Flat Head Syndrome in Infants.

This JAMA Patient Page describes the types of flat head syndrome and its prevention and treatment.

Reabilitação com prótese bucomaxilofacial: revisão de literatura / Rehabilitation with maxillofacial prosthetics

A odontologia reabilitadora tem como um dos seus ramos a especialidade de Prótese Bucomaxilofacial (PBMF), que visa restaurar ou substituir estruturas perdidas na região facial e no sistema estomatognático artificialmente, podendo ser ou não removidos pelo paciente. O presente trabalho objetiva revisar a leitura a respeito da reabilitação com PBMF e a sua aplicabilidade na clínica odontológica. Os indivíduos com alguma perda de estrutura na região de cabeça e pescoço, devido a traumas físicos e/ou químicos, defeitos congênitos, doenças autoimunes, neoplasias, infecções e parasitas, são pacientes para os quais há a indicação da reposição da parte ausente. As reconstruções podem ser perdas intraorais (área da maxila, mandíbula), extraorais (oculopalpebral, ocular, nasal, facial extensa e auricular) ou conjugadas. Esse é um trabalho multidisciplinar, com especialistas de áreas abrangentes e todos os especialistas trabalham de forma conjunta. Pode-se concluir que, embora seja uma das especialidades mais nobres da odontologia, ainda é muito desconhecida por parte dos estudantes e profissionais das áreas da saúde e são próteses absolutamente fundamentais para a reabilitação e qualidade de vida dos indivíduos que tem a necessidade do uso da prótese PBMF(AU)

Rehabilitating dentistry has as one of its branches the specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthesis (PBMF), which aims to restore or replace structures lost in the facial region and in the stomatognathic system artificially, which may or may not be removed by the patient. The present study aims to review the reading about rehabilitation with PBMF and its applicability in dental clinic. Individuals with some loss of structure in the head and neck region, due to physical and/or chemical trauma, birth defects, autoimmune diseases, neoplasms, infections and parasites, are patients in whom there is an indication for replacement of the absent part. Reconstructions can be intraoral (maximal area, mandible), extraoral (oculopalpebral, ocular, nasal, extensive facial and auricular) or conjugated losses. It is a multidisciplinary work, with specialists from the comprehensive areas and that all specialists work together. It can be concluded that although it is one of the noblest specialties of dentistry, it is still very unknown to students and health professionals, and they are absolutely fundamental prostheses for the rehabilitation and quality of life of individuals who need the use the PBMFprosthesis(AU)

Nucleolar URB1 ensures 3' ETS rRNA removal to prevent exosome surveillance.

The nucleolus is the most prominent membraneless condensate in the nucleus. It comprises hundreds of proteins with distinct roles in the rapid transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and efficient processing within units comprising a fibrillar centre and a dense fibrillar component and ribosome assembly in a granular component1. The precise localization of most nucleolar proteins and whether their specific localization contributes to the radial flux of pre-rRNA processing have remained unknown owing to insufficient resolution in imaging studies2-5. Therefore, how these nucleolar proteins are functionally coordinated with stepwise pre-rRNA processing requires further investigation. Here we screened 200 candidate nucleolar proteins using high-resolution live-cell microscopy and identified 12 proteins that are enriched towards the periphery of the dense fibrillar component (PDFC). Among these proteins, unhealthy ribosome biogenesis 1 (URB1) is a static, nucleolar protein that ensures 3' end pre-rRNA anchoring and folding for U8 small nucleolar RNA recognition and the subsequent removal of the 3' external transcribed spacer (ETS) at the dense fibrillar component-PDFC boundary. URB1 depletion leads to a disrupted PDFC, uncontrolled pre-rRNA movement, altered pre-rRNA conformation and retention of the 3' ETS. These aberrant 3' ETS-attached pre-rRNA intermediates activate exosome-dependent nucleolar surveillance, resulting in decreased 28S rRNA production, head malformations in zebrafish and delayed embryonic development in mice. This study provides insight into functional sub-nucleolar organization and identifies a physiologically essential step in rRNA maturation that requires the static protein URB1 in the phase-separated nucleolus.

Distracción de fosa posterior con remodelación de bóveda craneal en deformidad de cráneo en trébol: caso clínico / Posterior fossa distraction with cranial vault remodeling in cloverleaf skull deformity: case report

El cráneo en trébol es una malformación rara asociada al cierre temprano de múltiples suturas; se presenta con alteraciones en el desarrollo neurológico y una alta mortalidad. El tratamiento quirúrgico tiene como objetivo restaurar la forma y función del cráneo, en lo posible con el menor número de procedimientos.Este trabajo tiene como objetivo la presentación del caso de un lactante con deformidad de cráneo en trébol, caracterizado con el uso de ayudas diagnósticas e intervenido en un único tiempo quirúrgico con distracción de fosa posterior y remodelación de la bóveda craneal. (AU)

Cloverleaf skull is a rare malformation associated with early closure of multiple sutures; it presents with alterations in neurological development and high mortality. Surgical treatment aims to restore the shape and function of the skull, if possible with the fewest number of procedures.This paper aims to present the case of an infant with a cloverleaf skull deformity, characterized with the use of diagnostic aids and operated on in a single surgical stage with distraction of the posterior fossa and remodeling of the cranial vault. (AU)

Convolutional mesh autoencoders for the 3-dimensional identification of FGFR-related craniosynostosis.

Clinical diagnosis of craniofacial anomalies requires expert knowledge. Recent studies have shown that artificial intelligence (AI) based facial analysis can match the diagnostic capabilities of expert clinicians in syndrome identification. In general, these systems use 2D images and analyse texture and colour. They are powerful tools for photographic analysis but are not suitable for use with medical imaging modalities such as ultrasound, MRI or CT, and are unable to take shape information into consideration when making a diagnostic prediction. 3D morphable models (3DMMs), and their recently proposed successors, mesh autoencoders, analyse surface topography rather than texture enabling analysis from photography and all common medical imaging modalities and present an alternative to image-based analysis. We present a craniofacial analysis framework for syndrome identification using Convolutional Mesh Autoencoders (CMAs). The models were trained using 3D photographs of the general population (LSFM and LYHM), computed tomography data (CT) scans from healthy infants and patients with 3 genetically distinct craniofacial syndromes (Muenke, Crouzon, Apert). Machine diagnosis outperformed expert clinical diagnosis with an accuracy of 99.98%, sensitivity of 99.95% and specificity of 100%. The diagnostic precision of this technique supports its potential inclusion in clinical decision support systems. Its reliance on 3D topography characterisation make it suitable for AI assisted diagnosis in medical imaging as well as photographic analysis in the clinical setting.

Automatic detection and monitoring of abnormal skull shape in children with deformational plagiocephaly using deep learning.

Craniofacial anomaly including deformational plagiocephaly as a result of deformities in head and facial bones evolution is a serious health problem in newbies. The impact of such condition on the affected infants is profound from both medical and social viewpoint. Indeed, timely diagnosing through different medical examinations like anthropometric measurements of the skull or even Computer Tomography (CT) image modality followed by a periodical screening and monitoring plays a vital role in treatment phase. In this paper, a classification model for detecting and monitoring deformational plagiocephaly in affected infants is presented. The presented model is based on a deep learning network architecture. The given model achieves high accuracy of 99.01% with other classification parameters. The input to the model are the images captured by commonly used smartphone cameras which waives the requirement to sophisticated medical imaging modalities. The method is deployed into a mobile application which enables the parents/caregivers and non-clinical experts to monitor and report the treatment progress at home.

THE "-OMAS" and "-OPIAS": Targeted and Philosophical Considerations Regarding Hamartomas, Choristomas, Teratomas, Ectopias, and Heterotopias in Pediatric Otorhinolaryngologic Pathology.

The spectrum of "developmental" lesions that occur in the head and neck predominantly congenital in origin and arising at birth and/or discovered in childhood is broad and fascinating. These have been grouped into categories such as "ectopias", "heterotopias", "hamartomas", and "choristomas". On a philosophical and consequently systematic level, these lesions, mostly benign tumors seem to lack a true understanding of the pathogenetic foundation on which to base a more unified taxonomic designation. In this review, we will consider some of these select tumors as they represent syndromic associations (nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma and DICER1 syndrome), the lingual choristoma from the perspective of its nomenclature and classification, lesions with ectopic meningothelial elements, and teratomas and the enigmatic "hairy polyp" in reference to a broader discussion of pathogenesis and pluripotent cells in the head and neck. A consistent thread will be how these lesions are designated with some final thoughts on future directions regarding the investigation of their pathogenesis and taxonomic nomenclature.

Vascular Anomalies of the Head and Neck: A Pediatric Overview.

Vascular anomalies, further classified into vascular tumors and malformations, often involve the head and neck region of children. These entities may raise diagnostic dilemmas, as they often demonstrate heterogenous and overlapping histologic features. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the common vascular anomalies in the head and neck region of children. Specific entities discussed include infantile hemangioma, congenital hemangioma, tufted angioma, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, and various vascular malformations. Clinicopathologic features and associated molecular associations are reviewed.

Efficacy of Initial Sirolimus Therapy for 27 Patients with Intractable Lymphatic Malformations.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the efficacy of initial sirolimus therapy in the treatment of intractable head and neck lymphatic malformations (LMs) in children. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective open-label study. METHODS: In this study, Twenty-seven children diagnosed with LMs were given oral sirolimus as primary treatment over a minimum 6-month trial. The major parameter to evaluate therapeutic outcome was percentage of lesion volume change compared with baseline. Average serum sirolimus concentrations, and adverse side effects, were monitored throughout the study period. RESULTS: Fifteen girls and twelve boys, average age 27 months (16 days-171 months), constitute the study group. Treatment was deemed effective for twenty-three participants, judged as fair in seven, good in nine, and excellent in seven. Two patients had minimal improvement, and two had increased volume to some degree. Effectiveness differed among LMs subtypes with responsiveness of macrocystic LMs exceeding that of microcystic LMs (P < .05). Adverse drug reactions totaled 27 events in ten patients, the majority being mild with upper respiratory infections being most common. CONCLUSIONS: Sirolimus as initial therapy is effective in decreasing lesion volume in intractable LMs in head and neck region, especially in macrocystic subtypes. Although most cases cannot be completely cured, side effects are few and tolerable. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1902-1908, 2021.

Assessment of the in vitro developmental toxicity of diethylstilbestrol and estradiol in the zebrafish embryotoxicity test.

The present study investigated the developmental toxicity of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in the zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET). This was done to investigate whether the ZET would better capture the developmental toxicity of DES than the embryonic stem cells test (EST) that was previously shown to underpredict the DES-induced developmental toxicity as compared to in vivo data, potentially because the EST does not capture late events in the developmental process. The ZET results showed DES-induced growth retardation, cumulative mortality and dysmorphisms (i.e. induction of pericardial edema) in zebrafish embryos while the endogenous ERα agonist 17ß-estradiol (E2) showed only growth retardation and cumulative mortality with lower potency compared to DES. Furthermore, the DES-induced pericardial edema formation in zebrafish embryos could be counteracted by co-exposure with ERα antagonist fulvestrant, indicating that the ZET captures the role of ERα in the mode of action underlying the developmental toxicity of DES. Altogether, it is concluded that the ZET differentiates DES from E2 with respect to their developmental toxicity effects, while confirming the role of ERα in mediating the developmental toxicity of DES. Furthermore, comparison to in vivo data revealed that, like the EST, in a quantitative way also the ZET did not capture the relatively high in vivo potency of DES as a developmental toxicant.

Active Observation as an Alternative to Invasive Treatments for Pediatric Head and Neck Lymphatic Malformations.

OBJECTIVES: An increasing number of treatment modalities for lymphatic malformations are being described, complicating therapeutic decisions. Understanding lymphatic malformation natural history is essential. We describe management of head and neck lymphatic malformations where decisions primarily addressed lesion-induced functional compromise (ie, breathing, swallowing) to identify factors associated with invasive treatment and active observation. We hypothesize that non-function threatening malformations can be observed. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Retrospective case series of consecutive head and neck lymphatic malformation patients (2000-2017) with over 2 years of follow-up. Patient characteristics were summarized and associations with invasive treatment (surgery or sclerotherapy) tested using Fisher's exact. In observed patients, factors associated with spontaneous regression were assessed with Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of 191 patients, 101 (53%) were male, 97 (51%) Caucasian, and 98 (51.3%) younger than 3 months. Malformations were de Serres I-III 167 (87%), or IV-V 24 (12%), and commonly located in the neck (101, 53%), or oral cavity (36, 19%). Initial treatments included observation (65, 34%) or invasive treatments such as primary surgery (80, 42%), staged surgery (25, 13%), or primary sclerotherapy (9, 5%). Of 65 initially observed malformations, 8 (12%) subsequently had invasive treatment, 36 (58%) had spontaneous regression, and 21 (32%) elected for no invasive therapy. Spontaneous regression was associated with location in the lateral neck (P = .003) and macrocystic malformations (P = .017). CONCLUSION: Head and neck lymphatic malformation treatment selection can be individualized after stratifying by stage, presence of functional compromise, and consideration of natural history. Recognizing the spectrum of severity is essential in evaluating efficacy of emerging treatments, as selected malformations may respond to observation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1392-1397, 2021.

An approach to evaluating the potential teratogenic and neurotoxic mechanism of BHA based on apoptosis induced by oxidative stress in zebrafish embryo (Danio rerio).

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) has been widely used in the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, and food industries due to its antioxidant activity. Despite the antioxidant effects, reported adverse effects of BHA at the cellular level have made its use controversial. In this regard, this study was performed to elucidate the potential toxicity mechanism caused by BHA at the molecular level in zebrafish embryos. For this purpose, zebrafish embryos were exposed to BHA at levels of 0.5, 1, 5, 7.5 and 10 ppm and monitored at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. Survival rate, hatching rate and malformations were evaluated. We examined the potential for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis signalling accumulation in the whole body. Moreover, we evaluated histopathological and immunohistochemical (8-OHDG) characterization of the brain in zebrafish embryos at the 96th hour. We also examined apoptosis, histopathological and immunohistochemical (8-OHDG) characteristics in 96 hpf zebrafish larvae exposed to tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), one of the major metabolites of BHA, at doses of 0.5, 2.5, 3.75 and 5 ppm. Consequently, it has been considered that increased embryonic and larval malformations in this study may have been caused by ROS-induced apoptosis. After 96 h of exposure, positive 8-OHdG immunofluorescence, degenerative changes, and necrosis were observed in the brain of BHA and TBHQ-treated zebrafish larvae in a dose-dependent manner. BHA and TBHQ exposure could lead to an increase in 8-OHdG activities by resulting oxidative DNA damage. In particular, the obtained data indicate that the induction of ROS formation, occurring during exposure to BHA and/or multiple hydroxyl groups, could be responsible for apoptosis.

Rapamicina oral: una alternativa en niños con anomalías vasculares complicadas / Oral rapamycin: an alternative in children with complicated vascular abnormalities

OBJETIVOS: El uso del inhibidor mTOR sirolimus ha supuesto un avance en el tratamiento de pacientes con anomalías vasculares complicadas. El objetivo de este estudio es presentar nuestra serie de pacientes pediátricos con anomalías vasculares tratados con sirolimus oral y hacer una revisión de la literatura al respecto. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de los pacientes con anomalías vasculares complicadas tratados con sirolimus oral en nuestro centro desde el año 2016. La dosis inicial utilizada fue de 0,8 mg/m2 cada 12 horas y el rango terapéutico de 5-15 ng/ml. Todos los pacientes recibieron profilaxis con trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron seis niños, tres varones y tres mujeres, con una edad media al inicio del tratamiento de 9,5 años. Tres presentaban una malformación linfática en cabeza y cuello, dos una malformación venosa en miembro inferior y la última una malformación combinada linfática-venosa a nivel toracoabdominal. Todos habían recibido múltiples tratamientos previos sin mejoría. Tras el inicio de sirolimus, cinco pacientes mejoraron clínicamente (tiempo medio 3,6 meses) y cuatro radiológicamente (tiempo medio 6,6 meses). Se registraron efectos adversos leves y transitorios en tres casos. Actualmente, cinco pacientes continúan con el tratamiento. CONCLUSIONES: El sirolimus oral es un tratamiento eficaz y seguro en pacientes con anomalías vasculares complicadas. Nuestros resultados apoyan su uso en malformaciones linfáticas y venosas en las que han fracasado otros tratamientos, presentando buenas respuestas sintomáticas y, en menor medida, radiológicas

OBJECTIVE: Sirolimus mTOR inhibitor represents a major advance in the treatment of patients with complicated vascular abnormalities. The objective of this study was to present our series of pediatric patients with vascular abnormalities treated with oral sirolimus, and to conduct a review of the relevant literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with complicated vascular abnormalities treated with oral sirolimus in our healthcare facility from 2016 was carried out. Initial dosage was 0.8 mg/m2 every 12 hours, and therapeutic range was 5-15 ng/ml. All patients received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole prophylaxis. RESULTS: 6 children -3 boys and 3 girls- with a mean age of 9.5 years at treatment initiation were included. 3 of them had head and neck lymphatic malformation, 2 had lower limb venous malformation, and 1 had combined lymphatic-venous malformation at the thoracoabdominal level. They all had received multiple previous treatments without improvement. Following sirolimus initiation, 5 patients had clinical improvement (mean time: 3.6 months) and 4 had radiological improve-ment (mean time: 6.6 months). Mild and transitory adverse effects were noted in the 3 cases. Today, 5 patients remain under treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Oral sirolimus is an effective and safe treatment in patients with complicated vascular abnormalities. Our results support sirolimus use in lymphatic and venous malformations in which previous treatments have failed, with a good symptomatic and, to a lesser extent, radiological response

Combining deep learning with 3D stereophotogrammetry for craniosynostosis diagnosis.

Craniosynostosis is a condition in which cranial sutures fuse prematurely, causing problems in normal brain and skull growth in infants. To limit the extent of cosmetic and functional problems, swift diagnosis is needed. The goal of this study is to investigate if a deep learning algorithm is capable of correctly classifying the head shape of infants as either healthy controls, or as one of the following three craniosynostosis subtypes; scaphocephaly, trigonocephaly or anterior plagiocephaly. In order to acquire cranial shape data, 3D stereophotographs were made during routine pre-operative appointments of scaphocephaly (n = 76), trigonocephaly (n = 40) and anterior plagiocephaly (n = 27) patients. 3D Stereophotographs of healthy infants (n = 53) were made between the age of 3-6 months. The cranial shape data was sampled and a deep learning network was used to classify the cranial shape data as either: healthy control, scaphocephaly patient, trigonocephaly patient or anterior plagiocephaly patient. For the training and testing of the deep learning network, a stratified tenfold cross validation was used. During testing 195 out of 196 3D stereophotographs (99.5%) were correctly classified. This study shows that trained deep learning algorithms, based on 3D stereophotographs, can discriminate between craniosynostosis subtypes and healthy controls with high accuracy.

Identifying the Misshapen Head: Craniosynostosis and Related Disorders.

Pediatric care providers, pediatricians, pediatric subspecialty physicians, and other health care providers should be able to recognize children with abnormal head shapes that occur as a result of both synostotic and deformational processes. The purpose of this clinical report is to review the characteristic head shape changes, as well as secondary craniofacial characteristics, that occur in the setting of the various primary craniosynostoses and deformations. As an introduction, the physiology and genetics of skull growth as well as the pathophysiology underlying craniosynostosis are reviewed. This is followed by a description of each type of primary craniosynostosis (metopic, unicoronal, bicoronal, sagittal, lambdoid, and frontosphenoidal) and their resultant head shape changes, with an emphasis on differentiating conditions that require surgical correction from those (bathrocephaly, deformational plagiocephaly/brachycephaly, and neonatal intensive care unit-associated skill deformation, known as NICUcephaly) that do not. The report ends with a brief discussion of microcephaly as it relates to craniosynostosis as well as fontanelle closure. The intent is to improve pediatric care providers' recognition and timely referral for craniosynostosis and their differentiation of synostotic from deformational and other nonoperative head shape changes.

Self-compounded Doxycycline Sclerotherapy for the Treatment of Lymphatic Malformations in Low-Resource Settings.

BACKGROUND: Congenital anomalies are one component of the overwhelming surgical disease burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Lymphatic malformations (LMs) are a common congenital deformity of the head and neck in which the utilization of sclerotherapy may avoid surgery and yield superior outcomes. To be useful in LMICs, sclerosing agents must be widely available, inexpensive, and effective. METHODS: A retrospective review of 10 pediatric patients with macrocystic or mixed LMs who were treated with self-compounded doxycycline sclerotherapy at Rwanda's Central University Teaching Hospital of Kigali was performed. Doxycycline oral tablets were crushed by hand, mixed with normal saline at a concentration of doxycycline 10 mg/mL, and injected directly into LMs of the head and neck. RESULTS: Ten pediatric patients underwent 21 sclerotherapy sessions with a mean of 2.1 sessions per patient (SD 1.3, range 1-5). Of the 8 patients that were seen in follow-up, all achieved at least 80% resolution, 6 of 8 achieved 100% resolution, and none required surgery. One patient developed an infection at the injection site which resolved with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Self-compounded doxycycline sclerotherapy is a safe, effective, and widely available treatment option for sclerotherapy of LMs in LMICs.

The anti-epileptic drug valproic acid causes malformations in the developing craniofacial skeleton of zebrafish larvae.

Valproic acid (VPA) is an anti-epileptic drug known to cause congenital craniofacial abnormalities, including orofacial clefts (OFC). The exact mechanisms by which VPA leads to craniofacial skeletal malformations are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of VPA on cartilage and bone formation in the zebrafish larval head during 1-13 hpf (early) and 25-37 hpf (late) development in which cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) arise and then proliferate and differentiate, respectively. Double-staining for cartilage and bone at 5 dpf revealed that VPA reduced cartilage and bone formation in a dose-dependent manner after both early or late exposure. Several different CNCC-derived cartilage and bone elements were affected in both groups. In the early group (100 µM VPA), the posterior head length and the ethmoid plate were reduced in length (both p < 0.01), while mineralization of 4 out of 9 bone elements was often lacking (all p < 0.01). In the late group (100 µM VPA), also the posterior head length was reduced as well as the length of the ceratohyals (both p < 0.01). Similar to early exposure, mineralization of 3 out of 9 bone elements was often lacking (all p < 0.01). These results indicate that both CNCC formation (early) and differentiation (late) are hampered by VPA treatment, of which the consequences for bone and cartilage formation are persistent at 5 dpf. Indeed, we also found that the expression of several genes related to cartilage and bone was upregulated at 5 dpf. These data indicate a compensatory reaction to the lack of cartilage and bone. Altogether, VPA seems to induce craniofacial malformations via disturbed CNCC function leading to defects in cartilage and bone formation.

Skull Abnormalities in Cadavers in the Gross Anatomy Lab.

BACKGROUND: The skull encompasses and houses one of the most important organs in the body-the brain-and like all tissues in the body, it is comprised of living cells that are constantly remodeling as this maintains the strength and homeostasis of the bone. In the present study, abnormal bone growth patterns were observed and the possible causes of said findings were investigated in multiple cadaver skulls dissected during head and neck anatomy courses at Detroit Mercy Dental over the past year. There are many factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic, with differences in stimulation to the skull resulting in skull abnormalities. Materials and Methods. For this study, skull abnormalities were examined from 65 formalin-embalmed cadaver heads, obtained from the Gross Anatomy Laboratory at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry between the years 2016 and 2019. We have recorded the age, sex, and previous chief medical issues of all lab specimens used in the study. Skulls were later evaluated for possible indications of bone disease such as hypertosis frontalis interna (HFI) or Paget's disease. RESULTS: Among the sixty-five specimens provided to the Detroit Mercy Dental cadaver lab, 19 specimens (29%) were found to present with irregular, undulating, thickening of the frontal bone internal surface. The findings located on the skulls closely resembled the gross anatomic appearance of HFI or Paget's disease; however, a conclusive diagnosis of these skull abnormalities cannot be made without a pathologist biopsy and radiological examination. Twelve of the nineteen specimens that displayed possible bone disease, approximating 63% prevalence, were females; their ages ranged from 68 to 95 years old. Thus, seven of the nineteen specimens exhibiting features of skull abnormalities, approximating 36% prevalence, were males with ages ranging from 70 to 103 years old. In addition, five of these nineteen specimens collected (26% prevalence) had been diagnosed with neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's, dementia, depression, and Parkinson's disease. In the current study, the proportion of specimens exhibiting skull abnormalities was higher compared to the overall prevalence observed in previous studies. CONCLUSION: Possible causes of observed anatomical abnormalities in the skull of cadavers of a gross anatomy laboratory were investigated, and it was determined that hypertosis frontalis interna (HFI) may contribute to such abnormalities. This is a condition that affects bone growth in the frontal skull. Our numbers of skull abnormalities were higher than previous studies and might be due to the fact that HFI was predominately present as an incidental finding during imaging of postmenopausal females or observed postmortem in cadavers. In addition, Paget's disease or hormonal imbalances could also result in similar features, and thus cannot be ruled out as a plausible cause. Paget's disease causes the bone to deposit at a faster rate than normal, which will result in thick and brittle bone. Studies that will involve further examination of new cadavers for the presence of HFI is needed, either using biopsy specimens and/or radiological examination to explore possible causes for the abnormal bone growth in the frontal bone.

Social, neurodevelopmental, endocrine, and head size differences associated with atypical deletions in Williams-Beuren syndrome.

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a multisystem disorder caused by a hemizygous deletion on 7q11.23 encompassing 26-28 genes. An estimated 2-5% of patients have "atypical" deletions, which extend in the centromeric and/or telomeric direction from the WBS critical region. To elucidate clinical differentiators among these deletion types, we evaluated 10 individuals with atypical deletions in our cohort and 17 individuals with similarly classified deletions previously described in the literature. Larger deletions in either direction often led to more severe developmental delays, while deletions containing MAGI2 were associated with infantile spasms and seizures in patients. In addition, head size was notably smaller in those with centromeric deletions including AUTS2. Because children with atypical deletions were noted to be less socially engaged, we additionally sought to determine how atypical deletions relate to social phenotypes. Using the Social Responsiveness Scale-2, raters scored individuals with atypical deletions as having different social characteristics to those with typical WBS deletions (p = .001), with higher (more impaired) scores for social motivation (p = .005) in the atypical deletion group. In recognizing these distinctions, physicians can better identify patients, including those who may already carry a clinical or FISH WBS diagnosis, who may benefit from additional molecular evaluation, screening, and therapy. In addition to the clinical findings, we note mild endocrine findings distinct from those typically seen in WBS in several patients with telomeric deletions that included POR. Further study in additional telomeric deletion cases will be needed to confirm this observation.