Development, Evaluation, and Multisite Deployment of a Machine Learning Decision Tree Algorithm To Optimize Urinalysis Parameters for Predicting Urine Culture Positivity.

PittUDT, a recursive partitioning decision tree algorithm for predicting urine culture (UC) positivity based on macroscopic and microscopic urinalysis (UA) parameters, was developed in support of a broader system-wide diagnostic stewardship initiative to increase appropriateness of UC testing. Reflex algorithm training utilized results from 19,511 paired UA and UC cases (26.8% UC positive); the average patient age was 57.

Neurologic immune-related adverse events associated with adjuvant ipilimumab: report of two cases.

Background: PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors are associated with several adverse events including a spectrum of immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). Neurologic irAEs are uncommon occurrences with varied presentations. We describe two separate cases of ipilimumab associated meningoencephalomyelitis and demyelinating polyneuropathy with unusual presentations.

Validating whole slide imaging for diagnostic purposes in pathology: guideline from the College of American Pathologists Pathology and Laboratory Quality Center.

Context: There is increasing interest in using whole slide imaging (WSI) for diagnostic purposes (primary and/or consultation). An important consideration is whether WSI can safely replace conventional light microscopy as the method by which pathologists review histologic sections, cytology slides, and/or hematology slides to render diagnoses. Validation of WSI is crucial to ensure that diagnostic performance based on digitized slides is at least equivalent to that of glass slides and light microscopy.

Experience with multimodality telepathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Several modes of telepathology exist including static (store-and-forward), dynamic (live video streaming or robotic microscopy), and hybrid technology involving whole slide imaging (WSI). Telepathology has been employed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) for over a decade at local, national, and international sites. All modes of telepathology have been successfully utilized to exploit our institutions subspecialty expertise and to compete for pathology services.

Experience with CellaVision DM96 for peripheral blood differentials in a large multi-center academic hospital system.

Context And Aims: Rapid, accurate peripheral blood differentials are essential to maintain standards of patient care. CellaVision DM96 (CellaVision AB, Lund, Sweden) (CV) is an automated digital morphology and informatics system used to locate, pre-classify, store and transmit images of platelets, red and white blood cells to a trained technologist who confirms or edits CV cell classification. We assessed our experience with CV by evaluating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for CV in three different patient populations.