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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

Inflammasomes are a class of innate immune signaling platforms that activate in response to an array of cellular damage and pathogens. Inflammasomes promote inflammation under many circumstances to enhance immunity against pathogens and inflammatory responses through their effector cytokines, IL-1β and IL-18. Multiple sclerosis and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), are such autoimmune conditions influenced by inflammasomes. Despite work investigating inflammasomes during EAE, little remains known concerning the role of inflammasomes in the central nervous system (CNS) during the disease. Here we use multiple genetically modified mouse models to monitor activated inflammasomes in situ based on ASC oligomerization in the spinal cord. Using inflammasome reporter mice, we found heightened inflammasome activation in astrocytes after the disease peak. In contrast, microglia and CNS-infiltrated myeloid cells had few activated inflammasomes in the CNS during EAE. Astrocyte inflammasome activation was dependent on AIM2, but low IL-1β expression and no significant signs of cell death were found in astrocytes during EAE. Thus, the AIM2 inflammasome activation in astrocytes may have a distinct role from traditional inflammasome-mediated inflammation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTInflammasome activation in the peripheral immune system is pathogenic in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). However, inflammasome activity in the central nervous system (CNS) is largely unexplored. Here, we used genetically modified mice to determine inflammasome activation in the CNS during EAE. Our data indicated heightened AIM2 inflammasome activation in astrocytes after the disease peak. Unexpectedly, neither CNS-infiltrated myeloid cells nor microglia were the primary cells with activated inflammasomes in SC during EAE. Despite AIM2 inflammasome activation, astrocytes did not undergo apparent cell death and produced little of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, during EAE. This study showed that CNS inflammasome activation occurs during EAE without associating with IL-1β-mediated inflammation.

With enormous improvisations in nanotechnology field, a heat transfer in Nano fluid become gorgeous phenomena and their thermal conductivity measurement are more attractive concept then conventional heat transfer mechanism in fluids. Tactlessly the enhancement of thermal conductivity in Nano fluids unable to explain by conventional model. When nanoparticles are suspended in a fluid, at very low concentration it can enhanced thermophysical properties and heat transfer performance. In this review article we will discussed various method to synthesis Nano fluids and its thermo physical properties and applications.

Dysprosium-doped ZnO nanoparticles [Zn1−xDyxO] were studied to enhance and control their multifunctional properties for various optoelectronic or magnetoelectrical properties. After synthesizing well-defined Dy-doped ZnO nanoparticles by Sol-Gel route, the evaluation of optical, magnetic, and electrical characteristics of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was done. Formation of hexagonal wurtzite structure of Dy-doped nanoparticles was recognized by XRD studies and morphology, by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of the increase in dopant concentration on the bandgap was confirmed by UV-vis spectra. PL study was performed to show the presence of various types of defects in synthesized nanoparticles. In magnetic studies, room-temperature ferromagnetism (RTFM) behavior was observed. Four probe method showed the dependence of resistivity on dopant concentration.

The hydrothermally synthesised nanorods of Zn1 − xTbxO(x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1) were carried over here to analyse the changes in its optical, magnetic and electrical behavior on doping. Formation of hexagonal wurtzite structure with particle size in the range of 36 nm–22 nm was confirmed by X-Ray diffraction studies. The morphology of the samples was confirmed by SEM (Scanning electron microscope) images alongwith its TEM (transmission electron microscope) micrographs. SAED (Selected area electron diffraction) and HRTEM (High resolution transmission electron microscope) shows the clear formation of nanorods. The quantitative analysis of elemental composition was done by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX). The effect of increase in dopant concentration on band gap was analysed by UV-vis spectra; the band gap was found to be 3.35, 3.31, 3.30, 3.28 eV for undoped and 2%, 5% and 10% Tb-doped ZnO nanorods respectively. The presence of various types of defects was verified by PL study. The room temperature ferromagnetism behavior was tested by VSM and saturation magentization varies from 0.004 emu/g to 0.05 emu/g for undoped to 10% tb-doped ZnO nanorods. The dependence of resistivity on dopant concentration was carried out by four probe method which shows rise in resistivity with increasing dopant concentration.

Robust resource demand prediction is crucial for efficient allocation of resources to service requests in a distributed service delivery system. There are two problems in resource demand prediction: firstly to estimate the volume of service requests that come in at different time points and at different geo-locations, secondly to estimate the resource demand given the estimated volume of service requests. While a lot of literature exists to address the first problem, in this work, we have proposed a data-driven statistical method for robust resource demand prediction to address the second problem. The method automates the identification of various system operational characteristics and contributing factors that influence the system behavior to generate an adaptive low variance resource demand prediction model. Factors can be either continuous or categorical in nature. The method assumes that each service request resolution involves multiple tasks. Each task is composed of multiple activities. Each task belongs to a task type, based on the type of the resource it requires to resolve that task. Our method supports configurable tasks per service request, and configurable activities per task. The demand prediction model produces an aggregated resource demand required to resolve all the activities under a task by activity sequence modeling; and aggregated resource demand by resource type, required to resolve all the activities under a service request by task sequence modeling.

Future of sustainable fashion lies in adoption of AI for a better understanding of consumer shopping behaviour and using this understanding to further optimize product design, development and sourcing to finally reduce the probability of overproducing inventory. Explainability and interpretability are highly effective in increasing the adoption of AI based tools in creative domains like fashion. In a fashion house, stakeholders like buyers, merchandisers and financial planners have a more quantitative approach towards decision making with primary goals of high sales and reduced dead inventory. Whereas, designers have a more intuitive approach based on observing market trends, social media and runways shows. Our goal is to build an explainable new product forecasting tool with capabilities of interventional analysis such that all the stakeholders (with competing goals) can participate in collaborative decision making process of new product design, development and launch.

Pathologic roles for innate immunity in neurologic disorders are well-described, but protective aspects of the immune response are less understood. Dectin-1, a C-type lectin receptor (CLR), is largely known to induce inflammation. However, we found that Dectin-1 is protective in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), while its canonical signaling mediator, Card9, promotes the disease. Notably, Dectin-1 does not respond to heat-killed Mycobacteria, an adjuvant to induce EAE. Myeloid cells mediate the protective function of Dectin-1 in EAE and upregulate gene expression of neuroprotective molecules, including Oncostatin M (Osm) through a non-canonical Card9-independent pathway, mediated by NFAT. Furthermore, we found that the Osm receptor (OsmR) functions specifically in astrocytes to reduce EAE severity. Our study revealed a new mechanism of protective myeloid-astrocyte crosstalk regulated by a non-canonical Dectin-1 pathway and identifies novel therapeutic targets for CNS autoimmunity.Graphical AbstractDectin-1 is a protective C-type lectin receptor (CLR) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)Dectin-1 promotes expression of Osm, a neuroprotective IL-6 family cytokine, in myeloid cellsOsmR signaling in astrocytes limits EAE progression and promotes remissionNon-canonical Card9-independent signaling drives a distinct Dectin-1-mediated transcriptional program to induce expression of Osm and other factors with protective or anti-inflammatory functions

Well-defined Dy-doped ZnO rods were synthesized by hydrothermal route. Various studies were carried out on the synthesized rods like x-ray diffraction to confirm their hexagonal wurtzite structure; TEM, HRTEM and selected area electron diffraction to establish their rodlike structure; energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis confirming appropriate substitution of dopant; UV-Vis spectra, which showed decrease in band gap with dopant concentration and photoluminescence study furnishing information regarding the presence of various types of defects. Further, magnetic studies were done using VSM to confirm roomtemperature ferromagnetic behaviour of both for undoped and doped ZnO rods and, the electrical studies were performed using four probe method, which confirmed that the ‘variation in resistivity with dopant concentration’ was related to crystallinity of the samples. UV-Vis spectra showed effect of dopant concentration on band gap and photoluminescence study confirms induced ferromagnetic behaviour due to Dy doping.

Manipulating the ferromagnetic interactions on the introduction of 3d and 4f orbital ions in semiconducting host material is essential for the growth of new generation spin based electronic devices...

Human blood monocytes are divided into populations based on the differential expression of CD14 and CD16 receptors: CD14 (+) CD16(classical), CD14 (+) CD16 (+) (intermediate), and CD14(-)CD16(+) (non-classical). Given their functional differences and their role in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), monocyte profiling is of clinical interest. Here we investigated blood monocyte subsets in clinically stable COPD patients with alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (PiZZ, n = 7) and with normal AAT variant (PiMM, n = 7). Peripheral whole blood was collected in sodium heparin tubes and incubated with LPS (from E. coli; 1 mu g/ml) or placebo for 6 h at 37 degrees C, 5% CO2. To profile monocyte subsets we performed flow cytometry analysis based on HLA-DR and CD14/CD16 staining. HLA-DR + subsets of cells did not differ between PiZZ and PiMM COPD, and healthy controls (n = 7), used as a reference. Monocyte profiling, which express the CD14 and CD16, but not the HLA-DR (HLA-DR-) showed that intermediate monocytes subset was lowest in PiZZ group, and almost totally disappeared from blood treated with LPS. The non-classical subset was almost absent in PiZZ patients independently of LPS treatment. Recent studies demonstrate that non-classical monocytes exhibit a unique ability to protect the vascular endothelium under both homeostatic and inflammatory conditions whereas intermediate monocytes are recruited at a later stage of inflammation, and are associated with secretion of cytokines/chemokines and wound healing. Evident alterations in blood monocyte subsets together with a partial reduction of AAT levels, an important anti-inflammatory protein, can be key factors for the early manifestation of emphysema in some PiZZ AATD carriers.

Avulsion injuries of domes of the diaphragm are rare injuries and may occur following lateral thoracoabdominal trauma. We share our experience of two cases of avulsion injuries of the right dome of the diaphragm. Our first case presented within a week following blunt trauma to the abdomen, and on thoracotomy, an effective repair was performed by restoring attachment of the diaphragm to the parietes. Our second case presented with severe respiratory distress, 1½ months after sustaining blunt injury chest and abdomen in a road traffic accident and on thoracotomy was found to have a completely necrosed right hemidiaphragm, and hence, no repair could be performed. However, the patient could not be weaned off ventilator and died after 3 months of primary injury. These cases highlight the importance of early diagnosis and repair of diaphragmatic injuries for a favorable outcome.

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.

Pathologic roles of innate immunity in neurologic disorders are well described, but their beneficial aspects are less understood. Dectin-1, a C-type lectin receptor (CLR), is largely known to induce inflammation. Here, we report that Dectin-1 limited experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), while its downstream signaling molecule, Card9, promoted the disease. Myeloid cells mediated the pro-resolution function of Dectin-1 in EAE with enhanced gene expression of the neuroprotective molecule, Oncostatin M (Osm), through a Card9-independent pathway, mediated by the transcription factor NFAT. Furthermore, we find that the Osm receptor (OsmR) functioned specifically in astrocytes to reduce EAE severity. Notably, Dectin-1 did not respond to heat-killed Mycobacteria, an adjuvant to induce EAE. Instead, endogenous Dectin-1 ligands, including galectin-9, in the central nervous system (CNS) were involved to limit EAE. Our study reveals a mechanism of beneficial myeloid cell-astrocyte crosstalk regulated by a Dectin-1 pathway and identifies potential therapeutic targets for autoimmune neuroinflammation.

Innate immunity mediates both damage and repair of the central nervous system (CNS) in neurologic disorders. Although pathologic roles for innate immunity are well-described in multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), protective aspects of the immune response are less understood. In this study, we sought to identify the function of Dectin-1, a C-type lectin receptor (CLR), in CNS autoimmunity. We found that Dectin-1 limited neuroinflammation in EAE while its canonical signaling mediator, Card9, promoted disease. Myeloid cells from the bone-marrow mediated the regulatory function of Dectin-1 in EAE and upregulated expression of Oncostatin M (Osm), a neuroprotective cytokine, through a non-canonical Card9-independent Dectin-1 signaling pathway. We found that the Osm receptor (OsmR) functioned specifically in astrocytes to reduce EAE severity. RNA-seq profiling of the Card9-independent Dectin-1 transcriptional program identified multiple targets with neuroprotective functions, including Osm, which were regulated by NFAT signaling. Our data describe a new mechanism of neuroprotective myeloid-astrocyte crosstalk regulated by a non-canonical Dectin-1 pathway.