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Cancer stem cell marker CD44 is a cell-surface glycoprotein which is involved in various cellular functions such as cell–cell interactions, cell adhesion, haematopoiesis and tumour metastasis. The CD44 gene transcription is partly activated by beta-catenin and Wnt signalling pathway, the later pathway being linked to tumour development. However, the role of CD44 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not well understood. We investigated the expression of CD44 in peripheral circulation, tumour tissues of oral cancer patients and oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by ELISA and quantitative (q)-RTPCR. Relative CD44s mRNA expression was significantly higher in peripheral circulation (p = 0.04), tumour tissues (p = 0.049) and in oral cancer cell lines (SCC4, SCC25 p = 0.02, SCC9 p = 0.03). Circulating CD44total protein levels were also significantly (p < 0.001) higher in OSCC patients that positively correlated with increasing tumour load and loco-regional spread of the tumour. The circulating tumour stem cell marker CD44 appears to be a potent indicator of tumour progression and may be useful for developing suitable therapeutics strategies for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common (90%) types of oral carcinomas in the world. It is the 2nd most common and 3rd deadliest cancer in India. The lack of early detection marker is one of the major causes of worst prognosis. The vimentin belongs to intermediate filament family proteins which plays significant role in maintaining cellular integrity. Over-expression of vimentin has been widely reported in many epithelial cancers however the information regarding its prevalence in the oral cancers still needs further scientific intervention. The expression level of circulating vimentin protein in serum samples (n = 30) of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), OSCC patients and healthy controls were measured by performing ELISA. The serum level of vimentin was significantly higher in OSMF (p < 0.01) and OSCC (p < 0.003) patients as compared to healthy subjects. The circulating vimentin levels showed a gradual increase with increasing disease status (normal < OSMF < OSCC). Circulatory levels of vimentin may ba useful indicator of disease progression and as a suitable target for therapeutic intervention of oral submucous fibrosis and oral carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTs), is an effective and widely recommended treatment for tuberculosis (TB). The antibiotics used in DOTs, are immunotoxic and impair effector T cells, increasing the risk of re-infections and reactivation. Multiple reports suggest that addition of immune-modulators along with antibiotics improves the effectiveness of TB treatment. Therefore, drugs with both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties are desirable. N1-(Adamantan-2-yl)-N2-[(2E)-3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl]ethane-1,2-diamine (SQ109) is an asymmetric diamine derivative of adamantane, that targets Mycobacterial membrane protein Large 3 (MmpL3). SQ109 dissipates the transmembrane electrochemical proton-gradient necessary for cell-wall biosynthesis and bacterial activity. Here, we examined the effects of SQ109 on host-immune responses using a murine TB model. Our results suggest the pro-inflammatory nature of SQ109, which instigates M1-macrophage polarization and induces protective pro-inflammatory cytokines through the p38-MAPK pathway. SQ109 also promotes Th1 and Th17-immune responses that inhibit the bacillary burden in a murine model of TB. These findings put forth SQ109 as a potential-adjunct to TB antibiotic therapy. The adamantine derivative SQ109 induces protective pro-inflammatory cytokines and promotes Th1 and Th17-immune responses that inhibit bacterial burden in a tuberculosis mouse model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Ipsilateral Hip and Femoral Shaft Fractures Treated With Intramedullary Nails" by M. Shantharam Shetty and colleagues.

The purpose of the present study is to present our experience and clinical results with surgical technique of discectomy and facet joint fusion. Our goal was to achieve pain free and stable back (segmental stability) after lumbar disc surgery and to assess the status of fusion and its relationship with clinical results. The proposed study is a prospective clinical study of low back pain/leg pain due to prolapse intervertebral disc treated with discectomy with facet joint fusion (using titanium screws) A case of symptomatic disc prolapse not improving on at least 6 weeks of conservative management. Clinical and radiological follow up was done up to average of five years. After laminectomy and disc removal. Denude the facet joint cartilage with help of fine curved curette and fine slivers of bone graft taken from spinous processes are impacted into facet joint space after distracting them with help of spreader. Titanium partially threaded cancellous screws with 2.7 mm drill bit without taping. Complete fusion across bilateral facets was achieved in 56.2% levels. Partial fusion was achieved in 34.3% levels. No fusion at all was seen in only 3 levels (9.3%). On applying chi square test between the 4 groups, chi square value came to be 44.92 with P value of <0.001. This implied that Post-op Oswestry score and clinical results have statistically significant association with status of fusion This study demonstrates that facet screw fixation has multiple advantages. The technique is not only easy to implement by placing a small screw through a facet joint without any excessive retraction of neural structures and any distraction of posterior elements thus preserving the segmental stability. It produces excellent clinical results that are comparable to other exhaustive surgical procedures and more bulky spinal instrumentation systems [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unicondylar fractures of the lower end of the femur are uncommon injuries. We report a case of fracture of the anterior aspect of the lateral femoral condyle in coronal plane, which we termed as “Anterior Hoffa fracture”. With a different mechanism of injury, this type of fracture needs to be differentiated from osteochondral fractures of the distal end of the femur for proper management. After early debridement of the compound wound, we treated this case with open reduction and internal fixation. During the total follow-up period of 8 months, the patient had near normal joint range of motion with no joint instability. Open reduction and internal fixation with restoration of articular congruity is necessary for good functional outcome in this rare type of injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]