SARS-CoV-2: lessons from both the history of medicine and from the biological behavior of other well-known viruses

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of the current pandemic worldwide and its associated disease COVID-19. In this review, we have analyzed SARS-CoV-2 characteristics and those ones of other well-known RNA viruses viz. HIV, HCV and Influenza viruses, collecting their historical data, clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms. The aim of the work is obtaining useful insights and lessons for a better understanding of SARS-CoV-2. These pathogens present a distinct mode of transmission, as SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza viruses are airborne, whereas HIV and HCV are bloodborne. However, these viruses exhibit some potential similar clinical manifestations and pathogenetic mechanisms and their understanding may contribute to establishing preventive measures and new therapies against SARS-CoV-2.

[Destructive spondylopathy in the dialysis patient. The diagnostic role of magnetic resonance]

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed to study 7 long-term hemodialysis patients affected with destructive amyloid spondyloarthropathy. In the appropriate clinical setting, MRI proved to be more useful than conventional radiography or CT and more definitive in excluding infections. Indeed, MRI can replace more invasive procedures in making the correct diagnosis. Different than what is reported in literature, a high incidence of odontoid lesions (C2) was observed in our series, with extraosseous and extradural deposits of soft tissue masses (amyloid pseudotumors), subluxation, odontoid invagination and medullary compression. Bone lesions, involved disks and amyloid pseudotumors typically exhibited low-intensity signal on both T1- and T2-weighted sequences and no enhancement following Gd-DTPA injection. The use of MRI is thus suggested, especially at cervical level, also in case of relatively mild symptoms.