Roles of the C-terminal domains of topoisomerase IIα and topoisomerase IIβ in regulation of the decatenation checkpoint.

Topoisomerase (topo) IIα and IIβ maintain genome stability and are targets for anti-tumor drugs. In this study, we demonstrate that the decatenation checkpoint is regulated, not only by topo IIα, as previously reported, but also by topo IIβ. The decatenation checkpoint is most efficient when both isoforms are present.

Accreditation of Individualized Quality Control Plans by the College of American Pathologists.

The Laboratory Accreditation Program of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) began in 2015 to allow accredited laboratories to devise their own strategies for quality control of laboratory testing. Participants now have the option to implement individualized quality control plans (IQCPs). Only nonwaived testing that features an internal control (built-in, electronic, or procedural) is eligible for IQCP accreditation.

College of American Pathologists' laboratory standards for next-generation sequencing clinical tests.

Context: The higher throughput and lower per-base cost of next-generation sequencing (NGS) as compared to Sanger sequencing has led to its rapid adoption in clinical testing. The number of laboratories offering NGS-based tests has also grown considerably in the past few years, despite the fact that specific Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988/College of American Pathologists (CAP) laboratory standards had not yet been developed to regulate this technology.

Objective: To develop a checklist for clinical testing using NGS technology that sets standards for the analytic wet bench process and for bioinformatics or "dry bench" analyses.

Blood storage duration and biochemical recurrence of cancer after radical prostatectomy.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that perioperative transfusion of allogeneic and autologous red blood cells (RBCs) stored for a prolonged period speeds biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer after prostatectomy.

Patients And Methods: We evaluated biochemical prostate cancer recurrence in men who had undergone radical prostatectomy and perioperative blood transfusions from July 6, 1998, through December 27, 2007. Those who received allogeneic blood transfusions were assigned to nonoverlapping "younger," "middle," and "older" RBC storage duration groups.

Prognosticators in thigh soft tissue sarcomas.

Background: In sarcoma patients the roles of smoking history, family cancer history, and leukoreduced blood transfusions have not been studied and the effect of preoperative radiation on blood loss has not been examined.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients with non-metastatic and non-recurrent thigh sarcomas surgically treated at the Cleveland Clinic were identified. Among patient variables studied were: close family history of cancer, perioperative transfusion history, smoking history, and radiation history.

Laboratory standardization from the patient's point of view.

Optimal patient care is best defined in terms of outcome. Reliable laboratory test results are important to patient safety. The laboratory must use the tools available to it to minimize the uncertainty of measurement.

Duration of red-cell storage and complications after cardiac surgery.

Background: Stored red cells undergo progressive structural and functional changes over time. We tested the hypothesis that serious complications and mortality after cardiac surgery are increased when transfused red cells are stored for more than 2 weeks.

Methods: We examined data from patients given red-cell transfusions during coronary-artery bypass grafting, heart-valve surgery, or both between June 30, 1998, and January 30, 2006.

Frequencies and characterization of cytogenetically unrelated clones in various hematologic malignancies: seven years of experiences in a single institution.

Cytogenetically unrelated clones are uncommon findings in hematologic disorders. In the present study, among the 1,110 various hematologic malignancies analyzed during the past seven years, 27 (2.4%) patients had karyotypically unrelated clones: 3.

Detection and correction of systematic laboratory problems by analysis of clustered proficiency testing failures.

Context: The Laboratory Accreditation Program of the College of American Pathologists monitors the performance of its subscribers in proficiency testing (PT). Failure to perform as expected prompts the program to query the laboratory.

Objective: To determine whether laboratories are correcting apparent problems when contacted by the program about repeatedly unacceptable performance in a diagnostic test.

The cost of patient safety.

To ensure patient safety, it costs an organization time, money, and commitment. The clinical laboratory may promote patient safety or may contribute to medical error. Laboratory errors put a patient at risk at any point along the path of workflow.

A case of fatal West Nile virus meningoencephalitis associated with receipt of blood transfusions after open heart surgery.

First identified in the United States in 1999, West Nile virus caused approximately 3,500 infections in the late summer and fall of 2002. The virus is predominantly transmitted by mosquitoes, and the risk of infection through blood product transfusion is believed to be low. We present a case of West Nile virus encephalitis transmitted by red blood cell transfusion at the time of coronary artery bypass grafting that resulted in the patient's death.

A pulmonary syndrome in patients with acute myelomonocytic leukemia and inversion of chromosome 16.

Different subtypes of acute myelogenous leukemia have distinct clinical presentations and courses. The specific clinical and molecular aspects of these leukemias have helped modify and create specific strategies for their management. We observed an increased incidence of pulmonary complications in patients with acute myelomonocytic leukemias (AMML) with inversion of chromosome 16 [inv(16)] irrespective of the presence of hyperleukocytosis.

Allergic transfusion reactions: an evaluation of 273 consecutive reactions.

Context: Allergic reaction to transfusion is common. However, the review of a large series of allergic transfusion reactions has not been performed.

Objective: To review a large series of allergic transfusion reactions.

Biclonal chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is well characterized clinically and immunophenotypically. Demonstration of a monotypic CD19+, CD5+ B-cell population is central to the diagnosis. We report 2 cases of biclonal CLL.

A multicenter investigation with D-FISH BCR/ABL1 probes.

Twenty-eight laboratories evaluated a new fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) strategy for chronic myeloid leukemia. In a three-part study, bcr/abl1 D-FISH probes were used to study bone marrow specimens. First, laboratories familiarized themselves with the strategy by applying it to known normal and abnormal specimens.

An optimized strategy for choosing the number of platelet concentrates to pool.

Context: The number of platelet concentrates (PCs) pooled per dose varies widely. The number should be based on quality control statistics.

Objective: To determine the optimal number of PCs per pool that will achieve a target dose.

A multicenter investigation with interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization using X- and Y-chromosome probes.

Twenty-six laboratories used X and Y chromosome probes and the same procedures to process and examine 15,600 metaphases and 49,400 interphases from Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes. In Part I, each laboratory scored 50 metaphases and 200 interphases from a normal male and a normal female from its own practice. In Part II, each laboratory scored 50 metaphases and 200 interphases on slides prepared by a central laboratory from a normal male and a normal female and three mixtures of cells from the male and female.

Characterization of the breakpoints in a t(8;13)(p11;q12) translocation from a patient with myeloproliferative disease using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to characterize the molecular position of the breakpoints in a t(8;13)(p11;q12) reciprocal translocation from a patient with an atypical myeloproliferative disorder. This structural chromosome abnormality is characteristic of this specific disease and occurs often as the only chromosome abnormality in the malignant cells. Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) analysis has demonstrated that the 8p11 breakpoint lies within a region defined by YAC 959A4 and that the 13q12 breakpoint is spanned by YAC 769F9.

Comparative analysis of interphase FISH and RT-PCR to detect bcr-abl translocation in chronic myelogenous leukemia and related disorders.

The t(9;22)(q34;q1 1) between the abl and bcr genes plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Its detection is routinely accomplished by Southern blot analysis and karyotyping. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) are emerging molecular techniques that offer viable alternatives.

An evaluation of the need for shared blood donor deferral registries.

Objective: This study examined the frequency with which allogeneic, volunteer blood donors who had been deferred from donation at one blood collection facility donated, or attempted to donate, at a second blood collection facility.

Methods: The blood donor computer files of two local blood collection facilities were-combined and matched donors on the donor deferral registry of each blood collection facility were identified.

Results: Of 26,300 donors in the hospital-based blood bank file, 6732 (25.

Platelet transfusion therapy for medical and surgical patients.

Platelet transfusions have become more common as more patients undergo bone marrow transplantation and aggressive chemotherapy for malignant diseases. This paper reviews the indications for platelet transfusions and the factors that can decrease their effectiveness.

Acquisition of doxorubicin resistance in human leukemia HL-60 cells is reproducibly associated with 7q21 chromosomal anomalies.

Tumor cell resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) is usually associated with the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (PGP) in model systems. We have characterized the karyotypic changes in two sublines of HL-60 cells which differ in the induction of differentiation by retinoic acid. The parental sublines, designated HL-60A/S and HL-60Y/S, were selected in increasing concentrations of 0.

Current issues of personnel and laboratory practices in genetic testing.

As genetic testing is an area with implications extending far beyond that of the primary patient, it is appropriately an area that is under increased scrutiny. To ensure that high quality is maintained in the delivery of genetic services, several agencies have developed standards and guidelines. The present article summarises important recommendations made by the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG), the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the US Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as they relate to genetic testing.