A model for design and implementation of a laboratory information management system specific to molecular pathology laboratory operations

Posted on May 3, 2022 By LabLynx Journal articles

In this 2022 paper published in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, the Molecular Pathology Section of Cleveland Clinic describes its collaboration with Semaphore Solutions in order to customize a laboratory information management system and other tools to meet the needs of Cleveland Clinic's molecular pathology department. The authors first describe their goals, technology approach, and software approach within the framework of project development and management, including validation steps. They then provide details about how their implementation affected their work. They conclude that "a significant amount of customized software engineering" was required to get a system that met their needs, as was a Scrum-based development approach, "which may be emulated for scalable and cost-effective laboratory-authored software." They also add that "[a]n important lesson learned in executing the LIMS project was the concept of a minimally viable product (MVP)."

DigiPatICS: Digital pathology transformation of the Catalan Health Institute network of eight hospitals – Planning, implementation, and preliminary results

Posted on April 26, 2022 By LabLynx Journal articles

In this 2022 paper published in the journal Diagnostics, Temprana-Salvado et al. of the Catalan Health Institute present the initial results of their DigiPatICS program, implemented across eight hospitals in the network. DigiPatICS, a digital pathology implementation initiative, was initiated "to increase patient safety and quality of care, improving diagnosis and the efficiency of processes in pathological anatomy departments of the ICS using digital pathology and AI tools." However, it was not a straightforward process, requiring significant planning, After describing their planning steps, the project scope, and tender process, the authors describe multiple aspects of their approach, including the instruments, hardware, software, laboratory information system (LIS), networking, data centers, imaging standards, and AI components. After discussing the results of their implementation, the authors concluded though "[t]he digital transformation of a pathology department represented a technological, organizational, and functional challenge ... [it] provided an effective and safe diagnostic tool with clear benefits for diagnosis quality and patient safety."

Cannabis sativa research trends, challenges, and new-age perspectives

Posted on April 19, 2022 By LabLynx Journal articles

In this 2021 journal article published in iScience, Hussain et al. of TU Dortmund University review more than two centuries of cannabis research and discuss its transition from herbal medicine to illegal drug, and back again. After a brief introduction, the authors lay out their review first by examining research trends dating back to 1783 and then discussing the modern understanding of Cannabis sativa L. in the scope of physiology and legal status. The authors then look at the genomic and transcriptomic analyses of the Cannabis plant and where that is pushing research and laboratory analysis. They also discuss therapeutic potentials revealed during COVID-19, as well as how some cannabis research has led to issues in the realm of patenting. They conclude that as research and testing trends continue to advance (e.g., as with AI-based genetic and molecular analysis), it will be "possible to obtain enhanced expression rates, which will lead to enhanced cannabinoid yields in an economically feasible manner," and pharmacological research advances will likely further highlight the "tremendous potential in drug discovery."