Role of epinephrine in attenuating cytokine storm, decreasing ferritin, and inhibiting ferroptosis in SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019. It presents one of the most threatening pandemics in the history of humanity. The mortality and morbidity represent an unprecedented challenge to the modern medical era. SARS-CoV-2 results in acute respiratory distress syndrome, high concentrations of proinflammatory mediators, cytokine storm (CS) due to massive release of cytokines, hypercoagulation, and hemoglobin disintegration. Dysregulation of iron homeostasis, iron overload as indicated by high ferritin level, and ferroptosis are major factors in the pathogenesis of the disease. We report a case of SARS-CoV-2 in which the use of epinephrine (Epi) resulted in an unexpected attenuation of CS, decreasing ferritin level and inhibiting ferroptosis.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 64-year-old male patient with a history of multiple medical comorbidities had been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Further evaluation showed marked increase in inflammatory markers, severe hyperferritinemia, and lymphopenia in laboratory blood tests. The characteristic score of CS was strongly positive, and in addition to regular treatment, the patient received Epi due to development of acute generalized skin rash, severe itching, and edema of lips and tongue. Epi may have successfully terminated not only the acute cutaneous condition, but also have attenuated CS, decreased ferritin level, and other inflammatory markers in addition to complete patient's recovery.

CONCLUSION

Epinephrine may attenuate CS and inhibit ferroptosis which is an iron-dependent, non-apoptotic mode of cell death. Epi interacts with ferric and/or ferrous iron and built a stable complex that impedes activation of beta-adrenergic receptors. Epi may cause marked decrease of ferritin and other inflammatory markers. Epi may be used to decrease iron overload which is associated with many medical diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic diseases such as coronary heart disease and cerebrovascular disease. As a new clinical indication extensive studies are required for further assessment and possible therapeutic uses.

Spinal anesthesia in a patient with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome

Background

Schwartz–Jampel syndrome (SJS) is a very rare inherited disorder characterized by multiple skeletal deformities, limited joint mobility, micrognathia, blepharophimosis, myotonia, and growth retardation. SJS is caused by mutations in the gene encoding perlecan (heparan sulfate proteoglycan). Anesthetic management of these patients is challenging. The use of spinal anesthesia in these patients has not been reported.

Case presentation

A 14-year-old boy was scheduled for inguinal hernia and hydrocele repair. The diagnosis of SJS was based on his dysmorphic features, electromyographic (EMG) pattern and genetic testing. General anesthesia may encounter difficult airway management, resistance to muscle relaxants, or possibility of malignant hyperthermia. Regional anesthesia may be difficult or even harmful due to skeletal deformities. We report successful management of spinal anesthesia and surgery was done. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home. We describe the special precautions against pitfalls for using this technique in patients with SJS.

Conclusion

Spinal anesthesia may be an effective and safe technique for patients with SJS and it may

Bridging bronchus, type six, as a new rare case of a bronchial anomaly

In 1976, Gonzales-Crussi et al. (Am. J. Dis. Child. 130:1015–18, 1976) introduced the first case of bridging bronchus as a rare bronchial branching anomaly; since then, only 14 worldwide cases was described. We suggest our case might be number 15 and could be the first case of type six of this bronchial anomaly. We present a case of a 10-month-old infant with bridging bronchus, congenital tracheal stenosis, and double outlet right ventricle who underwent major laparoscopic surgery for repair of gastrointestinal anomalies to raise awareness of this rare underdiagnosed congenital anomaly and a thorough discussion of the tracheobronchial anomalies and its clinical implications.

Evaluation of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a diagnostic tool for schistosomiasis

The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were assessed in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in two groups of school children, one attending a rural school where schistosomiasis is highly prevalent, the other attending a school in an urban locality where schistosomiasis is absent. The results showed that the ELISA had a sensitivity of 92.2% and 100% in Schistosoma mansoni and mixed infection, respectively. The specificity of the test increased from 92.1% to 98% when a fourth stool examination was done in cases giving false positive results. ELISA positively was significantly increased with the increase in egg count till it reached 100% in cases with 160 eggs per gram stools.