The burden of paraovarian cysts - a case series and review of the literature.

Introduction: A paraovarian cyst (POC) is a cyst in the broad ligament or mesosalpinx. Paraovarian cysts have an estimated prevalence of 5-20% amongst the adnexal masses. Despite the high prevalence and availability of advanced imaging modalities, an accurate pre-operative diagnosis of POC is still made in less than 50% of patients. Case reports: Two females with suspected ovarian torsion underwent laparotomy and had POCs. A 42-year-old hysterectomized female underwent surgery for a suspected POC which turned out to be a mesenteric cyst. Two females underwent laparotomy for suspected mesenteric cysts which turned out to be POCs. A nulliparous female with infertility conceived spontaneously after cystectomy of POC. Results: Optimal management of an adnexal mass depends on the knowledge of the origin and the exact nature of the mass. No clear-cut guidelines exist for the management of POCs despite their high prevalence. There is a need for further research on this topic to formulate clear-cut guidelines for their management. Conclusions: Radiologists and gynaecologists need to keep them in mind as differentials for patients with adnexal masses to ensure a correct pre-operative diagnosis in order to achieve an optimal outcome for these females. Gynaecologists need to be aware of the cases which can be managed conservatively and those that need surgery, along with the extent of the surgery required, taking care to protect the ovary at all costs, particularly in benign cases.

Diet and nutrition: An important risk factor in leprosy.

Leprosy, once considered as poor man's disease may cause severe neurological complications and physical disabilities. Classification of leprosy depends upon the cell mediated and humoral immune responses of the host, from tuberculoid to lepromatous stage. Current therapy to prevent the disease is not only very lengthy but also consists of expensive multiple antibiotics in combination. Treatment and the duration depend on the bacillary loads, from six months in paucibacillary to a year in multibacillary leprosy. Although as per WHO recommendations, these antibiotics are freely available but still out of reach to patients of many rural areas of the world. In this review, we have focused on the nutritional aspect during the multi-drug therapy of leprosy along with the role of nutrition, particularly malnutrition, on susceptibility of Mycobacterium leprae and development of clinical symptoms. We further discussed the diet plan for the patients and how diet plans can affect the immune responses during the disease.

Combating the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic: Insights into molecular mechanisms, immune responses and therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection causes lethal coronavirus disease (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 has been the chief source of threat to public health and safety from 2019 to the present. SARS-CoV-2 caused a sudden and significant rise in hospitalization due to respiratory issues and pneumonia. We are consistently uncovering new information about SARS-CoV-2, and yet so much is to explore to implement efficient interventions to combat the emergent variants and spread of the ongoing pandemic. Information regarding the existing COVID-19 pandemic is streamlining continuously. However, clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infections spanning from asymptomatic infection to severe death-instigating disease remain consistent with preliminary reports. In this review, we have briefly introduced highlights of the COVID-19 pandemic and features of SARS-CoV-2. We have focused on current knowledge of innate and adaptive immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infections and persisting clinical features of recovered patients. Furthermore, we have discussed how these immune responses are not tightly regulated and imbalance can direct the latter phases of COVID-19, long-COVID symptoms, and cause detrimental immunopathogenesis. COVID-19 vaccines are also discussed in detail to describe the efforts going around the world to control and prevent the infection. Overall, we have summarized the current knowledge on the immunology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the utilization of that knowledge in the development of a suitable COVID-19 therapeutics and vaccines.