Innovation management in crisis: patent analytics as a response to the COVID‐19 pandemic

Crises like the COVID‐19 pandemic affect firms’ innovation management and decision making. On the downside, crises lead to detriments like budget constraints, to which firms often respond by reducing their innovation activities. On the upside, crises are opportunities, where some firms exploiting changing market requirements and necessities excel. No matter in which direction, decision makers must react quickly but often rely on ad‐hoc decisions or even gut feeling when drafting their crisis response strategies. Through a series of distinct cases, we demonstrate that innovation management may fill this void through patent analytics. Drawing on biochemical expertise, we particularly describe the functions and effects of COVID‐19. To counter downside detriments, firms may circumvent budget constraints by discerning patents that can be (1) monetized, for example via sales or licensing deals, or (2) abandoned to achieve cost‐savings, allowing firms to maintain their innovation activities. To realize upside opportunities, firms and governments may use patent analytics to detect key biotechnology firms that are likely to successfully develop treatments and vaccinations against pandemics like COVID‐19. Promulgated U.S. interest in relocating foreign firms to the United States is not without technological and commercial reasoning. Herein, the insights of this study contribute to a better understanding of the use of patent information, such as smart patent indicators, harmonized patent data, novel annuity fee measures, and hand‐collected datasets of COVID‐19 and related antibodies’ patents to the management of innovation in times of crisis

Innovation Management in Crisis: Patent Analytics as a Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Crises like the COVID-19 pandemic affect firms’ innovation management and decision making. On the downside, crises lead to detriments like budget constraints, to which firms often respond by reducing their innovation activities. On the upside, crises are opportunities, where some firms exploiting changing market requirements and necessities excel. No matter in which direction, decision makers must react quickly but often rely on ad-hoc decisions or even gut feeling when drafting their crisis response strategies. Through a series of distinct cases, we demonstrate that innovation management may fill this void through patent analytics. Drawing on biochemical expertise, we particularly describe the functions and effects of COVID-19. To counter downside detriments, firms may circumvent budget constraints by discerning patents that can be (1) monetized, for example via sales or licensing deals, or (2) abandoned to achieve cost-savings, allowing firms to maintain their innovation activities. To realize upside opportunities, firms and governments may use patent analytics to detect key biotechnology firms that are likely to successfully develop treatments and vaccinations against pandemics like COVID-19. Promulgated U.S. interest in relocating foreign firms to the United States is not without technological and commercial reasoning. Herein, the insights of this study contribute to a better understanding of the use of patent information, such as smart patent indicators, harmonized patent data, novel annuity fee measures, and hand-collected datasets of COVID-19 and related antibodies’ patents to the management of innovation in times of crisis

Unusual Presentation of Granulomatosis With Polyangitis (Wegener's Granulomatosis)

Objective: To present a case of unusual presentations of granulomatosis with polyangitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis) with parotid swelling and intractable otitis externa. Material and method: A 22-year-old male patient presented with left sided otitis externa with left sided parotid swelling and bilateral nasal obstruction for last two weeks. CT scan of paranasal sinuses showed homogenous mass in both maxillary antra and nasal cavities. FNAC from the parotid swelling was suggestive of granulomatous disease and endoscopic biopsy from the nasal mass showed features of granulomatosis with polyangitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis). CT scan of chest revealed multiple cysts within the lung parenchyma; urine examination showed RBC and pus cells. Renal biopsy showed focal segmental glomerulonephritis. c-ANCA was highly positive and thus the diagnosis of Wegener’s granulomatosis was made. Result: Patient received cyclophosphamide and prednisolone immunsuppressive therapy for one year, which showed marked clinical improvement. Conclusion: Granulomatosis with polyangitis (Wegener’s granulomatosis) is not an uncommon entity for otolarygologists. Its usual presentation mimics chronic rhinosinusitis; but presentations like otitis externa and parotid swelling are rare for this disease

Colorectal carcinoma in a ten-year-old girl: A case report

Colorectal carcinoma is very rare in childhood. In this case report, we depict a ten-year-old girl who presented with features of intestinal obstruction which turned out to be due to poorly differentiated mucin secreting adenocarcinoma of descending colon. Only increased awareness of this malignancy in this age-group and a high index of suspicion can help when a child complains of persistent pain of abdomen, altered bowel habits or rectal bleeding, and may provide diagnosis at an earlier stage, thereby improving the prognosis

Disseminated Cryptococcosis in an Immunocompetent Child

A case of disseminated cryptococcus infection in an immunocompetent host is described. The present case attests to the importance of using a cautious approach for the diagnosis of granulomatous lymphadenitis. The patient was initially misdiagnosed and treated as disseminated tuberculosis. Later the patient developed visual loss and skin lesions. Periodic Acid Schiff stained sections of lymph node biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid culture established the diagnosis

Cervical intramural pregnancy: Report of a rare case

Cervical pregnancy is an extremely rare condition of ectopic pregnancy with potential grave consequences if not diagnosed and treated early. A case of intramural pregnancy in the cervix is being reported for its rarity. Early diagnosis is imperative to preserve fertility, otherwise if the pregnancy is disturbed, it may precipitate massive haemorrhage, which may require hysterectomy to save the patient

Hemangioendothelioma of soft tissue: Cytological dilemma in two cases at unusual sites

Hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular tumor of intermediate malignancy. Cytologically, it can simulate a non-vascular malignant tumor. We report two cases of this tumor, which were misdiagnosed at cytology. In the first case, a 27-year-old man presented with an anterior abdominal wall tumor. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the tumor showed polygonal cells with vacuolated cytoplasm in clusters having moderate nuclear atypia in a background of necrosis. A diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma was made. The histological examination showed features of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. In the second case, a 13-year-old female child presented with unilateral enlargement of the right tonsil. At ultrasound-guided FNAC, a diagnosis of, ‘small round cell tumor, could be consistent with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma,’ was made. The histological examination showed features of papillary intralymphatic angioendothelioma (Dabska's tumor). We conclude that epithelioid hemangioendothelioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma and small round cell tumor even at unusual sites

Hepatoblastoma in the neonatal period: An unusual presentation

Hepatoblastoma (HBL) is a rare primary malignant liver tumor affecting mainly pediatric patients in the age group 6 months to 3 years. Presentation of HBL in the neonatal period is rare. HBL can be diagnosed on cytology along with subtyping. Estimation of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is essential as a tumor marker. Fetal type HBL usually shows high AFP level. In this report, diagnosis of HBL in a 10-day-old baby with low serum AFP is being described for its unusual presentation

Perineal Accessory Scrotum with Congenital Lipoma: A Rare Case Report

A case of accessory scrotum in a 1-year-old boy is reported because of its rarity. A boy presented with a tumor mass attached with scrotum-like skin on its tip in the right side of perineum between the scrotum and anus. Both testes had descended into the scrotum. There was no other urological anomaly. Histological findings of the tumor indicated perineal lipoma, and the scrotum-like portion accessory scrotum. An overview of sequences during the normal development of male external genitalia has been provided and the deranged mechanism resulting in this anomaly has been reviewed with hypothesis regarding etiology of accessory scrotum