Severe and Life-Threatening Paroxysmal Laryngospasm: Uncommon Presentation of COVID-19.

Introduction: Laryngospasm is a life-threatening condition caused due to involuntary contraction in laryngeal muscles. It can last seconds to minutes and may cause hypoxemia, loss of consciousness, and death. Case Presentation: We report a case of laryngospasm in a patient with Coronavirus-2 infection who was admitted to the emergency department for the first time. Laryngospasm was revealed after treatment. Conclusions: The clinician should note that laryngospasm can be triggered by Coronavirus-2 infection.

DRD4 Gene Polymorphisms as a Risk Factor for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Iranian Population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Dopamine dysfunction is known to be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4) is one of the important genes in this pathway. This study intended to investigate the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in exon 3 of the DRD4 gene in Iranian children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 130 children with ADHD, aged 6-14 years, and 130 healthy children, within the same age range, were enrolled. All children were selected from northwest of Iran which have Caucasian ethnic background and are of a Turkic ethnic group. VNTR polymorphisms of the DRD4 gene were evaluated by PCR using exon 3-specific primers followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. FINDINGS: The Hardy-Weinberg principle and Chi-square test showed a significant difference in 4-repetition (4R) alleles between the ADHD (76.2%) and control (53.8%) groups (p = 0.004; X2 = 17.39; df = 5). The least percentage of repetition alleles in both groups was 2R. CONCLUSION: There is a significant correlation between the 4R alleles of DRD4 and ADHD in the northwest of Iran.

Effect of adenotonsillectomy on ADHD symptoms of children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and sleep disordered breathing.

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is the most common etiologic agent for the obstruction of the upper airways in children, which might be associated with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood. Despite the concurrence of these two conditions, i.e., obstruction of the airways and ADHD, no exact etiologic relationship has been established between adenotonsillectomy (AT) and ADHD symptoms. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of AT on the ADHD symptoms in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and sleep disordered breathing (SDB). METHODS: The design of the present study consisted of pre-test and post-test, followed by post hoc tests. Fifty-three children aged 3-12 were included in this study, selected from those referring to the Pediatric Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, with SDB, adenotonsillar hypertrophy and ADHD based on DSM-IV criteria, by availability of the subjects undergoing adenotonsillectomy after evaluation of the severity of ADHD symptoms. The scores of ADHD symptoms were evaluated before AT and at 3- and 6-month postoperative intervals based on Conner's Parent Rating Scale-Revised (CPRS-R) Questionnaire. Repeated-measures ANOVA and Fisher's exact test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: AT resulted in a significant decrease in the severity of ADHD symptoms (oppositional behavior, cognitive disorders, inattention, hyperactivity and ADHD index) at 3- and 6-month postoperative intervals (P<0.001), with more significant decreases at 6-month postoperative interval compared to 3-month interval (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this pilot study, AT in children with SDB associated with ADHD resulted in a significant decrease in the severity of ADHD symptoms.

Serum Level of Interleukin-6 in Patients with Oral Tongue Squamous cell Carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical outcome of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) located in the head and neck has remained poor despite ongoing advances in diagnosis and management. Interleukin-6(IL-6) is a multi-functional cytokine that plays an important role in the process of cell differentiation and is increased in several malignancies. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of interleukin-6 in patients with oral tongue SCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 17 patients with oral tongue SCC were compared with the same number of age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. Serum IL-6 level fluctuation was determined using an immunological technique, before detecting its possible association with the subjects' age, gender, drinking and smoking history, cancer site, and disease severity. RESULTS: The intensity of serum IL-6 in patients with oral tongue SCC was statistically significantly higher than that in healthy subjects (P<0.001). Serum IL-6 level was independent of the patients' age, gender, smoking and drinking history as well as cancer stage. CONCLUSION: IL-6 is a valuable biomarker in the diagnosis of oral tongue SCC. Its high sensitivity makes prediction of this condition possible, while this biomarker can also be used to screen high-risk patients.

Nasal septal lipoma in a child: Pai syndrome or not?

Lipoma is the most common soft tissue mass in adults but it is uncommon in children. Nasal septal lipoma is an even more rare entity. In this report, a 12-year-old girl was presented with congenital nasal septal lipoma. She had permanent partial nasal obstruction on her right side and disfigurement of her right upper lip. CT scan revealed a lipoma-like mass in the septum plus an additional incidental finding of an intracranial lipoma. Further workup with MRI demonstrated corpus callosum agenesis with interhemispheric lipoma. To remove the mass, septoplasty, nasal lipoma excision and nasal vestibule V-Y advancement flap were performed. To close the lip a rotational advancement flap was required. Our case seemed to be a variety of Pai syndrome. We recommend imaging of the central nervous system in newborns with congenital lipomas located in the craniofacial midline to rule out the Pai syndrome.

Association of nasal nostril stenosis with bilateral choanal atresia: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal nasal airway obstruction induces various degrees of respiratory distress. The management of this disease, including surgical repair, will depend on the severity and location of the obstruction. We describe here a case of congenital nasal nostril stenosis that required surgical repair for stenting of both nares after coanal atresia repair. CASE REPORT: A 2 days old female newborn referred to neonatal department of Tabriz Children's Hospital affiliated to the University of Medical Sciences of Tabriz, Iran on the 3rd of December, 2011 immediately after birth with respiratory distress due to bilateral coanal atresia and nasal hypoplasia with very small nostrils. CT scan showed normal brain and bilateral choanal atresia with normal size Pyriform apertures. CONCLUSION: Nasal obstruction can lead to airway compromise and respiratory distress. Congenital bony nasal deformities are being recognized as an important cause of newborn airway obstruction. Nasal hypoplasia is seen in many craniofacial syndromes. Although our patient had hypoplastic nostrils with respiratory distress due to bilateral coanal atresia, correction of hypoplastic nostrils was necessary for completing the operation of choanal atresia.

Ectopic molar with maxillary sinus drainage obstruction and oroantral fistula.

INTRODUCTION: Ectopic tooth eruption may result owing to one of 3 processes: developmentalDisturbance, iatrogenic activity, or pathologic process, such as a tumor or a cyst. In rare cases, occlusion of the sinus ostia may predispose a patient to develop a maxillary sinus mucocele. When the maxillary sinus is invaded, symptoms usually occur late in the process. CASE REPORT: A 17 years old boy referred to department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of university of medical sciences, Tabriz_Iran in 2010 with chronic recurrent mucoprulent discharge from retromollar trigone , posterior to right superior alveolar ridge. CT scan revealed a dense mass resembling tooth, obstructing sinus ostium with homogenous opacity with ring enhancement, occupying whole sinus and expanding all walls. A Caldwell Luke approach in combination with endoscopy was selected. CONCLUSION: In the present patient, removal of ectopic tooth resolved the symptoms completely, the fistula obstructed and discharges discontinued. An ectopic tooth is a rare entity obstructing sinus ostium. The etiology of ectopic eruption has not yet been completely clarified, but many theories have been suggested,including trauma, infection, developmental anomalies and pathologic conditions, such as dentigerous cysts. In summary, although the ectopic teeth is rare but it would be assumed in presence of unilateral symptoms of sinonasal cavity. Therefore in peristant unilateral sinonasal symptoms we should complete examining of this site to rule out rare causes of these symptoms.

A bilateral tessier number 4 and 5 facial cleft and surgical strategy: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Tessier facial cleft is among the rarest facial clefts reported in literatures and there are many issues arguing about its multidisciplinary repairing techniques. Tessier number 4 and 5 are extremely rare facial anomalies. There are few literatures describing these clefts and their surgical modalities. Number 5 Tessier cleft begins medial to oral commissure in the upper lip and extends superiorly as a groove through the cheek and ends at the middle third of lower eyelid. Bonny involvement consists of alveolar ridge, maxillary bone lateral to infra orbital foramen and orbits lower rim and floor. Number 4 Tessier facial cleft begins between cupid bow and oral commissure; skirting the nose and pass through cheek and lateral to lacrimal duct. Bonny involvement consists of alveolar ridge, maxillary bone medial to infra orbital foramen and orbital rim and floor. CASE REPORT: This paper represents a patient with bilateral number 4 and 5 Tessier cleft lip with unilateral complete cleft palate and surgical approach on her. CONCLUSION: We recommended early repair using autogenously tissues and minimal discarding healthy tissues as possible.

Proper size of endotracheal tube for cleft lip and palate patients and intubation outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to identify the proper size of endotracheal tube for intubation of cleft lip and palate patients and intubation outcomes in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this analytic cross-sectional study, 60 nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate patients were selected who had surgery between April 2010 and April 2012 at Pediatrics Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Demographic findings, previous admissions, and surgical history were registered. The proper tube size was measured by normal children formulas. Then tube size was confirmed by patients' minimum resistance to intubation, proper ventilation reported by anesthesiologist, and appropriate air leakage at an airway pressure of 15-20 cm H2O. If intubation was unsuccessful then smaller size of endotracheal tube would be tried. Frequency of intubation trials and the biggest endotracheal tube size were recorded. RESULTS: Their average age, weight and height were 21.39 ± 4.95 months, 9.97 ± 1.18 kg and 74.30 ± 26.61 cm, respectively. The average tracheal tube size and frequency of intubation trials were 4.34 ± 0.78 and 1.63 ± 0.80, respectively. Seven cases required an endotracheal tube size smaller than the recommended size for that age including one case in unilateral cleft palate, three cases in unilateral cleft lip, one case in unilateral cleft lip and palate, and two cases in bilateral cleft lip and palate. CONCLUSIONS: Findings proved that considering subglottic stenosis incidence in these children, it is reasonable to determine the tube size for nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate patients by applying the currently available standards for normal children.