Microbiology in minimally invasive autopsy: best techniques to detect infection. ESGFOR (ESCMID study group of forensic and post-mortem microbiology) guidelines.

This manuscript aims to: 1) provide specific guidelines on PMM techniques in the setting of minimally invasive autopsy (MIA), both for pathologists collecting samples and for microbiologists advising pathologists and interpreting the results and 2) introduce standardization in PMM sampling at MIA. Post-mortem microbiology (PMM) is crucial to identify the causative organism in deaths due to infection. MIA including the use of post-mortem (PM) computed tomography (CT) and PM magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is increasingly carried out as a complement or replacement for the traditional PM.

Postmortem microbiology sampling following death in hospital: an ESGFOR task force consensus statement.

Postmortem microbiology (PMM) is a valuable tool in the identification of the cause of death and of factors contributory to death where death has been caused by infection. The value of PMM is dependent on careful autopsy planning, appropriate sampling, minimisation of postmortem bacterial translocation and avoidance of sample contamination. Interpretation of PMM results requires careful consideration in light of the clinical history, macroscopic findings and the histological appearances of the tissues.

Clinical, educational, and epidemiological value of autopsy.

The autopsy is now often regarded as of marginal use in modern clinical practice. In this Review we contend that the autopsy remains an important procedure with substantial, if largely underused, potential to advance medical knowledge and improve clinical practice. Many doctors lack familiarity with autopsy practices, and are insufficiently aware of the benefits for not only bereaved families but also present and future patients.

A bite into the history of the autopsy : From ancient roots to modern decay.

The autopsy has had a checkered history, much of which has been surrounded by controversy. The roots of human dissection are found in the ancient world where rumors flourished that the prosectors of the day were engaged in vivisection as well as dissection. Bound up with the prevailing religious and political systems of the day, the autopsy has alternately been prohibited and encouraged, used to explore the nature of disease, and conceal questionable political policy.

The autopsy in modern undergraduate medical education: a qualitative study of uses and curriculum considerations.

Aim: Medical education has undergone dramatic changes over the past decade. In the UK, the General Medical Council (GMC), the driving force behind curriculum reform, now requires curricula to be founded on a base of educational theory and research. This qualitative study investigated the roles of the autopsy within the context of the modern medical curriculum.

Artificial intelligence in predicting bladder cancer outcome: a comparison of neuro-fuzzy modeling and artificial neural networks.

Purpose: New techniques for the prediction of tumor behavior are needed, because statistical analysis has a poor accuracy and is not applicable to the individual. Artificial intelligence (AI) may provide these suitable methods. Whereas artificial neural networks (ANN), the best-studied form of AI, have been used successfully, its hidden networks remain an obstacle to its acceptance.

Differential expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 is related to bladder cancer grade, stage and prognosis but not microsatellite instability.

Defects in the DNA mismatch repair proteins result in microsatellite instability and malignancy in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC). However, the role of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins and microsatellite instability (MSI) in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder is less clear. In our study, the expression of 2 MMR proteins and the frequency of MSI in Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC) were investigated.

Kayser-Fleischer like rings in alcoholic liver disease: a case report.

Kayser-Fleischer rings are brown pigmented rings that run along the periphery of the cornea. Situated in Descemet's membrane and being comprised of granules of deposited copper they have traditionally been thought of as pathognomic of Wilson's disease. However, they can also be seen in other forms of liver disease.

Curriculum or syllabus: which are we reforming?

Although the concept of 'curriculum' is complex, a common understanding of the term by those involved in medical education is essential, given the current climate of medical curriculum development and reform. It has not previously been established that such a common frame of reference exists. We polled a sample of medical educators with a range of teaching experience and responsibility in an attempt to discover what they understood by 'curriculum' (and whether or not the concept could be articulated).