No abstract

The pathogenic infectivity of the virus requires the S1 subunit of the spike (S) protein to bind the host cell receptor, angiontensin converting enzyme (ACE2). While the binding to host cell receptor is the first step of infection, the entrance of the virus into the cell needs the cleavage of S1-S2 subunits to expose S2 for fusion to cell membrane via host proteases including cathepsins, cell surface transmembrane protease/serine (TMPRSS) proteases, furin, trypsin and factor Xa. Previous in vitro studies have shown that factor Xa inhibition can decrease viral infectivity. We suppose that host cell proteases including furin (as expressed highly in lungs), factor Xa and cathepsin are possible targets to decrease viral burden, therefore unfractioned heparin and low molecular weight heparin-LMWH (specifically dalteparin and tinzaparin for their anti inflammatory action) can be potential inhibitors of multiple endoproteases involved in virus infectivity. Our hypothesis needs to be tested in in vitro and clinical studies, however as we are in an urgent situation as the burden of SARS-CoV2 is increasing all around the world, we recommend the usage of unfractioned heparin or LMWH in intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU hospitalized patients with the risk-benefit judgement of the clinician. Whether our hypothesis is clinically applicable and successful in decreasing viral infection will be evaluated for further studies.

Patient: Female, 6-month-old Final Diagnosis: Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia with abdominal teratoma Symptoms: Hypoglycemia Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Surgery removal Specialty: Endocrinology and Metabolic Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Pediatric intraabdominal pancreatic teratomas have been rarely reported. This is the first case of severe hyper-insulinemic hypoglycemia in a 6-month-old infant secondary to an intraabdominal teratoma. The hypoglycemia resolved after surgical removal. Case Rreport: A 6-month-old infant was seen in a pediatric emergency department with complaints of lethargy and abnormal eye movements. She was diagnosed with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia and started on diazoxide. A CT and MRI of the abdomen revealed a 165×77×72 mm cyst with a 51×45×30 mm solid structure connecting to the wall of the cyst by a stalk, raising suspicion of a fetus in fetu. The mass had no connection to her pancreas. Following total excision of the intraabdominal mass, her hypoglycemia resolved. Histopathological examination showed immature fetal pancreatic tissue consistent with a mature teratoma. Whole exon sequencing of the infant’s peripheral blood showed a negative mutation of ABCC8 and presence of heterozygous variations of HNF1β and IRS1 genes. Conclusions: This is the first case report of an infant with severe hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia secondary to a pancreatic teratoma. The heterozygous variations of HNF1β and IRS1 genes likely played a role in the embryogenesis, causing a pancreatic teratoma and hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.