A case of vocal polyps improved with herbal medicine: A case report.

Vocal polyps are benign vocal cord lesions, which mainly manifest as a hoarse voice. Laryngeal microsurgery is the most common treatment. However, because of anxiety regarding invasive treatment, it is necessary to have a non-invasive treatment option. A 43 year old female patient who is a teacher visited a Korean medical hospital for persistent hoarseness with a vocal polyp. After taking herbal medicine for hoarseness (Kyung-Hee-cheong-um-whan) and pharyngitis (cheong-in-li-gyok-tang and cheong-in-ryu-que-whan) for almost 10 weeks, the vocal polyp was reduced and symptoms improved. Herbal prescription for pharyngitis and hoarseness can be applied to vocal polyps as non-invasive treatment.

Selenium supplementation and insulin resistance in a randomized, clinical trial.

Objective: While controversial, observational and randomized clinical trial data implicate the micronutrient selenium (Se) in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that Se supplementation adversely affects pancreatic ß-cell function and insulin sensitivity. Research design and methods: In a subset of 400 individuals participating in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Se at 200 µg/day for colorectal adenomatous polyps, fasting plasma glucose and insulin were measured before randomization and within 6 months of completing intervention. Change in the homeostasis model assessment-ß cell function (HOMA2-%ß) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-%S) were compared between arms. A subgroup of 175 (79 Se and 96 placebo) participants underwent a modified oral glucose tolerance test (mOGTT) at the end of intervention and change in glucose values was assessed. Results: No statistically significant differences were observed for changes in HOMA2-%ß or HOMA2-%S between those who received Se compared with placebo. After a mean of 2.9 years on study, mean HOMA2-%ß values were 3.1±24.0 and 3.1±29.8 for the Se and placebo groups, respectively (p=0.99). For HOMA2-%S, the values were -0.5±223.2 and 80.9±1530.9 for the Se and placebo groups, respectively (p=1.00). Stratification by sex or age did not reveal any statistically significant effects on insulin sensitivity by treatment group. For mOGTT, mean baseline fasting blood glucose concentrations were significantly higher among participants in the placebo group compared with the Se group (96.6±14.6 and 92.3±12.0, respectively; p=0.04), a trend which remained through the 20 min assessment. Conclusions: These findings do not support a significant adverse effect of daily Se supplementation with 200 µg/day of selenized yeast on ß-cell function or insulin sensitivity as an explanation for previously reported associations between Se and T2D. Further clarification of longer term effects of Se is needed. Clinical trial registry: NIH Clinical Trials.gov number NCT00078897.

Effect of tea saponin on ephyrae and polyps of the moon jellyfish Aurelia sp.1.

The moon jellyfish (Aurelia sp.1) is thought to be a nuisance for the sea cucumber aquaculture, which commonly occur in the sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) culture ponds of the Yellow Sea, China. To develop an appropriate method to control Aurelia sp.1 blooms, the toxic effects of tea saponin on Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae and polyps were tested in laboratory experiments. Our results revealed that tea saponin caused significant morphological changes, behavioral abnormality and mortality in Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae and polyps in 24 h and 48 h exposure experiments. The 24 h and 48 h median lethal concentrations (LC50) values of tea saponin for Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae were 1.9 and 1.1 mg L-1 respectively, while the LC50 value for Aurelia sp.1 polyps was 0.4 mg L-1 after 24h and 48 h of exposure to tea saponin. Comparison with literature results of tea saponin on A. japonicus indicates that the resistance of A. japonicus to tea saponin is 12-18 times greater than that of Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae. Therefore, the appropriate tea saponin dosage for the control of Aurelia sp.1 should be paid enough attention in order to minimize possible damage for sea cucumber. We suggest that the recommended level of tea saponin to eradicate Aurelia sp.1 ephyrae and polyps in sea cucumber culture ponds be lower than 1.35 mg L-1.

[Jinsangsanjie capsule for treating vocal fold polyps and vocal nodules].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate therapeutic effects of Jinsangsanjie capsule on vocal fold polyps and vocal nodules. METHOD: Seventy-five patients with vocal fold polyps and vocal nodules were treated by taking Jinsangsanjie capsule orally. After the therapeutic course, they were all followed up for 1 month. RESULT: The effective rate of vocal nodule group was 93.8%, the effective rate of vocal fold polyp group was 89.7%, the effective rate of vocal nodule with acute congestion group was 100%, the effective rate of vocal fold polyp with acute congestion group was 100%, and the effective rate of hypertrophy of vocal cords with chronic congestion group was 66.7%. CONCLUSION: Jinsangsanjie capsule has definite efficacy for treatment of vocal fold polyps and vocal nodules and deserved to be recommended.

Percutaneous corticosteroid injection for vocal fold polyp.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of percutaneous corticosteroid injection in patients with vocal fold polyp and to describe its advantages and limitations in this group of patients. DESIGN: Prospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-four patients with vocal fold polyp treated between March 1 and December 31, 2007. INTERVENTIONS: Percutaneous corticosteroid injection performed with the patient under topical anesthesia. Stroboscopic examination was carried out to evaluate the postoperative response. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Grade of the Severity of Dysphonia, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenicity, and Strain (GRBAS) scale and the Voice Handicap Index were used for subjective assessments. Phonatory results including maximum phonation time, mean flow rate, jitter, shimmer, and noise to harmonic ratio were also collected for objective evaluations. RESULTS: The surgery was completed smoothly in 22 of the 24 patients, typically within 20 minutes. No complications were noted. The overall response rate by stroboscopy was 91% (20 of 22 patients) and complete remission rate was 59% (13 of 22). A significant improvement was noted between preoperative and postoperative results on the GRBAS scale (P < .001, P < .001, P = .003, P = .001, and P = .002, respectively, for the 5 measures). Mean Voice Handicap Index (P = .001), maximum phonation time (P = .02), jitter (P = .006), shimmer (P = .001), and noise to harmonic ratio (P = .01) also improved significantly after percutaneous corticosteroid injection. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous corticosteroid injection can be used to manage vocal fold polyps with low invasiveness and minimal morbidity. It offers a simple and cost-effective alternative to traditional direct microlaryngoscopic procedures.

[An analysis of therapeutic effects of jinsangsanjie and jinsangkaiyin pills on polyps and/or nodules of the vocal cords].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of Jinsangsanjie and Jinsangkaiyin Pills in treating polyps and/or nodules of the vocal cords. METHOD: Two hundred and fifty cases of vocal polyp and/or nodule including 88 cases of early poly, 115 cases of nodule and 47 eases of postoperative patients of vocal polyp were treated with Jinsangsanjie and Jinsangkaiyin Pills. RESULT: The total effective rate of early polyps and nodules was 94.1% and the total effective rate of postoperative patients of vocal polyp was 100.0. CONCLUSION: The better therapeutic effects of Jinsangsanjie and Jinsangkaiyin Pills in treating vocal polyps and/or nodules are worthy to be popularized.

Inflammatory endotracheal polyp resolved after antibiotic treatment.

We describe a rare case of asymptomatic inflammatory endotracheal polyp resolved by antibiotic treatment. Histological examination of biopsy specimens showed an inflammatory polyp consisting of fibrovascular stroma and sparse lymphocyte infiltration. The size of the polyp was unchanged during 3 months without any treatment and its etiology was unclear. Although a bacterial organism was never proven, the polyp decreased remarkably under treatment with an oral antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) and did not recur for 6 months. Antibiotic treatment may be of value for inflammatory tracheobronchial polyps in cases of unclear etiology.

Sucralfate enema in ulcerative rectosigmoid lesions.

To assess the efficacy of sucralfate enemas in distal colonic ulcerative lesions, 22 patients with radiation proctitis (n = 8), idiopathic ulcerative proctitis (n = 5), and solitary rectal ulcer (n = 5) unresponsive to conventional medical therapy, and those with ulcerated and bleeding rectal polyps awaiting polypectomy (n = 4) were studied. Enemas of sucralfate suspension (2 gm in 20 ml water) were administered twice daily for a period of three weeks. Clinical and sigmoidoscopic improvements were observed in 19 and 18 of the 22 patients, respectively (86 and 82 percent, respectively). No side effects were seen. The authors conclude that sucralfate enemas are useful in the treatment of ulcerative lesions of the rectosigmoid.

Effect of wheat fiber and vitamins C and E on rectal polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

Over a 4-year period in a chemoprevention trial on large bowel neoplasia, 58 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis were treated with 4 g of ascorbic acid (vitamin C)/day plus 400 mg of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)/day alone or with a grain fiber supplement (22.5 g/day). In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we determined the effects of these supplements on rectal polyps in these patients. Analysis by intent to treat suggested that the high-fiber supplement had a limited effect. Analysis adjusted for patient compliance showed a stronger benefit from the high-fiber supplement during the middle 2 years of the trial. The results provide evidence for inhibition of benign large bowel neoplasia by grain fiber supplements in excess of 11 g/day in this study population. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that dietary grain fiber and total dietary fat act as competing variables in the genesis of large bowel neoplasia.