Plasma Surfactant Protein-A Levels In Healthy Subjects And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. Currently, there is a dearth of biomarkers which can accurately diagnose and evaluate the prognosis of the disease. Systemic Surfactant Protein- A (SP-A) levels are generally higher in smokers compared to non-smokers as well as elevated in COPD patients as compared to controls. The objective of the study was to estimate and compare plasma surfactant protein-A levels in male and female COPD patients and healthy subjects and to evaluate the role of SP-A as a possible bio-marker for COPD patients. METHODS: A Comparative study, conducted at the department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore between August 2013 and April 2015. A total of 84 subjects of both sexes between 30-80 years of age were included in this study. Subjects were taken from local community and were divided into four groups (A- D). COPD was diagnosed on the basis of relevant history and spirometry showing post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70. RESULTS: Plasma SP-A levels were not different between controls and COPD patients and between male and female COPD patients. However, SP-A levels were directly correlated with cotinine levels (r= 0.503, p=0.001). Female patients were usually more symptomatic than males and developed COPD at an earlier age compared with male patients. CONCLUSION: Plasma SP-A levels were not significantly different between groups. Plasma cotinine levels (an indication of the tobacco use) were positively correlated with plasma SP-A levels in study subjects. Female patients developed COPD at an early age compared to male counterparts with similar tobacco exposure.

Plasma surfactant Protein-D levels in healthy subjects and COPD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare plasma surfactant protein-D levels in healthy smokers and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. METHODS: The comparative study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to December 2015, and comprised chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients and healthy smokers of either gender aged 40-80 years. Plasma surfactant protein-D levels of male and female subjects were estimated and compared with lung function and tobacco exposure. Blood samples were collected after complete history, physical examination and spirometry. Plasma levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Plasma cotinine levels were also measured for the determination of tobacco as well as biomass exposure along with pack years. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis.. RESULTS: Of the 84 subjects, there were 42(50%) patients and as many controls. Both groups had 21(50%) males and as many females. There was no significant difference in the plasma surfactant protein-D levels of males and females in the patient group compared to their counterparts in the control group (p>0.05). Females developed the disease at a younger age compared to males (p=0.04). There was no significant difference in terms of pack-years and cotinine levels between the groups (p>0.05) and lung function showed greater deterioration in the females compared to males with similar tobacco exposure (p<0.05).. CONCLUSIONS: The gender did not affect plasma surfactant protein-D levels.

A novel image encryption scheme based on quantum dynamical spinning and rotations.

Quantum information processing made a tremendous and remarkable impact on number of classical mechanic's problems. The impact does not only stop at classical mechanics but also the cyber security paradigm. Quantum information and cryptography are two classes of quantum information processing which use the idea of qubits instead of bits as in classical information security. The idea of fast computations with multiple complexity level is becoming more realistic in the age of quantum information due to quantum parallelism where a single quantum computer does allow to compute hundreds of classical computers with less efforts and more accuracy. The evolution of quantum information processing replaces a number of classical mechanic's aspects in computational and cyber security sciences. Our aim here is to introduce concepts of applied quantum dynamics in cryptography, which leads to an evolution of quantum cryptography. Quantum cryptography is one of the most astonishing solicitations of quantum information theory. To measure the quantum state of any system is not possible without disturbing that system. The facts of quantum mechanics on traditional cryptosystems lead to a new protocol and achieving maximum remarkable security for systems. The scope of this paper is to design an innovative encryption scheme for digital data based on quantum spinning and rotation operators.