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Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare, genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder. It is characterized by various congenital malformations, progressive bone marrow failure usually at a very young age and of tumor development. The mean age of diagnosis was 7 years and the average life expectancy was 25 years. We report a rare case of fanconi anemia presenting as a solid tumor of buccal cavity and found to be metastasizing on staging at an unusually late age i.e. 52 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARSCoV2) and has currently affected 11 million people worldwide with 0.53 million deaths. While there is ongoing trials and research for newer therapeutic options including antivirals (remdesivir), anti-interleukin 6 (tocilizumab), vaccines and antimalarials; there is renewed interest in the use of old therapeutic tools as well. Convalescent plasma has been used historically for measles, poliomyelitis, Spanish flu pandemic, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS1) and Ebola epidemics with conflicting results. With widespread use of convalescent plasma throughout the world as investigational drug for COVID-19, it is important to review past experience with its use in various outbreaks, potential role in COVID-19, and clinical application during current pandemic and challenges faced by resource constrained countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is the fifth most populous country with a population of 225 million and has health expenditure accounting for only 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Accordingly, there are a limited number of haematology-oncology and transplant centers in the country. The Pakistan Blood and Marrow Transplant (PBMT) group was established in 2020, and this report is the first activity survey from January 2021 to December 2022 focusing on the trends of matched-related donor, haploidentical, and autologous transplants in a developing country. A total of 12 transplant centers contributed data on the modified PBMT survey form retrospectively and 806 haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) were carried out during the study duration. Allogeneic HSCT constituted 595 (73.8%) of all the transplants; this is in stark contrast to Western data, where autologous HSCT accounts for the majority of transplants. ß-thalassemia major and aplastic anemia were the commonest indications for allogeneic HSCT, in contrast to Western data, where acute leukemia is the leading transplant indication. Autologous transplants were more frequently performed for Hodgkin's lymphoma as compared to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The use of peripheral and bone marrow stem cells was comparable. A myeloablative conditioning regimen was routinely used in patients with acute leukemia. This report provides an insight of HSCT trends in Pakistan which are different from those of Western centers contributing to transplant data from South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]