Study of Cryptography in Cloud Computing

If all of the top levels of security fail, the final and most critical tier, data security, must not fail. By breaching this layer of defence, the CIA's triad principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability are undermined. However, increasing security reduces the performance of the system and usability. This paper addresses the fundamentals of cloud computing as well as its key challenge: security. This paperexamines a variety of cryptographic methods used by major cloud providers. It proposes an alternative algorithm for encrypting data in transit from the user to the cloud in order to ensure data security and defend against Man-in-the- Middle (MitM) attacks like sniffing. The paper concludes by urging further study into the proposed cryptography algorithm in order to ensure data protection and privacy in all three data states

Single centre study of using bendamustine in the treatment of B-cell malignancies

Objective: To evaluate the experience of bendamustine in the treatment of B-cell malignancies at a tertiary care centre.Methods: The retrospective descriptive analysis included data of all adult patients with B-cell malignancies treated with bendamustine from 2009 to 2011 at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. Data was analysed using SPSS 17.0. Frequencies and percentages were computed for baseline characteristics, responses and toxicities.Results: Of the 19 patients 15 (79%) were males and 4 (21%) were females.The mean age was 59.53+/-12.14 (with a range of 46-86). Eight (42%) had follicular lymphoma, 6 (32%) had mantle cell lymphoma, 2 (11%) had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and 3 (16%) had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Four (21%) patients experienced grades 3 and 4 cutaneous toxicities. Eight (42%) patients were treated with bendamustine as first-line therapy. Six of them (75%) were included for response evaluation; 3 (50%) had complete response, and 3 (50%) had partial response. Eleven (58%) patients had relapsed disease out of which 3 (27.27%) had complete response, and 7 (63.63%) had partial response, whereas 1 (9%) had disease progression.CONCLUSION: Bendamustine given as monotherapy or in combination is safe and useful in the treatment of patients with B-cell malignancies

Studies on new substituted pyridazinones: synthesis and biological evaluation

We report herein the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of a new series of 6-aryl-2-(imidazol1-yl/1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-methyl-4,5-dihydro-(2H)-pyridazin-3-one (3a-j) as potential anticonvulsant and antitubercular agents. The title compounds were prepared by reacting 6-aryl-4,5-dihydro-(2H)- pyridazin-3-one (2a-e) with formaldehyde and secondary cyclic amine imidazole or 1,2,4-triazole as per Mannich reaction. Anticonvulsant activity of pyridazinone derivatives was tested at 50 mg.kg-1 dose level against maximal electroshock (MES), isoniazid (INH, 250 mg.kg-1) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ at 80 mg.kg-1) induced seizure methods. Phenytoin sodium (25 mg.kg-1) and sodium valproate (100 mg. kg-1) were used as reference drugs for comparison purpose. In-vitro antitubercular activity was tested by Microplate Alamar Blue assay (MABA) method and the results were compared with clinically used antitubercular agents such as INH, Pyrazinamide (PZA) and Streptomycin (STM). None of the screened compounds were found to be neurotoxic at a dose level of 100 mg.kg-1. All the screened compounds (3a-j) significantly reduced the MES, INH and PTZ induced convulsions and thus showed good anticonvulsant activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the title compounds against M. tuberculosis ranged from 1.6 µg/mL to 6.25 µg/mL in comparison to INH, PZA (3.125 µg/mL) and STM (6.25 µg/ mL) which indicated good antitubercular activity

Temozolomide for relapsed primary CNS lymphoma.

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin\u27s lymphoma that accounts for 3% of all primary brain tumours. No clear risk factors for PCNSL in immunocompetent patients are known. The disease is more common in men and in elderly persons. Patients with AIDS who have low CD4+ counts are at the greatest risk for PCNSL. Virtually all PCNSLs in patients with AIDS express an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related genome. PCNSL is less frequently associated with EBV in patients without AIDS. A 42 years old gentleman diagnosed with primary CNS lymphoma with negative serological test for human immunodeficiency virus was initially treated with Modified De Angelis protocol relapsed after treatment. He underwent gamma knife stereotactic surgery which lead to further deterioration clinically and progression of disease on imaging. Later, he was treated with salvage high dose methotrexate, but after completion of six cycles there was a radiological progression of disease. Relapsed disease was further treated with a single agent temozolomide and the disease went in remission

Study Of Phenothiazine On p53 Core Domain Mutant Y220C: Finding The Anti-tumor Activity Of Phenothiazine

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a transcription factor that plays a key role in the prevention of cancer development. The p53 cancer mutation Y220C induces formation of a cavity on the protein's surface that can accommodate stabilizing small molecules. We have attempted with the help of virtual screening and molecular docking approach using Lamarckian Genetic Algorithm to elucidate the extent of specificity of p53 cancer mutation Y220C towards different class of Phenothiazines (an anti-cancer agent). 

The 393 residue p53 tumor suppressor protein exists in a dynamic equilibrium to form homotetramers. Each chain comprises several functional domains. The N terminal part of the protein consists of the trans-activation domain (residues 1–63) followed by a proline rich region (64– 92). The central (core) domain (p53 core domain) is responsible for binding. The C terminal part of p53 contains the tetramerization domain (residues 326–355) and the negative regulatory domain at the extreme C terminus (363–393), which contains phosphorylation and acetylation sites and regulates the DNA binding activity of p53.

The docking result of the study of 2,000 Phenothiazines demonstrated that the binding energies were in the range of -10.54 kcal/mol to -1.14 kcal/mol, with 8 molecules showing hydrogen bonds with the active site residues (Lys 164). All the selected 2000 inhibitors were selected on the basis of the structural specificity to the enzyme towards its substrate and inhibitors. Our research provides a blueprint for the design of more potent and specific drugs that rescue p53-Y220C

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some novel benzoxazin-4-one and quinazolin-4-one derivatives based on anti-inflammatory commercial drugs

Benzoxazine and quinazoline are nitrogen-containing heterocyclic scaffolds found in various biologically active compounds. Due to their diverse biological actions, these heterocyclic rings serve as crucial frameworks for designing medicinal compounds. This study aimed to synthesize and assess in vivo anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and low ulcerogenic potential of a few novel benz[d][1,3]-oxazin-4-one and quinazolinone derivatives. Benzoxazinones (3a-e) were synthesized by cyclizing the carboxylic group (-COOH) of five nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs viz., aceclofenac, ibuprofen, diclofenac, mefenamic acid and ketoprofen (2a-e) with anthranilic acid (1) using dry phosphorus oxychloride (POCl3) in pyridine. The corresponding quinazolinone derivatives (5a-e) were obtained by reacting 3a-e with isonicotinic acid hydrazide (4). Both sets of compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects, and ulcerogenicity in animal models. Structural characterization was performed using spectral analysis. Among the benzoxazinone derivatives, compound 2-(2-((2,6-dichlorophenyl) amino) benzyl)-4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazin-4-one (3d) exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity (62.61% inhibition of rat paw edema) and analgesic activity (62.36% protection in acetic acid-induced writhings) with tolerable gastrointestinal toxicity (2.67 ulcerogenicity index) compared to quinazolinone derivatives. The results of anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of both the series are comparable with the respective, positive control. Compound 3d, a benzoxazinone-diclofenac hybrid, emerged as a lead molecule with potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic activities and moderate gastric toxicity showcasing the promising potential for further development

Quasi-static Normal Indentation of a Circular Disk Shaped Miniature Specimen by Rigid Hemispherical-headed Punches

The influence of diameter of rigid hemispherical-headed punches on a circular disk shaped miniature specimen of medium carbon steel has been investigated, in the small punch test. A 3-D finite-element model carried out the computation of the elastic-plastic solution ofdifferent hemispherical rigid punches. The three hemispherical-headed punches were designed and developed to conduct the miniature test. The small. punch test"was conducted on a circular shaped disk (l0.0 mm diameter, 0.5 mm thick), clamped around the periphery and deformed by central load applied by rigid hemispherical indenter. The ABAQUS finite-element software has been used to determine the load vs punch-displacement curves, von-Mises stresses, equivalent plastic strain, contact pressure, logarithmic stresses, load-till failure and full-field displacement in the model have been computed. The finite-element model was validated by comparing with the experimental data for load vs displacement curves. The effect of punch diameter on load vs displacement was observed experimentally as well as by finite-element method. The computational results compared reasonably well with the experimental results

Proptosis of eye: an atypical presentation of prostatic malignancy.

Orbital metastasis is a rare occurrence found only in about 3 - 10% of all prostate cancers. A 72 years male presented with proptosis of the left eye associated with pain, blurred vision and frequent headaches for the past 8 months. Past medical history had symptoms of bladder outflow obstruction for 3 years. MRI brain and orbit with contrast was consistent with a large soft tissue mass in the left frontal region. The mass was surgically excised in order to achieve palliation. Histopathology revealed poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm with immunohistochemistry favoring metastatic prostate carcinoma. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered with a palliative intent. CT scan identified an enlarged prostate with a nodular lesion, abdominal lymphadenopathy and soft tissue density lesion in the apical segment of left lung. Serum PSA level was 149 µg/L. Bone scan was also consistent with metastatic disease