101,893 research outputs found
The Natuzzi Group and the Bari-Matera (Italy) upholstered furniture district. A case study of internationalisation in a traditional industry
No full textThe case-study focuses on the strategies adopted by the Natuzzi Group, world leader of the upholstered furniture sector, located in the Bari-Matera district (Southern Italy), to face increasing global competition and on their effects. In particular we consider the modes and determinants of productive internationalisation, carried out since 2000 by Natuzzi in China, Brazil and Romania to produce middle-low end products. By improving the competitiveness of the price-sensitive segment, the strategy contributed to the successful expansion of the Group until 2002. However, high range products, manufactured in Italy, record decreasing sales especially on the US market, despite the companys efforts in R&D and marketing and its investments in information technology. Moreover, due to Natuzzi's considerable weight in the district, the Groups performance impacts on the network of subcontracting firms, where a restructuring process is underway, raising questions about the evolution of the district.Internationalisation, Industrial District, Subcontracting
Levodopa and 3-OMD levels in Parkinson patients treated with Duodopa
No full textWe studied 19 patients (14 men, 5 women, Hoen and Yahr>3) with advanced Parkinson's disease(PD) attending the Parkinson Institute,Milan, whose motor fluctuation and dyskinesia were not contrlled by oral medication. After all oral PD medications had been withdrawn, they received a duodenal levodopa infusions (Duodopa, Solvay Pharmaceutical) for 14h/day through a transabdominal port; levodopa boluses were administered in the morning and during "off" peeriod. The patient were evaluated by means of the UPDRS in the morning ("off") and 60-120 min after the infusion ("on") at baseline and for a mean follow-up of 13.5+12.5 months(up to 36 months in 10 patients:). Levodopa (L-DOPA) and its metabolites were determined by HPLC with electrochemical detection. L-Dopa concentration tended to higher in the afternoon (2008+ 345 vs 1713+ 274 ng/ml) and correlated with the daily dose. O-methyldopa (OMD) levels correlated with L-Dopa levels, and the OMD/L-DOPA ratios were stable over the day. There was a relationship between the decreasing UPDRS III scores and decreasing OMD/L-DOPA ratios.Dyskinesia (UPDRS IV, items 32-34) showed a clear improvement over time but there was no clear relationship with L-DOPA and OMD levels, or the OMD/L-DOPA ratio. The L-DOPA/dose ratio was stable over time, whereas OMD levels and the OMD/L-DOPA ratio decresed. It is conceivable that continuos infusion decreases metabolism possibly due to a reduction in methyl donor availability, as demonstrated by the increase in total homocysteine levels. Our results do not support the development of tolerance even after several months of continuous infusion, and indicate that pharmacodynamic factors play a role in afternoon off periods
The Natuzzi group and the Bari-Matera (Italy) upholstered furniture district : a case study of internationalisation in a traditional industry
No full textThe case-study focuses on the strategies adopted by the Natuzzi Group, world leader of the upholstered furniture sector, located in the Bari-Matera district (Southern Italy), to face increasing global competition and on their effects. In particular we consider the modes and determinants of productive internationalisation, carried out since 2000 by Natuzzi in China, Brazil and Romania to produce middle-low end products. By improving the competitiveness of the price-sensitive segment, the strategy contributed to the successful expansion of the Group until 2002. However, high range products, manufactured in Italy, record decreasing sales especially on the US market, despite the company’s efforts in R&D and marketing and its investments in information technology. Moreover, due to Natuzzi’s considerable weight in the district, the Group’s performance impacts on the network of subcontracting firms, where a restructuring process is underway, raising questions about the evolution of the distric
myo-Inositol transport in rat intestinal brush border membrane vesicles, and its inhibition by D-glucose
No full textPossible interplay between interleukin-15 and interleukin-17 into the pathogenesis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
No full textThe aim of this study was to assess the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-17 in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and correlate them with IL-6, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), MIP-1β levels. Possible correlations with disease activity parameters were also evaluated. Sera from 14 polymyositis (PM), 10 dermatomyositis (DM), 7 anti-synthetase syndrome new onset patients and 19 healthy controls (HCs) were analyzed by multiplex immunoassay. Sera from 19 patients were analyzed after 5 months median follow-up. All patients underwent physical examination, the 5-points manual muscle test (MMT), the health assessment questionnaire and serum creatine kinase measurement. All patients received glucocorticoids, and 13 were taking also immunosuppressive therapy. At baseline, serum levels of IL-15, IL-17, MCP-1 and MIP-1β were significantly higher in IIM patients than in HCs. IL-17 serum levels were directly correlated with disease duration (r=0.39, P=0.02), while a significant inverse correlation was detected between IL-17 levels and MMT scores (r=-0.4, P=0.02). The highest IL-15 levels were present in DM patients (P=0.02 vs PM). The most striking finding was the strong correlation between IL-15 and IL-17 levels (r=0.60, P=0.0001), and this correlation was even stronger in DM patients (r=0.82, P=0.006). The strong correlation between IL-15 and IL-17 in IIM patients, and especially in DM, suggests that there may be a interplay between the two cytokines in the pathogenesis of myositis. Further studies of larger patient cohorts and muscle biopsies are needed to confirm these preliminary data
Histochemical assessment of immunoreactivity of thyroid peroxidase and its correlation with biochemical activity [Valutazione istochimica della immunoreattività della perossidasi tiroidea e sua correlazione con l'attività biochimica.]
No full textSubcutaneous emphysema. Complication of pnuemoperitoneum following laparoscopic cholecystectomy [Enfisema sottocutaneo. Complicanza legata al pneumoperitoneo in corso di videolaparocolecistectomia]
No full textHistochemical assessment of immunoreactivity of thyroid peroxidase and its correlation with biochemical activity
No full text
SAT0571 Role of Obesity in the Expression of Cytokines and Metalloproteinases in Human Osteoarthritis Chondrocytes
No full textEULAR congress Paris 201
- …
