Digital Investigation of Security Attacks on Cardiac Implantable Medical Devices

A Cardiac Implantable Medical device (IMD) is a device, which is surgically implanted into a patient's body, and wirelessly configured using an external programmer by prescribing physicians and doctors. A set of lethal attacks targeting these devices can be conducted due to the use of vulnerable wireless communication and security protocols, and the lack of security protection mechanisms deployed on IMDs. In this paper, we propose a system for postmortem analysis of lethal attack scenarios targeting cardiac IMDs. Such a system reconciles in the same framework conclusions derived by technical investigators and deductions generated by pathologists. An inference system integrating a library of medical rules is used to automatically infer potential medical scenarios that could have led to the death of a patient. A Model Checking based formal technique allowing the reconstruction of potential technical attack scenarios on the IMD, starting from the collected evidence, is also proposed. A correlation between the results obtained by the two techniques allows to prove whether a potential attack scenario is the source of the patient's death.Comment: In Proceedings AIDP 2014, arXiv:1410.322

In vitro Antidiabetic, anti-obesity and antioxidant proprities of Rosemary extracts

Diabetes mellitus is a serious health problem worldwide that has adverse and long-lasting consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Hence, this study sought to investigate the inhibitory potential of rosemary extracts on key-enzymes related to diabetes such as α-amylase and pancreatic lipase activities, as well as to assess their antioxidant properties in vitro. The IC50 values of Rosemary essential oil, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts against α-amylase were 28.36, 34.11 and 30.39 µg/mL respectively, and those against pancreatic lipase were 32.25, 36.64 and 34.07 µg/mL, suggesting strong anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of Rosemary. The methanolic extract was found to be the highest in levels of phenolic (282.98 µgGAE/mg extract) and flavonoids (161.05 µg QE /mg extract) contents as well as in the antioxidant activity (IC50 = 15.82 µg/mL) as compared to other extracts ethyl acetate (IC50 = 32.23 µg/mL) and essential oil  (IC50 = 96.12 µg/mL).Antioxidant efficacy of Rosemary extracts has been estimated in the stabilization of sunflower oil (SFO) at three different concentrations, i.e. 200 (SFO-200), 500 (SFO-500) and 1000 ppm (SFO-1000). Results showed the highest efficiency of SFO-1000.The results obtained in this study demonstrated for the first time that Rosemary is a potent source of natural inhibitors of α-amylase and pancreatic lipase with powerful antioxidants proprieties that might be used in the food stabilization and the prevention of diabetes and obesity complications as a complementary pharmacological drug

Inhibitory potential of omega-3 fatty and fenugreek essential oil on key enzymes of carbohydrate-digestion and hypertension in diabetes rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>diabetes is a serious health problem and a source of risk for numerous severe complications such as obesity and hypertension. Treatment of diabetes and its related diseases can be achieved by inhibiting key digestives enzymes-related to starch digestion secreted by pancreas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The formulation omega-3 with fenugreek terpenenes was administrated to surviving diabetic rats. The inhibitory effects of this oil on rat pancreas α-amylase and maltase and plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>the findings revealed that administration of formulation omega-3 with fenugreek terpenenes (Om3/terp) considerably inhibited key enzymes-related to diabetes such as α-amylase activity by 46 and 52% and maltase activity by 37 and 35% respectively in pancreas and plasma. Moreover, the findings revealed that this supplement helped protect the β-Cells of the rats from death and damage. Interestingly, the formulation Om3/terp modulated key enzyme related to hypertension such as ACE by 37% in plasma and kidney. Moreover administration of fenugreek essential oil to surviving diabetic rats improved starch and glucose oral tolerance additively. Furthermore, the Om3/terp also decreased significantly the glucose, triglyceride (TG) and total-cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) rates in the plasma and liver of diabetic rats and increased the HDL-Cholesterol (HDL-Ch) level, which helped maintain the homeostasis of blood lipid.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>overall, the findings of the current study indicate that this formulation Om3/terp exhibit attractive properties and can, therefore, be considered for future application in the development of anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive and hypolipidemic foods.</p

Bioactive secondary metabolites from new endophytic fungus Curvularia. sp isolated from Rauwolfia macrophylla.

Kaaniche F, Hamed A, Abdel-Razek AS, et al. Bioactive secondary metabolites from new endophytic fungus Curvularia. sp isolated from Rauwolfia macrophylla. PLoS ONE. 2019;14(6): E0217627.Over the last decades, endophytic fungi represent a new source of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites based on the underlying assumption that they live symbiotically within their plant host. In the present study, a new endophytic fungus was isolated from Rauwolfia macrophylla, a medicinal plant from Cameroon. The fungus showed a highest homology to Curvularia sp. based on complete nucleotide sequence data generated from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of ribosomal DNA region. Large scale fermentation, working-up and separation of the strain extract using different chromatographic techniques afforded three bioactive compounds: 2'-deoxyribolactone (1), hexylitaconic acid (2) and ergosterol (3). The chemical structures of compounds 1-3 were confirmed by 1 and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and comparison with corresponding literature data. Biologically, the antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory of the isolated compounds were studied

EXPLORATION OF DIETARY PLANTS FROM WORLDWIDE BIODIVERSITY AIMING THE DISCOVERY OF ACTIVE AGENTS WITH ANTI-AGEING EFFECTS

Dietary interventions obtain a profound impact on human lifespan, while constitute edible plants a promising source of chemical entities that promotes healthy ageing1. Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis, Elaeocarpaceae [Molina] Stunz), is a small tree native to South Chile, deeply rooted in traditional dietary culture of indigenous. Moreover, carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Leguminosae L.) has been grown since antiquity in most countries of Mediterranean region, composing a staple in the diet of people in times of famine. Maqui berries and carob pods, have drawn attention due to their potential health benefits, which are largely attributed to their rich polyphenolic content. A high-throughput phytochemical investigation of methanol and water extracts of the edible parts, berries and pods respectively, was performed. Fingerprinting procedures using HPTLC showed that both plants had rich chemical profile, while phenolic compounds prevailed. Profiling and dereplication procedures employing hyphenated techniques (HPLC/UHPLC-PDA, LC-(ESI)-HRMS/MS) were also applied and various putative bioactive compounds were identified. Hence, analytical and preparative techniques afforded compounds belonging to anthocyanins, flavonoids, flavonoid glucosides and phenolic acids, followed by structure elucidation (1D &amp; 2D NMR). The in vivo evaluation of anti-oxidant and anti-ageing properties of maqui and carob pods water extracts in Drosophila melanogaster flies revealed, that oral administration of both activate the Nrf2/Keap1 antioxidant pathway and proteasome peptidase activities. Complementary to the above, the metabolism of both dietary fruit extracts was investigated in vitro using rat liver microsomes. Conclusively, maqui and carob pod water extracts could be a potent source of anti-oxidant/ anti-ageing nutraceuticals

Staminodes evolution and in vitro development innovation in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

The in vitro cultivation of date palm staminodes (vestigial stamens) at different stages of female floral ontogenesis confirms the persistence at an immature state of such organs at all the floral differentiation stages. This is evidenced even in fully mature female flowers. Our study revealed the advanced developmental patterns of these rudimentary structures, which bear diverse morphogenetic potentialities. In vitro cultivation of staminodes provides new opportunities for in vitro regeneration of date palm. Such developmental processes were found to be modulated by the stage of floral differentiation, which closely reflected the level of staminode maturity. Development was also impacted by the composition and concentration in plant growth regulators (NAA, BAP and 2,4-D) of the culture media. The large morphogenetic plasticity of the staminodes disposed them to evolutionary variations of the date palm reproduction system. The practical benefits (micropropagation) and the fundamental interests (evolutionary process) of our investigation are discussed.The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Anouar Smaoui and Mrs. Hanen Ben Salem from the English Language Unit at the Sfax Faculty of Science for their appreciated translation and language polishing services. They also thank Dr. Riadh Drira for his valued contribution to language revision. This work was supported by the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research .Scopu

Anti-oxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of Zygophyllum album

The present study was carried out to explore the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and anti-oxidant effect as well as content of phenolic compounds of various extracts from Zygophyllum album. It was observed that dichloromethane and ethanol extracts were endowed with a powerful anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with IC50 values of 40 and 58 µg/mL, respectively. These two extracts exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50=0.2 mg/mL), the highest total anti-oxidant capacity (185.2 and 222.4 mg vitamin E/mg extract, respectively), the highest reducing power effect, and the highest ?-carotene bleaching capacity. The findings showed that the extents of anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Z. album extracts as well as their anti-oxidant capacity are in accordance with their phenolic contents. Hence, Z. album leaves would be useful against Alzheimer's disease. Video Clip of Methodology: Determination of flavonoids content:  2 min 50 sec   Full Screen   Alternat

Renewable Photopolymer Films Derived from Low-Grade Lampante and Pomace Olive Oils

International audienceThiol‐ene photoinduced copolymerization between a polythiol cross‐linker and low‐grade unsaturated olive oil provides an eco‐efficient route to dry, flexible, and rubbery films in the matter of minutes. The synthetic methodology uses low cost olive oils resulting from non‐edible grades (lampante olive oil) and waste production (pomace olive oil) without prior chemical modification. The resultant photopolymer thioether cross‐linked films contain up to 80–85% of renewable resources, and UV‐driven drying proceeds despite the limited unsaturations’ concentration. Photopolymerization is triggered with a conventional medium‐pressure mercury arc in presence of three different thiol cross‐linkers: 2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)diethanethiol, hexanedithiol or trimethylolpropanetris(3‐mercaptopropionate) and a radical photoinitiator (2‐hydroxy 2‐methylpropiophenone). Using real‐time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (RT‐FTIR), we show that cross‐linking proceeds essentially via a step‐growth thiol‐ene polymerization, and to a minor extent, by a conventional photo‐oxidation mechanism. Practical Applications: Olive oil is the second largest produced vegetable oil, and in 2016 world production amounted to 3.5 million tons. An excess of low‐grade pomace and lampante olive oils is generated annually from the conventional extraction process; however, declared unfit for human consumption, they have a limited number of uses, and it is difficult to find new outlets. Despite this excess, the development of synthetic and processing methods to convert these non‐edible olive oils in useful materials has not been investigated widely. Here we report a method based on thiol‐ene photopolymerization to prepare a new range of UV‐curable films. Using time‐resolved infrared spectroscopy, this study sheds light into reaction kinetics and polymerization mechanism