Day 2 :
- Track 1: Pre-formulation Studies
Track 2: Bio-Pharmaceutics
Track 7: Nanotechnology
Location: Melia Valencia Palacio De Congresos
Session Introduction
Mengmeng Wang
Pfizer, USA
Title: Skin Metabolism of Biotherapeutics as a Limiting Factor for Subcutaneous Bioavailability
Biography:
Mengmeng Wang has graduated from medical school in China, came to US and finished PhD in biochemistry and biophysics at the University of Kansas. She worked as a Post-doc on transporters in Drug Disposition department at Eli Lilly and started first job as a small molecule PK project rep. in MAP department at BMS and now is working as Principal Scientist at Pfizer PDM-NBE in the area of PK and ADME for large molecules. She has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals.
Abstract:
Peptide A is an oxyntomodulin analog with a half-life of 1 hr in rats. A Controlled Release (CR) formulation is in development in order to extend the half-life of Peptide A. In this study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to understand the cause of decreased exposure after SC administration with the CR formulation. Peptide A or [125I] Peptide A was administered to rats via IV or SC route. Concentrations in plasma and tissue concentrations, including skin at injection sites were measured by LC/MS or radioactivity. In vitro skin stability study of [1251] Peptide A was conducted. After SC injection of Peptide A in CR formulation to rats, the t1/2 increased to 5 -10 hr, but the AUC decreased 50% in CR formulation compared to that after SC administration with the Instant Release (IR) formulation. In addition, the radioactivity in the skin after IR dosing dropped rapidly in the first 3 hr, but that after CR dosing remained constantly high for 72 hr, before starting to decrease in parallel with plasma concentrations. In vitro stability study demonstrated significant degradation of Peptide A in fresh skin. A major Metabolite (M1) was detected using the HPLC radiochromatography. Results from this study demonstrated that while CR formulation prolonged the systemic t1/2 of the peptide, the metabolism of the peptide in the skin during its prolonged residence could potentially offset its systemic exposure. Thus, caution needs to be taken to balance the increase of half-life and the decrease of exposure while choosing a right formulation
Yahdiana Harahap
Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia
Title: :A bioequivalence study of two azithromycin tablet formulations in indonesian healthy subjects
Biography:
Yahdiana harahap has completed her PhD at the age of 39 from Department of Pharmacy, Institute Technology Bandung, Indonesia. Now she is the Head of Biovailability and Bioequivalence laboratory Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Indonesia. Prior to this position, she was the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Indonesia. She has published 40 papers published in both International and National Journals. She has been invited to be the speakers in many international conference, especially in the field of BA/BE and Bioanalysis technique. She currently serves as an expert at Indonesia National Agency of Drug and Food Control, spesifically in BA/BE evaluation.
Abstract:
tablets as test formulation and 500 mg Zithromax® tablets as reference formulation. Methods: A single-dosed, open-label randomized two-way crossover design under fasting period with two weeks wash-out period was evaluated in 24 subjects. For the analysis of pharmacokinetic properties, the blood samples were drawn taken up to 120 hours after dosing. Plasma concentration of azithromycin was determined using liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry method with TurboIon Spray mode. Pharmacokinetic parameters AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ and Cmax were tested for bioequivalence after log-transformation of data and ratios of tmax were evaluated non-parametrically. Results: The point estimates and 90% confidence intervals (CI) for AUC0-t, AUC0-∞, and Cmax for azithromycin were 94.63% (86.27-103.81%), 95.35% (87.15-104.31%), and 94.16% (80.31-110.41%) respectively. Conclusion: These results indicated that the two formulations of Azithromycin were bioequivalent and thus may be prescribed interchangeably
Hugo Albrecht
University of South Australia, Australia
Title: Towards pharmacological validation of MAP kinase interacting kinases (MNKs) as anti-cancer drug targets
Biography:
Hugo Albrecht is a Senior Lecturer at the University of South Australia and a member of the Centre for Drug Discovery and Development within the division of Health Sciences. Prior to his appointment to the University of South Australia, he has held various positions in academic and commercial settings in Switzerland and the US, where he gained profound experience in preclinical drug discovery. From 2000-2007 he was employed at Discovery Partners International AG, Allschwil, Switzerland as Head of Research & Development. From 2007-2011 he was employed as Professor of Bioanalytics at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Basel.
Abstract:
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and according to WHO estimates the number of new cases will increase by 70% over the next 20 years. New treatments are urgently needed. The MAP kinase interacting kinases (Mnks) have been validated as potential cancer targets using cell biology and animal models. Inhibition of Mnk activity can effectively block oncogenic transformation and tumor development. Importantly while Mnk activation is essential for tumourigenesis it is not required for normal tissue development. Pharmacological inhibition of Mnks could therefore provide a major advance in treatment strategies, a nontoxic and effective anti-cancer therapeutic agent. But to date the lack of specific Mnk inhibitors has confounded pharmacological target validation and clinical development. However, we have recently identified several potent Mnk inhibitors. In this presentation we discuss our strategy to develop specific Mnk inhibitors including the impact of these on eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), tumor cell migration and how they might be used to improve cancer treatment.
Joseph Jampilek
University of veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Czech Republic
Title: Design, synthesis and investigation of aryl derivatives of alaptide as potential transdermal permeation enhancers
Biography:
Josef Jampilek completed his PhD degree in Medicinal Chemistry at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the Charles University in 2004. In 2004-2011 he worked in expert and managerial posts in the R&D Division of the pharmaceutical company Zentiva. In 2009 he became an Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Drugs at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno. He is an Author/Co-author of 27 patents, more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications, 6 university textbooks, 10 chapters in monographs and many invited lectures. He received several awards for his scientific results
Abstract:
Alaptide, 8-methyl-6, 9-diazaspiro [4.5] decan-7, 10-dione, is an original Czech compound. Substituted piperazine-2,5-diones were designed as analogues of Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Release-Inhibiting Factor (MIF-1), and thus it is supposed that they are able to influence the creation and function of keratinocytes. During biological assays, it was found that alaptide demonstrated significant skin curative activity without any observed toxicity. Based on these facts and structural analogy with other transdermal Chemical Permeation Enhancers (CPEs), it was suggested to investigate alaptide as a potential CPE of many anti-inflammatory drugs, antimicrobial chemotherapeutic, sex hormones/genital system modulators or drugs of central/vegetative nervous system. Based on the excellent enhancement and skin curative effect and no toxicity of alaptide other 8-substituted derivatives were designed. New compounds were prepared by a multi-step synthetic pathway from modified amino acids and then investigated on their biological effects. All discussed 8-aryl-6, 9-diazaspiro [4.5] decan-7, 10-diones were tested for their in vitro transdermal permeation enhancement effect using a vertical Franz diffusion cell and full-thickness pig ear skin. They showed a promising enhancement effect with respect to various drug substances from different types of formulations/transdermal therapeutic systems. They also expressed no toxicity or skin irritability.
Hamdy Abdelkader
Kingston University, United Kingdom
Title: In situ gelling naltrexone hydrochloride films as a potential novel therapy for corneal healing disorders
Biography:
Hamdy Abdelkader received his PhD from the School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland, New Zealand in 2011. His PhD topic on surfactant-based vesicles (niosomes/discomes) for ocular delivery of the opioid growth factor receptor antagonist-Naltrexone Hydrochloride, where his research led to 8 peer-reviewed articles (5 original research articles + 3 review articles), in addition, he was awarded many international conference grants to USA, Europe and Australia. Hamdy has published over 20 scientific research publications (full research papers and conference abstracts). He started a Leverhulme research fellowship at Kingston University London in early 2014 and works with Prof. Barbara Pierscionek and Prof. Raid Alany. The current focus is on developing and optimizing a novel drug therapy for age-related ocular diseases of the anterior segment of the eye.
Abstract:
Corneal ulcers are common manifestations of a number of genetic (e.g. Familial corneal hypoesthesia), systemic (e.g. diabetes) and ocular (e.g. viral, drug toxicity and surgical) diseases. The standard treatment of corneal ulcers consists of a number of components including: maximizing preservative free topical lubricants, use of topical antibiotics and protecting the corneal surface with a bandage contact lens. However, even in combination these measures may be ineffective, and the outcome is often severe sight impairment. The aim of this study was to develop, characterise and clinically evaluate NTX in situ ocular films for effective and safe treatment of impaired corneal ulcers of different origins. The films were prepared from different amorphous polymers characterized for physicochemical compatibility, moisture-sorption, surface pH, mechanical properties, sterilisability, surface morphology, mucoadhesion, tolerability and accelerated stability at 40oC/75% relative humidity for 3 months. Glycerin (GLY)-plasticized films exhibited significantly better mechanical properties, compared with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 and triethylcitrate (TEC)-plasticized formulations. Superior mucoadhesion was recorded for F7 and F9 plasticised with GLY and PEG 400 respectively. The stability of NTX was significantly enhanced more than 18-times, compared with the solution form. Various corneal ulcers (atheromatous, viral and traumatic ulcers) were successfully treated and healed for a period not longer than 7 days, compared with several months for conventional therapy
Patrizia Pagliara
Stanford University School of Medicine, USA
Title: Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokarotes
Biography:
Patrizia Pagliara has completed his PhD at the University of Salento (Italy) in 2003. Actually, she is a Researcher at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences and Technologies of the University of Salento. Her investigations concern the immunity defence mechanisms in invertebrates, the apoptosis process as well as the identification and characterization of novel bioactive compounds from cyanobacteria. She has published more than 40 papers on international journals
Abstract:
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes actually considered one of the richest sources of bioactive compounds. They are able to produce a great variety of secondary metabolites and toxins with antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, algicide or cytotoxic activities. Although the information about cyanobacterial bioactive compounds has been increasing over the last decades, less information are available for these species living in association with marine benthic organisms due to difficulties in their cultivation. So, the properties of a large number of cyanobacteria remained unexplored. During our study eight strains of cyanobacteria living in association with P. ficiformis were isolated, cultured under laboratory conditions and investigated for biological activities. Bioassays with human erythrocytes, Artemia salina nauplii, and Paracentrotus lividus gametes and embryos were performed. Cytotoxicity on mammalian cell lines was also investigated. A citolytic effect on human erythrocytes and a toxic activity against A. salina nauplii was observed. An antimitotic activity during sea urchin embryos development was evidenced and a disorganization of blastomeres with altered cell–cell contact was also induced. Furthermore, some of the isolated cyanobacterial strains, belonging to Leptolyngbya and Synechococcus genera, exerted a high cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells. Our data suggest to further investigate these cyanobacteria in order to better characterize their bioactive molecules and confirm that these microorganisms as good candidates for drug discovery.
Edgar Pérez-Herrero
University of Salamanca, Spain
Title: Drug nanocarriers as targeted therapies in cancer, the new chemotherapy
Biography:
Edgar Pérez Herrero is an Assistant Proffesor and Researcher at the University of Salamanca, focusing on thermal insulation by means of encapsulated phase change materials, and development of new targeted magnetic molecularly imprinted nanomedicines to improve the treatment of Multiple Myeloma. He got his PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Salamanca with extraordinary award for PhD Thesis. He was a visiting scientist in the University of Texas at Austin (EEUU), participating in original research on protein imprinting, with. Nicholas A Peppas, being co-author of a granted American patent. He has worked as Postdoctoral Researcher in the Principe Felipe Research Centre in Valencia with M J Vicent, specializing in conjugation processes and polymer therapeutics, and in the Pharmaceutical Technology Department at the University of Santiago de Compostela with M J Alonso, specializing in nanoparticle systems to oral peptide delivery
Abstract:
While surgery and radiotherapy are the main treatment used for local and non-metastatic cancers, anti-cancer drugs (chemotherapy, hormone and biological therapies) are the choice currently used in metastasic cancers. The indiscriminate destruction of normal cells, the toxicity of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as the development of multidrug resistance, support the need to find new effective targeted treatments based on the changes in the molecular biology of the tumor cells that block biologic transduction pathways and/or specific cancer proteins to induce the death of cancer cells by means of apoptosis and stimulation of the immune system, or specifically deliver chemotherapeutic agents to cancer cells, minimizing the undesirable side effects. Indirect targeted approaches mainly deliver chemotherapeutic agents to molecular targets overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells by cytotoxic drug carriers, like liposomes, carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, polymeric conjugates and polymeric nanoparticles, in passive and active targeted cancer therapy. These drug carriers not only transport the chemotherapeutic agents to tumors, avoiding normal tissues and reducing toxicity in the rest of the body, but also protect cytotoxic drugs from degradation, increase the half-life, payload and solubility of cytotoxic agents and reduce renal clearance. Despite the many advantages of anticancer drug carriers, only a few of them have reached the FDA approval, in contrast to the sixteen FDA approval of monoclonal antibodies. However, there are numerous clinical trials in progress of polymer-protein and polymer-drug conjugates, liposomal formulations, including immunoliposomes, polymeric micelles and polymeric nanoparticles
Mauricio de la Espriella Perdomo
Cooperative University of Colombia, Colombia
Title: Priapism associated with the use of clozapine. Case report
Biography:
Mauricio de la Espriella Perdomo is a Psychiatrist, neuropsychology and dementia specialist, master in health administration. He has led institutions and mental health clinical-surgical in Southern Colombia, with over 10 years experience in the area of mental health. He is the University lecturer and researcher in the field of psychiatry. He has published articles in specialty magazines and books related to neuroscience.
Abstract:
The use of antipsychotics is more common in medical practice. Priapism is predictable side effect of atypical antipsychotics, particularly clozapine. For a 54 year old patient with a history of schizophrenia who received 300mg day drug treatment described clozapine. The affinity of this drug by the alpha adrenergic receptor would facilitate the presence of priapism; however, clozapine has also action on muscarinic receptors and beta adrenergic so the use of beta-blockers or anticholinergics may help in the early management of priapism. There is a varied affinity between antipsychotics alpha adrenergic receptors so that the continuity of antipsychotics after an event of priapism depends on the degree of affinity to these receptors, the current clinical patient characteristics and prior treatment and risk assessment -benefit of using these drugs.
Wael M Abdel-Mageed
King Saud University, Egypt
Title: From the deepest on earth: natural products from extreme environments
Biography:
Wael M Abdel-Mageed is an Assistant Professor at Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he has been since 2012. He also serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, where it is his permanent address. He received a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Assiut University in 1997, and a MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacognosy) from Assiut University in 2002. He received his PhD in Chemistry of Natural Products from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, UK in 2009. He had a postdoctoral
Abstract:
Marine microbes are uniquely important to life as we know it. Since life most likely began in the oceans, marine microorganisms may be the closest living descendants of the original forms of life and also major pillars of the biosphere. Their metabolic diversity and capability allow them to carry out many steps in biogeochemical cycles that other organisms are unable to complete, while on the other hand they are used in a number of biotechnology applications, including the manufacture of industrial products and energy production. Marine microbes, in particular strains of Actinobacteria, are excellent sources of novel bioactive metabolites that might have pharmaceutical application. In addition to, approximately 20000 natural products have been reported from marine flora and fauna over the past 50 years and yet less than 2% of those derive from deep-water marine organisms. Although difficulty in accessing these depths has previously hindered deep-sea research, today with improved acoustic technology and greater access to submersibles, deep-sea exploration is uncovering extensive deep-water coral reefs that are home to a wealth of species on continental shelves and seamounts world-wide. Recent analyses have shown that the deep sea is one of the most biodiverse and species-rich habitats on the planet, rivalling that of coral reefs and rainforests. Dermacozines (A) and Abyssomicins (B) are rare class obtained from deep sea microbes going to be investigated in this short talk.
Antonio Drago
Aarhus University, Denmark
Title: A molecular pathway analysis informs the genetic background at risk for schizophrenia
Biography:
Antonio Drago has completed his PhD from Modena University and Postdoctoral studies from Bologna University. He has published more than 45 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.
Abstract:
Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder marked by severely impaired thinking, delusional thoughts, hallucinations and poor emotional responsiveness. The biological mechanisms that lead to schizophrenia may be related to the genetic background of patients. A molecular pathway analysis was undertaken to identify the molecular pathways associated with schizophrenia. We collected data of genetic loci previously associated with schizophrenia, identified the genes located in those positions and created the metabolic pathways that are related to those genes' products. These pathways were tested for enrichment in a sample of schizophrenic patients and controls (4486 and 4477, respectively). The molecular pathway that resulted from the identification and analysis of all the genes located in the loci associated with schizophrenia was found to be enriched, as expected (permutated p (10(6))=9.9999e-06).We found 60 SNPs amongst 30 different genes with a strong association with schizophrenia. The genes are related to the pathways related to neurodevelopment, apoptosis, vesicle traffic, immune response and MAPK cascade. The pathway related to the toll-like receptor family seemed to play a central role in the modulation/connection of various pathways whose disruption leads to schizophrenia. This pathway is related to the innate immune system, further stressing the role of immunological-related events in increasing the risk to schizophrenia.
Biography:
Maximiliano Kammerer L is a nutritionist and has been working for more than 10 years at sports medicine division at Indeportes Antioquia, and as a teacher at Antioquia University in the area of sports nutrition. He has written several chapters of some books included anthropometric measures and physical activity and nutrition. He is one of the nutritionist of Colombian Olympic Committee (COC).
Abstract:
The consumption of beverages containing caffeine and taurine before exercising has been associated with increased physical and psychological performances. It is not clear the effect of every major compound in relation to the whole effect of the beverages and there is a lack in knowledge about their degree of safety for consumption. This study used a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, crossover design. Fourteen male soldiers performed different tests to measure their cardiorespiratory fitness, time to exhaustion, strength, power, concentration and memory after drinking 250 ml of one of the following beverages: One with 80 mg caffeine, one with 1000 mg taurine, one with 80 mg caffeine plus 1000 mg taurine, a commercial energy drink (Red Bull®) or a placebo drink. Subjects were caffeine-consumers that avoided caffeine during the day of evaluation. Differences between treatments were assessed. The mean±SD values of VO2max, maximum heart rate, time to exhaustion, right handgrip strength, left handgrip strength, vertical jump, Grid test and Digits test were 61.3±6.2 ml/kg.min, 196±6.8 beats per min, 17±1.2 min, 56.8±6.6 kgf, 53.1±5.9 kgf, 41.1±3.8 cm, 19.9±5.9 observed digits and 10.9±3.1 remembered digits after drinking a placebo drink. Comparisons among the commercial drink, caffeine, taurine, caffeine plus taurine and placebo treatments did not show statistically differences. It can be concluded that the consumption of caffeine (80 mg) and taurine (1000 mg) or their combination does not increase the physical and cognitive ability in young adults during exercise.
Michael R Shurin
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Title: Pharmacological regulation of the tumor immunoenvironment
Biography:
After graduation from Moscow State Medical School in 1984, Post graduation training in clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Immunology and obtaining his PhD degree in Immunopharmacology in 1991, He joined the Faculty of the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 1991 where he is a Professor of Pathology and Immunology and an Associate Director of the Division of Clinical Immunopathology. His main research interests are in the field of the tumour microenvironment, cancer-mediated immunomodulation and dendritic cell vaccines for cancer immunotherapy. At present, his research program focuses on the immune modulating properties of chemotherapy and modulation of the tumour micro environmental elements, including dendritic cells, regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and endothelial cells, as well as intratumoral cytokine network. Using a combination of immunological, molecular and gene therapeutic methodologies, He is an Author of more than hundred peer-reviewed publications and numerous reviews, an editor of several books, including “Dendritic Cell in Cancer” and “The tumour immune environment” books, an organizer of several popular international conferences on Immune-Mediated Diseases, Immunodiagnostics and Immuno monitoring and Cancer Immunotherapy. He is a Member of several grant review and editorial boards and many clinical and research societies.
Abstract:
The tumour microenvironment consist of a variable combination of tumour cells, stromal fibroblasts, endothelial cells and infiltrating leukocytes, such as macrophages, T lymphocytes, and Dendritic Cells (DC). Tumour progression is often associated with suppression or malfunction of the immune system, including the appearance of regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, dysbalance of dendritic cell subsets and cytokine network, and polarization of Th1/Th2/Th3/Th17/Treg subsets and their balance. We have recently reported that antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents could directly up-regulate development and functional activation of dendritic cells in vitro and in vivo if used in low nontoxic concentrations. Our new data revealed that low-dose nontoxic chemotherapy (or chemomodulation) increases resistance of dendritic cells to tumor-induced immunosuppression and converts suppressor dendritic cells into immunostimulatory cells. Furthermore, low-dose nontoxic chemotherapy down-regulated activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agents in low, nontoxic concentrations blocked the ability of tumor cells to inhibit immune cell function. This effect was associated with increased expression of antigen-processing machinery components in tumor cells and, thus, increased immunogenicity of tumor cells. Together, these data suggest that the modulation of the tumor microenvironment by low-dose nontoxic chemotherapy – chemomodulation, - may serve as a powerful adjuvant for different immunotherapeutic modalities in cancer. In fact, application of low-dose chemotherapy prior to dendritic cell vaccines in the animal tumor models resulted in significant inhibition of primary and metastatic tumor growth in vivo. Thus, chemomodulation of the tumor environment with nontoxic doses of several common chemotherapeutic agents, including nanovehicle delivery of these agents, might target different cell populations, decrease tumor-induced immunosuppression, and improve the efficacy of modern vaccines for cancer therapy.
Alia Shatanawi
The University of Jordan, Jordan
Title: Angiotensin II increases endothelial arginase expression through a RhoA/ROCKp38 MAPK-ATF-2 pathway leading to reduced NO production
Biography:
Alia Shatanawi has completed her PhD in Pharmacology with distinction from The Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University in the United States in 2011. After finishing her PhD she accepted an Assistant Professor position at the Faculty of Medicine in The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. She is a 2014 fellow for the UNESCO L’OREAL For Women in Science international program. She also holds a degree in dental surgery from The University of Jordan. She has published many papers and has received numerous awards and recognitions at both the regional and international levels.
Abstract:
Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and diabetes. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is needed for normal vascular function. In conditions of vascular dysfunction, elevated levels of arginase can compete with NOS for available L-arginine thus reducing vascular NO production. Elevated angiotensin II (Ang II) is a key participant of endothelial dysfunction in many cardiovascular diseases and has been linked to elevated arginase activity. Our studies have explored the signaling pathway leading to increased arginase expression/activity in responses to Ang II in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Treatment of BAEC with Ang II caused an increase in arginase activity. This was accompanied by a decrease in NO production. Our studies indicate involvement of the RhoA/ROCK-p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in Ang II-induced arginase upregulation and reduced NO production, as inhibitors of ROCK or p38 MAPK prevented the Ang II-induced increase in arginase activity. Additionally, treatment of BAEC with Ang II causes phosphorylation of activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) and enhancement of the binding of ATF-2 to arginase promoter through an AP-1 site as evident from EMSA experiments. Transfection of BAEC with ATF-2 siRNA prevents Ang II-induced increases in arginase activity/expression and maintains NO production. These results indicate that ATF-2 is necessary for enhanced expression of arginase by Ang II. Collectively, our results indicate that Ang II increases endothelial arginase activity/expression through a RhoA/ROCK-p38 MAPK-ATF-2 pathway leading to reduced NO production and endothelial dysfunction. Targeting these signaling steps might be therapeutic points for preventing vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with elevated arginase levels.
Biography:
Abdalla Omar received his PhD from Alexandria University, faculty of Pharmacy in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharmacognosy). He had his Post-Doctoral fellow from the College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, USA. He held several academic and administrative positions including: Research Prof. College of Agriculture, King Saudi University (KSA), Visitor Res. Prof., Inst. of Organic Chemistry, Technical University Berlin (Germany). Visitor Prof. Arab University (Beirut). Chairman, Pharmacognosy Department, Alexandria University, General Manager, The Pharmacy Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy and General Manager of Medizen Pharmaceuticals, Egypt. He has published more than 60 papers in reputed journals. He has the honour of working with some great scientists in natural products as late professors Jack Beal and R Doskotsh of Ohio State University, Prof F Bohlmann of Berlin, and also has several publications with different international groups as the team of Prof. Savona and Piozzi of Italy, and Royal Danish School of Pharmacy.
Abstract:
Guava fruit tree is an important crop plant cultivated in Egypt. Guava leaf has a long history of folk medicinal uses in Egypt and worldwide as a cough sedative and as an antidiarrheal. It is also applied in the management of hypertension, obesity and in the control of diabetes mellitus in several countries. Recently it was introduced as a main ingredient in many herbal mixtures marketed in the Egyptian market and worldwide. It has been stated very often that the lack of standardization of herbal remedies and plant medicines is holding back the use of medicinal plants in the modern system of medicine, therefore a growing demand for the establishment of a system of standardization for every herbal preparation in the market is required and the buildup of a monograph containing all information required about the herbal drug is necessary. Therefore a monograph was designed on the basis set by the British Herbal Pharmacopeia in order to help in the quality control of the leaves. The monograph gave a full description of the leaf and powdered plant, summary of the activities and methods for the identification and the quality control of the raw material and the prepared extracts using physical, morphological, botanical and applying a validated HPTLC method for the quantification of Quercetin content.
Anna Szemik-Hojniak
University of Wroclaw, Poland
Title: : The behavior of trans-styryl derivatives under the UV light irradiation
Biography:
Anna Szemik-Hojniak has completed her PhD in Radiochemistry from the University of Wroclaw and Postdoctoral studies in Physical Chemistry from Solvay Foundation (Belgium), KULeuven (Belgium) and Centre of Nuclear Researches (Strasburg, France). She is experienced researcher and academic teacher and occupies with Organic Molecular Photophysics. She has published more than 45 papers in reputed scientific journals and has been serving as a reviewer of many different scientific journals. In the years (2002-2011) she served as the INWES Board director (2002-2011) for INWES corporation- operational partner of UNESCO. In 2007, at the University of Wroclaw, Poland, she organized international workshop on, “Strategies of the Highly Skilled Global Workforce”. In 2011, she was awarded with Distinguished Service Award. Presently she is INWES-ERI Board director (headquarters-Ottawa, Canada). In 2014, she organized Mini Symposium on, “Photophysics of Electron and Proton Transfer” in the framework of ICCMSE2014 conference, in Athens (Greece
Abstract:
The remarkable properties of functionalized styryl dyes as the stilben derivatives containing the variously substituted (-C6H5-CH =C) core are the subject of continuing interest. Despite that different substituents are incorporated into the aromatic rings and are allowed to obtain a numerous push-pull type donor-acceptor systems widely used in modern technologies, nonetheless, as they are also the representatives of bioactive heterocycles, they find application in various aspects of medicine and pharmacology. These molecules, on the UV light irradiation find themselves in the electronic excited state and depending on the environmental conditions their physico-chemical properties significantly change. Keeping in mind the known biological relevance of heterocyclic N-oxides that may cause apoptosis in human cells (e.g., K562 ), we decided to investigate the trans-4 - [4 '- (N, N dimethylamino-styryl)] pyridine N-oxide (DPO),2-(4-methoxy-trans-styryl)quinoline-1-oxide (MSQNO) and its hybrid complex with the ZnTPP unit.DFT and TD DFT calculations shown that in protic media, the trans-DPO system is able to form the hydrogen bonded complexes, allowing to find new applications in Biochemistry and Pharmacology. In this talk, we will discuss the charge transfer process in the excited state, the photo physical properties of these three compounds via. a vis polarity of the solvent, and differences caused by a weaker electron donor (methoxy group) substitution in MSQNO relative to [(-CH3)2N] group in DPO. A focus on theoretical aspect will be referred to a strong reference to experiment