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Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein, initially identified in osteosarcoma cells with its role of mediating osteoblast adhesion. Later studies revealed that OPN is associated with many inflammatory conditions caused by infections, allergic responses, autoimmunity and tissue damage. Many cell types in the peripheral immune system express OPN with various functions, which could be beneficial or detrimental. Also, more recent studies demonstrated that OPN is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in microglia during CNS diseases and development. However, understanding of mechanisms underlying OPN’s functions in the CNS is still limited. In this review, we focus on peripheral myeloid cells and CNS-resident cells to discuss the expression and functions of OPN.

Background: Spinal anesthesia is used in wide range of surgical procedures, but it is associated with potential complications such as hypotension and shivering. Thus the present study was aimed to compare the effect of 6mg ondansetron and placebo 10 minutes before spinal anesthesia for prevention of hypotension and shivering in patients undergoing non-obstetric surgeries. Methods: A double blinded randomized placebo control trial was conducted in 50 patients. Patients were randomized into ondansetron group (n =25) and placebo group (n=25).The primary outcome was the measurement of SBP(Systolic Blood Pressure), DBP(Diastolic Blood Pressure), MAP(Mean Arterial Pressure) and HR(Heart Rate) at baseline, 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes after subarachnoid block. Results: There was a significant mean difference in SBP and DBP at 5, 10, 15 and 30 minutes after subarachnoid block (SAB) between the groups (p

Polycrystalline Ag NPs were synthesized by environment benign and cost effective green route method using Ficus Benjamina leaf extract (FBLE). As-synthesized Ag NPs were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Structural analysis was carried out by employing the Rietveld refinement method which revealed that FBLE: Ag NPs exhibited face centered cubic crystallinity with space group \(Fm\stackrel{-}{3}m\) and space group no 225. FTIR spectra displayed the existence of phytochemicals such as phenols belonging to hydroxyl group (-OH) as bending vibration appeared at 3435 cm− 1 and 1638 cm− 1, respectively. Surface morphology and microstructure of FBLE: Ag NPs were depicted using FESEM and it was observed that biosynthesized Ag NPs showed well interlinked and homogenous distribution of grains with an average grain size of 31.12 ± 0.44 nm. FBLE: Ag NPs were used to detect heavy metals such as Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Zinc (Zn) present in industrial waste water of different factories including textile, steel, and chemical.

India is the epicenter of diabetes mellitus (DM). The relationship between COVID and DM in age/gender-matched non-diabetics has not been studied yet. The role of DM in predicting the disease severity and outcome in COVID patients might provide new insight for effective management.We conducted a prospective comparative study at a COVID care center from 25th April-31st May 2021. Among 357 severe-COVID patients screened, all consecutive diabetes (n-113) and age/gender-matched non-diabetes (n-113) patients were recruited. All diabetics and non-diabetics at admission were subjected to high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ferritin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR)) before starting anti- COVID therapy. Statistical analysis was done using JMP 15·0 ver·3·0·0.The prevalence of DM among the screened population (n-357) was 38·37%. The mean age of the study population was 61y with male preponderance (57%). There was no statistical difference in the HRCT-score or inflammatory markers in the two groups except for higher NLR (p-0·0283) in diabetics. Diabetics had significantly inferior overall survival (OS) (p-0·0251) with a 15d-OS of diabetics vs. non-diabetics being 58·87%, 72·67%, and 30d-OS of diabetics vs. non-diabetics being 46·76%, 64·61%, respectively. The duration of the hospital stay was not statistically different in the two groups (p-0·2).The mortality is significantly higher in severe-COVID patients with DM when compared to age/gender-matched non-diabetics. There was no significant difference in most inflammatory markers/CT at admission between the two groups.

Primary aim of this review was to compare the two treatment modalities-curettage and wide excision (WE)- of Giant cell tumours of distal radius along with the methods of reconstruction viz. arthrodesis (AD) and arthroplasty (AP), and determine which had a better outcome.PubMed and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched using a well-defined search strategy by two independent reviewers. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were predetermined using the PICO format. MINORS tool was used to evaluate study quality. Recurrence rate (RR) was the chief oncological determinant whereas range of motion, grip strength, disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) and musculoskeletal tumour society (MSTS) scores and complication rates were the functional outcome measures used.For the first part, a total of 11 articles (284 patients) were analysed. The second half- AP versus AD-included four studies (71 patients). Quantitative analysis revealed a significantly higher RR (Odds ratio (OR) 8.6 [95% CI, 3.4, 21.75]) with curettage. WE, on the other hand, was associated with a higher complication rate (OR 0.3[ 95% CI, 0.14, 0.62]) and lower grip strength (Standard Mean Difference (SMD) 18.08[95% CI, 13.78, 22.37]). Complication rates were also significantly higher with wrist AP (OR 6.36[ 95% CI, 1.72, 23.52]). Remaining functional parameters failed to show any significant difference between either group.WE is the preferred surgical strategy in terms of lower RR and functionally equivalent results. In terms of the choice of reconstruction following WE, there is a trend towards higher patient satisfaction after wrist AD.

Background Among patients hospitalized for severe pneumonia due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), clinical stability and normal resting peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO

SUMMARY Osteopontin (OPN) has been considered a potential biomarker of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). However, the function of OPN in GVHD is still elusive. Using a mouse model of acute GVHD (aGVHD), we report that OPN generated by CD4+ T cells is sufficient to exert a beneficial effect in controlling aGVHD through limiting gastrointestinal pathology, a major target organ of aGVHD. CD4+ T cell-derived OPN works on CD44 expressed in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and abates cell death of IECs. OPN also modulates gut microbiota with enhanced health-associated commensal bacteria Akkermansia. Importantly, we use our in vivo mouse mutant model to specifically express OPN isoforms and demonstrate that secreted OPN (sOPN), not intracellular OPN (iOPN), is solely responsible for the protective role of OPN. This study demonstrates that sOPN generated by CD4+ T cells is potent enough to limit aGVHD., Graphical abstract, In brief The role of osteopontin (OPN) derived from CD4+ T cells in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is unknown. Aggarwal et al. show that CD4+ T cell-derived secreted OPN is protective in aGVHD by modulating the gut microbiome and limiting cell death of intestinal epithelial cells by the sOPN-CD44 axis.