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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Linguistic adaptation and validation of the voice handicap index (VHI)-30 in patients with dysphonia into Russian

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Via Polyps

Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2021;86(3):20-27. doi: 10.17116/otorino20218603120.

ABSTRACT

Purpose of the study is to assess the internal consistency, reliability of retesting and clinical reliability of the Russian version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-30 questionnaire.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: It is prospective observational study. The original English version of the VHI-30 questionnaire was translated into Russian by two independent researchers (professional translators). The final Russian version (VHI-30rus) was formulated by a third researcher (otorhinolaryngologist) on the basis of these two translations, and then translated back into English. The 181 participants were included in this study. The main group patients (n=91) were additionally divided into subgroups in accordance with the form of dysphonia: 65 (71.4%) patients had functional and organic dysphonia, 8 (8.8%) had chronic inflammatory diseases of the larynx, 7 (7.7%) - benign neoplasms of the larynx (singing nodules, polyps, cysts), 11 (12.1%) - unilateral laryngeal paralysis. The control group consisted of 90 people without voice disorders. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient), retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) VHI-30, comparison of VHI-30 indicators of patients and studied control group (Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test) and correlation with the overall severity of dysphonia (Spearman's ρ rank correlation coefficient) were determined.

RESULTS: In the patient group, we observed excellent internal consistency for VHI-30rus (α=0.95) and good internal consistency for all VHI-30rus subscales: physical (α=0.88), functional (α=0.88), and emotional (α=0.88). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indicated high retest reliability for patients (0.99) and control group subjects (0.84). The 30-item mean total values for patients with dysphonia were statistically significantly higher tha n for control group participants (p<0.001). A correlation was found between the overall VHI-30rus value and the overall severity of dysphonia (ρ=0.748, p<0.001). In the patient's group, female and male participants showed a statistically insignificant difference in the total value of VHI-30rus (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001). There was a correlation in terms of VHI-30rus indicators in different subgroups of the patient group and the control group (Spearman's correlation coefficient: functional dysphonia - 0.942; chronic laryngitis - 0.756; unilateral laryngeal paralysis - 0.888; benign neoplasms - 0.982; control group studied - 0.882).

CONCLUSION: As a result of this study, the VHI-30 questionnaire was translated from English into Russian for use in the Russian-speaking environment. The study showed good internal consistency, retest reliability, and clinical validity for the Russian version of the VHI-30rus questionnaire. The VHI-30rus ques tionnaire can be recommended for use in clinical practice for patients with dysphonia.

PMID:34269019 | DOI:10.17116/otorino20218603120

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Comparison of three-dimensional-printed template-guided and traditional implantation of 125I seeds for gynecological tumors: A dosimetric and efficacy study

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J Cancer Res Ther. 2021 Jul;17(3):688-694. doi: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_1565_20.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the dose parameter and clinical efficacy of three-dimensional-printed template (3D-PT)-guided and traditional 125I seed implantation in treatment of gynecological tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 28 patients with gynecological tumors treated with radioactive seed implantation in Hebei General Hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Twelve patients (template group) were guided by 3D-PT and the remaining 16 patients (traditional group) were guided by computed tomography (CT) with traditional technique. Preoperative treatment plan (preplan) was completed through a treatment planning system. In the template group, 3D-PT was printed according to preplan and seeds were implanted under the guidance of 3D-PT and CT. In the traditional group, seeds were implanted under the guidance of single CT directly according to the preplan. Postoperative verification plan (post-plan) was completed. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) was calculated and D80, D90, V90, V100, and V150 were obtained according to DVH. Then, deviation of the dosimetric parameters D80, D90, V90, V100, and V150 between the preplan and postplan were compared within the two groups. The difference and percentage of difference of the above dosimetric parameters between the preplan and postplan within the two groups were c alculated using the formula Xd = Xpost-plan- Xpre-plan, and Xd% = (Xpost-plan- Xpre-plan)/Xpre-plan × 100%. Doses were calculated to determine whether the differences there were statistically significant. Efficacy evaluation was completed according to RECISIT 1.1. Local control rate and effective rate of 2-months postplan were compared between the two groups. Survival analysis was completed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The patients were followed up for 12 months, and their survival rate was calculated and compared.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups for all the parameters, except for D80 of the preplan and postplan in the traditional group (P = 0.000). All the differences and percentage of difference were calculated and it was found that the Xd difference of D80 (P = 0.035), D90 (P = 0.023), V90 (P = 0.047), V100 (P = 0.032), and V150 (P = 0.031), as well as the Xd% difference of D80 (P = 0.032), D90 (P = 0.034), V90 (P = 0.042), V100 (P = 0.036), and V150 (P = 0.044) of the two groups was statistically significant, thus indicating that the dosimetric parameter fluctuation in the template group was more stable. The result of the curative effect after 2 months were as follows: the local control rate and effective rate of the template group were 100% (12/12) and 83.3% (10/12), while those of the traditional group were 100% (16/16) and 81.2% (13/16). There was no statistically significant difference in the curative effect between the two groups. After 6-27 months (median = 12 months) of follow-up, the median survival time of the template group and traditional group were 17 (10-23) and 16 (11-20) months, respectively, and the 1-year overall survival rate was 63% and 79% (P = 0.111), respectively, with no statistically significant difference observed.

CONCLUSION: 3D-PT-guided 125I seed implantation is safe and ef fective in the treatment of gynecological tumors.

PMID:34269300 | DOI:10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_1565_20

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Characterization of Primary Muscle Tension Dysphonia Using Acoustic and Aerodynamic Voice Metrics

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The objectives of this study were to (1) identify optimal clusters of 15 standard acoustic and aerodynamic voice metrics recommended by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to improve characterization of patients with primary muscle tension dysphonia (pMTD) and (2) identify combinations of these 15 metrics that could differentiate pMTD from other types of voice disorders.
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Cepstral Measurements: A Comparison of Results Between Singing and Non-Singing Individuals

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To analyze and compare cepstral measurements in singing and non-singing men and women to understand if vocal adaptations of singers reflect greater cepstral measurement results.
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Death-associated protein kinase 1 correlates with podocyte apoptosis and renal damage and can be mediated by miR-361

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Histol Histopathol. 2021 Jul 16:18358. doi: 10.14670/HH-18-358. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Herein, we aimed to determine whether DAPK1 and its post-transcriptional regulator miR-361 were implicated in high glucose (HG)-induced podocyte injury and renal damage in db/db mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Podocytes were incubated with normal glucose (NG; 5 mM) or HG (30 mM). Podocyte apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining. Lentiviral-delivered specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was designed to silence DAPK1 expression in podocytes. miR-361 agomir was administrated by tail intravenous injection in db/db diabetic mice to investigate the renoprotection of miR-361 in vivo.

RESULTS: Exposure of podocytes to HG led to a significant increase in DAPK1 mRNA and protein levels and a decrease in miR-361 expression levels. Knockdown of DAPK1 attenuated HG-triggered growth inhibition, apoptosis, DNA damage and cell membran e damage in podocytes. Mechanically, DAPK1 was a direct target of miR-361. Transfection with miR-361 mimics into podocytes resulted in a significant decrease in the DAPK1 protein expression level. In addition, HG-induced the up-regulation of the DAPK1 protein expression level in podocytes was restrained by miR-361 mimics transfection. Intriguingly, overexpression of DAPK1 in HG-stimulated podocytes muted miR-361-mediated cytoprotection, including anti-apoptosis, resistance to DNA and membrane damage. In vivo, overexpression of miR-361 protected against hyperglycemia-induced podocyte loss, tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis in the kidney of db/db mice. Moreover, overexpression of miR-361 inhibited the protein expression of DAPK1 in the kidney of db/db mice.

CONCLUSION: Our research presented a novel mechanism of HG-induced podocyte damage or renal lesion, supporting the miR-361/DAPK1 signaling pathway that could be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of DN.

PMID:34269397 | DOI:10.14670/HH-18-358

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Effects of adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy on the cardiovascular system in children: a meta-analysis

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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Jul 16. doi: 10.1007/s00405-021-06986-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Adenoid or adenotonsillar hypertrophy (AATH) causes upper airway obstruction, leading to cardiovascular complications. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy (AATE) on the cardiovascular system.

METHODS: Using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and EMBASE databases, we identified studies involving a comparison of preoperative and postoperative cardiovascular function in children with AATH. The Cochrane Collaboration's Review Manager 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 13 studies with 706 participants were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of patients after AATE compared with preoperative values. The left ventricular myocardial functi on index (LVMPI) and the right ventricular myocardial function index (RVMPI) showed a significant decrease after the operation. Moreover, AATE prominently increased left ventricular ejection time (LVET) and right ventricular ejection time (RVET) and reduced the left ventricular interventricular septum diameter (LVIVSD) and the right ventricular end-diastolic diameter (RVedD). There was no significant difference in mPAP, LVMPI, RVMPI, LVET, RVET, LVIVSD, and RVedD between postoperative patients and healthy children (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: AATE can improve cardiovascular function in pediatric patients with AATH. Specifically, it reduces mPAP and LVMPI/RVMPI in pediatric patients. Furthermore, AATE increases LVET and RVET and reduces LVIVSD and RVedD.

PMID:34269887 | DOI:10.1007/s00405-021-06986-0

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Endolaryngeal resection of the larynx for adenocystic cancer

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Vestn Otorinolaringol. 2021;86(3):134-136. doi: 10.17116/otorino202186031134.

ABSTRACT

Adenocystic carcinoma accounts for 3-5% of all malignant neoplasms of the head and neck organs. Due to the rarity of detecting this cancer in the larynx, treatment options are still controversial: surgery with postoperative radiation therapy or surgery alone. Patient A., 64 years old, turned to the City Clinical Oncological Hospital No. 1 in October 2019 with complaints of moderate pain when swallowing, sensation of a foreign body. Fibrolaryngoscopy revealed an exophytic form of growth bright red color formation with a small tuberous surface up to 12 mm in size in the area of the free left edge of the epiglottis. There was a thickening of the pharyngeal-epiglottis fold. Histological examination revealed adenocystic cancer. Diagnosed with Laryngeal cancer with cT1N0M0. On December 23, 2019, endolaryngeal resection of the larynx was performed us ing an operating microscope in the volume R0. This observation is of interest both in morphological terms (extremely rarely detected cancer of the larynx) and in terms of treatment (an organ-preserving operation was performed - endolaryngeal resection of the larynx).

PMID:34269037 | DOI:10.17116/otorino202186031134

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