Possibilities of Logistics Policy Improvement

The paper presents the strategic logistics management with emphasis on clear, accurate and effective material flow from the suppliers and internally, as well as an outline of the logistics policy for continuous improvement. The implementation of a complete Supplier Logistics Performance System is essential to support internal processes efficiency and establish a continuous improvement system according to the main logistics policy. Every company should consider such a system in order to win in the challenging field of current industry

The Ilizarov method for the treatment of complex tibial fractures and non-unions in a mass casualty setting: the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan

We report our experience in treating victims of the recent earthquake disaster in Pakistan. Our experience was based on two humanitarian missions to Islamabad: one in October 2005, 10 days after the earthquake, and the second in January 2006. The mission consisted of a team of orthopaedic surgeons and a second team of plastic surgeons. The orthopaedic team bought all the equipment for application of Ilizarov external fixators. We treated patients who had already received basic treatment in the region of the disaster and subsequently had been evacuated to Islamabad. During the first visit, we treated 12 injured limbs in 11 patients. Four of these patients were children. All cases consisted of complex multifragmentary fractures associated with severe crush injuries. All fractures involved the tibia, which were treated with Ilizarov external fixators. Nine fractures were type 3b open injuries. Eight were infected requiring debridement of infected bone and acute shortening. During a second visit, we reviewed all patients treated during our first mission. In addition, we treated 13 new patients with complex non-unions. Eight of these patients were deemed to be infected. All patients had previous treatment with monolateral fixators as well as soft tissue coverage procedures, except one patient who had had an IEF applied by another team. All these patients had revision surgery with circular frames. All patients from both groups were allowed to fully weight-bear post-operatively, after a short period of elevation to allow the flaps to take. Overall, all fractures united except one case who eventually had an amputation. Four patients had a corticotomy and lengthening, and three of them had a successful restoration of limb length. The fourth patient was the one with the eventual amputation

Managing periprosthetic fractures: perspectives on periprosthetic pelvic fractures

Periacetabular periprosthetic fractures are rare but potentially disastrous for the longevity of the adjacent implants, leading to multiple revision surgeries. It is of paramount importance to identify and treat intraoperative fractures, which will lead to satisfactory results. Postoperative fractures may be managed operatively or nonoperatively depending on the patient's pain and function, the fracture pattern, and the stability of the acetabular component

Complete Avulsion of the Extensor Mechanism of a Finger with Simultaneous Dislocation of the Proximal Interphalangeal Joint

We report a rare case of open dislocation of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, associated with simultaneous avulsion of the central band and distal insertion of the extensor mechanism, rapture of the proximal volar plate, and rapture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the PIP joint

Shetty Test Challenges Ottawa Ankle Rules in Detecting Foot and Ankle Fractures: A Prospective Comparative Study

Objectives: Ankle joint injuries are among the most common orthopedic injuries and are associated with significant healthcare costs. To reduce unnecessary radiographic screening, diagnostic tools such as the widely accepted Ottawa Ankle Rules (OARs) have been developed. However, the accuracy of OARs in excluding fractures remains uncertain. Recently, a new diagnostic test, the Shetty Test (ST), has been introduced. This prospective comparative study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the “ST” in comparison to the “OARs” for detecting ankle and foot fractures.Methods: A total of 112 consecutive adult patients (>18 years old) were included in the study. They were presented to the Emergency Department of a University Hospital in Alexandroupolis due to an ankle or foot injury. Data were collected over 6 months, from November 2022 to May 2023.Results: The sensitivity of the ST was 68.4%, specificity was 76.3%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 37.1%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 92.2%. For the OARs, sensitivity was 94.7%, specificity was 15%, PPV was 18.5%, and NPV was 93.3%. When at least one of the tests was positive, the sensitivity and NPV increased to 100%.Conclusion: The ST was found to be reliable; however, it did not outperform the OARs in this study. Nevertheless, when used in conjunction, the two tests significantly improved sensitivity and the NPV. Due to its simplicity and reproducibility, the ST could be a valuable tool in daily clinical practice, particularly for non-orthopedic emergency department personnel

Managing periprosthetic fractures: Perspectives on periprosthetic pelvic fractures

Periacetabular periprosthetic fractures are rare but potentially disastrous for the longevity of the adjacent implants, leading to multiple revision surgeries. It is of paramount importance to identify and treat intraoperative fractures, which will lead to satisfactory results. Postoperative fractures may be managed operatively or nonoperatively depending on the patient's pain and function, the fracture pattern, and the stability of the acetabular component

Association between promoter -1607 polymorphism of MMP1 and Lumbar Disc Disease in Southern Chinese

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix of the intervertebral disc. A SNP for guanine insertion/deletion (G/D), the -1607 promoter polymorphism, of the <it>MMP1 </it>gene was found significantly affecting promoter activity and corresponding transcription level. Hence it is a good candidate for genetic studies in DDD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Southern Chinese volunteers between 18 and 55 years were recruited from the population. DDD in the lumbar spine was defined by MRI using Schneiderman's classification. Genomic DNA was isolated from the leukocytes and genotyping was performed using the Sequenom^®platform. Association and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium checking were assessed by Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results showed substantial evidence of association between -1607 promoter polymorphism of <it>MMP1 </it>and DDD in the Southern Chinese subjects. D allelic was significantly associated with DDD (p value = 0.027, odds ratio = 1.41 with 95% CI = 1.04–1.90) while Genotypic association on the presence of D allele was also significantly associated with DDD (p value = 0.046, odds ratio = 1.50 with 95% CI = 1.01–2.24). Further age stratification showed significant genotypic as well as allelic association in the group of over 40 years (genotypic: p value = 0.035, odds ratio = 1.617 with 95% CI = 1.033–2.529; allelic: p value = 0.033, odds ratio = 1.445 with 95% CI = 1.029–2.029). Disc bulge, annular tears and the Schmorl's nodes were not associated with the D allele.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We demonstrated that individuals with the presence of D allele for the -1607 promoter polymorphism of <it>MMP1 </it>are about 1.5 times more susceptible to develop DDD when compared with those having G allele only. Further association was identified in individuals over 40 years of age. Disc bulge, annular tear as well as Schmorl's nodes were not associated with this polymorphism.</p

A machine-learned analysis of human gene polymorphisms modulating persisting pain points to major roles of neuroimmune processes

Background Human genetic research has implicated functional variants of more than one hundred genes in the modulation of persisting pain. Artificial intelligence and machine-learning techniques may combine this knowledge with results of genetic research gathered in any context, which permits the identification of the key biological processes involved in chronic sensitization to pain. MethodsResultsBased on published evidence, a set of 110 genes carrying variants reported to be associated with modulation of the clinical phenotype of persisting pain in eight different clinical settings was submitted to unsupervised machine-learning aimed at functional clustering. Subsequently, a mathematically supported subset of genes, comprising those most consistently involved in persisting pain, was analysed by means of computational functional genomics in the Gene Ontology knowledgebase. Clustering of genes with evidence for a modulation of persisting pain elucidated a functionally heterogeneous set. The situation cleared when the focus was narrowed to a genetic modulation consistently observed throughout several clinical settings. On this basis, two groups of biological processes, the immune system and nitric oxide signalling, emerged as major players in sensitization to persisting pain, which is biologically highly plausible and in agreement with other lines of pain research. ConclusionsSignificanceThe present computational functional genomics-based approach provided a computational systems-biology perspective on chronic sensitization to pain. Human genetic control of persisting pain points to the immune system as a source of potential future targets for drugs directed against persisting pain. Contemporary machine-learned methods provide innovative approaches to knowledge discovery from previous evidence. We show that knowledge discovery in genetic databases and contemporary machine-learned techniques can identify relevant biological processes involved in Persitent pain.Peer reviewe

Applikation of modern logistics methods in automotive industry

Dizertační práce je zaměřena na vytvoření efektivního logistického systému v opakované výrobě a jeho verifikaci v praktickém prostředí výrobního podniku Automotive. Systém optimalizuje velikost výrobních dávek produktového mixu, velikost interního balení, eliminuje plýtvání a prostřednictvím rozložení přestaveb výrobních linek minimalizuje nutné zdroje. Pro řízení a regulaci logistického systému je navrhnuta systémová integrace a zavedení manažerského informačního systému a managementu znalostíThe doctoral dissertation is aimed on creation of an efficient logistics system in repetitive manufacturing and its verification in practical environment of a manufacturing factory in automotive. The system optimizes production lot sizes of a product mix, the size of internal packaging, eliminates wasting and throughout production lines changeover scheduling, minimizes the necessary resources. For the purpose logistics system control and regulation, system integration together with an implementation of management information system and knowledge management is proposed.Katedra dopravního managementu, marketingu a logistikyPrezentace dizertační práce. Přečtení posudků. Odpovědi na připomínky oponentů. Rozprava. Neveřejné zasedání komise. Tajné hlasování. Vyhlášení výsledku tajného hlasování