Exploring the R&D and profitability relationship in the cosmetics industry

Research and development (R&D) is a fundamental business activity to enable efficient transformation according to MOEST, or Model of the Organization as an Efficient System of Transformation, by Mella (Mella, 2022; Mella & Gazzola, 2015). The R&D objective is to manage the production factor of ‘knowledge’. The innovative attitude allows the company to influence changes in the environment, realizing inventions (ideas) and proposing their implementation (Puddu, 1996). The R&D function must be integrated with other company activities, as marketing, production, financial management and in particular strategic planning, organization, planning and control. The aim of the present research is to analyze the relationship between R&D investments and company profitability in the cosmetics industry. Analyzing its fundamental features, it is considered significant to investigate their correlation, with particular reference to the Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) cosmetic companies. Afterwards the evaluation will concentrate on Intercos Group, a leading Italian company in Europe, even comparing its results with Asian companies, which are considered global leaders in the cosmetics industry. / La Ricerca e Sviluppo (R&S) è un'attività aziendale fondamentale per attuare una trasformazione efficiente secondo il MOEST, ovvero Model of the Organization as an Efficient System of Transformation, di Mella (Mella, 2022; Mella & Gazzola, 2015). L'obiettivo della R&S è quello di gestire il fattore produttivo della "conoscenza". L'attitudine innovativa permette all'azienda di influenzare i cambiamenti dell'ambiente, realizzando invenzioni (idee) e proponendone l'implementazione (Puddu, 1996). La funzione R&D deve essere integrata con le altre attività aziendali, quali il marketing, la produzione, la gestione finanziaria e in particolare la pianificazione strategica, l'organizzazione, la pianificazione e il controllo. L'obiettivo di questa ricerca è quello di analizzare la relazione tra gli investimenti in R&D e la redditività delle aziende nel settore cosmetico. Analizzandone le caratteristiche fondamentali, si ritiene significativo indagarne la correlazione, con particolare riferimento alle aziende cosmetiche Original Design Manufacturer (ODM). Successivamente la valutazione si concentrerà su Intercos Group, azienda italiana leader in Europa, confrontando anche i suoi risultati con le aziende asiatiche, considerate leader mondiali nel settore cosmetico

Sarcopenia predicts reduced survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at first diagnosis.

Abstract: Background. Sarcopenia is a complication and independent risk factor for mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. Aim. To assess the prevalence and influence of sarcopenia on overall survival in a cohort of cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma managed in a tertiary center. Material and methods. Abdominal computed tomography of 92 consecutive hepatocellular carcinoma cirrhotic patients, enrolled and followed from 2004 to 2014, were retrospectively studied with a software analyzing the cross-sectional areas of muscles at third lumbar vertebra level. Data was normalized for height, skeletal muscle index (SMI) calculated and presence of Sarcopenia measured. Sarcopenia was defined by SMI ≤ 41 cm2/m2 for women and ≤ 53 cm2/m2 for men with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25, and ≤ 43 cm2/m2 for men and women with BMI < 25, respectively. Results. Median age at diagnosis was 71.9 years (30.7-86.4) and BMI 24.7 (17.5-36.7), comparable in women 23.1, (17.5-36.7) and men 24.7 (18.4-36.7). A class of CHILD score and BCLC A prevailed (55.4% and 41.3%, respectively); metastatic disease was found in 12% of cases. Sarcopenia was present in 40.2% of cases, mostly in females (62.9%; p = 0.005). Mean overall survival was reduced in sarcopenic patients, 66 (95% CI 47 to 84) vs. 123 (95% CI 98 to 150) weeks (p = 0.001). At multivariate analysis, sarcopenia was a predictor of reduced overall survival, independent of age (p = 0.0027). Conclusions. This retrospective study shows high prevalence of sarcopenia among cirrhotic patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Presence of sarcopenia was identified as independent predictor of reduced overall survival. As easily measurable by CT, sarcopenia should be determined for prognostic purposes in this patient population

Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD): application of new diagnostic criteria in a multicenter cohort of patients

Background and aim: The term porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) was recently proposed to replace that of idiopathic non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (INCPH) to describe patients with typical histological lesions in absence of cirrhosis, irrespective of the presence/absence of portal hypertension (PH), and new diagnostic criteria were defined. The study aimed to compare the applicability between the diagnostic criteria of PSVD and those of INCPH. Materials and methods: 53 patients affected by PSVD were enrolled. Biochemical, clinical, ultrasound and histological data, the presence and type of associated diseases were recorded in a database. According to the new criteria, histological data and signs of PH were divided into specific and non-specific. Percutaneous and transjugular biopsies were compared to establish the usability of the two methods for diagnostic purposes. Results: In 85% of the patients the diagnosis of PSVD was obtained by applying the first criterion (25 had specific histological signs with specific signs of PH); one patient presented with specific histological signs but no PH. In 8 patients the diagnosis was obtained by applying the second criterion. 19% of patients had portal vein thrombosis. Finally, the prevalence of the various histological lesions was similar between the patients submitted to percutaneous and transjugular liver biopsy. Conclusions: The study confirms that the diagnostic criteria of PSVD lead to the inclusion of a greater number of patients than INCPH

Preclinical Assessment of Nebulized Surfactant Delivered through Neonatal High Flow Nasal Cannula Respiratory Support

: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a non-invasive respiratory support (NRS) modality to treat premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). The delivery of nebulized surfactant during NRS would represent a truly non-invasive method of surfactant administration and could reduce NRS failure rates. However, the delivery efficiency of nebulized surfactant during HFNC has not been evaluated in vitro or in animal models of respiratory distress. We, therefore, performed first a benchmark study to compare the surfactant lung dose delivered by commercially available neonatal nasal cannulas (NCs) and HFNC circuits commonly used in neonatal intensive care units. Then, the pulmonary effect of nebulized surfactant delivered via HFNC was investigated in spontaneously breathing rabbits with induced respiratory distress. The benchmark study revealed the surfactant lung dose to be relatively low for both types of NCs tested (Westmed NCs 0.5 ± 0.45%; Fisher &amp; Paykel NCs 1.8 ± 1.9% of a nominal dose of 200 mg/kg of Poractant alfa). The modest lung doses achieved in the benchmark study are compatible with the lack of the effect of nebulized surfactant in vivo (400 mg/kg), where arterial oxygenation and lung mechanics did not improve and were significantly worse than the intratracheal instillation of surfactant. The results from the present study indicate a relatively low lung surfactant dose and negligible effect on pulmonary function in terms of arterial oxygenation and lung mechanics. This negligible effect can, for the greater part, be explained by the high impaction of aerosol particles in the ventilation circuit and upper airways due to the high air flows used during HFNC