A Case of a Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Retropharyngeal Abscess With Mediastinal Extension in an 11-Month-Old Girl.

We present the case of an 11-month-old girl with Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated pneumonia who was subsequently diagnosed with a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus retropharyngeal abscess with mediastinal extension.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Although there has been a growing body of literature about bisphosphonates since 1969, it was not until 2003 that treatment with this medication was associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. Presented herein is such a case.

Recurrent peripheral odontogenic fibroma. Case report.

Peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POF), an extraosseous variant of the central odontogenic fibroma, is considered an uncommon benign gingival lesion with a small recurrence rate. Clinically, it mimics a variety of benign neoplasms, metastases and reactive lesions, but it is most commonly confused with the peripheral ossifying fibroma. In this report, we describe a healthy 32-year-old male who was seen with a recurrent POF of the right maxilla. The surgical excision site was repaired using a free palatal graft, leading to a favorable outcome in an esthetic region of the oral cavity.

Oral manifestations in untreated HIV patient.

AIDS-related lesions have decreased significantly since the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). We describe an untreated, homeless 44-year-old male with a six-year history of HIV who presented himself with Kaposi sarcoma, candidiasis, scrofula and a generalized severe periodontitis. This report highlights the importance of identifying and diagnosing AIDS-related oral lesions seen in an untreated HIV-positive patient.

Head and neck free tissue transfer in a patient with factor V Leiden: case report and review of the literature.

Hypercoagulable disorders can compromise success of free flap reconstruction. Factor V Leiden is one such disorder for which only one previously reported case of successful free tissue transfer in the head and neck has been described. We report a 70-year-old woman with factor V Leiden treated for stage IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the mandible with a composite resection and reconstruction with an osteocutaneous scapular free tissue transfer. The free tissue transfer occurred without complications, in the setting of intraoperative heparin, postoperative aspirin, and enoxaparin. The free tissue transfer continues to be viable at her most recent follow-up appointment. The hypercoagulable patient represents a diverse presentation of increased coagulation risk in the perioperative period. Considering a patient's history and understanding available treatment adjuncts can factor heavily in a patient with factor V Leiden successfully undergoing free tissue transfer for head and neck defects.

Molecular Functions of Hydrogen Sulfide in Cancer.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter that exerts a multitude of functions in both physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. H2S-synthesizing enzymes are increased in a variety of human malignancies, including colon, prostate, breast, renal, urothelial, ovarian, oral squamous cell, and thyroid cancers. In cancer, H2S promotes tumor growth, cellular and mitochondrial bioenergetics, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, tumor blood flow, metastasis, epithelia-mesenchymal transition, DNA repair, protein sulfhydration, and chemotherapy resistance Additionally, in some malignancies, increased H2S-synthesizing enzyme expression correlates with a worse prognosis and a higher tumor stage. Here we review the role of H2S in cancer, with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms by which H2S promotes cancer development, progression, dedifferentiation, and metastasis.

Obturation and Tissue Transfer for Large Craniofacial Defects.

Reconstruction of large craniofacial defects requires several factors to be considered before deciding on the best reconstructive option. This article discusses various factors taken into consideration when deciding on which reconstructive option is ideal for a given patient and defect. For large craniofacial defects, reconstruction using tissue transfer is considered preferentially over obturation, although in select defects obturation using a traditional tooth- or implant-borne prosthetic obturator can be considered a viable option.

Maxillofacial Reconstruction Using Vascularized Fibula Free Flaps and Endosseous Implants.

Maxillofacial subunit reconstruction using vascularized fibula free flap and endosseous implants is a complex and exciting topic. Use of this technique has profoundly improved patients' function, form, and quality of life. This article outlines the goals and requirements of reconstruction and patient selection. Current data are examined and issues related to flap selection, irradiation, primary versus secondary implant placement, timing and type of implants, use of virtual surgical planning, soft-tissue management, and prosthesis selection fabrication are discussed. Careful planning, communication, and collaboration between reconstructive surgeons and prosthodontists are critical in achieving optimal and stable long-term outcomes.

Soft Tissue Reconstruction for Head and Neck Ablative Defects.

Soft tissue reconstruction of head and neck ablative defects is a broad, challenging, and subjective topic. The authors outline goals to keep in mind when deciding on a primary reconstructive option for defects created by oncologic resection. Factors considered in local, regional, and distant flap selection are discussed. Based on the goals of reconstruction and factors involved in flap selection, a defect-based reconstructive algorithm is developed to help choose the ideal reconstructive option. The authors also discuss indications, pearls, pitfalls, and challenges in the harvest and inset of commonly used soft tissue flaps for head and neck reconstructive surgery.

Hydrogen Sulfide and Hydrogen Sulfide-Synthesizing Enzymes Are Altered in a Case of Oral Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.

Adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) constitute 1% of all head and neck malignancies and are very rare in the oral cavity. With < 60 oral ACCs described, their pathobiology is incompletely understood. Here, we report a case of oral cavity ACC in a 54-year-old woman. Since recent studies have demonstrated that several human tumors overexpress the hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-synthesizing enzymes cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS), cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), and also show dysregulated H2S levels, we examined these biomarkers in the oral ACC and compared the results to those of adjacent benign oral epithelium. Western blotting was used to compare the protein expression of CBS, CSE, 3-MST, nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase, and mitoNEET in ACC and adjacent benign oral mucosae. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify the differences in tissue H2S concentrations between the two biopsy types. We found that all the proteins examined here were increased in the ACC compared to adjacent benign oral mucosae. Interestingly, H2S concentrations were decreased approximately 30% in ACC compared to benign mucosae. Thus, in one example of this rare tumor type, the enzymes that synthesize H2S are increased, while tissue H2S levels are lower than those found in adjacent benign oral mucosae. Although limited to a single rare tumor type, to our knowledge this is the second time H2S concentrations have been directly quantified inside a human tumor. Last, our results may indicate that alterations in H2S synthesis and metabolism may be important in the pathobiology of ACC.

Hydrogen Sulfide-Synthesizing Enzymes Are Altered in a Case of Oral Cavity Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant epithelial neoplasm of the salivary glands. MECs of the mouth floor are rare, with only a few cases reported. Here we report a MEC of the mouth floor in a 55-year-old woman. Since several studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-synthesizing enzymes are often increased in malignant tumors compared to benign counterpart tissues, we used western blotting to compare the protein levels of cystathionine-ß-synthase (CBS), cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) in a mouth floor MEC to adjacent benign oral mucosae. We also used high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify possible differences in tissue sulfur fraction concentrations between the two biopsy types. Last, we used western blotting to examine nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (Nampt), mitoNEET, and phospho-ser727-Stat3 levels in the biopsies. We found that all the proteins and phospho-ser727-Stat3 are increased in the MEC compared to benign mucosae. Interestingly, free H2S levels, acid-labile, and the sulfane sulfur factions were essentially the same between the MEC and benign tissue. Although limited to a single and unusual tumor type, to our knowledge this is only the third time H2S concentrations were directly quantified inside a human tumor. Last, our results replicate those of two previous studies where the H2S-synthesizing enzymes are increased in a malignant tumor, while free H2S is either not increased or only slightly increased, suggesting that malignant tumors rapidly metabolize H2S as part of tumor maintenance and growth.

Hydrogen Sulfide Is Increased in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Compared to Adjacent Benign Oral Mucosae.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and the enzymes that synthesize it, cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, are increased in different human malignancies. Due to its short half-life, H2S concentrations have not been directly measured in a human malignancy. Here we directly measured in vivo H2S levels within oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Punch biopsies of OSCC and benign mucosae from 15 patients were analyzed by HPLC, western blotting, and tissue microarray analyses. RESULTS: H2S concentrations were significantly higher in OSCC compared to adjacent benign oral mucosae. Western blot and tissue microarray studies revealed significantly increased cystathionine-b-synthase, cystathionine γ-lyase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate, phopho-Stat3, mitoNEET, hTERT, and MAPK protein levels in OSCC. CONCLUSION: H2S concentrations and the enzymes that synthesize it are significantly increased in OSCC. Here, for the first time H2S concentrations within a living human malignancy were measured and compared to adjacent counterpart benign tissue.