The title furan-ocoumarin, C14H12O4 [systematic name: 9-hy-droxy-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-2,3-di-hydro-7H-furo[3,2-g]chromen-7-one], crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The two mol-ecules differ essentially in the orientation of the propenyl group with respect to the mean plane of the furan-ocoumarin moiety; the O-C(H)-C=C torsion angle is 122.2 (7)° in mol-...

BACKGROUND Occupational doses from fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures are the highest ones registered among medical staff using x-rays. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the order of magnitude of cancer risk caused by professional radiation exposure in modern invasive cardiology practice. METHODS From the dosimetric Tuscany Health Physics data bank of 2006, we selected do...

BACKGROUND Despite the diversity of proposed theories, researchers are still unable to fully explain dietary compliance behaviours of dialysis patients. Dietary self-efficacy, a concept less studied in dialysis, has been linked to positive compliance outcomes in the chronic illness literature. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to determine how dietary self-efficacy is related to se...

BACKGROUND This paper presents a case study of an automated clinical laboratory in a large urban academic teaching hospital in the North of Italy, the Spedali Civili in Brescia, where four laboratories were merged in a unique laboratory through the introduction of laboratory automation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The analysis compares the preautomation situation and the new setting from a cost per...

BACKGROUND An unexpectedly detected prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) can be a harmless laboratory finding, but can also reflect a thrombotic tendency or a bleeding disorder. The assistance of laboratory professionals in the interpretation of an unexpectedly detected prolonged APTT (uAPTT) is often required. The way in which uAPTTs are evaluated in laboratories was assessed...

The Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) Adverse Incident Reporting Scheme (SHOT Annual Reports, 1996–2008) has consistently reported that 30–40% of ‘wrong blood’ event errors are due to errors originating in the hospital blood transfusion laboratory with a disproportionate number occurring outside ‘core hours’. Evidence collated from two national surveys (Summary of Two National Surveys of UK...

BACKGROUND Internationally-accredited laboratories are recognised for their superior test reliability, operational performance, quality management and competence. In a bid to meet international quality standards, the Mozambique National Institute of Health enrolled the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in a continuous quality improvement process towards ISO 15189 accreditation. ...

As the staff of the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology settle into their new building in Cambridge, its director Hugh Pelham explains the challenges of living up to its prestigious past.

This article describes the precautions which have been introduced into a clinical chemistry laboratory with a view to reducing the risk of infection of staff with the virus of serum hepatitis.