Humanitarian, hospitable and generous: Turkish Public Diplomacy’s ‘story’ in times of authoritarianism and military interventionism

This article aims to analyze Turkish Public Diplomacy (PD) since the Justice and Development Party (AKP, in Turkish) came to power in 2002. In particular, it aims to make sense of the plurality of public diplomacy discourses and practices which attempt to enact a particular identity for Turkey and to tell a particular ‘story’ to foreign and domestic audiences. Based on a post-structuralist theoretical framework, we present the many institutions responsible for Public Diplomacy in Turkey and analyze the ‘stories’ told by them, arguing that PD is one of the many practices engaged by the AKP government in its attempt to enact a particularidentity and in its pursuit of legitimacy and influence. The particular identity the AKP has been trying — and keeps failing — to enact is that of a ‘benign’, benevolent, humanitarian, hospitable and generous emerging power, a model of a Muslim democracy with a growing economy, heir of a (positive) Ottoman legacy. The article also attempts to understand how AKP public diplomacy has been trying to modulate such a ‘story’ in a context marked by Turkish military interventions abroad and growing authoritarianism at home.O artigo tem como objetivo analisar a diplomacia pública da Turquia desde que o partido Justiça e Desenvolvimento (AKP, em turco) chegou ao poder em 2002. Em particular, visamos fazer sentido da pluralidade de discursos e práticas de diplomacia pública que tentam construir uma identidade particular para a Turquia e contar uma ‘história’ sobre o país para audiências domésticas e internacionais. Utilizando um arcabouço teórico pósestruturalista, apresentamos as muitas instituições responsáveis por diplomacia pública na Turquia e analisamos as ‘histórias’ contadas por elas, argumentando que a diplomacia pública é uma dentre as muitas práticas empregadas pelo AKP em seus esforços para construir identidade e obter legitimidade e influencia. A identidade particular que o AKP vem tentando — sem sucesso — construir para o país é de uma potência emergente benigna, benevolente, humanitária, hospitaleira e generosa, um modelo de democracia muçulmana com uma economia em crescimento, herdeira de um legado positivo do Império Otomano. O artigo também tenta entender como a diplomacia pública do AKP vem tentando modulartal ‘história’ em um contexto marcado por autoritarismo na esfera doméstica e intervenções militares no exterior

Can Polymorphisms in NLRP3 Inflammasome Complex Be Associated with Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Severity?

The immune system plays a critical role in bone homeostasis and, consequently, in the pathophysiology of postmenopausal osteoporosis (OP) since estrogen deficiency induces the inflammasome and increases production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-18. NLRP3 inflammasome complex genes have been related with bone homeostasis in cellular and animal models. Here, we performed an association study evaluating SNVs (single-nucleotide variants) in inflammasome NLRP3 pathway genes (NLRP3, CARD8, CASP1, IL-18, and IL-1β) to assess whether variants in these genes could be related to susceptibility to primary OP in postmenopausal women. We genotyped 196 postmenopausal OP patients and 103 healthy controls using SNV-specific Taqman probes. Data and statistical analyses were performed using the SNPstats and GraphPad Prism 8 software. We showed an association between NLRP3 rs35829419 CA genotype and lower bone mineral density (BMD) mean at the lumbar spine ( = 0.001); we also observed an association between IL-1β rs16944 AA genotype and higher BMD mean at the total hip ( = 0.009). The IL-1β rs16944 GG was associated with lower alkaline phosphatase levels (ALP) ( = 0.009), and the IL-18 rs1946519 AA was associated with lower vitamin D levels ( = 0.018). Additionally, OP patients presented deficient vitamin D and parathyroid hormone (PTH). The NLRP3 inflammasome complex SNVs were associated with OP severity, possibly indicating these genes' participation in bone metabolism and its dysregulation.This research was funded by the following Brazilian research agencies: CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico)

Promiscuous Gene Expression in the Thymus: The Root of Central Tolerance

The thymus is a complex organ with an epithelium formed by two main cell types, the cortical thymic epithelial (cTECs) and medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), referred to as stroma. Immature thymocytes arising from the bone marrow, macrophages and dendritic cells also populate the thymus. Thymocytes evolve to mature T cells featuring cell differentiation antigens (CDs), which characterize the phenotypically distinct stages, defined as double-negative (DN), double positive (DP) and single positive (SP), based on expression of the coreceptors CD4 and CD8. The thymus is therefore implicated in T cell differentiation and during development into T cells thymocytes are in close association with the stroma. Recent evidence showed that mTECs express a diverse set of genes coding for parenchymal organ specific proteins. This phenomenon has been termed promiscuous gene expression (PGE) and has led to the reconsideration of the role of the thymus in central T cell tolerance to self-antigens, which prevents autoimmunity. The evidence of PGE is causing a reanalysis in the scope of central tolerance understanding. We summarize the evidence of PGE in the thymus, focusing particularly the use of cDNA microarray technology for the broad characterization of gene expression and demarcation of PGE emergence during thymus ontogeny

Evaluación farmacodinámica y análisis físico-químico de dos formulaciones de propofol usadas en infusión objeto-controlada

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are several formulations of propofol available to the anesthesiologist for clinical use. The aim of this study was to analyze the physicochemical properties, pharmacodynamic effect, and pharmaceutical and clinical equivalence of the reference drug propofol as well as a similar formulation. METHOD: Sixteen volunteers were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, and paired study of Diprivan® and Propovan® formulations. Formulations were given as target-controlled infusion with target concentration of 3.0 μg.mL-1 for 15 minutes. Variables studied were the area under the curve (AUC) of the bispectral index (BIS) graph regarding time, minimum BIS reached and time to reach it, and recovery time. The two formulations were sent to analysis of particle size of lipid emulsion, surface potential, and active principle quantification. RESULTS: There was no difference between the formulations when comparing AUC, minimum BIS reached and time to reach it. The similar formulation recovery time was lower compared to the reference formulation (eight and 10 min, respectively, p = 0.014). Mean particle size of lipid emulsion, surface potential, and active ingredient quantification were similar for both formulations. CONCLUSION: There was no clinically significant difference between the use of propofol, reference Diprivan®, and the similar Propovan® during infusion. However, the recovery time was longer with the reference drug. Although analysis of both formulations studied show similar results regarding its physicochemical characterization, further studies should be conducted to justify this difference.JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: Existen varias formulaciones de propofol para el uso clínico que están disponibles para el anestesiólogo. El objetivo de este estudio, fue analizar las propiedades físico-químicas, el efecto farmacodinámico y la equivalencia farmacéutica y clínica del fármaco referencia de propofol y una formulación similar. MÉTODO: Dieciséis voluntarios participaron en este estudio aleatorio, doble ciego y pareado entre las formulaciones Diprivan® y Propovan®. Las formulaciones fueron administradas en un régimen de infusión objeto-controlada con una concentración objetivo de 3,0 µg.mL-1 durante 15 minutos. Las variables estudiadas fueron el área bajo la curva (ASC) del gráfico del índice bispectral (BIS) con relación al tiempo, el BIS mínimo alcanzado y el tiempo para tal, y el tiempo de recuperación. Las dos formulaciones se sometieron a los análisis de tamaño de partículas de la emulsión lipídica, potencial de superficie y cuantificación del principio activo. RESULTADOS: No hubo diferencia entre las formulaciones cuando se comparó la ASC, el BIS mínimo alcanzado y el tiempo transcurrido para tal. El tiempo de recuperación con la formulación similar fue menor con relación a la referencia (8 y 10 min, respectivamente, p = 0,014). El tamaño promedio de partículas de la emulsión lipídica, potencial de superficie y la cuantificación del principio activo, fueron similares en las dos formulaciones. CONCLUSIONES: No hubo diferencia clínica significativa entre el uso de propofol referencia Diprivan® y su similar Propovan® durante la infusión. Sin embargo, el tiempo de recuperación se extendió más con el fármaco de referencia. Aunque los análisis de las formulaciones estudiadas muestren resultados similares en cuanto a su caracterización físico-química, otros estudios deben ser realizados para justificar tal diferencia.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Existem várias formulações de propofol para uso clínico à disposição do anestesiologista. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar as propriedades físico-químicas, o efeito farmacodinâmico e a equivalência farmacêutica e clínica do fármaco referência de propofol e uma formulação similar. MÉTODOS: Dezesseis voluntários participaram desse estudo aleatório, duplamente encoberto e pareado entre as formulações Diprivan® e Propovan®. As formulações foram administradas em regime de infusão alvo-controlada com concentração-alvo de 3,0 µg.mL-1 por 15 minutos. As variáveis estudadas foram a área sob a curva (ASC) do gráfico do índice bispectral (BIS) em relação ao tempo, o BIS mínimo atingido e o tempo para tal e o tempo de recuperação. As duas formulações foram submetidas às análises de tamanho de partículas da emulsão lipídica, potencial de superfície e quantificação de princípio ativo. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença entre as formulações quando se comparou a ASC, BIS mínimo atingido e o tempo decorrido para tal. O tempo de recuperação com a formulação similar foi menor em relação à referência (oito e 10 min, respectivamente, p = 0,014). O tamanho médio de partículas da emulsão lipídica, potencial de superfície e a quantificação de princípio ativo foram semelhantes nas duas formulações. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diferença clínica significativa entre o uso de propofol referência Diprivan® e seu similar Propovan® durante a infusão. Entretanto, o tempo de recuperação foi mais prolongado com o fármaco referência. Embora as análises com as duas formulações estudadas mostrarem resultados semelhantes quanto a sua caracterização físico-química, outros estudos devem ser realizados para justificar tal diferença.Instituto Penido Burnier Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia Centro de Ensino e TreinamentoCentro Médico de CampinasHospital Santa SofiaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Ciências FarmacêuticasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with obesity in Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized by a set of clinical conditions, including autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and infectious conditions, that can compromise a patient's quality of life. Here we assessed polymorphisms in CTLA-4 +49A/G (rs231775), PTPN22 +1858G/A (rs2476601), and MBL2 -550 (H/L) (rs11003125), -221(X/Y) (rs7096206) and exon 1 (A/O) in women from northeastern Brazil to determine whether polymorphisms within these key immune response genes confer differential susceptibility to clinical conditions in TS. A case-control genetic association study was performed, including 86 female TS patients and 179 healthy women. An association was observed for the A/G genotype of CTLA-4 +49A/G in TS patients (p=0.043, odds ratio [OR]=0.54). In addition, an association between the CTLA-4 G/G genotype and obesity was detected in TS patients (p=0.02, OR=6.04). Regarding, the -550(H/L) polymorphism in the MBL2 promoter, the frequency of the H/L genotype was significantly higher in the TS group than healthy controls (p=0.01, OR=1.96). The H/H genotype indicated a protective effect in TS patients (p=0.01, OR=0.23). No differences were observed in the distribution of -221(X/Y), MBL2 exon 1 variants, and PTPN22 +1858G/A in any assessed groups. CTLA-4 variants are potentially involved in obesity in this cohort of TS patients from northeastern Brazil