Signaling mechanisms of a water soluble curcumin derivative in experimental type 1 diabetes with cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Curcumin exhibits anti-diabetic activities, induces heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and is an inhibitor of transcriptional co-activator p300. A novel water soluble curcumin derivative (NCD) has been developed to overcome low invivo bioavailability of curcumin. We evaluated the effect of the NCD on signaling mechanisms involved in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and studied whether its action is mediated via inducible HO-1. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were divided into controls, controls receiving NCD, diabetic, diabetic receiving NCD, diabetic receiving pure curcumin, diabetic receiving HO inhibitor, zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP IX) and diabetic receiving NCD and ZnPP IX. NCD and curcumin were given orally. After 45 days, cardiac physiologic parameters, plasma glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (GHb), HO-1 gene expression and HO activity in pancreas and cardiac tissues were assessed. Gene expression of p300, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2A and MEF2C) were studied. RESULTS: NCD and curcumin decreased plasma glucose, GHb and increased insulin levels significantly in diabetic rats. This action may be partially mediated by induction of HO-1 gene. HO-1 gene expression and HO activity were significantly increased in diabetic heart and pancreas. Diabetes upregulated the expression of ANP, MEF2A, MEF2C and p300. NCD and curcumin prevented diabetes-induced upregulation of these parameters and improved left ventricular function. The effect of the NCD was better than the same dose of curcumin

A comparative study of metabolic effects of the corpus allatum in two adult Coleoptera, in relation to diapause

Two problems were studied: a) Whether a lower titre of the corpus allatum hormone had a different influence on the tissues of an adult insect with a diapause mechanism than on those of one without a diapause. b) Whether the metabolic effects of the corpus allatum hormone were caused mainly by its indirect influence upon an organ, e.g. the ovary, or by general influence on the metabolism as a whole. For the research two adult Coleoptera were used: the Colorado beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) with a diapause mechanism and the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor L.) without such a mechanism. By tracing the influences of allatectomy or of castration on the respiration it was concluded that in both species the hormone had a gonadotropic influence in females and in♂and♀Colorado beetles also a general influence on the metabolism (direct on the basal resting respiration of active insects and probably indirect on their respiration by forced action through the central nerve system).Further hypotheses were drafted about the location of the diapause mechanism (the flight muscles and the fat body?) and the function of the corpus allatum in the fat metabolism (probably mainly to speed the making of fatty acids unsaturated)

Closing Keynote Speech-May al-Ibrashy-Heritage as a driver for development: Athar Lina Initiative in Historic Cairo

Heritage as a driver for development: Athar Lina Initiative in Historic Cairo We preserve heritage because we want to pass it on to the next generations. But we tend not to think too deeply about the reason why. If asked, we would probably talk about how it represents us, how it is the repository of our identity. But that is not always true. We could also preserve heritage that we do not identify with, or that represents values we do not believe in. We at Athar Lina Initiative believe that heritage is a resource, a well of potential benefit that could be enrich us culturally, socially, economically, spiritually, educationally, and even politically. It is our duty to preserve that well for future generations and to enable current generations to dip into it to improve their lives. Since 2012, we have worked in the district of al-Khalifa in the world heritage site of Historic Cairo. To date, we have preserved five buildings from the 13th to the 15th century. We have also set up a heritage education program for al-Khalifa\u27s children. We are now working with them, and with women from the neighbourhood, within a heritage industries program that supports heritage-based revenue generating activities such as crafts, tourism and heritage arts. We study al-Khalifa\u27s neighbourhoods using integrated participatory research methodologies to produce detailed plans for the conservation and management and to advocate for their preservation. One neighbourhood, al-Hattaba, is currently threatened with demolition and we have prepared an alternative plan for preservation and development that we are pitching to decisionmakers. We also design and implement small-scale interventions such as family parks, playgrounds and sports grounds. Athar Lina Initiative is run by Megawra - Built Environment Collective, but we so not work alone. We partner with the government, most notably the Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism and Cairo Governorate, and we also collaborate with academic and professional entities. Most importantly, we work closely with the residents of the neighbourhoods within a participatory framework that engages with them as equal partners

Heritage in the Street: Megawra | BEC’s Athar Lina Initiative in Historic Cairo

Based in al-Khalifa in Historic Cairo and run by the Megawra-Built Environment Collective, Athar Lina is a participatory initiative to establish modalities of citizen participation in heritage conservation based on a vision of heritage as a resource not a burden. Since its inception in 2012, Athar Lina has worked on conservation, heritage education, urban revitalization and heritage industries. It has conserved four domes from the 12th and 14th century and is currently working on the conservation of two other monuments including al-Imam al-Shafi’i shrine. It runs an Open-Spaces Program focusing on improving infrastructure and services to upgrade quality of open spaces. This is directly linked to Athar Lina’s Ground Water Research Project which seeks to resolve problems of groundwater-rise in heritage sites by extracting water and reusing it for the benefit of the community for purposes such as irrigation and cleaning. In addition to its Heritage Education Program and the Heritage Summer School it runs for al-Khalifa’s children, it runs the Athar Lina Heritage Design Thinking School which explores the potential of heritage for income-generation. Finally, through its research and advocacy project, Citizen Participation in Historic Cairo, Athar Lina is working on conservation, revitalization and management plans for al-Khalifa.</jats:p

The history of the Southern Cemetery of Cairo from the 14th century to the present : an urban study of a living cemetery

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo