Confidential Care for Adolescents in the U.S. Health Care System.

In providing care for adolescents, maintaining confidentiality should be considered a human right and an evidence-based component of quality care. Unfortunately, complexities in the U.S.

Topical Application of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Is Sufficient for Photodynamic Therapy on Vocal Folds.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of topical photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) for vocal fold leukoplakia.

Study Design: Ex vivo and in vivo.

Methods: 5-ALA was applied topically as a 20% solution to ex vivo canine vocal folds.

Anatomical Study of the Chinese Nasal Keystone Region.

Background: The keystone region is an important anatomical structure to consider in rhinoseptoplasty, because there are few published data regarding the keystone region in Chinese noses.

Objectives: The authors sought to describe the anatomy of the Chinese nasal keystone region and provide useful knowledge for rhinoseptoplasty.

Methods: Sixteen cadaveric heads (11 males, 5 females) were dissected, measured, and then compared with previously published data.

Comparing the Nonlinear Dynamic Acoustic Parameters of Healthy Adult and Pediatric Voices.

Objectives:: The aims of this study were to compare nondysphonic adult and pediatric voices using linear and nonlinear acoustic parameters and to evaluate the ability of adult spectrum convergence ratio (SCR) and rate of divergence (ROD) reference values to correctly identify a pediatric voice type as periodic or aperiodic.

Methods:: Twenty adult and 36 pediatric nondysphonic voice samples were collected and analyzed using linear and nonlinear acoustic parameters. Absence of voice disorder was confirmed using perceptual acoustic and spectral analysis.

The Mandarin Version of the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) and Its Reliability.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop the Mandarin version of the Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V) and evaluate its reliability compared with the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strain (GRBAS).

Method: The Mandarin version of the CAPE-V tool was translated from the validated English version with phonemic adaptations, content adjustment, and scale modification. Sixty dysphonic, 20 normal, and 20 repeated voice samples were included in this study.

Prolonged phonation impairs the integrity and barrier function of porcine vocal fold epithelium: a preliminary study.

Purpose: Voice abuse is known to be a common risk factor of voice disorders and prolonged; high-intensity phonation has been shown to damage the vocal fold epithelium. We aim to evaluate the effects of phonation on the integrity and barrier function of vocal fold epithelium using a porcine laryngeal model.

Methods: Ex vivo porcine larynges were phonated at low intensity or high intensity for 15, 30, or 60 min within 4 h after harvest.

Photodynamic therapy induces antifibrotic alterations in primary human vocal fold fibroblasts.

Objectives/hypothesis: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment modality for laryngeal dysplasia, early-stage carcinoma, and papilloma, and was reported to have the ability to preserve laryngeal function and voice quality without clinical fibrotic response. We aimed to investigate the mechanism behind the antifibrotic effects of PDT on primary human vocal fold fibroblasts (VFFs) in vitro.

Study Design: In vitro analysis from one human donor.

Comparing the Exposure-Response Relationships of Physiological and Traditional Vocal Warm-ups on Aerodynamic and Acoustic Parameters in Untrained Singers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of traditional and physiological warm-up exercises and to determine the optimal duration of these methods using acoustic and aerodynamic metrics.

Methods: Twenty-six subjects were recruited to participate in both straw phonation exercises (physiological vocal warm-up) and traditional singing exercises (traditional vocal warm-up) for 20 minutes each, 24 hours apart. Phonation threshold pressure (PTP), fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonics ratio were measured before the intervention (m0), as well as after 5 minutes (m5), 10 minutes (m10), 15 minutes (m15), and 20 minutes (m20) of intervention.

Development of an Innovative 3D Printed Rigid Bronchoscopy Training Model.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to create a 3D printed airway model simulating the size and mechanical properties of various age groups for foreign body removal training.

Methods: Three-dimensional printing technology was used to print the anatomically correct airway from rubber-like translucent material, simulating the mechanical properties of human airway tissue. The model's effectiveness in trainee education was evaluated by otolaryngology residents with varying levels of experience.

Differences in Symptom Severity and Quality of Life in Patients With Obstructive Defecation and Colonic Inertia.

Background: Little is known about how obstructive defecation and colonic inertia symptoms contribute to constipation-related quality of life.

Objective: We sought to characterize the differences in quality of life in patients with severe obstructive defecation and colonic inertia symptoms.

Design: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of a prospective database.