Computing Discrete Logarithms in the Jacobian of High-Genus Hyperelliptic Curves over Even Characteristic Finite Fields

We describe improved versions of index-calculus algorithms for solving discrete logarithm problems in Jacobians of high-genus hyperelliptic curves defined over even characteristic fields. Our first improvement is to incorporate several ideas for the low-genus case by Gaudry and Theriault, including the large prime variant and using a smaller factor base, into the large-genus algorithm of Enge and Gaudry. We extend the analysis in [24] to our new algorithm, allowing us to predict accurately the number of random walk steps required to find all relations, and to select optimal degree bounds for the factor base. Our second improvement is the adaptation of sieving techniques from Flassenberg and Paulus, and Jacobson to our setting. The new algorithms are applied to concrete problem instances arising from the Weil descent attack methodology for solving the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, demonstrating significant improvements in practice

Effect of sitagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Data are lacking on the long-term effect on cardiovascular events of adding sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, to usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, we assigned 14,671 patients to add either sitagliptin or placebo to their existing therapy. Open-label use of antihyperglycemic therapy was encouraged as required, aimed at reaching individually appropriate glycemic targets in all patients. To determine whether sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo, we used a relative risk of 1.3 as the marginal upper boundary. The primary cardiovascular outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.0 years, there was a small difference in glycated hemoglobin levels (least-squares mean difference for sitagliptin vs. placebo, -0.29 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.32 to -0.27). Overall, the primary outcome occurred in 839 patients in the sitagliptin group (11.4%; 4.06 per 100 person-years) and 851 patients in the placebo group (11.6%; 4.17 per 100 person-years). Sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo for the primary composite cardiovascular outcome (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.09; P<0.001). Rates of hospitalization for heart failure did not differ between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.20; P = 0.98). There were no significant between-group differences in rates of acute pancreatitis (P = 0.07) or pancreatic cancer (P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, adding sitagliptin to usual care did not appear to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure, or other adverse events

Carbapenemase Production of Clinical Isolates Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a Bulgarian University Hospital

Background: Production of Bla OXA-23, OXA-24, OXA-58 and hyperexpression of OXA-51 due to ISAba1 insertion sequence are the leading causes of carbapenem resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii. The loss of OprD transmembrane protein and the overexpression of some effl ux pumps are considered to be the main factors for carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa whereas metallo-enzymes’ production has a secondary role. Aim: Тo examine the carbapenem resistance due to carbapenemase production among clinically signifi cant Gram-negative non-fermenters from St George University hospital, Plovdiv: A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. Materials and methods: Forty three A. baumannii and 43 P. aeruginosa isolates, resistant or with intermediate resistance to imipenem and/or meropenem were included in the study. They were collected from patients admitted in 14 various hospital wards between 2010 and 2014. Both phenotypic and genetic methods were used for identifi cation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results: All A. baumannii demonstrated carbapenemase production determined by a modifi ed Hodge test whereas P. aeruginosa isolates did not show this phenomenon. OXA-23 genes were determined in 97.7% (42 out of 43) of A. baumannii isolates indistinguishable from the sequence of the classical ARI-1 gene. OXA-24, OXA-58 and overexpression of OXA-51 were not registered in any of the isolates. All P. aeruginosa were negative for blaVIM and blaIMP genes. Conclusion: The leading cause of carbapenem resistance in A. baumannii isolates from our hospital is the carbapenemase production due to the expression of OXA- 23 gene, whereas in P. aeruginosa - the loss of transmembrane OprD protein and the effl ux pumps’ hyperexpression are suspected to be the main mechanisms