Floristic diversity and species composition along altitudinal gradient in the alpine ecosystem of the cold desert region in Western Himalaya, India.

In India, the Trans-Himalayan zone lies in the rain shadow of the main Himalayan region and is usually described as a "high-altitude cold desert". These regions are represented by sparse but unique vegetation composition. The present study is an attempt to investigate the vegetation composition in the alpine ecosystem of the cold desert landscape of the Nelang Valley in Western Himalayas (Uttarakhand), India.

Findings on serial thigh MRI can identify individuals with inflammatory myositis who recover sub-optimally: A 6-month follow-up study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the thigh is used in diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) diagnosis due to its high sensitivity in detecting muscle oedema and to localize the site for muscle biopsy. At the same time, dual energy absorptiometry (DXA) is an accepted method in clinical practice to measure muscle mass and change in body composition. In this longitudinal study of patients with active IIM we sought to correlate muscle findings on serial thigh MRI and body composition assessed using DXA with six-month clinical outcomes, we also studied correlation of thigh MRI scores with body composition parameters.

Occurrence of protease-like catalytic activity in the polyclonal IgG in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Neuro-immune dysfunction and inflammation are said to be involved in the aetiology of major mental illnesses. This study describes the assessment of the protease-like catalytic function of serum IgG in psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, along with healthy controls of Indian ethnicity. Systemic lupus erythematosus patients experiencing neuropsychiatry conditions were included as comparators for the comprehensive evaluation of IgG catalytic function.

Manufacturability-based optical design optimization for advanced Kirkpatrick-Baez X-ray focusing mirrors.

The advanced Kirkpatrick-Baez (AKB) mirror setup is an effective and compelling solution to provide stable X-ray nano-focusing for synchrotron radiation or free-electron laser beamlines. We propose an AKB mirror design optimization approach to mitigate the difficulties associated with mirror fabrication by minimizing the total slope ranges of the four curved mirrors while achieving the expected focusing performance. In the optimization, we have considered geometry constraints to ensure the beam acceptance with the required clear aperture, the diffraction-limited focal size with the adequate numerical aperture, and the desired mirror gaps for adjustment and the necessary working distance for the sample stage.

CRISPR-Cas system positively regulates virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium.

Background: Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, possesses a type I-E clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated (Cas) system. We investigated the system's role in regulating Salmonella virulence by deleting the CRISPR arrays and Cas operon.

Results: Our study demonstrates invasion and proliferation defects of CRISPR-Cas knockout strains in intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages owing to the repression of invasion and virulence genes.

Antenatal unilateral upper limb acromesomelic dysplasia.

Acromesomelic dysplasia (AMD) is an umbrella term given to a heterogeneous group of progressive skeletal disorders characterized by short limbed dwarfism associated with disproportionate shortening of middle and distal segments of the upper as well as lower limbs. Although specific skeletal anomalies are difficult to diagnose antenatally, but because of their antenatal and postnatal implications and a possibility of reoccurrence in following pregnancies, such skeletal anomalies need to be actively addressed. A combination of radiologic, pathologic, genetic and molecular investigation prenatally as well as postnatally is required to classify a specific congenital skeletal dysplasia.

Type I interferon gene expression signature as a marker to predict response to cyclophosphamide based treatment in proliferative lupus nephritis.

Objectives: To assess the longitudinal effect of cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment on type-I interferon (IFN) signature in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) and its role in predicting treatment response.

Methods: Fifty-four biopsy proven proliferative LN patients scheduled to receive high-dose (HD) or low-dose (LD) CYC were recruited and followed up for six months. At six months, patients were classified as clinical responders (CR) or non-responders (NR) to treatment, using the EULAR/EDTA criteria.

Bromodomain Protein Inhibition Protects β-Cells from Cytokine-Induced Death and Dysfunction via Antagonism of NF-κB Pathway.

Cytokine-induced β-cell apoptosis is a major pathogenic mechanism in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Despite significant advances in understanding its underlying mechanisms, few drugs have been translated to protect β-cells in T1D. Epigenetic modulators such as bromodomain-containing BET (bromo- and extra-terminal) proteins are important regulators of immune responses.

Comparative study of reproductive and estrus characteristics of sexed and conventional semen in crossbred cows under field conditions.

Background And Aim: Sexed semen (SS), a reproductive biotechnology tool, can alter the sex ratio of offspring in bovines. This study elucidates a comparative analysis of estrus-related parameters influencing conception rate and pregnancy losses under field conditions between conventional and SS.

Materials And Methods: In the present study, artificial insemination with (SS; n = 143) and conventional semen (CS; n = 143) was performed at spontaneous estrus, i.

E-PVT: enhanced position-velocity-time scheduler for computer-controlled optical finishing with comprehensive considerations of dynamics constraints, continuity and efficiency.

Deterministic computer-controlled optical finishing is an essential approach for achieving high-quality optical surfaces. Its determinism and convergence rely heavily on precise and smooth motion control to guide the machine tool over an optical surface to correct residual errors. One widely supported and smooth motion control model is position-velocity-time (PVT), which employs piecewise cubic polynomials to describe positions.

Atherothrombotic Risk Factors in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Background: The onset of cardiovascular complications has increased the mortality rate in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Presently, there is a need to diagnose cardiovascular co-morbidity in rheumatic disease. While biomarkers such as P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), fibrinogen, anti-thrombin III (AT-III), hsCRP, lipoprotein (a) (lp(a)), leptin, adiponectin, and asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) are already established as independent risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis, the association of these biomarkers with disease activity in RA patients is unclear.

Rheumatoid arthritis autologous synovial fluid affects the plasticity and function of peripheral and induced T regulatory cells in vitro.

The synovial fluid (SF) microenvironment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may alter the stability and function of Tregs. In the present study, we assessed cytokine levels and percentage of Tregs, Tregs expressing CXCR3 (Th1-like Treg), CCR6 (Th17-like Treg) in RA peripheral blood (PB) and RA-SF using fluorescence cytometry. Effect of autologous SF on plasticity and function of RA-PB Tregs (pTregs; CD4CD25CD127) and induced vimentin-pulsed Tregs (iTregs) was assessed in vitro.

Low C4A copy numbers and higher HERV gene insertion contributes to increased risk of SLE, with absence of association with disease phenotype and disease activity.

Low copy numbers (CNs) of C4 genes are associated with systemic autoimmune disorders and affects autoantibody diversity and disease subgroups. The primary objective of this study was to characterize diversity of complement (C4) and C4-Human Endogenous Retrovirus (HERV) gene copy numbers in SLE. We also sought to assess the association of C4 and C4-HERV CNs with serum complement levels, autoantibodies, disease phenotypes and activity.

Two Cases of Ipsilateral Posterior Hip Dislocation and Shaft Femur Fracture and Management.

Introduction: The incidence of ipsilateral fracture of the shaft of the femur and dislocation of the hip are extremely rare injuries. However, the incidence of complex fractures is increasing day by day due to an increasing variety of traumatic mechanisms. This type of injury constitutes various diagnostic and treatment difficulties for the surgeon.

Temporal alteration in ovarian follicle fate with hormonal and hemodynamic perspectives during receptive phase of estrous cycle in endometritic cattle.

The present research was carried out to assess the serum progesterone (P) concentration and uterine hemodynamics at estrus till ovulation in cyclic cows (N = 130) with healthy or diseased uterus. At estrus, 85 cows were diagnosed with clinical endometritis (CE; n = 44) and sub-clinical endometritis (SCE; n = 41); whereas, 45 cows being served as control namely no endometritis (NE; n = 45) were included in the study. Serum progesterone estimation at 12 - 14 and 40 hr after the onset of estrus and Doppler sonography of both middle uterine arteries were done to envisage the uterine hemodynamics and ovulation.

Conventional Tregs in treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis are deficient in suppressive function with an increase in percentage of CXCR3 and CCR6 expressing Tregs.

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), immune homeostasis is maintained by T regulatory cells (Tregs) that in an inflammatory milieu can change towards T-helper-like phenotypes (Th-like Tregs). Our aim was to examine the phenotypic and functional characteristics of CD4CD25CD127 Tregs, Th-like Tregs and T effector (Teff) cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) of treatment-naïve early RA, as compared to osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy control (HC) peripheral blood. Frequencies of Tregs, CXCR3, CCR6 expressing Tregs (Th-like Tregs), and Teff cells were analyzed using flow cytometry in RA (n = 80), OA (n = 20), and HC (n = 40).

Kidney histopathology in predicting flares following drug withdrawal in proliferative lupus nephritis in clinical remission.

Residual renal histopathological activity at clinical remission in Proliferative Lupus Nephritis (PLN) can predict renal flare upon immunosuppression withdrawal. Data on the role of histological renal remission in predicting extra-renal flares is lacking. We assessed renal histopathology prior to drug withdrawal and the occurrence of renal and extra-renal flares over 52 weeks after drug withdrawal in PLN patients in long-term clinical remission.

A Comprehensive Review on Molecular Mechanism Involved in Arsenic Trioxide Mediated Cerebral Neurodegenerative and Infectious Diseases.

Arsenic is an environmental toxicant and its toxicity is a global health problem affecting millions of people. Arsenic exposure occurs from natural geological sources leaching into aquifers, contaminating drinking water and may also occur from mining and other industrial processes. Both cancerous, noncancerous and immunological complications are possible after arsenic exposure.

MiR-326-mediated overexpression of NFIB offsets TGF-β induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition and reverses lung fibrosis.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressively fatal and incurable disease characterized by the loss of alveolar structures, increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and aberrant tissue repair. In this study, we investigated the role of Nuclear Factor I-B (NFIB), a transcription factor critical for lung development and maturation, in IPF. Using both human lung tissue samples from patients with IPF, and a mouse model of lung fibrosis induced by bleomycin, we showed that there was a significant reduction of NFIB both in the lungs of patients and mice with IPF.

A novel rspA gene regulates biofilm formation and virulence of Salmonella Typhimurium.

Salmonella spp. are facultative anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria and belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Although much has been known about Salmonella pathogenesis, the functional characterizations of certain genes are yet to be explored.

Outcome of critically ill patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from a medical intensive care unit in Southern India.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has become the most prevalent autoimmune condition requiring admission in the intensive care units (ICU) in the last two decades. Here we analysed the clinical outcomes of SLE patients admitted to our ICU between 2011 and 2021, and studied the prognostic role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and procalcitonin in those enrolled after August 2019.

Methods: Systemic lupus erythematosus (ACR/SLICC 2012) were enrolled, 72 retrospectively and 30 prospectively.

Modeling mechanisms underlying differential inflammatory responses to COVID-19 in type 2 diabetes using a patient-derived microphysiological organ-on-a-chip system.

: COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Co-morbid conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) have increased mortality in COVID-19. With limited translatability of and small animal models to human disease, human organ-on-a-chip models are an attractive platform to model disease conditions and test potential therapeutics.

Synovial-fluid-derived microparticles express vimentin and GRP78 in their surface and exhibit an in vitro stimulatory effect on fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: To investigate the hypothesis that microparticles (MP) may be a source of autoantigens and drive disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium.

Methods: Synovial fluid (SF) was collected from the knee joints of 41 disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug-naive RA patients and 30 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Samples were stained with either anti-vimentin-AlexaFluor-488 or anti-glucose-regulated protein-78-Dylight-488 (GRP78) and Annexin-V-allophycocyanin for flow cytometry analysis.

Association of Selected Cardiovascular Markers With Tuberculosis: Community-Based Exploratory Cross-Sectional Analytical Study in Puducherry.

Introduction India accounts for one-fourth of the global tuberculosis (TB) burden and also faces a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. Only a few have studied the association between the infective pathogenesis of TB and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Methods A cross-sectional exploratory analytical design was used to compare CVD risk factors and immunological and radiological parameters.