bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermal Welding versus Cold Dissection Tonsillectomy: A Prospective, Randomized, Single-Blind Study in Adult Patients
Authors: Stavroulaki Pelagia , Skoulakis Charalampos , Theos Evangelos , Kokalis Nikolaos , Valagianis Dimitrios 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: We performed a single-blind, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study to compare the rates of postoperative morbidity in adults undergoing thermal welding tonsillectomy versus cold dissection tonsillectomy. Methods: Thirty-two adults with recurrent tonsillitis who were scheduled for elective tonsillectomy were randomized to either thermal welding or cold dissection tonsillectomy groups. The main outcome measures included intraoperative blood loss, intensity of postoperative pain expressed on a 10-cm visual analog scale (with 0 representing no pain and 10 representing the worst possible pain), day of cessation of significant pain (ie, a pain score of at least 7), and presence of postoperative hemorrhage estimated on a 3-point scale (with 0 representing no bleeding, 1 representing minor bleeding, and 2 representing major bleeding). Additional outcome measures included total analgesic requirements, last day of receipt of analgesics, presence of nausea and/or vomiting, and wound healing after 10 days of surgery. Results: The rate of intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in the thermal welding group (p < .0001). Patients who had thermal welding tonsillectomy also showed a general trend toward lower pain scores, and this difference was statistically significant from the first to the fourth postoperative days (p < .05). Cessation of significant pain also occurred 3 days earlier in this group (p < .05). No significant difference was observed regarding pain medication, nausea and/or vomiting, postoperative hemorrhage, or wound healing. Conclusions: Thermal welding tonsillectomy is a relatively safe and reliable method with significantly less postoperative morbidity than cold dissection tonsillectomy.
Value of Laryngeal Electromyography in Diagnosis of Vocal Fold Immobility
Authors: Xu Wen , Han Demin , Hou Lizhen , Zhang Li , Zhao Gongwei 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: We sought to determine the value of laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) and evoked LEMG in the diagnosis of vocal fold immobility. Methods: We analyzed 110 cases of vocal fold immobility by their clinical manifestations and LEMG characteristics, including spontaneous potential activity, motor unit potential measurement, recruitment pattern analysis, and evoked LEMG signals. Results: With LEMG, we identified 87 patients with neuropathic laryngeal injuries. Neurogenic vocal fold immobility showed a wide variety of abnormal activity. Fibrillation potentials and positive sharp waves were found in patients with laryngeal nerve injuries. For laryngeal paralysis, there was no reaction with LEMG and evoked LEMG. For incomplete laryngeal paralysis, decreased evoked LEMG signals were also seen with delayed latency (thyroarytenoid muscle, 2.2 ± 1.0 ms, p < 01; posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, 2.4 ± 1.0 ms, p < .05) and lower amplitude (thyroarytenoid muscle, 0.9 ± 0.7 mV, p < .05; posterior cricoarytenoid muscle, 1.2 ± 1.0 mV, p < .01). Nineteen patients with vocal fold mechanical limitations generally had normal LEMG and evoked LEMG signals. Four patients with neoplastic infiltration of the laryngeal muscles demonstrated abnormal LEMG signals but nearly normal evoked LEMG signals. Conclusions: We conclude that LEMG and evoked LEMG behavior plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of vocal fold immobility. The decreased recruitment activities on LEMG and the decreased evoked LEMG signals with longer latency and lower amplitude reflect the severity of neuropathic laryngeal injury.
Neuromuscular Specializations within Human Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscles
Authors: Mu Liancai , Sanders Ira 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: At present it is believed that the pharyngeal constrictor (PC) muscles are innervated by the vagus (X) nerve and are homogeneous in muscle fiber content. This study tested the hypothesis that adult human PCs are divided into 2 distinct and specialized layers: A slow inner layer (SIL), innervated by the glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve, and a fast outer layer (FOL), innervated by nerve X. Methods: Eight normal adult human pharynges (16 sides) obtained from autopsies were studied to determine 1) their gross motor innervation by use of Sihler's stain; 2) their terminal axonal branching by use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and silver stain; and 3) their myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression in PC muscle fibers by use of immunocytochemical and immunoblotting techniques. In addition, the specialized nature of the 2 PC layers was also studied in developmental (newborn, neonate, and senescent humans), pathological (adult humans with idiopathic Parkinson's disease [IPD]), and comparative (nonhuman primate [adult macaque monkey]) specimens. Results: When nerves IX and X were traced from their cranial roots to their intramuscular termination in Sihler's-stained specimens, it was seen that nerve IX supplied the SIL, whereas branches of nerve X innervated the FOL in the adult human PCs. Use of AChE and silver stain confirmed that nerve IX branches supplying the SIL contained motor axons and innervated motor end plates. In addition to distinct motor innervation, the SIL contained muscle fibers expressing slow-tonic and α-cardiac MHC isoforms, whereas the FOL contained muscle fibers expressing developmental MHC isoforms. In contrast, the FOL became obscured in the elderly and in the adult humans with IPD because of an increased proportion of slow muscle fibers. Notably, distinct muscle fiber layers were not found in the human newborn and nonhuman primate (monkey), but were identified in the 2-year-old human. Conclusions: Human PCs appear to be organized into functional fiber layers, as indicated by distinct motor innervation and specialized muscle fibers. The SIL appears to be a specialized layer unique to normal humans. The presence of the highly specialized slow-tonic and α-cardiac MHC isoforms, together with their absence in human newborns and nonhuman primates, suggests that the specialization of the SIL may be related to speech and respiration. This specialization may reflect the sustained contraction needed in humans to maintain stiffness of the pharyngeal walls during respiration and to shape the walls for speech articulation. In contrast, the FOL is adapted for rapid movement as seen during swallowing. Senescent humans and patients with IPD are known to be susceptible to dysphagia, and this susceptibility may be related to the observed shift in muscle fiber content.
Large Jugular Bulb Diverticulum Invading the Internal Auditory Canal
Authors: Fujimoto Chisato , Ito Ken , Ishimoto Shin-Ichi , Iwasaki Shinichi 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: We report, with neuro-otologic findings, a very rare case of a large jugular bulb diverticulum eroding the internal auditory canal (IAC). Methods: We present the imaging and functional studies of a 29-year-old woman in whom a large jugular bulb diverticulum on the left side was found incidentally. Results: Imaging studies revealed a normal external auditory canal, middle ear, and inner ear, but a large jugular bulb diverticulum extending superiorly on the left side had eroded the IAC from below and behind with destruction of the petrous bone. Caloric responses and facial movements were normal. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials with bone conduction stimuli were absent on the left, indicating dysfunction of the left inferior vestibular system. Conclusions: This is the first report in the English-language literature of detailed imaging and functional findings in a very large diverticulum invading the IAC. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were useful in uncovering subclinical inferior vestibular system dysfunction in the jugular bulb diverticulum invading the IAC.
Preliminary Evaluation of Stroboscopy System Using Multiple Light Sources for Observation of Pathological Vocal Fold Oscillatory Pattern
Authors: Deguchi Shinji , Ishimaru Yuuki , Washio Seiichi 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Laryngostroboscopy is used to check the oscillatory patterns of the vocal folds. However, the use of one single flash timing cannot give a clear view of abnormal vocal fold oscillations that have multiple fundamental frequencies. Visualization of such complex vocal fold movements will be helpful in the diagnosis of diplophonia, a pathological condition in which the vocal folds produce multiple tones at the same time. Methods: We developed a new stroboscopy-based technique using multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and image analysis. Specific flash timings for each LED, suitable for accurate visualization, were determined on a computer according to an algorithm based on frequency analysis. The image analysis extracted the necessary parts of the captured images to yield a clear slow-motion view of the oscillations. The series of visualization procedures took advantage of the narrow-spectrum light property of LEDs, thereby yielding a degradation-free picture. Results: Feasibility tests using a mechanical vocal fold model demonstrated that this computer-assisted system allows observation of the pathological oscillatory patterns as one single video. They would not be clearly visualized by conventional stroboscopy. Conclusions: Because of its relatively simple use and inexpensive construction, the proposed technique can become one potential option for clinical assessment of pathological vocal fold oscillations.
Effect of Experience on Judgments of Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia
Authors: Eadie Tanya L. , Nicolici Christina , Baylor Carolyn , Almand Kimberly , Waugh Patricia , Maronian Nicole 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: We performed a prospective, exploratory study 1) to determine differences in judgments of overall severity (OS) and vocal effort (VE) in adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) when judgments are made by experienced listeners, naive listeners, and speakers with ADSD; 2) to determine differences in judgments of listener comfort (LC) in ADSD when judgments are made by experienced and naive listeners; and 3) to determine relationships between auditory-perceptual ratings of voice and speakers' voice handicap. Methods: Twenty speakers with ADSD provided speech recordings. They judged their own speech samples for OS and VE and completed the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Twenty naive and 8 experienced listeners evaluated speech samples for OS, VE, and LC using rating scales. Results: No differences were found for judgments of OS, VE, or LC across the groups. However, the strategies used by the speakers seemed to differ from those used by the other listeners in making OS and VE judgments. The speakers' self-judged VE correlated moderately with voice handicap; experienced and naive listeners' judgments were only weakly related to VHI scores. Conclusions: Speakers with ADSD and listeners appear to use auditory-perceptual dimensions differently. Voice handicap is best predicted by patient-perceived VE, and not by clinician or naive listeners' judgments.
Morphological Sequence of Plastipore Extrusion in Experimental Otitis Media
Authors: Trinidad Almudena , Vicente Javier , Verdaguer José María , Daza Rosa , García-Berrocal José Ramón , Ramírez-Camacho Rafael 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Plastipore prostheses are still used by many surgeons, although the functional results are controversial. The aim of this study was the morphological analysis of Plastipore material performance in the middle ear of rats, with special attention to extrusion. Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats were given implants made of commercially available Plastipore and assigned to 3 groups: Group A, with implantation in a healthy middle ear; group B, with implantation and cauterization of the nasopharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube (hypoventilation); and group C, with implantation, cauterization of the eustachian tube, and bacterial inoculation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: The pathological study showed in nearly all cases the disintegration of the biomaterial. Adhesion between the biomaterial and bone could be seen in 1 rat from group C (hypoventilation and infection). In group C, the Plastipore was in contact with the tympanic membrane in 1 case and was extruding in 2 animals. Different phases of extrusion were defined. No extrusion was observed in the other groups. Conclusions: The sequential stages of Plastipore extrusion are demonstrated. Infection seems to be the most important factor in Plastipore extrusion in our model.
Prenatal Vitamin a Deficiency Causes Laryngeal Malformation in Rats
Authors: Tateya Ichiro , Tateya Tomoko , Surles Rebecca Lynn , Tanumihardjo Sherry , Bless Diane M. 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Our previous research demonstrated that vitamin A might be related to vocal fold development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether vitamin A deficiency affects prenatal laryngeal development in rats. Methods: Two considerations were necessary in designing a study using a rat model: For embryonic survival, vitamin A is necessary through day 10 of gestation, and laryngeal formation occurs primarily after day 11. Thus, we created a rat model that developed vitamin A deficiency after embryonic day 11. Ten pregnant rats (5 vitamin A-deficient rats and 5 control rats) were studied. Embryos were collected at embryonic day 18.5 and analyzed histologically. Results: Eighteen percent of the vitamin A-deficient embryos were alive and demonstrated laryngotracheal cartilage malformation, incomplete separation of the glottis, and/or laryngoesophageal clefts. Conclusions: These results document the important role played by vitamin A in laryngeal development.
Noninvasive Assessment of Benign Lesions of Vocal Folds by Means of Ultrasonography
Authors: Sirikci Akif , Karatas Erkan , Durucu Cengiz , Baglam Tekin , Bayazit Yildirim , Ozkur Ayhan , Sonmezisik Serdar , Kanlikama Muzaffer 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Although ultrasonography (US) has been widely used in various parts of the body, its application in laryngeal examination has been limited. Our objective was to evaluate the significance of US examination in benign lesions of the vocal folds. Methods: Ultrasonographic examination of the vocal folds was performed in 14 patients in whom benign lesions of the vocal folds had been diagnosed by videolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy. Microlaryngoscopic surgery was performed after US examination. Each lesion was analyzed for the following US features: Shape, size, and echotexture (echogenicity and homogeneity). Results: In total, 16 lesions were diagnosed in 14 patients by means of videolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy. Ultrasonographic examination was capable of diagnosing 14 of the 16 lesions (87.25%). Ultrasonography mainly helped in the diagnosis of sessile polyps, nodules, and leukoplakia that were larger than 2 mm. The lesions were linear hyperechoic, heterogeneous hyperechoic, hypoechoic, and isoechoic if they were leukoplakia, nodules, hemorrhagic polyps, and other polypoid lesions, respectively. The results are better if the diagnosis follows the corresponding US echotexture pattern rather than videolaryngoscopy and microlaryngoscopy. Conclusions: Laryngeal US examination appears to be a useful diagnostic tool for supplementing microlaryngoscopy in the assessment of benign lesions of vocal folds. In contrast to these currently used imaging techniques, anesthesia is not necessary in laryngeal US examination. In addition, US is noninvasive, painless, and much less expensive than the other techniques.
Dysphagia after Chemoradiation: Analysis by Modified Barium Swallow
Authors: Bleier Benjamin S. , Levine Marc S. , Mick Rosemarie , Rubesin Stephen E. , Sack Stephen Z. , McKinney Kibwei , Mirza Natasha 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: We sought to describe the findings of modified barium swallow study after chemoradiation in patients with head and neck cancer and to correlate these findings with clinical variables, including gastrostomy tube dependence and clinical pneumonia. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 49 patients at a tertiary care center who underwent modified barium swallow study for dysphagia after chemoradiation. Results: Patients with nonlaryngeal lesions had increased cricopharyngeal impairment (27.8% versus 0.0%; p = .04). Patients who underwent concomitant chemotherapy had increased epiglottic changes relative to those who had radiotherapy alone (66.7% versus 30.8%; p = .05). Clinical pneumonia developed in 31.9% of the patients, and 79.6% required gastrostomy tube placement for a mean duration of 18.1 months. Conclusions: Chemoradiation effects deglutition at multiple levels. A large percentage of patients will develop pneumonia and feeding tube dependence. This study is among the largest to correlate the results of modified barium swallow studies to clinical variables in this patient population. This study highlights the significant incidence of gastrostomy tube dependence and pneumonia in these patients.
Side Population Cells in the Human Vocal Fold
Authors: Yamashita Masaru , Hirano Shigeru , Kanemaru Shin-Ichi , Tsuji Shunichiro , Suehiro Atsushi , Ito Juichi 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: The regenerative processes of the vocal fold, or the existence of stem cells in the folds, are unknown. Side population (SP) cells are defined as cells that have the ability to exclude the DNA binding dye, Hoechst 33342. They are regarded as a cell population enriched with stem cells and can be isolated from non-SP cells by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. This study was designed to determine whether SP cells exist in the human vocal fold, as a first step in elucidating the regenerative mechanisms of the vocal fold. Methods: Seven human excised larynges were used in this study. Two were used for fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis, and 5 were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis with antibodies against an adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter family member, ABCG2, which is expressed in SP cells. Results: The number of SP cells in the human vocal fold was about 0.2% of the total number of cells. ABCG2-positive cells were identified in both the epithelium and subepithelial tissue throughout the entire vocal fold. Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrated the existence of SP cells in the human vocal fold. Further studies are warranted to clarify how these cells work in the vocal fold, particularly in the regenerative process.
Dysphagia in the Elderly: Preliminary Evidence of Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Socioemotional Effects
Authors: Roy Nelson , Stemple Joseph , Merrill Ray M. , Thomas Lisa 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Epidemiological studies of dysphagia in the elderly are rare. A non-treatment-seeking, elderly cohort was surveyed to provide preliminary evidence regarding the prevalence, risks, and socioemotional effects of swallowing disorders. Methods: Using a prospective, cross-sectional survey design, we interviewed 117 seniors living independently in Utah and Kentucky (39 men and 78 women; mean age, 76.1 years; SD, 8.5 years; range, 65 to 94 years) regarding 4 primary areas related to swallowing disorders: Lifetime and current prevalence, symptoms and signs, risk and protective factors, and socioemotional consequences. Results: The lifetime prevalence of a swallowing disorder was 38%, and 33% of the participants reported a current problem. Most seniors with dysphagia described a sudden onset with chronic problems that had persisted for at least 4 weeks. Stepwise logistic regression identified 3 primary symptoms uniquely associated with a history of swallowing disorders: Taking a longer time to eat (odds ratio [OR], 9.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3 to 40.2); coughing, throat clearing, or choking before, during, or after eating (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 10.2); and a sensation of food stuck in the throat (OR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.8 to 10.0). Stroke (p = .02), esophageal reflux (p = .003), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = .05), and chronic pain (p = .03) were medical conditions associated with a history of dysphagia. Furthermore, dysphagia produced numerous adverse socioemotional effects. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that chronic swallowing disorders are common among the elderly, and highlights the need for larger epidemiological studies of these disorders.
Risk of Meningitis with Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea
Authors: Daudia Anu , Biswas Debabrata , Jones Nick S. 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: The annual risk of meningitis in unrepaired fistulas is widely quoted to be approximately 10% per annum. Our aim was to review our experience with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and to calculate the overall risk and the annual incidence of meningitis, and to correlate our findings with the causation and the effect of operative intervention in a subgroup of patients who had a history of meningitis. Methods: We prospectively collected data on all patients referred with a CSF leak to our tertiary referral center over a 12-year period between 1994 and 2006. We had a follow-up rate of 91%. Results: One hundred eleven patients had a proven leak on endoscopy, beta-2 transferrin, imaging, and/or fluorescein lumbar puncture. The accumulated duration of an active CSF leak in the cohort was 190 years. The total number of episodes of meningitis was 57 in 21 patients, giving an overall risk of developing meningitis of 19%, with an overall incidence of 0.3 episodes per year. There was a progressive reduction in the incidence of meningitis with time, and most episodes occurred within the first year following the onset of the CSF leak. However, the risk persisted as long as the CSF leak was active. Conclusions: The overall risk of meningitis in patients with persistent CSF rhinorrhea was 19%. The annual incidence of meningitis was 0.3 episodes per year, with most episodes occurring within the first year following the onset of the leak. Endoscopic closure is the treatment of choice in most CSF leaks; if successful, it reduces the risk of meningitis.
Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane as a Model for Simulating Human True Vocal Folds
Authors: Broadhurst Matthew S. , Kobler James B. , Burns James A. , Anderson R. Rox , Zeitels Steven M. 
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Evolving photoangiolytic laser techniques for treating vocal fold lesions motivated the development of a model for research and surgical training. The chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), which is composed of a microvasculature suspended within the egg albumen, simulates the vocal fold microcirculation within the superficial lamina propria (SLP). To characterize this model, we compared measurements of vessel diameters to superficial vessels in human vocal folds. Methods: The diameters of first-, second-, and third-order CAM vessels were measured in fertilized chicken eggs. The superficial blood vessels of the human vocal fold were measured from intraoperative images. Results: According to the branching pattern, vessel segments were identified as first-, second-, or third-order, with average diameters of 0.035 mm (0.02 to 0.1 mm), 0.18 mm (0.12 to 0.41 mm), and 0.8 mm (0.6 to 0.98 mm), respectively. The total vessels measured included 362 first-order, 119 second-order, and 82 third-order vessels. In 10 adult human vocal folds, an average vessel diameter of 0.04 mm (0.015 to 0.1 mm) was observed in 50 vessels. Conclusions: The CAM microvasculature suspended in albumen provides a useful surgical model simulating the microcirculation within the SLP of the human vocal fold. Although first-order CAM vessels best approximate the size of normal vocal fold subepithelial vessels seen at surgery, second- and third-order vessels resemble the vascular abnormalities frequently encountered during microsurgery for phonotraumatic lesions.