An open-source FACS automation system for high-throughput cell biology

Recent advances in gene editing are enabling the engineering of cells with an unprecedented level of scale. To capitalize on this opportunity, new methods are needed to accelerate the different steps required to manufacture and handle engineered cells. Here, we describe the development of an integrated software and hardware platform to automate Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), a central step for the selection of cells displaying desired molecular attributes. Sorting large numbers of samples is laborious, and, to date, no automated system exists to sequentially manage FACS samples, likely owing to the need to tailor sorting conditions ("gating") to each individual sample. Our platform is built around a commercial instrument and integrates the handling and transfer of samples to and from the instrument, autonomous control of the instrument's software, and the algorithmic generation of sorting gates, resulting in walkaway functionality. Automation eliminates operator errors, standardizes gating conditions by eliminating operator-to-operator variations, and reduces hands-on labor by 93%. Moreover, our strategy for automating the operation of a commercial instrument control software in the absence of an Application Program Interface (API) exemplifies a universal solution for other instruments that lack an API. Our software and hardware designs are fully open-source and include step-by-step build documentation to contribute to a growing open ecosystem of tools for high-throughput cell biology.

[Patient safety in differentiated (in-hospital) activation of the resuscitation room for severely injured patients]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Providing trauma services demands high personnel resources and structural costs. The goal of this study was to show if the assignment of trauma patients to a defined A or B resuscitation room treatment as a modified management concept is safe and feasible.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between May 2020 and January 2021, all resuscitation room trauma patients were included in this single center prospective observational study. All patients admitted to the resuscitation room underwent a classification according to the German S3 guidelines grade of recommendation GoR A and GoR B in polytrauma and the status of the ABCDE sequence to an A and B resuscitation room. The classification was performed by the senior consultant on call via telephone after consultation and discussion of clinical findings.

RESULTS

All 135 resuscitation room patients were included in the study of whom 42 trauma patients were assigned to the A resuscitation room (A-SR) and 93 were assigned to the B resuscitation room (B-SR). The comparison of the two groups showed that patients in the A‑SR group are more likely to be accompanied by a prehospital emergency physician (80.5%) than patients in the B‑SR group (55.5%). Patients in the B‑SR group showed a significantly higher Glasgow coma scale (GCS). Using the eFAST emergency ultrasound protocol, 2.4% of the A‑SR and 4.3% of the B‑SR patients had trauma-associated pathologies, 26% of the A‑SR and only 3.2% of the B‑SR patients had to be admitted to the ICU, 21.4% of the A‑SR and 1% of the B‑SR patients died within 30 days after trauma. The injury severity scores (ISS) of the A‑SR patients were significantly higher than in the B‑SR group (ISS 28.3 vs. 6.8).

CONCLUSION

The study confirmed that the assignment by the emergency department consultant according to the German S3 guideline in combination with the ABCDE sequence into resuscitation room A or B treatment is feasible, does not compromise the quality of care and is efficient in the use of the personnel resources.

Aktuelle Ist-Analyse zur Situation des nichttraumatologischen Schockraummanagements in Deutschland

Einleitung

In Notaufnahmen kommen bundesweit nichttraumatologische kritisch kranke Patienten zur Aufnahme. Zur Struktur, Organisation und Ausstattung des nichttraumatologischen Schockraummanagements ist bisher wenig bekannt. Mittels einer Umfrage sollte daher der Ist-Zustand analysiert werden.

Methodik

Durch die Arbeitsgruppe „Schockraum“ der Deutschen Gesellschaft Interdisziplinäre Notfall- und Akutmedizin (DGINA) wurde mittels E‑Mail den 420 ärztlichen Leiter*Innen des DGINA-Mitgliederregisters eine Onlineumfrage zugesendet. Zwei Wochen nach initialem Anschreiben erfolgte eine Erinnerung. Die Ergebnisse wurden in einer anonymisierten Datenbank extrahiert und ausgewertet.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt lag die Rücklaufquote mit 131 verwertbaren Antworten bei 31 %. Die Umfrage erfasste Krankenhäuser der Basis- (24 %), erweiterten (39 %) und umfassenden Notfallversorgung (37 %). Korrespondierend zur Versorgungsstufe stiegen die jährlichen Patientenkontakte (21.000 vs. 31.000 vs. 39.000), die Monitorplätze in den Notaufnahmen (9 ± 4 vs. 13 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 10), die Betten der assoziierten Notaufnahmestationen (4 ± 5 vs. 10 ± 17 vs. 13 ± 12), die verfügbaren Schockräume (1 ± 1 vs. 2 ± 1 vs. 3 ± 1) und deren Größe (31 ± 16 vs. 35 ± 9 vs. 38 ± 14 m2) an. Hinsichtlich verschiedener Ausstattungsmerkmale (z. B. Röntgenlafette: 58 vs. 65 vs. 78 %, Computertomographie im Schockraum: 6 vs. 12 vs. 27 %) zeigten sich deutliche Unterschiede in Abhängigkeit von der Versorgungsstufe. Während Kühlungssysteme in 30 % in allen Versorgungsstufen vorgehalten wurden, fanden sich andere Ausstattungsmerkmale (z. B. Videolaryngoskopie: 65 vs. 80 vs. 86 %, Bronchoskopie: 29 vs. 22 vs. 45 %) und spezielle Notfallprozeduren (z. B. REBOA [„resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta“]: 3 vs. 5 vs. 12 %, ACCD [„automated chest compression device“]: 26 vs. 57 vs. 61 %) häufiger in höheren Versorgungsstufen.

Schlussfolgerung

Die vorliegenden Ergebnisse zeigen erstmals den Ist-Zustand der nichttraumatologischen Schockraumversorgung in verschiedenen Versorgungsstufen in Deutschland. Empfehlungen zu Ausstattungsmerkmalen für das nichttraumatologische Schockraummanagement müssen zukünftig formuliert werden.