Receptor of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) is Positively Correlated with Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Adolescents with Obesity

Introduction: Obesity in childhood is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes and other traditional cardiometabolic risk factors, suggesting an epidemic of premature cardiovascular disease among today’s youth. Glycotoxins, known as advanced glycationend products (AGE’s), activating via the membrane-bound receptors (mRAGE), have been implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammation, (increased tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α ]), insulin resistance and vascular dysfunction in adults, but the role of RAGE in the early stages of metabolic disorders is unknown. In this study, we assessed relationship of cardiometabolicrisk factors, mRNA expression of TNF-α and RAGE in peripheral monocytes in adolescents with obesity. Methods: Thirty three adolescents,11-16 years of age, with body mass index (BMI) Z-score≥2 were admitted following a 12-hour overnight fast for anthropometrics, lipid profile , fasting peripheral blood sample collection, and a 2-hour 75 gm, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) positive for CD14 were isolated from blood. Cells were further analyzed by quantitative PCR for mRNA expression of RAGE and TNF-α. Pearson\u27s coefficients were calculated to assess the associations between RAGE mRNA and cardiometabolicrisk factors as well as TNF-α mRNA levels. Results: The participants had a mean age of 12.7±1.41 years and BMI-Z score 2.32±0.35 SD with 81 % participants being female; 62 % were Black, 28% Caucasian, 10% were Hispanic. We observed a positive correlation between mRNA levels of RAGE and TNF-α in CD14+ monocytes in blood (r=0.62, p\u3c0.01). However, we did not observe a correlation of BMI, cholesterol or triglyceride with RAGE mRNA levels. Conclusion: The positive relationship between the monocyte mRNA levels of RAGE and TNF-α suggest involvement of AGE-RAGE axis in obesity-associated inflammation and needs to be further investigated with larger sample size as well as studies in healthy adolescents.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1134/thumbnail.jp

Historiografi Hisab Rukyah

The development of Hisab-Rukyah is not widely disclosed academically because Falak Science does not currently have its place in society. The development of Hisab Rukyah, of course, must be re-expressed to show that this science has had a special place in the midst of Islamic history. The development of reckoning rukyah at the time of the Prophet Muhammad was still at the level of worship and was still simple. At the time of the Companions, the development of reckoning rukyah was also not much different, but during the Caliph `Umar Ibn Khattab the Islamic calendar system was successfully formulated. During the tabi`in period, the development of reckoning and rukyah reached the peak of its progress during the reign of the Abbasids, especially the caliphate of al-Ma'mun. This is marked by the emergence of important figures and their works which later influenced the development of reckoning rukyah after that even to this day. In the Middle Ages, reckoning rukyah had experienced a setback due to the chaos of the Islamic world at that time, works in the field of astronomy were destroyed in an attack by the Mongols, but after that reckoning rukyah was able to rise again until modern times we are experiencing now

Moderate Islamic Jurisprudence: Study of Muhammadiyah's Decision on Changes in Criteria for Fajr Prayer Time

This article aims to look at the new criteria decided by Muhammadiyah regarding the beginning of Fajr prayer time, which was seen through the conception of religious moderation (wasatiyah) in Indonesia. This issue relates to the decision regarding the change in the criteria from -20 degrees to -18 degrees due to an 8-minute difference from the common schedule used in Indonesia. This decision resulted in a long process that started from public unrest, discussed in the 27th National Conference of Muhammadiyah. Still, it could not be realized, then Muhammadiyah conducted a comprehensive fiqh study and appointed 3 main institutions to conduct studies astronomically. After the XXXI National Conference on Tarjih, Muhammadiyah finally decided to change this criterion through the principle of wasaṭiyyah; there is nothing wrong with this ijtihad jama`i carried out by Muhammadiyah, but Muhammadiyah does not appear to be balanced and fair in using the research results of the institutions that have been appointed, besides that Muhammadiyah also does not consider other important research outside Muhammadiyah. In the context of wasaṭiyyah, these different principles need to be resolved. The solution to unification itself must be given to the country’s religious authorities. The government is also required to fix criteria and conceptions to maximize that union effort

PERKEMBANGAN PEMIKIRAN SASTERA ISLAM DI ALAM MELAYU

Makalah ini mengkaji kefahaman tentang sastera Islam, gagasan dan falsafah kesusasteraan yang dibentuknya. Ia menyorot sejarah kemunculannya di Alam Melayu ini dan aliran perkembangannya di abad baru serta tokoh yang memperjuangkannya. Usaha mengetengahkan dan memperkasa sastera Islam telah dipelopori dengan penghasilan karya-karya sastera yang monumental yang berhasil mengetengahkan pemikiran sastera Melayu dan kekuatan Islam yang mencorakkan perspektifnya. Makalah ini turut membahas isu dan tema yang bersangkutan seperti wacana sastera transendental, inklusivisme dan sebagainya. Kaedah kajian ialah berdasarkan metode deskriptif, komparatif dan analitik. Ia membandingkan falsafah-falsafah yang dirumuskan dalam karya sastera yang terhasil dan merumuskan dasar fikiran dan pengaruh yang dicetuskannya. Dapatan kajian menemui bahawa percambahan pemikiran terkait sastera ini membawa pemahaman yang beragam, disebabkan kerangka dan sudut pandang yang berlainan yang menjadi landas yang mencorakkan penelitian yang dikembangkan. Kajian ini memberi implikasi luas kepada pemahaman yang lebih mendalam tentang asas dan corak pemikiran sastera yang berpengaruh di Alam Melayu

PERGERAKAN ISLAM DI MALAYSIA: KONTEKS DAN FAKTOR SEJARAH

AbstractThe paper highlights early phase of the historical development of Islamic movement in Malaysia since colonial era. This was projected from two crucial and overlapping aspects; the reform movement which brought national awareness and renewed aspiration for tajdid as well as the influence of anti-colonial movement and its underlying impact of political Islam embedded in the Malay-archipelago. It describes the impact of Islamic movement in Malaysia in fostering religious consciousness and reassertion of its dynamic spirit in broad socio-cultural and socio-political context. The pioneering work of Syed Syaikh al-Hadi, Burhanuddin al-Helmy, Ustaz Abu Bakar al-Baqir, and Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas has sparked significant influence and inspired profound and lasting spiritual and religious growth and struggle. The intellectual and religious movement inspired by these figures demonstrated meaningful intellectual and spiritual essence that set forth significant threshold for public debates of the Islamic moral and social premise and the dialectic of ijtihad. Their influence has brought forth progressive change that help to foster an inclusive civil society and constructed sustainable Islamic polity. This study is based on qualitative approach in the form of library research. Data collected through documentation technique and interpreted using descriptive, analytical, historical, and comparative method. This research found that the genuine struggle for Islamic cause has bring unprecedented reform in reasserting tawhid consciousness and its principal liberating values through IOK. It set forth the trajectory of realizing the objective of reform in reclaiming the spirit of ijtihad and strengthening its rational, metaphysical, and ideological basis, whose manifestation constitute the socio-political and socio-cultural faces of Islamic revival in Southeast Asia. Their foundational work has been instrumental in strengthening scientific spirit and in the proliferation of effective cadre recruited at the grassroot.Keywords: Intellectual, Islamic Movement, Malaya, Reform, Religious Thought. AbstrakKajian ini menyorot sejarah awal perkembangan gerakan Islam di Malaysia sejak zaman kolonial. Kajian ini ditinjau dari dua sudut yang penting dan bertumpang-tindih; gerakan islah yang membawa kesadaran nasional dan aspirasi pembaharuan dan tajdid serta pengaruh gerakan anti-penjajah dan kepeloporan politik Islam di rantau nusantara. Gerakan ini memunculkan kesan dan pengaruh gerakan Islam di Malaysia dalam melakukan pembaharuan dalam konteks sosio budaya dan sosio politik yang luas. Peranan dan sumbangan yang dicetuskan oleh para pelopor Islam di Malaysia seperti Syed Syeikh al-Hadi, Burhanuddin al-Helmi, Ustaz Abu Bakar al-Baqir, Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas dan sebagainya telah memberikan pengaruh yang signifikan dalam mengilhamkan kebangkitan dan kesedaran wa’y al-Islam yang mendalam. Gerakan Islam yang diprakarsai oleh tokoh-tokoh penting ini memperlihatkan nilai dan falsafah Islam yang ideal dan membuka ruang ijtihad yang signifikan dan segar. Pengaruh pemikiran yang dilontarkan telah menghasilkan perubahan yang progresif dalam pembentukan masyarakat madani yang inklusif dan gerakan akliah yang kuat. Kajian ini berbentuk kualitatif dengan jenis penelitian kepustakaan. Analisis konten sangat diutamakan dalam aktivitas kajian ini. Data dikumpulkan melalui metode dokumentasi dengan menerapkan kaedah analisis bercorak interpretatif, analitis, deskriptif, historis dan komparatif. Kajian ini merumuskan bahwa perjuangan dakwah yang diketengahkan telah mencetuskan perubahan yang signifikan dalam memperkokoh gerakan (harakah) dan landas (khittah) perjuangan, menggilap ruh dan semangat kebebasan, menggerakkan wacana islah dan islamisasi ilmu. Gerakan ini telah menzahirkan sumbangan dan kefahaman Islam yang tuntas dan meyakinkan dalam menggarap dasar dan arah politik dan sosio-budaya yang eksplisit, dan menzahirkan ketinggian pengaruh dan idealisme yang meluas dalam tradisi akliah dan peradaban serta upaya penggemblingan kader di semua peringkat.Kata Kunci: Gerakan Islam, Islah, Intelektual, Malaya, Pemikiran

The Growth of Political Islam in Tunisia: Rachid Ghannouchi and Ennahda

The article highlights Rachid Ghannouchi’s political ideas in the context of the growth of political Islam in the Arab world by focusing on historical and political development that underlie the democratic process in Tunisia. It discusses political idealism he developed in Ennahda movement (The Renaissance Party) based on the principles of freedom and justice and its uncompromising opposition to the autocratic regime of Habib Bourguiba (1957-1987) and his successor Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali (1987-2011). The study is qualitative in nature in the form of documentary and content analysis. It used descriptive, analytical and historical approaches to analyse data derived from established archival sources. The study found that Ennahda Movement which was co-founded by Ghannouchi in 1981 as “The Movement of Islamic Tendency” had broad influence in mainstream Islamic politics in Tunisia, that espouse to dismantle the autocratic rule and decolonise the corrupt practice and political suppression of past regime. The influence it developed had broadly impacted both Islamic and secular forces to converge and commit toward democratic rule, human rights and the principle of justice, freedom, and the rule of law

Muhammad Abduh’s Role in al-Waqa’i‘ al-Misriyyah an Official Egyptian Gazette

The article discusses the role of Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905) in his illustrious career as leading editor of al-Waqā’i‘ al-Misrīyya ( الوقائع المصرية) [Egyptian Events] an official Egyptian gazette. It brings profound impact in the field of journalism in the context of rising popularity of al-Waqā’i‘ al-Misrīyyah during his editorship (1880-1882), that established its reputation as leading Egyptian newspapers highlighting unprecedented socio-cultural and religious reform undertaken by the establishment, in the midst of phenomenal and competitive growth of independent press. His writing was instrumental in developing national consciousness toward modernization program and influencing public opinion in Egypt. It allowed for better development of formidable national spirit and awakening their higher ideal and convention in language, literature and culture as well as mobilizing social awareness of intense political and cultural dynamics. His career span the period of Riyad Pasha and Sharif’s administration and subsequent political unrest. The research is based on qualitative and documentation technique. It reviewed accumulated data by way of descriptive, analytical, historical and comparative method. The finding shows that al-Waqā’i‘ has assumed unprecedented influence and success during the editorship of Abduh through his dynamic and productive articles and rigorous daily basis of production of the newspaperArtikel ini membahas peranan Muhammad Abduh (1849-1905) dalam kerjayanya sebagai ketua editorial akhbar al-Waqā’i‘ al-Misrīyyah (الوقائع المصرية) sejak tahun 1880. Impak yang besar kepada bidang kewartawanan ini penting dalam konteks kebangkitan akhbar Mesir, khususnya al-Mu’ayyad dan al-Waqā’i‘ al-Misrīyyah, sebagai surat khabar rasmi pemerintah bagi mengembangkan cita pemodenan dan mempengaruhi pandangan umum di Mesir. Ia memberi kesan yang penting yang memungkinkannya memainkan peranan dalam mengembangkan harkat bahasa, meningkatkan kekuatan pengaruh akhbar dan kewartawanan dan menggerakkan kesedaran umum tentang percaturan politik dan budaya yang intens dalam perkembangan semangat nasionalisme dan kesedaran sosial di Mesir. Penulisan dan rencana politiknya merangkumi tempoh pentadbiran Riyad Pasha, pentadbiran Sharif dan zaman pergolakan politik. Artikel ini menyorot idea-idea yang dilontarkannya tentang pembaharuan sosial dan spiritual, serta persoalan-persoalan pendidikan, agama dan sosio-budaya yang berkaitan. Metode kajian adalah berasaskan kaedah dokumentasi dan pembukuan. Data-data kajian ditinjau secara deskriptif, analitik dan komparatif. Kesimpulan kajian mendapati perkembangan yang dinamik dan produktif di masa kepimpinan Abduh menerajui akhbar al-Waqa’i‘ al-Misriyyah yang berhasil mengangkat persoalan masyarakat dan menarik kesedaran tentang ihwal mutakhir dalam dunia politik dan akhbar serta mempertahankan kepentingan etika dan nilai kewartawanan