Corporate social responsibility and customer-based brand equity

Modern conditions for the development of market relations are characterized by a significant increase in globalization, which causes the liberalization of capital flows and significantly increases competition in world markets. In order to successfully operate and continue its development in this or that market, the company must actively fight for customer loyalty. The main objective of the study is to assess the influence of the company's CSR policy on customer loyalty to the «Activia» brand and increase the brand value for the consumer. The result showed that the main satisfaction level of the sample is quite high; almost 70% of respondents can recognize the «Activia» brand among other competing brands; and it was clear that the enterprise should pay more attention to CSR activities to persuading its customer based brand equity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Psycholinguistic Content Analysis of Civil Service Employees’ Values Ensured by Law

Стаття присвячена проблемі ціннісно-нормативної регуляції професійної діяльності у системі державної служби. Проаналізовано поняття цінностей та їх вплив на індивідуальну та організаційну поведінку особистості. Охарактеризовано поняття організаційних цінностей, які формуються на перетині індивідуальної й організаційної свідомості і виступають потужним інструментом розвитку організаційної культури. Визначено, що базовими джерелами формування цінностей державної служби виступає законодавство України, в якому окреслено ціннісні вимоги до виконання професійної діяльності у цій сфері. Обгрунтовано доцільність використання психолінгвістичного методу контент-аналізу для вивчення аксіологічного змісту низки законодавчих документів, описано чітку процедуру його організації та проведення. Розроблено класифікатор контент-аналізу, реєстраційну картку (кодувальну матрицю), протокол результатів, інструкцію кодувальнику, список (каталог) проаналізованих документів. Отримані методом контент-аналізу результати піддано факторному аналізу, на основі якого виділено основні цінності галузевого законодавства у системі державної служби. Встановлено, що слідування декларованим цінностям – необхідна умова відповідності діяльності держслужбовців вимогам законодавства та статуту установи; водночас, особистісні цінності можуть слугувати додатковим стимулом для збільшення ефективності організаційної діяльності. The article deals with the value-normative regulation of professional work in the framework of state service. The concept of “values” and their impact on individual and organizational behavior of the individual has been analysed. The concept of “organizational values”, which are formed at the intersection of individual and organizational consciousness and a powerful tool for the development of organizational culture. The authors have determined that the basic sources of forming values of public service employees is Ukrainian legislation , which outlines the requirements for the implementation of values of professional work in this field. The psycholinguistic method of content analysis used in the study helped examine the content of a number of legislative axiological documents. The tool is an adequate procedure for the organization and carrying out of the study. It envisaged the designing of encoding matrix, scorecard, instruction encoder list (catalog) to analyze the documents. As a result of content analysis along with data factor analysis, basic values of sectoral legislation in the state service have been established. The adherence to the declared values is viewed as a prerequisite that the activities of civil servants correspond to legal requirements and institution charter. Personality values can serve as an additional incentive to increase the organizational efficiency

БИБЛИОТЕРАПИЯ КАК ЭФФЕКТИВНЫЙ МЕТОД РАБОТЫ С ДЕПРЕССИВНЫМИ СОСТОЯНИЯМИ

The article reveals the problem of depressive states of young students and its relevance today in the work of the psychological and pedagogical service of the university. Bibliotherapy is presented as one of the effective art-therapeutic methods in work with depressive states. Two directions of bibliotherapy on the degree of client involvement in the psychothe­rapeutic process are presented. The diagnostic and therapeutic potential of bibliotherapy is described. An attempt has been made to describe the use of bibliotherapy in working with depressive states of modern students.В статье раскрыта проблема депрессивных состояний учащейся молодежи и ее актуальность на сегодняшний день в работе психолого-педагогической службы вуза. Библиотерапия представлена, как один из эффективных арт-терапевтических методов в работе с депрессивными состояниями. Представлено два направления библиотерапии по степени включенности клиента в психотерапевтический процесс. Описан диагностический и терапевтический потенциал библиотерапии. Предпринята попытка описания использования библиотерапии в работе с деприссивными состояниями современной учащейся молодежи

ASSESSING EFFECTS OF CUCURBITURILS ON MONOCYTES AND NK-CELLS IN HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Nanotechnology in immunology is a prospectively developing area in fundamental and practical medicine. Cucurbiturils are macrocyclic cavitands with a definite amount of glycoluril fragments (n) that determine the size of the cavity of these compounds. Nowadays, there are six synthesized homologues: 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 14. They differ from each other in the portal size and the size of the cavities. They are characterized by special physicochemical and biological properties, such as biocompatibility, stability, high ability to encapsulate chemical compounds. It is known that cucurbiturils encapsulate molecules by forming guest-host complexes, which allow the substance to be released from the complex and increase the solubility of the compounds. These advantages allow using cucurbiturils as drug delivery systems. Immunomodulatory activity of cucurbiturils depends on its specific nanoscale characteristics: functional groups, shape, size, surface, solubility in various media. Each nanoparticle depending on these properties has different effects on cells. The effects of cucurbiturils can be different even for one subpopulation of cells, depending on the homologue or dosage. The interaction of innate immune cells with cucurbiturils are not yet sufficiently characterized.The aim of this study was to assess the effects of cucurbit[n]urils (n = 6, n = 7, n = 8) on innate immune cells – monocytes, NK-cells, NKT-cells.The immunological recearch included the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors (n = 8) on the density gradient of ficoll-urografin and flow cytometry with the determination of the amount of immunocompetent cells according to the classic markers of differentiation of these cells – CD3- CD16+CD56+ for NK-cells, CD3+CD16+CD56+ for NKT-cells and CD3- CD14+ for monocytes. Monocyte activation was determined by the expression of surface HLA-DR.The cells were cultured for 72 hours with the addition of cucurbiturils CB[6], CB[7] at concentrations of 0.1 mM, 0.3 mM, 0.5 mM and CB[8] at concentration of 0.01 mM, due to its poor solubility.There were a significant decrease in the quantity of NK-cells (p < 0.01 for the test concentrations of CB[7]), an increase in the quantity of NKT-cells (p < 0.04 and p < 0.02 respectively for the concentrations of CB[6] and CB[7]). There was a tendency to increase the expression of HLA-DR on monocytes (p = 0.06 for CB[6]).Considering a variative effects of cucurbiturils, in the future it is possible to consider a possibility of using cucurbiturils as an immunomodulators, antitumor agents, in autoimmune diseases

Production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils and macrophages of F1 hybrid mice (C57Bl6xCBA) in response to stimulation with cucurbit(n)urils (n = 6, 7, 8)

Background. Due to their very small size, nanomaterials, in particular cucurbiturils, have unique physical and chemical properties that find their application in medicine. However, the toxicity of cucurbiturils is not fully understood; in particular, we are interested in the immunological safety of their use. One of the mechanisms of nanotoxicity is the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by macrophages and neutrophils. Hyperproduction of ROS can lead to oxidative stress and further damage to cell DNA with loss of physiological function and development of pathology.   The aim. Evaluation of the effect of cucurbit[n]urils (n = 6, 7, 8) on the production of reactive oxygen species by mice macrophages and neutrophils.   Materials and methods. F1 hybrid mice (CBAxC57Bl/6) aged 2 months (n = 11) were used in the work. Evaluation of superoxide radical production by peritoneal mouse neutrophils and macrophages was carried out by spectrophotometric method for determining the reduction of p-nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) to formazan.   Results. It was shown that CB[6] and CB[7] at concentrations of 0.5 and 0.3 mM do not have an inhibitory effect on ROS synthesis, but, on the contrary, significantly increase ROS production by macrophages. In addition, CB[6] 0.3 mM increases the level of ROS in neutrophils.   Conclusion. Cucurbiturils can lead to an increase in the production of ROS in immunocompetent cells, depending on the concentration used (0.3 mM and higher)

Cucurbituril-based Supramolecular complexes with platinum compounds influence on expression of CTLA-4 on Regulatory T cells

Tumors are a leading pathology in the population. Chemotherapy cannot provide adequately and effectively to cure patients. Some medicine, such as cytostatic, are characterized by a wide range of side effects and resistance of solid tumors to chemotherapy by these medicines. In recent research, the mechanisms of action of cytotoxic agents have been described, and the most appropriate causes of resistance have been suggested. Drug delivery system based on Cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) was used to minimize side effects and overcome resistance. CB[7] has ability to form host-guest supramolecular complexes with oxaliplatin and carboplatin.It is important to consider the immune system maintain to a great role, and platinum compounds are able to have an immunomodulatory effect on immunocompetent cells. There is convincing evidence about the cytotoxic response against tumor cells is also associated with immunomodulating properties. A specific immune microenvironment with high frequency of suppressor cells is made by tumors. FoxP3+ regulatory T cells are recruited by the tumor, an increased number of these cells and expression levels of CTLA-4 and PD-1 on them contribute to the progression of the tumor process. These markers correlate with recurrence and poor survival of the patients. Therefore, it is necessary that antitumor therapy agents have an effect on a subpopulation of regulatory T cells and their functional activity. This study evaluated the effects of cucurbit[7] uril, platinum compounds, and supramolecular complexes on FoxP3+ regulatory T cells and the expression of immune checkpoint molecules.In this study peripheral blood cells from volunteers (n = 8, average 29.0±2.4) were used. Mononuclear cells obtained in the standard protocol were incubated for 72 h at concentrations of 0.3 and 0.1 mM for carboplatin and oxaliplatin, respectively, as well as complexes and CB[7] in equivalent dosages. Next, the samples were labeled with monoclonal antibodies to determine the phenotype and expression of immune checkpoint molecules by flow cytometry.We obtained the following results: The CB[7]-carboplatin complex in stimulated and non-stimulated cultures significantly reduced the number of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells compared to the control. At the same time, carboplatin and the CB[7]-carboplatin complex reduced the expression of CTLA-4 in an non-stimulated culture compared to CB[7].Complexes of Cucurbit[7]urils with platinum compounds are a perspective antitumor agent with immunomodulatory properties

Studies of effector molecules exerting autonomous and nonautonomous influence of T lymphocyte apoptosis under the conditions of in vitro “cell neighborhood” in healthy people and patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Cellular homeostasis in the body is known to be maintained by the processes of cell proliferation and death, whereas apoptosis is the most frequent and physiological, “silent” mechanism of cell elimination. It has been currently shown that the process of apoptosis traditionally considered an autonomous event, has a pronounced non-autonomous effect on migration, proliferation, and death of the neighboring cells. This work was based on the data on impaired programmed death of mononuclear cells from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) leading to the evolving autoimmune inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate effector molecules exerting autonomous and non-autonomous influence of T cell apoptosis under the conditions of “cell neighborhood” in cell cultures of healthy people and RA patients. The studies were performed with blood samples of RA patients and healthy women of comparable age. These experiments were performed in order to assess the levels of main molecules mediating the in vitro receptor and mitochondrial apoptosis of T lymphocytes. In previous studies, using the original “cell neighborhood” model, no differences were found in parameters of early and late activation apoptosis between the groups of donors and RA patients. At the same time, 1-week incubation in apoptotic cultures of the patients was followed by significantly increased number of viable cells carrying the proliferation marker Ki-67. Different results of in vitro apoptosis induction in cultures under similar conditions of “cell neighborhood” in healthy people and patients with RA have revealed the importance of main effector molecules of apoptosis in the studied groups. In this study, we have revealed low potential of the receptor pathway for apoptosis activation in healthy people, due to suppression of TNFα production during cell incubation under the conditions of “cell neighborhood”, and in RA patients due to initially low TNFα in supernatants which did not change over time and in various incubation variants, along with low content of initiating caspase 8 in both groups. Significant suppression of effector molecules of mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis activation, i.e., Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic factor and p53 transcription factor was detected in cultures of apoptotic cells, as well as mixtures of proliferating and apoptotic cells under the conditions of “cell neighborhood” in RA patients. The amounts of these molecules did not change in healthy persons. At the same time, no differences in these molecules were found between individual variants of cell cultures from the patients with RA and healthy people. The both studied groups were characterized by a significant activation of IL-4 and IL-6 production, i.e., the cytokines with autonomous and non-autonomous protective and reparative properties, Hence, one may conclude that high levels of these cytokines had different effects in cell cultures under the conditions of “cell neighborhood”. Incubation of cells from healthy people under suboptimal conditions was associated with maintaining the balance of proliferation and apoptosis, whereas, in cell cultures of RA patients, this balance caused activation of proliferation processes, being accompanied by an increase in the number of living cells in apoptotic cultures

Comparison of phenotypic properties of innate lymphoid cells at various stages of rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune diseases currently take a leading place in terms of frequency of occurrence in the population, among which 1 percent is occupied by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Remission in this type of disease is extremely rare and requires constant use of pharmacotherapy. Studying the pathogenesis of RA is necessary to study to search for new drug targets. It is known that T helpers 1 (Th) and Th17 are involved in the development of RA. However, some researchers suggest that ILCs play a role in the development of RA. ILCs are “innate analogues” of Th, due to the fact that this subpopulation synthesizes the same cytokines. ILC1 is innate analogs of Th1, ILC2-Th2, ILC3-Th17. ILCs are tissue-resident innate lymphoid cells that have functional diversity and regulate the direction of the immune response through the production of cytokines.We used peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients (n = 19) and conditionally healthy donors (n = 10) as material. The group of patients was divided biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and Metotrexate (MTX) and of stage of RA (early and very early arthritis, advanced and late). PBMCs were stained with monoclonal antibodies. ILCs were identified as Lin-CD127+, CD294+ILCs (ILC2) were measured in the general population, CD117-CD294-ILCs were identified as ILC1, and CD117+CD294-ILCs were identified as ILC3.We obtained the following results: ILC1 was significantly reduced in patients treated with MTX comparison with patients on bDMARDs and healthy donors. However, patients on MTX with advanced RA had low levels of ILC2 and ILC3 compared to patients on bDMARDs. ILC2 significantly increased in patients with early stages of RA comparison with patients with advanced RA. However, ILC1 was significantly reduced in patients treated with MTX, and ILC3 increased significantly in patients treated with MTX comparison with bDMARDs. Expression of PD1 on ILC1 was increased compared to patients treated with bDMARDs. However, ILC3 patients with advanced stages on MTX had increased expression of PD1 comparison with patients taking bDMARDs. The ILC3 of donors was significantly increased comparison with patients on bDMARDs

Нормативно-правовой статус клинических рекомендаций и их роль в системе контроля качества медицинской помощи в странах Европейского Союза, Северной Америки и Азии

Introduction. In 2016-2018, the approaches to the development and use of clinical guidelines in the Russian Federation underwent substantial changes. As part of this work, legal aspects of clinical guidelines were modified. The present review, conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Health, is aimed to analyze the international experience regarding the clinical guidelines standards and identify possible obstacles and risks for their implementation.Materials and methods. We reviewed documents and publications related to the development and implementation of clinical guidelines in 2016-2017 in 12 countries from Europe, Asia and North America known for their well established health care systems. The search for publications has been conducted with the help of the PubMed bibliographic database and the Google search engine, using the following requests: «clinical practice guidelines legal status», «clinical practice guidelines + name of the country». The results were updated to 2019.Results. In most of the 12 countries, the clinical guideline development process is coordinated at the national level. However, the implementation of these guidelines by medical professionals is not mandatory, although it is often supported by the regulations of the national health system.Conclusion. The development and implementation of clinical guidelines in the Russian Federation is consistent with the international experience: the development of clinical guidelines is coordinated at the federal level in agreement with the principles of evidence-based medicine; the implementation of guidelines are not mandatory, however, medical organizations and health professionals are expected to provide the medical care by considering the clinical guidelines, approved by the Scientific and Practical Council of the Ministry of Health.  Введение. В период с 2016 по 2018 г. в Российской Федерации проводились мероприятия по реформированию подходов к разработке и применению КР. В рамках данной работы Минздравом России были предложены изменения законодательства в части КР, которые 25 декабря 2018 г. был утверждены Федеральным законом №489-ФЗ «О внесении изменений в статью 40 федерального закона «Об обязательном медицинском страховании в Российской Федерации» и Федеральный закон «Об основах охраны здоровья граждан в Российской Федерации» по вопросам клинических рекомендаций». В целях формирования подходов к разработке и применению КР в РФ, выявления возможных препятствий и рисков на пути внедрения КР представляется оправданным оценить зарубежный опыт разработки, применения и нормативно-правового статуса КР.Цель – анализ опыта разработки, применения и нормативно-правового статуса КР в странах Европы, Азии и Северной Америки по результатам обзора опубликованных данных.Материалы и методы. Проведен обзор в период с 2016 по 2017 г. международного опыта разработки и применения клинических рекомендаций (КР), обязательности их исполнения в зарубежных системах здравоохранения на примере отобранных 12 стран Европы, Азии и Северной Америки с крупной экономикой и/или известной развитой системой оценки технологий в здравоохранении. Поиск публикаций производился в библиографической базе данных PubMed по запросам «clinical practice guidlines legal status», «clinical practice guidlines + name of country», а также в поисковой системе Google по аналогичным запросам. Результаты исследования в 2019 г. были обновлены с учетом новых опубликованных данных.Результаты. Выявлено, что в большинстве стран разработка КР регулируется и координируется на государственном уровне, однако их соблюдение медицинскими работниками не является обязательным, хотя зачастую и поддерживается со стороны регуляторных органов национальной системы здравоохранения.Заключение. Опыт разработки и внедрения КР в России на настоящий момент является во многом схожим с международным опытом: в РФ существует координация разработки КР на государственном уровне, КР разрабатываются в соответствии с принципами доказательной медицины, их соблюдение не является обязательным, однако медицинские организации и медицинские работники должны будут организовать и оказывать медицинскую помощь на основе КР, одобренных Научно-практическим советом Минздрава России.