hours, and duration of antibiotherapy. RESULTS: A hundred and nine cases of pneumonia were included in 106 patients. The mean age was 66 years, the mortality rate was 17 %. Bacterial documentation was recorded in 40.4 % of cases. The first antibiotics used were in accordance with guidelines in 52.3 % of cases. The non conformity rate was minor in 55.8 % of cases. Antibiotherapies putting the patient at risk were used in less than 10 % of the cases. The rate of antibiotic modification at 48 to 72 hours was 46.8 %, primarily for bacteriological purposes (35.3 %) or initial treatment failure (27.4 %). The treatment duration was inappropriate in 52.7 % of cases and generally too long in case of non conformity. CONCLUSION: It seems important to support guideline information, training of prescribers, and to consult an antibiotic expert.

Haptoglobina como indicador de estrés en vacas de lidia / Haptoglobin as an indicator of stress in lidia breeding cows

Se ha estudiado la influencia del estrés físico y psicológico sobre las concentraciones plasmáticas de la proteína de fase aguda haptoglobina (Hp) en 20 vacas de raza bovina de lidia de 3 a 6 años de edad. Los animalesse dividieron en 4 grupos, el primero, utilizado como control, corresponde a vacas en la ganadería sin estimulación aparente, los tres grupos restantes corresponden a vacas que se utilizaron en encierros tradicionales y que fueron sacrificados a las 30, 54 y 78 horas de la celebración del espectáculo. Las concentraciones medias de Hp en suero para las vacas control fueron 0,093 g/l y 0,13 g/l a las 30h, 0,19 g/l a las 54 h y 0,5 g/l a las 78 h de la celebración del encierro. Estos resultados indican que en los encierros tradicionales se estimula la producciónde Hp en vacas de lidia, presentando valores estadísticamente significativos a partir de las 54 horas de larealización del mismo y situándose los valores máximos a las 78 horas. Como conclusión, hemos de considerarque en situaciones de estrés en vacas de lidia los niveles de Hp en plasma son superiores a los normales y estosparámetros podrían ser utilizados como un indicador del nivel de estrés sufrido por el animal

The influence of physical and psychological stress on the concentration in plasma of the acute phase proteinhaptoglobin (Hp) was studied in 20 fi ghting cows aged 3 to 6 years. Four groups were prepared, the first one orcontrol group comprised live stock with no apparent stimulation. The other groups corresponded to animals oftraditional bull running that were sacrificed at 30, 54 and 78 h after the end of the spectacle. The mean serum Hpconcentration from control fighting cows was 0,093 g/l, while it was 0,13 g/l at 30h, 0,19 g/l at 54 h and 0,5 g/lat 78 h after the end of the spectacle. These results show that in the traditional bull running, Hp concentration is elevated and significant differences are observed at 54 h, although the maximum levels appeared at 78 h. In conclusion, in fighting cows the serum hp concentration was more elevated due to a situation of physical and psychological stress and may be a useful indicator of stress levels in the animal