Search

This article presents findings from a survey to determine resources for new product development available in Australia with emphasis on training, education, and consulting in the area of concurrent engineering activities, tools, and techniques. First the study surveys what is available in terms of courses and support services. Then the adequacy of these resources and the gap between them is examined to achieve more customer-focused products and shorter time-to-market. Finally, the human factor role in new product development is also explored. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective is to determine whether body mass index is associated with patient-reported expectations and well-being before primary total hip or total knee arthroplasty, and patient-reported outcomes 6 months after surgery., Methods: Data were obtained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Outcome measures included pre-operative expectations for post-operative mobility, joint pain and health, pre- and post-operative EQ-5D-5L, EQ-VAS, Oxford Hip/Knee Scores and joint pain scales, and post-operative perceived change and perceived satisfaction. Associations with BMI were assessed using chi-square tests, analysis of variance and Linear Mixed Models equations., Results: Data were available for 12 816 primary THA patients and 20 253 primary TKA patients. Pre-operatively, patients in higher BMI categories were significantly more likely to expect ongoing problems with mobility, more joint pain and poorer health following surgery (P<0.01 for all analyses). For arthroplasty patients, higher BMI was associated with poorer pre-operative and post-operative scores for all measures. BMI was positively associated with improvements in EQ-5D, OHS/KS and joint pain. While between-group differences were statistically significant, many were small in magnitude. There was no association between BMI and patient-perceived change or satisfaction after arthroplasty., Conclusion: Patients undergoing THA/TKA, higher BMI was associated with lower pre-operative expectations, poorer well-being before surgery, and worse scores after surgery. Patients who were obese demonstrated comparable satisfaction with their operated joint, compared with non-obese patients. BMI was associated with greater pre- to post-operative improvements in outcome scores for EQ-5D, VAS knee, OHS/OKS and joint pain but these differences may not be clinically important., (© 2023 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.)

Background: Ventricular arrhythmia-related sudden cardiac arrest in infants with structurally normal hearts is rare. There have been no previously published reports of infants <3 months of age with ventricular fibrillation in which a primary diagnosis could not be defined., Methods and Results: Retrospective chart review of 3 unrelated infants <2 months of age from 3 different tertiary care centers within the United States and Australia was conducted. All 3 infants survived sudden cardiac arrest secondary to multiple episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. Each infant demonstrated unique and transient ECG findings consisting of ST changes and QRS widening before arrhythmia onset, which have not been previously reported. Amiodarone, sedation, sodium channel-blocking agents, and ventricular pacing were effective in suppressing acute events. Despite thorough investigation, including genetic testing, the cause of ventricular arrhythmias in each of these infants remains unclear., Conclusions: This is the first report of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation in young infants preceded by stereotypical transient ECG changes. These findings may represent a new, potentially treatable cause of sudden infant death. Recognition of these prodromal changes may be important in future management and survival of these infants.

Background: Illness accounts for a significant proportion of consultations with a team physician travelling with elite athletes., Objective: To determine if international travel increases the incidence of illness in rugby union players participating in a 16-week tournament., Setting: 2010 Super 14 Rugby Union tournament., Participants: 259 elite rugby players from eight teams were followed daily over the 16-week competition period (22 676 player-days)., Assessment: Team physicians completed a logbook detailing the daily squad size and illness in any player (system affected, final diagnosis, type and onset of symptoms, training/match days lost and suspected cause) with 100% compliance. Time periods during the tournament were divided as follows: located and playing in the home country before travelling (baseline), located and playing abroad in countries >5 h time zone difference (travel) and located back in the home country following international travel (return)., Main Outcome Measurement: Incidence of illness (illness per 1000 player-days) during baseline, travel and return., Results: The overall incidence of illness in the cohort was 20.7 (95% CI 18.5 to 23.1). For all teams, the incidence of illness according to location and travelling was significantly higher in the time period following international travel (32.6; 95% CI 19.6 to 53.5) compared with the baseline (15.4; 95% CI 8.7 to 27.0) or after returning to their home country (10.6; 95% CI 6.1 to 18.2)., Conclusions: There is a higher incidence of illness in athletes following international travel to a foreign country that is >5 h time difference and this returns to baseline on return to the home country.

Background: Illness accounts for a significant proportion of consultations with a team physician travelling with elite athletes., Objective: To determine the incidence, type, cause and consequences of illness in Rugby Union players participating in a 16-week tournament., Setting: 8 teams participating in the 2010 Super 14 Rugby tournament Participants A cohort of 259 elite rugby players from eight teams was recruited., Assessment: All players were followed daily over the 16-week competition period (22 676 player days). Each day, team physicians completed an illness log with 100% compliance. Information included the daily squad size and illness details including system affected, final diagnosis, type and onset of symptoms, training/match days lost and suspected cause., Main Outcome Measurement: Incidence of illness (illness per 1000 player days)., Results: The incidence of illness in the cohort was 20.7/1000 player days (95% CI 18.5 to 23.1) with the highest incidence of illness in the respiratory system (6.4: 95% CI 5.5 to 7.3), gastrointestinal system (5.6: 95% CI 4.9 to 6.6) and the skin and subcutaneous tissue (4.6; 95% CI 4.0 to 5.4). Infections accounted for 54.5% of all illness and 26.1% of illness resulted in time loss of ≥1 day. In over 50% of illnesses, symptoms were present for ≥1 day before being reported to the team physician., Conclusion: Infective illness involving the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract together with dermatological illness was common in elite rugby players participating in this international tournament. A delay in reporting of symptoms >24 h could have important clinical implications in player medical care.