Corporate Social Responsibility as a Strategic Tool: Impact on Stakeholder Perceptions and Organizational Performance. Case Study: The Pharma Industry

This article examines the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategic tool and its impact on stakeholder perceptions and organizational performance within the pharmaceutical (pharma) industry. As societal expectations for ethical business practices intensify, pharma companies increasingly leverage CSR to enhance reputation and cultivate positive stakeholder relationships. Drawing on a compelling case study of a prominent pharma firm, this research investigates the implementation of CSR initiatives and their tangible effects on public perception, employee engagement, and investor confidence. The study reveals how well-integrated CSR strategies can augment organizational performance, providing valuable insights for industry players aiming to fortify sustainable practices and foster competitive advantage

Exploring the Role of Leadership in Shaping Successful Strategic Management Practices

Effective strategic management is critical for the success and sustainability of organizations in today's dynamic and competitive business landscape. However, strategic management practices are not solely dependent on methodologies and tools; they are heavily influenced by leadership. This research aims to delve into the crucial role of leadership in shaping successful strategic management practices. By examining the interplay between leadership styles, decision-making processes, and organizational culture, this study seeks to provide valuable insights into how effective leaders can drive strategic success

Nutritional patterns in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a public health problem due not only to the heavy burden of renal replacement therapy, but also to the increased cardiovascular risk and higher mortality. Emerging evidence suggests that dietary patterns play a more significant role than the nutrients in CKD. Thus, several macronutrients, especially high protein intake, could be risk factors for CKD, while a vegetarian, Mediterranean or a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet could be at least as effective as protein restriction in reducing CKD progression. This review summarizes both the association between several macro-/micronutrients and CKD, and the existing data on the relationship between dietary patterns and renal outcome

The QUEST initiative anemia study in ESRD: rationale and study protocol

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Evaluation of calcium acetate/magnesium carbonate as a phosphate binder compared with sevelamer hydrochloride in haemodialysis patients: a controlled randomized study (CALMAG study) assessing efficacy and tolerability

Background. Phosphate binders are required to control serum phosphorus in dialysis patients. A phosphate binder combining calcium and magnesium offers an interesting therapeutic option

Safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral iron in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD: an analysis of the 1-year FIND-CKD trial.

Background: The evidence base regarding the safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete and largely based on small studies of relatively short duration. Methods: FIND-CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994318) was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, prospective study of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD, anemia and iron deficiency randomized (1:1:2) to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), targeting higher (400-600 µg/L) or lower (100-200 µg/L) ferritin, or oral iron. A post hoc analysis of adverse event rates per 100 patient-years was performed to assess the safety of FCM versus oral iron over an extended period. Results: The safety population included 616 patients. The incidence of one or more adverse events was 91.0, 100.0 and 105.0 per 100 patient-years in the high ferritin FCM, low ferritin FCM and oral iron groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events with a suspected relation to study drug was 15.9, 17.8 and 36.7 per 100 patient-years in the three groups; for serious adverse events, the incidence was 28.2, 27.9 and 24.3 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of cardiac disorders and infections was similar between groups. At least one ferritin level ≥800 µg/L occurred in 26.6% of high ferritin FCM patients, with no associated increase in adverse events. No patient with ferritin ≥800 µg/L discontinued the study drug due to adverse events. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained the stable in all groups. Conclusions: These results further support the conclusion that correction of iron deficiency anemia with IV FCM is safe in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD

Keto-analogues in pre-dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease patients: Review of Old and new data

Recently revealed high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) raises concerns all over the world; evidence based strategies to delay progression were set up. Dietary approach is largely mentioned, but strong evidence is lacking. The reduced dietary protein intake has been reported for more than a century to improve uremic symptoms and even to postpone the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT); however, the nutritional intervention in uremia is still under debate. Different dietary protein regimens have been proposed for the CKD patients: (1) conventional low protein diet (LPD), with 0.6 g/kg per day; (2) very low protein diet (0.3 g/kg per day) supplemented with essential amino acids or (3) very low protein diet (0.3 g/kg per day) supplemented with an isomolar mixture of essential amino acids and nitrogen-free keto-analogues (SVLPD). Available data support SVLPD to be effective in ameliorating nitrogen waste products retention, acid-base and calcium-phosphorus metabolism disturbances and insulin-resistance and in delaying the RRT initiation, with no deleterious effect on the nutritional status in CKD patients.More recent studies report that SVLPD could also slow down the rate of decline in renal function, preserving the nutritional status and associating better outcome after the start of RRT. The possible delay of RRT initiation through nutrition could have major impact on patients’ quality of life. On the other hand, postponing RRT could have also a serious economic impact, particularly important in countries where the dialysis facilities still do not meet the needs. The nutritional intervention, particularly the SVLPD could be a new link in the RRT integrated care model. However, a careful selection of motivated patients who could benefit from such a diet, close nutritional monitoring and dietary counseling are highly required

BOALA CRONICĂ DE RINICHI – O PROVOCARE PENTRU SISTEMELE DE SĂNĂTATE

The prevalance of chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to increase worldwide, and despite treatment advances, it remains an important global public health issue. Decision makers must account for multiple therapeutic options, comorbidities and complications. In the present review we aimed to synthesize the various public health approches to CKD control and compare them to the national policy in order to highlight key issues and possible solutions. Keywords: chronic kidney disease, prevalence, health systems, informatization informatizare.Prevalența bolii cronice de rinichi (BCR) este în continuă creștere și, în ciuda progreselor terapeutice, rămâne o importantă problemă de sănătate publică. Factorii decizionali trebuie să țină cont de multiplele opțiuni terapeutice, comorbidități și complicații ale BCR. Pentru a evidenția problemele principale și a oferi posibile soluții în managementul BCR, au fost sintetizate abordările sistemelor de sănătate internaționale, comparativ cu politicile de sănătate naționale. Cuvinte cheie: boala cronică de rinichi, prevalență, sisteme de sănătate, informatizare

Low-Protein Diets Could Be Effective and Safe in Elderly Patients with Advanced Diabetic Kidney Disease

Low-protein diets (LPDs) seem to improve metabolic complications of advanced CKD, thus postponing kidney replacement therapy (KRT) initiation. However, the nutritional safety of LPDs remains debatable in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD), especially in the elderly. This is a sub-analysis of a prospective unicentric interventional study which assessed the effects of LPD in patients with advanced DKD, focusing on the feasibility and safety of LPD in elderly patients. Ninety-two patients with DKD and stable CKD stage 4+, proteinuria >3 g/g creatininuria, good nutritional status, with confirmed compliance to protein restriction, were enrolled and received LPD (0.6 g mixed proteins/kg-day) supplemented with ketoanalogues of essential amino acids for 12 months. Of the total group, 42% were elderly with a median eGFR 12.6 mL/min and a median proteinuria 5.14 g/g creatininuria. In elderly patients, proteinuria decreased by 70% compared to baseline. The rate of kidney function decline was 0.1 versus 0.5 mL/min-month before enrolment. Vascular events occurred in 15% of cases, not related to nutritional intervention, but to the severity of CKD and higher MAP. LPDs seem to be safe and effective in postponing KRT in elderly patients with advanced DKD while preserving the nutritional status

SOURCES OF STRESS AND WELL-BEING IN DENTAL STUDENTS

Introduction: Psychological well-being is an important health component, which influences the ability to learn and achieve the maximum professional potential. The aim of this study was to identify the sources of stress and assess well-being in dental students. Materials and methods: Am observational study was implemented on a convenience sample of 2nd and 3rd year dental students, from “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania. There was collected data upon sources of stress, by the usage of a modified version of Dental Environment Stress (DES) questionnaire, and psychological well-being assessed by WHOFive Well-being Index. Results: The identified primary sources of stress perceived by the dental students were competition for grades, examinations, lack of time for relaxation, expectation versus reality of dental school and shortage of allocated clinical time. From the domains of DES questionnaire, most stressful were perceived those related to academic factors, respectively in descending order: the “academic work”, “clinical factors” and “educational environment”. By multiple regression analysis there was observed that only stressors of “education environment” domain significantly predicts dental student’ psychological well-being. Conclusion: Future research is recommended in order to identify the best approaches for the implementation of education in dental schools