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The 21st century has been designated as the century of urban transition. Urban environments have become a key reflection of the changes in today's world of dynamic and constant flux as cities throughout the world experience fundamental social, cultural and economic transformation. Socio-cultural and urban identities are being radically transformed; globalization, internationalization and the rapid flow of information all play a significant role in changing cities and their people. During the last three decades significant investments of monetary resources and professional expertise have led to numerous projects and programmes concerning urban regeneration, housing renovation, and the revitalization of old neighbourhoods.

This study was conducted to investigate the prophylactic effects of carnitine against contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and its relation to oxidant/antioxidant status in kidney, liver, heart, spleen and lung tissues in a CIN rat model. Twenty-eight adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, the control, contrast media (CM), carnitine and contrast media+carnitine (CM+carnitine) groups. Animals were placed in individual metabolism cages, and on the 2nd day, rats were deprived of water for 24 hr. On the 3rd day, contrast media were administered to groups CM and CM+carnitine. L-carnitine was administered on days 2, 3 and 4. Histopathological changes were evaluated in the right kidney after euthanization. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in renal, liver, heart, spleen and lung tissues. The SOD activities in the renal (P

Tiwari, Prafulla/0000-0001-7913-5386 WOS: 000326100600017 PubMed: 23471492 The purpose of the study was to assess whether it is possible to reduce the oxidative damage using antioxidant agents combined with hormone replacement therapy after menopause. In this prospective experimental study, 50 mature female Wistar albino rats weighing 270-310 g were used. Rats were divided into the following six groups: (1) Ovx group (n = 7): the animals underwent bilateral ovariectomy. No drug was administered following bilateral ovariectomy. (2) Ovx + E (2) group (n = 7): bilateral ovariectomy + 17 beta-estradiol (100 mu g/kg/day); (3) Ovx + E (2) + MT5 group (n = 7): bilateral ovariectomy + 17 beta-estradiol (100 mu g/kg/day) + melatonin (5 mg/kg/day); (4) Ovx + E (2) + MT20 group (n = 7): bilateral ovariectomy + 17 beta-estradiol (100 mu g/kg/day) + melatonin (20 mg/kg/day); (5) Ovx + E (2) + Dxp250 group (n = 7): bilateral ovariectomy + 17 beta-estradiol (100 mu g/kg/day) + dexpanthenol (250 mg/kg/day); (6) Ovx + E (2) + Dxp500 group (n = 7): bilateral ovariectomy + 17 beta-estradiol (100 mu g/kg/day) + dexpanthenol (500 mg/kg/day), and the activity of these antioxidative enzymes and oxidative stress products were measured. Enzymatic activity levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase and levels of free radicals (malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide) were both analyzed. We observed an increase in the level of GSH activity, but no significant differences in levels of CAT, SOD, and GSH-Px enzymatic activity and in levels of free radical MDA following 17 beta-estradiol or additional antioxidant treatment (melatonin or dexpanthenol). Despite the present study indicating that the addition of melatonin and dexpanthenol into the hormone replacement therapy regimen may contribute to the antioxidant effect of estrogen, the existence of limited data in this field indicates that further studies are warranted.

The first Istanbul Design Biennial with the theme of “Imperfection” took place between 13 October and 12 December, 2012. The theme of “Imperfection” was attempted to be read through Istanbul during the Biennial organised by IKSV. The expectation was for Istanbul to provide an inspiration for the design creation process with its far from being imperfect nature, fuzzy and temporary and yet exciting characteristics. The main theme of the Biennial that refers to the Japanese concept of “Wabi”, started out from the fact that design concepts are no longer fed by the utopias but by the quotidian in the transitory arising from impermanence. publisher version

Due to copyright restrictions, the access to the full text of this article is only available via subscription. Cities throughout the world have experienced fundamental social, cultural and economic transformation in recent decades. Socio-cultural and urban identities have been transforming radically; globalization, internationalization and the rapid flow of information, as the case in the rest of the world, have played a significant role in changing cities and their people. These changing dynamics have affected continuity and development trends in urban-housing environments and housing preferences. The multidimensional outcomes of this transformation are manifest in peculiarities of activity patterns, behavioral relationships, and socio-cultural norms, as well as in architectural and urban configurations. These rapid economic and social changes demand continual redefinition of urbanization and housing concerns. Therefore, the main aim of the article that based on ongoing research is to examine implications of urban and architectural transformations in Istanbul with the subjects of economical, cultural and political conditions. Based on these above arguments, article aims to analyze and discuss the relationship between urban dynamics and new housing developments in Istanbul in the context of transformation process. The article, which consists of five sections, has three sections besides the introduction and conclusion. In the first two part a theoretical framework is established, explaining and discussing culture, continuity and change in the process of urbanization. The second part includes the latest housing trends in Istanbul with the subjects of economical, cultural and political conditions that Turkey is already in and related. The third part examines the emerging patterns of social and cultural differentiation in Istanbul through the examples of the exclusive suburbs At the end, we argue that recent housing projects and trends represent new forms of organizing social and cultural differences, and could be read as urban forms, which create segregation and reproduce inequalities while transforming the character of public life.