Screening parameters for thinprep(r) and conventional gynecologic cytology via automated monitoring

To compare diagnostic discrepancies and screening parameters between conventional (CP) and ThinPrep(r) (TP) (Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) cervicovaginal samples using Pathfinder(r) (Neopath, Redmond, Washington, U.S.A.). STUDY DESIGN: Pathfinder(r) tracked average screening time, percent slide coverage and percent overlap of viewing fields for CP and TP. False negative rate (FNR) was determined by rescreening 10% of random and high-risk negative cases. CP and TP FNR with Pathfinder(r) were compared to control groups without Pathfinder.(r) RESULTS: A total of 46,393 Pathfinder(r) cases were evaluated (43,354 CP, 3,039 TP) as compared to 62,981 without Pathfinder(r) (60,307 CP, 2,674 TP). FNR was calculated for 12,983 negatives. Using Pathfinder(r) resulted in a significant reduction in FNR for CP atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance cases. No decrease in FNR was observed for CP squamous intraepithelial lesions or for TP cases. TP slides were screened 66 seconds faster on average than CP. With electronic feedback, mean percent slide coverage and percent overlap were similar between CP and TP cases. Without feedback, coverage dropped and overlap increased slightly for both CP and TP. Technologists screened faster with feedback, saving an average of 50 seconds on CP and 41 seconds on TP. CONCLUSION: Pathfinder(r) significantly reduced FNR for CP but not TP. Technologists screened TP significantly faster than CP while maintaining similar coverage and overlap. Pathfinder(r) feedback itself may decrease screening time

Crystal Organisation of Muscle Attachment Sites of Bivalved Marine Organisms: A Juxtaposition Between Brachiopod and Bivalved Mollusc Shells

The movement of valves of bivalved invertebrates is enabled through the action of muscles and the interplay between the muscles and the hinge ligament. The muscles that move the valves attach to their internal surface. To promote the structural integrity at the mechanically mismatched interfaces, a specific crystal microstructure and texture are present at the muscle attachment sites. These are different from the crystal microstructure and texture of the rest of the valves. We present here for modern two- and three-layered brachiopod shells (Magellania venosa, Liothyrella neozelanica and Gryphus vitreus) the mode of crystal organisation at sites of adductor and diductor muscle attachments (i) relative to the microstructure and texture that forms the other sections of the valves and (ii) relative to crystal organisation of muscle attachment sites of bivalved invertebrates of other phyla, namely, species of the class Bivalvia. We discuss similarities/differences in Ca-carbonate phase, microstructure and texture between rhynchonellate brachiopods and bivalves, and discuss whether the Ca-carbonate crystal organisation of muscle attachment sites is convergent for bivalved marine organisms. We show significant differences in muscle attachment site architecture and highlight the different structural solutions developed by nature for shells of marine organisms that serve the same purpose