Provision of proficiency test (PT) scheme on proximate and mineral analyses: Philippine experience

Based on ISO Guide 43-1: 1997 and ILAC G-13: 2000 guidelines three (3) proficiency test (PT) Rounds were organized for moisture, fat, protein, ash, iron, calcium and sodium analyses using wheat flour (Round 1), powdered tonic food drink (Round 2) and dried paste shrimp (Round 3) as PT materials. Fifty-three (53), fifty-two (52) and forty-six (46) local and foreign laboratories participated in PT Rounds 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Results were evaluated using the appropriate statistical procedures based on ISO 13528: 2005 and/or IUPAC Technical Report, 2006. The z-scores used to evaluate the performance of participant laboratories were computed, applying the standard deviation for proficiency test assessment (σ_p) derived from the CVs/RSDs of previous PTs and the general expression of Horwitz, while the assigned values (robust mean or mode with uncertainty) were obtained from the consensus of PT participants’ results. For proximate analyses, 65–90% of PT participant laboratories achieved “satisfactory” (|z-score| ≤ 2) performance for the three (3) PT Rounds. For iron and calcium analyses, only 50–70% achieved “satisfactory” performance. The PT test materials’ given assigned values (X) and range (X ± 2σ_p) were used in method validation and as quality control test materials by the local laboratories. The three (3) PT Rounds provided an effective tool in assessing the laboratory performance of proximate and mineral analyses and in conducting the necessary investigative and corrective action on “questionable” (“Q”) and “unsatisfactory” (“U”) results.     

Importance of monitoring zones in the detection of arrhythmias in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators under remote monitoring

Introduction

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) monitoring zones (MZ) provide passive features that do not interfere with the functioning of active treatment zones. However, it is not known for certain whether programming an MZ affects arrhythmia detection by the ICD. The aim of the present study is to assess the clinical relevance of MZ in a population of patients with ICDs.

AHNS Series – Do you know your guidelines? Principles of treatment for glottic cancer: A review of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines

This article is a continuation of the “Do You Know Your Guidelines” series, an initiative of the American Head and Neck Society's Education Committee to increase awareness of current best practices pertaining to head and neck cancer. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for primary and adjuvant treatment of cancer of the glottic larynx are reviewed here in a systematic fashion according to stage.     

Discrimination of Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis IS6110 Fingerprint Subclusters by rpoB Gene Mutation Analysis

The rpoB gene mutations in a 69-bp region of the gene, resulting in resistance to rifampin, were used to discriminate between Mycobacterium tuberculosis IS6110 fingerprint subclusters. These subclusters exhibited identical IS6110 fragments or had one or two additional fragments. In the two major subclusters all the analyzed strains have the same variant rpoB allele but are different from each other, suggesting the occurrence of independent outbreaks.     

里斯本耐多药结核病的爆发：通过限定性片段长度多态性分析发现

背景1996～1997年,里斯本各医院的主要人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)血清阳性的病人中发生的耐性多药结核病(MDR-TB)。目的在里斯本市的几家医院,包括一家监狱医院,发现耐多药结核病(MDR-TB)的传播与爆发流行。设计用限定性片段长度多态性(RFLP)检测耐异烟肼、利福平和其他一种药物的结核分枝杆菌菌株的指纹。结果共43个MDR-TB菌株被分型。HIV阳性病人占67％,HⅣ阴性病人占12％,其他病人的HIV情况未知。大约88％的菌株属于3种基因特征相似的簇,揭示可能是最近的传播。一个主要簇(A簇)的菌株占72％的病例,其中45％的病例来自监狱医院。这些簇的菌株对异烟肼、利福平、链霉素以及有时对乙胺丁醇耐药。对A簇的所有病人进行了回顾性的流行病学调查,以便探讨病例之间的流行病学联系。结论结果表明,最近在里斯本医院的MDR-TB传播,主要发生在HIV阳性病人。此外,主要的MDR-TB簇菌株并非局限于HIV感染的个体,这些菌株在一些有免疫力的病人中也被分离出来。     

Pre-Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing Strain Associated with Disseminated Tuberculosis in a Pet Dog

Resistance to isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin was detected in a Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain, belonging to the Beijing family lineage, isolated from two nodule exudates of a Yorkshire terrier with generalized tuberculosis. This report alerts medical practitioners to the risk of dissemination of pre-multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (preMDR-TB) through exposure to M. tuberculosis-shedding pets.