Discipline Of Pathology Research Articles

Systematic review of international ethics knowledge in the speech-language pathology literature (1980–2022)

Purpose A systematic review was conducted to describe various viewpoints expressed in speech-language pathology literature over four decades concerning ethics knowledge in the profession. Method The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were employed. Our sample search encompassed peer-reviewed journal articles sourced from electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, ERIC, MasterFILE Premier, E-Journals, Africa-Wide Information, and Academic Search Premier, spanning the period from 1980 to 2022. Result The initial search of articles identified 139 papers. After applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria, 60 full-text papers were deemed suitable for inclusion. We conducted a qualitative, deductive analysis of the relevant data and findings. Studies primarily concentrated on the speech-language pathologist’s roles in rehabilitation/management and education, research, and administration. A predominant focus of these papers revolved around moral judgement, a fundamental component of moral behaviour. Conclusion Findings suggest an evolving landscape within the speech-language pathology discipline, with an increased focus on moral judgement, professional competency, and rehabilitation/management. The findings highlight a consistent need for further development and emphasis on ethics in education, research, administration, and advocacy/consultation roles. This underscores the necessity for ongoing ethical education and support to ensure practitioners are well-equipped to navigate the complex ethical landscape of their professional practice.

Iris: A Next Generation Digital Pathology Rendering Engine.

Digital pathology is a tool of rapidly evolving importance within the discipline of pathology. Whole slide imaging promises numerous advantages; however, adoption is limited by challenges in ease of use and speed of high-quality image rendering relative to the simplicity and visual quality of glass slides. Herein, we introduce Iris, a new high-performance digital pathology rendering system. Specifically, we outline and detail the performance metrics of Iris Core, the core rendering engine technology. Iris Core comprises machine code modules written from the ground up in C++ and using Vulkan, a low-level and low-overhead cross-platform graphical processing unit application program interface, and our novel rapid tile buffering algorithms. We provide a detailed explanation of Iris Core's system architecture, including the stateless isolation of core processes, interprocess communication paradigms, and explicit synchronization paradigms that provide powerful control over the graphical processing unit. Iris Core achieves slide rendering at the sustained maximum frame rate on all tested platforms (120 FPS) and buffers an entire new slide field of view, without overlapping pixels, in 10 ms with enhanced detail in 30 ms. Further, it is able to buffer and compute high-fidelity reduction-enhancements for viewing low-power cytology with increased visual quality at a rate of 100-160 μs per slide tile, and with a cumulative median buffering rate of 1.36 GB of decompressed image data per second. This buffering rate allows for an entirely new field of view to be fully buffered and rendered in less than a single monitor refresh on a standard display, and high detail features within 2-3 monitor refresh frames. These metrics far exceed previously published specifications, beyond an order of magnitude in some contexts. The system shows no slowing with high use loads, but rather increases performance due to graphical processing unit cache control mechanisms and is "future-proof" due to near unlimited parallel scalability.

Trauma-Informed Self-Care Practices in Speech-Language Pathology and Related Professions

Practitioners in speech-language pathology and related fields work with clients who have experienced trauma, which can lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS), vicarious traumatization (VT), and compassion fatigue in the practitioner. Trauma-informed self-care (TISC) strategies may be one way to mitigate negative stress-related outcomes. This scoping review aims to determine what is known about TISC practices for (1) speech language pathologists and (2) related professions (e.g., education, mental health professions, healthcare). Online databases were searched to identify peer-reviewed publications that measured or described TISC practices at the individual or organizational level for professionals or trainees/training programs for SLP and related professions. Findings were screened using a two-level process resulting in 1 relevant article in the SLP literature and 26 in related professions. Meaning units related to TISC practices were extracted from each article and analyzed to develop themes. In related professions, both individual TISC strategies (e.g., stress management practice, self-care plans) and organizational strategies in training programs and the workplace (e.g., integrating self-care into professional-level policies and practice standards, creating a culture of care, and providing TIC training) are recommended to support practitioner wellbeing. Knowledge about TISC strategies for the specific discipline of speech-language pathology is limited; however, literature in related professions can offer guidance to develop individual and organizational guidelines for SLPs.

Medical students’ perceptions of live versus recorded pathology lectures at a South African medical school during the Covid-19 pandemic: unique lessons for undergraduate pathology education in a diverse student population

Abstract Introduction/Objective The morphological depiction and interactive learning vital to the core discipline of anatomical pathology posed specific challenges during emergency remote teaching (ERT) in the COVID 19 pandemic. Using voice-over PowerPoint presentations (VoPPPs) in anatomical pathology at Wits University in Johannesburg, South Africa during this time provided a unique opportunity to determine students’ perceptions of this teaching and learning modality. Objective To determine a South African medical students’ perceptions of live lectures vs online learning with VoPPPs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods/Case Report A descriptive, cross-sectional, online survey was sent to 326 4th year medical students in 2020. The questionnaire consisted of closed- and open-ended questions. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were conducted on the quantitative data. Content analysis was performed on the open-ended responses. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) The survey response rate was 56.75%. Respondents preferred the traditional lecture format to the exclusive use of VoPPPs (48.6% to 34.6%) for pathology learning. Respondents appreciated the flexibility of learning from VoPPPs, resulting in blended learning being the preferred approach (45.9% vs 44.3 for live lectures only and 9.7% for VoPPPs only, respectively). Respondents indicated a need for more effective use of VoPPPs regarding the depiction of pathology images, more opportunities for feedback, and more online learning modalities in addition to VoPPPs. Some respondents from rural areas stated that their home study environments were not conducive to online learning modalities. Conclusion Blended learning combines the interactivity possible in contact sessions with the time benefits of online learning for undergraduate pathology education. However, educators should use various online methods rather than relying solely on VoPPPs. This is especially important when considering the visual nature of pathology lectures. Where VoPPPs are used, they should be used effectively, mainly using good quality, labelled images to depict morphology. The preference for blended learning offers exciting possibilities for developing integrated learning platforms in the future, however, these must be tailored to suit the needs of students from economically and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Re-Envisioning the Plant Disease Triangle: Full Integration of the Host Microbiota and a Focal Pivot to Health Outcomes.

The disease triangle is a structurally simple but conceptually rich model that is used in plant pathology and other fields of study to explain infectious disease as an outcome of the three-way relationship between a host, a pathogen, and their environment. It also serves as a guide for finding solutions to treat, predict, and prevent such diseases. With the omics-driven, evidence-based realization that the abundance and activity of a pathogen are impacted by proximity to and interaction with a diverse multitude of other microorganisms colonizing the same host, the disease triangle evolved into a tetrahedron shape, which features an added fourth dimension representing the host-associated microbiota. Another variant of the disease triangle emerged from the recently formulated pathobiome paradigm, which deviates from the classical "one pathogen" etiology of infectious disease in favor of a scenario in which disease represents a conditional outcome of complex interactions between and among a host, its microbiota (including microbes with pathogenic potential), and the environment. The result is a version of the original disease triangle where "pathogen" is substituted with "microbiota." Here, as part of a careful and concise review of the origin, history, and usage of the disease triangle, I propose a next step in its evolution, which is to replace the word "disease" in the center of the host-microbiota-environment triad with the word "health." This triangle highlights health as a desirable outcome (rather than disease as an unwanted state) and as an emergent property of host-microbiota-environment interactions. Applied to the discipline of plant pathology, the health triangle offers an expanded range of targets and approaches for the diagnosis, prediction, restoration, and maintenance of plant health outcomes. Its applications are not restricted to infectious diseases only, and its underlying framework is more inclusive of all microbial contributions to plant well-being, including those by mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, for which there never was a proper place in the plant disease triangle. The plant health triangle also may have an edge as an education and communication tool to convey and stress the importance of healthy plants and their associated microbiota to a broader public and stakeholdership.

Prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway

Congenital defects and genetic diseases in the fetus are the focus of prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis. Obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, medical imaging (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging), clinical laboratory, pathology, and other disciplines are mostly involved in this multidisciplinary work on maternal and infant health care, which aims to prevent birth defects in strict accordance with laws, regulations, and pertinent industry standards, such as the Notice of the National Health Commission on Issuing the Basic Standards for Prenatal Screening Technical Medical Institutions and the Basic Standards for Prenatal Diagnosis Technical Medical Institutions (Guowei Maternal and Child Letter [2019] No. 297). To further support the implementation of prenatal screening and diagnosis work and streamline workflow, this study has compiled the timing, inspection, and testing procedures of various projects in each link from the standpoint of the disease clinical laboratory diagnostic pathway. This approach improves communication amongst various disciplines in prenatal screening and diagnosis work and offers clinical service quality, and it also helps improve the standard of the birth population and prevent and controll severe birth defects.

Accelerating the construction of digital and intelligentialized pathology and the prospects

With the continuous development of informatization, digitalization and artificial intelligence technology, the working mode of the pathology department has gradually changed from the traditional manual check, paper circulation and physical carrier storage to the informatization process and digital storage. The traditional pathology discipline has ushered in unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Digital pathology department also emerge as the times require. Simultaneously, with the full integration of artificial intelligence technology in pathology department, the concept of "department of digital and intelligentialized pathology" was proposed. Based on information and digital technology, the digital intelligent pathology department integrates intelligent management system, optimizes the previous cumbersome management and workflow of the pathology department, develops advanced technologies such as intelligent material extraction, unmanned organization processing, artificial intelligence quality control, artificial intelligence diagnosis, and promotes the intelligent construction of the pathology department.

The Knowledge Intensification of Agriculture

Federal funding for agricultural sciences was initiated with the passage of the Morrill Act in 1862. Since then, the need for science-based information to support our knowledge-intensive agricultural and food systems has grown substantially, and continues to grow, in all farm and food systems. Transformative developments in the disciplines of plant microbiology and plant pathology have led to an increased pace in research and application of knowledge in soil ecosystems and phytobiomes, precision agriculture, and more sophisticated tools for the manipulation of plant genetics. Appropriate federal support remains critical to our robust farming and food systems. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

Research on the methodology of LSA with preschool children: a scoping review

Purpose: Language Sample Analysis (LSA) is a prominent method in researching language development and is also used in clinical practice in the speech-language pathology (SLP) discipline. This scoping review aims to describe current contributions of research on LSA methodology, identify research gaps and explore areas of future advancement of LSA methodology related to its five components: determining the sample length/size, collecting, transcribing, coding and analyzing the sample.Methods: A scoping review was conducted of studies on LSA methodology published between 2010–2020 that focused on preschool children. Relevant electronic databases and research platforms were searched using the PRISMA method for data identification, screening, selection and extraction.Results: Of the 213 identified studies, 61 met the inclusion criteria, covering all aspects of the LSA process. Overall, a wide variability in study designs and research foci were found, reflecting the broad applicability of LSA. The two LSA aspects addressed most frequently are the first and last of the five LSA components: determining the length (or size) of the language sample and analyzing the sample. The methodological variability hinders the comparison of evidence and drawing implications which negatively impacts on research and clinical SLP practice.Conclusions: Besides expanding research on LSA for multilingual children and establishing LSA guidelines for specific contexts, age groups and language backgrounds, it appears as if technological development, particularly in the (semi)automatic transcription, codin

Current Postoperative Feeding Practices Following Surgical Repairs for Infants With Cleft Palate.

Nearly all surgeons have restrictive postoperative feeding protocols in place after primary cleft lip and cleft palate repairs. There are no standardized recommendations, potentially resulting in widely variable practices among cleft surgeons and teams. The purpose of this study was to examine current postoperative feeding practices for infants with cleft palate after lip and palate repairs. A survey of 50 questions was sent to members of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA). Inclusion criteria included providers from North America that have either currently or previously served on a cleft palate team and reached the surgical question set within the survey. Sixty-four respondents met inclusion criteria. The majority were in speech-language pathology (47%) or nursing (41%) disciplines, involved in feeding consultations frequently (84%), and working in an outpatient setting (69%). After lip surgery, respondents recommended cleft-adapted bottle feeding (88%), spoon feeding (9%), cup feeding (13%), and syringe/squeeze bottle feeding (23%). The majority of respondents (69%) indicated infants could return to their preoperative feeding modality immediately after lip surgery. After palate surgery, respondents recommended cleft-adapted bottle feeding (55%), typical bottle feeding (3%), spoon feeding (36%), cup feeding (64%), and syringe/squeeze bottle feeding (30%). Infants could use a feeding system that required suction at an average of 20 days postoperatively and return to an age-appropriate diet at an average of 15 days postoperatively. The present study describes the wide variation of postoperative feeding guidelines used by cleft teams after lip and palate repairs.

A comparative study of perspectives on telepractice service delivery among Egyptian and U.S. Speech and Language Pathologists

ABSTRACT Scope: Although the discipline of Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) was established in Egypt over 50 years ago, telepractice is a new concept in Egypt. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic providers adapted to an online therapy format. Materials & methods: The current study used a retrospective pretest–posttest design to identify differences in barriers facing SLPs practicing in the USA (N = 38) and Egypt (N = 41) using telepractice. The online questionnaire assessed the domains of technical barriers, the applicability of various types of therapy, caseload characteristics’ barriers, caregivers’ challenges, and the therapists’ input. Results: Therapists in both countries had concerns pre-telepractice regarding the availability of materials for online sessions, time spent for online session preparation, guaranteed confidentiality, and protection of client personal details in teletherapy. Most US therapists held a positive attitude towards the adaptability of various types of therapy for online sessions and the applicability of online sessions for new cases, toddlers & infants, preschoolers, adults & group sessions. On the other hand, Egyptian therapists expressed concerns regarding technical barriers such as lower frequency of sessions and internet connectivity problems while also experiencing more issues related to caseload characteristics. Conclusion: This study offers preliminary data on telehealth experiences in USA and Egypt that may direct future research into ways to increase service delivery and access.

Modelling CD4 reagent usage across a national hierarchal network of laboratories in South Africa.

The National Health Laboratory Service is mandated to deliver cost-effective and efficient diagnostic services across South Africa. Their mandate is achieved by a network of laboratories ranging from centralised national laboratories to distant rural facilities. This study aimed to establish a model of CD4 reagent utilisation as an independent measure of laboratory efficiency. The efficiency percentage was defined as finished goods (number of reportable results) over raw materials (number of reagents supplied) for 47 laboratories in nine provinces (both anonymised) for 2019. The efficiency percentage at national and provincial levels was calculated and compared to the optimal efficiency percentage derived using pre-set assumptions. Comparative laboratory analysis was conducted for the provinces with the best and worst efficiency percentages. The possible linear relationship between the efficiency percentage and call-outs, days lost, referrals, and turn-around time was assessed. Data are reported for 2 806 799 CD4 tests, with an overall efficiency percentage of 84.5% (optimal of 84.98%). The efficiency percentage varied between 75.7% and 87.7% between provinces, while within the laboratory it ranged from 66.1% to 111.5%. Four laboratories reported an efficiency percentage ranging from 67.8% to 85.7%. No linear correlation was noted between the efficiency percentage, call-outs, days lost, and turn-around time performance. Reagent efficiency percentage distinguished laboratories into different utilisation levels irrespective of their CD4 service level. This parameter is an additional independent indicator of laboratory performance, with no relationship with any contributing factors tested, that can be implemented across pathology disciplines for monitoring reagent utilisation. This study provides an objective methodology to assess reagent utilisation as an independent measure of laboratory efficiency. This model could be applied to all routine pathology services.

Review: Women in plant disease management

Women first began to take a stance in science over 50 years ago, and since then, they have produced a great number of publications. However, the first step towards science was a matter of accrediting women as rightful members of the scientific community. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, women started to enter into graduate programmes, and such a step helped them to make a difference. In many cases and many countries, botanists and mycologists were, in some way, pioneering in the plant pathology discipline. This manuscript considers some of the women who led the way in plant pathology, with a special focus on those who also dealt with the early aspects of plant disease management. Women who were active in different geographical areas are featured, and an attempt has also been made to provide some less well-known stories. Moreover, the importance of women behind the scenes, as is the case for many lab and field technicians, whose lives have not been chronicled, is acknowledged. Finally, some suggestions are given on how to improve the present situation and increase the number of women in science as well as in technical positions, with special emphasis on the positive effect of female mentors and role models.

In Memoriam: Edward W. Bermes, Jr., PhD, FAACC (1932-2021).

Dr. Edward W. Bermes, Jr., PhD, FAACC, passed away peacefully at home on February 16, 2021, following a long-term illness. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 20, 1932. He received his BS in Chemistry from St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN, followed by a MS and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Loyola University of Chicago (LUC). In 1958, he was appointed Chief Biochemist at Cook County Hospital. On receiving his doctoral degree in 1959, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Biochemistry in LUC’s Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM). During the 1960s, he served as Director of Biochemistry at St. Francis and West Suburban hospitals. In 1969, he was promoted to Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Pathology. Also at that time, he led the creation of a laboratory for a hospital opening on LUC’s new medical center campus (LUMC) in Maywood, IL. By then, Dr. Bermes had become an excellent teacher and welcomed more teaching opportunities. At St. Francis Hospital, he had developed a predoctoral clinical biochemistry program. He codirected it with Dr. Hugh McDonald, Chair of LUC’s Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Dr. McDonald was also a charter member and Past-President of AACC (1954). It was challenging to find sites to provide clinical experience for predoctoral trainees until the opening of LUMC, which also became the location for creation of a postdoctoral fellowship program in clinical chemistry. Initially funded through a NIH grant, the postdoctoral program was approved by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in 1972. Dr. Bermes’ devotion to postdoctoral training led to his serving on the Commission on the Accreditation of Clinical Chemistry Training Programs Board of Directors, and as its president for 8 years. During his career, he trained thousands of students of medicine, graduate schools, medical technology, and clinical laboratory science as well as residents and fellows in pathology, clinical chemistry, and other disciplines. In 1983, his dedication to teaching was recognized with his receiving AACC’s Award for Outstanding Contributions in Education and Training.

Clinicians' Decision-Making Regarding Telehealth Services: Focus Group Study in Pediatric Allied Health.

Many allied health services now provide both telehealth and in-person services following a rapid integration of telehealth as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about how decisions are made about which clinical appointments to provide via telehealth versus in person. The aim of this study is to explore clinicians' decision-making when contemplating telehealth for their clients, including the factors they consider and how they weigh up these different factors, and the clinicians' perceptions of telehealth utility beyond COVID-19 lockdowns. We used reflexive thematic analysis with data collected from focus groups with 16 pediatric community-based allied health clinicians from the disciplines of speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, social work, psychology, and counseling. The findings indicated that decision-making was complex with interactions across 4 broad categories: technology, clients and families, clinical services, and clinicians. Three themes described their perceptions of telehealth use beyond COVID-19 lockdowns: "flexible telehealth use," "telehealth can be superior to in-person therapy," and "fear that in-person services may be replaced." The findings highlight the complexity of decision-making in a community-allied health setting and the challenges experienced by clinicians when reconciling empirical evidence with their own clinical experience.

Neutrophils and their friends.

Neutrophils and their friends.

Current Practice Patterns and Training Pathways for Feeding Infants with Cleft Palate.

To examine the current trends and practices across disciplines for feeding infants with cleft palate with or without cleft lip and to describe provider training within this area. Prospective survey. ACPA approved cleft palate teams and healthcare providers in the United States and Canada. Interdisciplinary providers that regularly provide feeding services to infants with cleft palate. 50-item survey designed and distributed electronically via the ACPA. Information on provider demographics and practice patterns. 76 respondents included providers in North America that have either currently or previously served on a cleft palate team. The majority of respondents were in speech-language pathology (49%) or nursing (38%) disciplines, worked in an outpatient setting (70%), and received no information (68%) regarding cleft palate feeding in their academic training. While specific practice patterns were relatively consistent across the respondent cohort, provider characteristics were significantly associated with squeezing the Haberman (p = .013) and likelihood of collaboration with other providers when counseling parents/caregivers (p = .039). While provider characteristics varied, there were similar practice patterns observed across disciplines. Future research is needed explore training related to feeding knowledge as well as practice patterns in locations with a lower patient volume.

Openness and Computational Reproducibility in Plant Pathology: Where We Stand and a Way Forward.

Open research practices have been highlighted extensively during the last 10 years in many fields of scientific study as essential standards needed to promote transparency and reproducibility of scientific results. Scientific claims can only be evaluated based on how protocols, materials, equipment, and methods were described; data were collected and prepared; and analyses were conducted. Openly sharing protocols, data, and computational code is central to current scholarly dissemination and communication, but in many fields, including plant pathology, adoption of these practices has been slow. We randomly selected 450 articles published from 2012 to 2021 across 21 journals representative of the plant pathology discipline and assigned them scores reflecting their openness and computational reproducibility. We found that most of the articles did not follow protocols for open science and failed to share data or code in a reproducible way. We propose that use of open-source tools facilitates computationally reproducible work and analyses, benefitting not just readers but the authors as well. Finally, we provide ideas and suggest tools to promote open, reproducible computational research practices among plant pathologists. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Teaching End-of-Life Care in Speech-Language Pathology: A Tutorial

Speech-language pathologists often lack preparation for working with patients near the end of life (EoL). Few academic training programs offer dedicated or sufficient content in the area of end-of-life care (EoLC). Furthermore, traditional knowledge-focused outcomes are not the most effective pedagogical strategy in teaching EoL and palliative care to students. Instead, a focus on self-awareness and personal beliefs in relation to death and dying have been shown to have a positive effect on attitudes toward EoLC. The purposes of this paper are three-fold: First, to explore what is known about the teaching and training of EoL in the discipline of speech-language pathology; second, to explore successful pedagogical strategies being used to teach this content; and third, to provide evidence-based suggestions for the inclusion of this content into speech-language pathology curriculum.

Placement Architectures in Practice: An Exploration of Student Learning during Non-Traditional Work-Integrated Learning in Rural Communities

Work-integrated learning (WIL) in rural communities provides students with important learning opportunities while also providing a service to those communities. To optimise the potential benefits of work-integrated learning for health students and rural communities it is important to explore the practices and outcomes of these experiences. This study used a qualitative research design underpinned by the theoretical framework of Theory of Practice Architectures to examine the way students learn during these placements. Purposive sampling was used to identify students for participation in the study. Seven students from the disciplines of paramedicine, physiotherapy, and speech pathology participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The learning described by the students was examined, followed by a critical interrogation of the data to assess how these learnings and associated practices were made possible given the site-specific practice architectures. The findings of the research are represented by three themes: learning affordances related to placement design, learning through relationships between people and professions, and learning through rural embeddedness. Being embedded in rural communities gave the students access to several arrangements that fostered learning, particularly through the sayings, relatings and doings that the students engaged with. This research demonstrates the transformative potential of rural WIL opportunities for learning and future rural practice.