Subcutaneous tocilizumab treatment in patients with severe COVID-19-related cytokine release syndrome: An observational cohort study.

Background: Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have elevated levels of acute phase reactants and inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6, indicative of cytokine release syndrome (CRS). The interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab is used for the treatment of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy-induced CRS.

Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza, Italy, through March 7, 2020, who received at least one dose of tocilizumab 162 mg subcutaneously for the treatment of COVID-19-related CRS in addition to standard care were included in this retrospective observational study.

Pneumonia, lung cancer or Medlar's core?

Here, we report a case of 57-year-old previously healthy man with six-months medical history of significant chronic cough and recurring episodes of fever. Cytology, bacteria, fungi and acid fast bacilli in the sputum were negative. CT scan, initially interpreted as suspected lung cancer, detected by chest x-ray, revealed pneumonia.

Spotted fever from Rickettsia typhi in an older woman: a case report from a geographic area where it would not be expected.

We describe the case of a 75-year-old woman presenting with spotted fever followed by acute renal failure and septic shock. The infection was caused by Rickettsia typhi, not reported in Calabria district (southern Italy) since World War II. The diagnosis of murine typhus was made 3 days after admission and was based solely on clinical criteria when her worsening condition required a prompt move to the intensive care unit.