An Information System for Product Development Planning

Companies in every industry segment that design and manufacture products can benefit of a variety of information system solutions proposed by researchers and also available on the market. To reduce the possible negative impact of Product Data Management (PDM) systems into an organisation, we propose an incremental introduction based on a low-level Project Management (PM) and a Business Intelligence (BI) module respectively for planning and to monitor scheduling in new products development. A high-level PM package has also been considered. We have simulated and tested our solution within a two-wheel vehicle manufacturer and have evaluated possible extension to other medium-large traditional production companies by benchmarking

Delivery in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2: A fast review

Background: Few case reports and clinical series exist on pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who delivered. Objective: To review the available information on mode of delivery, vertical/peripartum transmission, and neonatal outcome in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2. Search strategy: Combination of the following key words: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, and pregnancy in Embase and PubMed databases. Selection criteria: Papers reporting cases of women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who delivered. Data collection and analysis: The following was extracted: author; country; number of women; study design; gestational age at delivery; selected clinical maternal data; mode of delivery; selected neonatal outcomes. Main results: In the 13 studies included, vaginal delivery was reported in 6 cases (9.4%; 95% CI, 3.5\u201319.3). Indication for cesarean delivery was worsening of maternal conditions in 31 cases (48.4%; 95% CI, 35.8\u201361.3). Two newborns testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time RT-PCR assay were reported. In three neonates, SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM levels were elevated but the RT-PCR test was negative. Conclusions: The rate of vertical or peripartum transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is low, if any, for cesarean delivery; no data are available for vaginal delivery. Low frequency of spontaneous preterm birth and general favorable immediate neonatal outcome are reassuring

Health-Related Quality of Life after Hysterectomy for Endometrial Cancer: The Impact of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Shifting Paradigm

Objectives: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols provide well-known benefits in the immediate recovery with a shorter length of stay (LOS) also in gynecological surgery. However, the impact of ERAS has not been clearly showed yet regarding long-term consequences and health-related quality of life (HRQL). The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of ERAS on HRQL after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. Design: Observational retrospective study with propensity score matching (PSM). Participants We administered the SF-36 validated questionnaire to women underwent hysterectomy and lymph nodal staging before and after introducing ERAS protocol, getting, respectively, a standard practice (SP) and ERAS group Settings Academic hospital Methods We collected demographic, clinical, surgical and postoperative data and performed a PSM of the baseline coufouders. We administered the questionnaire four weeks after the surgery. The SF-36 measures HRQL using eight scales: physical functioning (PF), role physical (RLP), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), vitality (Vt), social functioning (SF), role emotional (RLE) and mental health (MH). Results After PSM, we enrolled a total of 154 patients, 77 in each group (SP and ERA). The two groups were similar in terms of age, BMI, anaesthesiologic risk, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and surgical technique (minimally invasive versus open access). Median LOS was shorter for ERAS group (5 versus 3 days; p = 0.02), while no significant differences were registered in the rates of postoperative complications (16.9% versus 17.4%; p = 0.66). Response rates to SF-36 questionnaire were 89% and 92%, respectively, in SP and ERAS group. At multivariate analyzes, the mean scores of SF-36 questionnaire, registered at 28 days weeks after surgery (range 26-32 days), were significantly higher in ERAS group for PF (73.3 vs 91.6; p < 0.00), RLP (median 58.3 vs 81.2; p = 0.02) and SF (37.5 versus 58.3; p = 0.01) domains, when compared to SP patients. Limitations Further follow-up was not possible due to the anonymized data derived from clinical audit. Conclusions ERAS significantly increases HRQL of women underwent surgery for endometrial cancer. HRQL assessment should be routinary implemented in the ERAS protocol

Epigenetic and genetic landscape of uterine leiomyomas: a current view over a common gynecological disease

Purpose: Despite the numerous studies on the factors involved in the genesis and growth of uterine leiomyomas, the pathogenesis of these tumors remains unknown. Intrinsic abnormalities of the myometrium, abnormal myometrial receptors for estrogen, and hormonal changes or altered responses to ischemic damage during the menstrual period may be responsible for the initiation of (epi)genetic changes found in these tumors. Considering these elements, we aimed to offer an overview about epigenetic and genetic landscape of uterine leiomyomas. Methods: Narrative overview, synthesizing the findings of literature retrieved from searches of computerized databases. Results: Several studies showed that leiomyomas have a monoclonal origin. Accumulating evidence converges on the risk factors and mechanisms of tumorigenesis: the translocation t (12;14) and deletion of 7q were found in the highest percentages of recurrence; dysregulation of the HMGA2 gene has been mapped within the critical 12q14-q15 locus. Estrogen and progesterone are recognized as promoters of tumor growth, and the potential role of environmental estrogens has been poorly explored. The growth factors with mitogenic activity, such as transforming growth factor-β3, fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and insulin-like growth factor-I are elevated in fibroids and may have a role as effectors of the tumor promotion. Conclusion: The new clues on genetics and epigenetics, as well as about the growth factors that control normal and pathological myometrial cellular biology may be of great help for the development of new effective and less invasive therapeutic strategies in the near future

Neonatal heart failure and noncompaction/dilated cardiomyopathy from mucopolysaccharidosis. First description in literature

Mucopolysaccharidosis are genetic disorders due to deficiency of lysosomal enzymes, resulting in abnormal glycosaminoglycans accumulation in several tissues. Heart involvement tends to be progressive and worsens with age. We describe the first case of mucopolysaccharidosis type I presenting with noncompaction/dilated-mixed cardiomyopathy and heart failure within neonatal period, which responded successfully to specific metabolic treatment. Cardiac function recovered after enzyme replacement therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, adding to the existing knowledge of the disease

Prophylactic arterial catheterization in the management of high risk patients for obstetric haemorrhage

OBJECTIVES: Post-partum haemorrhage still remains one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. In case of abnormal placentation it is possible to carry out preventive and therapeutic actions. To maintain fertility in reproductive-aged women and to avoid a more radical surgery, embolization has been introduced in patients at high risk for haemorrhage. To describe a new option in the management of patients with abnormal placentation by an elective, preventive arterial catheterization and selective embolization of pelvic arteries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including thirty six patients with abnormal placental invasion. All patients were prepared in the angiographic room and preventive arterial catheterization was performed before elective caesarean delivery. Materials for interventional angiography were transferred to the operating room. During surgery, selective embolization of pelvic arteries was realized in case of uncontrolled bleeding. RESULTS: Thirty-six elective arterial catheterizations were performed: 4 cases (11.1%) required embolization, haemorrhage was stopped in 2 patients. Hysterectomy was performed in two cases (5.5%). No death was reported. Two humeral thrombosis (5.5%) were registered. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic arterial catheterization appears to be safe. The main advantage is the reduction of the interval between the onset of bleeding and the embolization. This new option of management may contribute to reduce the risk of hysterectomy and maternal death

Experimental simulation of environmental warming selects against pigmented morphs of land snails

H-R.K. and R.T. were gratefully hosted by INRA-PACA, Avignon, France, during the time of fieldwork in 2017. We gratefully acknowledge assistance in the field and with the open-top chamber experiments by Nik Triebskorn and Tim Triebskorn. The 35 field sites were sampled within the 2018 European Theba survey initiated by H-R.K and Thomas Knigge, Le Havre University, France. We also thank Menno Schilthuizen, Leiden University, the Netherlands, and another anonymous reviewer for constructive remarks on a previous manuscript version. Open access funding enabled and organized by ProjektDEAL.In terrestrial snails, thermal selection acts on shell coloration. However, the biological relevance of small differences in the intensity of shell pigmentation and the associated thermodynamic, physiological, and evolutionary consequences for snail diversity within the course of environmental warming are still insufficiently understood. To relate temperature‐driven internal heating, protein and membrane integrity impairment, escape behavior, place of residence selection, water loss, and mortality, we used experimentally warmed open‐top chambers and field observations with a total of >11,000 naturally or experimentally colored individuals of the highly polymorphic species Theba pisana (O.F. MÜLLER, 1774). We show that solar radiation in their natural Mediterranean habitat in Southern France poses intensifying thermal stress on increasingly pigmented snails that cannot be compensated for by behavioral responses. Individuals of all morphs acted neither jointly nor actively competed in climbing behavior, but acted similarly regardless of neighbor pigmentation intensity. Consequently, dark morphs progressively suffered from high internal temperatures, oxidative stress, and a breakdown of the chaperone system. Concomitant with increasing water loss, mortality increased with more intense pigmentation under simulated global warming conditions. In parallel with an increase in mean ambient temperature of 1.34°C over the past 30 years, the mortality rate of pigmented individuals in the field is, currently, about 50% higher than that of white morphs. A further increase of 1.12°C, as experimentally simulated in our study, would elevate this rate by another 26%. For 34 T. pisana populations from locations that are up to 2.7°C warmer than our experimental site, we show that both the frequency of pigmented morphs and overall pigmentation intensity decrease with an increase in average summer temperatures. We therefore predict a continuing strong decline in the frequency of pigmented morphs and a decrease in overall pigmentation intensity with ongoing global change in areas with strong solar radiation.ProjektDEA