Factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women in Metro Manila, Philippines: a multicentre longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To determine the potential risk factors associated with having COVID-19 among unvaccinated pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Design: A multicentre prospective cohort study among eligible women in Metro Manila, Philippines, from 2020 to 2022.

Setting: Five national and local hospital research sites altogether recruited and screened 500 consenting eligible individuals.

Update on hypoglossal nerve stimulation in children with down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.

Objectives/hypothesis: Hypoglossal nerve (HGN) stimulation is a novel therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults. Its efficacy and safety in children with Down syndrome (DS) was previously reported in a preliminary case series of six adolescents.

Study Design: Case series.

Perceptual Clinical Features in Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO): Toward Improved Diagnostic Approaches.

Introduction: Athletes with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) (previously commonly referred to as paradoxical vocal fold motion disorder, or paradoxical vocal fold motion, among other terms) are often misdiagnosed, resulting in prolonged, and at times inappropriate, clinical management. The high prevalence of misdiagnosis is largely due to a lack of universal consensus of key clinical features indicating EILO and a dearth of validated quantitative approaches to accurately detect episodic laryngeal breathing disorders (ELBD) from other pathologies. Additionally, mechanisms underlying EILO clinical presentation are poorly understood, further confounding identification and management of the condition.

The Study of Laryngoscopic and Autonomic Patterns in Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction.

Objectives: (1) Identify laryngeal patterns axiomatic to exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and (2) investigate the role of autonomic function in EILO.

Methods: Twenty-seven athletic adolescents (13 EILO, 14 control) underwent laryngoscopy at rest and exercise. Glottal configurations, supraglottic dynamics, systolic blood pressure responses, and heart rate recovery were compared between conditions and groups.

Indirect vs Direct Voice Therapy for Children With Vocal Nodules: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Benign vocal fold nodules affect 12% to 22% of the pediatric population, and 95% of otolaryngologists recommend voice therapy as treatment. However, no randomized clinical trials that we are aware of have shown its benefits.

Objective: To determine the impact of voice therapy in children with vocal fold nodules according to pretherapy and posttherapy scores on the Pediatric Voice-Related Quality of Life (PVRQOL) survey; secondary objectives included changes in phonatory parameters.

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation in Adolescents With Down Syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Importance: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects up to 60% of children with Down syndrome (DS) and may persist in half of patients after adenotonsillectomy. Children with DS who have persistent OSA often do not tolerate treatment with positive pressure airway support devices or tracheotomy for their residual moderate to severe OSA. The hypoglossal nerve stimulator is an implantable device that delivers an electrical impulse to anterior branches of the hypoglossal nerve in response to respiratory variation, resulting in tongue base protrusion that alleviates upper airway obstruction in adults.

A quality study of family-centered care coordination to improve care for children undergoing tracheostomy and the quality of life for their caregivers.

Importance: Approximately 4000 U.S. children undergo tracheostomy yearly [1], and these surgeries often result in hospital re-admissions that have definite cost and caregiver burdens due to complications that are avoidable with proper training and support.

Validation of the dyspnea index in adolescents with exercise-induced paradoxical vocal fold motion.

Importance: Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) affects almost 1 million adolescents in the United States. However, to date, no disease-specific objective measure exists to assess symptom severity and response to treatment in adolescents with exercise-induced PVFM.

Objectives: To validate the Dyspnea Index (DI) quality-of-life instrument (previously validated for adults with breathing disorders) in children aged 12 to 18 years with exercise-induced PVFM and to determine the minimum significant DI change corresponding to patient-reported or caregiver-reported improvement or worsening of symptoms.