Proposição de um sistema de informação de benchmarking para empresas desenvolvedoras de produtos

O presente trabalho busca contribuir com empresas desenvolvedoras de produtos de bens de consumo, através da proposição de um protótipo de sistema de informação de benchmarking (SIB). O programa tem por base um conjunto de indicadores de inovação, competitividade e design que estão distribuídos em cinco categorias: resposta ao consumidor, eficiência, inovação, qualidade e resultado. O SIB apresenta um indicador composto, denominado ICD-UFRGS, calculado a partir dos resultados de desempenho obtidos por uma determinada empresa em cada categoria. Dessa forma, as companhias poderão verificar sua performance, se comparar com outras do mesmo setor e confrontar seu desempenho com os dados advindos da média dos resultados de todas as demais empresas usuárias do sistema proposto. O programa foi resultado do trabalho de uma equipe de desenvolvimento com diferentes habilidades. Utilizou-se como estratégia de atuação a realização de apresentações periódicas, por parte dos programadores, para os demais integrantes da equipe de desenvolvimento, sobre a operação do software. Assim, a equipe tinha condições de refletir sobre a adequação da funcionalidade do sistema com os objetivos do trabalho e sugerir melhorias ao processo. O protótipo de alta fidelidade, em seu formato final, foi testado, inicialmente, com dados fictícios e, posteriormente, com dados reais de uma empresa, com o intuito de identificar problemas na programação. Em seguida, o software passou por três diferentes validações: em uma empresa desenvolvedora de produtos de bens de consumo; em uma agência governamental ligada ao setor industrial brasileiro; e por pesquisadores e professores do Institute of Design do Illinois Institute of Technology, de Chicago/EUA. As validações tiveram o intuito de identificar oportunidades de melhorias, por meio da percepção de possíveis usuários do software, a serem implementadas no protótipo, antes de sua disseminação no mercado. O estudo permitiu verificar que o sistema tem potencial de uso no Brasil. Além disso, percebeu-se que a funcionalidade de integração com outros softwares e possibilidades de apresentação de dados em smartphones podem contribuir na implementação em empresas.The present study seeks to contribute with product development companies by proposing a prototype of a benchmarking information system (BIS). The software is based on a set of indicators of innovation, competitiveness and design that are distributed into five categories: consumer response, efficiency, innovation, quality and outcome. BIS has a composite indicator, called ICD-UFRGS, which is calculated with the performance results achieved by a particular company in each category. In this way, companies will be able to check their performance if they compare it with the achievement of other companies in the same sector and compare their performance with the data from the average of the results of all other companies that use the proposed system. The software resulted from the work of a development team with different skills. The operating strategy consisted of regular presentations by the developers to the other members of the development team about the operation of the software. Thus, the team had to reflect on the adequacy of the system functionality to the objectives of the work and suggest improvements to the process. The final format of the high-fidelity prototype was tested with fictitious data at first, and later with real data of a company, in order to identify problems in programming. Then, the software went through three different validations: in a product development company; in a government agency linked to the Brazilian industrial sector; and by researchers and professors of the Institute of Design of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago/USA. The purpose of the validations was to identify improvement opportunities, through the perception of possible users of the software to be implemented in the prototype, prior to its dissemination in the market. The study showed that the system has potential for use in Brazil. In addition, it was realized that the functionality of integration with other software and the possibility to present data on smartphones can favor its implementation in companies

Overexpression of ALDH1 and EMT marker profile are linked with unfavorable outcome in head and neck cancer

The aim of this research was to assess the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and to correlate them with the clinical and histopathological parameters of a patient cohort with follow-up over an 8-year period. For this, seventeen HNSCC and non-neoplastic adjacent epithelium (AE) samples were subjected to laser microdissection and real-time PCR to evaluate the mRNA expression of ALDH1, E-cadherin (E-CAD), N-cadherin (N-CAD), and vimentin (VIM). Also, immunohistochemistry was performed for ALDH1, E-CAD, N-CAD, and VIM in the tumor center (TC), invasion front (IF), and AE of the seventeen samples. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests were used to correlate the mRNA and immunohistochemical expression with different variables, considering p<0.05. Kaplan-Meier curves were produced for local recurrence, regional metastasis and treatment. A mRNA overexpression of ALDH1 in primary tumors was associated with regional metastasis and a high ALDH1 immunostaining was related to metastasis and a worse patient outcome. Additionally, a favorable outcome was associated with the transition phase and an unfavorable outcome was associated with EMT event. An overall 26.9 months was observed with longer survival associated with surgery and radiotherapy. However, due to the intense variability inherent to the indicator proteins in the EMT process, the complete profile markers related to this biological process should be continuous investigated

Immunohistochemical analysis of the patterns of p53 and PCNA expression in odontogenic cystic lesions

Objective: the role of p53 expression in odontogenic lesions has not been fully determined, but has been associated with cell proliferation. The purpose of this study was to analyze p53 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in 4 different odontogenic lesions. Design: expression of p53 and PCNA was analyzed in radicular and dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts, and calcifying odontogenic cysts (Gorlin cysts) using monoclonal antibodies for detection of p53 and PCNA. Results: PCNA expression was significantly greater in the basal layer of radicular cysts and in the suprabasal layer of odontogenic keratocysts; the percentage of p53 positive cells was significantly greater in the suprabasal layer of odontogenic keratocysts. Conclusions: The patterns of p53 and PCNA expression in dentigerous and radicular cysts were similar although the two lesions are of different origin. In odontogenic keratocysts and Gorlin cysts, results indicate a different pattern of tumor growth

Differential diagnosis between oral fibroma and inflammatory hyperplasia: a proposal for histopathological criteria

O presente estudo propôs critérios histopatológicos para o diagnóstico diferencial entre as entidades patológicas. Materiais e métodos: Cortes histológicos de lesões diagnosticadas microscopicamente como Fibroma Oral (n=61) e Hiperplasia Fibrosa Inflamatória (n=75) foram submetidos a diferentes técnicas de coloração (Hematoxilina-eosina, Tricrômio de Masson e Ácido Fosfomolibidico- Vermelho de Picrosírius) para permitir análises quantitativa e qualitativa. A análise qualitativa da densidade do colágeno foi baseada nas lâminas coradas em Hematoxilina- eosina e observada no centro e periferia de cada lesão. Resultados: Fibras colágenas enoveladas eram mais frequentes e mais densas no Fibroma Oral, enquanto as fibras paralelas eram observadas na Hiperplasia Fibrosa Inflamatória (teste exato de Fisher, pOral Fibroma and Inflammatory Hyperplasia display similarities in their clinical and histopathological appearance. The present study proposed histopathological criteria for the differential diagnosis between those pathological entities. Histological sections of lesions histopathologically diagnosed as Oral Fibroma (n=61) and Inflammatory Hyperplasia (n=75) and were submitted to different techniques (Hematoxylin-Eosin; Masson Trichrome and Phosphomolybdic acid - Picrosirius red) to allow quantitative and qualitative analysis. The qualitative analysis of collagen density was based on sections stained by Hematoxylin-Eosin and focused in the center and periphery of each lesion. Wound and collagen fibers were more frequent and higher in Oral Fibroma, while parallel fibers were more frequent in Inflammatory Hyperplasia (Fisher’s exact test,

Spontaneous Regression of an Oral Manifestation of Plasmablastic Lymphoma: Literature Review and Commentary about the Phenomena

Plasmablastic Lymphoma (PBL) is a hematolymphoid malignant disease that has a predilection for the oral cavity and jaw. The aim of this paper is report a total resolution of oral manifestation of PBL without any oncological treatment; this process is extremely rare and we discuss the mechanism which can occur. We present a case of PBL in left maxilla and oral mucosa in a woman HIV-positive patient. After an incisional biopsy an unusual outcome of spontaneous regression of the disease occurred, we reported the diagnostic process, the management and the follow up of case. We revised the similar cases reported in the literature and we will discuss the hypotheses how the phenomenon can occur. Although the PBLs are aggressive lesions, with questionable prognosis, the spontaneous regression can occur and the patient should be monitored for the risk of metastases and possible recurrence of the disease

Quantifìcação de AgNORs e expressão do PCNA em ceratocisto odontogênico

Para realização deste estudo foram selecionados quinze casos de Ceratocisto Odontogênico e submetidos à técnica histoquímica de AgNOR e à técnica imuno-histoquímica do PCNA. Observou-se que o Ceratocisto Odontogênico possui uma média de 1,84 AgNORs por núcleo e que 74,98% das células são positivas ao PCNA. Uma característica constante foi que tanto para o AgNOR quanto para o PCNA a camada suprabasal apresentou médias estatisticamente superiores à camada basal. Conclui-se, portanto, que o Ceratocisto Odontogênico é uma lesão benigna com proliferação do epitélio, principalmente na camada suprabasal

Non-muscle myosin II as a predictive factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The present study attempted to provide information regarding non-muscle myosin II (MII) isoforms immunoreactivity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and analysis of the patients? clinical status after 5 years of monitoring. A semiquantitative analysis of the immunoreactivity of the MII isoforms was performed in 54 surgical specimens and its correlation with clinical and pathological variables and prognosis was verified. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. To evaluate the survival over the total monitoring time and any connection with the proteins studied, the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used. P values ?0.05 were considered statistically significant. In the advanced stages of pathological tumor-node-metastasis, the expression of MIIB in adjacent non-neoplastic epithelial tissues tended to increase (p = 0.057). In tumoral zones there was an association of high expression among the three isoforms (MIIA/MIIB p=0,001, MIIB/MIIC p=0,006 and MIIA/MIIC p=0,012). Negative clinical evolution in patients was directly correlated to increased MIIC expression in the tumoral zone of invasion in HNSCC (p = 0.017). Based on clinical evolution after the monitoring period, patients with tumors expressing MIIC had poorer prognoses (p = 0.048). The present study suggests that MIIB expression in non-neoplastic adjacent epithelial tissues may indicate a potential for regional metastasis and that MIIC expression in the tumoral zone of invasion is predictive of negative evolution of the disease