Cytokines: The links between bone and the immune system.

Osteoporosis results from an imbalance in a highly balanced physiological process called bone remodeling, in which osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and osteoblast-mediated bone formation play important roles. Osteoimmunology is a newly discovered interdisciplinary research field that focuses on the relationship between bone and the immune system. Specifically, bone and the immune system interact through cytokines, immune cells secrete cytokines, and cytokines finely regulate bone metabolism by mediating the differentiation and activity of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Therefore, understanding the influence of cytokines on bone metabolism is conducive for the development of novel targeted drugs against immune-related bone diseases. This review summarizes the pathophysiological functions of various common cytokines in bone and discusses the potential clinical value of multiple cytokines in immune-mediated bone diseases.

Sarcopenia and COVID-19 Outcomes.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread rapidly and became a severe global public health threat. Older adults have a high risk of COVID-19 and its associated mortality. Sarcopenia has emerged as a predictor of poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients, including lengthy hospital stays, mortality, intensive care unit admission, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, and poor rehabilitation outcomes. Chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, respiratory muscle dysfunction, and swallowing dysfunction may underlie the association between sarcopenia and the poor outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Interleukin 6 receptor blockers (tocilizumab or sarilumab) are recommended for treating patients with severe COVID-19, and their therapeutic effects on sarcopenia are of great interest. This review aimed to analyze the current reports on the association between sarcopenia and COVID-19 and provide an update on the contribution of sarcopenia to the severity and adverse outcomes of COVID-19 and its underlying mechanisms. We also aimed to explore the different screening tools for sarcopenia concurrent with COVID-19, and advocate for early diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia. Given that the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic may be long-term, further research into understanding the effects of sarcopenia in patients infected with the Omicron variant is necessary.

New Advances in Improving Bone Health Based on Specific Gut Microbiota.

The gut microbiota has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota is also closely associated with bone metabolism. However, given the high diversity of the gut microbiota, the effects of different taxa and compositions on bone are poorly understood. Previous studies demonstrated that the mechanisms underlying the effects of the gut microbiota on bone mainly include its modulation of nutrient absorption, intestinal permeability, metabolites (such as short-chain amino acids), immune responses, and hormones or neurotransmitters (such as 5-hydroxytryptamine). Several studies found that external interventions, such as dietary changes, improved bone health and altered the composition of the gut microbiota. This review summarises the beneficial gut bacteria and explores how dietary, natural, and physical factors alter the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota to improve bone health, thereby providing potential new insight into the prevention of osteoporosis.

Immobilisation of high-arsenic-containing tailings by using metallurgical slag-cementing materials.

The mixture of finely ground blast furnace slag (BFS), basic oxygen furnace (BOF) steel slag (SS), and flue gas desulfurisation (FGD) gypsum could be used as cement to solidify heavy metals. In this study, these cementitious materials were combined with high-arsenic-containing tailings to form cemented backfill material (CBM). The results indicated that the optimal design of CBM was that of specimen CBM2 which showed good early strength (10.09 MPa) at a curing age of 3 days containing 60% BF slag, 30% SS, and 10% gypsum. And the arsenic leaching concentration of CBM2 at a curing age of 7 days and 28 days were both less than the limits specified in standards for drinking water quality (Chinese Standard GB 5749-2006). The predominant hydration products of CBM2 contained rod-like ettringite and amorphous C-S-H gel both of which promote arsenic solidification.

Clinical effectiveness and influential factors of maxillary rehabilitation with zygomatic implant following tumor resection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and influential factors of maxillary rehabilitation with zygomatic implant and prosthesis after tumor resection. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with maxillary defects were collected prospectively in this study and received zygomatic implant and prosthesis for maxillary rehabilitation in the Department of Stomatology of the Municipal Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China from March 2007 to May 2010. The speech intelligibility (SI) and masticatory efficiency of pre-rehabilitation and post-rehabilitation at one, 6, 12, and 24 months were measured. The relationships between the following factors (oro-nasal communication, hard-palate resection, soft-palate resection, retention teeth) and SI value were analyzed. The relationships between the following factors (oro-nasal communication, retention teeth, the extent of maxillary defect, tumor recurrence) and absorbance value were analyzed. RESULTS: The SI values and absorbance values of post-rehabilitation at one, 6, 12, and 24 months were higher than that of pre-rehabilitation values (p<0.05). Linear regression analysis revealed that oro-nasal communication had a highly significant influence on the SI value of pre-rehabilitation (p<0.05), while soft-palate resection had a highly significant influence on that of post-rehabilitation (p<0.05). Oro-nasal communication had a highly significant influence on the absorbance value of pre-rehabilitation (p<0.05), while maxillary defect had a highly significant influence on that of post-rehabilitation (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Zygomatic implant and prosthesis improved the near and long-term effectiveness of phonetic and masticatory function, and elevated life quality of patients with maxillary tumor resection. Zygomatic implant and prosthesis are an effective rehabilitation remedy for maxillary defects resulting from tumor resection.