FROM KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT THEORIES TO PRACTICE IN PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS: TOWARDS A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH (THEORETICAL BACKGROUND)

Scientists and practitioners have developed and continue to refine methodologies of knowledge management with the aim to implement it into practice of public organisations. In recent studies, there has been an emphasis on the development of what can be considered a transdisciplinary approach in knowledge production and usage, where knowledge management, its theories, principles and practices are advanced. The aim of this study is to review the conceptual foundations of knowledge and knowledge management by advancing the conception of knowledge management in the context of transdisciplinary approach. The authors give an overview of the forms, levels and categories of knowledge. The increasing emphasis placed on knowledge in an organisational context has given rise to a new manifestation of capital which occurs as human or structural intellectual capital. By analysing theories on the essence of knowledge management, the viewpoint formed that knowledge management within an organisation should be viewed through the transdisciplinary approach, namely, production of knowledge that rises above disciplines should be done by collaboration of both academic and nonacademic representatives, who offer a new compass and map for complex problem solving

Association between inherited monogenic liver disorders and chronic hepatitis C

Aim: To determine the frequencies of mutations that cause inherited monogenic liver disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: This study included 86 patients with chronic hepatitis C (55 men, 31 women; mean age at diagnosis, 38.36 ± 14.52 years) who had undergone antiviral therapy comprising pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Viral load, biochemical parameter changes, and liver biopsy morphological data were evaluated in all patients. The control group comprised 271 unrelated individuals representing the general population of Latvia for mutation frequency calculations. The most frequent mutations that cause inherited liver disorders [gene (mutation): ATP7B (H1069Q), HFE (C282Y, H63D), UGT1A1 (TA)7, and SERPINA1 (PiZ)] were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), bidirectional PCR allele-specific amplification, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and sequencing. Results: The viral genotype was detected in 80 of the 86 patients. Viral genotypes 1, 2, and 3 were present in 61 (76%), 7 (9%), and 12 (15%) patients, respectively. Among all 86 patients, 50 (58%) reached an early viral response and 70 (81%) reached a sustained viral response. All 16 patients who did not reach a sustained viral response had viral genotype 1. Case-control analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in only the H1069Q mutation between patients and controls (patients, 0.057; controls, 0.012; odds ratio, 5.514; 95%CI: 1.119-29.827, P = 0.022). However, the H1069Q mutation was not associated with antiviral treatment outcomes or biochemical indices. The (TA) 7 mutation of the UGT1A1 gene was associated with decreased ferritin levels (beta regression coefficient = -295.7, P = 0.0087). Conclusion: Genetic mutations that cause inherited liver diseases in patients with hepatitis C should be studied in detail.publishersversionPeer reviewe