Is Concept of ‘Style’ Used or Abused in Psychology?

The concept of style is very common in Psychology. Tracking that stylistic approach, we were interested, is this approach just on the level of use, or probably, it is overused, or even its abused. In order to obtain basic information that can lead us further, we conduct analysis of the Encyclopedia Dictionary (content, text and discourse analysis), following strict methodological procedure. We figured out that there is a stylistic intention, and that although the style is not explained as a key concept in the dictionary, it was used for explanation of different concepts, both alone or as a part of complex concept. Although, its most prominent usage was as cognitive style, as a word "style" it was mentioned 691 times, or one word "style” on every sixth page. We suppose that stylistic approach in psychology is offering possibility for generalization (scientific aspect) as well appreciation of individuality. Probably the "Style "concept is overused, and still it is not abused. We can support the thesis that style is still in style.Keywords: style, content, text, discourse analysis, cognitive style, scientific generalization, individuality

Proactive Coping Inventory – Test-Retest Data on Macedonian Population

The presented analysis concerning the Proactive Coping Inventory test-retest data on Macedonian population was conducted in two time frames, first in 2003/2004 and consequently in 2013 in order to determine whether there are differences in the use of proactive coping as a healthy way of coping with stressful experiences having on mind the constant changes in everyday life and environment. The analysis was done for the purpose of initiating further research in the field of coping styles and promoting proactive coping.Keywords: Coping, Proactive Coping, Proactive Coping Inventory

Poli(laktid-ko-glikolid) mikročestice kao sustav za kontrolirano oslobađanje proteina: priprava i karakterizacija

Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PDLLGA) and poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLLGA) copolymers were prepared by bulk ring opening polymerization of lactide and glycolide and characterized by GPC, FTIR, 1H NMR and DSC. Copolymers with different molar masses at a constant lactide/glycolide ratio were used for preparation of bovine serum albumin (BSA)-loaded microparticles by the double emulsion w/o/w method. The influence of the copolymer molar mass and composition on the microparticle morphology, size, yield, degradation rate, BSA-loading efficiency and BSA release profile were studied. For microparticles prepared from PDLLGA copolymers, a biphasic profile for BSA release was found and for those made from PLLGA copolymers the release profile was typically triphasic; both of them were characterized by high initial burst release. Possible reasons for such behavior are discussed.Poli(DL-laktid-ko-glikolid) (PDLLGA) i poli(L-laktid-ko-glikolid) (PLLGA) kopolimeri priređeni su polimerizacijom laktida i glikolida uz otvaranje prstenova i karakterizirani pomoću GPC, FTIR, 1H NMR i DSC. Kopolimeri različitih molarnih masa i stalnog omjera laktida i glikolida upotrebljeni su za pripravu mikročestica s goveđim serumskim albuminom (BSA) metodom dvostruke emulzije tipa voda/ulje/voda. Proučavan je utjecaj molarne mase i sastava kopolimera na oblik, veličinu, iskorištenje i stupanj razgradnje mikročestica, uklapanje i oslobađanje BSA. Za mikročestice pripravljene s PDLLGA kopolimerom utvrđen je bifazični profil oslobađanja BSA, a za mikročestice s PLLGA kopolimerom trifazičan profil. Za obje vrste karakteristično je brzo početno oslobađanje. Razmatrani su mogući uzroci takvog ponašanja

Television Induced Fear Scale, Coping Strategies to Reduce Fear from TV and Television Mediation Scale – Adaptation Process on Macedonian Sample-Our Experience

The presented results were obtained from a pilot study concerning the children’s television watching habits (aged 9 to 12), their fright reactions and their way of coping with the fear. In the following text we present a detailed report of the adaptation process of the scales: “Television Induced Fear Scale”, “Coping Strategies to Reduce Fear from TV” and “Television Mediation Scale”.Keywords: Television, Fear, Media, Mediation, Coping

Model framework for off label use of medicines

Background The drug licensing regulatory system ensures that marketed drugs to be used, meet the high standards and requirements for quality, efficacy and safety. Unfortunately, in practice, prescribers are often obliged to deviate from granted medicine marketing authorisation, due to the lack of availability of appropriate medicines for patient’s therapeutic needs and progress. This concept of medicines use not mentioned in the approved labelling (FDA Modernization Act) or outside of the terms of Summary of Product Characteristics regarding indication, age, dosage, pharmaceutical form and route of administration (British NHS Guideline) is defined as off-label use of licensed medicines. On the global level, many supportive evidence and health care needs confirm that off-label medicines use occurs in every country and each level or specialty area of healthcare (Conroy, 2003). Moreover, it is an integral part of Good Medical Practice and may provide the best available option or even the standard of care in a particular health condition (Dresser and Frader, 2009). In general, this concept is legal and may be appropriate, but it can be associated with safety, clinical and ethical concerns, emphasizing the increased incidence of adverse events associated with off-label medicines uses in particularly vulnerable patient groups (Gazarian and Kelly, 2006). A concerning issue is that the majority of all off-label uses have limited to no scientific support (Radley et al., 2006) and a considerable number of prescribers have no or limited knowledge about off-label medicine use or do not meet regulations regarding off-label use, if they exist. (Piñeiro Pérez et al., 2014). Experience shows that to ensure the quality of off-label use of medicines, there should be a formal mechanism to assess the feasibility, monitoring the safety and efficiency of medication used based on this concept.Thus, in continuum, the off-label use of medicines has been an essential part of the ethical and legal considerations as well as, many regulatory initiatives. The overall objective is to present a model regulatory framework setting out guidelines and recommendations for quality use of off-label medicines within the national profile of health care policy. A literature search was undertaken to identify the issues and challenges related to off-label medicines use including clinical, safety and ethical concerns. Recommendations for model framework Principles of good practice for off-label use of medicines should include the following elements: identifying the medical needs; compilation of a consensus list of accepted, scientific based off-label uses; creating an official expert group for the evaluation and approval of specific offlabel uses; and, providing a safe and effective supply. The main guiding principles and developed activities to support a responsible decision-making with regard to off-label medicines include: 1) the medical need- the best avail- S7 OP 290 608 Maced. pharm. bull., 62 (suppl) 607 - 608 (2016) Oral presentations Continuing professional development able treatment in cases of specific characteristics when authorized medicines cannot meet the patients’ need; 2) sufficient scientific basis and/or clinical practice experience to justify their action. Distinguish the routine off-label use, which is the use of these medicines based on “high quality” evidence and the use in specific exceptional circumstances; 3) information duty and a high degree of respect for patient rights, involving the patient/carer in decisionmaking process; 4) monitoring and reporting the outcomes, efficiency and adverse reactions; 5) considering self-monitoring of prescribing practices, liability and accountability. An additional special responsibility which among others falls on pharmacists should be to ensure that the prescriber is conscious for off-label prescribing and the reasons for that 6) production of compendia of certain medicines, enlisting those off-label uses judged to be legitimate.7) financial sustainability of an off-label use in medical practice. Before deciding to compound a patient-specific preparation, a step by step evaluation of alternatives should be made. These alternatives include a therapeutic alternative, dose rounding or manipulation of licensed dosage forms (splitting tablets, crushing tablets/opening capsules, dispersing their content in water or food, splitting suppositories, the use of a preparation designed for another route of administration). Conclusion Prescription, compounding, dispensing and administration of off label use of medicines should be regulated within the national profile of health care policy. The regulation regarding the practice of off-label medicine use differs between countries. Some countries have this practice regulated by law, while in others it is covered by good practice regulations or general professional recommendations and ethical standards. Assuming that there is no any general rule to regulate the “accurate” offlabel use of medicines it is of paramount importance for the countries to find a national solution to fulfil the ethical and legal demand, especially in the areas of pharmaceutical law and health insurance law. The common elements of these regulatory frameworks are the physicians’ freedom to prescribe off-label medicines if the scientific evidence exists and the need to inform patients when making this decision. Making policy efforts, by adopting appropriate guidelines for off-label medicines use, based on scientific evidence, with specifications of healthcare professionals’ responsibilities and a registry of off-label drug use in every day practice, would make possible a valuable approach towards ensuring a quality use of these medicines. Recommended solutions, as practiced in some countries, would support prescribes in more direct and active approach to handle the ethical and legal phenomenon associated with the off-label use of medicines

Tuberculosis in the Prisons in the Republic of Macedonia, 2008-2017

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem in penitentiary institutions (prisons), and its prevalence was reported to be multiple times higher compared to that of the general population. Conditions such as overcrowding, malnutrition and limited access to medical care which often exist in prisons increase the risk of reactivation, transmission and poor prognosis of tuberculosis disease among inmates.AIM: The main objective of this study was to present the epidemiological situation of TB in the prisons from 2008 till 2017 in the Republic of Macedonia (RM).PATIENTS AND METHODS: There are 13 different penitentiary institutions in the RM with a total capacity to house 2600 prisons inmates. Management of TB in the prisons is part of the National TB program in RM, and the Institute for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis in Skopje is in charge of it. All prisoners with TB in the RM are registered in the Central Register for TB within this Institute. We use the data from the Central Register, and with the method of description, we present the epidemiological data and clinical characteristics of the prisoners about TB in prisons in RM for 10 years’ period.RESULTS: From 2008 till 2017 there were 58 TB cases registered in prisons in total. The absolute number of TB cases in the prisons is not big, but the incidence rate is higher than 100/100,000 population, or several times bigger than in the general population (except in 2012 and 2016). In 2017 there were 10 TB cases registered in the prisons with an incidence rate of 323.9/100,000 population which is many times higher than in the general population in RM. The majority of inmates with TB were young men with risk factors for TB infection or TB disease before incarceration such as drug abuse, alcohol, smoking, but there was no association with HIV infection. The most of the patients diagnosed in prison were new cases (54), secondary TB due to reactivation from the latent TB infection or secondary TB due to the environment. From 2008-2017 there were 82.75% successfully treated TB cases in the prisons, and there were no cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).CONCLUSION: The results from our study showed that the TB control in the prisons in RM is good with satisfactory treatment outcome. On the other hand, the high incidence rate showed that the prisons in RM provide conditions for TB transmission and with other additional risk factors present place for high TB prevalence. The study findings can be used for planning more effective TB control interventions for the prison population in RM

Maja Kikiritkova with participation of Queen's Day 2009

Fashion show – Inspired by the Netherlands (Macedonian designers and fashion students) (Jovan Petrovski, Nikola Buleski, Maja Kikiritkova, Daniela Simonovska, Hristina Despotovska