The future of laboratory medicine - A 2014 perspective.

Predicting the future is a difficult task. Not surprisingly, there are many examples and assumptions that have proved to be wrong. This review surveys the many predictions, beginning in 1887, about the future of laboratory medicine and its sub-specialties such as clinical chemistry and molecular pathology. It provides a commentary on the accuracy of the predictions and offers opinions on emerging technologies, economic factors and social developments that may play a role in shaping the future of laboratory medicine

How Can the Department of Family Medicine Benefit from the Laboratory Physicians

This presentation is a part of the PEER Liberia Pathology Lecture Series. It provides an overview of pathology for family physicians, including: Definition of Pathology; Departments in Pathology/Laboratory Medicine; Pathology as a Career in Medicine; Evolution of Pathology; Common Terminology in Pathology; Sub-Divisions in Anatomic Pathology; Takeaway Points; Recommendations and Way Forward

Severe babesiosis in an asplenic patient requiring red cell exchange

Corresponding author: William N. Rose, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and ClinicsBabesiosis is a rare, tick-borne infectious disease, caused mostly by the parasite Babesia microti in the United States. It is frequently transmitted through the bite of the Ixodes scapularis tick. Babesiosis is characterized by red cell disruption and intravascular hemolysis. Severe cases can be life-threatening and are associated with asplenia, advanced age, and other causes of impaired immune function. Treatment is typically with antibiotics. However, for severe cases, the use of red cell exchange has been reported with debate about its efficacy. Here, we report a complex case of babesiosis with a parasitemia of 22% that required two red cell exchange procedures and multiple antibiotics in a patient with a history of asplenia.Xiaoyan Yang, Margarita C. Consing Gangelhoff, William N. Rose (Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics)Includes bibliographical references

Molecular profiling of signet ring cell colorectal cancer provides a strong rationale for genomic targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies

We would like to thank all patients whose samples were used in this study. We are also thankful to the Northern Ireland Biobank and Grampian Biorepository for providing us with tissue blocks and patient data; and Dr HG Coleman (Queen’s University Belfast) for her advice on statistical analyses. This work has been carried out with financial support from Cancer Research UK (grant: C11512/A18067), Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network (grant: C36697/A15590 from Cancer Research UK and the NI Health and Social Care Research and Development Division), the Sean Crummey Memorial Fund and the Tom Simms Memorial Fund. The Northern Ireland Biobank is funded by HSC Research and Development Division of the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland and Cancer Research UK through the Belfast CRUK Centre and the Northern Ireland Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre; additional support was received from Friends of the Cancer Centre. The Northern Ireland Molecular Pathology Laboratory which is responsible for creating resources for the Northern Ireland Biobank has received funding from Cancer Research UK, Friends of the Cancer Centre and Sean Crummey Foundation.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A flipped classroom approach to teaching oral pathology using virtual microscopy - the Glasgow experience

This paper describes a student-centred, integrated teaching model in which oral pathology and oral medicine staff members jointly deliver tutorials in a combined online and face-to-face format. Students are provided with clinical and histopathological information, which they must review and use to answer questions via a Virtual Learning Environment before the tutorial takes place. By reviewing the students’ answers online before the teaching session, staff can focus the tutorial itself on resolving knowledge gaps and afterwards post a set of gold standard answers online for students to reflect upon. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article illustrates a combination of teaching methods and modern technologies which integrate clinical with laboratory sciences and enhance the access of students to histopathological materials without the need for access to a traditional microscopy facility

Integrative Molecular Pathological Epidemiology of Congenital and Infant Acute Leukemia

Congenital and infant acute leukemia remain one of the most puzzling clinical issues in pediatric hematology-oncology. There is a paucity of studies focused on these rare, aggressive, acute leukemias; specifically, there is little study on the differences in disease in the youngest of infants less than 1 year of age unlike the numerous studies of the disease in older children. The United States National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer population registry program has been integral for a plethora of clinical population and pathology research studies for numerous diseases in the last 40 years and has an excellent resource for investigation of the infant population. Laboratory medicine and pathology professionals must use pathology results not only to diagnose individuals after the disease has been discovered, but the information must be applied retrospectively to develop new testing strategies. By classifying the intense heterogeneity within these cancers, the distinct changes of the diseases within individuals can be established, ultimately reshaping diagnostic methodologies. Through the application of Integrative Molecular Pathological Epidemiology to a 325-infant case series from the SEER program from 2008 to 2014, this dissertation study was used to evolve the classification of these pediatric cancers with the application of scientific nosology. This dissertation study has documented characteristics of this population for application in further precision medicine investigations to influence laboratory medicine algorithms for diagnosis and management of patients guiding health policy that are aimed at improving outcomes in the youngest of children

Experiences in the Hot Zone Cols. Nancy and Gerald Jaax Visit the CVM

On April 11, 1997, the College of Veterinary Medicine was host to Cols. Nancy and Gerald Jaax of the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Disease (USAMRIID). Their presentation focused on the purpose of USAMRIID and its role in the 1989 outbreak of the Ebola Reston virus at a monkey quarantine facility in Reston, VA. Gerald and Nancy Jaax are 1972 and 1973 graduates of the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, both served as members of the Army Veterinary Corp. Both later transferred to USAMRIID to receive advanced training. Gerald Jaax, now a diplomate of the American College \u27of Laboratory Animal Medicine, was previously director of laboratory animal medicine training at USAMRIID. Nancy Jaax, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists is currently in charge of pathology training at USAMRIID. They have also served as consultants to the Surgeon General

Impact of MALDI-TOF technology on rapid microbial identification and changes in hospital practice

"Question: I've heard about a new technology called MALDI-TOF for rapid identification of microbial organisms. What is it and how will it impact hospital medicine?"Jared S. Coberly (1), Harold M. Burgeson (2) ; 1. Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri. 2. Laboratory Services, University of Missouri Health Care.Includes bibliographical reference