Defining a roadmap for harmonizing quality indicators in Laboratory Medicine: A consensus statement on behalf of the IFCC Working Group "laboratory Error and Patient Safety" and EFLM Task and Finish Group "performance specifications for the extra-analytical phases"

The improving quality of laboratory testing requires a deep understanding of the many vulnerable steps involved in the total examination process (TEP), along with the identification of a hierarchy of risks and challenges that need to be addressed. From this perspective, the Working Group “Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety” (WG-LEPS) of International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) is focusing its activity on implementation of an efficient tool for obtaining meaningful information on the risk of errors developing throughout the TEP, and for establishing reliable information about error frequencies and their distribution. More recently, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) has created the Task and Finish Group “Performance specifications for the extraanalytical phases” (TFG-PSEP) for defining performance specifications for extra-analytical phases. Both the IFCC and EFLM groups are working to provide laboratories with a system to evaluate their performances and recognize the critical aspects where improvement actions are needed. A Consensus Conference was organized in Padova, Italy, in 2016 in order to bring together all the experts and interested parties to achieve a consensus for effective harmonization of quality indicators (QIs). A general agreement was achieved and the main outcomes have been the release of a new version of model of quality indicators (MQI), the approval of a criterion for establishing performance specifications and the definition of the type of information that should be provided within the report to the clinical laboratories participating to the QIs project

Defining a roadmap for harmonizing quality indicators in Laboratory Medicine: A consensus statement on behalf of the IFCC Working Group "laboratory Error and Patient Safety" and EFLM Task and Finish Group "performance specifications for the extra-analytical phases"

The improving quality of laboratory testing requires a deep understanding of the many vulnerable steps involved in the total examination process (TEP), along with the identification of a hierarchy of risks and challenges that need to be addressed. From this perspective, the Working Group \u201cLaboratory Errors and Patient Safety\u201d (WG-LEPS) of International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) is focusing its activity on implementation of an efficient tool for obtaining meaningful information on the risk of errors developing throughout the TEP, and for establishing reliable information about error frequencies and their distribution. More recently, the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) has created the Task and Finish Group \u201cPerformance specifications for the extraanalytical phases\u201d (TFG-PSEP) for defining performance specifications for extra-analytical phases. Both the IFCC and EFLM groups are working to provide laboratories with a system to evaluate their performances and recognize the critical aspects where improvement actions are needed. A Consensus Conference was organized in Padova, Italy, in 2016 in order to bring together all the experts and interested parties to achieve a consensus for effective harmonization of quality indicators (QIs). A general agreement was achieved and the main outcomes have been the release of a new version of model of quality indicators (MQI), the approval of a criterion for establishing performance specifications and the definition of the type of information that should be provided within the report to the clinical laboratories participating to the QIs project

Efekti suplementacije probiotikom na morfologiju krvnih pločica gojaznih žena i žena sa prokomernom težinom

Obesity could be associated with enhanced platelet (PL) function and thrombosis. Also, changes in gut microbiota composition were observed in obese patients, and probiotics supplementation has been shown to improve some of the obesity-associated metabolic parameters. This study aimed to determine the possible effects of probiotic supplementation on platelet morphology in overweight/obese premenopausal women.Twenty overweight (BMI = 25.0-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) women participated in double- blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. They were randomly assigned to receive one capsule daily of probiotics (7x1010 CFU Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM9843), 5x109 CFU Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii and 40mg octacosanol; N=10) or placebo (N=10) for 3 months. To determine changes in the parameters of platelet activation - the platelet count (PC), platelet distribution width (PDW), Feret diameter, and hypogranular appearance, blood samples were obtained for an automated hematology analyser and peripheral smears staining. Although difference in PC was not found between groups, supplementation with probiotics decreased PDW compared to the placebo group (p<0.05). Regarding platelets diameter, there is an decrease in group supplemented with probiotics compared to placebo, however, a statistical difference has not been reached. Further, the proportion of hypogranular PL was increased in a probiotic-supplemented group compared to the placebo group (p<0.01). In conclusion, probiotic supplementation achieved improvements in platelets morphology and hematological indices in overweight/obese premenopausal women.Gojaznost je često povezana sa povećanom funkcijom krvnih pločica i trombozom. Takođe, istraživanja ukazuju na promenjen sastav mikrobioma creva kod gojaznih osoba, kao i da suplementacija određenim probioticima može imati pozitivan uticaj na telesnu masu. Cilj rada je bio da se ispita uticaj suplementacije probiotskog preparata na morfološke karakteristike krvnih pločica u randomizovanoj, dvostruko-slepoj, placebo-kontrolisanoj studiji. U tu svrhu, regrutovano je 20 žena sa prekomernom težinom (BMI ≥ 25,0 kg/m2) koje su podeljene u dve grupe. Prva grupa je pila dnevno jednu kapsulu probiotskog preparata tokom tri meseca (kombinaciju soja Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (DSM9843), Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii i 40 mg oktakozanola; N = 10), dok je druga grupa bila placebo grupa. Određen je broj krvnih pločica, i njihova raspodela po volumenu (eng. platelet distribution width, PDW), a zatim je posmatrana morfologija krvnih pločica i izmeren njihov dijametar iz krvnih razmaza. Analiza je pokazala da su krvne pločice kod gojaznih/žena sa prekomernom težinom uglavnom krupne, što je jedan od pokazatelja njihove aktivnosti. U interventoj grupi nije zapažena promena u broju krvnih pločica, ali je značajno smanjen PDW u poređenju sa placebo grupom (p < 0,05). Dalje, pokazano je da je udeo hipogranularnih krvnih pločica bio povećan u poređenju sa placebo grupom (p < 0,01). Ovi rezultati ukazuju na pozitivan efekat probiotika na morfološke karakteristike krvnih pločica i mogućnost primene probiotika u regulaciji njihove aktivnosti u patološkim stanjima.VIII Kongres farmaceuta Srbije sa međunarodnim učešćem, 12-15.10.2022. Beogra

The implementation of the Eurocodes in the National Regulatory Framework

The report provides general information on the concept of the Eurocodes implementation in the regulatory system and discusses case studies of EU Member States that have successfully implemented the Eurocodes in the national regulatory system. It also highlights the experience of designers on using the Eurocodes by presenting simple application examples. Moreover, the state of the Eurocodes implementation in the non-EU Balkan countries is presented, based on the information exchanged and collected during the workshop “The way forward for the Eurocodes implementation in the Balkans” (10-11 October 2018 in Tirana, Albania), along with the activities of the Engineering Chambers in support of the Eurocodes implementation. The way towards the publication of the Second Generation of the Eurocodes, expected after 2021, is also discussed.JRC.E.4-Safety and Security of Building

SELF-CONSISTENT MODEL FOR THE BRITTLE RESPONSE OF SOLIDS.

SELF-CONSISTENT MODEL FOR THE BRITTLE RESPONSE OF SOLIDS

“The FOREST”

Cocuration of exhibition. The Arboreal Collective, in collaboration with Lab for Animation Research, Department of Fine Arts, Cyprus University of Technology presented their first project entitled The Forest at the NeMe Arts Centre. THE FOREST Exploring the anatomy of selfhood through nature and technology may at first glance seem contradictory due to a long-standing narrative within contemporary culture that often focalises a regressive relationship between science, the natural world, and people. Taking this as a point of departure, The Forest proposes a collaborative space that reimagines this relationship via an altered, modern, more hospitable lens that invites intimate expansion through healing. Redressing imbalances on a cellular level is in some respects akin to the slow art movement philosophy, which calls for audiences to develop a more mindful relationship with art (https://www.artdex.com/slow-art-movement-how-the-artworld- relearns-art-appreciation/). In this vein, the project invited contributions by Cypriot and international artists that suggest gradual changes in these perspectives via an exhibition, educational talks, and interactive workshops. As a comparative study of people and trees, this exhibition continues to explore humanity and its complexities within the context of nature. Utilising new technologies such as artificial intelligence alongside a long-standing love of trees to create these conceptual transplantations, the project holds space for vital experiments to be made between the oldest and newest living beings. Recent scientific inquiry is aligning itself with a longestablished belief in the sophisticated communication network, with which trees engage to sustain and nurture each other. As social beings, they behave collectively and protectively. Trees have a language, family, sensory capacities, live in symbiosis with other species and climatic influences, and can count and remember. This vital discovery of plant intelligence could provide some answers to many of today’s environmental challenges. As a means of exploring the nurturing potential between humanity, nature and technology, this exhibition gives equal weight to all three by interweaving the narratives they convey through a primitive/scientific discourse that comes at a crucial time in which we all need saving. Dr Frosoulla Koftero