1.Calcitriol-mediated Reversible Hypercalcemia in a Patient with Primary Adrenal Lymphoma
Shahnaz Ahmad Mir ; Shariq Rashid Masoodi ; Arshad Iqbal Wani ; Syed Nisar Ahmad ; Iqra Hameed
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(6):118-122
Primary adrenal lymphomas (PAL) are rare occurrences with only less than 150 cases
reported in the literature. Two-thirds of these cases were reported in the last decade due to the
advancements in imaging techniques and immunohistochemistry. The non-specific signs and
symptoms have resulted in a delayed onset of symptoms and diagnosis of these tumors. Reports
of the results of chemotherapy are not gratifying, and most patients die within one year of the
diagnosis. We report a 65-year-old male with adrenal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), who
presented with hypercalcemia and renal failure. We reviewed all adrenal NHL cases presented
with hypercalcemia and attempted to comprehend its etiology and overall survival effect.
2.Immune-related therapeutics: an update on antiviral drugs and vaccines to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic
Iqra MIR ; Sania AAMIR ; Syed Rizwan HUSSAIN SHAH ; Muhammad SHAHID ; Iram AMIN ; Samia AFZAL ; Amjad NAWAZ ; Muhammad UMER KHAN ; Muhammad IDREES
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives 2022;13(2):84-100
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.