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This study aimed to identify the characteristics of cranial-base morphology in platybasic and nonplatybasic patients with palatal anomalies and velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) compared with control subjects to investigate structural factors related to craniofacial morphology that affect the nasopharyngeal space and may influence velopharyngeal function, and to develop precise treatments for specific patients with VPD.Three hundred eighty-six patients with VPD and various palatal anomalies were studied retrospectively. The control group included 126 healthy patients with normal speech. Lateral cephalometric images assessed craniofacial morphology.Nonplatybasic patients and control subjects had larger SNA, S-Ba-Ptm, and N-Ba-PP angles (in the craniomaxillary complex), and platybasic patients had larger nasopharyngeal ANS-Ptm-Ve and Ba-S-Ptm angles and longer Ve-T and Ve-Ba distances than the nonplatybasic patients. All study patients had larger ANB, Gn-Go-Ar, and PP-MP angles (in the craniomandibular complex). Nonplatybasic patients had smaller Ba-SN angles than platybasic patients and controls because of more acute N-S-Ptm angle. Among the nonplatybasic patients, Ve-T length tended to be shorter (with no significant difference between groups) and located more inferiorly (because of the smallest ANS-Ptm-Ve angle) in relation to the maxilla. Thus, the nasopharynx was narrower horizontally but longer vertically than in patients with platybasia.Cranial-base flexure influences the shape of the skull base and facial-skeletal structure and may alter the pharyngeal space between them. This finding should help improve preoperative planning regarding the effect of the pharyngeal flap height relative to the nasopharynx and oropharynx ratio that affects surgical outcomes, such as resonance and residual VPD. In patients with Class III malocclusion and maxillary constriction, careful planning of presurgical orthodontic treatment is needed in maxillary advancement procedures. Orthodontic and surgical collaboration can help prevent postoperative VPD, especially in platybasic patients.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a threat to global health. Early diagnosis is an essential key to limit the outbreak of the virus.Case series, study conducted between March 25, 2020, and April 15, 2020.Ambulatory, nonhospitalized patients who were quarantined in a designated hotel for COVID-19 patients and were recruited by an advertisement at the hotel.In total, 140 patients participated in a web-based questionnaire assessing initial symptoms of common viral diseases, olfactory and taste functions, xerostomia, and orofacial pain.A total of 58 men and 70 women participated. Initial symptoms were cough (59.4%), weakness (47.7%), myalgia (46.9%), fever (42.2%), headache (40.6%), impaired sense of smell (38.3%), impaired sense of taste (32.8%), sore throat (26.6%), runny nose (26.6%), and nasal congestion (22.7%). All symptoms were more frequent among women; however, only runny nose was statistically significant (A considerable number of patients presented with olfactory and oral disorders. Interestingly, women presented with a different cluster of symptoms than men, which may suggest a new clinical approach to diagnosing COVID-19 disease.

Purpose To investigate the recovery of loss of smell and taste among recovered COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods This cross-sectional follow-up study is a sequel to a study by Biadsee et al. Among the previous study population of 128 non-hospitalized patients, positive for COVID-19 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 97 patients participated in a survey designed for this study. Information and data regarding loss of smell and taste, rate of recovery, xerostomia, and additional symptoms; (Cough, Myalgia, Weakness, Rhinorrhea, Nasal congestion) were collected. Results A total of 43 men and 54 women were included. Mean age was 37.5 years (range 19–74). Mean follow-up was 229 days (range 191–253). Sixty-five patients reported gustatory dysfunction during the disease of which 61.5% reported full recovery, 38.5% partial recovery. Of 65 patients who reported olfactory impairment during the disease, 52% had full recovery and 48% reported partial recovery of olfactory function. Complete recovery of olfactory function was positively associated with full recovery of gustatory function (p = 0.01). Gender did not significantly affect the recovery of OD and GD (p = 0.45, p = 0.90, respectively). Patients who experienced olfactory dysfunction as an initial symptom had lower rates of olfactory complete recovery (p = 0.043). Conclusion After a mean follow-up of 229 days, complete recovery of smell and taste functions occurred in 52% and 61.5%, respectively. However, dysfunction persisted in 48%–38.5% of patients.

Objective To present the outcomes of neonatal nasolacrimal duct cysts treated through endoscopic intranasal marsupialization under topical anaesthesia. Methods A retrospective study of 19 infants diagnosed with congenital nasolacrimal duct cyst, with or without dacryocystocele, diagnosed and treated between March 2015 through March 2020. Data were extracted for descriptive purposes and included: birth weight, main presenting symptom, stertor or dyspnoea, unilateral or bilateral occurrence. Follow-up one month after intervention included recurrence of symptoms, physical examination and fibreoptic naso-endoscopy. Results Nineteen infants with intranasal cyst were presented to our department at the age of 1 day. Four-teen infants had unilateral and 5 infants had bilateral intranasal cysts. There were 8 boys and 11 girls. Mean gestational age at birth was 39 weeks, mean birth weight was 3351 g. 42.1% of infants presented with dacryocystocele, 31.5% with stertor, and 26.3% with dyspnoea. 80% of infants with bilateral cysts presented with dyspnoea. Follow up ranged from 6 to 48 months, no recurrence of symptoms was reported. Conclusion Intranasal endoscopic marsupialization under topical anaesthesia is a successful, safe, low cost procedure for treating neonatal nasolacrimal duct cysts while avoiding general anaesthesia for infants.