Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare subtype of hemolytic anemia characterized by elevated hemolytic markers and red blood cell destruction. Though uncommon, MAHA can occur as a complication of acute pancreatitis because of the associated inflammatory response. Patients with MAHA secondary to pancreatitis show favorable outcomes when treated with plasma exchange.This paper presents the case of a patient diagnosed with acute pancreatitis-induced hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, who was managed successfully with plasma exchange, steroids, and rituximab. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in patients with acute pancreatitis who present with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes on peripheral smears, even in the absence of end-organ injuries and with normal ADAMTS13 activity. The early initiation of plasmapheresis can be lifesaving. The timely introduction of rituximab in cases where plasma exchange and steroids are insufficient, despite the ADAMTS13 activity status, may lead to better outcomes.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare subtype of hemolytic anemia characterized by elevated hemolytic markers and red blood cell destruction. Though uncommon, MAHA can occur as a complication of acute pancreatitis because of the associated inflammatory response. Patients with MAHA secondary to pancreatitis show favorable outcomes when treated with plasma exchange.This paper presents the case of a patient diagnosed with acute pancreatitis-induced hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, who was managed successfully with plasma exchange, steroids, and rituximab. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in patients with acute pancreatitis who present with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes on peripheral smears, even in the absence of end-organ injuries and with normal ADAMTS13 activity. The early initiation of plasmapheresis can be lifesaving. The timely introduction of rituximab in cases where plasma exchange and steroids are insufficient, despite the ADAMTS13 activity status, may lead to better outcomes.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare subtype of hemolytic anemia characterized by elevated hemolytic markers and red blood cell destruction. Though uncommon, MAHA can occur as a complication of acute pancreatitis because of the associated inflammatory response. Patients with MAHA secondary to pancreatitis show favorable outcomes when treated with plasma exchange.This paper presents the case of a patient diagnosed with acute pancreatitis-induced hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, who was managed successfully with plasma exchange, steroids, and rituximab. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in patients with acute pancreatitis who present with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes on peripheral smears, even in the absence of end-organ injuries and with normal ADAMTS13 activity. The early initiation of plasmapheresis can be lifesaving. The timely introduction of rituximab in cases where plasma exchange and steroids are insufficient, despite the ADAMTS13 activity status, may lead to better outcomes.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare subtype of hemolytic anemia characterized by elevated hemolytic markers and red blood cell destruction. Though uncommon, MAHA can occur as a complication of acute pancreatitis because of the associated inflammatory response. Patients with MAHA secondary to pancreatitis show favorable outcomes when treated with plasma exchange.This paper presents the case of a patient diagnosed with acute pancreatitis-induced hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, who was managed successfully with plasma exchange, steroids, and rituximab. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in patients with acute pancreatitis who present with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes on peripheral smears, even in the absence of end-organ injuries and with normal ADAMTS13 activity. The early initiation of plasmapheresis can be lifesaving. The timely introduction of rituximab in cases where plasma exchange and steroids are insufficient, despite the ADAMTS13 activity status, may lead to better outcomes.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a rare subtype of hemolytic anemia characterized by elevated hemolytic markers and red blood cell destruction. Though uncommon, MAHA can occur as a complication of acute pancreatitis because of the associated inflammatory response. Patients with MAHA secondary to pancreatitis show favorable outcomes when treated with plasma exchange.This paper presents the case of a patient diagnosed with acute pancreatitis-induced hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, who was managed successfully with plasma exchange, steroids, and rituximab. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in patients with acute pancreatitis who present with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and schistocytes on peripheral smears, even in the absence of end-organ injuries and with normal ADAMTS13 activity. The early initiation of plasmapheresis can be lifesaving. The timely introduction of rituximab in cases where plasma exchange and steroids are insufficient, despite the ADAMTS13 activity status, may lead to better outcomes.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic rapidly spread globally. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19, is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus with a reported fatality rate ranging from 1% to 7%, and people with immune-compromised conditions, children, and older adults are particularly vulnerable. Respiratory failure and cytokine storm-induced multiple organ failure are the major causes of death. This article highlights the innate and adaptive immune mechanisms of host cells activated in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and possible therapeutic approaches against COVID-19. Some potential drugs proven to be effective for other viral diseases are under clinical trials now for use against COVID-19. Examples include inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (remdesivir, favipiravir, ribavirin), viral protein synthesis (ivermectin, lopinavir/ritonavir), and fusion of the viral membrane with host cells (chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, nitazoxanide, and umifenovir). This article also presents the intellectual groundwork for the ongoing development of vaccines in preclinical and clinical trials, explaining potential candidates (live attenuated-whole virus vaccines, inactivated vaccines, subunit vaccines, DNA-based vaccines, protein-based vaccines, nanoparticle-based vaccines, virus-like particles and mRNA-based vaccines). Designing and developing an effective vaccine (both prophylactic and therapeutic) would be a long-term solution and the most effective way to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic.

No abstract available.
Anticoagulants ; Observational Study ; Venous Thrombosis ; Warfarin

We assessed the efficacy of frozen-thawed gelatin-induced osteogenic cell sheet (FT-GCS) compared to that of fresh gelatin-induced osteogenic cell sheet (F-GCS) with adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (Ad-MSCs) used as the control. The bone differentiation capacity of GCS has already been studied. On that basis, the experiment was conducted to determine ease of use of GCS in the clinic. In vitro evaluation of F-GCS showed 3–4 layers with an abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) formation; however, cryopreservation resulted in a reduction of FT-GCS layers to 2–3 layers. Cellular viabilities of F-GCS and FT-GCS did not vary significantly. Moreover, there was no significant difference in mRNA expressions of Runx2, β-catenin, OPN, and BMP-7 between F-GCS and FT-GCS. In an in vivo experiment, both legs of six dogs with transverse radial fractures were randomly assigned to one of three groups: F-GCS, FT-GCS, or control. Fracture sites were wrapped with the respective cell sheets and fixed with 2.7 mm locking plates and six screws. At 8 weeks after the operations, bone samples were collected and subjected to micro computed tomography and histopathological examination. External volumes of callus as a portion of the total bone volume in control, F-GCS, and FT-GCS groups were 49.6%, 45.3%, and 41.9%, respectively. The histopathological assessment showed that both F-GCS and FT-GCS groups exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) well-organized, mature bone with peripheral cartilage at the fracture site compared to that of the control group. Based on our results, we infer that the cryopreservation process did not significantly affect the osteogenic ability of gelatin-induced cell sheets.
Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; Bony Callus ; Cartilage ; Cryopreservation ; Dogs ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fracture Healing ; In Vitro Techniques ; Leg ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; RNA, Messenger

Canine babesiosis is an important tick-borne protozoal disease of dogs that poses major health problem worldwide. Farm dogs in rural areas are the companion animals, that not only watch the livestock herds but also guard the house of the owners. Each farmer keeps his companion dog to get all the services. In our study, a total of 450 blood samples of farm dogs from three different ecological zones (Southern, Central and Northern regions of the province; Punjab) of Pakistan, were collected to examine through microscopy and PCR. Examination of thin blood smears revealed an overall prevalence of 12.8% (58/450) of canine babesisal parasites. However, PCR analysis revealed 46.8% (211/450) and 7.3% (33/450) samples positive for B. gibsoni and B. vogeli, respectively. The amplicons of 671 bp and 590 bp were amplified for the detection of B. gibsoni and B. vogeli, respectively through PCR. The results of multivariate analysis showed that the occurrence of canine babesiosis is higher in the Central Punjab and younger age of the dogs, while breed and sex of the host were not significantly associated with the occurrence of the disease. Mixed infection of B. gibsoni and B. vogeli was observed only in 3 dogs each in district Kasur and Rawalpindi. Our study is the first report to observe the occurrence of canine babesiosis in rural dogs in Pakistan through PCR.

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at investigating whether inpatient complications and surgical site infections (SSIs) occurred more commonly in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) during the summer season. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 725 patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral TKA were included in this study. A total of 241 patients (33.2%) underwent TKA between May and August. Our outcomes of interest were the incidence of postoperative complications and length of stay. RESULTS: May–August surgeries were associated with a higher risk of postoperative inpatient complications (p=0.003). May–August surgeries (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18 to 3.85), postoperative transfusion (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.43 to 4.26), postoperative special care unit stay (OR, 4.68; 95% CI, 1.99 to 11.0) and chronic kidney disease (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.15 to 9.28) were associated with a higher odds of developing inpatient complications. No association was present between summer surgeries and SSIs (p=0.486). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that overall complication rates following TKA exhibit a seasonal trend, with a peak during the summer months. These results may have some implication in clinical practice and stricter approaches to hospital guidelines during the summer months.
Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Knee ; Length of Stay ; Postoperative Complications ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Seasons ; Surgical Wound Infection