Representations of Arab Women in Hollywood Pre- and Post- 9/11

Many scholars argue that the image of Arabs in Hollywood has always been tainted by prejudice and stereotyping. However, little attention is paid to women\u27s representation in general or the influence of 9/11 on that representation. This paper compares portrayals of Arab women in popular Hollywood films before and after 9/11. A purposive sample of 76 Arab female characters from 40 popular Hollywood films is used to conduct a content analysis, comparing portrayals in films released before and after 9/11. Popular Hollywood films are defined as films with at least 50,000 reviews that score seven or more on the International Movie Database (IMDB). The results show that Arab women’s representation lacks diversity and Arab women remain unidentified in Hollywood films. Arab women’s portrayal shifts from one of the magical or sexualized characters to one of the violent terrorists. Despite the overall increase in the amount of violence depicted after 9/11, there is a shift in favor of the portrayal of Arab women, with more depicted as good or pure after 9/11. Finally, the results show that the morality of Arab female characters improves, with more characters depicted as evaluating options and making their own decisions

Pachymic Acid Attenuated Doxorubicin-Induced Heart Failure by Suppressing miR-24 and Preserving Cardiac Junctophilin-2 in Rats

Defects in cardiac contractility and heart failure (HF) are common following doxorubicin (DOX) administration. Different miRs play a role in HF, and their targeting was suggested as a promising therapy. We aimed to target miR-24, a suppressor upstream of junctophilin-2 (JP-2), which is required to affix the sarcoplasmic reticulum to T-tubules, and hence the release of Ca2+ in excitation–contraction coupling using pachymic acid (PA) and/or losartan (LN). HF was induced with DOX (3.5 mg/kg, i.p., six doses, twice weekly) in 24 rats. PA and LN (10 mg/kg, daily) were administered orally for four weeks starting the next day of the last DOX dose. Echocardiography, left ventricle (LV) biochemical and histological assessment and electron microscopy were conducted. DOX increased serum BNP, HW/TL, HW/BW, mitochondrial number/size and LV expression of miR-24 but decreased EF, cardiomyocyte fiber diameter, LV content of JP-2 and ryanodine receptors-2 (RyR2). Treatment with either PA or LN reversed these changes. Combined PA + LN attained better results than monotherapies. In conclusion, HF progression following DOX administration can be prevented or even delayed by targeting miR-24 and its downstream JP-2. Our results, therefore, suggest the possibility of using PA alone or as an adjuvant therapy with LN to attain better management of HF patients, especially those who developed tolerance toward LN

Resveratrol Ameliorates Aortic Calcification in Ovariectomized Rats via SIRT1 Signaling

Postmenopausal women are at an increased risk of vascular calcification which is defined as the pathological deposition of minerals in the vasculature, and is strongly linked with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Since estrogen-replacement therapy is associated with increased cancer risk, there is a strong need for safer therapeutic approaches. In this study we aimed to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of the phytoestrogen resveratrol against vascular calcification in ovariectomized rats, a preclinical model of postmenopause. Furthermore, we aimed to compare the effects of resveratrol to those of estrogen and to explore the mechanisms underpinning those effects. Treatment with resveratrol or estrogen ameliorated aortic calcification in ovariectomized rats, as shown by reduced calcium deposition in the arterial wall. Mechanistically, the effects of resveratrol and estrogen were mediated via the activation of SIRT1 signaling. SIRT1 protein expression was downregulated in the aortas of ovariectomized rats, and upregulated in rats treated with resveratrol or estrogen. Moreover, resveratrol and estrogen reduced the levels of the osteogenic markers: runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) which have been shown to play a role during vascular calcification. Additionally, the senescence markers (p53, p16 and p21) which were also reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification, were reduced upon treatment with resveratrol and estrogen. In conclusion, the phytoestrogen resveratrol may be a safer alternative to estrogen, as a therapeutic approach against the progression of vascular calcification during postmenopause

Intratracheal Administration of Chloroquine-Loaded Niosomes Minimize Systemic Drug Exposure

Pulmonary administration provides a useful alternative to oral and invasive routes of administration while enhancing and prolonging the accumulation of drugs into the lungs and reducing systemic drug exposure. In this study, chloroquine, as a model drug, was loaded into niosomes for potential pulmonary administration either via dry powder inhalation or intratracheally. Chloroquine-loaded niosomes have been prepared and extensively characterized. Furthermore, drug-loaded niosomes were lyophilized and their flowing properties were evaluated by measuring the angle of repose, Carr’s index, and Hausner ratio. The developed niosomes demonstrated a nanosized (100–150 nm) spherical morphology and chloroquine entrapment efficiency of ca. 24.5%. The FT-IR results indicated the incorporation of chloroquine into the niosomes, whereas in vitro release studies demonstrated an extended-release profile of the drug-loaded niosomes compared to the free drug. Lyophilized niosomes exhibited poor flowability that was not sufficiently improved after the addition of lactose or when cryoprotectants were exploited throughout the lyophilization process. In vivo, intratracheal administration of chloroquine-loaded niosomes in rats resulted in a drug concentration in the blood that was 10-fold lower than the oral administration of the free drug. Biomarkers of kidney and liver functions (i.e., creatinine, urea, AST, and ALT) following pulmonary administration of the drug-loaded nanoparticles were of similar levels to those of the control untreated animals. Hence, the use of a dry powder inhaler for administration of lyophilized niosomes is not recommended, whereas intratracheal administration might provide a promising strategy for pulmonary administration of niosomal dispersions while minimizing systemic drug exposure and adverse reactions

6-Pyruvoyltetrahydropterin Synthase Deficiency: Review and Report of 28 Arab Subjects

BACKGROUND: Tetrahydrobiopterin is an essential cofactor for the hydroxylation of aromatic amino acids phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Therefore, tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency results in hyperphenylalaninemia as well as dopamine and serotonin depletion in the central nervous system. The enzyme 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase catalyzes the second step of de novo synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin, and its deficiency is the most frequent cause of tetrahydrobiopterin metabolism disorders. METHOD: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 28 subjects from 24 families with molecularly confirmed 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase deficiency from six centers in three Arab countries. We reviewed clinical, biochemical, and molecular data. We also reviewed previously published cohorts of subjects with 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase deficiency. RESULTS: Similar to previous observations, we show that early treatment (less than two months) is associated with better outcome. We identify eight PTS variants in 24 independent families. The most common variant is (c.238A>G; p.M80V) with an allele count of 33%. We also identify one novel variant (c.2T>G; p.?). CONCLUSION: The deficiency of 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase is relatively common in the Arab population and should be considered in individuals with hyperphenylalaninemia. More natural history studies with comprehensive biochemical and molecular genetics data are needed for a robust base for the development of future therapy