The Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factors in Grafted Fascia into the Vocal Fold of Rabbits

Abstract Introduction The human larynx is a very important organ for communication. Many conditions lead to scarring of the vocal folds, decreasing voice quality. Objective We aimed to determine whether fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) may influence tissue integration of grafted fascia into the vocal folds of an animal model. Methods This is an experimental animal study with 12 adult rabbits that were submitted to a grafting fragment obtained from superficial cervical fascia into the vocal fold lamina propria, bilaterally. The right vocal fold was injected with FGFs. The animals were sacrificed after 1 month or 12 months, depending on the group they were assigned to, and a histological analysis of their vocal folds was performed.We analyzed the histological changes (such as the presence of fibrosis and neovascularization) induced by the acute or chronic inflammatory reactions. Results The FGFs induced acute inflammatory changes in all animals after 1 month of the initial experiment. The presence of FGFs triggered more fibrosis than the expected due to the surgical procedure itself when compared with the control side of all animals after 12 months of the initial experiment. Conclusions Fibroblast growth factors alone do not represent a good therapeutic option in phonosurgery, since we observed higher levels of fibrosis in the vocal fold lamina propria. Further studies combining more substances may be necessary to elucidate the best option to be used in this kind of surgery. (AU)

Cephalometric evaluation of the airway space and hyoid bone in children with atypical deglutition: correlations study / Evaluación cefalométrica del espacio de las vías respiratorias y hueso hioides en niños con deglución atípica: estudio correlacional

Although there is a close relationship between swallowing and breathing are no studies that relate to atypical swallowing radiographic anatomy of the airway space and its possible correlation with the radiographic position of the hyoid bone. The aim was to evaluate the possible correlation with the radiographic position of the hyoid bone and airway space in lateral radiographs of children with atypical deglutition. Using cephalometric analysis on lateral teleradiographs, the distances of H-MP (hyoid to mandibular plane) and H-T (hyoid to tuber) were Spearman's correlation analysis was performed with PAS (airway space) in two groups: the experimental group with atypical deglutition and the control group normal deglutition. Both groups included subjects in mixed dentition stage. Thevariable T-H had statistically significant correlation with PAS (0.0286) and the variable MP-H had significant correlation with variable PAS (0.0053). Ourresults show that advanced positive correlation of the radiographic position of the hyoid bone to the airway space only in the group of normal swallowing. The lower airway in patients with atypical swallowing, causing changes in tongue posture which leads to change in the position of the hyoid bone.

Aunque existe una estrecha relación entre la deglución y la respiración, no se dispone de estudios que relacionen la anatomía radiográfica atípica de deglución del espacio de la vía aérea y su posible correlación con la posición radiológica del hueso hioides. El objetivo fue evaluar la posible correlación de la posición radiológica del hueso hioides y las vías aéreas en radiografías laterales de niños con deglución atípica. Utilizando el análisis cefalométrico sobre telerradiografías laterales, fueron analizadas las correlaciones entre las distancias H-MP (hueso hioides al plano mandibular) y HT (hioides al tubérculo) y el PAS (espacio de la vía aérea) en dos grupos: el grupo experimental con la deglución atípica y el grupo control con deglución normal. Ambos grupos estaban en etapa de dentición mixta. Las variables HT y MP-H tuvieron una correlación estadísticamente significativa con la variable PAS, 0,0286 y 0,0053 respectivamente. Nuestros resultados muestran que la correlación positiva de la situación radiológica avanzada del hueso hioides al espacio de las vías respiratorias sólo se observa en el grupo de deglución normal. La vía respiratoria inferior en los pacientes con deglución atípica provoca cambios en la postura de la lengua, lo que conduce a un cambio en la posición del hueso hioides.