Conservative Management of Submandibular Space Infection in a 5-Year-Old Child: A Case Report

Submandibular space infection is a potentially fatal infection that could arise as a result of odontogenic or non-odontogenic infections. The management should be prompt as the infection can spread rapidly leading to airway obstruction. A 5-year-old child reported with a complaint of swelling on the left side of the face for four days. On examination, patient had a diffuse swelling involving the left submandibular region with decreased mouth opening secondary to carious 75. The patient was administered intravenous (i.v) fluids, antibiotics and analgesics. Incision and drainage of the abscess was done extraorally under i.v sedation using midazolam with local anaesthesia followed by rubber drain placement. Patient responded to the treatment with progressive decrease in the swelling. Pulpectomy of 75 was performed followed by stainless-steel crown placement. This case highlights the importance of prompt appropriate treatment supplemented by salvage treatment to overcome the associated morbidity at this very young age.

Water flow through sediments and at the ice-sediment interface beneath Sermeq Kujalleq (Store Glacier), Greenland

Subglacial hydrology modulates basal motion but remains poorly constrained, particularly for soft-bedded Greenlandic outlet glaciers. Here, we report detailed measurements of the response of subglacial water pressure to the connection and drainage of adjacent water-filled boreholes drilled through kilometre-thick ice on Sermeq Kujalleq (Store Glacier). These measurements provide evidence for gap opening at the ice-sediment interface, Darcian flow through the sediment layer, and the forcing of water pressure in hydraulically-isolated cavities by stress transfer. We observed a small pressure drop followed by a large pressure rise in response to the connection of an adjacent borehole, consistent with the propagation of a flexural wave within the ice and underlying deformable sediment. We interpret the delayed pressure rise as evidence of no pre-existing conduit and the progressive decrease in hydraulic transmissivity as the closure of a narrow (< 1.5 mm) gap opened at the ice-sediment interface, and a reversion to Darcian flow through the sediment layer with a hydraulic conductivity of ≤ 10−6 m s−1. We suggest that gap opening at the ice-sediment interface deserves further attention as it will occur naturally in response to the rapid pressurisation of water at the bed.

Cytologic and histologic features of COVID-19 post-vaccination lymphadenopathy

In this study, we present six cases of axillary or supraclavicular lymphadenopathies in the days following to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s first dose and its study for fine-needle aspiration cytology (two patients), biopsy with a gross needle (two patients), and the evolution of two other patients. Cytological smears and histological sections reveal reactive nodes, predominantly T, CD8, and the presence of atypia with striking mitosis. Differential diagnosis with viral lymphadenopathies and lymphoma is important, so the clinical correlation, in a vaccination context, sudden appearance, and progressive decrease in days of the adenopathy, is essential. In this article, we have studied the cytohistological manifestations of post-Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination lymphadenopathy and discussed its differential diagnosis.

Exploiting fashion x-commerce through the empowerment of voice in the fashion virtual reality arena

The ongoing development of eXtended Reality (XR) technologies is supporting a rapid increase of their performances along with a progressive decrease of their costs, making them more and more attractive for a large class of consumers. As a result, their widespread use is expected within the next few years. This may foster new opportunities for e-commerce strategies, giving birth to an XR-based commerce (x-commerce) ecosystem. With respect to web and mobile-based shopping experiences, x-commerce could more easily support brick-and-mortar store-like experiences. One interesting and consolidated one amounts to the interactions among customers and shop assistants inside fashion stores. In this work, we concentrate on such aspects with the design and implementation of an XR-based shopping experience, where vocal dialogues with an Amazon Alexa virtual assistant are supported, to experiment with a more natural and familiar contact with the store environment. To verify the validity of such an approach, we asked a group of fashion experts to try two different XR store experiences: with and without the voice assistant integration. The users are then asked to answer a questionnaire to rate their experiences. The results support the hypothesis that vocal interactions may contribute to increasing the acceptance and comfortable perception of XR-based fashion shopping.

SETD5 Modulates Hematopoietic Stem Cells Homeostasis By Mediating RNA Polymerase II Pausing in Cooperation with HCF-1

Stem cells maintain their self-renewal and differentiation through tight regulation of gene expression patterns at the transcriptional and epigenetic levels. SETD5 is a member of SET domain-containing histone lysine methyltransferase family. Its mutations were identified as the genetic causes of neurodevelopmental disorders, although SETD5 has been shown to lack methyltransferase activity in several studies. Deletion of Setd5 resulted in embryonic lethality at E10.5-11.5 with reduced cell number of CD41 + early hematopoietic cells in the blood island, while the role of SETD5 in adult stem cell, especially in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) remains unexplored. In this study, by using Vav-Cre and Mx1-Cre mediated conditional knockout murine models, we explored the role of Setd5 in hematopoiesis. We found that Setd5 deficiency led to an enhanced accumulation of HSC in both Setd5 CKO (Vav-Cre; Setd5 fl/fl) and Setd5 IKO (Mx1-Cre; Setd5 fl/fl with pIpC treatment) mice. Cell cycle analysis revealed that higher proportions of SLAM-HSC and LSK + cells underwent active cycling in both Setd5 CKO and Setd5 IKO mice. However, limiting dilution assay revealed a significant ~4-fold decrease of functional HSCs in Setd5 CKO mice, while competitive serial transplantation assays exhibited a progressive decrease in repopulation capacity in Setd5 CKO than that of Setd5 fl/fl. While a progressive decrease in PB chimerism was observed in Setd5 IKO recipients via competitive transplantation assay, myeloid lineage reconstitution was increased, implicating a differentiation bias towards myeloid lineage at the expense of lymphoid lineage of Setd5 IKO HSCs. Thus, our phenotypical studies revealed that Setd5 deficiency impaired the homeostasis of the numbers and function of HSCs. To dissect the underlying mechanism, single cell transcriptome was performed in Setd5 CKO and Setd5 fl/fl control LSK +s using Smart-seq2 method. LSK +s were grouped into 5 clusters with distinct transcriptional features. Significantly, LT stem-like cluster revealed a disruption of LT-HSC and quiescence signatures in Setd5 CKO group, accompanied with an elevated S/G2/M cell cycle signature. When these cells were further projected onto Nestorowa's data (Nestorowa et al, Blood, 2016), Setd5 CKO LSK +s were found to be largely deviated from the core HSC territory toward more differentiated progenitor state. Consistent results were also observed in the bulk RNA-seq of Setd5 CKO and Setd5 IKO SLAM-HSCs. These data indicated that both transcriptional- and immunophenotype-defined LT-HSCs lost the long-term stem cell signatures due to Setd5 deficiency. Although SETD5 has a SET domain, no obvious changes were observed in a majority of histone methylation in Setd5 KO hematopoietic cells. Co-IP assay revealed that SETD5 could interact with HDAC3, PAF1 and HCF-1 complex. SETD5 ChIP-seq revealed that SETD5 could bind to E2F-responsive promoters and regulated the transcription of E2F targets. HCF-1 was reported to interact with E2F and regulate cell cycle entry. HCF-1 and PAF1 was recently found to associate with multiple transcription initiation and elongation complexes to regulate Pol II pausing. We thus investigated whether SETD5 regulates E2F targets via its association with HCF-1, and whether it also regulates E2F targets transcription via modulating Pol II pausing. By analyzing the genome-wide distribution of Pol II in control and Setd5 CKO c-Kit + cells by ChIP-Seq, we found an increase of Pol II occupancy upon SETD5 deficiency. Deletion of Setd5 lead to a significant decrease of pausing index on average which represent a transcription elongation state. Inhibition of the transition of paused Pol II in Setd5 CKO c-Kit + cells with BAY 1143572 (p-TEFb/CDK9 inhibitor) or JQ1 (Brd4 inhibitor) significantly suppressed S phases entry in Setd5 CKO LSK + cells, indicating that increased transition of paused Pol II to elongation mediated by Setd5 depletion could be a main cause for the exit of quiescence stage of Setd5 CKO HSC cells. In summary, we here demonstrate a critical role of Setd5 in HSC maintenance and provide a new insight into the mechanism of Setd5 in regulating HSC quiescence by pausing Pol II-mediated differential expression of cell cycle genes via HCF-1-SETD5-PAF1-Pol II axis. MK.L and YJ.C contributed equally to this work. Corresponding authors: WP.Y and YJ.C. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Extraarticular joint ankylosis: a rare presentation

Pseudoankylosis is a rare condition that causes inability to open the mouth due to condition related to outside of the temporomandibular joint. Most literature refers to this hypomobility disorder, a result of fusion of the zygomatic bone to the coronoid process, and very rarely is insidious coronoid hyperplasia causing mechanical interference with the posterior maxilla has been reported. We present a case of a 45-year-old woman, who presented with coronoid malformation and overgrowth resulting in progressive decrease in mouth opening. She was managed with coronoidectomy, following which good mouth opening was obtained. In this paper we discuss about the diagnosis and management of this rare disorder.

Reversible Slow Desensitization of the Acid-Sensing Ion Channel (ASIC) 1a

Among the proton-activated channels of the ASIC family, ASIC1a exhibits a specific tachyphylaxis phenomenon in the form of a progressive decrease in the response amplitude during a series of activations. This process is well known, but its mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated a partial reversibility of this effect by long-term whole-cell recording of CHO cells transfected with rASIC1a cDNA. Long but infrequent acidifications provided the same recovery time course as short acidifications of the same frequency. Steady-state desensitization is not related to the slow desensitization and attenuates the development of the slow desensitization. Consequently, we found that drugs, which facilitate ASIC1a activation (e.g., amitriptyline), cause an enhancement of slow desensitization, while inhibition of ASIC1a by 9-aminoacridine attenuates the slow desensitization. In summary, for influences of vastly different origin, including increase of calcium concentration, different pH conditions, and action of modulating drugs, we found a correlation between the effect on response amplitude and on development of slow desensitization. Thus, our results prove that a slow desensitization requires the open ion-permeable state.

Corneal collagen crosslinking in a child with keratoconus

This clinical case describes medical history of the patient who came to the clinic with complaints of progressive decrease in visual acuity and intolerance of spectacle correction. In the following article all methods of diagnostic are fully described. We are also mentioning and discuss aspects of modern methods of diagnostic and treatment of keratoconus in children such as corneal collagen crosslinking. Key words: keratoconus, keratoconus in children, corneal collagen crosslinking.

Washing load influences the microplastic release from polyester fabrics by affecting wettability and mechanical stress

Microplastics released from textiles during the washing process represent the most prevalent type of microparticles found in different environmental compartments and ecosystems around the world. Release of microfibres during the washing process of synthetic textiles is due to the mechanical and chemical stresses that clothes undergo in washing machines. Several washing process parameters, conditions, formulations of laundering additives have been correlated to microfibre release and some of them have been identified to affect microfibre release during washing process, while no correlation has been evaluated between microfibre release and washing load. In the present study, microfibre release was evaluated as function of the washing load in a real washing process, indicating a progressive decrease of microfibre release with increasing washing load. The quantity of released microfibres increased by around 5 times by decreasing the washing load due to a synergistic effect between water-volume to fabric ratio and mechanical stress during washing. Moreover, the higher mechanical stress to which the fabric is subjected in the case of a low washing load, hinders the discrimination of the effect on the release of other washing parameters like the type of detergent and laundry additives used.

Leg Movements during Sleep in Children Treated with Serotonergic Antidepressants

Study objectives To evaluate leg movements during sleep (LMS) in children taking serotonergic antidepressants, compared to those of children with restless legs syndrome (RLS) and controls, and to assess the time structure of intermovement intervals (IMI). Methods Twenty-three children (12 girls, mean age 14.1 years) on antidepressants and with a total LMS index ≥15/hour, 21 drug-naïve RLS children (11 girls, mean age 13.6 years) also with total LMS index ≥15/hour, and 35 control children (17 girls, mean age 14.3 years) were recruited. LMS were scored and a series of parameters was calculated, along with the analysis of their time structure. Results Children taking antidepressants showed higher total and periodic LMS (PLMS) indexes than both controls and RLS children, as well as higher short-interval and isolated LMS indexes than controls. LMS periodicity was highest in children on antidepressants. In children taking antidepressants, a well-defined PLMS IMI peak corresponding to ~10-60 s, with a maximum at ~20 s was present, which was much less evident in RLS patients and absent in controls. A progressive decrease of PLMS during the night and more frequent arousals were found in children on antidepressants and with RLS. Conclusions Children taking serotonergic antidepressants show higher periodicity LMS than children with RLS or controls and have a higher number of PLMS through the night. Antidepressant-associated PLMS in children seem to have features similar to PLMS of adults with RLS. Whether this is a marker of an increased risk to develop RLS later in life needs to be determined.