CÁCERES, F.; PEDEMONTE, M. E.; CERDA, V. & SOTO, R.Frequency and characterization of the infratemporal spine in a sample of Chilean human skulls. Int. J. Morphol., 34(4):1414Morphol., 34(4): -1418Morphol., 34(4): , 2016. SUMMARY:The infratemporal spine, or sphenoidal tubercle, is a bony structure described in both classical anatomical literature and contemporary literature. However, the available literature does not mention the specific anatomical characteristics or the distribution of this bony element in the population. The aim of this study was to define this structure, identify its presence, and identify its morphology in a sample of Chilean human skulls. Fifty-seven dry skulls, obtained from the morphology unit at Universidad de los Andes, were used. The great wings of the sphenoid bone on both sides of the skull were evaluated in search of the infratemporal spine. These spines were classified according to their morphological characteristics of either laminar, pyramidal, or truncated pyramidal, as they related to the infratemporal crest and as they related to the pterygoid process. The presence of the infratemporal spine was found in 100 % of the studied skulls, unilaterally or bilaterally. The most common morphology was found to be laminar (40 %), followed by pyramidal (35 %), and, finally, truncated pyramidal (24 %). The majority (73 %) of these infratemporal spines was closely associated with the pterigoyd process with a complete or partial relation, with fewer (34 %) being associated with the infratemporal crest.

Cancer patients on chemotherapy have a lower immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Therefore, through a prospective cohort study of patients with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy, we aimed to determine the immunogenicity of an mRNA vaccine booster (BNT162b2) among patients previously immunized with an inactivated (CoronaVac) or homologous (BNT162b2) SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody (NAb) seropositivity at 8–12 weeks post-booster. The secondary end points included IgG antibody (TAb) seropositivity and specific T-cell responses. A total of 109 patients were included. Eighty-four (77%) had heterologous vaccine schedules (two doses of CoronaVac followed by the BNT162b2 booster) and twenty-five had (23%) homologous vaccine schedules (three doses of BNT162b2). IgG antibody positivity for the homologous and heterologous regimen were 100% and 96% (p = 0.338), whereas NAb positivity reached 100% and 92% (p = 0.13), respectively. Absolute NAb positivity and Tab levels were associated with the homologous schedule (with a beta coefficient of 0.26 with p = 0.027 and a geometric mean ratio 1.41 with p = 0.044, respectively). Both the homologous and heterologous vaccine regimens elicited a strong humoral and cellular response after the BNT162b2 booster. The homologous regimen was associated with higher NAb positivity and Tab levels after adjusting for relevant covariates.