Anxiety, depression, and infertility-specific distress among women with female factor infertility

This study aimed to evaluate whether anxiety, depression, and infertility-specific distress differ among women with female infertility who are trying to conceive and/or seeking infertility treatment. Women with diagnosed female factor infertility in the past 2 years (N = 188) completed demographic questions, and measures of infertility-specific distress, anxiety, and depression. The majority of the sample were actively trying to conceive (78.7%, n = 148) and approximately one third (33.5%, n = 63) were undergoing fertility treatment. Anxiety and depression scores did not differ based on trying to conceive or treatment-seeking, although these subgroups reported higher levels of need for parenthood and rejection of a childfree lifestyle. High levels of mood and anxiety are experienced by women with female infertility. Although infertility-specific distress is experienced more so by women with anxiety and depression, a substantial proportion of those without mental health conditions had high levels of distress, underscoring the need for screening and treatment.

A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can play an important role in tumor growth by creating a tumor-promoting microenvironment. Models to study the role of CAFs in the tumor microenvironment can be helpful for understanding the functional importance of fibroblasts, fibroblasts from different tissues, and specific genetic factors in fibroblasts. Mouse models are essential for understanding the contributors to tumor growth and progression in an in vivo context. Here, a protocol in which cancer cells are mixed with fibroblasts and introduced into mice to develop tumors is provided. Tumor sizes over time and final tumor weights are determined and compared among groups. The protocol described can provide more insight into the functional role of CAFs in tumor growth and progression.

Modification of Enrichment Protocols for TECRA Listeria Visual Immunoassay Method 995.22: Collaborative Study

A collaborative study was conducted to validate new enrichment methods for the TECRA Listeria Visual Immunoassay (TLVIA). These new methods incorporate a newly formulated medium, TECRA Listeria Enrichment Broth, which does not contain the highly toxic antifungal agent, cycloheximide. The new procedures will provide an alternative to the enrichment procedures described in AOAC Method 995.22. Three food types (raw ground beef, lettuce, and ice cream) were analyzed in the United States, and 2 food types (cooked turkey and cooked fish fillets) were analyzed in Australasia. Thirty collaborators participated in the study, 16 in Australasia and 14 in the United States. With the exception of one batch of ground beef, comparison of the proportion of positive test portions (p ≥ 0.05) showed no significant difference between the TLVIA and the reference method for the 5 foods at 3 inoculation levels. For the one batch of naturally contaminated raw ground beef, the TLVIA gave significantly more confirmed positive results than the reference method.

Comparison of the Reveal 20-Hour Method and the BAM Culture Method for the Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Selected Foods and Environmental Swabs: Collaborative Study

Four different food types along with environmental swabs were analyzed by the Reveal for E. coli O157:H7 test (Reveal) and the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) culture method for the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Twenty-seven laboratories representing academia and private industry in the United States and Canada participated. Sample types were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at 2 different levels. Of the 1095 samples and controls analyzed and confirmed, 459 were positive and 557 were negative by both methods. No statistical differences (p <0.05) were observed between the Reveal and BAM methods.

Reveal 8-Hour Test System for Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Raw Ground Beef, Raw Beef Cubes, and Iceberg Lettuce Rinse: Collaborative Study

Five different food types were analyzed by the Reveal for E. coli O157:H7 8-Hour Test System (Reveal 8) and either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) culture method or the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) culture method for the presence of E. coli O157:H7. A total of 27 laboratories representing academia and private industry in the United States and Canada participated. Food types were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at 2 different levels: a high level where predominantly positive results were expected, and a low level where fractional recovery was anticipated. During this study, 1110 samples and controls were analyzed by both the Reveal 8 and by BAM or FSIS by each of the collaborators (2220 samples in total). For each set of samples, 740 were artificially inoculated with E. coli O157:H7, and 370 were uninoculated controls. The Reveal 8 detected 528 presumptive positives of which 487 were confirmed positive by the BAM culture method. In comparison, BAM and FSIS detected 489 of the 740 artificially contaminated samples as positive. In an additional in-house study performed only on chilled and frozen raw ground beef, 240 artificially inoculated samples were analyzed by both the Reveal 8 and by FSIS. The Reveal 8 detected and confirmed 104 samples as positive compared to 79 confirmed positive by FSIS.

Effect of ABO blood group on the collagen-binding assay for von Willebrand factor

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common congenital bleeding disorder and is caused by a quantitative or qualitative abnormality of von Willebrand factor (VWF). Ristocetin cofactor (RCoF) assay is used to evaluate VWF activity, but it does not assess collagen-binding activity. Normal values of RCoF and VWF antigen vary with ABO blood group type. The collagen-binding assay (CBA) measures VWF activity; however, its relationship with ABO blood group has not been completely explored. We performed CBA on plasma samples from 131 healthy volunteers to determine if CBA values correlated with blood type. Individuals with blood group O had a mean CBA value of 94 +/- 28%, which was significantly different from the mean of 117 +/- 33% in persons with non-O blood groups (P = 0.0001). Thus, CBA values appear to correlate with ABO blood type in a manner similar to RCoF.

One approach to patient lifting

In 1990, Canadian hospitals reported 30,487 time-loss injuries. Fifty-three percent were sustained by nurses. Almost half were back injuries. Back injury is now recognized as one of the major reasons for ill-health retirement from nursing. Not only is it the most frequent injury sustained by nurses. It also is the most debilitating.

Utilization of the Corning LARC in a clinical laboratory

The author reports the experience of the central laboratory of the Genesee Hospital with the Larc apparatus. This is a 427 bed hospital and the laboratory does 100 to 350 differential white counts daily. The reproducibility of the Larc differential, the correlation with the results obtained manually, and the utility of the Larc in the central laboratory are discussed.