RESUMO
Culicidae colonization in laboratory is paramount to conduct studies aiming at a better understanding of mosquitoes' capacity to transmit pathogens that cause deadly diseases. Colonization requires female blood feeding, a necessary step for maturation of female's oocytes. Direct blood feeding on anesthetized mammals implies in a number of disadvantages when compared to artificial blood feeding. Consequently, laboratories worldwide have been trying to -feed female mosquitoes artificially in order to replace direct feeding. In this study, we compared the effects of direct blood feeding and artificial blood feeding on important life traits of three Culicidae species. Artificial feeding was performed using citrated or defibrinated sheep blood and citrated or defibrinated rabbit blood. Direct feeding was performed using anesthetized guinea pigs as the blood source and the experiment control. Results indicated that artificial feeding using sheep blood was not good enough to justify its use in the maintenance of laboratory colonies of Culicidae. However, artificial feeding using rabbit blood maintained a recovery rate always very close to the control, especially when blood was citrated. We concluded that artificial feeding using citrated rabbit blood can substitute direct feeding on mammals reducing the use of animals, eliminating the need to maintain a bioterium in the laboratory and reducing costs in scientific researches involving Culicidae vectors.
Assuntos
Aedes/fisiologia , Anopheles/fisiologia , Substitutos Sanguíneos , Culex/fisiologia , Comportamento Alimentar/fisiologia , Métodos de Alimentação , Laboratórios , Animais , Substitutos Sanguíneos/economia , Culicidae/fisiologia , Métodos de Alimentação/economia , Feminino , Cobaias , Laboratórios/economia , Oviposição , Coelhos , OvinosAssuntos
Orçamentos/legislação & jurisprudência , Governo Federal , Pesquisadores/economia , Apoio à Pesquisa como Assunto/economia , Apoio à Pesquisa como Assunto/legislação & jurisprudência , Pesquisa/economia , Academias e Institutos/economia , Brasil , Organização do Financiamento/legislação & jurisprudência , Organização do Financiamento/organização & administração , Laboratórios/economia , Pesquisa/legislação & jurisprudência , Síncrotrons/economiaRESUMO
Cell and developmental processes are complex, and profoundly dependent on spatial relationships that change over time. Innovative educational or teaching strategies are always needed to foster deep comprehension of these processes and their dynamic features. However, laboratory exercises in cell and developmental biology at the undergraduate level do not often take into account the time dimension. In this article, we provide a laboratory exercise focused in cell migration, aiming to stimulate thinking in time and space dimensions through a simplification of more complex processes occurring in cell or developmental biology. The use of open-source tools for the analysis, as well as the whole package of raw results (available at http://github.com/danielprieto/keratocyte) make it suitable for its implementation in courses with very diverse budgets. Aiming to facilitate the student's transition from science-students to science-practitioners we propose an exercise of scientific thinking, and an evaluation method. This in turn is communicated here to facilitate the finding of common caveats and weaknesses in the process of producing simple scientific communications describing the results achieved. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(6):475-482, 2017.
Assuntos
Escamas de Animais/citologia , Movimento Celular , Ceratócitos da Córnea/citologia , Biologia do Desenvolvimento/educação , Avaliação Educacional , Peixes , Laboratórios/economia , Animais , Técnicas de Cultura de Células/economiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An assessment was performed of the quality of Pap readings in 19 cytology laboratories (CLs) in Mexico from the Cervical Cancer Screening Program. METHODS: Nine CLs were affiliated with the Health Ministry (SSA), and ten were affiliated with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Two sets of 200 cervical cytology specimens were prepared, one set for each institution. Fourteen percent of the specimens were positive and six were inappropriate for diagnosis (3%). All cervical cytology specimens were processed in the cytopathology laboratory at the General Hospital of Mexico, and histopathology was available for each positive case. RESULTS: Thirty percent of the SSA reading centers had a sensitivity of at least 80%; however, not one of the ten IMSS laboratories evaluated reached this figure. Some reading centers had a sensitivity <65%, meaning that nearly half of the specimens with a cytology consistent with cervical neoplasm were not identified. DISCUSSION: Given these results, it is a priority to effect a paradigm shift combining various screening tests to improve adherence to standards and enhanced cost-effectiveness of the early detection of cervicouterine cancer (CC) in Mexico.
Assuntos
Teste de Papanicolaou/normas , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/diagnóstico , Esfregaço Vaginal/normas , Serviços de Laboratório Clínico/economia , Serviços de Laboratório Clínico/normas , Análise Custo-Benefício , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/economia , Detecção Precoce de Câncer/normas , Feminino , Humanos , Laboratórios/economia , Laboratórios/normas , México , Teste de Papanicolaou/economia , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/economia , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/prevenção & controle , Esfregaço Vaginal/economiaRESUMO
OBJETIVO: Elaborar indicadores de desempenho e terceirização em rede de laboratórios clínicos, baseados em sistemas de informações e registros administrativos públicos. MÉTODOS: A rede tinha 33 laboratórios com equipamentos automatizados, mas sem informatização, 90 postos de coleta e 983 funcionários, no município de Rio de Janeiro, RJ. As informações foram obtidas de registros administrativos do Sistema de Informações de Orçamentos Públicos para a Saúde e do Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais e Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde. Os indicadores (produção, produtividade, utilização e custos) foram elaborados com dados colhidos como rotina de 2006 a 2008. As variações da produção, custos e preços unitários dos testes no período foram analisadas por índices de Laspeyres e de Paasche, específicos para medir a atividade dos laboratórios, e pelo Índice de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. RESULTADOS: A produção foi de 10.359.111 testes em 2008 (aumento de 10,6% em relação a 2006) e a relação testes/funcionário cresceu 8,6%. As despesas com insumos, salários e prestador conveniado aumentaram, respectivamente 2,3%, 45,4% e 18,3%. Os testes laboratoriais por consulta e internação cresceram 10% e 20%. Os custos diretos totalizaram R$ 63,2 milhões em 2008, com aumento de 22,2% em valores correntes no período. Os custos diretos deflacionados pelo Índice de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo (9,5% para o período) mostram aumento do volume da produção de 11,6%. O índice de volume específico para a atividade, que considera as variações do mix de testes, mostrou aumento de 18,5% no preço unitário do teste e de 3,1% no volume da produção. CONCLUSÕES: Os indicadores, em especial os índices específicos de volume e preços da atividade, constituem uma linha de base de desempenho potencial para acompanhar laboratórios próprios e terceirizados. Os indicadores de desempenho econômicos elaborados mostram a necessidade de informatização da rede, antecedendo a decisão de terceirização.
OBJECTIVE: To develop performance indicators for outsourcing clinical laboratory services, based on information systems and public administrative records. METHODS: In the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Southern Brazil, the public health laboratory network comprised 33 laboratories with automated equipment (but no integrated information system), 90 primary care units (where sample collection was performed) and 983 employees. Information records were obtained from the administrative records of the Budget Information System for Public Health and the Outpatient and Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System. Performance indicators (production, productivity, usage and costs) were generated from data collected routinely from 2006 to 2008. The variations in production, costs and unit prices for tests were analyzed by Laspeyres and Paasche indices, which specifically measure laboratory activity, and by the Consumer Price Index from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 10,359,111 tests were performed in 2008 (10.6% increase over 2006), and the test/employee ratio grew by 8.6%. The costs of supplies, wages and providers increased by 2.3%, 45.4% and 18.3%, respectively. The laboratory tests per visit and hospitalizations increased by 10% and 20%, respectively. The direct costs totaled R$ 63.2 million in 2008, representing an increase of 22.2% in current values during the period analyzed. The direct costs deflated by the Brazilian National Consumer Price Index (9.5% for the period) showed an 11.6% increase in production volumes. The activity-specific volume index, which considers changes in the mix of tests, showed increases of 18.5% in the test price and 3.1% in the production volume. CONCLUSIONS: The performance indicators, particularly the specific indices for volume and price of activity, constitute a baseline of performance potential for monitoring private laboratories and contractors. The economic performance indicators demonstrated the need for network information system integration prior to an outsourcing decision.
Assuntos
Humanos , Laboratórios/economia , Serviços Terceirizados/economia , Indicadores de Qualidade em Assistência à Saúde , Brasil , Tomada de Decisões , Laboratórios/organização & administração , Laboratórios/normas , Serviços Terceirizados/organização & administração , Serviços Terceirizados/normasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Data on the cocaine market appear inconsistent, as they tend to show declining prices vis-a-vis steady or increasing demand and a declining supply. This paper proposes an explanation for this trend by providing evidence of an under-estimation of the supply of cocaine. METHODS: We propose a conservative estimate of cocaine production in Colombia for 2008, using data based on all reported seizures from 328 laboratories made by the counteracting organisations operating within the Colombian territory. RESULTS: Our conservative estimate of 935 tons from the seized laboratories is at least twice the estimate declared in official statistics of 295-450 tons. We are careful to keep all variables to their minimum boundary values. Our methodology could prove to be a useful tool, especially if used in parallel with the standard tools. Moreover, its characteristics (affordability, ease of use and potential for worldwide adoption) make it a powerful instrument to counteract cocaine production.
Assuntos
Cocaína/economia , Comércio/economia , Crime/economia , Controle de Medicamentos e Entorpecentes , Drogas Ilícitas/economia , Laboratórios/economia , Aplicação da Lei , Política Pública , Cocaína/síntese química , Cocaína/provisão & distribuição , Colômbia , Comércio/legislação & jurisprudência , Simulação por Computador , Crime/legislação & jurisprudência , Crime/prevenção & controle , Controle de Medicamentos e Entorpecentes/legislação & jurisprudência , Regulamentação Governamental , Humanos , Drogas Ilícitas/síntese química , Drogas Ilícitas/legislação & jurisprudência , Drogas Ilícitas/provisão & distribuição , Laboratórios/legislação & jurisprudência , Modelos Econométricos , Política Pública/economia , Política Pública/legislação & jurisprudência , Análise de Regressão , Fatores de Tempo , Meios de Transporte/economiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To develop performance indicators for outsourcing clinical laboratory services, based on information systems and public administrative records. METHODS: In the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Southern Brazil, the public health laboratory network comprised 33 laboratories with automated equipment (but no integrated information system), 90 primary care units (where sample collection was performed) and 983 employees. Information records were obtained from the administrative records of the Budget Information System for Public Health and the Outpatient and Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System. Performance indicators (production, productivity, usage and costs) were generated from data collected routinely from 2006 to 2008. The variations in production, costs and unit prices for tests were analyzed by Laspeyres and Paasche indices, which specifically measure laboratory activity, and by the Consumer Price Index from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. RESULTS: A total of 10,359,111 tests were performed in 2008 (10.6% increase over 2006), and the test/employee ratio grew by 8.6%. The costs of supplies, wages and providers increased by 2.3%, 45.4% and 18.3%, respectively. The laboratory tests per visit and hospitalizations increased by 10% and 20%, respectively. The direct costs totaled R$ 63.2 million in 2008, representing an increase of 22.2% in current values during the period analyzed. The direct costs deflated by the Brazilian National Consumer Price Index (9.5% for the period) showed an 11.6% increase in production volumes. The activity-specific volume index, which considers changes in the mix of tests, showed increases of 18.5% in the test price and 3.1% in the production volume. CONCLUSIONS: The performance indicators, particularly the specific indices for volume and price of activity, constitute a baseline of performance potential for monitoring private laboratories and contractors. The economic performance indicators demonstrated the need for network information system integration prior to an outsourcing decision.
Assuntos
Laboratórios/economia , Serviços Terceirizados/economia , Indicadores de Qualidade em Assistência à Saúde , Brasil , Tomada de Decisões , Humanos , Laboratórios/organização & administração , Laboratórios/normas , Serviços Terceirizados/organização & administração , Serviços Terceirizados/normasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: HIV viral load testing as a component of antiretroviral therapy monitoring is costly. Understanding the full costs and the major sources of inefficiency associated with viral load testing is critical for optimizing the systems and technologies that support the testing process. The objective of our study was to estimate the costs associated with viral load testing performed for antiretroviral therapy monitoring to both patients and the public healthcare system in a low-HIV prevalence, low-resource country. METHODS: A detailed cost analysis was performed to understand the costs involved in each step of performing a viral load test in Nicaragua, from initial specimen collection to communication of the test results to each patient's healthcare provider. Data were compiled and cross referenced from multiple information sources: laboratory records, regional surveillance centre records, and scheduled interviews with the key healthcare providers responsible for HIV patient care in five regions of the country. RESULTS: The total average cost of performing a viral load test in Nicaragua varied by region, ranging from US$99.01 to US$124.58, the majority of which was at the laboratory level: $88.73 to $97.15 per specimen, depending on batch size. The average cost to clinics at which specimens were collected ranged from $3.31 to $20.92, depending on the region. The average cost per patient for transportation, food, lodging and lost income ranged from $3.70 to $14.93. CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative viral load test remains the single most expensive component of the process. For the patient, the distance of his or her residence from the specimen collection site is a large determinant of cost. Importantly, the efficiency of results reporting has a large impact on the cost per result delivered to the clinician and utility of the result for patient monitoring. Detailed cost analysis can identify opportunities for removing barriers to effective antiretroviral therapy monitoring programmes in limited-resource countries with low HIV prevalence.