Real time hybrid medical image encryption algorithm combining memristor-based chaos with DNA coding

Image encryption is a commonly used method to secure medical data on a public network, playing a crucial role in the healthcare industry. Because of their complex dynamics, memristors are often used in developing novel chaotic systems that can improve the efficiency of encryption algorithms based on chaos. In this work, we propose a novel locally active memristor-based chaotic circuit model and present a real time hybrid image encryption application developed on a PYNQ-Z1 (Python Productivity for Zynq) low-cost FPGA board using Jupiter programming environment. The proposed hybrid algorithm combines memristor-based chaos with a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) encryption algorithm exploiting diffusion-confusion technique. We initially present a new compact and inductorless chaotic circuit, derive the model equations, and then verify its chaotic dynamics numerically through the investigation of the phase portraits, Lyapunov exponents and the bifurcation diagrams. We further implement the chaotic circuit experimentally with discrete elements. The randomness of the chaotic sequence is improved using Trivium and von Neumann post-processor algorithms and assessed through the NIST tests. Finally, the performance of the encryption algorithm is evaluated through various metrics, including histogram and correlation analyses, differential attack, information entropy, as well as data-loss and noise attack, demonstrating its security and suitability for real-time encryption systems

Evaluation of Clinical and Immunological Alterations Associated with ICF Syndrome

Purpose: Immunodeficiency with centromeric instability and facial anomalies (ICF) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive combined immunodeficiency. The detailed immune responses are not explored widely. We investigated known and novel immune alterations in lymphocyte subpopulations and their association with clinical symptoms in a well-defined ICF cohort. Methods: We recruited the clinical findings from twelve ICF1 and ICF2 patients. We performed detailed immunological evaluation, including lymphocyte subset analyses, upregulation, and proliferation of T cells. We also determined the frequency of circulating T follicular helper (cTFH) and regulatory T (Treg) cells and their subtypes by flow cytometry. Results: There were ten ICF1 and two ICF2 patients. We identified two novel homozygous missense mutations in the ZBTB24 gene. Respiratory tract infections were the most common recurrent infections among the patients. Gastrointestinal system (GIS) involvements were observed in seven patients. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy and antibacterial prophylaxis; two died during the follow-up period. Immunologically, CD4+ T-cell counts, percentages of recent thymic emigrant T cells, and naive CD4+ T decreased in two, five, and four patients, respectively. Impaired T-cell proliferation and reduced CD25 upregulation were detected in all patients. These changes were more prominent in CD8+ T cells. GIS involvements negatively correlated with CD3+ T-, CD3+CD4+ T-, CD16+CD56+ NK-cell counts, and CD4+/CD8+ T-cell ratios. Further, we observed expanded cTFH cells and reduced Treg and follicular regulatory T cells with a skewing to a TH2-like phenotype in all tested subpopulations. Conclusion: The ICF syndrome encompasses various manifestations affecting multiple end organs. Perturbed T-cell responses with increased cTFH and decreased Treg cells may provide further insight into the immune aberrations observed in ICF syndrome

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15–20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases. Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded. Results: No gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5–528.7, P = 1.1 × 10−4) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR = 3.70[95%CI 1.3–8.2], P = 2.1 × 10−4). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR = 19.65[95%CI 2.1–2635.4], P = 3.4 × 10−3), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR = 4.40[9%CI 2.3–8.4], P = 7.7 × 10−8). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD] = 43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P = 1.68 × 10−5). Conclusions: Rare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60 years old

Evaluation of repolarization dispersion in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a serious lung disease of unknown etiology and characterized by interstitial fibrosis. The patients usually present with potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. This study aimed to investigate indicators of arrhythmia based on electrocardiography (ECG) in patients with IPF. ECG indicators of ventricular depolarization (VD) and repolarization (VR) (QT, QTc, QTd, QTdc, Tp-e, JT and JTc intervals, Tp-e / QT ratio, Tp-e / QTc ratio, Tp-e / JT ratio, and Tp-e / JTc ratio) were analyzed retrospectively in patients with IPF (n:52) and compared with the healthy control group (n:52). The mean QRS interval was lower in patients with IPF compared to the control group, indicators of VD and VR were higher in patients with IPF compared to the control group (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between indicators of VD and VR and inflammation markers (CRP and cTn-I) (p < 0.05). We found that indicators of VD and VR were higher in patients with IPF and that is positively correlated with inflammatory markers. Inflammation in cases of IPF may be associated with the development of malignant or chronic cardiac arrhythmias. [Med-Science 2022; 11(2.000): 677-81

Does muscle oxygenation during the 6-minute walk test in fibrosing lung disease?

European-Respiratory-Society Congress (ERS) -- SEP 07-11, 2024 -- Vienna, AUSTRIA[No abstract available]European Respirat So