Patent Acquisitions in the Healthcare Industry: An Analysis of Learning Mechanisms.

The healthcare industry at large is used as a case study to suggest a methodological technique for evaluating patent citation networks to analyze cross-country creativity/knowledge flows. It intends to provide insight on the following research issues: (a) how to examine cross-national creative/learning flows; and (b) have nations with present patent owners profited from patent acquisitions? The research field at hand is currently under-explored, justifying the motivation for conducting this investigation, even though it has economic relevance in innovation patterns worldwide. The analysis of over 14,023 firms has shown that: (a) owners have acquired patents across borders, and (b) acquired patents (granted between 2013 and 2017) are cited by later patents (2018-2022). The methodology and findings are transferable to other industries. They can be used by managers and policymakers to (a) assist businesses in predicting innovation trajectories and (b) assist governments in designing and putting into action more effective policies that foster patented innovations in sectors that are deemed to be relevant to the national interest, thanks to the adoption of a new, complementary theoretical viewpoint that merges the micro- and macro-economic perspectives of citation flows.

Laparoscopic subtotal gastric resection for chronic gastric ulcers.

OBJECTIVES: We analyzed our experience with the laparoscopic approach for treating benign gastric lesions. METHODS: Between June 1998 and June 2002, we performed 18 gastric resections with the laparoscopic approach for 7 pyloric stenoses, 8 recurrent duodenal ulcers, and 3 chronic gastric ulcers. RESULTS: In our series, we performed Billroth II laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with no morbidity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Billroth II laparoscopic distal gastrectomy is safe in cases of benign gastric or duodenal lesions.

A "one-stage" laparoscopic procedure for treating choledocholithiasis.

OBJECTIVES: A minimally invasive approach is considered the treatment of choice for gallbladder stones. We report our experience with the treatment of choledocholithiasis. METHODS: From January 1993 to December 2002, 3118 patients underwent minimally invasive surgery for symptomatic gallstones, 2681 for gallbladder stones and 437 (14%) for cholecysto-choledocholithiasis. RESULTS: We performed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic sphincterotomy in 71 patients (18.7%) with high operative risks, transcystic clearance and transcystic drainage in 96 cases (26.2%) and transcholedochal clearance with a T-tube in 270 cases (73.8%). In 2 patients, residual stones were removed with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and endoscopic sphincterotomy. Postoperative stay ranged from 4 days to 12 days. No morbidity or mortality occurred. CONCLUSION: In our experience, "one-stage" laparoscopic procedure for cholecystocholedocholithiasis is safe and effective in skilled hands.

Restoration of the eutrophic Orbetello lagoon (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): water quality management.

The Orbetello lagoon (Tyrrhenian coast, Italy) receives treated urban and land based fishfarms wastewater. The development of severe eutrophication imposed the three main activity adoption focuses on (1) macroalgae harvesting; (2) pumping of water from the sea; (3) confining wastewater to phytotreatment ponds. The responses to these interventions were rapid and macroalgal reduction growth and seagrass return were recorded. Since 1999, a new macroalgal development was recorded. The aim of this research was to discover whether the recent macroalgal growth can be attributed to the continuing wastewater influx from the remaining persistent anthropic sources (PAS) or from the sediment nutrient release. A monitoring programme was carried out between August 1999 and July 2000 in order to measure dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in the wastewaters entering into the lagoon and in central lagoon areas, seaweed and seagrass distribution and lagoon N, P annual budgets. The results showed higher N and P values close to PAS. The distribution of the macroalgal species confirms that the available P comes almost entirely from these remaining PAS. In conclusion, the environmental measures adopted produced a significant reduction in algal biomass development in the lagoon; the macroalgal harvesting activities produced a sediment disturbance with following oxidize conditions, which make P unavailable in the lagoon water, excepting close the PAS.