Association between Foramen Size and Febrile Seizure Status in the Pediatric Population: A Two-Center Retrospective Analysis

Objective Febrile seizures have been shown to occur in 2 to 5% of children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years, making them the most common seizures of childhood. Multiple risk factors for febrile seizures have been identified; however, no investigation has been conducted to explore foramen size and associated venous drainage as a potential risk factor for experiencing febrile seizures. Of particular interest are the parietal foramen and the condylar canal, which conduct the parietal emissary vein and the occipital emissary vein, respectively. Emissary veins lack valves, allowing them to play a crucial role in selective brain cooling via a bidirectional flow of blood from the head’s evaporating surface. Narrowed cranial apertures conducting these veins may lead to reduced cerebral venous outflow and delayed brain cooling, creating favorable conditions for a febrile event. This study seeks to explore the association between cranial aperture area and febrile seizure status. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional medical record review study from January 2011 to December 2017 was conducted at a 500-bed academic hospital and a 977-bed private hospital in Lubbock, Texas, United States. A total of 101 complex febrile seizure patients were compared with a similarly aged group of 75 trauma patients representing the normal population. Parietal foramen area and condylar canal area were electronically measured and defined as having “normal” or “below normal” area. Statistical Analysis Independent t-tests were used to compare foramen and canal areas by febrile seizure status. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association of small cranial aperture area with febrile seizure status. Results Below normal parietal foramen area had a strong association with febrile seizures in our patient population. Male sex, white race, and complete vaccination status were also found to have significant associations with febrile seizure status. Conclusion Our findings indicated that narrowed parietal foramen may be considered as a risk factor for febrile seizure development.

Existence of Enlarged Parietal Foramina in Bone Collections

Introduction The enlarged parietal foramen (EPF) is a defect in the ossification of the parietal bone that is well described in the literature using a variety of nomenclatures. Individuals with EPF can present symptoms such as migraines, vomiting and intense pain when light pressure is applied to the skull. However, it can go unnoticed for a lifetime. Materials and Methods At the Human Bone Collection department of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, 2 craniums (CAV 90, 96 years old and CAV 16, 81 years old) and were identified as having EPF, both from females. Results There was no apparent kinship between both craniums. The sagittal length, the coronal width, the sagittal suture distance, the coronal suture distance and the lambdoid suture distance of each enlarged parietal foramen were evaluated, with the following results: sagittal length: 5.5 cm (CAV 90), and 5.0 cm (CAV 16); coronal width: 3.1 cm (CAV 90),and 3.4 cm (CAV 16); sagittal suture distance: 2.9 cm (CAV 90), and 2.3 cm (CAV 16); coronal suture distance: 1.8 cm (CAV 90), and 4.6 cm (CAV 16); and lambdoid suture distance: 5.0 cm (CAV 90), and 3.0 cm (CAV 16). The parietal foramen of both craniums exhibited equivalent measurements. Conclusion Due to the low incidence of EPF, the identification of the 2 craniums with this condition in a collection of 105 skeletons makes the discovery relevant. In reference to craniums exhibiting EPF, this is an important tool for study and forensic research, since its appearance is linked to heredity.

A new Late Cretaceous iguanomorph from North America and the origin of New World Pleurodonta (Squamata, Iguania)

Iguanomorpha (stem + crown Iguania) is a diverse squamate clade with members that predominate many modern American lizard ecosystems. However, the temporal and palaeobiogeographic origins of its constituent crown clades (e.g. Pleurodonta (basilisks, iguanas, and their relatives)) are poorly constrained, mainly due to a meagre Mesozoic-age fossil record. Here, we report on two nearly complete skeletons from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of North America that represent a new and relatively large-bodied and possibly herbivorous iguanomorph that inhabited a semi-arid environment. The new taxon exhibits a mosaic of anatomical features traditionally used in diagnosing Iguania and non-iguanian squamates (i.e. Scleroglossa; e.g. parietal foramen at the frontoparietal suture, astragalocalcaneal notch in the tibia, respectively). Our cladistic analysis of Squamata revealed a phylogenetic link between Campanian-age North American and East Asian stem iguanomorphs (i.e. the new taxon + Temujiniidae). These results and our evaluation of the squamate fossil record suggest that crown pleurodontans were restricted to the low-latitude Neotropics prior to their early Palaeogene first appearances in the mid-latitudes of North America.