Background The high rate of transmission and infection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of major epidemiological concern. No definitive treatments have been established, and vaccinations have only recently begun. We aim to review the efficacy and safety of Interferon Beta (IFN-β) in patients who have a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Materials and Methods A search from PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases were conducted from December 2019 to December 2020 to review the efficacy and safety of IFN-β in adult patients with COVID-19 confirmed. We included randomized controlled trials, case reports, and experimental studies. Correspondences, letters, editorials, reviews, commentaries, case control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies that did not include any new clinical data were excluded. Results Of the 66 searched studies, 8 were included in our review. These studies demonstrated that although IFN-β did not reduce the time to clinical response, there was an increase in discharge rate at day 14 and a decrease in mortality at day 28. The time to negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was shown to be significantly shortened in patients receiving IFN-β, along with a lower nasopharyngeal viral load. Further, patients receiving IFN-β had a less significant rise in IL-6. IFN-β was shown to decrease intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, the requirement of invasive ventilation in severe cases, and improve the survival rate compared to control groups. There were no severe adverse events reported. Our review found that patients who received early treatment with IFN-β experienced significantly reduced length of hospitalization, mortality, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation. A greater chance of clinical improvement and improved imaging studies was noted in patients who received IFN-β. There were no reported deaths associated with the addition of IFN-β. Further randomized trials involving more significant sample sizes are needed to better understand the effect of IFN-β on survival in COVID-19. Conclusion This review identified encouraging data and outcomes of incorporating IFN-β to treat COVID-19 patients. IFN-β has been shown to decrease hospital stay's overall length and decrease the severity of respiratory symptoms when added to the standard of care. Also, in some studies, it has been demonstrated to reduce the length of ICU stay, enhance survival rate, and decrease the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. There were minor side effects reported (neuropsychiatric symptoms and hypersensitivity reaction). However, randomized clinical trials with a large sample size are needed to assess IFN-β's benefit precisely.
Out of 150 described candida species, 10% are known to cause infections in Humans. Candida albicans was the most common cause of invasive candidiasis but according to the CDC the total number of confirmed cases of candida Auris in the duration of (September 2020 -august 2021) total of 3043 in USA and become superbug and becomes emerging multidrug resistant infection. Candida Auris was first described in a Japanese patient in 2009, after being isolated from external ear canal. This species is associated mostly with hospital environment, where it can survive on different surfaces for long periods. C. Auris has been associated with multiple outbreaks throughout the world. It is multidrug resistant and is considered as one of the most serious emerging pathogens of public health importance. Candida Auris infection incidence is significantly higher in the patients with primary or acquired immunosuppression. It can cause infection in all age groups with, most of reported cases isolating Candida Auris from blood and other deep-seated site of injection. We presented the case report of infective endocarditis caused by candida Arius and helps to provide more awareness that earlier intervention might reduce mortality and morbidity.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication in patients with Type 1 or Type II. Diabetes Mellitus resulting in fluid shifts, electrolytes imbalance and acid-base disorders, can lead to multi-organ Failure. The Pancreas and skeletal muscles are not commonly affected in DKA. We present a case of 41-year-old female who was initially admitted in intensive care unit for treatment of Diabetic ketoacidosis, and was treated appropriately later she complained of abdominal pain and generalized myalgia. Hospital course was complicated with Acute pancreatitis and Rhabdomyolysis. Serum electrolytes were significant for hypo-phosphatemia. Workup for myositis and acute pancreatitis were negative. The exact etiology is unknown, but it is proposed in many literature articles that serum hyper-osmolarity and/or electrolyte abnormalities can be the culprits in triggering the complications.
Schwann cell tumors are benign tumors originating from Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system and are extremely rare in the gastrointestinal system. They usually originate in the colon or rectum but can also occur in the esophagus and small intestine. Their occurrence is rare in GI tract and mainly in the sigmoid colon. Schwann cell tumors have no association with any familial cancer syndromes. We present a 65-year-old female patient who underwent routine colon cancer screening. In addition to open mouth diverticulosis, she was found to have a 3 mm polyp, which was diagnosed as a Schwann cell hamartoma after a biopsy. This study aimed to present this rarely reported case in the literature as an example of a tumor that should be included in the differential diagnosis when considering submucosal colonic lesions. Though the reported reoccurrence rate is low, this case highlights the lack of published guidelines regarding appropriate follow-up surveillance periods.
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