Towards a service system ontology for service science

Service Science is a new interdisciplinary approach to the study, design, implementation, and innovation of service systems. However due to the variety in service research, there is no consensus yet about the theoretical foundation of this domain. In this paper we clarify the service systems worldview proposed by Service Science researchers Spohrer and Kwan by investigating its foundational concepts from the perspective of established service theories and frameworks. By mapping the proposed service system concepts on the selected service theories and frameworks, we investigate their theoretical foundations, examine their proposed definitions and possible conflicting interpretations, discover their likely relationships and general structure, and identify a number of issues that need further discussion and elaboration. This analysis is visualised in a multi-view conceptual model (in the form of a UML class diagram) which we regard as a first step towards an explicitly and formally defined service system ontology

Tele-Psychiatry Assessment of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in 100 Patients With Bipolar Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic Social-Distancing Measures in Italy

The acute phase of the COrona VIrus Disease-19 (COVID-19) emergency determined relevant stressful burdens in psychiatric patients, particularly those with chronic mental disorders such as bipolar disorder (BD), not only for the threat of being infected but also for the strict lock-down and social-distancing measures adopted, the economic uncertainty, and the limited possibilities to access psychiatric services. In this regard, telepsychiatry services represented a new important instrument that clinicians could adopt to monitor and support their patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate acute post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) reported by patients with BD followed in the framework of a telepsychiatry service, set up in the acute phase of the COVID-19 outbreak at the psychiatric clinic of the University of Pisa (Italy). A sample of 100 patients were consecutively enrolled and assessed by the IES-r, GAD-7, HAM-D, and YMRS. Patients reported a mean (±SD) IES-r total score of 18.15 ± 13.67. Further, 17% of the sample reported PTSS (IES-r > 32), 17% depressive symptoms (HAM-D > 17), and 26% anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 > 10). Work and financial difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and anxiety symptoms appeared to be positively associated with the development of acute PTSS. Acute manic symptoms appeared to be protective. The data of the present study suggest the relevance of monitoring patients with BD exposed to the burden related to the COVID-19 outbreak for prompt assessment and treatment of PTSS

Novel Biological Therapies for Severe Asthma Endotypes

Severe asthma comprises several heterogeneous phenotypes, underpinned by complex pathomechanisms known as endotypes. The latter are driven by intercellular networks mediated by molecular components which can be targeted by specific monoclonal antibodies. With regard to the biological treatments of either allergic or non-allergic eosinophilic type 2 asthma, currently available antibodies are directed against immunoglobulins E (IgE), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and its receptor, the receptors of interleukins-4 (IL-4) and 13 (IL-13), as well as thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and other alarmins. Among these therapeutic strategies, the best choice should be made according to the phenotypic/endotypic features of each patient with severe asthma, who can thus respond with significant clinical and functional improvements. Conversely, very poor options so far characterize the experimental pipelines referring to the perspective biological management of non-type 2 severe asthma, which thereby needs to be the focus of future thorough research

Age as a risk factor in the occurrence of pneumothorax after transthoracic fine needle biopsy: Our experience

Transthoracic needle biopsy (TTNB) of the lung is a well-established technique for diagnosing many thoracic lesions, and is an important alternative to more invasive surgical procedures. Complications of TTNB include pneumothorax, hemoptysis, hemothorax, infection, and air embolism, with the most common complication as pneumothorax. From June 2011 to June 2014 we performed a prospective study of 188 patients who underwent TTNB with CT guidance at University Hospital of Salerno, Italy. Pneumothorax occurred in 14 of 188 biopsies (7.45%). With the respect of age of patients pneumothorax occurred more frequently in patients aged 60-70 years, while it was less frequent in younger (70 years). In conclusion, data of our prospective study documented that CT-guided TTNB is a safe and reliable procedure in elderly patients with suspected chest malignancy and is well tolerated

Síndrome de Kindler: enfermedad rara

El síndrome de Kindler es una genodermatosis rara, caracterizada clínicamente por fragilidad cutánea, poiquilodermia y fotosensibilidad. Es una enfermedad de herencia autosómica recesiva, producida por mutaciones en el gen FERMT1. Actualmente se la considera un tipo de epidermólisis ampollar (EA). Se presenta un paciente con ampollas desde el nacimiento, alteraciones pigmentarias progresivas y compromiso de las mucosas. Este cuadro, se diagnosticó clínicamente y se confirmó por detección de la mutación c.450delG en el gen FERMT1. Motiva la presentación enfatizar la importancia del diagnóstico clínico, la novedad de poder realizar su confirmación por el análisis molecular del gen en el Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez (HNRG) y los beneficios obtenidos gracias al manejo interdisciplinario del paciente.Kindler syndrome is a rare genetic disorder clinically characterized by skin fragility, poikiloderma and photosensitivity. This autosomal recessive genodermatosis is caused by mutations on the FERMT1 gene and is categorized as a type of epidermolysis bullosa. This work describes a Kindler syndrome case presenting blisters at birth, progressive pigmentary changes, and mucosal involvement. The patient was diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and confirmed by the detection of c.450delG mutation on the FERMT1 gene. This presentation emphasizes the importance of clinical diagnosis, the novelty of being able to perform the molecular analysis of the FERMT1 gene in the Hospital de Niños “Ricardo Gutiérrez”, and the benefits achieved through interdisciplinary management of our patient.Fil: Manzur, Graciela. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; ArgentinaFil: Suarez, Eduardo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; ArgentinaFil: Natale, Mónica. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; ArgentinaFil: Valinotto, Laura Elena. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Maglio, Silvana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; ArgentinaFil: Massimo, María Pía. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; ArgentinaFil: Massimo, José A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños ; Argentin

Unravelling the structure of the tetrahedral metal-binding site in METP3 through an experimental and computational approach

Understanding the structural determinants for metal ion coordination in metalloproteins is a fundamental issue for designing metal binding sites with predetermined geometry and activity. In order to achieve this, we report in this paper the design, synthesis and metal binding properties of METP3, a homodimer made up of a small peptide, which self assembles in the presence of tetra-hedrally coordinating metal ions. METP3 was obtained through a redesign approach, starting from the previously developed METP molecule. The undecapeptide sequence of METP, which dimerizes to house a Cys4 tetrahedral binding site, was redesigned in order to accommodate a Cys2His2 site. The binding properties of METP3 were determined toward different metal ions. Successful assem-bly of METP3 with Co(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II), in the expected 2:1 stoichiometry and tetrahedral geometry was proven by UV-visible spectroscopy. CD measurements on both the free and metal-bound forms revealed that the metal coordination drives the peptide chain to fold into a turned conformation. Finally, NMR data of the Zn(II)-METP3 complex, together with a retrostructural analysis of the Cys-X-X-His motif in metalloproteins, allowed us to define the model structure. All the results establish the suitability of the short METP sequence for accommodating tetrahedral metal binding sites, regardless of the first coordination ligands