Does Early Childhood Vaccination Protect Against COVID-19?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an on-going pandemic caused by the SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which targets the respiratory system of humans. The published data show that children, unlike adults, are less susceptible to contracting the disease. This article aims at understanding why children constitute a minor group among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Here, we hypothesize that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine could provide a broad neutralizing antibody against numbers of diseases, including COVID-19. Our hypothesis is based on the 30 amino acid sequence homology between the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) glycoprotein (PDB: 6VSB) of both the measles virus fusion (F1) glycoprotein (PDB: 5YXW_B) and the rubella virus envelope (E1) glycoprotein (PDB: 4ADG_A). Computational analysis of the homologous region detected the sequence as antigenic epitopes in both measles and rubella. Therefore, we believe that humoral immunity, created through the MMR vaccination, provides children with advantageous protection against COVID-19 as well, however, an experimental analysis is required.

Extranodal Natural Killer/T-cell Lymphoma in a Child with a Prior History of Nasal Trauma: a Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Facial lesions usually have a benign self-limited prognosis, but in rare cases they have a poor outcome. Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENK/TCL) is a rare aggressive lesion presenting with a midline facial lesion that can easily be misdiagnosed. Diagnosis is often difficult and requires a thorough clinical examination and the use of immunohistochemistry for analysis of biopsies. Such malignancies affecting the head and neck area provide an interesting but difficult diagnosis. The purpose of this article is to report a severe case of ENK/TCL-nasal type in a boy with a previous history of nasal trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old boy was referred to the maxillofacial unit of Sulaimany Teaching Hospital, Iraq, with midline facial destruction. The patient stated that about 6 months prior he had fallen down and suffered nasal trauma; 3 months after the trauma, an asymptomatic ulcer appeared and gradually increased in size. Two biopsies were performed with no conclusive results. In the third biopsy, histology showed atypical lymphoid tissue surrounded by intense necrosis. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The treatment of choice was chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy. The patient had a satisfactory response but 2 months later during chemotherapy the patient unfortunately died from a pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSION: Suspicious midline ulcerative lesions in the head and neck region must have ENK/TCL considered in the differential diagnosis and repeated biopsies may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

A Rare Case of Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome Presented to the Emergency Department as Facial Swelling.

INTRODUCTION: Gorlin-Goltz syndrome (GGS), also known as basal cell nevus syndrome, is a very rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder that is characterized by the development of numerous basal cell carcinoma. This article reports a case of GGS, emphasizing its clinical and radiographic manifestations. CASE PRESENTATION: We report here the case of a 35-year-old man who visited the maxillofacial emergency department due to left facial swelling. According to his clinical and radiographic examination we diagnosed him with GGS with no family history. The patient has multiple odontogenic keratocysts, rib anomalies, calcifications of the falx cerebri, lower jaw prognathism, frontal bossing, macrocephaly, and thick eyebrows. CONCLUSION: A definitive diagnosis of GGS should be made by a multidisciplinary team including a maxillofacial surgeon and medical specialists. Early diagnosis, treatment, and regular follow up are important to decrease complications, including oromaxillofacial deformation and destruction, and possible malignancy.

Eagle Syndrome: An Unusual Cause Limited Mouth Opening and Surgical Management.

Eagle syndrome, defined "stylalgia," occurs when an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament causes dysphagia, facial pain recurrent throat pain or foreign body sensation, also associated symptoms such as neck or throat pain with radiation to the ear. The symptoms related to this condition can be confused or misdiagnosed to a wide variety of facial neuralgias. The incidence of Eagle syndrome varies among population. Usually asymptomatic, it occurs in adult patients, and can be diagnosed by physical examination and radiologically. A 30-year-old male patient presented to the maxillofacial unit of Sulaimaniyah Teaching Hospital with a complaint of pain in the right side of face interfering with mouth opening and causing deviation to the right side of mouth for 6 months duration. The elongated styloid process of the right side was resected surgically by the intra-oral approach. The patient was asymptomatic and comfortably followed up for 5 months.

Surgical management of Stenson's duct injury by using double J stent urethral catheter.

BACKGROUND: Parotid duct or gland injury can be caused by assault with a knife, bottle, electrical-saw, road traffic accident, or rarely gunshot and fractures of the facial skeleton. The injury can be in the form of laceration, ductal exposure, total cutting, or crushing of the duct. These conditions are difficult to diagnose because of complex anatomy and variable forms of the injury. A successful management of parotid duct injuries depends on early diagnosis and appropriate intervention; improper surgery may lead to complications such as sialocele or salivary fistula CASE REPORT: A 27-years-old man was presented to the maxillofacial unit, complaining of bleeding over the right side of his face after accidental exposure to a chain-saw three hours before admission. On examination, a 6cm deep lacerated wound was found over the right buccal area, suspecting facial nerve-buccal branch and parotid duct injury. Under general anesthesia the parotid duct injury diagnosed, microsurgical anastomosis of the cut-ends of the parotid duct performed using the double J catheter. Sutures and JJ stent removed seven and twenty postoperative days respectively. After a proper supportive treatment a complete healing of the duct was obtained with normal amount of saliva. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we described an easy yet efficient technique in management of parotid duct injury using a JJ stent which is often used for urethra. We think that use of JJ stent is a valuable technique to be used in the diagnosis and surgical repair of the parotid duct during traumatic facial and/or parotid injuries.