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Cancers Mar 2021Surgical removal of the larynx (total laryngectomy) offers a curative approach to patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal (squamous cell) cancer without... (Review)
Review
Surgical removal of the larynx (total laryngectomy) offers a curative approach to patients with advanced laryngeal and hypopharyngeal (squamous cell) cancer without distant metastases. Particularly in T4a carcinoma, laryngectomy seems prognostically superior to primary radio(chemo)therapy. Further relevant indications for laryngectomy include massive laryngeal dysfunction associated with aspiration and recurrence after radio(chemo)therapy, resulting in salvage surgery. The surgical procedure including neck dissection is highly standardised and safe. The resulting aphonia can be compensated by functional rehabilitation (e.g., voice prosthesis) associated with a significant quality of life improvement. This article presents an overview of indications, preoperative diagnostics, surgical procedures, including new developments (robotics), possible complications, the choice of adjuvant treatment, alternative therapeutic approaches, rehabilitation and prognosis. In summary, total laryngectomy still represents a relevant surgical procedure in modern head and neck oncology.
PubMed: 33808695
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061405 -
Planta Medica Mar 2020(hedge mustard and formerly called ) is a common plant in wild lands of Europe and Africa. It is also cultivated for its seeds and leaves to be used in salad or... (Review)
Review
(hedge mustard and formerly called ) is a common plant in wild lands of Europe and Africa. It is also cultivated for its seeds and leaves to be used in salad or mustard. is useful not only in culinary preparations, but it also seems to possess interesting therapeutic properties, especially for throat diseases such as aphonia and hoarseness. For this reason, it is commonly called "herb of singers" (in Italian, "Erba dei cantanti"). Indeed a cup of infusion is frequently consumed by singers before artistic performance, even if its beneficial ability still needs to be scientifically demonstrated. Some preliminary data can be analyzed, but new efforts and resources should be devoted to study and investigate a plant with valuable therapeutic potential. This review summarizes the data available for
Topics: Africa; Brassicaceae; Europe; Seeds; Singing
PubMed: 32018307
DOI: 10.1055/a-1088-9928 -
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Mar 2023The purpose of this study was to review current literature of the impact of COVID-19 on musicians and returning to singing. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to review current literature of the impact of COVID-19 on musicians and returning to singing.
METHODS
A comprehensive search of peer-review articles was completed using PubMed, GoogleScholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search was completed using many key terms including voice, hoarseness, dysphonia, aphonia, cough, singers, and public speakers. The bibliography from each article found was searched to find additional articles. The search process revealed 56 peer-reviewed articles, 18 primary articles, ranging from the years 2019 to 2020.
CONCLUSION
COVID-19 has had a major impact on singers and other musicians worldwide. It can affect the voice and can lead to paresis/paralysis of laryngeal nerves to long-term changes in respiratory function. There is a risk from aerosolization/droplet formation transmission with singing, and with playing wind and brass instruments that can be mitigated by following COVID-19 guidelines. Ways to reduce possible transmission during singing and instrument play include virtual rehearsals or performances, mask-wearing, instrument covers, smaller choirs, performing outside, excellent ventilation being socially distanced, shorter rehearsals, regularly cleaning commonly touched surfaces and washing hands, avoiding contact with others, and temperature screening.
Topics: Humans; Singing; COVID-19; Music; Voice; Dysphonia
PubMed: 33583675
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2020.12.042 -
British Medical Journal Mar 1929
PubMed: 20774508
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.3556.393 -
Patient Related Outcome Measures 2015Functional dysphonia (FD) refers to a voice problem in the absence of a physical condition. It is a multifaceted voice disorder. There is no consensus with regard to its... (Review)
Review
Functional dysphonia (FD) refers to a voice problem in the absence of a physical condition. It is a multifaceted voice disorder. There is no consensus with regard to its definition and inclusion criteria for diagnosis. FD has many predisposing and precipitating factors, which may include genetic susceptibility, psychological traits, and the vocal behavior itself. The assessment of voice disorders should be multidimensional. In addition to the clinical examination, auditory-perceptual, acoustic, and self-assessment analyses are very important. Self-assessment was introduced in the field of voice 25 years ago and has produced a major impact in the clinical and scientific scenario. The choice of treatment for FD is vocal rehabilitation by means of direct therapy; however, compliance has been an issue, except for cases of functional aphonia or when an intensive training is administered. Nevertheless, there are currently no controlled studies that have explored the different options of treatment regimens for these patients. Strategies to improve patient outcome involve proper multidisciplinary diagnosis in order to exclude neurological and psychiatric disorders, careful voice documentation with quantitative measurement and qualitative description of the vocal deviation for comparison after treatment, acoustic evaluation to gather data on the mechanism involved in voice production, self-assessment questionnaires to map the impact of the voice problem on the basis of the patient's perspective, referral to psychological evaluation in cases of suspected clinical anxiety and/or depression, identification of dysfunctional coping strategies, self-regulation data to assist patients with their vocal load, and direct and intensive vocal rehabilitation to reduce psychological resistance and to reassure patient's recovery. An international multicentric effort, involving a large population of voice-disordered patients with no physical pathology, could produce enough data for achieving a consensus regarding this complex problem.
PubMed: 26664248
DOI: 10.2147/PROM.S68631 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jul 2021Conversion aphonia is a rare disease characterized by total loss of voice. It is more commonly reported in females than males, and its diagnosis is based on a...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Conversion aphonia is a rare disease characterized by total loss of voice. It is more commonly reported in females than males, and its diagnosis is based on a comprehensive patient's clinical history, and assessment of vocal cords and other laryngeal structures using Fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Early diagnosis and phonation have a significant role in the treatment.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 12-year-old medically free male patient with unremarkable medical history and normal physical, social, cognitive and emotional developmental milestones presented to the otorhinolaryngology clinic with a sudden loss of voice for a duration of 3 days with absence of other associated symptoms. A comprehensive clinical history and general examination were within normal limits, and fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed a normal-looking laryngeal structure with intact bilateral mobile vocal cords. A diagnosis of psychogenic aphonia was the most likely cause, so speech therapy concurrent with psychotherapy was the mainstay of treatment. Improvement of the patient condition noticed and he restored his speech 4 weeks after initiation of his treatment.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Psychogenic Aphonia is rare disorder with female predominance and younger age onset when it is compared to males. It is also known as functional neurological symptom disorder (FND) as it is not explained by underlying medical or neurological factors. It is often preceded by psychological trauma or stressors. Diagnosis of Psychogenic Aphonia is challenging and it is often missed and delayed. Accordingly, the delay in diagnosis may significantly affect the ultimate outcome for affected patients. Speech therapy concurrent with psychotherapy represents the mainstay of treatment.
CONCLUSION
Being rare disorder, early recognition and diagnosis of conversion disorder with aphonia is crucial. Applying diagnostic criteria which is introduced by American Psychiatric Association in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) facilitate the diagnosis. Multidisciplinary approach in management of affected patients ensures better outcome.
PubMed: 34186455
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.106135 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2015As a further step towards the modernization of acupuncture, the objective of this review was to figure out the frequency and severity of adverse complications and events... (Review)
Review
As a further step towards the modernization of acupuncture, the objective of this review was to figure out the frequency and severity of adverse complications and events in acupuncture treatment reported from 1980 to 2013 in China. All first-hand case reports of acupuncture-related complications and adverse events that could be identified in the scientific literature were reviewed and classified according to the type of complication and adverse event, circumstance of the event, and long-term patient outcome. The selected case reports were published between 1980 and 2013 in 3 databases. Relevant papers were collected and analyzed by 2 reviewers. Over the 33 years, 182 incidents were identified in 133 relevant papers. Internal organ, tissue, or nerve injury is the main complications of acupuncture especially for pneumothorax and central nervous system injury. Adverse effects also included syncope, infections, hemorrhage, allergy, burn, aphonia, hysteria, cough, thirst, fever, somnolence, and broken needles. Qualifying training of acupuncturists should be systemized and the clinical acupuncture operations should be standardized in order to effectively prevent the occurrence of acupuncture accidents, enhance the influence of acupuncture, and further popularize acupuncture to the rest of the world.
PubMed: 26339265
DOI: 10.1155/2015/432467 -
The Hospital Apr 1908
PubMed: 29818791
DOI: No ID Found