Laboratory Reports Research Articles

Student Perceptions Regarding Student-Designed Lab Experimental Procedures

First-year students are often expected to follow explicit directions in hands-on labs. This can result in highly uniform submissions, where the students are often motivated by performing the steps correctly instead of learning concepts. Through experimental procedure autonomy, students may be able to improve their understanding and develop additional skills in experimental design. In a mechanics lab, students were asked to hypothesize an answer to a question and design an experiment to test this hypothesis using a variety of equipment that was provided. This paper describes student perceptions regarding their learning associated with designing experimental procedures. Feedback survey responses indicated that 65% of students understood why they were asked to design their experiment, but 53% did not enjoy the process. When students assessed their own learning experience, 35% indicated that designing their procedure helped them understand concepts better while 21% indicated that they did not perceive additional learning. Many students (53%) indicated that they would prefer additional instruction on this type of task and 93% appreciated the lab report template provided to them to help organize their results.

Investigate cosmic rays: Analysis of the air showers

In this lab report, the concept of cosmic rays and their components that can be detected on the earth’s surface is introduced. In this experiment, four CosmicWatch muon detectors were used to detect the components of cosmic rays. This report describes the setup of the experiment as well as the method and algorithms used to filter the true signals of cosmic rays out of the background radioactive noises. Some process of the algorithm is visualized using histograms. The rate of air showers was found to be 0.151 mHz ± 0.022 mHz for a separation of 6.73 cm ± 0.08 cm, and 0.096 mHz ± 0.015 mHz for a separation of 13.5 cm ± 0.1 cm. Other sources of uncertainties are also analyzed in this report.

Spatial and temporal distribution of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Algeria from 2014 to 2022.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a major transboundary animal ailment in Algeria, is a serious economic burden on the livestock sector. This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of FMD in Algeria and identifies the factors contributing to this phenomenon. Data on FMD cases occurring in Algeria from 2014 to 2022 were collected from various sources, including archives at the Ministry of Agriculture, peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, reference laboratory reports, and unpublished scientific reports. The data were compiled and analyzed using MS Office Excel® and SPSS® software. A total of 22,690 FMD cases and 1,141 outbreaks were reported in Algeria between 2014 and 2022. The apex of infections occurred in 2014 (34.5%), followed by an increase in the number of infections in 2019 and 2017. The prevalence of FMD extended to 91.6% of the districts of the country, particularly in the north (center) and eastern regions. Cows were the most affected, with 654 outbreaks and more than 3,665 cases. Although FMD affected all four regions, there was a statistically significant long-term decline in the incidence. These spatial and temporal trends underscore the robust disease control methodologies implemented by the Algerian government, such as the strategic immunization of livestock to fortify their viral resistance, stringent constraints on animal mobility, and enlightenment of farmers regarding the hazards associated with unrestricted livestock movement to effectively curb FMD dissemination.

Development and Evaluation of Surveillance System for Identifying Jail-Associated COVID-19 Cases in Minnesota, USA, 2022.

Confinement facilities are high-risk settings for the spread of infectious disease, necessitating timely surveillance to inform public health action. To identify jail-associated COVID-19 cases from electronic laboratory reports maintained in the Minnesota Electronic Disease Surveillance System (MEDSS), Minnesota, USA, the Minnesota Department of Health developed a surveillance system that used keyword and address matching (KAM). The KAM system used a SAS program (SAS Institute Inc., https://www.sas.com) and an automated program within MEDSS to identify confinement keywords and addresses. To evaluate KAM, we matched jail booking data from the Minnesota Statewide Supervision System by full name and birthdate to the MEDSS records of adults with COVID-19 for 2022. The KAM system identified 2,212 cases in persons detained in jail; sensitivity was 92.40% and specificity was 99.95%. The success of KAM demonstrates its potential to be applied to other diseases and congregate-living settings for real-time surveillance without added reporting burden.

Geographic Variation and Environmental Predictors of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Laboratory Surveillance, Virginia, USA, 2021-20231.

Because epidemiologic and environmental risk factors for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been reported only infrequently, little information exists about those factors. The state of Virginia, USA, requires certain ecologic features to be included in reports to the Virginia Department of Health, presenting a unique opportunity to study those variables. We analyzed laboratory reports of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and M. abscessus infections in Virginia during 2021-2023. MAC/M. abscessus was isolated from 6.19/100,000 persons, and 2.37/100,000 persons had MAC/M. abscessus lung disease. M. abscessus accounted for 17.4% and MAC for 82.6% of cases. Saturated vapor pressure was associated with MAC/M. abscessus prevalence (prevalence ratio 1.414, 95% CI 1.011-1.980; p = 0.043). Self-supplied water use was a protective factor (incidence rate ratio 0.304, 95% CI 0.098-0.950; p = 0.041). Our findings suggest that a better understanding of geographic clustering and environmental water exposures could help develop future targeted prevention and control efforts.

Inequality in different countries: dynamics of states and perception by the population over 20 years

The article highlights the relationship between the country’s well-being and their people’s perception of inequality in 1999, 2009 and 2019. The country’s well-being was measured using four indicators: GDP per capita, life expectancy, the average number of years of schooling and the Gini index (data taken from the United Nations, the World Bank and the Global Data Laboratory reports). The perception of inequality was measured using six indicators: the importance of coming from a wealthy family and knowing the right people to get ahead, differences in income perception, feeling of conflicts in society, approval of inequality in opportunities, as well as subjective social stratification (based on the III-V waves of the modules Social Inequality of The International Social Survey Programme, ISSP). The groups of the countries based on their well-being and the people’s perception of inequality were determined using multidimensional scaling. With its means, for each of the taken years (1999, 2009 and 2019) two-dimensional spaces in which the countries were located were constructed. A positive correlation between a country’s GDP level and life expectancy was reproduced in all observed periods. In contrast, depth of stratification was not significantly associated with any of the remaining indicators of welfare. Subjective stratification, as well as people’s ideas about how to get ahead, were determined by GDP per capita, but not by objective stratification. This one correlated with feelings of conflict and approval of unequal opportunities. Dimensions in decisions — both for the country’s well-being and for perception— were reproduced at all measurement points. At the same time, the composition of homogeneous groups of countries varied from one time interval to another. The most stable were the groupings of Scandinavian and island countries, whose levels of well-being and perceptions of inequality by the population were similar.

Development of an integrated and project-based laboratory course in upper-level biochemistry and molecular biology.

An integrated and projected-based laboratory course was described, integrating interconnected knowledge points and biochemistry and molecular biology techniques on a research project-based system. The program, which served as an essential extension of theoretical courses to practice, was conducted with a sophomore of basic medical science who had completed the course in medical biochemistry and molecular biology. This course engaged students in learning "genetic manipulation" and "recombinant DNA technology" to understand the target gene's role in disease mechanics, thus altering evaluation and treatment for clinical disease. Students could master applied and advanced techniques, such as cell culture, transfection, inducing exogenous fusion protein expression, purifying protein and its concentration assay, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western bot analysis. This laboratory exercise links laboratory practices with the methods of current basic research. Students need to complete the experimental design report and laboratory report, which could be advantageous for improving their ability to write lab summaries and scientific papers in the future. The reliability and validity analyses were conducted on the questionnaire, and we examined students' satisfaction with the course and their gains from the course. The student feedback was generally positive, indicating that the exercise helped consolidate theoretical knowledge, increase scientific research enthusiasm, and provide a powerful tool to be a better person and make informed decisions.

Demographic Profile of Dengue Patient with Comorbidities in 100 Patients in A Tertiary Care Hospital, Bangladesh

Background: In the past decades, incidence of dengue has grown rapidly. There are four types of viruses (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, DENV-4) belonging to the Flaviviridae family. These mosquitoes breed in areas with standing water, including puddles, water tanks, containers and old tires. Lack of reliable sanitation and regular garbage collection also contribute to the spread of the mosquitoes. Each year, thousands of dengue infections are reported and there are several outbreaks of dengue in several countries including Bangladesh and this imply the global importance of this infection. Objective: To assess the demographic profile of dengue patient with comorbidities in 100 patients in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A prospective study was done at Department of Medicine, Uttara Adhunik Medical College and Hospital, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2023 to June 2023. Written consent was taken before including the subject to the study. The study included 100 patients who consented to be a part of the study. The patients were subjected to detailed history and clinical examination. Data were collected from hospital records. All the relevant data regarding history and examination findings of the patients, the laboratory reports were collected. Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22, was used for data entry and statistical analysis. Results: Total 100 dengue patients were enrolled in this study. Mean age of all patient was 34.62±16.22 years (12-75 year) with male predominance (54%). Maximum patients were from urban residence (84%), non-smoker (73%), had active lifestyle (63%) and normal body mass index (69%). Overall, 65% patients had no comorbidity and 89% had no concurrent acute illness. Conclusion: Although the results of this study cannot be generalized to other cities of Bangladesh, our findings will allow public health agencies in Bangladesh to concentrate their efforts to battle against dengue.

Increase of multidrug-resistant bacteria after the COVID-19 pandemic in a major teaching Hospital in Sicily (2018-2021)

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the continuing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to global health and economic development. In the last two decades, AMR has raised increasing concern, with an estimated 4.95 million deaths globally due to bacterial AMR in 2019 alone.The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of the pandemic on the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) using data from the Hospital “P. Giaccone” in Palermo, comparing pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. MethodsThis observational study involved adult patients who were discharged from the hospital between 01 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. Hospital Discharge Cards were linked with microbiological laboratory reports to assess MDRO isolations. SARS-CoV-2 positivity during hospitalisation was evaluated using the National Institute of Health surveillance system. ResultsA total of 58 427 hospitalisations were evaluated in this study. Half the patients were aged over 65 years (N=26 984) and most admissions were in the medical area (N=31 716). During the hospitalisation period, there were 2681 patients (5%) with MDROs isolations, and 946 patients (2%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Multivariable analyses showed that during 2020 and 2021, there was a significantly increased risk of isolation of Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Age, weight of the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG), wards with higher intensity of care, and length-of-stay were associated with a higher risk of MDRO isolation. ConclusionThis study provides new insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MDRO isolation and has important implications for infection control and prevention efforts in healthcare facilities. Age, DRG-weight, and longer hospital stays further increased the risk of MDRO isolation. Thus, it is imperative to improve and follow hospital protocols to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

Incorporating hands‐on experiments into an online science course

AbstractBackgroundWith the rapid proliferation of online education, it is incumbent upon teachers to find ways to provide online students with science laboratory experiences. Existing research on online labs focuses heavily on computer‐supported inquiry learning environments, such as virtual laboratories and remote laboratories. There are limited studies on kitchen labs or home labs.ObjectivesThis study investigated the effectiveness of home labs using lab kits from two perspectives: students' perceptions and experiences of labs conducted in a home environment, as well as whether home labs help with students' knowledge acquisition.MethodsThis study employed lab quizzes to assess students' performance and lab reports to evaluate students' ability to interpret the lab results accurately in the authentic home lab contexts. Surveys and semi‐structured interviews were used to collect students' perceptions and experience data regarding these hands‐on experiments at home.Results and ConclusionsWe found that students' perceptions of home labs are similar to that of face‐to‐face labs, but they generally perceive home labs to be less complex. Students' performances on lab quizzes and lab reports indicate that the majority of them were able to apply the key scientific concepts to accurately interpret lab results in authentic home lab contexts. Students perceived that home labs provide flexibility and help in connecting learning to the real world. However, they also face challenges such as unexpected results and ambiguity during the process.ImplicationsBased on the key findings from this study and our reflections, four practice guidelines were provided for teaching hands‐on experiments online.

Massive ovarian mucinous cystadenoma with torsion: A surgical wonder

Mucinous cystadenomas are some of the commonly encountered ovarian tumors, having huge size which causes pain, pressure, distension, genito urinary symptoms etc. Eventually, these tumors are prone to life threatening complications, like hemorrhage or torsion. These cases may remain asymptomatic for a long period of time. For further diagnosis of symptomatic patients clinical examinations and radiological investigations can be used and help the surgeon in deciding management. We hereby report a case involving a very large mucinous cystadenoma, measuring 25 × 24 centimeter with torsion. The data presented here contains details post admission of this patient in casualty to discharge of the patient, such as (a) clinical history (b) physical examination, (c) laboratory reports, (d) radiological investigations, (e) surgical evaluation, (f) histo pathology reports. These Mucinous cystadenomas constitute a comparatively smaller percentage of cases that can present with pain in abdomen due to an ovarian cause. Here, a huge mucinous ovarian cystadenoma had been found pressing on the abdominal contents leading to a variety of symptoms. The aim is to establish the value of detailed diagnosis and timely surgical treatment of these ovarian tumors as well as to signify the potential fatal outcomes.

Benign Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumor of the Mesentery Misdiagnosed as a Uterine Fibroid: A Case Report and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) is a type of mesenchymal tumor composed of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive perivascular epithelioid cells. Benign mesenteric PEComa is a rare entity as there has been only one case reported so far. We are presenting a case of benign mesenteric PEComa in a 30-year-old female that presented with abdominal pain and was diagnosed by microscopic morphological examination and immunohistochemical staining. The aim of this case report is to make health-care professionals aware of the diagnostic criteria in similar presentations, treatment modalities offered for this patient, and others reported over the years for malignant as well as benign PEComas and also shedding the light on a new presentation and diagnosis. CASE REPORT: We reported a case of a 30-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain radiating to the back and rectum. After a thorough physical examination which was unremarkable, a CT scan was done which showed a mesenteric mass. This mass was then resected and sent for histopathology which revealed a PEComa. We report the history, clinical findings, laboratory reports, and gross imaging of a 30-year-old female who presented to our clinic and was diagnosed with a very rare benign mesenteric PEComa. CONCLUSION: PEComa is a rare tumor, and as PEComas arising from the mesentery being one of the rarer kinds with only 10 cases reported and this case being the 11th, out of those ten cases, only two of them were found to be benign which makes the case we are reporting the second benign mesenteric PEComa reported in English Literature.

Epidemiological insights into seasonal, sex‑specific and age‑related distribution of bacterial pathogens in urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent and recurrent bacterial infections that affect individuals worldwide, posing a significant burden on healthcare systems. The present study aimed to explore the epidemiology of UTIs, investigating the seasonal, gender-specific and age-related bacterial pathogen distribution to guide clinical diagnosis. Data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records and laboratory reports of 926 UTIs diagnosed in Fuding Hospital (Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuding, China). Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. χ2 tests were performed to assess associations between pathogens and the seasons, sex and age groups. Significant associations were found between bacterial species and seasons. Enterococcus faecium exhibited a substantial prevalence in spring (χ2, 12.824; P=0.005), while Acinetobacter baumannii demonstrated increased prevalence in autumn (χ2, 16.404; P=0.001). Female patients showed a higher incidence of UTIs. Gram-positive bacteria were more prevalent in males, with Staphylococcus aureus showing significant male predominance (χ2, 14.607; P<0.001). E. faecium displayed an age-related increase in prevalence (χ2, 17.775; P<0.001), whereas Escherichia coli tended to be more prevalent in younger patients (χ2, 12.813; P=0.005). These findings highlight the complex nature of UTIs and offer insights for tailored diagnostic and preventive strategies, potentially enhancing healthcare outcomes.

Precision medicine for psychotic disorders: objective assessment, risk prediction, and pharmacogenomics.

Psychosis occurs inside the brain, but may have external manifestations (peripheral molecular biomarkers, behaviors) that can be objectively and quantitatively measured. Blood biomarkers that track core psychotic manifestations such as hallucinations and delusions could provide a window into the biology of psychosis, as well as help with diagnosis and treatment. We endeavored to identify objective blood gene expression biomarkers for hallucinations and delusions, using a stepwise discovery, prioritization, validation, and testing in independent cohorts design. We were successful in identifying biomarkers that were predictive of high hallucinations and of high delusions states, and of future psychiatric hospitalizations related to them, more so when personalized by gender and diagnosis. Top biomarkers for hallucinations that survived discovery, prioritization, validation and testing include PPP3CB, DLG1, ENPP2, ZEB2, and RTN4. Top biomarkers for delusions include AUTS2, MACROD2, NR4A2, PDE4D, PDP1, and RORA. The top biological pathways uncovered by our work are glutamatergic synapse for hallucinations, as well as Rap1 signaling for delusions. Some of the biomarkers are targets of existing drugs, of potential utility in pharmacogenomics approaches (matching patients to medications, monitoring response to treatment). The top biomarkers gene expression signatures through bioinformatic analyses suggested a prioritization of existing medications such as clozapine and risperidone, as well as of lithium, fluoxetine, valproate, and the nutraceuticals omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium. Finally, we provide an example of how a personalized laboratory report for doctors would look. Overall, our work provides advances for the improved diagnosis and treatment for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.

How to Write a Scientific Lab Report: A Short-Term Intervention for Improving Chemistry Writing Skills

How to Write a Scientific Lab Report: A Short-Term Intervention for Improving Chemistry Writing Skills

EFLM Working Group Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards on dealing with ISO 15189 demands for retention of documents and examination objects

Abstract Many aspects of the activity of a medical laboratory have to be documented so as to facilitate the maintenance of the ongoing quality of service. As a consequence, many documents, forms and reports are generated. The retention time for each of these has to be specified. In addition to medical laboratory reports as part of the patient’s medical record, the medical laboratory has to retain many documents and specimens according to national legislation or guidance from professional organizations, if these exist. If not, the laboratory management needs to define a retention schedule, which shall define the storage conditions and period of storage, according to ISO 15189:2022 requirements for retention of general quality management documents and records. The EFLM Working Group on Accreditation and ISO/CEN standards provides here a proposal on retention periods of documentation and specimens based on a failure-mode-effects-analysis (FMEA) risk-based approach, a concept of risk reduction that has become an integral part of modern standards.

What Types of Data are Pharmacy Education Scholars Using in Their Abstracts for Poster Presentations?

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to describe the data being used to support poster presentations in pharmacy education scholarship. MethodsResearch and education posters presented at the 2020 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Annual Meeting were unitized to isolate text to be coded, and 2 coders categorized the quantitative and qualitative data by type and source. Questionnaires, instruments, and exams were categorized as new (ie, developed and used for this particular inquiry) versus existing. Qualitative data types were categorized as interviews, focus groups, self-reflections, analysis of student work products (eg, lab reports assessed for student understanding), comments (ie, written or verbal comments), and other (eg, course reports). ResultsA total of 216 abstracts were included in the analysis, with 80 (37%) abstracts relying on data derived from respondent’s perceptions. Further, 143 abstracts (66%) used at least 1 new questionnaire, instrument, or exam. In 57% of the cases where multiple data sources were used, the study involved interprofessional education (eg, multiple health professions learners) or pharmacy student-investigator combinations, and 28 abstracts (13%) did not use pharmacy students as a source. Less than 5% of all abstracts analyzed used traditional qualitative methods of interviews and focus groups. ConclusionThis study can open conversations around how to improve the quality of pharmacy education research and the identification of areas within the scholarship of teaching and learning that may benefit from improvement.

Lessons Learned From Implementation of Mpox Surveillance During an Outbreak Response in Tennessee, 2022.

Mpox surveillance was integral during the 2022 outbreak response. We evaluated implementation of mpox surveillance in Tennessee during an outbreak response and made recommendations for surveillance during emerging infectious disease outbreaks. To understand surveillance implementation, system processes, and areas for improvement, we conducted 8 semistructured focus groups and 7 interviews with 36 health care, laboratory, and health department representatives during September 9-20, 2022. We categorized and analyzed session transcription and notes. We analyzed completeness and timeliness of surveillance data, including 349 orthopoxvirus-positive laboratory reports from commercial, public health, and health system laboratories during July 1-August 31, 2022. Participants described an evolving system and noted that existing informatics platforms inefficiently supported iterations of reporting requirements. Clear communication, standardization of terminology, and shared, adaptable, and user-friendly informatics platforms were prioritized for future emerging infectious disease surveillance systems. Laboratory-reported epidemiologic information was often incomplete; only 55% (191 of 349) of reports included patient address and telephone number. The median time from symptom onset to specimen collection was 5 days (IQR, 3-6 d), from specimen collection to laboratory reporting was 3 days (IQR, 1-4 d), from laboratory reporting to patient interview was 1 day (IQR, 1-3 d), and from symptom onset to patient interview was 9 days (IQR, 7-12 d). Future emerging infectious disease responses would benefit from standardized surveillance approaches that facilitate rapid implementation. Closer collaboration among informatics, laboratory, and clinical partners across jurisdictions and agencies in determining system priorities and designing workflow processes could improve flexibility of the surveillance platform and completeness and timeliness of laboratory reporting. Improved timeliness will facilitate public health response and intervention, thereby mitigating morbidity.

ANNUAL ANALYSIS OF PARASITIC INFECTIONS IN BULGARIA IN 2022

INTRODUCTION: Infections caused by parasites still represent an important global health problem. Although parasitic infections are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries, they are also prevalent in developed countries. This study aims to establish the dynamics of the parasitic infections registered in the country (local and imported) and to analyze the situation, based on data from the previous years. METHODS: We used the annual reports of regional health inspectorates, diagnostic laboratories, medical universities, and data from the National center of infectious and parasitic diseases about all individuals infected with parasitic diseases in the country. RESULTS: A total of 635,522 persons were examined in 2022, of whom 1.82% were diagnosed with various parasitic infections. In the local helminthic zoonoses such as echinococcosis and trichinellosis, a significant decrease in morbidity was observed,1.3%₀₀₀ (n = 89) for cystic echinococcosis and 0.16%₀₀₀ (n = 9) for trichinellosis. For soil-transmitted helminthiases (ascariasis and trichuriasis), the incidence was 6.7%₀₀₀ and 0.5%₀₀₀, respectively. Data on enterobiasis does not show any particular dynamics in 2022 either. The registered prevalence for the country was 1.48%, and for children from various childcare facilities - 2.45%. During the year, seven cases of vector-borne parasitic diseases were registered in the country: imported malaria was diagnosed in 5 patients (4 Bulgarian citizens and one foreigner), and autochthonous visceral leishmaniasis - in two persons. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis shows that, in spite of a trend of declining morbidityfor some socially significant protozoan and helminth infections, human parasitic diseases still represent a significant problem with social and medical consequences for the population of our country. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve and strengthen the surveillance and control network by including new personnel in the medical parasitology structures.

Laboratory Report of HIV-1 Low-Level Viremia.

Laboratory Report of HIV-1 Low-Level Viremia.