ObjectivesOsteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability for which there is no cure. The identification of molecules supporting cartilage homeostasis and regeneration is therefore a major pursuit in musculoskeletal medicine. Agrin is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan which, through binding to low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (LRP4), is required for neuromuscular synapse formation. In other tissues, it connects the cytoskeleton to the basement membrane through binding to α-dystroglycan. Prompted by an unexpected expression pattern, we investigated the role and receptor usage of agrin in cartilage.MethodsAgrin expression pattern was investigated in human osteoarthritic cartilage and following destabilisation of the medial meniscus in mice. Extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and chondrocyte differentiation was studied in gain and loss of function experiments in vitro in three-dimensional cultures and gain of function in vivo, using an ectopic cartilage formation assay in nude mice. Receptor usage was investigated by disrupting LRP4 and α-dystroglycan by siRNA and blocking antibodies respectively.ResultsAgrin was detected in normal cartilage but was progressively lost in OA. In vitro, agrin knockdown resulted in reduced glycosaminoglycan content, downregulation of the cartilage transcription factor SOX9 and other cartilage-specific ECM molecules. Conversely, exogenous agrin supported cartilage differentiation in vitro and ectopic cartilage formation in vivo. In the context of cartilage differentiation, agrin used an unusual receptor repertoire requiring both LRP4 and α-dystroglycan.ConclusionsWe have discovered that agrin strongly promotes chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage formation in vivo. Our results identify agrin as a novel potent anabolic growth factor with strong therapeutic potential in cartilage regeneration.

This article aims to describe the symbolic meaning of the acculturation Telonan and Tingkeban which is believed and preserved by the people of Kunti-Mranggen Village, Kediri, Indonesia. This study uses a type of qualitative research with a folklore approach. This research was conducted for one year using the method of collecting data through interviews, observation, and documentation. In addition to being a research instrument, researchers also participated in the telonan and tingkeban culture with the aim of finding the comprehensive meaning of the object under study. Data analysis in this study uses the deductive method with source triangulation as the checker of the data validity. The results of this study are: 1) Telonan is an activity of praying for pregnant women and their babies during the age of the womb-reaching 3 months into 4 months. While Tingkeban is carried out when the womb reaches 7 months. This activity is carried out with the aim that mothers and babies are always given safety and health by God, as well as fluency in the process of giving birth to the fetus later; 2) In carrying out the telonan and tingkeban several Javanese foods such as jenang abang, jenang putih, buceng ketan, keleman, cucumber, sego golong, sego semaron, sego rogoh, gedhang setangkep, dawet, and rujak are each of these ingredients has symbolic meaning; 3) The values ​​that emerge from the telonan and tingkeban traditions include the value of helping, harmony, friendship, hablumminallah and hablumminannas.             Abstrak            Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan makna simbolik dari akulturasi “Telonan dan Tingkeban” yang diyakini dan dilestarikan oleh masyarakat Dusun Kunti, Mranggen Kediri. Penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan folklor. Selain menjadi instrumen penelitian, peneliti juga berpartisipasi dalam budaya telonan dan tingkeban tersebut dengan tujuan menemukan makna yang komprehensif dari obyek yang diteliti. Analisis data dalam penelitian ini menggunakan metode deduktif dengan triangulasi sumber sebagai pengecek keabsahan datanya. Hasil penelitian ini adalah: 1) Telonan adalah kegiatan mendoakan ibu yang sedang hamil beserta bayi yang dikandungnya saat usia kandungan mencapai 3 bulan memasuki 4 bulan. Sedangkan Tingkeban dilaksanakan pada saat usia kandungan mencapai 7 bulan. Kegiatan ini dilaksanakan dengan tujuan agar ibu dan bayi senantiasa diberi keselamatan dan kesehatan oleh Allah, serta kelancaran dalam proses melahirkan janinnya nanti; 2) Dalam pelaksanaan telonan & tingkeban ini dihidangkan beberapa jenis makanan khas Jawa seperti jenang merah, jenang putih, buceng ketan, keleman, timun, sego golong, sego semaron, sego rogoh, gedhang setangkep, dawet, dan rujak yang masing-masing bahan tersebut memiliki makna simbolik; 3) Nilai-nilai yang muncul dari tradisi telonan dan tingkeban di antaranya nilai tolong-menolong, kerukunan, silaturrahim, hablumminallah dan hablumminannas.

In the Islamic concept that the husband is the head of the household and the wife is the housewife, but the development of the wife is looking for income in public spaces. What is interesting to study is, is it possible for the wife to become a partner in the household? With the aim, to get scientific insights about the rights and obligations of husband and wife that are relevant to the current context. This study is a library study that has qualitative research types. For criticizing the feminist concepts about the rights and obligations of husband and wife, I used Maslahah theory with philosophical-sociological approach. Feminists interpret the rights and obligations of husband and wife in the household, arguing that contextually the wives are no longer in charge of being housewives, but rather help to make a living in the public sphere, for the sake of justice, equality, democracy and doing good. Things this is not an absolute thing, but an offer and casuistic that should not be provoked because the concept of Islam has brought benefit if applied properly.  Dalam konsep Islam bahwa suami adalah kepala rumah tangga dan isteri adalah ibu rumah tangga, namun perkembangannya isteri yang mencari penghasilan diruang publik. Apa yang menarik untuk dikaji adalah kemungkinan isteri menjadi mitra dalam rumah tangga? Tujuannya adalah agar mendapatkan wawasan ilmiah tentang hak dan kewajiban suami isteri yang relevan dengan konteks saat ini. Kajian ini merupakan kajian library reseach dan jenis penelitiannya kualitatif. Untuk mengkritik konsep feminis tentang hak dan kewajiban suami isteri, penulis menggunakan teori Maslahah dengan pendekatan filosofis-sosiologi. Para feminis mereintepretasikan hak dan kewajiban suami isteri dalam rumah tangga dengan alasan bahwa secara kontekstual para isteri tidak lagi banyak yang bertugas menjadi ibu rumah tangga, melainkan turut membantu mencari nafkah di wilayah publik, demi keadilan, persamaan, demokrasi dan berbuat kebaikan. Hal ini bukanlah hal yang mutlak, namun sebuah tawaran dan kasuistik yang tidak seharusnya diprovokasikan, karena konsep Islam sejatinya telah membawa maslahah jika diterapkan dengan benar.

Abstract