PicoLAN-A Concurrent Multi-User Control System

PicoLAN is an application that controls multiple computers simultaneously in a local area network (LAN) using a single computer. The former machines are the slaves and the latter is the master. The master must execute commands such that they are executed on the slave nodes at the same time. PicoLAN is developed by using and extending the existing remote desktop sharing technologies. Since the number of existing solutions that support simultaneous remote control are very few and do not scale to an expected level, a genuine approach is made to develop a better substitute to the existing solutions using least resources. The concept of PicoLAN differs from that of remote desktop sharing where the increasing number of connected clients degrades the performance of the whole system which eventually makes the system unsuitable for remote collaboration in a network. PicoLAN is a system which will make simultaneous remote collaboration suitable also with a high number of connected slaves. All the peers form a group and collaborate to perform tasks like document-editing, web page sharing, demonstrating tutorials to a group of people with the help of remote control, software updating on multiple systems, software installation on multiple systems etc. PicoLAN supports unicast as well as multicast communications and it will prove to be of great helpto all those who want to connect and collaborate more effectively

Economics of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.) production in Amravati District (Maharashtra, India)

The economics of production of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in Anjangaon Surji Taluka of Amravati District (Maharashtra, India) was studied during 1995-96. The study indicated that cost of cultivation and gross returns were positively related with size of the holding. The overall cost of cultivation was Rs. 1,32,415.63 per ha and Rs. 1012.04 per qtl. The overall net returns at cost C (which included all costs) was Rs. 50,399.23 per ha. However, net returns decreased with.size of holdings. The overall input-output ratio at cost C was 1.38. &nbsp

Friedreich's ataxia-associated childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a national cohort study

OBJECTIVE: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an important predictor of long-term outcomes in Friedreich's ataxia (FA), but the clinical spectrum and survival in childhood is poorly described. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of children with FA-HCM. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of children with FA-HCM from the UK. PATIENTS: 78 children (<18 years) with FA-HCM diagnosed over four decades. INTERVENTION: Anonymised retrospective demographic and clinical data were collected from baseline evaluation and follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary study end-point was all-cause mortality (sudden cardiac death, atrial arrhythmia-related death, heart failure-related death, non-cardiac death) or cardiac transplantation. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis of FA-HCM was 10.9 (±3.1) years. Diagnosis was within 1 year of cardiac referral in 34 (65.0%) patients, but preceded the diagnosis of FA in 4 (5.3%). At baseline, 65 (90.3%) had concentric left ventricular hypertrophy and 6 (12.5%) had systolic impairment. Over a median follow-up of 5.1 years (IQR 2.4-7.3), 8 (10.5%) had documented supraventricular arrhythmias and 8 (10.5%) died (atrial arrhythmia-related n=2; heart failure-related n=1; non-cardiac n=2; or unknown cause n=3), but there were no sudden cardiac deaths. Freedom from death or transplantation at 10 years was 80.8% (95% CI 62.5 to 90.8). CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest cohort of childhood FA-HCM reported to date and describes a high prevalence of atrial arrhythmias and impaired systolic function in childhood, suggesting early progression to end-stage disease. Overall mortality is similar to that reported in non-syndromic childhood HCM, but no patients died suddenly

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel enzalutamide analogues as potential anticancer agents

The androgen receptor inhibitor, Enzalutamide, proved effective against castration resistance prostate cancer, has demonstrated clinical benefits and increased survival rate in men. However, AR mutation (F876L) converts Enzalutamide from antagonist to agonist indicating a rapid evolution of resistance. Hence, our goal is to overcome this resistance mechanism by designing and developing novel Enzalutamide analogues. We designed a dataset of Enzalutamide derivatives using Enzalutamide's shape and electrostatic features to match with pharmacophoric features essential for tight binding with the androgen receptor. Based on this design strategy ten novel derivatives were selected including 5,5-dimethyl-3-(6-substituted benzo[d]thia/oxazol-2-yl)-2-thioxo-1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl)imidazolidin-4-one (6a-j) for synthesis. All the compounds were evaluated in-vitro on prostate cancer cell lines DU-145, LNCaP and PC3. Interestingly, two compounds 3-(6-hydroxybenzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-5,5-dimethyl-2-thioxo-1-(4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl) imidazolidin-4-one (6c, IC50 – 18.26 to 20.31μM) and 3-(6-hydroxybenzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)-5,5-dimethyl -2-thioxo- 1- (4-(trifluoromethyl) pyridin-2-yl)imidazolidin-4-one (6h, IC50 – 18.26 to 20.31μM) were successful with promising in-vitro antiproliferative activity against prostate cancer cell lines. The binding mechanism of potential androgen receptor inhibitors was further studied by molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and MM-GBSA binding free energy calculations and found in agreement with the in vitro studies. It provided strong theoretical support to our hypothesis

Sudden cardiac death in childhood RASopathy-associated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Validation of the HCM risk-kids model and predictors of events

Background: RASopathies account for nearly 20% of cases of childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Sudden cardiac death (SCD) occurs in patients with RASopathy-associated HCM, but the risk factors for SCD have not been systematically evaluated. Aim: To validate the HCM Risk-Kids SCD risk prediction model in children with RASopathy-associated HCM and investigate potential specific SCD predictors in this population. Methods: Validation of HCM Risk-Kids was performed in a retrospective cohort of 169 patients with a RASopathy-associated HCM from 15 international paediatric cardiology centres. Multiple imputation by chained equations was used for missing values related to the HCM Risk-Kids parameters. Results: Eleven patients (6.5%) experienced a SCD or equivalent event at a median age of 12.5 months (IQR 7.7–28.64). The calculated SCD/equivalent event incidence was 0.78 (95% CI 0.43–1.41) per 100 patient years. Six patients (54.54%) with an event were in the low-risk category according to the HCM Risk-Kids model. Harrell's C index was 0.60, with a sensitivity of 9.09%, specificity of 63.92%, positive predictive value of 1.72%, and negative predictive value of 91%; with a poor distinction between the different risk groups. Unexplained syncope (HR 42.17, 95% CI 10.49–169.56, p < 0.001) and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (HR 5.48, 95% CI 1.58–19.03, p < 0.007) were predictors of SCD on univariate analysis. Conclusion: Unexplained syncope and the presence of NSVT emerge as predictors for SCD in children with RASopathy-associated HCM. The HCM Risk-Kids model may not be appropriate to use in this population, but larger multicentre collaborative studies are required to investigate this further

The efficacy of a comprehensive lifestyle modification programme based on yoga in the management of bronchial asthma: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a substantial body of evidence on the efficacy of yoga in the management of bronchial asthma. Many studies have reported, as the effects of yoga on bronchial asthma, significant improvements in pulmonary functions, quality of life and reduction in airway hyper-reactivity, frequency of attacks and medication use. In addition, a few studies have attempted to understand the effects of yoga on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) or exercise tolerance capacity. However, none of these studies has investigated any immunological mechanisms by which yoga improves these variables in bronchial asthma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The present randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted on 57 adult subjects with mild or moderate bronchial asthma who were allocated randomly to either the yoga (intervention) group (n = 29) or the wait-listed control group (n = 28). The control group received only conventional care and the yoga group received an intervention based on yoga, in addition to the conventional care. The intervention consisted of 2-wk supervised training in lifestyle modification and stress management based on yoga followed by closely monitored continuation of the practices at home for 6-wk. The outcome measures were assessed in both the groups at 0 wk (baseline), 2, 4 and 8 wk by using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) repeated measures followed by post-hoc analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the yoga group, there was a steady and progressive improvement in pulmonary function, the change being statistically significant in case of the first second of forced expiratory volume (FEV₁) at 8 wk, and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) at 2, 4 and 8 wk as compared to the corresponding baseline values. There was a significant reduction in EIB in the yoga group. However, there was no corresponding reduction in the urinary prostaglandin D₂metabolite (11β prostaglandin F2α) levels in response to the exercise challenge. There was also no significant change in serum eosinophilic cationic protein levels during the 8-wk study period in either group. There was a significant improvement in Asthma Quality of Life (AQOL) scores in both groups over the 8-wk study period. But the improvement was achieved earlier and was more complete in the yoga group. The number-needed-to-treat worked out to be 1.82 for the total AQOL score. An improvement in total AQOL score was greater than the minimal important difference and the same outcome was achieved for the sub-domains of the AQOL. The frequency of rescue medication use showed a significant decrease over the study period in both the groups. However, the decrease was achieved relatively earlier and was more marked in the yoga group than in the control group.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present RCT has demonstrated that adding the mind-body approach of yoga to the predominantly physical approach of conventional care results in measurable improvement in subjective as well as objective outcomes in bronchial asthma. The trial supports the efficacy of yoga in the management of bronchial asthma. However, the preliminary efforts made towards working out the mechanism of action of the intervention have not thrown much light on how yoga works in bronchial asthma.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN00815962</p

Reproductive Factors and Serum Uric Acid Levels in Females from the General Population: The KORA F4 Study

Hyperuricemia is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. There are pronounced sex differences in the levels of uric acid. It is largely unknown whether or not reproductive parameters which induce hormonal changes are responsible for this. We examined if there are associations between reproductive parameters and uric acid levels in a female population-based sample. In this cross-sectional analysis, data of 1530 women aged 32 to 81 years participating in the KORA F4 study, conducted between 2006 and 2008 in Southern Germany were used. Reproductive parameters were obtained by standardized interviews. Uric acid levels were tested by the uricase method. The whole study sample and stratified in pre- and postmenopausal women was analyzed. Menopausal status and earlier age at menarche were associated with higher serum uric acid levels (age-adjusted: p-values 0.003, <0.001 respectively; after multivariable adjustment, including BMI: p-values 0.002, 0.036). A history of oral contraceptive use showed an association with uric acid levels only after multivariable adjustment (p-value 0.009). Hot flushes showed an association with uric acid levels only after age-adjustment (p-value 0.038), but lost significance after adding other confounders. Other reproductive factors, including parity, current or ever use of hormone replacement therapy, current use of oral contraceptives, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or depressive mood related to menopausal transition were not associated with uric acid levels. Postmenopausal status, earlier age at menarche and a history of oral contraceptive use were independently associated with higher serum uric acid concentrations in women from the general population. Further studies, especially longitudinal population-based studies investigating the relationship of female reproductive parameters with uric acid levels are necessary to confirm our findings

Clinical presentation and survival of childhood hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a retrospective study in United Kingdom

Aims: Understanding the spectrum of disease, symptom burden and natural history are essential for the management of children with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The effect of changing screening practices over time has not previously been studied. This study describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of childhood HCM over four decades in a well-characterized United Kingdom cohort. Methods and results: Six hundred and eighty-seven patients with HCM presented at a median age of 5.2 years (range 0-16). Aetiology was: non-syndromic (n = 433, 63%), RASopathy (n = 126, 18.3%), Friedreich's ataxia (n = 59, 8.6%) or inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) (n = 64, 9%). In infants (n = 159, 23%) underlying aetiology was more commonly a RASopathy (42% vs. 11.2%, P < 0.0001) or IEM (18.9% vs. 6.4% P < 0.0001). In those with familial disease, median age of presentation was higher (11 years vs. 6 years, P < 0.0001), 141 (58%) presented <12 years. Freedom from death or transplantation was 90.6% (87.9-92.7%) at 5 years (1.5 per 100 patient years) with no era effect. Mortality was most frequently sudden cardiac death (SCD) (n = 20, 2.9%). Children diagnosed during infancy or with an IEM had a worse prognosis (5-year survival 80.5% or 66.4%). Arrhythmic events occurred at a rate of 1.2 per 100 patient years and were more likely in non-syndromic patients (n = 51, 88%). Conclusion: This national study describes a heterogeneous disease whose outcomes depend on the age of presentation and aetiology. Overall mortality and SCD rates have not changed over time, but they remain higher than in adults with HCM, with events occurring in syndromic and non-syndromic patients