Potential P-Glycoprotein-Mediated Drug-Drug Interactions of Antimalarial Agents in Caco-2 cells

Antimalarials are widely used in African and Southeast Asian countries, where they are combined with other drugs for the treatment of concurrent ailments. The potential for P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between antimalarials and P-gp substrates was examined using a Caco-2 cell-based model. Selected antimalarials were initially screened for their interaction with P-gp based on the inhibition of rhodamine-123 (Rho-123) transport in Caco-2 cells. Verapamil (100 mM) and quinidine (1 mM) were used as positive inhibition controls. Lumefantrine, amodiaquin, and artesunate all showed blockade of Rho-123 transport. Subsequently, the inhibitory effect of these antimalarials on the bi-directional passage of digoxin (DIG) was examined. All of the drugs decreased basal-toapical (B-A) P-gp-mediated DIG transport at concentrations of 100 mM and 1 mM. These concentrations may reflect therapeutic doses for amodiaquin and artesunate. Therefore, clinically relevant DDIs may occur between certain antimalarials and P-gp substrates in general

Promocijas darbs

Promocijas darbā tiek pētīta literārās tulkošanas ietekme kultūras identitātes veidošanā un Latvijas literatūras popularizēšanas aktivitāšu nozīme latviešu literatūras un valsts tēla atpazīstamības veicināšanā. Tēmu loks tiek analizēts, izsekojot latviešu un Eiropas literatūras tulkojumu tapšanai un attīstībai, to nozīmei kultūras identitātes veidošanā un problemātikai literatūras kā radošās industrijas aspektā no 19. g. vidus līdz mūsdienām. Literārā tulkošana tiek pētīta kā sistemātiska literārā nodarbe, akcentējot tradīcijas, to transformācijas vēstures gaitā un ekonomisko un politisko situāciju mūsdienās. Darbā padziļināti tiek pētīti tulkojumu izplatības areāla un recipienta veidošanās aspekti, kas cieši saistīti ar Latvijas un citu valstu starpkultūru sakariem, kas savukārt ietekmē tulkojumu rezonansi dažādās recipienta zemēs.The theses „Literary Translation and the Latvian and European Cultural Identity Formation: Aspect of Creative Industries” reports on the formation and development of translations of Latvian and European literature since first translations until nowadays, their role in cultural identity formation and problems within context of literature as creative industry, as well as its impact as a tool of public diplomacy and nation branding. Author examines literary translation as systematic literary work with the focus on traditions, transformation of traditions, political and economic situation. Author defines the area of the dissemination of translations and growth of its recipient with an insight in intercultural connections and response on translations in different countries

KAJIAN SEBARAN SUBSTRAT SEDIMEN DI MUARA SUNGAI KUALA BUBON KABUPATEN ACEH BARAT

Kajian sebaran sedimen pada muara Sungai Kuala Bubon bertujuan untuk mendapatkan gambaran tentang pola serta kondisi sedimen yan g dapat dikaitkan dengan proses hidrooseanografi dan asal dari sedimen itu sendiri. Pengambilan sedimen dilakukan secara coring pada bulan Agustus 2015 di muara Sungai Kuala Bubon yang terdiri atas 10 stasiun pengamatan. Analisis ukuran butir (granulometri) dilakukan menggunakan metode pengayakan bertingkat. Variabel ukuran sedimen yang diambil mengikuti empat parameter statistik, yaitu ukuran rata-rata (mean grain size), standardeviasi(sorting), kecondongan (skewness), dan kepuncakkan (kurtosis). Hasil yang diperoleh menunjukkan pola sebaran sedimen yang hampir sama pada tiap kawasan di muara Sungai Kuala Bubon. Hasil pengamatan untuk 10 stasiun menunjukkan tipe sedimen berjenis pasir dengan ukuran rata-rata tertinggi pada stasiun 2 yang keseluruhan stasiun tersortir sangat baik, dan didominasi oleh fraksi pasir halus dengan derajat kurtosis yang sangat tinggi (very leptokurtik) pada keseluruhan titik pengamatan.Kata Kunci : Granulometri, Ukuran Butir, Statistik Sedimen, Kuala Bubo

Pharmacokinetic Herb-Drug Interactions: Insight into Mechanisms and Consequences

Herbal medicines are currently in high demand, and their popularity is steadily increasing. Because of their perceived effectiveness, fewer side effects and relatively low cost, they are being used for the management of numerous medical conditions. However, they are capable of affecting the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of coadministered conventional drugs. These interactions are particularly of clinically relevance when metabolizing enzymes and xenobiotic transporters, which are responsible for the fate of many drugs, are induced or inhibited, sometimes resulting in unexpected outcomes. This article discusses the general use of herbal medicines in the management of several ailments, their concurrent use with conventional therapy, mechanisms underlying herb-drug interactions (HDIs) as well as the drawbacks of herbal remedy use. The authors also suggest means of surveillance and safety monitoring of herbal medicines. Contrary to popular belief that "herbal medicines are totally safe," we are of the view that they are capable of causing significant toxic effects and altered pharmaceutical outcomes when coadministered with conventional medicines. Due to the paucity of information as well as sometimes conflicting reports on HDIs, much more research in this field is needed. The authors further suggest the need to standardize and better regulate herbal medicines in order to ensure their safety and efficacy when used alone or in combination with conventional drugs

PERAN BALAI PELESTARIAN CAGAR BUDAYA (BPCB) ACEH DALAM PELESTARIAN SITUS-SITUS BERSEJARAH DI KOTA BANDA ACEH (1990-2015)

ABSTRAKDhani, Oga Umar. 2016. Peranan Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB) Aceh dalam Pelestarian Situs-situs Bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh (1990-2015). Skripsi, Program Studi Pendidikan Sejarah, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Syiah Kuala. Pembimbing:(1)Dr. Husaini, M.A (2) Drs. Teuku Abdullah, S.H, M.AKata kunci: BPCB Aceh, Cagar Budaya, Peranan, Pelestarian Penelitian ini mengangkat masalah tentang bagaimana peranan Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya (BPCB) Aceh dalam pelestarian situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh dari tahun 1990-2015. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memaparkan bagaimana peran dan kebijakan, perkembangan dan kendala yang dihadapi BPCB Aceh dalam melestarikan situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan tiga cara, yakni wawancara dengan informan meliputi staf BPCB Aceh dan juru kunci situs dan warga di sekitar situs bersejarah, dokumentasi pada arsip BPCB Aceh dan surat kabar, dan observasi langsung ke situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode sejarah dengan pendekatan kualitatif dan arkeologi. Hasil analisis data menunjukkah bahwa BPCB Aceh sudah mulai melestarikan situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh sejak pertama berdiri tahun 1990. Perkembangan pelestarian situs-situs bersejarah di Banda Aceh mengalami beberapa kendala seperti kurangnya tenaga ahli, sarana pendukung dan pendanaan serta kendala masa konflik dan tsunami yang telah menghacurkan sebagian situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh. BPCB Aceh mengelola 10 situs bersejarah sebagai cagar budaya di Kota Banda Aceh beserta menempatkan juru perlihara yang bertugas merawat dan melestarikan. Disarankan penelitian ini dapat menjadi bahan pertimbangan Pemerintah Aceh untuk lebih memperhatikan peninggalan situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh. Kepada BPCB Aceh untuk lebih meningkatkan kinerjanya dalam pelestarian dan civitas akademika untuk dapat melakukan studi serupa yang berkaitan dengan situs-situs bersejarah di Kota Banda Aceh agar pemeritah dan BPCB Aceh mempunyai acuan jelas dalam melestarikan situs-situs tersebut

The Asia Financial Crises and Exchange Rates

We analyse the volatility structure of Asian currencies against the U.S. dollar (USD) for the Thai Baht THB, the Philippine Peso PHP, the Indonesian Rupiah IDR and the South Korean Won KRW. Our goal is to check if the characteristics of the volatility dynamics have changed in a K-state switching AR(1)-GARCH(1,1) model in the last decade 1995-2008 covering the Asian crisis. We estimate the model of Haas et al. (2003) with MCMC and we find that for the four currencies the volatility dynamics has changed at least once.Markov switching GARCH models, Asian currency crisis 1997, volatility breaks, Bayesian MCMC, model choice

Exploring Nanotechnologies for the Effective Therapy of Malaria using Plant-Based Medicines

Malaria is a potentially lethal disease caused by species of the plasmodium parasite. Despite the advances in the interventions for its control and approaches to manage fatality, morbidity and mortality rates associated with malaria are still high. At present, artemisinin-based combination therapy is the first line of treatment. However, there is the need to explore newer approaches as reduced effectiveness and multi-drug resistance (even to artemisinin) has been reported in some regions and is expected to widen in scope. Phytomedicines have shown promise for the management of this debilitating disease and there are abundant resources in most of the areas where this disease is endemic. This report would systematically review the literature, emphasizing the challenges encountered in the control of malaria, active phytochemicals currently utilised in the management, drug delivery approaches as well as the nanotechnology-based systems that could be exploited in its treatment. These phytomedicines, either delivered conventionally or via the use of advanced delivery systems may suggest new strategies towards the better management of malaria

Exploring Motivational Profiles in Public Elementary School English Classes

We conducted a pilot study investigating elementary school students’ motivational profiles in Japan. These profiles may be used to develop person-centered models of students’ growth and development. We framed our inquiry within the self-determination theory literature on autonomous and controlled motivation. Students in their 5th year (N = 100) completed surveys regarding their motivation to learn English. We calculated person-centered motivational profiles based on their responses using k-means clustering. Three profiles showed the best fit for the data: a high quantity motivation profile, a good quality motivation profile, and a poor quality motivation profile. These profiles successfully predicted students’ engagement 6 months later. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed.published_or_final_versio

Changes in plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Elevated plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and their association with heart failure have been reported in subjects with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Purpose: To examine and compare plasma BNP levels and diastolic and systolic dysfunction in subjects with AECOPD and s table chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: In all,87 unselected consecutive hospitalizations due to AECOPD in 61 subjects and a total of 190 consecutive subjects with stable COPD were recruited. Plasma BNP levels were compared cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Transthoracic echocardiographic examinations were also performed in the hospitalized subjects. Results: In the hospitalized subjects, the median plasma BNP level (interquartile range) was 55.4 (26.9–129.3) pg/mL and was higher than that of patients with stable COPD: 18.3 (10.0–45.3)for Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease grade I; 25.8 (11.0–53.7) for grade II; 22.1 (9.1–52.6) for grade III; and 17.2 (9.6–22.9) pg/mL for grade IV, all P,0.001. In 15 subjects studied prospectively, the median plasma BNP level was 19.4 (9.8–32.2) pg/mL before AECOPD, 72.7 (27.7–146.3) pg/mL during AECOPD, and 14.6 (12.9–39.0) pg/mL after AECOPD (P,0.0033 and P,0.0013, respectively). Median plasma BNP levels during AECOPD were significantly higher in ten unsuccessfully discharged subjects 260.5 (59.4–555.0) than in 48 successfully discharged subjects 48.5(24.2–104.0) pg/mL (P=0.0066). Only 5.6% of AECOPD subjects were associated with systolic dysfunction defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),50%; a further 7.4% were considered to have impaired relaxation defined as an E/A wave velocity ratio,0.8 and a deceleration time of E.240 ms. BNP levels were weakly correlated with the E/peak early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (Ea) ratio (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient =0.353,P =0.018), but they were not correlated with the LVEF (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient =−0.221,P = 0.108). Conclusion: A modest elevation of plasma BNP is observed during AECOPD. It appears that AECOPD may have an impact on plasma BNP levels that is not attributable to heart failure