Diagnosis and Treatment of Bacterial Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 Using a Multiplex PCR Assay: A Large Italian Hospital’s Five-Month Experience

Since bacterial pneumonia is relatively frequent, suspicion of it in COVID-19 patients may prompt ICU clinicians to overuse (broad-spectrum) antibiotics, particularly when empirical antibiotics do not cover the suspected pathogen. We showed that a PCR-based, culture-independent laboratory assay allows not only accurate diagnosis but also streamlining of antimicrobial therapy for bacterial pneumonia episodes.

Cell scientist to watch – Verena Ruprecht

ABSTRACT Verena Ruprecht received her PhD in Biophysics from the Johannes Kepler University in 2010 for her work on developing single-molecule super-resolution imaging tools in the lab of Gerhard Schütz. Following a research visit in Didier Marguet's lab at the Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML) in France, she moved to the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) in Austria for a postdoc, working jointly with Carl-Philipp Heisenberg and Michael Sixt. There, she discovered a unique amoeboid cell migration mode in early zebrafish embryos, termed stable-bleb migration. Verena started her independent laboratory at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona, Spain, in September 2016. Her group combines genetic and biophysical methods with multi-scale imaging and mathematical modelling to study cellular dynamics in embryo development. In 2020, Verena was selected as an EMBO Young Investigator and in the same year awarded an HFSP Young Investigator Grant for a collaborative project to study the biophysics of zebrafish fertilization.

Mineral composition of bottled water in Northwestern Federal District Russian Federation

Introduction. Urolithiasis is a widespread disease with high the frequency of recurrence. An important preventive measure is an increase in daily urine output. Patients with urolithiasis need to take into account the mineral the composition of the fluid consumed, since it can affect the formation of stones. It is especially important to pay attention to the composition of bottled water purchased in retail chains due to its significant differences. Purpose. Analyze the composition of bottled water sold in retail chains of the Northwestern federal district (NWFD). Conduct a comparative analysis of the compositions carbonated and still water, as well as compare the composition of domestic and European bottled still water. Materials and methods. An independent laboratory determined the mineral composition of 36 samples of bottled water purchased in 2 retail chains of the NWFD. Done сomparison of the compositions of 19 samples of still and 16 samples of carbonated water. Comparison of the compositions of domestic and European non-carbonated bottled water. Results. The data obtained by us on the mineral composition of the purchased water samples corresponded to the indicators declared by the manufacturers. Comparison of carbonated and still water showed no statistically significant differences in the content of calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, sulfates, hydrocarbons. Comparison of the mineral composition of domestic still and European still bottled water showed the presence of statistically significant differences in the content of calcium and hydrocarbonates, which were higher in the water of European manufacturers. Conclusions. The mineral composition of bottled water can vary significantly. It is important for patients with urolithiasis to take into account the mineral composition of the water, which they consume, so it can influence the development of relapse.

An OpenEHR Template with the Integrated German LOINC Terms

An OpenEHR template based on LOINC terms in German language (LOINC-DE) has been created for the structured clinical data capture. The resulting template includes all terms available in LOINC-DE, which can be selected from the drop-down menu for clinical data capture. The template can be used as an independent laboratory form or it can be customized for local needs. This approach presents the possibility to include terminologies in EHR when capturing patient data.

Extensive evaluation via blinded testing of an UHPLC-MS/MS method for quantitation of ten ergot alkaloids in rye and wheat grains

Background Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins produced by the fungus Claviceps, which can contaminate grains and pose a health risk to humans and animals. Validation of an ergot alkaloid method in collaborative projects can be challenging due to instability of analytes, and lack of reliable reference materials and a fully validated reference methods. Objective To extensively evaluate performance of a quantitative UHPLC-MS/MS method to detect ten ergot alkaloids at concentrations between 16–500 ng/g in grains. Method The method performance was evaluated in the Blinded Method Test (BMT) exercise, which allowed organizers to successfully address the challenges. Forty completely blinded test samples were prepared in an independent laboratory and shipped to participating laboratory to analyze on two separate days Results Precision, accuracy and HorRatr values met or exceeded the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendations. The design of the BMT exercise provided a high degree of confidence in data and conclusions drawn. Conclusions The method performed in a manner as expected and the method can be used by the laboratory for routine testing of wheat and rye grains. Highlights Blinded method tests of laboratory methods facilitate validation of tests by evaluating performance in an unbiased manner.

Validation of the Free Fatty Acid Test Kit for the Measurement of the Free Fatty Acid Content of Vegetable Oils, Fish Oils, Animal Fats (Tallows), Meat and Fish Meals, and Potato Chips and Grain-Based Snack Products: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 052004

Background The Official American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Ca 5a-40 method for the determination of free fatty acids is based on titration of an ethanolic solution and requires a large volume of organic solvents, large sample aliquots, and up to 18 hours extraction time for some samples. The SafTest Free Fatty Acid Test Kit is a rapid method designed to measure the free fatty acid content of vegetable oils; fish oil; animal fats (tallows); meat meal and fish meal products; and crackers, chips, and other processed grain-based snack products using micro-analytical and membrane separation principles. Objective The study objective was to validate the SafTest Free Fatty Acid Test in one internal study, two contracted studies, and an independent laboratory study studies. Method Recovery, limit of quantitation, selectivity, robustness, stability, and consistency of the SafTest Free Fatty Acid Test were evaluated. Results Recoveries from control solutions ranged from 97 to 106%. Repeatability (RSDr) from method developer matrix studies ranged from 1.1 to 8.1%. Biases, expressed as a percentage recovery from AOCS Ca 5a-40, averaged 96.5% for olive oils, 94.0% for animal fats, and 103.9% for meat meals. Results observed in the independent laboratory study were similar. Conclusions The SafTest Free Fatty Acid Test can measure free fatty acid levels in oils, fats, meal, and snack matrices with accuracy and precision comparable to AOCS Ca 5a-40. Highlights The SafTest Free Fatty Acid Test Kit has the advantage of using reagent volumes, instrumental analysis, and easy-to-use, standardized procedures with rapid detection times for the determination of free fatty acids.

From Amélie to Terrascope: Creation, Development, Struggle and Re-birth of a Small French Independent Archaeological Laboratory

Created in France in May 2007 by Joseph Kovacik and Sabrina Save, Amélie is a small independent laboratory, staffed and partnered with the best specialists in Europe, providing palaeo-environmental and archaeometric services to the French Archaeology community. During its 13 years of existence, Amélie and its owners have been through many hurdles and run fantastic projects, always trying to be forward-thinking and bring high-level research and academia into commercial archaeology, while ensuring the sustainability of the company. One example of their endeavour to innovate is the theoretical framework and methodology they developed to survey large mechanically-stripped archaeological surfaces with pXRF to investigate human impact on soil chemistry. In February 2018, while the future of Amélie was unclear due to three consecutive years of declining turnover, a short stay in Cambridge as visiting scholars re-focused Joseph and Sabrina, with them deciding to launch a new project: the creation of a new facility dedicated to the production of micromorphological thin sections, Terrascope. Since this Cambridge sabbatical, many exciting projects have emerged and reshaped the future of Amélie, Joseph, and Sabrina. This is their backstory.

Validation of the SafTest Percent Fat for the Measurement of the Fat Content of Meat Meals, Fish Meal, and Potato Chips, Crackers, and Other and Grain-Based Snack Products: AOAC Performance Tested Method SM #082004

Background The Official American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) Standard Procedure Aa 4–38, AOCS Standard Procedure Am 5–04, ISO 11085:2015, and similar methods are based on extraction of fats from food products using organic solvents. These methods require large volumes of organic solvents and up to 18-hour extractions. The SafTest Percent Fat measures fat content as “total triglycerides” in solubilized snack products and meals using micro-analytical and membrane separation principles. Objective The study objective is to validate the SafTest Percent Fat in an internal study and an independent laboratory study. Method Comparability to AOCS Standard Procedure Aa 4–38 or AOCS Standard Procedure Am 5–04, LOQ, selectivity, robustness, stability, and consistency were determined. Results Mean recoveries from replicate analyses of SafTest control samples at three concentrations yielded 101 to 103%. The relative standard deviations of repeatability (RSDr) were below 5%. Studies of meat meals and snacks analyzed using the SafTest Percent Fat demonstrated RSDr of 2.3 to 5.6% compared to 2.6 to 4.9% for AOCS Aa 4–38. The method demonstrated average recoveries ranging from 88.8 to 116.2% compared to the AOCS methods results performed in two contract laboratory studies and an independent laboratory validation. Conclusions The SafTest Percent Fat test can determine fat content in meals and snack matrices with accuracy and precision comparable to results from AOCS Aa 4–38 and AOCS Am 5–04. Highlights The SafTest Percent Fat test uses small reagent volumes, instrumental analysis, easy-to-use standardized procedures, and rapid analysis times for fat content determination.

The HACCP principles as a criterion for the production of food quality and safety

The article is devoted to the generalization of published data, including those published in Product Quality Control, on independent laboratory control of microbiological and physico-chemical indicators of various products and the results of inspection by auditors of a number of small food enterprises. The work was carried out in order to establish the relationship between the correctness of performance of control procedures in production facilities and the quality of their products.