A systematic review and meta-analysis of neuromodulators to treat chronic airway hypersensitivity.

Objectives: Chronic laryngitis can present with numerous symptoms, including chronic cough. Patients who do not respond to standard treatment are sometimes diagnosed with chronic airway hypersensitivity (CAH). In many centers, neuromodulators are prescribed off-label despite limited evidence of efficacy.

The Relationship Between Pitch Discrimination and Fundamental Frequency Variation: Effects of Singing Status and Vocal Hyperfunction.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pitch discrimination and fundamental frequency (f) variation in running speech, with consideration of factors such as singing status and vocal hyperfunction (VH).

Method: Female speakers (18-69 years) with typical voices (26 non-singers; 27 singers) and speakers with VH (22 non-singers; 30 singers) completed a pitch discrimination task and read the Rainbow Passage. The pitch discrimination task was a two-alternative forced choice procedure, in which participants determined whether tokens were the same or different.

Impact of Insurer on Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Outcomes, Stage, and Treatment Modalities.

Background: While the impact of insurance has been described for thyroid cancer as a whole, we sought to further characterize this relationship for the papillary sub-group (PTC).

Methods: Those patients with primary site thyroid tumors from 2007 to 2016 with histology-confirmed PTC were extracted from the SEER database. These parameters yielded 103 219 participants for demographic, extent of disease, and treatment parameter study and 103 025 for outcome studies.

A mini-invasive approach is feasible in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and discordant or negative localisation studies.

Preoperative localisation of pathological glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is the mainstay for mini-invasive parathyroidectomy. Nevertheless, a not negligible number of patients presents discordant or negative neck ultrasound (US) and Tc-Sestamibi (MIBI) scan. The aim of this study was to assess if a mini-invasive approach is feasible in this kind of patients.

Evaluating the use of baclofen as adjunct treatment for muscle tension dysphonia.

Objective: To explore whether use of baclofen as adjunct treatment to voice therapy (VT) led to improvement in subjective throat symptoms in patients with primary muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). MTD is associated with excessive paralaryngeal muscle contraction, and baclofen is a muscle relaxant.

Study Design: Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study.

Social determinants of health and treatment decisions in head and neck cancer.

Background: This study compares select social determinants of health (SDOH) with treatment modality selection and treatment completion in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, to better understand disparities in health outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of HNC (n = 1428) patients was conducted. Demographic and disease-specific variables were recorded, including treatment modality selection and completion.

Risk factors of permanent hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy Retrospective analysis of 285 consecutive patients.

Aim: Permanent hypoparathyroidism is the most common long-term complication after total thyroidectomy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the risk factors of this complication.

Material And Methods: Patients undergoing thyroidectomy in our Unit between January 2017 and February 2018 were retrospectively analysed.

The role of Rapid Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone (ioPTH) assay in determining outcome of parathyroidectomy in primary hyperparathyroidism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder. In the last few decades, the introduction of Rapid Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone (ioPTH) monitoring has allowed to ensurance of the excision of all hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissues, reducing the risks of persistent and recurrent PHPT. However, the use of ioPTH is still debated among endocrine surgeons.

The Role of Vitamin D as a Prognostic Marker in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

The role of vitamin D in modulating several cancer-related pathways has received an increasing amount of attention in the past several years. Previous literature has found an abundance of evidence of vitamin D exerting an anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, and pro-differentiation effect in various types of cancers including breast, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancer. Although the link between vitamin D and thyroid cancer remains controversial, both biochemical evidence and clinical studies have attempted to establish a link between papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and vitamin D status.

The use of vitamin D in preventing post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia: An endocrinologist survey study.

Objective: To evaluate the use of preoperative vitamin D levels and postoperative vitamin D supplementation among endocrinologists for the prevention of post-thyroidectomy hypocalcaemia.

Methods: Endocrinologist members of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) were contacted via email to complete a 21-question survey, which included both questions about demographic information, and preventing and managing postoperative hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to determine the respondents' use of preoperative vitamin D levels, dose and duration of preoperative vitamin D repletion, decision to delay surgery for low vitamin D levels in the case of a benign or malignant disease, and routine prescription of postoperative calcium or vitamin D supplementation.

Randomized double blind trial of amitriptyline versus placebo in treatment of chronic laryngopharyngeal neuropathy.

Objective: A neuropathic etiology has been suggested for patients with chronic laryngopharyngitis symptoms without visible structural pathology. Prior studies have shown that treatment with neuro-modulating medications is beneficial, but it is unknown if this was due to placebo effect. Our objective was to compare the efficacy of amitriptyline versus placebo in treating chronic laryngopharyngeal neuropathy.

Endoscopic Assessment of Swallowing After Prolonged Intubation in the ICU Setting.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of swallowing dysfunction after extubation in a sample of patients with no preexisting dysphagia.

Methods: Mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU with no prior history of dysphagia received a flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) exam within 72 hours after extubation. The FEES was then analyzed for variables related to swallowing patterns and laryngeal pathology.

Survival characteristics of injected human cartilage slurry in a nude mouse model: a preliminary study.

We conducted a study to examine the viability, host response, and volume retention characteristics of drilled human septal cartilage slurry when injected into an athymic nude mouse model. We injected 0.2 ml of the slurry into the hind limbs of 6 mice.

Singing voice handicap and videostrobolaryngoscopy in healthy professional singers.

Objectives: This study correlates the Singing Voice Handicap Index (SVHI) scores with videostrobolaryngoscopy in healthy professional singers as a measure of self-perceived vocal health versus actual pathology seen on examination. The objective was to measure the strength of self-assessment among professional singers and determine if there is a benefit of combining SVHI and videostrobolaryngoscopy for routine assessment of singers without an obvious singing voice problem.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.