This investigation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the paravertebral injection of recombinant human interferon-α2b in conjunction with high-voltage, long-term, pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) in the dorsal root ganglion for the mitigation of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
This retrospective study included 84 individuals with acute PHN. The participants were divided into 3 groups. Group H was treated with interferon-α2b combined with high-voltage long-term PRF. Group C was treated with a combination of high-voltage, long-term PRF and a paravertebral injection (without recombinant human interferon-α2b), and group I was treated with interferon-α2b only. All the patients in the 3 groups were orally administered a 5-mg morphine hydrochloride quick-release tablet when a burst of pain occurred during treatment. The numerical rating scale for pain score, the interleukin-6 and galectin-3 levels, and the incidence of PHN were documented before and after therapy.
The pain intensity of all individuals decreased after therapy. Compared with group C, the numerical rating scale scores for group H were significantly reduced at 4, 8, and 12 weeks following therapy, and the PHN incidence was significantly lower. Compared with prior treatment, the recommended dosage of gabapentin capsules and immediate-release morphine hydrochloride tablets was reduced for group H. Compared with group C, the requirement for orally administrated gabapentin capsules and morphine hydrochloride tablets in group H was reduced significantly after treatment. No serious adverse reactions occurred in any of the 3 groups.
Within the context of treatment of acute PHN, the injection of interferon-α2b in conjunction with high-voltage, long-term application of PRF is more effective than PRF or the injection of interferon-α2b alone.

UNASSIGNED: The current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread throughout the world. During treatment, we found that the majority of patients had a decrease in hemoglobin (Hb). Interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) was the primary suspected drug that was related to Hb reduction. Thus, the study aimed to investigate whether IFN-α2b could induce Hb reduction in severe patients with COVID-19 and its potential mechanism.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 50 patients who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University with severe COVID-19 infection were enrolled from February 12th to 24th, 2020. The demographics, baseline characteristics, clinical data, and therapeutic regimen were collected retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the declined use of IFN-α2b on day 14. The Hb levels on admission, day 7, day14, and day 21 were collected and analyzed. The primary endpoint was the level of Hb on day 21.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 31 patients in the IFN-stop group and 19 patients in the non-IFN-stop group were reviewed. The age, gender, comorbidities, clinical symptoms, nutritional status, disease severity, complications, and other factors of the patients were compared, no difference was found between the IFN-stop group and the non-IFN-stop group. The Hb levels of all patients significantly decreased on day 7 compared with that on admission (p < .0001). In the IFN-stop group, the Hb level was increased in 7 days after IFN-α2b was stopped (p = .0008), whereas no difference was found between day 14 and day 21 in the non-IFN-stop group (p = .3152).
UNASSIGNED: IFN-α2b was associated with Hb reduction in the treatment of severe patients of COVID-19. Clinicians should be aware of the high incidence of Hb reduction for patients treated by IFN-α2b.

UNASSIGNED: Interferon (IFN)-α2b in Peyronie\'s disease (PD).
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to evaluate clinical efficacy of the IFN-α2b in both subjective and objective manner for the treatment of PD and compared with previously used intralesional verapamil in terms of cost-benefit analysis.
UNASSIGNED: Prospective study.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective study conducted from January 2013 to July 2016 in the Department of Urology, Government Medical College, Kota, Rajasthan, India. We included patients with identifiable Peyronie\'s plaque with or without pain, curvature ranging between 30 and 90 degrees. We excluded patients with a calcified plaque and the ventral location of the plaque, any infective foci over the penis, erectile dysfunction due to other etiologies and patients who had received previous intralesional therapy. Patients were evaluated by clinical history, physical examination including plaque location, size, consistency, and penile curvature. Patients received intralesional IFN-α2b in a dose of 3 × 106 IU. Patients completed the visual analogue pain (VAS) score for pain, and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire at first visit as well as at follow-up of 1 month and 3 months.
UNASSIGNED: Comparisons were performed using the paired Student\'s t-test and Chi-square tests as appropriate. Patient\'s objective and subjective clinical characteristics were described as a means (standard deviation).
UNASSIGNED: We included 86 patients in this study. Patients had a mean age of 48.6 years, mean plaque volume 256 mm3, and disease duration of 15.2 years. After 1 month of treatment, there was a significant change in plaque volume 256-60.8 mm3; P < 0.01) and penile curvature 34.8-24.6°; P < 0.01). The patients reported significant improvement in pain score VAS and IIEF-5.
UNASSIGNED: IFN-α2b, as minimal invasive (intralesional) options for the treatment of PD, demonstrated significant improvement in plaque volume, penile curvature with minimal complications. Patients subjectively reported significant improvement in pain on erection and sexual activities. IFN-α2b and verapamil had an almost similar clinical outcome, but verapamil at much lower cost.