Study on a Compact and High Speed 4-bit BCD Adder

Speed, simplicity and efficiency in data storage are the highlights of using binary data for arithmetic operations in computer systems. But it is an irony that human beings have preferred decimal as the number base for all calculations done by hand even with the advent of binary data. Commercial databases contain more decimal data and their consequent conversion to binary and then back to decimal when used with binary arithmetic hardware reiterates the need for a decimal arithmetic hardware support in financial and commercial applications. As the use of an adder circuit is indispensable in both platforms of binary and decimal we opt the Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) adder. Compactness of gadgets, speed and abating power consumption has turned out to be an inevitable aspect over a plethora of applications. Concentrating on reducing area here we analyze different 1-bit adder cells namely SERF adder, 10T adder, 8T adder, and 6T adder cells. Simulations were done in Cadence Virtuoso tool at 180nm and 90nm for technology independence. The 6T adder outperforms in terms of area, power and PDP and is implemented in 4-bit BCD adder estimating the delay and power consumed against the conventional design in 90nm technology. Simulation results estimate that the proposed BCD adder outperforms the conventional design in all design aspects of area, power, PDP and delay

Inhibition of colon carcinogenesis by stilbenoids and mechanisms of action:

Stilbenes are a class of compounds present in small fruits such as grapes and berries and are known to present diverse pharmacological properties which include cholesterol lowering, serum glucose regulation, controlling lifespan and anti-cancer activity. Resveratrol is one of the extensively studied stilbene. Pterostilbene (trans-3, 5-dimethoxy-4’-hydroxystilbene), a structural analog of resveratrol, is present in heartwood of the tree, Pterocarpus marsupium as well as in many small fruits such as blueberries. In an attempt to study the effects of pterostilbene on colon carcinogenesis, we identified that pterostilbene inhibited expression of certain inflammatory genes in the colon and suppressed aberrant crypt foci formation in an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced model of colon carcinogenesis in rats. We also investigated the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of pterostilbene using cultured HT-29 colon cancer cells. Our studies identified that the p38-ATF2 pathway was significantly inhibited by pterostilbene. More importantly, by silencing the expression of p38α isoform, there was significant reduction in iNOS and COX-2 induction. Interestingly, pterostilbene and the structurally similar compound, resveratrol, targeted different inflammatory pathways in HT-29 colon cells. Pterostilbene given at 40 ppm of the diet of AOM-injected rats lowered the tumor multiplicity of non-invasive adenocarcinomas compared to the control diet. Pterostilbene lowered the β-catenin levels in HT-29 cells which can have implications in the action of the compound against cell proliferation. An evaluation of different structural analogs of pterostilbene revealed some compounds to have greater action than pterostilbene against colon cancer cells. Methoxylation, ester and amino modifications at the 4' position in the B ring conferred greater potency for the molecule against cell proliferation and inflammation in vitro. Amino substitutions and methoxy modifications with trans configuration reduced tumor burden significantly in the HT-29 xenograft tumor model in SCID mice. These compounds were present at higher levels in the serum of the animals compared to the levels of other compounds. In conclusion, stilbenoid class of compounds has promising effects against proliferation and inflammation in both in vivo and in vitro models of colon carcinogenesis.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 130-152)by Shiby Pau

Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia With Eosinophilia

We present three cases of the uncommon condition, angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. Two of them had lesions over pinna and external auditory canal while the third one had subcutaneous lesions with involvement of muscles over cheek and submandibular region

A Novel Gemini Vitamin D Analog Represses the Expression of a Stem Cell Marker CD44 in Breast Cancer

CD44 is a multifunctional transmembrane protein involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. CD44 is identified as a cancer stem cell marker, and the CD44-positive breast cancer cells are enriched in residual breast cancer cell populations after conventional therapies, suggesting that CD44 may be an important target for cancer prevention and therapy. Therefore, we investigated for the inhibitory effect of a novel Gemini vitamin D analog, 1α,25-dihydroxy-20R-21(3-hydroxy-3-deuteromethyl-4,4,4-trideuterobutyl)-23-yne-26,27-hexafluoro-cholecalciferol (BXL0124), on mammary tumor growth and CD44 expression in MCF10DCIS.com human breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. MCF10DCIS.com cells were injected into mammary fat pads in immunodeficient mice, and BXL0124 was then administered intraperitoneally (0.1 μg/kg body weight) or orally (0.03 or 0.1 μg/kg body weight) 6 days a week for 5 weeks. At necropsy, mammary tumors and blood were collected for evaluating tumor growth, CD44 expression, and serum calcium level. BXL0124 suppressed mammary tumor growth and markedly decreased the expression of CD44 protein in MCF10DCIS xenograft tumors without causing hypercalcemic toxicity. BXL0124 also inhibited the expression of CD44 protein and mRNA as well as the transcriptional activity of the CD44 promoter in cultured MCF10DCIS.com cells. The repression of CD44 expression induced by BXL0124 was blocked by siRNA vitamin D receptor (VDR), indicating that the regulation of CD44 expression by BXL0124 is a VDR-dependent event. The novel Gemini vitamin D analog, BXL0124, represses CD44 expression in MCF10DCIS.com cells in vitro and in xenograft tumors, suggesting an inhibitory role of a Gemini vitamin D derivative on breast cancer stem cells