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A turbulent manufacturing market, especially in the metal industry, determines the quality of products and the level of production efficiency, which contributes to a company's market position and competitiveness. The aim of the study was to develop a model to define a manufacturing company's current market position using KPIs in relation to a key product - gearbox casting. The company's position was defined in terms of the relationship occurring between technological capabilities and market position. An additional aim of the study was to identify critical determinants and, ultimately, to identify conditions for strengthening market position. As a test of the proposed model, the position of the analysed company (in terms of technological capabilities and market position) was defined as "Search for occasions" - box 9 within the 3×3 matrix. Technological determinants that weaken the company's position (low level of maintenance capacity and long production cycle time) and determinants with a strong negative impact on market position (low level of human resource development) were identified. An element of novelty is the use of KPIs as variables determining the position of the company within the 3×3 matrix, which is indicative of a specific technological position in the market. Further lines of research will concern the determination of appropriate KPIs in relation to the identified critical areas of the company. Subsequent steps will concern the implications of the model in relation to the company's other key aluminium alloy castings.

The most critical activities influencing the success of each company are continuous improvement of the quality of manufactured products and monitoring of the production process. Skillful use of available technologies and quality management tools allows for eliminating casting non-conformities and preventing their repetition in the future. The research aimed to analyze the types of defects occurring in castings, the location of their most frequent occurrence areas, and to identify the causes of defects in castings of bearing housings used in rail vehicles. The benefits of a combination of quality management tools for diagnosing material discontinuities in the analyzed castings are presented in this article.

The economic progress of recent years has contributed to the fact that both the quality of products and services offered and ISO standardization have become priority criterion that determines the success of manufacturing enterprises. Therefore, the monitoring and supervision of processes carried out in manufacturing companies is a key issue. These aspects support the achievement of key economic and quality objectives. The paper presents the results of a study on manufacturing enterprises in the context of process monitoring maturity. The research objective of the study was to determine the level of maturity in the use of process monitoring techniques and methods in manufacturing enterprises. The subject of the research were the techniques and methods used by the surveyed enterprises in such areas as: production management, machinery park management, warehouse management, transport management, inventory and supply management and IT tools. In order to determine the level of maturity, the author’s model was used, according to which the level of maturity of a manufacturing enterprise in the area of process monitoring depends on the instrumentation that is used in it.

Currently, effective quality management of manufactured products is a factor determining the development of manufacturing companies. However, the identification of the source of non-compliance and the analysis of its causes are sometimes underestimated and are not followed by appropriate methodologies. The study aimed to streamline and improve the production process of aluminium pistons for passenger cars by solving the problem related to a significant number of non-compliant products. The analysis of types of nonconformities identified through penetration testing was performed. The use of histogram, brainstorming session and Pareto-Lorenz diagram was proposed, which allowed identifying the causes of the problem. The presented solution shows the practical effectiveness of a sequence of selected instruments to solve production problems. The proposed sequence of methods can be implied in other qualitative analyses in different companies.

Designing and proper implementation of effective processes and providing the customer with high quality products undoubtedly determines the stable position on the market. The aim of the study was to analyse the cost and value of the technological process of doors in the context of creating added value and to identify unnecessary processes (not creating added value) in relation to which appropriate corrective actions could contribute to their elimination. Thanks to the application of remedial measures, consistent with the lean manufacturing concept, the study eliminated, among other things, operations related to unnecessary transport and storage of products, which resulted in both the reduction of time and costs of process implementation.

The publication analyses the way of managing and improving the quality of the production process of aluminum pistons for internal combustion engines. The aim of the article is to propose a method of analysis of the effectiveness of individual control methods used in the process of controlling the aluminium piston. Thanks to the location of a control point with the highest share of product non-compliance detection in the production process, it is possible to reduce quality control points by less effective points, which will contribute to lower costs or shorten the time of production processes. In view of the increasing demands on the efficiency of the checkpoints for components in internal combustion engines, the issue is important and topical.

All castings can have defects caused by, for example, deviations in material characteristics, structure or properties, but the skillful use of available technologies and quality management tools allows for the detection and elimination of casting incompatibilities as well as the prevention of their recurrence in the future. The aim of the article was to analyse the types of defects in castings, locate the areas with the most frequent occurrence of defects and identify the reasons for the presence of defects in castings of the control panel and its cover. The paper presents the usefulness of a combination of quality management instruments for diagnosing material discontinuities in the analyzed castings.

A photocode in Polish is a common name for a two-dimensional code, which is characterized by higher information capacity than a traditional barcode. The paper analyses the use of the two-dimensional coding system - DataMatrix to identify and classify the material stream in the production process. The analysis showed the effectiveness of the implementation of the coding system in the context of increased availability, machine use and increased product quality. The improvement in the production process is confirmed by an increase in the OEE index. As part of further improvement measures, the coding system should be implemented throughout the enterprise, its compatibility with existing systems should be ensured and applied to all products.

Background: Chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) are small proteins which are engaged in many pathophysiological processes, including inflammation and homeostasis. In recent years, application of chemokines in transplant medicine was intensively studied. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of urinary chemokines CCL2 (C-C motif ligand 2) and CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10) in prognosis of 5-year graft failure and mortality post 1-year protocol biopsy in renal transplant recipients., Methods: Forty patients who had a protocol biopsy 1 year after renal transplantation were included. Concentrations of CCL2 and CXCL10 in urine with reference to urine creatinine were measured. All patients were under the supervision of one transplant center. Long-term outcomes within 5 years after 1-year posttransplant biopsy were analyzed., Results: Urinary CCL2:Cr at the time of biopsy was significantly increased in patients who died or had graft failure. CCL2:Cr was proven to be a significant predictor of 5-year graft failure and mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.19, p = .02; OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.16, p = .04; respectively)., Conclusion: Chemokines are easily detected by current methods. In the era of personalized medicine, urinary CCL2:Cr can be considered as a factor providing complementary information regarding risk of graft failure or increased mortality., (© 2023 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The chronic kidney disease (CKD) population, including kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and subjects on renal replacement therapy, is particularly vulnerable to unfavorable outcomes from chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Currently, there are oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) available to eradicate the virus with favorable short-term outcomes; however, their long-term effects are lacking. The aim of the study is to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of DAA therapy in the CKD population., Methods: An observational, cohort single-center study was performed. Fifty-nine CHC subjects with CKD, treated with DAAs between 2016 and 2018, were enrolled in the study. Safety and efficacy profiles were assessed, including sustained virologic response (SVR), occult hepatitis C infection (OCI) incidence, and liver fibrosis., Results: SVR was achieved in 96% of cases (n = 57). OCI was diagnosed only in one subject following SVR. Significant liver stiffness regression was observed 4 years after SVR compared to baseline values (Mdn = 6.1 kPa, IQR = 3.75 kPa; 4.9 kPa, IQR = 2.9 kPa), p < 0.001. The most common adverse events were anemia, weakness, and urinary tract infection., Conclusion: DAAs provide a safe and effective cure for CHC in both CKD patients and KTRs with a favorable safety profile in the long-term follow-up.

The post-transplant evolution of antihuman leukocyte antigen donor-specific antibodies (anti-HLA DSAs) includes three clinical patterns: resolved preformed DSAs, persistent preformed DSAs, and de novo DSAs. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the impact of resolved preformed, persistent preformed, and de novo anti-HLA-A, -B, and -DR DSAs in kidney transplant recipients on long-term renal allograft outcomes. This is a post hoc analysis of the study conducted in our transplant center. One hundred eight kidney transplant recipients were included in the study. Patients were followed for a minimum of 24 months after allograft biopsy, which was performed 3 to 24 months after kidney transplantation. The identification of persistent preformed DSAs at the time of biopsy was the most significant predictor of the combined endpoint of the study (>30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate or death-censored graft loss; HR = 5.96, 95% CI 2.041-17.431, p = 0.0011), followed by the occurrence of de novo DSAs (HR = 4.48, 95% CI 1.483-13.520, p = 0.0079). No increased risk was observed in patients with resolved preformed DSAs (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.139-8.676, p = 0.9305). Patients with resolved preformed DSAs have similar graft prognoses as patients without DSAs, therefore, the persistence of preformed DSAs and development of de novo DSAs are associated with inferior long-term allograft outcomes.

Post-transplant antihuman leukocyte antigen donor-specific antibodies (anti-HLA DSAs) monitoring in kidney transplant recipients remains unclear and is currently under investigation. The pathogenicity of anti-HLA DSAs is determined by antibody classes, specificity, mean fluorescent intensity (MFI), C1q-binding capacity, and IgG subclasses. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of circulating DSAs and their characteristics with renal allograft long-term outcomes. The study included 108 consecutive patients from our transplant center who underwent kidney allograft biopsy between November 2018 and November 2020, 3 to 24 months after kidney transplantation. At the time of biopsy, patients' sera were collected for analysis of anti-HLA DSAs. Patients were followed for a median time of 39.0 months (Q1-Q3, 29.8-45.0). Detection of anti-HLA DSAs at the time of biopsy (HR = 5.133, 95% CI 2.150-12.253, p = 0.0002) and their C1q-binding capacity (HR = 14.639, 95% CI 5.320-40.283, p ≤ 0.0001) were independent predictors of the composite of sustained 30% reduction from estimated glomerular filtration rate or death-censored graft failure. Identification of anti-HLA DSAs and their C1q-binding capacity could be useful in identifying kidney transplant recipients at risk for inferior renal allograft function and graft failure. Analysis of C1q is noninvasive, accessible, and should be considered in clinical practice in post-transplant monitoring.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in Germany. Around 60,000 people were diagnosed CRC in 2016 in Germany. Since 2019, screening colonoscopies are offered in Germany for men by the age of 50 and for women by the age of 55. It is recently discussed if women should also undergo a screening colonoscopy by the age of 50 and if there are any predictors for getting CRC., Methods: Colonoscopies of 1553 symptomatic patients younger than 55 years were compared with colonoscopies of 1075 symptomatic patients older than 55 years. We analyzed if there are any significant differences between those two groups in the prevalence of CRC and its precursor lesions or between symptomatic men and women. We evaluated if there is a correlation between abdominal symptoms and the prevalence of CRC., Results: In 164/1553 symptomatic patients, 194 (12.5%) polyps were detected. In total, six colorectal carcinomas (0.4%) were detected. There were no significant differences between men and women. In symptomatic patients ≥ 55 years, significantly more polyps were found (p<0.0001; 26.6% vs. 12.5%). Totally, 286 polyps (26.6%) were removed in 1075 symptomatic patients older than 55 years. Anorectal bleeding was the only abdominal symptom being a significant indicator for the prevalence of the occurrence of colon and rectum cancer in both groups (p=0.03, OR=2.73 95%-CI [1.11;6.70]), but with only low sensitivity (44%)., Conclusion: Due to no significant differences in men and women, we recommend screening colonoscopies also for women by the age of 50., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Human Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (hKIM-1) was proposed as urinary biomarker of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The aim of the study was to validate urinary hKIM-1 as a biomarker of RCC., Material and Methods: Forty-six participants were enrolled into the study, including 30 patients with clear-cell or papillary RCC and 16 matched patients in the comparison group. Preoperative urinary hKIM-1 levels were measured using commercially available ELISA kit and normalized to urinary creatinine levels., Results: The concentrations of urinary hKIM-1 normalized to urinary creatinine in patients with RCC and comparison group did not differ significantly (1.35 vs. 1.32 ng/mg creatinine, p=.25). There was also no difference in urinary hKIM-1 concentration regarding stage or grade of renal cancer. Additional analysis of patients without chronic kidney disease (defined as eGFR ≥60mL/min/1.73m²) also did not reveal significant difference in urinary hKIM-1 concentrations between the groups (1.54 vs. 1.37; p=.47)., Conclusion: Results of our study do not confirm recent suggestions that urinary hKIM-1 may be a biomarker of RCC.

Chronic renal allograft dysfunction (CAD) is a major limiting factor of long-term graft survival. The hallmarks of progressive CAD are interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). MicroRNAs are small, regulatory RNAs involved in many immunological processes. In particular, microRNA-21-5p (miR-21) is considered to be strongly associated with pathogenesis regarding tubulointerstitium. The aim of this study was to assess urinary miR-21 expression levels in the kidney transplant recipients and determine their application in the evaluation of IFTA and kidney allograft function. The expression levels of miR-21 were quantified in the urine of 31 kidney transplant recipients with biopsy-assessed IFTA (IFTA 0 + I: n = 17; IFTA II + III: n = 14) by real-time quantitative PCR. Urine samples were collected at the time of protocolar biopsies performed 1 or 2 years after kidney transplantation. MicroRNA-191-5p was used as reference gene. MiR-21 was significantly up-regulated in IFTA II + III group compared to IFTA 0 + I group ( p = 0.003). MiR-21 correlated significantly with serum concentration of creatinine (r = 0.52, p = 0.003) and eGFR (r = -0.45; p = 0.01). ROC analysis determined the diagnostic value of miR-21 with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.80 ( p = 0.0002), sensitivity of 0.86 and specificity of 0.71. miR-21 is associated with renal allograft dysfunction and IFTA. Therefore, it could be considered as a potential diagnostic, non-invasive biomarker for monitoring renal graft function.

Simple, precise and accurate densitometric methods were developed for the determination of two antihistamine drugs. rupatadine and fexofenadine. Silica gel 60 F₂₅₄ HPTLC plates were used as stationary phase, while mixtures of acetonitrile - water - 25% ammonia (90 : 10 : 1, v/v/v) and acetonitrile - methanol -acetate buffer at pH 5.5 (3 : 2 : 5, v/v/v) were used as mobile phases for rupatadine and fexofenadine, respectively. The detection of rupatadine and fexofenadine was conducted out at 256 and 210 nm, respectively. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification for rupatadine were found to be 0.3 and 0.1 μg/spot, respectively, and for fexofenadine, 5 and 2 μg/spot, respectively.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) still remains the treatment of choice in symptomatic significant aortic stenosis (AS). Due to technical problems, extensive calcification of the ascending aorta ("porcelain aorta") is an additional risk factor for surgery and transapical aortic valve implantation (TAAVI) is likely to be the only rescue procedure for this group of patients. We describe the case of an 81-year-old woman with severe AS and "porcelain aorta", in whom the only available life-saving intervention was TAAVI.