Tailoring therapy for heart failure: the pharmacogenomics of adrenergic receptor signaling.

Heart failure is one of the leading causes of mortality in Western countries, and β-blockers are a cornerstone of its treatment. However, the response to these drugs is variable among individuals, which might be explained, at least in part, by genetic differences. Pharmacogenomics is the study of genetic contributions to drug response variability in order to provide evidence for a tailored therapy in an individual patient. Several studies have investigated the pharmacogenomics of the adrenergic receptor system and its role in the context of the use of β-blockers in treating heart failure. In this review, we will focus on the most significant polymorphisms described in the literature involving adrenergic receptors and adrenergic receptor-related proteins, as well as genetic variations influencing β-blocker metabolism

Consistency Analysis of Sensor Data Distribution

In this paper we analyze the probability of consistency of sensor data distribution systems (SDDS), and determine suitable evaluation models. This problem is typically difficult, since a reliable model taking into account all parameters and processes which affect the system consistency is unavoidably very complex. The simplest candidate approach consists of modeling the state sojourn time, or holding time, as memoryless, and resorting to the well known solutions of Markovian processes. Nevertheless, it may happen that this approach does not fit with some working conditions. In particular, the correct modeling of the SDDS dynamics requires the introduction of a number of parameters, such as the packet transfer time or the packet loss probability, the value of which may determine the suitability of unsuitability of the Markovian model. Candidate alternative solutions include the Erlang phase-type approximation of nearly constant state holding time and a more refined model to account for overlapping events in semi-Markov processes.Comment: IEEE IWCMC 2013, Cagliari, Italy, June 201

A signaling protocol for service function localization

Current proposals for chaining service functions (SFs) do not address some critical management issues, such as the discovery of SF instances close to IP data paths. This information is crucial for deploying complex services both in large cloud networks, where SFs may be moved or replicated, and in the emerging fog/mobile edge computing systems. For this purpose, in this letter, we propose the distributed off-path signaling protocol. We show the protocol functions and demonstrate its scalability and effectiveness by experimental results

A signaling architecture for multimedia MBS over WiMAX

n/

Establishing digital molecular communications in blood vessels

In this paper we propose a solution for transmitting digital information within the cardiocirculatory system. In particular, we make use of a channel delivering burst of molecules, emitted by mobile transmitters, which diffuse in the blood towards fixed receivers, that are attached to the vessel walls. This communication scheme has been inspired by the real signaling between platelets and endothelial cells, the behavior of which has been investigated experimentally. We thus believe that our proposal can be successfully deployed in living bodies. On the basis of the results achieved through simulations on the communication system capabilities, we propose a simple but effective receiver scheme, and we outline the future research directions.Comment: First International Black Sea Conference on Communications and Networking (BlackSeaCom 2013), Batumi, Georgia, July 3-5, 201

The emerging role of microRNAs in Alzheimer's disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA which have been shown to regulate gene expression. The alteration ofmiRNAs expression has been associated with several pathological processes, including neurodegeneration. In the search for easily accessible and non-invasive biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and prognosis, circulating miRNAs are among the most promising candidates. Some of them have been consistently identified as AD-specific miRNAs and their targets also seem implicated in pathophysiological processes underlying AD. Here, we review the emerging role for miRNA in AD, giving an overview on general miRNAs biology, their implications in AD pathophysiology and their potential role as future biomarkers