The effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on salivary pepsin concentration in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication therapy on salivary pepsin concentration in laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) patients with HP infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 477 patients with suspected LPR were enrolled from June 2020 to September 2021. Reflux symptom index, reflux finding score, the positive rates and disintegrations per minute values of HP infection detected by 14C urea breath test and salivary pepsin concentrations analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were compared in LPR patients and non-LPR patients with or without HP infection. HP-positive patients were treated with HP eradication therapy while HP-negative patients with PPI therapy. RESULTS: The scores of nagging cough (0.88 vs. 0.50, P = 0.035), erythema or hyperemia (1.93 vs. 1.78, P = 0.035) and vocal fold edema (1.04 vs. 0.85, P = 0.025) were higher in the LPR (+) Hp (+) subgroup than in LPR (+) Hp (-) subgroup. The concentrations of salivary pepsin in the Hp (+) subgroup were higher than in the Hp (-) subgroup either in LPR patients (75.24 ng/ml vs. 61.39 ng/ml, P = 0.005) or the non-LPR patients (78.42 ng/ml vs. 48.96 ng/ml, P = 0.024). Compared to baseline (before treatment), scores of nagging cough (0.35 vs. 0.84, P = 0.019) and erythema or hyperemia (1.50 vs. 1.83, P = 0.039) and the concentrations of salivary pepsin (44.35 ng/ml vs. 74.15 ng/ml, P = 0.017) in LPR patients with HP infection decreased after HP treatment; yet, this was not observed for the LPR patients without HP infection treated with PPI only (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: HP infection may aggravate the symptoms and signs of LPR patients, partly by increasing their salivary pepsin concentration.

Analysis of 1782 Pediatric Hoarseness Cases: A Clinical Retrospect Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to clarify the clinical characteristics of pediatric voice disorders. METHODS: The clinical data of 1782 pediatric patients presenting with voice disorders were retrospectively analyzed. These cases were categorized into four age-based cohorts: 0-3, 4-7, 8-11, and 12-15years. Variables such as gender disparities, laryngoscopic manifestation, disease types, and acoustic parameters were thoroughly examined. RESULTS: A total of 1782 children with acoustic hoarseness were included in this study, comprising 1325 males and 457 females. When the sex ratio among the children in each group was compared, males were found to outnumber females. A notable male predominance was observed across all age groups. Laryngoscopic results revealed that the most prevalent condition was vocal cord nodules (1363 cases, 76.48%), followed by vocal cord polyps (271 cases, 15.20%). Other diseases included laryngeal papillomas, vocal fold movement impairment, vocal cord cysts, functional dysphonia, leukoplakia of the vocal cords, and benign laryngeal tumors such as laryngeal amyloidosis and subglottic granular cell tumors. Among these, adenoid hypertrophy was presented in 382 children (21.44%). Additionally, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS) was conducted, and 799 cases (44.83%) were found to have a score above 7. The distribution of various diseases across different age groups indicated that children with vocal cord nodules (637 cases, 46.74%), vocal cord polyps (109 cases, 40.22%), and laryngeal papillomas (35, 36.84%) were predominantly found in the 4-7 years age group. Pediatric acute laryngitis (three cases, 75%) and vocal fold movement impairment (eight cases, 36.36%) were more common in the 0-3 years age group. Functional dysphonia (four cases, 66.67%) and vocal cord leukoplakia (four cases, 80%) were mainly observed in the 12-15 years age group, while vocal cord cysts were predominantly seen in the 8-11 years age group (four cases, 57.14%). A comparative analysis of acoustic parameters among 153 children showed statistically significant differences in jitter, fundamental frequency (F0), voice handicap index (VHI), reflux symptom index (RSI), and RFS across different pathologies. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted that vocal cord nodules, vocal cord polyps, and laryngeal papillomas were the primary causes of pediatric hoarseness, although the possibility of tumors and rare diseases cannot be disregarded. There was a noticeable gender bias towards males, and functional dysphonia was significantly more prevalent in older children.

A comparative analysis of laryngeal nerve damage in patients with idiopathic vocal cord paralysis exhibiting different paralytic sides.

Objective: To assess the extent of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) damage in patients with idiopathic vocal cord paralysis (IVCP) exhibiting different paralytic sides. Methods: A total of 84 IVCP cases were evaluated using stroboscopic laryngoscopy, voice analysis, and laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). The results were compared between patients with left-sided paralysis and right-sided paralysis based on different disease courses (less than or more than 3 months). Results: Initially, the average age and disease progression of IVCP patients were found to be similar regardless of the side of paralysis (p > .05). Additionally, there were no significant variations in voice indicators, such as MPT, DSI, and VHI, between IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis (p > .05). Furthermore, no disparities were detected in the latencies and amplitudes of the paralyzed RLN and SLN, as well as the durations and amplitudes of the action potentials in the paralyzed TM and PCM, among IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis (p > .05). Notably, the amplitudes of the left paralytic CM were significantly lower than those of the right paralytic CM (0.45 vs. 0.53, Z = -2.013, p = .044). In addition, no disparities were observed in APDs and amplitudes between the ipsilateral PCM and TM, either for patients with left or right vocal fold paralysis (p > .05). Finally, all the IVCP patients were subdivided into two subgroups according to different disease course (less than or more than 3 months), and in each subgroup, the comparison of voice indicators and LEMG results in IVCP patients with left or right vocal fold paralysis were similar with the above findings (p > .05). Conclusion: Overall, the degree of RLN and SLN damage appeared to be similar in IVCP patients with left and right vocal cord paralysis, provided that the disease course was comparable. Level of Evidence: 4.

Submucosal Clustered Brownish Microvessels Based on NBI Endoscopy: A Characteristic of LPR.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) by using narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A large-volume practice with tertiary care providers. METHODS: A total of 67 patients with suspected LPR who underwent 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring were included from June 2020 to March 2022. Manifestations of NBI endoscopy included submucosal clustered brownish microvessels (CBMs), spotted brownish microvessels, and no special microvessels; the latter 2 formed the non-CBM group. The manifestations of all patients and their changes were observed after 8 weeks of proton pump inhibitor and symptomatic treatment for patients with LPR, and symptomatic treatment for patients without LPR. RESULTS: According to the results of 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring, the incidence of submucosal CBMs was significantly higher in patients with LPR (30 cases) than in those without LPR (37 cases, P < .001), particularly in the posterior cricoid area (P < .001). Besides Reflux Finding Score, the incidence of signs such as subglottic edema and vocal fold edema was significantly higher in the CBM group than the non-CBM group (P < .05). Finally, 22 patients with LPR (91.7%) and only 2 patients without LPR (28.6%) underwent a transformation from CBMs to spotted brownish microvessels after continuous medication for 8 weeks in the CBM group (χ2 = 15.916, P < .001), while no significant change was observed in patients with or without LPR in the non-CBM group (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Submucosal CBMs in the posterior cricoid area under NBI endoscopy may be a characteristic of LPR.

[The application of NBI endoscopy in finding concealed primary lesions of misdiagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer].

Objective:The aim of this study is to analyze the application value of NBI endoscopy in finding the concealed primary lesions of misdiagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer. Methods:The clinical data of patients with missed oropharyngeal cancer treated in the Department of Otolaryngology Head and neck surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2018 to June 2021, were retrospectively studied, and the missed diagnosis was also analyzed combined with results of NBI endoscopy. Results:In 31 cases of misdiagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer patients, including 25 males and 6 females, there was no significant difference in age, BMI index, course of disease and TNM stage （P> 0.05）, and the pharyngeal or cervical symptoms were the first clinical manifestations of them, containing pharyngeal pain in 17 cases（54.8%） , pharyngeal foreign body sensation in 4 cases（12.9%） and unilateral cervical mass in 10 cases （32.3%）. No laryngoscopy was performed （21 cases） or no primary lesion was found by laryngoscopy （10 cases） at initial diagnosis. Among them, "inflammatory lesions" were given anti-inflammatory treatment with ineffective results or surgical resection was explored for suspicious lesions （17 cases）, or imaging examination （9 cases, including 6 cases with CT and MRI, 3 cases with PET-CT） and cervical lymph node biopsy （5 cases） were carried out for further diagnosis. According to these results, they were given ordinary laryngoscope （2 cases） or NBI endoscopy （29 cases） subsequently, finally they were confirmed as oropharyngeal squamous cellcarcinoma after localized biopsy at the suspicious lesions, indicating that the accuracy of NBI endoscopy in finding the concealed primary lesions of oropharyngeal cancer （93.55%） is significantly higher than that of ordinary electronic laryngoscope （6.45%）（χ²=43.613, P<0.01）. Conclusion:NBI endoscopy has unique advantages in finding oropharyngeal cancer in concealed parts such as tonsil, root of tongue, soft palate and lateral wall of oropharynx, which could reduce misdiagnosis of oropharyngeal cancer.

[Clinical features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in head and neck].

Objective:To investigate the clinical features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma （DLBCL） of head and neck. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted among patients with DLBCL in the Department of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from July 2011 to September 2021. The disease location, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of DLBCL patients in head and neck were analyzed retrospectively. Results:Oropharynx（27 cases, including 25 cases in tonsil）, neck（29 cases）, nasopharynx and nasal cavity （7 cases）were included in 63 cases of DLBCL in head and neck. Pharyngalgia, pharyngeal foreign body sensation and dysphagia were the most common manifestations of oropharyngeal DLBCL, while nasal obstruction, runny nose and hyposmia were the initial manifestations of nasal and nasopharyngeal DLBCL.Under the NBI endoscopy, locally uplifted neoplasm with rough surface mucosa was observed in 34 cases DLBCL patients of oropharynx, nasopharynx and nasal cavity. Among them, 16 cases were covered with yellow-white and patchy pseudomembrane on the surface of the neoplasm, and 5 cases were detected with abnormal new vessels, including 3 cases of tonsils, 1 case of root of tongue, and 1 case of nasopharynx. Painless progressive lymphadenectasis was the common manifestation of DLBCL in head and neck, and the maximum diameter（[21.3±6.7]mm） of neck lymph nodes in the same side of DLBCL was significantly larger than that in the opposite side（[16.0±7.2]mm, P=0.009）. Sixty-three cases of DLBCL in head and neck, including 27 cases of germinal center type（GCB）, 33 cases of nongerminal center type（non-GCB）, and 3 cases of non-specific DLBCL, were confirmed the diagnosis by needle biopsy（33 cases, 52.4%） and surgical resection（30 cases, 47.6%）. The imaging features of DLBCL in head and neck were mostly showed as local soft tissue masses with uniform density and uneven enhancement, and the surrounding structures were often compressed and displaced. All the patients were treated with standard R-CHOP chemotherapy regimens, and overall survival was longer in normal LDH, and overall survival of the patients at low risk of IPI was longer than those at medium-high or high risk of IPI（PLDH=0.011, PIPI=0.022, P<0.05）. Conclusion:DLBCL mainly occurs in oropharynx, especially the unilateral tonsil. When flake yellow-white pseudomembrane adhesion and abnormal neovessels on the surface of the mass are detected under endoscopy, and the ultrasound suggested multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the neck with large iplateral lymph nodes, the possibility of DLBCL should be considered. Surgical resection could be performed for diagnosis if necessary, and early diagnosis would have a better prognosis.