A study of official media outlets of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party in Egypt

Before the 25th of January revolution in Egypt, the types of Islamic media, such as Internet websites and television satellite channels, were focusing only on the education and interpretation of Islam. Furthermore, these Islamic media were not used as a tool to propagate for the political ideologies of Islamic movements. On the other hand, after the revolution, the Islamic media, specifically, television satellite channels start to act as a forum for the politics of the Islamists groups in Egypt. The main focus of this study aims at studying and examining the official media outlets of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party. In addition, this study aims to analyze how the Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party use their official mass media to represent their visions and ideologies to the Egyptian public. The theoretical framework of this research is the Agenda Setting Theory with the focus of media Priming. This study examined how the official media outlets of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party apply the agenda setting through highlighting specific issues and ignoring other issues. This study is a content analysis of three official media outlets of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party which are: Misr 25 television satellite channel, Ikhwanonline Internet website, and Freedom and Justice Newspaper. The sample is non-probability sampling which is a Purposive Sample, and the sampling period is one composite week. This study consists of analyzing 7 issues of Freedom and Justice Newspaper, 7 days of Ikhwanonline Internet website, and a total of 63 hours of 18 television programs and talk shows of Misr 25 television channel. The findings of the study concluded that the Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party use their official media outlets which are Misr 25 television channel, Ikhwanonline Internet website and Freedom and Justice Newspaper to convey their Islamic ideologies in different fields such as political issues, economic issues, social issues and religious issues to the masses in Egypt. Additionally, the findings of this research are in agreement with the theory of agenda setting theory because the official media outlets of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party highlight specific issues through repeating these issues; on the other hand, they have little coverage of other important issues. Regarding the media priming, the official media outlets of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party have some news that are salient than others. Furthermore, a lot of issues in the mass media of Muslim Brotherhood group and Freedom and Justice Party are obtrusive issues which mean that the audiences have a direct experience with these issues; therefore, the agenda setting effect may be low

Targeted Delivery Of Nrf2 Sirna Using Modular Polymeric Micellar Nanodelivery System For Efficient Target Gene Knockdown In Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Tumor selective drug delivery as well as chemotherapy associated multi drug resistance (MDR) pose tremendous hurdles for effective cancer therapy. In this regard, designing multifunctional nanocarriers loaded with drug/gene payloads and engineered with tumor targeting ligands can serve as a modular platform for targeted drug/gene delivery. In this study we undertook the synthesis of a self-assembling block copolymer constructed using poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride, partial iso-octyl ester) (SMAPIE) and branched polyethylenimine (PEI) as building blocks and evaluated its micelle forming ability, siRNA complexation and siRNA delivery potentials. In addition, we engineered galactosamine decorated nanomicelles using modular “click” chemistry based approaches for evaluating the targeted delivery of Nrf2 siRNA to Hep G2 liver cancer cells overexpressing asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs). Our results demonstrate that the galactosamine decorated nanocarriers could effectively deliver Nrf2 siRNA into Hep G2 liver cancer cells resulting in efficient target gene knockdown, evincing its potential for targeted liver cancer therapy

Development of nanomedicines as drug delivery systems for cancer and malaria parasites＜内容の要旨及び審査結果の要旨＞

名古屋市立大学平成29年

Ecophysiology and water relations of growth and ochratoxin A production by Penicillium verrucosum adn Aspergillus westerdijkiae, impacts of climate change and control using preservatives.

Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus westerdijkiae contaminate cereal grains and coffee beans with ochratoxin A (OTA) for which legislative limits exist. These fungi reside in soil and contaminate grain during harvesting and post-harvest storage, and post-fermentation during drying of coffee beans. There is a lack of information on the impacts of environmental conditions which influence the inoculum potential in soil and on cereal grain and coffee beans and potential control of OTA during post-harvest storage phases. The objectives of this project were to: (a) examine the water and temperature relations of strains of P. verrucosum (two strains) and A. westerdijkiae (three strains) in relation to growth and OTA production, (b) compare the sensitivity and tolerance of one strain of each species to solute (ionic and non-ionic) and matric stress on growth kinetics, expression of key genes in the OTA cluster (otapks, otanrps) and phenotypic OTA production for the first time, (c) examine the impact of three way interacting climate change related abiotic environmental factors (water activity, temperature, and CO₂ levels) on growth, gene expression and OTA production by strains of the two species, and (d) screen a range of potential preservatives in vitro control of growth and OTA production for in situ control of contamination of grain and coffee under different aw and temperature conditions. The ecological studies revealed that both strains of P. verrucosum (OTA11; straw21) could grow over a wide range of aw levels and temperatures. However, under drier conditions (0.90 aw) growth was much slower. For OTA production, optimum production was at 25°C and 0.98 aw for strain OTA11 when compared to the other strain on a conducive YES medium. On wheat-based media, both strains were able to grow efficiently over a range of aw levels (0.98, 0.95 and 0.90 aw) at 15, 20 and 25°C. On wheat-based matrices, the OTA production was much lower than on the conducive YES medium, regardless of aw and temperature for both strains after 10 days incubation. However, after 20 days, the strain Straw21, produced higher amounts of OTA under water stress condition (0.90 aw) at 25°C. For A. westerdijkiae strains growth occurred over a wide range of aw levels and different temperatures on the conducive YES media. However, the strain A. westerdijkiae CECT produced the highest amount of OTA at 0.98 aw and 25-30°C. Comparison of growth under solute and matric stress showed that the growth of P. verrucosum strain OTA11 is more tolerant of matric potential stress than Straw21 over a wide range of water potentials at 25°C. The strain OTA11 grew well under all non-ionic solute potential stress and under matric stress. However, under ionic solute stress no growth occurred under extreme water stress of -19.6 MPa (=0.86 aw). Upon examination of the expression pattern of the otapks gene under such stress conditions, there was an increase in the gene expression in the non-ionic (glycerol) solute stress-imposed treatments when compared with ionic solute (NaCl) and matric stress treatments. This suggests that this is a key gene involved in OTA biosynthesis. There were some parallels with the phenotypic OTA production. For A. westerdijkiae species, both tested strains (CECT and CCT) grew well under matric stress at all stress levels imposed (-1.4—19.6 MPa = 0.99-0.86 aw). As for P. verrcuosum, this strain was more sensitive to ionic solute stress imposed with NaCl with growth inhibited at -19.6 MPa (=0.86 aw). For this species, the gene expression of otapks was significantly increased under moderate stress conditions -9.8 MPa (=0.95 aw) modified with the non-ionic solute (glycerol). However, under matric stress this expression was significantly reduced when compared to solute stress. For OTA production, this was increased at -9.8 MPa (=0.95 aw) under non-ionic solute stress when compared to the other treatments. Overall, the impact of climate change related abiotic factors, especially elevated CO₂ levels (400 vs 1000 ppm CO₂) had no significant effect on the growth of P. verrucosum when compared with existing conditions under matric stress. However, under non-ionic stress (glycerol imposed), no growth was reported at -2.8 MPa (=0.95 aw) at 1000 ppm and 30°C. Overall, the growth pattern in non-ionic solute stress was lower under elevated levels of CO₂ than in matric stress conditions when compared with existing conditions. For the otapks gene, expression was increased under elevated CO₂ levels in matric stress treatments when compared to existing conditions. This pattern was paralleled with production of OTA under these conditions. With regard to A. westerdijkiae, surprisingly no growth occurred at 37°C in all the conditions tested. However, at 30°C, the elevated levels of CO₂ had no significant impact on growth under matric and non-ionic stress when compared with existing CO₂levels. For the otapks gene expression, this increased in matric imposed water stress in all conditions examined. However, there was no gene expression in non-ionic stress conditions, and this paralleled the OTA production pattern. Initial screening of six potential preservatives showed that for both growth and OTA control by one strain of each species SM, TCA and PP were the most effective compounds. They inhibited growth of P. verrucosum at 250 ppm on wheat-based matrices. While, for FE, it was the least effective treatment as ED50 and ED90 values show that 1000 mg/l and 2700 mg/l are required for controlling the growth rate at both water stress levels (0.95 and 0.95 aw) respectively and for the MIC for toxin production. However, on stored wheat grains, some growth and OTA was produced in the SM and TCA treatments at 250 ppm treatment. For A. westerdijkiae, the most effective compounds inhibiting growth were at 500 and 1000 ppm of SM, TCA and PP at 0.95 and 0.98 aw on coffee-based media. With PP, no toxin was produced at 100 ppm at both water stress levels although some growth occurred. Also, FE was the least effective treatment with ED50 and ED90 values of 1000 and 1530 mg/l respectively at both water stress levels. In stored coffee beans, the results were different with some growth found at 1000 ppm in treatments of TCA and SM at both aw levels. In addition, high amounts of OTA were produced in the 1000 ppm treated and stored coffee beans at both aw levels. Overall, in vitro efficacy was not an accurate guide to in situ efficacy, especially in relation to toxin control in both stored wheat and coffee beans under different aw levels.PhD in Environment and Agrifoo

Relative Contribution of Different Upper Glycolytic Components in the Maintenance of the Retinal Vascular Endothelial Cell Barrier

Introduction: Damage to the retinal vascular endothelium is implicated in the progression of retinal degenerative diseases, including diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME). The retinal endothelial cells constitute the inner blood-retinal barrier (iBRB), and disruption of this barrier allows for the dysregulation of fluid and solute passage into the retina. Moreover, under normal physiological conditions, glycolytic metabolism is critical to the functioning of endothelial cells and maintenance of the iBRB. Conversely, in hyperglycemic environments, unregulated glycolytic metabolism leads to a buildup of glycolytic intermediates, which is thought to contribute to disruption of the iBRB and is associated with retinal cell damage and neovascularization. However, the metabolic mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. In this study, we looked to further characterize the roles of upper glycolytic enzymes, those involved in the ATP consumption phase of glycolysis, in the maintenance of the iBRB. Methods: Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) technology was used to assess in real-time the role of different glycolytic enzymes in maintaining the barrier functionality of human retinal endothelial cells (HREC). Furthermore, the endothelial cellular viability was assessed through lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay following 24h, 48h, and 72h time intervals. Results: Inhibition with heptelidic acid (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GA3PDH) inhibitor) significantly reduced the resistance (R) and thus the integrity of the HREC barrier at concentrations of 1.0 μM and 10 μM. PFK158 (phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK1) inhibitor) also significantly reduced R, but only at a concentration of 10 μM. Similarly, administration of PFK158 reduced HREC viability throughout all three time intervals (24h, 48h, and 72h) at a concentration of 10 μM. However, administration of heptelidic acid showed reduced HREC viability only at the 72h time interval, but also at a concentration of 10 μM. The other inhibitors tested did not demonstrate significant reduction in resistance of the HREC barrier or in cellular viability. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the differential roles of glycolytic enzymes in maintaining the barrier functionality of HRECs. We specifically showed that the functions of GA3PDH and PFK-1 are the most important components in regulating HREC barrier integrity. These observed differences are significant since they could serve as the basis for future pharmacological and gene expression studies aiming to improve the activity of GA3PDH and PFK1 and thereby provide avenues for therapeutic modalities in endothelial-associated retinal diseases

Mineralocorticoid Antagonist Improves Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling and Dexamethasone Analgesia in an Animal Model of Low Back Pain

Low back pain, a leading cause of disability, is commonly treated by epidural steroid injections that target the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid receptor (GR). However, their efficacy has been controversial. All currently used epidural steroids also activate the pro-inflammatory mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) with significant potency. Local inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), a rat model of low back pain, was used. This model causes static and dynamic mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia and guarding behavior (a measure of spontaneous pain), and activates the MR, with pro-nociceptive effects. In this study, effects of local Dexamethasone (DEX; a glucocorticoid used in epidural injections), and eplerenone (EPL; a second generation, more selective MR antagonist) applied to the DRG at the time of inflammation were examined. Mechanical and spontaneous pain behaviors were more effectively reduced by the combination of DEX and EPL than by either alone. The combination of steroids was particularly more effective than DEX alone or the model alone (3-fold improvement for mechanical allodynia) at later times (day 14). Immunohistochemical analysis of the GR in the DRG showed that the receptor was expressed in neurons of all size classes, and in non-neuronal cells including satellite glia. The GR immunoreactivity was downregulated by DRG inflammation (48%) starting on day 1, consistent with the reduction of GR (57%) observed by Western blot, when compared to control animals. On day 14, the combination of DEX and EPL resulted in rescue of GR immunoreactivity that was not seen with DEX alone, and was more effective in reducing a marker for satellite glia activation/neuroinflammation. The results suggest that EPL may enhance the effectiveness of clinically used epidural steroid injections, in part by enhancing the availability of the GR. Thus, the glucocorticoid-mineralocorticoid interactions may limit the effectiveness of epidural steroids through the regulation of the GR in the DRG

Glycine is Dysregulated in Human Retinal Endothelial Cells and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness when it progresses to the proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) stage. However, the alterations in amino acid (AA) profiles in PDR are largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the AA profiles and identify the enriched pathways that are dysregulated commonly in both patients with PDR and human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) subjected to the dual effect of high glucose (HG) and hypoxia, which are common risk factors associated with PDR. Methods: HRECs were treated with osmotic control (Mannitol, 25 mM) or high glucose (HG, 25 mM) for 5 days, followed by normoxia or hypoxia (Hyp, 2% O2) for 24 hours. Thereafter, the Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS-based targeted AA platform was used to quantitatively profile the intracellular AAs in HRECs, followed by a pathway enrichment analysis using MetaboAnalyst. In parallel, vitreous humor samples from patients with PDR who had undergone pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) were assessed for their AA profile and compared to the control groups, including patients with diabetes but without clinical evidence of PDR and patients without diabetes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to assess the differences in the AA profiles between these 3 groups of patients, with a false discovery rate (FDR) \u3c 0.2 set as the threshold for significance. Results: An increasing trend in the levels of AA with non-polar, polar, or basic side chains was observed between the Hyp, HG, and HG+Hyp versus (vs.) control groups. Specifically, a significant difference between the HG+Hyp and control groups was observed in the levels of non-essential AAs with aliphatic non-polar side chains. Dissecting this further, there were significantly higher concentrations of glycine in the HG+Hyp treatment relative to the control group. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant associations between the HG+Hyp vs. control comparison, all of which were related to glycine metabolism. Importantly, vitreous humor samples demonstrated higher levels of glycine in the PDR group compared to the non-diabetic and diabetics without PDR groups. Furthermore, PCA analysis revealed a clear separation in the principal components between the controls and the PDR group. Conclusion: Our findings show that non-essential AAs with aliphatic non-polar side chains, and more precisely, glycine was significantly elevated in the HRECs treated with HG+Hyp as well as in vitreous humor samples from patients with PDR. These results indicate AAs may be used as potential biomarkers in assessing the development of PDR, which may set the stage for the design of targeted therapies for patients with PDR

World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist with Addition of Infection Control Items: Intervention Study in Egypt

BACKGROUND: Surgical team is in command of the operating room (OR) and takes decisions regarding various patient care procedures. Educational programs directed to them, should be creative, provocative and tailored to their specific needs and the expected outcomes. AIM: This study aims to design and conduct an educational program of patient safety and infection control for the OR team based on the WHO surgical safety checklist and to assess their post-intervention knowledge and practices. METHODS: This interventional study was conducted at the ORs of Port-said general hospital. It passed through three stages; baseline assessment of knowledge and practice regarding patient safety and infection control among OR team (surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses), intervention stage in which an educational program based on the WHO surgical safety checklist with modifications and additions of more infection control items was conducted, then re-assessment of their post-intervention knowledge and practices. RESULTS: All the studied participants showed improvement in both knowledge and practices of patient safety and infection control after the educational program based on the WHO surgical safety checklist with modifications and additions of more infection control items and including not only practices but also knowledge as well, than before. CONCLUSION: The modification of the WHO surgical safety checklist to fit local knowledge and practices created a comprehensive tool that led to an improvement in both knowledge and practices of patient safety and infection control among the OR team

Study of Urinary Alpha Glutathione-S-Transferase in Children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

Glomerulopathy associated with recurrent or persistent proteinuria may lead to progressive tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Early detection of tubulointerstitial fibrosis may result in a more favorable outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD) because nephroprotective treatment may be instituted in due course. One of the early markers of tubulointerstitial fibrosis is glutathione S-transferase (GST). The aim of this study was to determine urinary alpha-GST in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), either in remission or relapse. This case–control study included 40 children with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS), either in remission or relapse. Also, 40 healthy children, age- and sex-matched as controls, were selected from the outpatients and the pediatric nephrology unit of Al-Zahraa Hospital, Al-Azhar University. Urinary alpha-GST was investigated in the study groups on the same lines as that of routine investigations of INS. Children with INS have significantly higher urinary GST either in remission or relapse, it was (5.23 ± 1.90) ng/mL, (5.32 ± 1.52) ng/mL respectively compared with healthy controls, it was (2.59 ± 1.12) ng/mL with (P = 0.001). A positive correlation between urinary alpha-GST and body weight BW, height, body mass index (BMI), white blood cells (WBCs) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum (cholesterol, triglyceride [TG]) level, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and duration of the disease. Urinary alpha-GST was increased in children with NS even after remission, and it consequently led to oxidative stress and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Nephroprotective treatment is recommended even in cases with INS, either in remission or relapse