Improving HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Knowledge and HPV Vaccination Rates via Virtual Workshops.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the efficacy of a virtual, interdisciplinary workshop in improving HPV knowledge, and vaccination practices among primary care and dental trainees. METHODS: A virtual platform was utilized to hold HPV educational workshops with primary care and dental trainees. Online surveys were distributed before and after the 1-h interactive workshop, led by otolaryngology residents. Surveys included the workshop's impact on (a) improving knowledge of HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and (b) affecting change in HPV vaccination practices. The vaccination rates of trainees were recorded prior to and after workshop attendance. RESULTS: After the workshop, participants demonstrated significantly improved scores related to knowledge of HPV in the head and neck (p = 0.003) and showed an increased comfort level with counseling on HPV vaccination (p = 0.002). Respondents were also more aware that the HPV vaccine is approved to prevent OPSCC (61% vs. 95%, p < 0.05). Ninety-seven percent of respondents stated that the workshop changed their HPV vaccination practices, and 95% of those not fully vaccinated stated they would now be more likely to receive the vaccine themselves. There was a significant increase in the average number of HPV vaccines administered at the studied trainee clinic, from 16.83 vaccines/month to 37.6 vaccines/month (percent increase = 123%) in 5 months following the workshop (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The present interactive virtual workshop demonstrates efficacy in improving HPV-related knowledge and vaccination practices among trainees. The virtual nature of the course facilitates knowledge transfer and can be used to foster multi-institutional partnerships regarding medical education and vaccination efforts. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 134:3096-3101, 2024.

HPV Knowledge Retention and Concurrent Increase in Vaccination Rates 1.5 Years After a Novel HPV Workshop in Medical School.

Comprehensive education regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) pathogenesis, vaccination, and patient counseling are not routinely included in the medical school curriculum; consequently, student and provider knowledge, especially concerning head and neck pathology, remains low. The objective of this study was to demonstrate long-term retention of HPV knowledge and positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination after attending our novel HPV workshop, with a focus on knowledge of oropharyngeal cancer. A follow-up survey was administered to medical students 1.5 years after the initial completion of the workshop. HPV vaccination records from the student-led clinic were collected from the immunization information system. Awareness that HPV causes oropharyngeal cancer was present in 33% of medical students pre-curriculum; immediate and long-term post-curricular awareness of this association remained at 90% or higher (p < 0.0001). Comfort with HPV counseling, having enough information to recommend the vaccine, and knowledge of HPV malignancies, symptoms, transmission, and vaccination schedule remained persistently elevated over pre-curriculum scores (p < 0.05). Long-term knowledge scores were also higher than a control group of medical students at the same stage of training who had never participated in the workshop (p < 0.05). HPV vaccination rates at the medical school's student-run clinic also increased after the curriculum, from an average of 1.89 HPV vaccines given per clinic to 3.55 (p = 0.001). This study demonstrates that knowledge and positive attitudes were maintained 1.5 years after participating in this HPV curriculum during students' preclinical years of medical school. Additionally, an increase in HPV vaccination rates occurred at a student-led clinic, indicating a positive clinical impact on the curriculum.

Delayed Tracheal Perforation After Partial Thyroidectomy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Tracheal perforation is an extremely rare and potentially dangerous complication of a partial thyroidectomy. The current case represents a unique presentation of delayed tracheal perforation following an uncomplicated thyroid isthmusectomy for tissue diagnosis of an aggressive appearing thyroid mass in the setting of high-dose steroid administration and recent intubation and self-extubation. While conservative management of tracheal perforation can sometimes be appropriate, our patient was successfully managed via primary closure and infrahyoid muscle transposition flap to cover a 5 mm right lateral tracheal wall defect. We recommend caution be exercised following thyroid surgery in the setting of intubation and high-dose steroids.

Barriers to Receiving Necessary Hearing Care Among US Children.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to clarify the national scope of unmet pediatric hearing care needs and identify specific barriers to hearing care. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a nationally representative data set. SETTING: This study is based on the combined 2016 and 2017 National Survey of Children's Health. This survey covers the physical and emotional health, access to care, and social context of US children and adolescents aged 0 to 17 years. METHODS: Analysis of parent-reported responses of children's hearing status, access to care, and perceived barriers. RESULTS: Overall, 0.3% (n = 206,200) of US children surveyed reported needing hearing care, which was not received. A further 1.3% (n = 934,000) reported deafness or problems with hearing, and of these, 6.4% (n = 60,000) reported not receiving necessary hearing care. Rates of insurance coverage between children with deafness/hearing problems and the general population were similar (91.7% vs 93.9%); however, deaf or hard-of-hearing children with unmet hearing care needs were more likely to be from non-White backgrounds (P = .009) and to lack health insurance coverage (P = .001). Rates of unfulfilled hearing care by reason were as follows: 57.5% without eligibility for the service, 45.4% reporting the service was not available in their area, 53.7% with difficulty obtaining an appointment, and 53.5% reporting issues with cost. CONCLUSION: Over 200,000 children annually do not receive necessary hearing-related care despite high rates of insurance coverage, and nearly 60,000 of these children are deaf or hard of hearing. Cost, eligibility for and distribution of services, and timely appointments are the primary barriers to hearing health care.

Phonation Threshold Pressure Revisited: Effects of Intrinsic Laryngeal Muscle Activation.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Phonation threshold pressure (Pth ) is the minimum subglottic pressure required to reach phonation onset and is considered a marker for vocal efficiency and health. We investigated the effects of intrinsic laryngeal muscle (ILM) activation on Pth . STUDY DESIGN: In vivo animal study. METHODS: In an in vivo canine phonation model, laryngeal adductor muscles were activated together by stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) and individually via stimulation of respective terminal nerve branches. Cricothyroid (CT) muscles were activated via stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerves. ILMs were activated in a graded manner at various combinations as transglottal airflow was gradually increased. Aerodynamic and glottal posture parameters were measured at phonation onset. RESULTS: Graded RLN stimulation decreased glottal distance and increased Pth . Thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle activation alone increased Pth . Lateral cricoarytenoid (LCA) muscle activation alone had minimal effects. However, graded TA activation as a function of LCA activation level revealed a synergistic relationship between the two muscles in increasing Pth . Effects of CT activation were dependent on adductor stimulation level: CT activation increased Pth at low RLN stimulation levels and decreased Pth at high RLN levels. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of ILM activation on Pth were consistent with their expected effects on vocal fold stiffness and tension. TA was the primary adductor controlling Pth . While LCA alone had minimal effects on Pth , it enhanced the role of TA in controlling Pth . TA and CT have antagonistic roles in controlling Pth . These relationships should be considered in clinical efforts to improve ease of phonation and vocal efficiency. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA, basic science Laryngoscope, 132:1427-1432, 2022.

Osteochondroma Arising from the Thyroid Cartilage: A Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Osteochondromas are relatively common benign bone tumors often located at the metaphyseal ends of long bones; however, they are rare in the head and neck region. The objective of this study is to present a case of an osteochondroma arising from the thyroid cartilage causing insidious dysphonia and to present a literature review. METHODS: The medical record of a patient treated for osteochondroma of the thyroid cartilage was reviewed. A literature search on osteochondromas was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. The epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of osteochondromas were reviewed. RESULTS: A 50-year-old female presented with nine months of dysphonia and aphonic voice breaks. Laryngovideostroboscopy revealed a left false vocal fold fullness, glottal gap, and vibratory phase asymmetry. A CT neck demonstrated a well-circumscribed 5 × 8 × 9 mm mass arising from the left thyroid cartilage lamina with a thin calcified rim and a heterogeneous decreased attenuation center. The tumor was excised surgically. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated hyaline cartilage overlying lamellar bone with fatty bone marrow, consistent with osteochondroma. English language literature review revealed no cases of osteochondroma of the thyroid cartilage. The presenting features of osteochondroma may depend on the size and location of the lesion. It is critical to differentiate between benign and malignant bone tumors, and physicians must rely on their clinical examination, radiographic findings, and histopathologic analysis to make the correct diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Osteochondromas of the laryngeal framework are extremely rare, and to our knowledge, there have been no reports in the literature of this tumor arising from the thyroid cartilage. Dysphonia may be the presenting symptom in a patient with a thyroid cartilage mass causing restricted mobility of the true vocal folds.

PTEN Expression Regulates Gap Junction Connectivity in the Retina.

Manipulation of the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) pathway has been suggested as a therapeutic approach to treat or prevent vision loss due to retinal disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of deleting one copy of Pten in a well-characterized class of retinal ganglion cells called α-ganglion cells in the mouse retina. In Pten +/- retinas, α-ganglion cells did not exhibit major changes in their dendritic structure, although most cells developed a few, unusual loop-forming dendrites. By contrast, α-ganglion cells exhibited a significant decrease in heterologous and homologous gap junction mediated cell coupling with other retinal ganglion and amacrine cells. Additionally, the majority of OFF α-ganglion cells (12/18 cells) formed novel coupling to displaced amacrine cells. The number of connexin36 puncta, the predominant connexin that mediates gap junction communication at electrical synapses, was decreased by at least 50% on OFF α-ganglion cells. Reduced and incorrect gap junction connectivity of α-ganglion cells will affect their functional properties and alter visual image processing in the retina. The anomalous connectivity of retinal ganglion cells would potentially limit future therapeutic approaches involving manipulation of the Pten pathway for treating ganglion cell degeneration in diseases like glaucoma, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases.

Perceptual Evaluation of Vocal Fold Vibratory Asymmetry.

OBJECTIVES: Laryngeal vibratory asymmetry occurring with paresis may result in a perceptually normal or abnormal voice. The present study aims to determine the relationships between the degree of vibratory asymmetry, acoustic measures, and perception of sound stimuli. STUDY DESIGN: Animal Model of Voice Production, Perceptual Analysis of Voice. METHODS: In an in vivo canine model of phonation, symmetric and asymmetric laryngeal vibration were obtained via graded unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) stimulation simulating near paralysis to full activation. Phonation was performed at various contralateral RLN and bilateral superior laryngeal nerve stimulation levels. Naïve listeners rated the perceptual quality of 182 unique phonatory samples using a visual sort-and-rate task. Cepstral peak prominence (CPP) was calculated for each phonatory condition. The relationships among vibratory symmetry, CPP, and perceptual ratings were evaluated. RESULTS: A significant relationship emerged between RLN stimulation and perceptual rating, such that sound samples from low RLN levels were preferred to those from high RLN levels. When symmetric vibration was achieved at mid-RLN stimulation, listeners preferred samples from symmetric vibration over those from asymmetric vibration. However, when symmetry was achieved at high RLN levels, a strained voice quality resulted that listeners dispreferred over asymmetric conditions at lower RLN levels. CPP did not have a linear relationship with perceptual ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngeal vibratory asymmetry produces variable perceptual differences in phonatory sound quality. Though CPP has been correlated with dysphonia in previous research, its complex relationship with quality limits its usefulness as clinical marker of voice quality perception. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA, basic science Laryngoscope, 131:2740-2746, 2021.

Preoperative Predictors and Costs of 30-Day Readmission Following Inpatient Pediatric Tonsillectomy in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To understand national trends in 30-day postoperative readmission following inpatient pediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Nationwide Readmissions Database. METHODS: We used the Nationwide Readmissions Database to identify and analyze 30-day readmissions following inpatient tonsillectomy from 2010 to 2015. Using the International Classification of Disease codes, we identified 66,652 patients and analyzed the incidence, causes, risk factors, and costs of 30-day readmission. RESULTS: Of 66,652 patients who underwent inpatient tonsillectomy, 2660 (4.0%) experienced a readmission. Readmitted patients were more commonly aged <2 years (23.4 vs 10.6%, P = .01) and had a greater burden of comorbidities, including preoperative anemia (3.9 vs 1.3%, P < .001), coagulopathy (3.5 vs 1.4%, P < .001), and neurologic disorders (19.1 vs 6.6%, P < .001). Readmitted patients experienced higher rates of postoperative complications (17.4 vs 9.0%, P < .001) and had a longer length of stay (4.5 vs 2.2 days, P < .001). Index cost of hospitalization was higher among readmitted patients ($14,129 vs $7307, P < .001), and each readmission cost an additional $7576. Postoperative hemorrhage (21.3%) and dehydration (17.7%) were the 2 most common causes for readmission. Independent predictors of readmission included age <3 years, multiple comorbidities, and postoperative neurologic complications. The incidences of tonsillectomies and readmissions declined during the study period, most notably between 2010 and 2012. CONCLUSION: Readmission after inpatient tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy places a substantial financial burden on the health care system. Targeted strategies to improve preoperative assessment and optimize postoperative care may prevent readmission, reduce unnecessary health care expenditures, and improve patient outcomes.

Spindle Cell Lipoma Arising from the Supraglottis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Lipomas are common benign mesenchymal neoplasms. Although 13% of lipomas are found in the head and neck, only 0.6% have been reported in the larynx. Of all lipomas, the spindle cell variant is the least common. In the present study, we report a case of supraglottic spindle cell lipoma and review the literature of laryngeal spindle cell lipoma. A 35-year-old male presented with dysphagia and dyspnea and was found to have bilateral supraglottic lesions causing airway obstruction. The masses were resected endoscopically. Final pathology demonstrated mature adipocytes and spindle cells, with immunohistochemical patterns supportive of spindle cell lipoma. Spindle cell lipomas have rarely been reported in the upper airway. To our knowledge, this is the youngest patient reported to date. These lipomas are uncommon benign neoplasms and should be distinguished from aggressive mesenchymal neoplasms such as liposarcoma variants to guide appropriate conservative but curative therapy.

Prox1 Is a Marker for AII Amacrine Cells in the Mouse Retina.

The transcription factor Prox1 is expressed in multiple cells in the retina during eye development. This study has focused on neuronal Prox1 expression in the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the adult mouse retina. Prox1 immunostaining was evaluated in vertical retinal sections and whole mount preparations using a specific antibody directed to the C-terminus of Prox1. Strong immunostaining was observed in numerous amacrine cell bodies and in all horizontal cell bodies in the proximal and distal INL, respectively. Some bipolar cells were also weakly immunostained. Prox1-immunoreactive amacrine cells expressed glycine, and they formed 35 ± 3% of all glycinergic amacrine cells. Intracellular Neurobiotin injections into AII amacrine cells showed that all gap junction-coupled AII amacrine cells express Prox1, and no other Prox1-immunostained amacrine cells were in the immediate area surrounding the injected AII amacrine cell. Prox1-immunoreactive amacrine cell bodies were distributed across the retina, with their highest density (3887 ± 160 cells/mm2) in the central retina, 0.5 mm from the optic nerve head, and their lowest density (3133 ± 350 cells/mm2) in the mid-peripheral retina, 2 mm from the optic nerve head. Prox1-immunoreactive amacrine cell bodies comprised ~9.8% of the total amacrine cell population, and they formed a non-random mosaic with a regularity index (RI) of 3.4, similar to AII amacrine cells in the retinas of other mammals. Together, these findings indicate that AII amacrine cells are the predominant and likely only amacrine cell type strongly expressing Prox1 in the adult mouse retina, and establish Prox1 as a marker of AII amacrine cells.