Gourt > Health > Medicine > Medical Specialties > Pathology (10)
Pathology (from Greek pathos, feeling, pain, suffering; and logos, study of; see also -ology) is the study of the processes underlying disease and other forms of illness, harmful abnormality, or dysfunction. Within biology but also a branch of medicine, it means specifically the study and diagnosis of the structural and functional changes in cells, tissues and organs that underlie disease. Pathology as a field of knowledge hence forms the basis of the scientific reasoning behind the practice of medicine.
Scope of pathology
The primary goal of pathology is the study of the four main aspects of a disease:
- Etiology: what causes the disease
- Pathogenesis: the mechanism by which a certain etiological factor causes disease
- Morphologic changes: the structural changes induced in the cells, tissues and organs
- Clinical significance: the functional consequences of the morphologic changes
Pathologists' work
Pathologists are physicians whose residency varies from 3-4 years followed by fellowship training for most. Because the public rarely meets pathologists, their work is not well understood. Pathology is a large and diverse field that allows a pathologist to participate in multiple areas of the field or focus their scope to a specific area. Essential to everyday surgeries, pathologists are responsible for processing and reporting on all specimens generated during a given surgery. Tissue samples are taken from the submitted specimens, stained, and processed for microscopic evaluation. Microscopic examination searches for disease of any type and this information is returned to the surgeon via a pathology report. Pathologists are also responsible for laboratory specimens. They, along with medical technologists, process specimens at medical laboratories for interpretations. In other words, patients should know that what their doctor calls a "laboratory result" is not a number generated by a black box. Instead, it is the interpretation of the value by a pathologist or a technologist. It is also important to understand that a different laboratory might produce a different value on the same specimen. Pathologists are also called upon to perform autopsies. Autopsies represent less than 5% of the workload of a typical modern pathologist. There exists a subspecialty in pathology that allows for the training of medical examiners who wish to pursue forensics. More on [ Pathology ]
Call for Information :: North Dakota :: Inhouse Physician Recruiters Network
The In-House Physician Recruiter Network, composed of over 500 hospital recruiters, represents over 10,000 hospitals and clinics. Our Network's special feature is to showcase outstanding physicians (who
Not Disclosed :: Texas :: Locum Medical Group
A healthcare organization located in Texas is looking for a Board Certified or Board Eligible Dermatopathologist. You will be responsible for providing diagnostics expertise and clinical analysis on specimens.
Statewide :: Virginia :: The Doctor Job
Looking for a job in a big city? Even if you've heard that a market is "saturated", we can help! Many job openings for physicians may be hidden and unavailable unless you know where to look. An excellent
Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials - Latest Articles
Microbiological evaluation of the efficacy of two new biodetergents on multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens
Giorgio LiguoriMaria BagattiniFrancesca GalleValeria QuartucciValeria Di OnofrioMario NegroneMaria Triassi Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0000
Background: In the last few years, several outbreaks of nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogenic agents have been observed, and various biocides products were developed in order to control this phenomenon. We investigated the efficacy of two natural biodetergents composed of plants and kelps extracts, BATT1 and BATT2, against multidrug-resistant strains. Methods: In-vitro antibacterial efficacy of BATT1 and BATT2 against nosocomial multidrug-resistant isolates was assessed using a suspension-inhibition test, with and without bovine serum albumin (BSA). The test was also carried out on glass surfaces with and without BSA. Results: In vitro tests with both biocidal disinfectants at 25% concentration demonstrated an overall drop in bacterial, mould and yeast counts after 10 min of contact with or without organic substances. For Pseudomonas aeruginosa, it was necessary to use undiluted disinfectants with and without an organic substance. The same results were obtained in tests carried out on glass surfaces for all strains. Conclusions: The natural products BATT1 and BATT2 behave like good biocides even in presence of organic substances. The use of both disinfectants may be beneficial for reducing hospital-acquired pathogens that are not susceptible to disinfectants.However, it has to be stressed that all these experiments were carried out in vitro and they still require validation from use in clinical practice.
The occurrence of antimicrobial resistance and class 1 integrons among commensal Escherichia coli isolates from infants and elderly persons
Epp SeppJelena StsepetovaKrista LoivukeneKai TruusaluSiiri KoljalgPaul NaaberMarika Mikelsaar Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0000
Background: The aim of our study was to compare the presence of the intI1 gene and its associations with the antibiotic resistance of commensal Escherichia coli strains in children with/without previous antibiotic treatments and elderly hospitalized/healthy individuals. Methods: One-hundred-and-fifteen intestinal E. coli strains were analyzed: 30 strains from 10 antibiotic-naive infants; 27 from 9 antibiotic-treated outpatient infants; 30 from 9 healthy elderly volunteers; and 28 from 9 hospitalized elderly patients. The MIC values of ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole were measured by E-test and IntI1 was detected by PCR. Results: Out of the 115 strains, 56 (49%) carried class 1 integron genes. Comparing persons without medical interventions, we found in antibiotic-naive children a significantly higher frequency of integron-bearing strains and MIC values than in healthy elderly persons (53% versus 17%; p < 0.01). Evaluating medical interventions, we found a higher resistance and frequency of integrons in strains from hospitalized elderly persons compared with non-hospitalized ones. Children treated with antibiotics had strains with higher MIC values (when compared with antibiotic-naive ones), but the integron-bearing in strains was similar. In most cases, the differences in resistance between the groups (integron-positive and negative strains separately) were higher than the differences between integron-positive and negative strains within the groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of integrons in commensal E. coli strains in persons without previous medical intervention depended on age. The resistance of integron-carrying and non-carrying strains is more dependent on influencing factors (hospitalization and antibiotic administration) in particular groups than merely the presence or absence of integrons.
Genetic commonality of macrolide-resistant group A beta hemolytic streptococcus pharyngeal strains
Angela MyersMary Anne JacksonRangaraj SelvaranganRichard GoeringChristopher Harrison Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0000
Background: Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS) pharyngitis is a common childhood illness. Penicillin remains the gold standard therapy, but macrolides are indicated for the penicillin allergic patient, and are often used for convenience. Methods: We conducted a surveillance study of children with pharyngitis and positive streptococcal rapid antigen testing from 10/05 to 10/06 at 2 sites (A & B). Demographics, treatment, and resistance data was collected and compared to previous data from 2002. Erythromycin (EM) resistance was determined by disk diffusion and E-test on 500 isolates. Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed to measure genetic relatedness of isolates. StatXact version 8 software (Cytel Inc., Cambridge, MA) was utilized to perform Fisher's exact test and exact confidence interval (CI) analysis. Results: There were no differences in resistance rates or demographic features, with the exception of race, between sites A & B. EM resistance was 0 in 2002, 3.5% in 2005-06 at site A, and 4.5% in 2005-06 at site B. 3/7 and 3/9 had inducible resistance at A and B respectively. 8 isolates had relatedness ≥80%, 5 of which were 88% homologous on PFGE. Conclusion: Community macrolide resistance has increased following increased macrolide use. These results may have treatment implications if use continues to be high.
What is Pathology ? - A consumer guide, including how to understand a pathology report and the process undertaken to reach a diagnosis.
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology - An agency of the United States Department of Defense offering consultation, education and research. Details of services and resources, and a list of publications.
Atlas of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Images of diseased tissue throughout the tract, including tumours, ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.
Atlas of Neuro-Oncology - Images of central nervous system tumours are grouped both alphabetically and according to World Health Organisation grading.
Meta Description: [ ANOCEF's Atlas of Neuro-Oncology ]
Fibroblast Biology and Pathology at BioBitField - Information on research into the causes and treatment of fibrosis and scleroderma.
Indiana University : Pathology Education Resources - All main branches are covered in a library of photomicrographs and descriptions.
Meta Description: [
PerlJam is the product of the Pathology Education Resources Laboratory
of the Department of Pathology at Indiana University School of Medicine.
The site is intended to provide instructional support for medical and graduate
students studying Histology and Pathology. Student evaluated links are ... ]
International Symposium on Comparative Pathology - An annual event under the auspices of the European Society of Pathology and the Academy of Medical Sciences of Croatia. Details of the next meeting and photographs of previous ones.
Museum of Human Disease - The University of New South Wales ( Australia ) presents interactive images of many pathological processes.
Meta Description: [ The Museum of Human Disease is located within the Department of Pathology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The Museum contains over 2,700 specimens of diseased human tissue. Selected images of these specimens have been hotspotted to allow inter... ]
Nephropathology Biopsy Cases - Each includes a clinical history, photomicrographs, pathologic diagnosis, and discussion.
Online Interactive Pathology Laboratory - Offers an interactive, case-based approach to learning.
PathMax - This library contains articles and images relating to all branches, including cytopathology, forensic and molecular pathology.
Meta Description: [ PathMax is the premiere pathologist-created WWW metaindex of sites pertinent to pathology education. PathMax is indexed by topic and constantly updated and reviewed by pathology professionals. ]
Pathology jobs - Pathology jobs are listed at Physician Employment. You may register to be
automatically updated when new jobs are listed.
Pathology Jobs - Physician jobs for all specialties throughout North America.
Pathology Quiz Online - Presents a series of illustrated case histories.
Pathologynet - Pathology/laboratory news from various sources, a conference calendar and links.
Meta Description: [ An interactive information center about pathology and medical laboratory. Provides pathology news, numerous links (including employment, conference & industry), forum, polls, quiz and a career guide. ]
PathWeb - Virtual pathology museum - by the Pathology Department of the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Meta Description: [ the Virtual Pathology Museum, Department of Pathology, University of Connecticut Health Center ]
The Internet Pathology Laboratory - Images, descriptions and tutorials cover all organ systems.
Meta Description: [ WebPath contains images, text, and tutorials for pathology education ]
The Pathology Guy - General topics are discussed, as well as articles on autopsies, evidence collection and other forensic issues.
Transplant Pathology Internet Services - International collaboration on standardizing criteria for assessing the histopathologic features of rejection. Provides photographic case histories and discussion.
University Pathologists - Provides cytology and tissue diagnostic services for head and neck, upper and lower respiratory tract, breast, gastrointestinal, endocrine, urologic, hematopoietic and cutaneous pathology. Find details for professionals and patients.
Urbana Atlas of Pathology - Images cover all body systems and disease processes.
404
Virtual Hospital : Pathology Textbooks - Free manuals and atlases for patients and professionals cover several areas including blood tests, gynecologic oncology, hepatology and infectious disease.
Meta Description: [ Virtual Hospital was a digital library of health information in pediatrics, paediatrics, and radiology for pediatric education and radiology education ]
Wellpath - Free registration provides access to courses in several subspecialties.
Meta Description: [ Electroninc Learning Environmet in Pathology. Used in life-long learning, distance and conventional education in University of Oviedo ]
Pathology Job RSS feeds - All Physician Job RSS feeds: States with Pathology Employment Opportunities
