Life Sci. 2013 Nov 11. pii: S0024-3205(13)00680-2. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.10.033. [Epub ahead of print]

Behavioral pharmacology of designer cathinones: A review of the preclinical literature.

Gregg RA, Rawls SM.

Source

Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.

Abstract

"Bath salts" is one street name for a family of synthetic cathinones that display pharmacological effects resembling cocaine and commonly abused amphetamines. Despite extensive legislation aimed at the criminalization of bath salts, several designer cathinones are gaining a foothold in the illicitdrug scene; for example, in the United Kingdom, mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone, MEPH) is highly popular among drug abusers whereas, in the United States, MDPV (methylenedioxypyrovalerone) and methylone are highly prevalent. To date, knowledge about the hazards of designercathinones is based mostly on hospital reports and anecdotal evidence derived from online surveys. Despite the paucity of preclinical studies directed toward designer cathinones, a number of invaluable findings arising from those studies are enabling scientists to develop their neuropharmacological profiles. Despite their commonalities in chemical structures, synthetic cathinones possess distinct neuropharmacological profiles and produce different behavioral effects, including unique effects on locomotor activity, learning, anxiety, thermoregulation, and abuse liability. The present review will discuss the behavioral effects of MEPH, MDPV, and methylone and compare those effects to established psychostimulant drugs. The rise in the use of designer cathinones in the United States and abroad justifies further investigations into these compounds, both for a greater understanding of the danger that "bath salts" pose to the public, and to provide insight into replacement cathinones as they emerge onto the market.

Dev Neurobiol. 2013 Sep 20. doi: 10.1002/dneu.22128. [Epub ahead of print]

The emerging role of SHANK genes in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Guilmatre A, Huguet G, Delorme R, Bourgeron T.

Source

Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; CNRS URA 2182 'Genes, Synapses and Cognition,' Institut Pasteur, Paris, France; Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions, University Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.

Abstract

The genetic heterogeneity of neuropsychiatric disorders is high, but some pathways emerged, notably synaptic functioning. A large number of mutations have been described in genes such as neuroligins, neurexins, and SHANK that play a role in the formation and the maintenance of synapses. This review focuses on the disorders associated with mutations in SHANK3 and the other members of its family, SHANK1 and SHANK2. SHANKs are scaffolding proteins of the postsynaptic density of glutamatergic synapses. SHANK3 has been described in the Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS), but also in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia associated to moderate to severe intellectual disability (ID) and poor language. The evolution of patients with PMS includes symptoms of bipolar disorder and regression. SHANK2 has been identified in patients with ASD with mild to severe ID. SHANK1 has been associated with high-functioning autism in male patients, while carrier females only display anxiety and shyness. Finally, based on neuropathological findings in animal models and patients, a possible role of SHANK in Alzheimer's disease is discussed. Altogether, this review describes the clinical trajectories associated with different mutations of the SHANK genes and provides information to further investigate the role of the SHANK genes in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2013 Nov 20. [Epub ahead of print]

The Impact of Relaxing Music on Prisoners' Levels of Anxiety and Anger.

Bensimon M, Einat T, Gilboa A.

Abstract

Listening to relaxing music was found to reduce state anxiety and state anger among various populations. Nonetheless, the impact of relaxing musicin prisons has not yet been studied. The current study examines the impact of relaxing music on levels of state anxiety and state anger among a random sample of 48 criminal prisoners. Main findings are as follows: (a) level of state anxiety decreased among the treatment group compared with the comparison group and (b) level of state anger decreased among the treatment group compared with the comparison group. Findings are discussed in light of other studies that have shown positive effects of exposure to relaxing music on levels of anxiety and anger among other populations. The final part of the study provides practical recommendations for prison administrators regarding implementation of programs of relaxingmusic in various prison facilities.

Workaholism

J Addict Res Ther. 2012 Jan 10;Suppl 6(1). pii: 4120.

Workaholism: A Review.

Sussman S.

Source

Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Abstract

In this review, I examine the definition, etiology, measurement, prevention and treatment of workaholism, based on a systematic search of the literature. While there is some debate regarding the parameters of the concept, viewed as a negative consequential addiction, workaholism involves excessive time spent working, preoccupation with work to the exclusion of other life domains, loss of control over the parameters of one's work and disenchantment with work, and negative social, emotional, and health consequences. The etiology of workaholism is not clear but may pertain to persons with compulsive personality traits, who are driven to work harder than that demanded from work contexts, and who have learned to place work as a main means of gratification compared to other lifestyle alternatives. Most measurement approaches rely on self-report questionnaires, tested primarily with convenience samples. Refinement of current assessments is ongoing. Prevention and treatment implications are discussed, which include intra- and extra-personal level approaches. Finally, limitations of the work completed in this arena are mentioned and needed futureresearch directions are suggested.

From U Montreal: Plasma zinc in adults with cystic fibrosis: Correlations with clinical outcomes

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2013 Nov 6. pii: S0946-672X(13)00162-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2013.10.003. [Epub ahead of print]

Plasma zinc in adults with cystic fibrosis: Correlations with clinical outcomes.

Damphousse V, Mailhot M, Berthiaume Y, Rabasa-Lhoret R, Mailhot G.

Source

Department of Nutrition, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3C 3J7.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Zinc status has been previously documented in cystic fibrosis (CF) infants, children and adolescents. However, despite the increasing life expectancy observed in CF populations, data regarding zinc status of CF adults are surprisingly lacking. The objectives of this study were to (1) characterize zinc status and (2) explore associations between zinc status and clinical outcomes of CF adult patients.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was performed for patients who had their plasma zinc measured between 2009 and 2012. Data included demographics, clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters and co-morbid conditions.

RESULTS:

A total of 304 CF patients were included in the study. These patients displayed a good nutritional status (mean BMI±SD: 22.7±3.5) and moderate lung disease (mean FEV₁±SD: 66.3±22.2). Low plasma zinc concentration (<9.2μmol/L) was found in 68 out of 304 CF patients (22.4%). Compared to patients with normal zinc, those with low zinc had significantly lower forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second. 72% of CF adults with low zinc suffered from bone disease (vs 49% with normal zinc, p=0.037) and 79% had impaired glycemic status (vs 58%, p=0.016). Accordingly, negative correlations were found between plasma zinc and glucose (r=-0.139, p=0.0001), HbA1c (r=-0.237, p=0.0001) and fructosamine (r=-0.134, p=0.034). In multiple linear regression, albumin and glycemic status were significant predictors of plasma zinc.

CONCLUSION:

Our data indicated that nearly one quarter of CF adults with good nutritional status and moderate lung disease had low plasma zinc concentration and that low zinc status was associated with worse clinical outcomes.

Camb Q Healthc Ethics. 2014 Jan;23(1):93-9. doi: 10.1017/S0963180113000509.

Kukla's Argument against Common Morality as a Set of Precepts.

Strong C.

"Concerning the justification of common morality, I shall focus on Kukla’s criticism of the argument that common morality is justified because it furthers the goals of morality. In discussing this topic, it is important to distinguish the descriptive and normative senses of “common morality.” The claim, “There is a common morality,” in the descriptive sense is usually understood as asserting something like, “There is widespread agreement about a set of moral precepts.” In the normative sense, it asserts roughly that “there is a set of moral precepts that people ought to follow.” Even if almost all moral agents in a particular group accept a certain set of moral precepts, that agreement does not confer moral justification. The question therefore arises concerning how to justify the claim that there is a common morality in the normative sense."

Article Citation:

Manon Auger, Ritu Nayar, Walid E. Khalbuss, Güliz A. Barkan, Cynthia C. Benedict, Rosemary Tambouret, Mary R. Schwartz, Lydia P. Howell, Rhona J. Souers, David A. Hartley, Nicole Thomas, and Ann T. Moriarty (2013) Implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: Observations From the 2011 Thyroid Supplemental Questionnaire of the College of American Pathologists. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine: November 2013, Vol. 137, No. 11, pp. 1555-1559.

CAP LABORATORY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS

Implementation of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology: Observations From the 2011 Thyroid Supplemental Questionnaire of the College of American Pathologists

Manon Auger , MD; Ritu Nayar , MD; Walid E. Khalbuss , MD, PhD; Güliz A. Barkan , MD; Cynthia C. Benedict , MD; RosemaryTambouret , MD; Mary R. Schwartz , MD; Lydia P. Howell , MD; Rhona J. Souers , MS; David A. Hartley , CT; Nicole Thomas , CT;Ann T. Moriarty , MD

From the Department of Pathology, McGill University and McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Dr Auger);

the Department of Pathology, Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Nayar);

the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Khalbuss);

the Department of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois (Dr Barkan);

DCL Pathology, LLC, Indianapolis, Indiana (Dr Benedict);

the Department of Pathology, Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Dr Tambouret);

the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas (Dr Schwartz);

the Department of Pathology, University of California and University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento (Dr Howell);

Staff Biostatistics (Ms Souers); staff, College of American Pathologists, Northfield, Illinois (Ms Thomas and Mr Hartley); Esoteric Testing, AmeriPath Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana (Dr Moriarty).

Context.—Although information about the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) has been widely disseminated since its inception in 2007, the extent of its implementation and impact on daily practice has not been formally evaluated.

Objectives.—To assess the extent of uptake of TBSRTC across pathology laboratories and to evaluate its impact on daily practice by collating participant responses to the 2011 supplemental thyroid questionnaire of the College of American Pathologists.

Design.—A questionnaire was designed to gather information about various aspects of TBSRTC and mailed in June 2011 to 2063 laboratories participating in the College of American Pathologists cytopathology interlaboratory comparison program. The participating laboratories' answers were collated and summarized.

Results.—Seven hundred and seventy-seven laboratories (37.6%) returned the survey. Although 60.9% (n = 451) and 17.1% (n = 127) of laboratories reported using TBSRTC or planning to use it in the near future, respectively, 22% (n = 163) had no plans to implement TBSRTC. Of the latter, 32% (n = 70) stated that they were unaware of this classification system. The majority (78.3%, n = 343) of the laboratories used TBSRTC as published in the Thyroid Bethesda System atlas, whereas 21.7% (n = 95) used it with minor modifications. Most reported that the use of TBSRTC had caused either no change (n = 67, 15.2%) or only minor changes (n = 353, 80.2%) in the terminology and diagnostic criteria previously used in their laboratories.

Conclusions.—According to the collected data, TBSRTC is generally well implemented in pathology laboratories. However, because approximately a third of those not using this terminology are not aware of it, additional educational efforts regarding TBSRTC are warranted.

From Diane Davey: Recalled Items and the American Board of Pathology Certification Examinations: What Constitutes Cheating?

Diane Davis Davey (2013) Recalled Items and the American Board of Pathology Certification Examinations: What Constitutes Cheating?. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine: November 2013, Vol. 137, No. 11, pp. 1540-1542.

EDITORIALS

Recalled Items and the American Board of Pathology Certification Examinations: What Constitutes Cheating?

Diane Davis Davey , MD

From the College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, and the VA Medical Center, Orlando, Florida.

"The American Board of Pathology (ABP) withheld certification from 3 candidates in 2012 because they either were in possession of ‘‘board remembrances material’’ at the time of the examination or were providing such remembrances on Internet sites. As a result, the ABP is working with pathology departments and chairs around the country to publicize honor codes and policies related to cheating. The mission of the ABP, a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties, ‘‘is to promote the health of the public and advance the practice and science of pathology by establishing voluntary certification standards and assessing the qualifications of those seeking to practice the specialty of pathology.’’ 1 This mission statement, which is found on the ABP Web site, is a reminder that public interests and expectations of professionalism must be considered in terms of honor code enforcement."

Great stuff from Vanderbilt: Bronchoscopic cryobiopsy for the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease

PLoS One. 2013 Nov 12;8(11):e78674. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078674.

Bronchoscopic cryobiopsy for the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease.

Kropski JA, Pritchett JM, Mason WR, Sivarajan L, Gleaves LA, Johnson JE, Lancaster LH, Lawson WE, Blackwell TS, Steele MP, Loyd JE, Rickman OB.

Source

Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Although in some cases clinical and radiographic features may be sufficient to establish a diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), surgical lung biopsy is frequently required. Recently a new technique for bronchoscopic lung biopsy has been developed using flexible cryo-probes. In this study we describe our clinical experience using bronchoscopic cryobiopsy for diagnosis of diffuse lung disease.

METHODS:

A retrospective study of subjects who had undergone bronchoscopic cryobiopsy for evaluation of DPLD at an academic tertiary care center from January 1, 2012 through January 15, 2013 was performed. The procedure was performed using a flexible bronchoscope to acquire biopsies of lung parenchyma. H&E stained biopsies were reviewed by an expert lung pathologist.

RESULTS:

Twenty-five eligible subjects were identified. With a mean area of 64.2 mm(2), cryobiopsies were larger than that typically encountered with traditional transbronchial forceps biopsy. In 19 of the 25 subjects, a specific diagnosis was obtained. In one additional subject, biopsies demonstrating normal parenchyma were felt sufficient to exclude diffuse lung disease as a cause of dyspnea. The overall diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic cryobiopsy was 80% (20/25). The most frequent diagnosis was usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (n = 7). Three of the 25 subjects ultimately required surgical lung biopsy. There were no significant complications.

CONCLUSION:

In patients with suspected diffuse parenchymal lung disease, bronchoscopic cryobiopsy is a promising and minimally invasive approach to obtain lung tissue with high diagnostic yield.

From CAP Today: 'Extra' genetic info-Too much, too quickly?

'Extra' genetic info-Too much, too quickly?

J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2012 Aug;14(6). doi: 10.1097/NJH.0b013e31825f3470.

Management of Anorexia-Cachexia in Late Stage Lung Cancer Patients.

Del Ferraro C, Grant M, Koczywas M, Dorr-Uyemura LA.

Source

Nursing Research & Education, Department of Population Sciences, City of Hope, Duarte, CA.

Abstract

Nutritional deficiencies are experienced by most adults with advanced lung cancer during the course of their disease and treatment. Well-nourished individuals tolerate cancer treatment with less morbidity, mortality, and increased response to treatment as compared to those who are malnourished. Novel anti-cancer therapies cause many deficits that impact nutritional and functional status during the treatment process. Nutritional deficits include weight loss, malnutrition, and anorexia-cachexia. Anorexia-Cachexia is complex, not well understood and seen in many solid tumors in late stage disease. Assessing adequate nutrition is one of the most challenging problems for nurses, their patients and patient's families. The purpose of this review is to define and describe cancer anorexia-cachexia in late stage lung cancer, through case presentation, and to describe palliative strategies for prevention, assessment, and management in the palliative care setting. Early assessment for nutritional imbalances must be done regularly with re-evaluation for intervention effectiveness and should continue throughout the illness trajectory. Management of adverse effects of cancer and cancer-related treatment is critical to improving quality of life. Palliative care and hospice nurses play a critical role in early assessment, education and prevention to support nutritional needs for patients and their families.

"For it is misleading to imply that Ventris’s radio announcement in July 1952 was somehow the end of the Linear B story. In rather more interesting ways, it was the beginning."

What Was Greek to Them?

Mary Beard

The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code

by Margalit Fox

Ecco, 363 pp., $27.99

"But it is a pity that Fox has nothing to say on the bitter and very public controversies that followed the decipherment, which became, at the time, even bigger news than the code-breaking itself. For it is misleading to imply that Ventris’s radio announcement in July 1952 was somehow the end of the Linear B story. In rather more interesting ways, it was the beginning."

Texas A&M Engineering moves up in latest undergraduate rankings

Texas A&M Engineering moves up in latest undergraduate rankings

"Texas A&M Engineering ranked eighth among engineering schools at public institutions offering a doctorate, according to the latest U.S. News & World Reportrankings of the country's undergraduate universities and programs.

For the second year in a row, the Dwight Look College of Engineering moved up one spot, now placing 15th overall in engineering programs at all public and private national universities, tied with Virginia Tech.

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering moved up one spot to third place overall and among public institutions in the nation. The department is part of both the Dwight Look College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M.

Other specialties ranked among public institutions were: aerospace, 8; civil, 8; electrical, 11; industrial, 7; and mechanical, 10.

U.S. News & World Report does not rank nuclear engineering and petroleum programs every year. The last time the magazine surveyed these areas, Texas A&M's nuclear engineering program was third (second public) and petroleum engineering was first."

Genome Med. 2013 Nov 22;5(11):99. [Epub ahead of print]

An ethics safe harbor for international genomics research?

Dove ES, Knoppers BM, Zawati MH.

Source

Centre of Genomics and Policy, McGill University, 740 Dr, Penfield Avenue, Suite 5200, Montreal H3A 0G1, Canada. edward.dove@mcgill.ca.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Genomics research is becoming increasingly globally connected and collaborative, contesting traditional ethical and legal boundaries between global and local research practice. As well, global data-driven genomics research holds great promise for health discoveries. Yet, paradoxically, current research ethics review systems around the world challenge potential improvements in human health from such research and thus undermine respect for research participants. Case reports illustrate that the current system is costly, fragmented, inefficient, inadequate, and inconsistent. There is an urgent need to improve the governance system of ethics review to enable secure and seamless genomic and clinical data sharing across jurisdictions.

DISCUSSION:

Building on the international privacy 'safe harbor' model that was developed following the adoption of the European Privacy Directive, we propose an international infrastructure. The goal is to create a streamlined and harmonized ethics governance system for international, data-driven genomics research projects. The proposed 'Safe Harbor Framework for International Ethics Equivalency' would consist in part of an agency supporting an International Federation for Ethics Review (IFER), formed by a voluntary agreement among countries, granting agencies, philanthropies, institutions, and healthcare, patient advocacy, and research organizations. IFER would be both a central ethics review body and also a forum for review and follow-up of policies concerning ethics norms for international genomics research projects. It would be built on five principle elements: (1) registration; (2) compliance review; (3) recognition; (4) monitoring and enforcement; and (5) public participation.

SUMMARY:

A Safe Harbor Framework for International Ethics Equivalency would create many benefits for researchers, countries, and the general public, and may eventually have application beyond genomics to other areas of biomedical research that increasingly engage in secondary use of data and present only negligible risks. Among the benefits, research participants and patients would have uniform adequate protection, while researchers would be ensured expert ethics review with a reduction in cost, time, administrative hassle, and redundant regulatory hurdles. Most importantly, society would enjoy the maximization of the potential benefits of genomics research.

Neuroethics. 2013;6:513-526. Epub 2011 Sep 14.

"I Am Who I Am": On the Perceived Threats to Personal Identity from Deep Brain Stimulation.

Baylis F.

Source

Faculty of Medicine, Novel Tech Ethics, Dalhousie University, 1379 Seymour Street, P.O. Box 15000, Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada B3H 4R2.

Abstract

This article explores the notion of the dislocated self following deep brain stimulation (DBS) and concludes that when personal identity is understood in dynamic, narrative, and relational terms, the claim that DBS is a threat to personal identity is deeply problematic. While DBS may result in profound changes in behaviour, mood and cognition (characteristics closely linked to personality), it is not helpful to characterize DBS as threatening to personal identity insofar as this claim is either false, misdirected or trivially true. The claim is false insofar as it misunderstands the dynamic nature of identity formation. The claim is misdirected at DBS insofar as the real threat to personal identity is the discriminatory attitudes of others towards persons with motor and other disabilities. The claim is trivially true insofar as any dramatic event or experience integrated into one's identity-constituting narrative could then potentially be described as threatening. From the perspective of relational personal identity, when DBS dramatically disrupts the narrative flow, this disruption is best examined through the lens of agency. For illustrative purposes, the focus is on DBS for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2013 Mar;137(3):310-1. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2012-0512-ED.

Second opinions: pathologists' preventive medicine.

Allen TC.

Therapeutic options for cancer treatment are more tailored and more effective than ever before, and the molecular revolution promises to expand these treatment options even further. But the continued success of these therapeutic options depends upon accurate diagnoses. Indeed, in the emerging world of personalized medicine, misdiagnoses have an increasingly deleterious impact. Laura Landro’s1 Wall Street Journal article, ‘‘What if the Doctor is Wrong?’’ underscores the seriousness of pathologic (and radiologic, and clinical) misdiagnoses. One patient she speaks of in her article whose misdiagnosis was identified and corrected put it succinctly: ‘‘I felt like it was a miracle and I was spared from this unnecessary treatment.’’ 1

J Thorac Dis. 2013 Sep;5(Suppl 4):S413-S419.

Malignant pleural effusion and algorithm management.

Zarogoulidis K, Zarogoulidis P, Darwiche K, Tsakiridis K, Machairiotis N, Kougioumtzi I, Courcoutsakis N, Terzi E, Zaric B, Huang H, Freitag L, Spyratos D.

Source

Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;

Abstract

Involvement of the pleura in lung cancer is a common manifestation accompanying with reduced life expectancy. Symptoms relief and improvement of the quality of life are the primary goals of the management of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Histological confirmation is essential for optimal patient management. Lung cancer patients, with life expectancy more than 3 months, resistant to chemotherapy should be treated with thoracentesis, intercoastal tube drainage and installation of a sclerosant agent or pleurodesis through thoracospopic procedures or placement of an indwelling pleura catheter. Talc pleurodesis (sterile asbestos-free graded, particle size >15 μm), as "poudrage" or "slurry" still remains the treatment of choice in patients with MPE resistant to chemotherapy.

From Harvard U: Self-Serving Altruism? The Lure of Unethical Actions that Benefit Others

J Econ Behav Organ. 2013 Sep 1;93. doi: 10.1016/j.jebo.2013.04.005.

Self-Serving Altruism? The Lure of Unethical Actions that Benefit Others.

Gino F, Ayal S, Ariely D.

Source

Harvard University.

Abstract

In three experiments, we propose and find that individuals cheat more when others can benefit from their cheating and when the number of beneficiaries of wrongdoing increases. Our results indicate that people use moral flexibility to justify their self-interested actions when such actions benefit others in addition to the self. Namely, our findings suggest that when people's dishonesty would benefit others, they are more likely to view dishonesty as morally acceptable and thus feel less guilty about benefiting from cheating. We discuss the implications of these results for collaborations in the social realm.

"Tuberculosis takes a heavy toll of ~5000 lives every day from the disease; responsible for the 86% of DALY burden."

Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp). 2012 Dec;2(4):275-281. Epub 2012 Dec 11.

True facets of TB diagnosis in 2012: Hypes and realities.

Parida SK.

Source

Dept of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt of India New Delhi Shreemanta.parida@gmail.com India.

Abstract

Tuberculosis takes a heavy toll of ~5000 lives every day from the disease; responsible for the 86% of DALY burden. Despite having drugs to treat TBefficiently, we have failed to control the disease. Mycobacterium tuberculosis has exploited it to their advantage evolving with multiple mutations making it resistant to first-line and second-line drugs. Most of the high-burden countries are low-medium income countries, their national TB program (NTP) still use sputum smear microscopy as the tool of diagnosis. Many new molecular tools are emerging, but confuse the larger TB clinical scientific community at the NTPs. Coherent information need to be disseminated, encouraging TB scientific community to generate evidences within NTPs assessing new tools through critical analyses in terms of value addition and cost benefit before considering rolling out in the program. It is also imperative that the scientific community need to have an open mind to use different tools in the right permutation and combination than being exclusive of one another. This article portrays an overview of the diagnostics landscape in 2012 with pros and cons of different tools to be able to generate a step-wise algorithm for optimal exploitation of the tools within available resources in each of the settings.

From CAP: Template for Reporting Results of Biomarker Testing of Specimens From Patients With Carcinoma of the Breast

Patrick L. Fitzgibbons, Deborah A. Dillon, Randa Alsabeh, Michael A. Berman, Daniel F. Hayes, David G. Hicks, Kevin S. Hughes, Sharon Nofech-Mozes, (2013) Template for Reporting Results of Biomarker Testing of Specimens From Patients With Carcinoma of the Breast. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine In-Press.

Early Online Release

Template for Reporting Results of Biomarker Testing of Specimens From Patients With Carcinoma of the Breast

Patrick L. Fitzgibbons, MD; Deborah A. Dillon, MD; Randa Alsabeh, MD; Michael A. Berman, MD; Daniel F. Hayes, MD; David G.Hicks, MD; Kevin S. Hughes, MD; Sharon Nofech-Mozes, MD; for the Members of the Cancer Biomarker Reporting Committee, College of American Pathologists

From the Department of Pathology, St Jude Medical Center, Fullerton, California (Dr Fitzgibbons); the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Dillon); the Department of Pathology, Kaiser Permanente-Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California (Dr Alsabeh); the Department of Pathology, Jefferson Hospital, Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania (Dr Berman); the Breast Oncology Program, University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor (Dr Hayes); the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York (Dr Hicks); the Division of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (Dr Hughes); and the Department of Anatomic Pathology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Dr Nofech-Mozes).

"...has there ever been a moment in American life when the humanities were needed more?"

NOVEMBER 2013

What Dido did, Satan saw & O’Keeffe painted

by Mark Bauerlein

How the humanities can come out on top in the education debate

It was a fatal choice, this turn from canonical work to interpretative act, with damaging effects continuing today. We witnessed its disabling impact in a revealing episode last summer when the humanities became once more a topic of national conversation. Starting in June, a flurry of reports and commentaries appeared projecting a dim present and dark future for the fields. A report by the Commission on the Humanities and Social Sciences, a formation of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, showed the humanities losing funding, enrollment, and appreciation from politicians and business leaders, “a pattern that will have grave, long-term consequences for the nation.” One week earlier, Harvard issued a like warning under the banner “The Teaching of Arts and Humanities at Harvard College: Mapping the Future,” which examined enrollments on campus and found that, since the mid-twentieth century, degrees in the fields have plummeted from 36 percent of graduates to 20 percent, while entering students who aim to major in a humanities field have shifted to other areas at disproportionate rates. A June 22 statement in The New York Times by Vernon Klinkenborg bore the title “The Decline and Fall of the English Major,” while Leon Wieseltier’s 2013 Commencement Address at Brandeis opened, “Has there ever been a moment in American life when the humanities were cherished less, and has there ever been a moment in American life when the humanities were needed more?”