COVID-related dysphonia and persistent long-COVID voice sequelae: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Dysphonia is a common symptom due to the coronavirus disease of the 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Nonetheless, it is often underestimated for its impact on human's health. We conducted this first study to investigate the global prevalence of COVID-related dysphonia as well as related clinical factors during acute COVID-19 infection, and after a mid- to long-term follow-up following the recovery. METHODS: Five electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched for relevant articles until Dec, 2022, and the reference of the enrolled studies were also reviewed. Dysphonia prevalence during and after COVID-19 infection, and voice-related clinical factors were analyzed; the random-effects model was adopted for meta-analysis. The one-study-removal method was used for sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was determined with funnel plots and Egger's tests. RESULTS: Twenty-one articles comprising 13,948 patients were identified. The weighted prevalence of COVID-related dysphonia during infection was 25.1 % (95 % CI: 14.9 to 39.0 %), and male was significantly associated with lower dysphonia prevalence (coefficients: -0.116, 95 % CI: -0.196 to -0.036; P = .004) during this period. Besides, after recovery, the weighted prevalence of COVID-related dysphonia declined to 17.1 % (95 % CI: 11.0 to 25.8 %). 20.1 % (95 % CI: 8.6 to 40.2 %) of the total patients experienced long-COVID dysphonia. CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of the COVID-19 patients, especially female, suffered from voice impairment during infection, and approximately 70 % of these dysphonic patients kept experiencing long-lasting voice sequelae, which should be noticed by global physicians.

Minimally invasive, single-stage, multilevel surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Minimally invasive, single-staged multilevel surgery (MISS MLS) could be an optimal treatment for selected patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We aim to systematically review the efficacy of MISS MLS for patients with OSA, as well as the clinical outcomes and possible complications in OSA patients before and after MISS MLS. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Six databases were searched, and the PRISMA guideline was followed. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with OSA receiving MISS MLS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The random-effects model was adopted for the statistical synthesis. The percentage and 95% confidence interval (CI) were adopted as the effect measurements of MISS MLS for OSA. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were also performed to identify the heterogeneity among the studies. RESULTS: There were initially 154 articles for identification. Eventually, six studies with a total of 848 OSA patients completely met the inclusion criteria and were further enrolled for analysis. The pooled analysis showed statistically significant lower AHI (apnea/hypopnea index, /hr.; mean difference: -8.931, 95% CI: -11.591 to -6.271, I2 = 87.4%), ESS (mean difference: -2.947, 95% CI: -4.465 to -1.429, I2 = 94.9%), and snoring severity with 0-10 visual analog scale after surgery (mean difference: -4.966, 95% CI: -5.804 to -4.128, I2 = 96.4%). The success rate was 46% in mild/moderate OSA; however, 18% in severe OSA. There were no major complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The acceptable surgical outcomes, esp. in mild/moderate OSA, and rare complications are the major advantages of MISS MLS. The evidence of this study could aid the decision making in selecting suitable treatment programs for OSA patients.

NVP-BEZ235 Attenuated Cell Proliferation and Migration in the Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Oral Cavities and p70S6K Inhibition Mimics its Effect.

NVP-BEZ235 or BEZ235 is a dual inhibitor of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-competitive phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian-target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) and is promising for cancer treatment. Because it targets more than one downstream effector, a dual approach is promising for cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of NVP-BEZ235 in treating oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Two human OSCC cell lines, SCC-4 and SCC-25, were used in this study. PI3K-AKT signaling, proliferation, and cell migratory and invasion capabilities of OSCC cells were examined. In NVP-BEZ235-treated SCC-4 and SCC-25 cells, the phosphorylation of 70-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K), but not mTOR, decreased within 24 h. NVP-BEZ235 inhibited OSCC-cell proliferation, migration, and invasion possibly by directly deregulating the phosphorylation of p70S6K. The phospho-p70S6K inhibitor mimicked the effects of NVP-BEZ235 for preventing proliferation and weakening the migratory and invasion abilities of SCC-4 and SCC-25 cells. This study further confirmed the effect of NVP-BEZ235 on OSCC cells and provided a new strategy for controlling the proliferation, migration, and invasion of OSCC cells using the phopho-p70S6K inhibitor.

Systemic inflammation and alterations to cerebral blood flow in obstructive sleep apnea.

Systemic inflammation and alterations to regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) have been reported previously in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study utilized arterial spin labelling (ASL) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate CBF in OSA patients and determine its relationship with systemic inflammation. Twenty male patients with moderate and severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) >15] and 16 healthy male volunteers (AHI <5) were recruited. Early- or late-phase changes in leucocyte apoptosis and its subsets were determined by flow cytometry. Perfusion MRI data were acquired with a pulsed continuous ASL technique. The CBF maps were compared using voxel-based statistics to determine differences between the OSA and control groups. The differences in CBF, clinical severity and leucocyte apoptosis were correlated. Exploratory groupwise comparison between the two groups revealed that the OSA patients exhibited low CBF values in the vulnerable regions. The lower regional CBF values were correlated with higher clinical disease severity and leucocyte apoptosis. OSA impairs cerebral perfusion in vulnerable regions, and this deficit is associated with increased disease severity. The apparent correlation between systemic inflammation and cerebral perfusion may be indicative of haemodynamic alterations and their consequences in OSA.

Impact of inflammation and oxidative stress on carotid intima-media thickness in obstructive sleep apnea patients without metabolic syndrome.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a good indicator of the severity of atherosclerotic disease. This study tested the hypothesis that inflammation and oxidative stress determined carotid IMT in patients with OSA. The carotid IMT, mean systolic and diastolic pressure (night and morning) were significantly higher and the level of thiols and high-density lipoprotein were significantly lower in our 121 OSA patients than in 27 controls (P < 0.05). The apnea/hypopnea index was correlated positively with E-selectin (r = 0.222, P = 0.014), total cholesterol (r = 0.185, P = 0.042), low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.264, P = 0.003) and HbA1c levels (r = 0.304, P = 0.001), but inversely with high-density lipoprotein level (r = -0.203, P = 0.025) in the 121 patients with OSA. In OSA subjects, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that age, systolic blood pressure and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 level associated independently with carotid IMT. Besides both age and systolic blood pressure, our study demonstrated that intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 level was associated significantly with carotid IMT in those patients who had OSA but without metabolic syndrome.

Alternative Therapy for Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome: A 1-year, Single-blind, Randomized Trial of Tui Na.

Context • Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is among the most prevalent of sleep-related breathing disorders. No long-term follow-up studies have documented the continued success of lifestyle changes in treatment; oral appliances have an approximate 50% success rate; compliance with continuous positive airway pressure is poor, ranging from 50% to 89%; and the success rate of upper-airway surgery is only 66.4%. Therefore, some OSAHS patients seek alternative treatments. Objectives • The study intended to examine the efficacy of traditional Chinese therapeutic massage (tui na) for patients with OSAHS. Design • The research team designed a prospective study. Setting • The study took place at the outpatient clinic of the sleep center at the Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Kaohsiung, Taiwan), an academic tertiary medical center. Participants • Participants were 31 patients with moderate to severe OSAHS. Intervention • Each participant received a tui na treatment at multiple acupoints 2 ×/wk for 10 wk for approximately 15 min/session. Outcome Measures • At baseline and 3 mo after treatment, participants completed subjective measures, including (1) quality of life using a 36-item, short-form health survey (SF-36); (2) subjective snoring intensity indicated by bed-partners using a 0-10 visual analog scale (VAS); and (3) excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) status, using a Chinese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (CESS). The research team completed objective measures, including (1) polysomnography, (2) body mass index, and (3) neck circumference. Results • Twenty patients completed the full course of treatment. The apnea/hypopnea index per hour decreased from 43.8 ± 26.9 to 37.8 ± 31.7 after the treatments, with P = .049 (paired t test). The arousal index and rapid eye movement stage of sleep improved significantly. Statistically significant improvements were observed for the SF-36 on the score for the physical component summary, for its subscale for general health, for the mental component summary, and for 2 of its subscales: vitality and mental health. The VAS and the CESS showed that snoring intensity and EDS decreased significantly, respectively. No major complications occurred. Conclusions • Tui na is a feasible and safe treatment for patients with OSAHS. It can improve the quality of life, sleep architecture, snoring intensity, and EDS in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAHS. In the future, a controlled study should be considered to further investigate the effects of tui na for OSAHS.

Application of desaturation index in post-surgery follow-up in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Adenotonsillectomy is recommended for children who need surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Overnight, polysomnography (PSG) is suggested for post-surgery follow-up, but this diagnostic technique is time consuming and inconvenient. Desaturation index (DI) has been reported as a good tool for predicting both the presence and severity of OSAS in children. The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of the DI for post-surgery follow-up of children with OSAS. This retrospective study enrolled 42 children, aged 3-12 years, who were snorers diagnosed with OSAS by overnight PSG and who underwent an adenotonsillectomy. Pre- and postoperative PSG parameters, nocturnal pulse oximetry data, and modified Epworth sleepiness scale scores were assessed. Previously determined cut-off DI values (2.05, 3.50, and 4.15 for mild, moderate, and severe OSAS, respectively) were used to predict residual OSAS. Of the 42 children, obvious improvements were observed in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI, decreased 45.5 %), arousal index (decreased 30.5 %), DI (decreased 40.4 %), and snore index (decreased 100.3 %) compared with the preoperative measurements. Among these objective PSG measures, DI had the strongest correlation with AHI both pre- and post-surgeries (r = 0.947 and r = 0.954, respectively; p all <0.001). The DI change, before and after surgery, also had the strongest positive correlation to the AHI change (r = 0.482 and p = 0.001). Using the previously determined DI cut-off values to predict postoperative residual OSAS, there was a good positive predictive value (92.6 %) for mild residual OSAS and a good negative predictive value for moderate and severe residual OSAS (85.2 and 89.7 %, respectively). These findings suggest that DI, as determined using a nocturnal pulse oximeter, may be an alternative tool for postoperative evaluation and follow-up of children with OSAS.

Longitudinal brain structural alterations and systemic inflammation in obstructive sleep apnea before and after surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Systemic inflammation, neurocognitive impairments, and morphologic brain changes are associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Understanding their longitudinal evolution and interactions after surgical treatment provides clues to the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and its reversibility. In the present study, we investigate clinical disease severity, systemic inflammation, cognitive deficits, and corresponding gray matter volume (GMV) changes in OSA, and the modifications following surgery. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI > 5) and 15 healthy volunteers (AHI < 5) underwent serial evaluation, including polysomnography, flow cytometry for leukocyte apoptosis categorization, cognitive function evaluation, and high-resolution brain scan. Disease severity, leukocyte apoptosis, cognitive function, and imaging data were collected to assess therapeutic efficacy 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Pre-operatively, patients presented with worse cognitive function, worse polysomnography scores, and higher early leukocyte apoptosis associated with increased insular GMV. There was reduced GMV in the anterior cingulate gyrus before and after surgery in the cases compared to that in controls, suggesting an irreversible structural deficit. Post-operatively, there were significant improvements in different cognitive domains, including attention, executive and visuospatial function, and depression, and in early leukocyte apoptosis. There was also a significant decrease in GMVs after treatment, suggesting recovery from vasogenic edema in the precuneus, insula, and cerebellum. Improvement in early leukocyte apoptosis post-surgery predicted better recovery of precuneus GMV. CONCLUSIONS: In OSA, increased disease severity and systemic inflammation can alter GMV in vulnerable regions. Surgical treatment may improve disease severity and systemic inflammation, with subsequent recovery in brain structures and functions.

Co-upregulation of Toll-like receptors 2 and 6 on peripheral blood cells in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

PURPOSE: Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 can heterodimerise with TLR6 to detect diacylated lipoproteins. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 α co-ordinates selective induction of TLR2 and TLR6 during persistent hypoxia. We hypothesized that TLR 2/6 co-expression may be upregulated by chronic intermittent hypoxia with re-oxygenation (IHR) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: TLR2/6 expressions on blood immune cells were measured in 144 patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), including primary snoring (PS, n = 24), moderate to severe OSA (MSO, n = 60), very severe OSA (VSO, n = 36), and very severe OSA on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment (VSOC, n = 24). An in vitro IHR experiment was also undertaken. RESULTS: Patients in both the MSO and VSO groups had increased TLR2/6 co-expression on CD16(+) neutrophil than those in the PS group. Patients in the VSOC group had reduced TLR2/6 co-expression on neutrophil than those in either the MSO or VSO group. Blood absolute neutrophil count was positively but weakly correlated with TLR2/6 co-expression on neutrophil. TLR2/6 co-expressions on both CD14(+) monocyte and CD3(+)CD4(+)T helper cell, and TLR2 expressions on both monocyte and T helper cell in SDB patients with low Minimum SaO2 (≦70%) were all higher than those with high Minimum SaO2. In vitro IHR for 1-4 days resulted in TLR2/6 co-upregulation on both neutrophil and monocyte. CONCLUSIONS: OSA patients had increased TLR2/6 co-expressions on blood immune cells, which were related to their immune cell counts and could be reversed with CPAP treatment. In vitro IHR could induce TLR2/6 co-upregulation.

Objective versus subjective measurements of palatine tonsil size in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between subjective and objective tonsil size measurements in adult patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and compare the tonsil size measurements with the severity of disease. Fifty-one adult patients (46 males and 5 females) who failed continuous positive airway pressure therapy and underwent OSAHS surgery were recruited. Physical examinations, subjective tonsil size grading preoperatively, and objective tonsil measurements including size (length, width, and height), weight and volume immediately after surgery were recorded. The results showed significant positive correlations between subjective tonsil size grading and all the parameters of the objective tonsil measurements (p < 0.05). When comparing the subjective and objective tonsil measurements with the polysomnographic parameters, the subjective grading was significantly correlated with snoring index (p < 0.05) but showed only borderline correlation with apnea/hypopnea index. However, the objective tonsil measurements were significantly correlated with both snoring index and apnea/hypopnea index (both p < 0.05). Although the subjective tonsil size grading reflected the objective tonsil measurements, the objective tonsil measurements were more meaningful in predicting the severity of OSAHS.

The influence of obesity on different genders in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obesity is considered to be a major contributing factor to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); however, there is limited evidence with regard to gender predominance. We analyzed 2345 patients (339 females) in correlation with body mass index (BMI) and OSA severity. Male AHIs were significantly higher than female AHIs in each BMI group. As the BMI increased, the AHI increased in both males and females, and this trend was more obvious in males. For BMI-matched male and female patients with OSA, the severity of OSA was higher in males. As BMI increased, the severity of OSA increased more obviously in males. Our findings suggest that increased body fat contributes to the pathogenesis of OSA more in males than in females and that obesity plays a more significant role in contributing to OSA in male patients.

Sustained type I interferon signaling after human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of human iPSC derived microglia and cerebral organoids.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) affects up to half of people living with HIV-1 and causes long term neurological consequences. The pathophysiology of HIV-1-induced glial and neuronal functional deficits in humans remains enigmatic. To bridge this gap, we established a model simulating HIV-1 infection in the central nervous system using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia combined with sliced neocortical organoids. Incubation of microglia with two replication-competent macrophage-tropic HIV-1 strains (JRFL and YU2) elicited productive infection and inflammatory activation. RNA sequencing revealed significant and sustained activation of type I interferon signaling pathways. Incorporating microglia into sliced neocortical organoids extended the effects of aberrant type I interferon signaling in a human neural context. Collectively, our results illuminate a role for persistent type I interferon signaling in HIV-1-infected microglia in a human neural model, suggesting its potential significance in the pathogenesis of HAND.

Altered expression of SIRT gene family in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) include a group of malignant neoplasms that arise from the upper aerodigestive tract and represent the seventh most common cause of cancer-related death. The overall 5-year survival rates have not significantly improved for decades in spite of the advances in the field of oncology and surgery, encouraging further research on factors that might modify disease prognosis. The silent information regulator (SIR) genes (Sirtuins) play key roles in cellular stress and are associated with aging-related diseases including cancer. Currently, seven human sirtuin (SIRT1-7) genes have been identified, but the roles of SIRT genes in HNSCC are still uncertain. Therefore, in this study, we used real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to investigate the expressions of the seven SIRT genes in human HNSCC tissues to assess the changes in cancerous and noncancerous parts and the correlation with different tumor behaviors. Our results demonstrated that the expression levels of SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT5, SIRT6, and SIRT7 were significantly downregulated in cancerous tissues compared with noncancerous tissues (all p<0.01). The expression levels of SIRT1, SIRT2, SIRT3, SIRT5, and SIRT7 showed downregulation in advanced stages in respect to early stages (p<0.05). These results indicate that the downregulation of SIRT genes expression may contribute to the development of cancer and trigger the neoplastic disease to more advanced stages. Our study indicates that SIRT genes expression could help in the diagnosis and represent a prognostic biomarker in HNSCC.

Long-term effects of neck irradiation on cardiovascular autonomic function: a study in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Baroreflex failure has been reported as a late sequalum of neck radiotherapy. In this study we investigated cardiovascular autonomic function in patients after neck radiotherapy to determine predictive factors associated with outcome. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were evaluated ≥6 months after radiotherapy for cardiovascular autonomic function and compared with 48 control subjects. Inflammatory markers and carotid intima-media thickness were also assessed. RESULTS: Autonomic parameters of heart rate response to deep breathing and Valsalva ratio were significantly lower in the patient group. Cardiovascular autonomic impairment was generally mild with relative sparing of the efferent cardiovagal pathway. By univariate and multivariate analyses, the time after radiotherapy and C-reactive protein level were significantly associated with the degree of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation-induced cardiovascular autonomic impairment is a dynamic and progressive process that occurs long after radiotherapy. Chronic inflammation plays a major role in this process.

Effects of Pillar implants for sleep-related breathing disorders on middle ear function.

Pillar implants provide a reasonable outcome with minimal post-operative morbidity and complications in treating patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) who had obvious palatal obstruction. The palatal structure is responsible for a normal functioning Eustachian tube; however, little is known if there is any potential otologic implication of minimally invasive palatal stiffening surgery for SDB. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Pillar implantation on middle ear function. We performed a prospective study in a tertiary referral center. Thirty SDB patients (25 men, 5 women; mean age, 44.3 years) who underwent Pillar implants for treating palatal obstruction were enrolled. The subjects had normal otologic exam and no previous history of chronic ear disease. Pure-tone audiometry and tympanometry were performed pre-operatively, and post-operative days 1 and 7, and months 1 and 3. Baseline and post-operative middle ear pressures (MEPs) in decipascals were compared. Statistical analysis was performed by repeated measures of ANOVA. Eight patients (8/30, 26.7%) reported otologic complaints such as ear pressure and/or otalgia within 1 week post-operatively. No permanent otologic discomfort occurred. A trend toward reduced MEP was noted in this study. The decrease in MEP became apparent on post-operative day 1 after surgery. However, mean pressure changes were no longer significantly different from pre-operative values by 1 week after surgery. Pillar implantation for SDB induces changes in middle ear function. However, the changes were temporary and not significant 1 week after surgery.

Association of metabolic factors with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in patients with sleep-disordered breathing.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) such as snoring or obstructive sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome are both related to cardiovascular diseases. Being a surrogate marker of high risk for cardiovascular disorder, the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level is thought to be elevated in patients with both SDB and metabolic syndrome. To understand better the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with SDB, we examined the association of metabolic variables with hs-CRP levels in adult patients with symptoms of SDB and without any previous treatment, who were selected to participate in the study. Metabolic parameters including fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and hs-CRP were measured following an overnight polysomnography. Laboratory and polysomnographic data were analyzed to identify variables related to high hs-CRP levels. A total of 309 patients with SDB participated in this study. Of these, 139 presented with hs-CRP <1 mg/L and 52 presented with hs-CRP >3 mg/L. Patients with high hs-CRP showed a higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, and triglyceride level, and a lower mean and minimal oxygen saturation and HDL-cholesterol level. However, ordinal regression analysis demonstrated that only a higher BMI and fasting glucose level and a lower HDL-cholesterol level were independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (OR = 1.076, 95 % CI = 1.009-1.147, p = 0.005; OR = 1.011, 95 % CI = 1.004-1.019, p = 0.008; OR = 0.966, 95 % CI = 0.947-0.984, p < 0.001, respectively). The results showed that elevated hs-CRP is common in patients with SDB but is not independently associated with the severity of SDB. Metabolic factors such as a higher BMI and fasting blood glucose and a lower HDL-cholesterol level were more strongly associated with elevated hs-CRP rather than with SDB severity, suggesting that metabolic parameters are important contributors to cardiovascular diseases and should be corrected in patients with SDB.

Is Postextubation Dysphagia Underestimated in the Era of COVID-19? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence rate of postextubation dysphagia (PED) in patients with COVID-19, as well as relative factors potentially influencing the clinical course of dysphagia. DATA SOURCES: Six databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science were searched with no restriction on the language. REVIEW METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Data were extracted and cross-examined among 3 of the authors. The random-effects model was adopted for the statistical synthesis. The percentage and 95% confidence interval (CI) were adopted as the effect measurements of the PED incidence rate. Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and metaregression were also performed to identify the heterogeneity among the studies. RESULTS: A total of 594 patients were enrolled and analyzed from the 10 eligible studies. The weighted incidence of PED in patients with COVID-19 was 66.5% (95% CI: 49.7%-79.9%). Age was the potential factor influencing the incidence rate after heterogeneity was adjusted by the metaregression analysis. CONCLUSION: Compared to the current evidence reporting only 41% of the non-COVID patients experienced PED, our study further disclosed that a higher 66.5% of COVID-19 patients suffered from PED, which deserves global physicians' attention. With the association between COVID-19 and dysphagia having been more clearly understood, future clinicians are suggested to identify intubated patients' risk factors earlier to strengthen PED care programs in the era of COVID-19.

Homocysteine Levels in Severe OSA Patients Before and After TORS-OSA Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The increased risk of cardiovascular diseases owing to a high level of serum homocysteine has been widely reported. Literature has demonstrated that patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA) had a higher homocysteine level than control group. This study aimed to investigate the alteration of serum homocysteine levels in severe OSA patients receiving transoral robotic surgery (TORS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. METHODS: Data of polysomnography (PSG) and serum homocysteine levels before and at least 3 months after the surgery were collected and analyzed via paired t tests. A subgroup analysis based on the preoperative homocysteine level (≥15 mcmol/L, as hyperhomocysteinemia group) was conducted to compare the intergroup differences of homocysteine decrease. Pearson's correlation was used to survey the relationships between the changes of major PSG parameters and the levels of homocysteine decrease at baseline and after TORS-OSA surgery. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-one patients with severe OSA were enrolled. There were significant improvements in major PSG parameters after TORS-OSA surgery. Homocysteine levels significantly decreased from 12.1 ± 3.9 to 11.4 ± 3.7 mcmol/L (difference = -0.7 ± 2.8 mcmol/L, p = .001) postoperatively, which was shown in the hyperhomocysteinemia group (difference = -2.9 ± 4.7 mcmol/L, p = .007) to a greater extent. Pearson's correlation revealed that ΔODI (oxygen desaturation index/h) was the predominant estimate with a positive association with Δhomocysteine (r = 0.525, p = .012). CONCLUSION: TORS-OSA surgery could decrease homocysteine levels in OSA patients. The effects were more relevant in severe OSA patients with abnormal preoperative homocysteine levels.

Decreased Peripapillary and Macular Vascular Densities in Patients with Moderate/Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome.

Purpose: To compare peripapillary and macular vascular densities (PVDs and MVDs) between patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSA) and control subjects with symptoms of sleep-related breathing disorders only by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Participants and Methods: In this prospective study, 192 participants underwent a full-night polysomnography to determine OSA severity and subsequently received OCTA measurements as well as AngioTool software analysis. Results: A total of 146 patients with OSA (51 mild, 43 moderate, 52 severe) and 24 control subjects (apnea/hypopnea index, AHI <5) were enrolled. PVDs and MVDs in the superficial and choroidal layers were significantly different among the four groups. When participants with simple snoring/mild OSA (AHI <15) were grouped together and compared with moderate/severe OSA (AHI ≥15), PVDs were significantly lower for the latter group in the superficial layer (p = 0.0003), deep layer (p = 0.004), and choroidal layer (p = 0.003). MVDs were also lower for the moderate/severe OSA group in the superficial (p = 0.012) and choroidal layer (p = 0.004). Negative correlations were identified between AHI and PVDs in the superficial layer (ρ = -0.257, p = 0.0007), deep layer (ρ = -0.197, p = 0.0102) and choroidal layer (ρ = -0.220, p = 0.0039) and between AHI and MVDs in the superficial layer (ρ = -0.199, p = 0.0094) and choroid layer (ρ = -0.186, p = 0.0152). Conclusion: PVDs and MVDs were significantly lower in patients with moderate/severe OSA as compared to subjects with simple snoring/mild OSA. Furthermore, decreased PVDs and MVDs significantly correlated with OSA severity.