Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Is a Potential Risk Factor for Juvenile-Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis.

INTRODUCTION: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP). Although HPV is common in children, the prevalence of JORRP is low. It is likely that other factors contribute to the pathogenesis of JORRP, during either activation or reactivation of a latent HPV infection. There is evidence that laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) might be such a risk factor for adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. This study investigated if LPR might also be a risk factor for JORRP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with JORRP of the larynx that required microlaryngoscopy at a tertiary referral hospital were included in this prospective case-series study from November 2015 to November 2017. Using immunohistochemistry, HPV infection and pepsin associated with LPR were diagnosed from laryngeal biopsies. RESULTS: Eleven children (aged 4-14 years) were analyzed. No patient had a history of immunodeficiency or tobacco smoke exposure. All patients underwent at least three previous surgeries due to JORRP and had been vaccinated against HPV in the past. Five children were treated using antivirotics and immunomodulators. The only known maternal risk factor was that three mothers were primiparous. All 11 samples were infected with HPV (type 6 or 11). Pathologic LPR was diagnosed in 5/11 children (45.5%). CONCLUSION: LPR may be a risk factor for JORRP, contributing to its development by activating or reactivating a latent HPV infection. Results are in accordance with those from our previous study in adults.

Combined transcranial magnetic stimulation in the treatment of chronic tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is currently being tested for suppressing the symptoms of subjective chronic primary tinnitus, although its effect is controversial. The aim of this randomized double-blinded controlled trial was to determine the effect of rTMS with unique settings for tinnitus treatment. METHODS: Fifty-three adult patients suffering from chronic subjective unilateral or bilateral nonpulsatile primary tinnitus for at least 6 months were randomly assigned to rTMS (group 1, n = 20), sham stimulation (group 2, n = 12), or medicament therapy only (group 3, n = 21). The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (frequency 25 Hz, 300 pulses, and 80% resting motor threshold [RMT]) on the left side and primary auditory cortex (1 Hz, 1000 pulses, 110% RMT) were stimulated on both sides in patients in group 1 for 5 consecutive days. The Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire (TRQ), Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (THQ), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), pure-tone audiometry with Fowler scoring of hearing loss, and tinnitus analysis were used to evaluate tinnitus in all patients. Data were recorded the day the patient was included in the study and at 1- and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: The study groups were homogenous. No significant effect of rTMS was found at 1 or 6 months based on the BDI, THQ, and TRQ scores or tinnitus masking. There was a significant but clinically irrelevant effect on the THI score after 1 and 6 months. INTERPRETATION: No significant effect of bilateral low-frequency rTMS of the primary auditory cortex and high-frequency stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was demonstrated.

Comparison of Impedance and Pepsin Detection in the Laryngeal Mucosa to Determine Impedance Values that Indicate Pathological Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, a 24-h impedance was used to detect laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). However, not every case of LPR is pathological. Thus, pathological pharyngeal impedance values need to be clearly established to diagnose pathological LPR. The aim of our study was to establish pathological 24-h pharyngoesophageal impedance/pH values for the diagnosis of LPR. METHODS: The study was conducted in a tertiary care setting. A total of 30 patients who were referred to microlaryngoscopy for a laryngeal pathology that might be caused by LPR were included in this prospective study. All patients were off proton-pump inhibitor therapy. The 24-h pharyngoesophageal impedance-pH monitoring was performed 1 day before surgery. A biopsy of laryngeal tissue was obtained during microlaryngoscopy and was analyzed by immunohistochemistry to detect pepsin. The patients were divided into two groups: pepsin negative and pepsin positive (which indicated pathological LPR). The results of 24-h multichannel intraluminal impedance-dual-channel pH monitoring were compared between the groups. The number of LPR episodes in the pepsin-positive group was analyzed to establish a cutoff value for pathological LPR. RESULTS: There were 18 participants in the pepsin-negative group and 12 in the pepsin-positive group. The median total pharyngeal refluxes detected were two (0-5) in the pepsin-negative group and 14 (6-39) in the pepsin-positive group (P<0.001), although the groups were otherwise homogeneous. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of all types of refluxes between groups. Six or more pharyngeal refluxes were the cutoff for the presence of pepsin in the laryngeal mucosa and, thereby, for the diagnosis of relevant/pathological LPR. CONCLUSION: Six or more pharyngeal reflux episodes registered during the 24-h impedance/pH monitoring seem to be the cutoff for diagnosing pathological LPR. Therefore, it is possible to suggest establishing this value as the pathological impedance value indicating pathological LPR. These results must be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size.

Comparison of long-term voice outcomes after vocal fold augmentation using autologous fat injection by direct microlaryngoscopy versus office-based calcium hydroxylapatite injection.

The objective is to compare the long-term voice outcomes of vocal fold augmentation (VFA) using autologous fat injection via direct microlaryngoscopy versus office-based calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) injection. Patients with glottal insufficiency and a gap no greater than 3 mm caused by unilateral vocal fold paralysis or vocal fold atrophy were prospectively recruited to the study from September 2012 to September 2015. From September 2012 to May 2014, VFA was only performed using autologous fat via direct microlaryngoscopy under general anesthesia (N = 14). From May 2014 to September 2015, VFA was performed as an office-based procedure using a transoral approach to inject CaHA (N = 17). Videolaryngostroboscopic evaluation, subjective satisfaction with voice, voice handicap index (VHI), and maximal phonation time (MPT) were analyzed pre-injection and 12 months after VFA. A total of 31 patients were analyzed. One year after VFA, 67.8% of the patients were satisfied with their voice, with no significant difference between groups (P = 0.247). The mean improvement in VHI in the autologous fat group was 31.6 ± 16.82 versus 35 ± 27.24 in the CaHA group (P = 0.664). MPT improvement was also similar in the two groups: 5.5 ± 2.52 for the autologous fat group versus 6.0 ± 3.98 for the CaHA group (P = 0.823). Both autologous fat injection via direct microlaryngoscopy and office-based CaHA injection have good long-term results. There were no differences in the treatment results of the two procedures 1 year after injection.

Atypical Cogan's syndrome: a case report and summary of current treatment options.

Cogan's syndrome is a rare chronic vasculitis, characterized in its typical form by progressive sensorineural bilateral hearing loss, vestibular symptoms and non-syphilitic interstitial keratitis. Only a few cases have been reported in children, most of whom have been diagnosed with the typical form. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to ensure a favorable prognosis. Systemic treatment usually begins with high dosage corticosteroids. In case the initial treatment fails, other immunosuppressive drugs are used (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, cyclosporine A and azathioprine). Additional treatment possibilities, such as plasmapheresis, TNF-alpha blockers (etanercept and infliximab), rituximab, tocilizumab and mycophenolate mofetil have been described over the past few years.