The influence of strategic entrepreneurship on firm performance

In the study the recently developed concept of strategic entrepreneurship was addressed with the aim to investigate the underlying factors and components constituting the concept and their influence on firm performance. As the result of analysis of existing literature and empirical studies the model of strategic entrepreneurship for the current study is developed with the emphasis on exploration and exploitation parts of the concept. The research model is tested on the data collected in the project ―Factors of growth and success of entrepreneurial firms in Russia‖ by Center for Entrepreneurship of GSOM in 2007 containing answers of owners and managers of 500 firms operating in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Multiple regression analysis showed that exploration and exploitation presented by entrepreneurial values, investments in internal resources, knowledge management and developmental changes are significant factors constituting strategic entrepreneurship and having positive relation to firm performance. The theoretical contribution of the work is linked to development and testing of the model of strategic entrepreneurship. The results can be implemented in management practices of companies willing to engage in strategic entrepreneurship and increase their firm performance

Impact of hypoglycemia on daily life of type 2 diabetes patients in Ukraine

This study evaluates the impact of hypoglycemia on the lives of Ukrainian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The secondary objective was to explore patient-physician relationships and the attitudes of patients towards various informational resources on diabetes management. Three focus groups with 26 patients were conducted. Qualitative information was evaluated using content analysis. The results show that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ukraine are adapting to potential attacks of hypoglycemia; however, they still experience periodic manifestations of hypoglycemia that significantly affect their psychological well-being. This result is similar to observations made in other countries. Ukrainian patients >40 years old mainly receive information on disease management from endocrinologists, and rarely use internet resources on diabetes management. Information provision was especially important at the early stage of the disease, when patients lack information on hypoglycemia manifestations and could therefore fail to identify and manage it properly

Strategic priorities and forms of the applying ethnopolitics in the Arctic areas of the Russian Federation

The article is dealing with the process of evolution of strategic priorities and practical forms of the realization of the ethnic policy in Russia on the example of the Arctic regions in the post-Soviet period. It is proved that the ethnopolitics of each Arctic region of the Russian Federation has its distinctive features, due to the complex of the reasons of its climatic, socio-economic, political and cultural nature. The differentiation of regional, national practices was more clearly manifested in the 1990s when in the Arctic regions, as well as in the whole country, the processes of sovereignty and politicization of ethnicity were observed. With the normalization of relations between the Federal center and regions, the separation of powers between the center and the entities of the Russian Federation at the turn of XX-XXI centuries, the Arctic regions are starting to build their ethnonational policy according to the strategic vision of the center. However, in the first decade of the XXI century, the ethnopolitics of the Arctic regions was more focused on the demonstration of ethnocultural diversity to the detriment of the ideas of consolidation of Russian society, which created the basis for ethnocultural mobilization and ethnic-egoism. The Strategy of the national policy of the Russian Federation 2012, contains conceptual foundations of nation-building and is biased in favor of the strengthening the unity of the multiethnic people and the state on the principles of civil solidarity. The policy of the Arctic regions begins to integrate into the all-Russian logic of the normalization of inter-ethnic relations. Ethnicity-related issues in the contemporary agenda are intimately connected with the security ones. The results of the sociological surveys and monitoring of the interethnic tensions suggest that regional authorities can control the current situation. Arctic territories are considered as the regions with the low and meager rate of ethnic tensions. However, contradictions between local people and migrants, old-timers and new settlers, Russian ethnic groups and indigenous peoples for similar rights and privileges are in the latent stage

Phosphorylation of Protein Kinase Akt by Mtorc2 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Cancer and Diabetes

Akt/mTOR/p70S6K1 signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer and diabetes. Macrophages and lymphocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes, diabetic atherosclerosis, formation of insulin resistance as well as immune response to cancer and tumor maintenance. The aim of the study was to determine the Akt activation by mTORC2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) of patients with type 2 diabetes and cancer. The following groups were studied: control group, patients with type 2 diabetes, cancer patients and patients with both cancer and diabetes. The amounts of phospho-Akt (р-S473) and phospho-p70S6K1 (p-T389) were determined using ELISA kits. The amount of phosphorylated Akt significantly increases in PBMC of patients with cancer. There was no effect in PBMC from patients with type 2 diabetes and significant decrease in the amount of phospho-Akt in PBMC of the patients group both with cancer and diabetes. p70S6K1 activation was observed in PBMC of the groups 2 and 3 patients. Thus, chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cancer can affect the signaling mechanisms in blood cells. The state of Akt phosphorylation in leukocytes can indicate the activity of mTORC1 and its substrates, which may be important for the evaluation of the pathological process and the efficacy of the drugs

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Study of the Association Between Antihyperglycemic Therapy and Cancer in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The objective of the research was to investigate the features and association of antihyperglycemic therapy and cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods. The study included the analysis of medical records of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were diagnosed with cancer during 2012-2016. The obtained results were processed by statistical methods using the software packages Microsoft Excel and Statistika-12. The significance of differences between the frequency of using different treatment schemes was assessed by the Pearson’s test (χ²). To determine the risk of predicted events, the odds ratio, the 95% confidence interval, the positive and negative prognostic values were calculated. Results. There were diagnosed 533 cases of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The most common scheme of antihyperglycemic therapy prior to the detection of malignant diseases was a combination of metformin and sulfonylurea derivatives (35.65%), as well as monotherapy with sulfonylurea derivatives (17.26%) and metformin (11.28%). Prior to diagnosing cancer in 396 (74.30%) patients, antihyperglycemic therapyalong with sulfonylurea derivatives and insulin was used. Among obese patients 68.82% used sulfonylureas and insulin as part of antidiabetic therapy before diagnosis of cancer. The connection between insulin therapy and the risk of cancer development in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was proved (the odds ratio=2.35; the 95% confidence interval (1.91 - 2.91); p&lt;0.001). Conclusions. Prior to the detection of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the combination therapy with metformin and sulfonylurea derivatives was most often used. The association between insulin therapy and the development of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was revealed. Cancer screening is advisable for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, who receive as a therapy sulfonylurea derivates and/or insulin

Study of the Association Between Antihyperglycemic Therapy and Cancer in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The objective of the research was to investigate the features and association of antihyperglycemic therapy and cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. The study included the analysis of medical records of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were diagnosed with cancer during 2012-2016. The obtained results were processed by statistical methods using the software packages Microsoft Excel and Statistika-12. The significance of differences between the frequency of using different treatment schemes was assessed by the Pearson’s test (χ²). To determine the risk of predicted events, the odds ratio, the 95% confidence interval, the positive and negative prognostic values were calculated.&#x0D; Results. There were diagnosed 533 cases of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The most common scheme of antihyperglycemic therapy prior to the detection of malignant diseases was a combination of metformin and sulfonylurea derivatives (35.65%), as well as monotherapy with sulfonylurea derivatives (17.26%) and metformin (11.28%). Prior to diagnosing cancer in 396 (74.30%) patients, antihyperglycemic therapyalong with sulfonylurea derivatives and insulin was used. Among obese patients 68.82% used sulfonylureas and insulin as part of antidiabetic therapy before diagnosis of cancer. The connection between insulin therapy and the risk of cancer development in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was proved (the odds ratio=2.35; the 95% confidence interval (1.91 - 2.91); p&lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusions. Prior to the detection of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the combination therapy with metformin and sulfonylurea derivatives was most often used. The association between insulin therapy and the development of cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was revealed. Cancer screening is advisable for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity, who receive as a therapy sulfonylurea derivates and/or insulin.</jats:p