Vehicle to Vehicle Communication System for Smart Cities

A Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication system for smart cities is proposed here. The V2V communication system is an advance wireless technology to reduce the number of fatal roadway accidents by providing early warning messages. For development of smart cities V2V and V2R are important to reduce road accidents on highways. It gives ease of access by providing different facilities such as ATM transaction, accidents safety messages to the transport or central unit. Based on a careful analysis of application requirements, an effective protocol can be used, which comprising congestion control policies, service differentiation mechanisms and methods for emergency warning dissemination. The proposed protocol achieves low latency in delivering emergency warnings and use of efficient bandwidth in stressful road scenarios. This system uses WSN for communication between two vehicle modules

Synthesis and evaluation of antibacterial activity for a series of N-phthaloylglycine derivatives

Two series of N-phthaloylglycine derivatives were synthesized under Schotten-Baumann conditions. The first series consists of N-phthaloylglycine amides (4a-h), and the second one consists of benzimidazole derivatives of N-phthaloylglycine (6a-d). All the synthesized analogues were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity by using disc diffusion method. In the first series, compounds 4h (MIC, 0.5 mg/L), 4a (MIC, 0.6 mg/L), and 4e (MIC, 0.7 mg/L) were found to be the most potent against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). Furthermore, three compounds i.e. 4g (MIC, 0.8 mg/L), 6b (MIC, 1.5 mg/L), and 4h (MIC, 1.6 mg/L) displayed good activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). All the synthesized compounds exhibited a wide range of antibacterial activity against all of the Staphylococcus aureus resistant strains tested. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS (EI)

Epigenetic effects of in utero bisphenol A administration: Diabetogenic and atherogenic changes in mice offspring

Objective(s): Bisphenol A (BPA) that is a monomer of plastic products may possibly interfere with epigenetics and be involved in onset and progression of several diseases. This study was aimed to detect the epigenetic effects of in utero BPA exposure in mice offspring.Materials and Methods: All experiments were performed according to the national guidelines for laboratory animals and after ethical approval. Thirty adult BALB/c female mice were divided into 3 equal groups, G1 (controls), G2 (ethanol 0.10 ml/100ml of PBS so that final concentration would be 0.01%) vehicle control and G3 (BPA 10 mg/kg). Chemicals were given twice a week throughout the pregnancy. Once delivered at term, female offspring were observed for body weight, behavior and movements. Blood glucose, serum insulin, cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) were measured at 5 and 15 months postnatal. Animals were sacrificed at 15 months and pancreas, kidney, adipose tissue and uterine tissue were taken and stained with either Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) or immunostaining and examined under light microscope.Results: Offspring of group G3 revealed abnormal changes of body weight, behavior and movements. Blood glucose, serum insulin, cholesterol and HDLc were high in group G3 offspring compared to controls. H & E staining showed changes in the parenchyma of pancreas, kidneys and uterus, which were confirmed by staining with anti- islet-1, kidney-specific (Ksp) cadherin, and anti- MLH antibody. Conclusion: In utero exposure of BPA exerts diabetogenic and atherogenic effects with less parenchymal tissue in endocrine pancreas, kidney and uterus

The safety and efficacy of Houtou Jianweiling tablet in patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis: a double-blind, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial

Background: Common symptoms of Chronic Non-atrophic Gastritis (CNAG) include nausea, stomach distension, and abdominal pain. The Houtou Jianweiling Tablet (HTJWT) is a chinese patent medicine (CN1368229A) and it has been used clinically for more than 20 years with proven clinical efficacy in treating CNAG, prompted us to establish the clinical efficacy and safety of HTJWT on patients with mild to moderate CNAG symptoms in Pakistani population.Methods: This phase II, double-blind, randomized, parallel-controlled trial was conducted in a single center between November 2022 and February 2023 in Pakistan. In a ratio of 1:1, total 240 CNAG patients with erosion identified by pathological biopsy and gastroscopy were randomly assigned to control (Omeprazole) group (n = 120) and the treatment (HTJWT) group (n = 120). Patients in the treatment group received orally four HTJWT (0.38g/tablet), three times a day and one placebo of Omeprazole enteric-coated tablet prior to breakfast, daily. On the other hand, patients in the control group received one Omeprazole enteric-coated tablet (20 mg/tablet) prior to breakfast and four placebo of HTJWT, thrice a day. The patients consumed the investigated drugs (i.e., treatment and control) treatment regimen was followed for a duration of 28 days. The safety of the patients were evaluated through adverse events, serious adverse events and laboratory tests such as blood biochemistry, urine analysis, liver and renal function tests. Vital signs like; blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, respiratory rate for all the patients were recorded. The cardiac status of the patients were assessed through electrocardiogram (ECG). The primary efficacy indicators were the improvement rate of gastric distention and gastralgia as the main clinical symptoms. Secondary indicators were visual analogue score (VAS); improvement rate of secondary clinical symptoms and signs; improvement rate of total clinical signs and symptoms; the disappearance/remission rate of Gastric pain and, remission/disappearance time of gastric distension; and the negative conversion rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The outcomes among each group were compared using the chi-square test.Results: Patients in both groups had good drug compliance (80%–120%), and there was no statistically significant difference in the patients’ baseline characteristics. The clinical improvement rate was found to be 91.1% in the treatment group and 91.0% in the control group with negligible variation among the two groups (p = 0.9824; 95% confidence interval: -0.0781–0.0798). Similarly, hardly no difference was found in the negative conversion rate of H. pylori between the treatment group and the control group (i.e., 70.1% and 71.8% respectively, p = 0.8125). There were no significant differences in respiratory rate, vital signs, blood pressure, laboratory results for blood biochemistry, urine analysis, liver and renal function tests between the two groups. The ECG assessment carried out for the treatment and control group revealed no considerable difference. Margin variation in the disappearance time of gastric pain (p = 0.1860) and remission rate (p = 0.5784) between the two groups were observed. The control group exhibited a faster remission period for gastrointestinal discomfort indications as compared to treatment group (p = 0.0430). Only one patient in the control group experienced mild to moderate adverse events, namely,; epigastric pain and dyspepsia. The results were consistent with the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis that included patients who were 100% compliant to the assigned therapy.Conclusion: The lower limit of confidence interval (CI, 95%) for the differences in the effective rate between the treatment and the control groups was found to be −0.0781 which is greater than −0.15, hence the treatment group is non-inferior to the control group. The therapeutic dosage used in the trial and treatment period did not cause any significant adverse event, and there were no obvious changes in the ECG profile, vital signs and biochemistry of the patients. Based on the clinical efficacy evaluation and reported adverse events, it can be concluded that the HTJWT is a safe and effective traditional chinese medicine for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic non-atrophic gastritis with mild to moderate symptoms.Clinical Trial Registration: [www.clinicaltrials.gov], identifier [NCT04672018]

Determinants of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19; a prospective cohort study from Pakistan.

A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Indus Hospital Karachi, Pakistan between March and June 2020 to estimate the in-hospital mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and its determinants. A total of 170 adult patients were enrolled and all-cause mortality was found to be 39% (67/170). Most non-survivors were above 60 years of age (64%) while gender distribution was quite similar in both groups (males: 77% vs 78%). Most (80.6%) non-survivors came with peripheral oxygen saturation less than 93% while 95% of them had critical disease on arrival. Use of non-invasive ventilation in emergency room was higher among non-survivors (56.7%) versus survivors (26.2%). Median Interleukin-6 levels were higher among non-survivors (78.6: IQR = 33.8-49.0) compared to survivors (21.8: IQR = 12.6-36.3). Most patients in the non-survivor group (86.6%) required invasive ventilator support during hospital stay compared to 7.8% in the survivors. The median duration of ICU stay was longer for non-survivors (9: IQR = 6-12) compared to survivors (5: IQR = 3-7) days. Univariable binary logistic regression showed that age above 60 years, oxygen saturation below 93%, Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio above 5, procalcitonin above 2ng/ml, unit increase in SOFA score and arterial lactate levels were associated with mortality. We also found that a unit decrease in Pao2/FiO2 ratio and serum albumin were associated with mortality in our patients. Multivariable regression showed that age above 60 years (aOR = 3.4: 95% CI = 1.6-6.9), peripheral oxygen saturation below 93% (aOR = 3.5:95% CI = 1.6-7.7) and serum pro-calcitonin above 2ng/ml (aOR = 4.8; 95% CI = 1.9-12.2) were associated with higher odds of mortality when adjusted by month of admission. Most common cause of death was multisystem organ failure in 35 (56.6%) non-survivors while 22 (35.5%) died due to respiratory failure. Larger prospective studies are needed to further strengthen these findings

DataSheet1_The safety and efficacy of Houtou Jianweiling tablet in patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis: a double-blind, non-inferiority, randomized controlled trial.docx

Background: Common symptoms of Chronic Non-atrophic Gastritis (CNAG) include nausea, stomach distension, and abdominal pain. The Houtou Jianweiling Tablet (HTJWT) is a chinese patent medicine (CN1368229A) and it has been used clinically for more than 20 years with proven clinical efficacy in treating CNAG, prompted us to establish the clinical efficacy and safety of HTJWT on patients with mild to moderate CNAG symptoms in Pakistani population.Methods: This phase II, double-blind, randomized, parallel-controlled trial was conducted in a single center between November 2022 and February 2023 in Pakistan. In a ratio of 1:1, total 240 CNAG patients with erosion identified by pathological biopsy and gastroscopy were randomly assigned to control (Omeprazole) group (n = 120) and the treatment (HTJWT) group (n = 120). Patients in the treatment group received orally four HTJWT (0.38g/tablet), three times a day and one placebo of Omeprazole enteric-coated tablet prior to breakfast, daily. On the other hand, patients in the control group received one Omeprazole enteric-coated tablet (20 mg/tablet) prior to breakfast and four placebo of HTJWT, thrice a day. The patients consumed the investigated drugs (i.e., treatment and control) treatment regimen was followed for a duration of 28 days. The safety of the patients were evaluated through adverse events, serious adverse events and laboratory tests such as blood biochemistry, urine analysis, liver and renal function tests. Vital signs like; blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, respiratory rate for all the patients were recorded. The cardiac status of the patients were assessed through electrocardiogram (ECG). The primary efficacy indicators were the improvement rate of gastric distention and gastralgia as the main clinical symptoms. Secondary indicators were visual analogue score (VAS); improvement rate of secondary clinical symptoms and signs; improvement rate of total clinical signs and symptoms; the disappearance/remission rate of Gastric pain and, remission/disappearance time of gastric distension; and the negative conversion rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). The outcomes among each group were compared using the chi-square test.Results: Patients in both groups had good drug compliance (80%–120%), and there was no statistically significant difference in the patients’ baseline characteristics. The clinical improvement rate was found to be 91.1% in the treatment group and 91.0% in the control group with negligible variation among the two groups (p = 0.9824; 95% confidence interval: -0.0781–0.0798). Similarly, hardly no difference was found in the negative conversion rate of H. pylori between the treatment group and the control group (i.e., 70.1% and 71.8% respectively, p = 0.8125). There were no significant differences in respiratory rate, vital signs, blood pressure, laboratory results for blood biochemistry, urine analysis, liver and renal function tests between the two groups. The ECG assessment carried out for the treatment and control group revealed no considerable difference. Margin variation in the disappearance time of gastric pain (p = 0.1860) and remission rate (p = 0.5784) between the two groups were observed. The control group exhibited a faster remission period for gastrointestinal discomfort indications as compared to treatment group (p = 0.0430). Only one patient in the control group experienced mild to moderate adverse events, namely,; epigastric pain and dyspepsia. The results were consistent with the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis that included patients who were 100% compliant to the assigned therapy.Conclusion: The lower limit of confidence interval (CI, 95%) for the differences in the effective rate between the treatment and the control groups was found to be −0.0781 which is greater than −0.15, hence the treatment group is non-inferior to the control group. The therapeutic dosage used in the trial and treatment period did not cause any significant adverse event, and there were no obvious changes in the ECG profile, vital signs and biochemistry of the patients. Based on the clinical efficacy evaluation and reported adverse events, it can be concluded that the HTJWT is a safe and effective traditional chinese medicine for the treatment of patients suffering from chronic non-atrophic gastritis with mild to moderate symptoms.Clinical Trial Registration: [www.clinicaltrials.gov], identifier [NCT04672018].</p

DCC regulates astroglial development essential for telencephalic morphogenesis and corpus callosum formation

International audienceThe forebrain hemispheres are predominantly separated during embryogenesis by the interhemispheric fissure (IHF). Radial astroglia remodel the IHF to form a continuous substrate between the hemispheres for midline crossing of the corpus callosum (CC) and hippocampal commissure (HC). DCC and NTN1 are molecules that have an evolutionarily conserved function in commissural axon guidance. The CC and HC are absent in Dcc and Ntn1 knockout mice, while other commissures are only partially affected, suggesting an additional aetiology in forebrain commissure formation. Here, we find that these molecules play a critical role in regulating astroglial development and IHF remodelling during CC and HC formation. Human subjects with DCC mutations display disrupted IHF remodelling associated with CC and HC malformations. Thus, axon guidance molecules such as DCC and NTN1 first regulate the formation of a midline substrate for dorsal commissures prior to their role in regulating axonal growth and guidance across it