Gut Immunomodulation with Vedolizumab prior to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are often associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IEI can be corrected by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT); however, peritransplantation intestinal inflammation may increase the risk of gut graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Vedolizumab inhibits the homing of lymphocytes to the intestine and may attenuate gut GVHD, yet its role in preventing GVHD in pediatric patients with IEI-associated IBD has not been studied. Here we describe a cohort of pediatric patients with IEI-associated IBD treated with vedolizumab before and during allogeneic HSCT. The study involved a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with IEI-associated IBD treated with vedolizumab at 6 weeks, 4 weeks, and 1 week before undergoing HSCT. The conditioning regimen consisted of treosulfan, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide with rabbit antithymocyte globulin, and GVHD prophylaxis included tacrolimus and steroids. Eleven patients (6 females) with a median age of 5 years (range, 0.4 to 14 years) with diverse IEI were included. IBD symptoms were characterized by abdominal pain, loose stools, and blood in stools. Four patients had developed a perianal fistula, and 1 patient had a rectal prolapse. One patient had both a gastrostomy tube and a jejunal tube in situ. Treatment of IBD before HSCT included steroids in 11 patients, anakinra in 2, infliximab in 4, sulfasalazine in 2, mesalazine in 2, and vedolizumab. IBD symptoms were considered controlled in the absence of abdominal pain, loose stools, or blood in stools. Graft sources for HSCT were unrelated donor cord in 5 patients (2 with a 5/8 HLA match, 2 with a 7/8 match, and 1 with a 6/8 match), peripheral blood stem cells in 5 patients (2 haploidentical, 1 with a 9/10 HLA match, and 2 with a 10/10 match), and bone marrow in 1 patient (10/10 matched sibling donor). The median number of vedolizumab infusions was 4 (range, 3 to 12) before HSCT and 1 (range, 1 to 3) after HSCT, and all were reported to be uneventful. All patients had engrafted. Acute GVHD occurred in 4 patients and was limited to grade I skin GVHD only. Chronic GVHD occurred in 1 patient and again was limited to the skin. There was no gut GVHD. Three patients experienced cytomegalovirus viremia, and 2 patients had Epstein-Barr virus viremia. At the time of this report, all patients were alive with no evidence of IBD at a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 3 to 39 months). Administration of vedolizumab pre- and post-HSCT in pediatric patients with IEI-associated IBD is well tolerated and associated with a low rate of gut GVHD. These findings provide a platform for the prospective study and use of vedolizumab for GVHD prophylaxis in pediatric patients with known intestinal inflammation as a pre-HSCT comorbidity.

Remote Voice Therapy With an Oscillatory Positive Expiratory Pressure Device in Subjects With Vocal Fatigue: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed at assessing the efficacy of remote voice therapy (telepractice) implemented with Shaker Medic Plus device in subjects with vocal fatigue. METHOD: Thirty-six participants were initially enrolled in this study. Twenty-four participants with vocal fatigue were finally randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (a) voice treatment with Shaker Medic Plus device plus vocal hygiene program (n = 12) and (b) voice treatment with water resistance therapy (WRT) plus vocal hygiene program (n = 12). Laryngoscopic assessment was conducted on all subjects. Before and after voice therapy, participants underwent (a) self-assessment of voice: Vocal Fatigue Index and Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale and (b) instrumental assessment with aerodynamic, acoustic, and electroglottographic measures. The treatment period included six voice therapy sessions within 6 weeks. Each session lasted 30 min. For both groups, exercises consisted of a sequence of nine phonatory tasks performed with Shaker Medic Plus (experimental group) and WRT (control group). Comparisons for all variables were performed between the experimental group and control group. RESULTS: Significant improvements were found for self-reported variables when comparing pre- and postmeasures for both groups. No significant differences were found when comparing groups. No significant main effects or interactions were observed for any of the observed instrumental variables. CONCLUSIONS: Remote physiologic voice therapy with Shaker Medic Plus device and water resistance therapy seem to be both effective to improve voice in subjects diagnosed with vocal fatigue. No differences should be expected between these therapeutic protocols when treating patients with vocal fatigue. Moreover, both are effective at reducing tiredness of voice, voice avoidance, physical discomfort associated with voicing, subjective perception of sensory discomfort in throat, and reduction of physical, emotional, and functional impact of voice problems.

Cánula Nasal de Alto Flujo en Adultos con Enfermedades Respiratorias Crónicas durante el Ejercicio Físico: Protocolo de Revisión Sistemática y Metaanálisis / High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Adults with Chronic Respiratory Diseases during Physical Exercise: A Protocol Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introducción. El entrenamiento físico puede mejorar la capacidad de ejercicio, la disnea y la calidad de vida (CV) en pacientes con enfermedades respiratorias crónicas (ERC). En este contexto, el uso de oxígeno suplementario a través de una cánula nasal de alto flujo (CNAF) podría ser un dispositivo que permita tolerar mayores niveles de actividad con menos síntomas de esfuerzo físico, optimizando en última instancia la capacidad de ejercicio y la CV. Objetivo. Este protocolo pretende conducir una revisión sistemática para evaluar el efecto terapéutico de la CNAF durante el ejercicio físico en pacientes con ERC. Fuente de búsqueda. Se realizarán búsquedas en el Registro Cochrane Central de Ensayos Controlados (CENTRAL), PUBMED, Embase, Lilacs, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov y literatura gris. Criterios de elegibilidad. Examinaremos los ECA de acuerdo con los criterios de elegibilidad para su inclusión en nuestra revisión. Dos revisores examinarán de forma independiente cada estudio para la elegibilidad, la extracción de datos y la evaluación del riesgo de sesgo. Se combinarán los resultados mediante un metanálisis y se aplicará el sistema GRADE para evaluar la certeza de las pruebas para cada resultado. La medida de resultado primaria será la capacidad de ejercicio, y las medidas de resultado secundarias serán la calidad de vida, la disnea, la funcionalidad, la comodidad, las complicaciones y adherencia. Se realizarán metaanálisis para determinar la diferencia de medias (DM) o la DM estandarizada para los datos continuos y la razón de riesgo para los datos dicotómicos. Se realizarán análisis de subgrupos según los tipos y la gravedad de la enfermedad, las condiciones de ejercicio físico y el estado de los dispositivos de oxigenoterapia. Ética y difusión. Como los investigadores no accederán a información que pueda conducir a la identificación de un participante individual, no fue necesario a obtener aprobación ética. Número de registro de PROSPERO: CRD42022336263.

Background. Physical training can improve exercise capacity, dyspnoea, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs). It has been suggested that using supplemental oxygen through a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) could lead to higher levels of activity to be tolerated with fewer symptoms of physical exertion, ultimately optimizing exercise capacity and QoL. Objective. To conduct a systematic review to assess the therapeutic effect of HFNC during physical exercise in patients with CRDs. We will search the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PUBMED, Embase, Lilacs, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov, and grey literature. Eligibility criteria. We will examine RCTs according to the eligibility criteria for inclusion in our review. Two reviewers will independently examine each study for eligibility, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. We will combine the results using meta-analysis and apply the GRADE system to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome. The primary outcome will be exercise capacity, and secondary outcomes will be QoL, dyspnoea, functionality, comfort, complications, and adherence. We will perform meta-analyses to determine the mean difference (MD) or standardized MD for continuous data and the risk ratio for dichotomous data. Subgroup analyses will be performed according to types and severity of disease, physical exercise conditions, and condition of oxygen therapy devices. Ethics and Dissemination. As researchers will not access information that could lead to the identification of an individual participant, obtaining ethical approval was waived. Prospero registration number: CRD42022336263.

H2O2 Concentration in Exhaled Breath Condensate Increases After Phonotrauma: A Promise of Noninvasive Monitoring?

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to observe the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) after induced phonotrauma. METHODS: Thirty-five participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions (1) Vocal demand and (2) Control. Participants in the experimental group (vocal demand) were asked to read aloud some texts during 1 hour, at 85-90 dB. Inflammation (H2O2 from exhaled breath condensate), acoustic, aerodynamic, and subjective measures were obtained at four time points: before vocal demand (baseline), immediately after baseline, 4-hour after baseline, and 24 hours after baseline. The same acquisition process was implemented for subjects in control group, except that they were not asked to engage in any vocal demand tasks at all. RESULTS: As for biological samples, a significant effect for group was observed. Higher values were found for participants in experimental condition. Significant differences were observed for within contrasts in the experimental group, namely 4 hours against baseline, 4 hours against immediately post, and 24 hours against 4 hours. Instrumental outcomes did not show significant differences across the different conditions at any time points. Self-reported measures (vocal fatigue and sensation of muscle tension) showed a significant main effect for group and main effect for condition. CONCLUSIONS: Intense vocal demand causes an increase in the concentration of H2O2 obtained from EBC at four hours after baseline, which is compatible with the generation of an inflammatory process in the vocal folds (phonotrauma). Moreover, the increase in the sensation of vocal fatigue and muscle tension after demand tasks seems to be an immediate reaction that did not match in time with the increment of H2O2 concentration.

Voice Performance Chart: A Pedagogical Tool to Enhance Vocal Expressive Ability in Acting Students.

The purpose of the present study was to explore the effectiveness of the Voice Performance Chart (VPCH) as a pedagogical training tool to enhance vocal expressive ability of 1st year acting students. Forty recorded audio samples were perceptually assessed by six blinded raters, using a five-points Likert scale for each of the dependent variables observed. Results showed that loudness, pitch, and speech rate variations significantly differ when comparing the vocal condition before and after a 11 weeks training period. That suggests that VPCH can be an effective pedagogical tool to develop vocal expressive capabilities of acting students, by enhancing their expressive nuances level, according to the text content. Additionally, it might be argued that VPCH is an effective pedagogical tool not only for acting students, but also for individuals from any discipline requiring the use of the spoken voice in a professional context and/or in an expressive sense.

Tissue Mobilization During Double Source of Vibration Semioccluded Vocal Tract Exercises: A Neck and Face Surface Acceleration Study.

Purpose This study primarily aimed at observing the possible tissue mobilization on facial, neck, and chest tissues caused by different double source of vibration semioccluded vocal tract exercises (DSV-SOVTEs). Another goal was to inspect the degree of self-perceived sensation of a massage-like sensation. Method Fifty-five participants engaged in a set of several DSV-SOVTEs: (a) phonation with a silicone tube submerged 2 and 8 cm below water surface, (b) Acapella Choice device, (c) lip trills, and (d) tongue trills. A self-perceived massage-like sensation was also assessed. All exercises were performed at three loudness levels. Tissue mobilization signal was captured by four accelerometers placed in four different body regions: (a) over the cheek, (b) over the neck, (c) over the thyroid cartilage, and (d) over the suprasternal notch. Results There is a differential effect of all DSV-SOVTEs on tissue mobilization. All four observed dependent variables from tissue oscillation modulation (frequency, amplitude, jitter, and shimmer) showed significant three-way interactions. In general, amplitude and frequency of tissue oscillation modulation increases with loudness. A self-perceived massage-like sensation showed highly significant differences between DSV-SOVTEs. Conclusions All DSV-SOVTEs do mobilize tissues. Type of exercise, loudness level, and body region produce an effect on all tissue oscillation variables. Acapella device produces the largest amplitude of vibration, lowest frequency, and more regular oscillation of tissue. Water resistance therapy showed the most irregular tissue oscillation. Control of these variables is likely to be relevant to obtain the best outcomes in patients.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Chilean Version of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile - VAPP. / Traducción y equivalencia cultural de la Versión Chilena del Voice Activity and Participation Profile ­ VAPP.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to obtain the cross-culturally-adapted Chilean version of the voice activity and participation profile - VAPP. METHODS: The process began a with translation of the original English version of the VAPP instrument into Spanish, carried out by two bilingual speech-language pathologists (SLP), followed by a back-translation from a third SLP who was unbiased by the previous stages. A committee of 5 SLP with experience in the area of voice compared the original version, the back translation, and the translated version, seeking divergences and discrepancies between the three versions. A consensus was reached, and they renamed the protocol "Perfil de Participación y Actividad Vocal (PPAV-CL)", with 28 questions which were answered using a visual analog scale (VAS) of 100 millimeters in length. In the process of making the cross-cultural equivalence, the protocol was applied to 24 subjects with voice disorders. For each question, the option of "Not applicable" was added to the answer choices for identification of the questions not comprehended or not appropriate for the target population. None of the subjects under assessment had difficulty answering the questions, therefore it was unnecessary to modify the translation of any of them. The final version of the PPAV-CL shows the appropriate characteristics to be understood. RESULTS: The PPAV-CL instrument reflects the original English version in the number of questions and items. CONCLUSION: a cultural equivalence of the VAPP to Chilean Spanish was achieved. The validation of the PPAV-CL is currently underway.

OBJETIVO: Obtener la equivalencia cultural de la versión chilena del Protocolo VAPP, por medio de su adaptación cultural y lingüística. MÉTODO: El proceso se inicia con la traducción del instrumento original del VAPP realizada por dos Fonoaudiólogos bilingües. Seguido de una retro traducción al inglés por una tercera Fonoaudióloga quien no presenta sesgos de etapas previas. Un comité conformado por 5 Fonoaudiólogos con experiencia en el área de la voz comparó la versión original, retro traducida y traducida, buscando divergencias y discrepancias entre las tres versiones. Llegando a un consenso, el protocolo se tituló "Perfil de Participación y Actividad Vocal (PPAV-CL)", con 28 preguntas, las cuales son consignadas con escala analógica visual (EAV) de 100 milímetros de largo. Durante el proceso de equivalencia cultural, se aplicó el protocolo a 28 sujetos con trastornos de voz. En cada pregunta, se adicionó la opción "No aplicable" como respuesta, con el objetivo de identificar preguntas incomprendidas o inadecuadas del grupo albo. Ninguno de los sujetos evaluados tuvo dificultad en responder las preguntas, por lo cual no fue necesario modificar la traducción de ninguna de ellas. La versión final del protocolo PPAV-CL presenta las características adecuadas en su comprensión. RESULTADOS: El instrumento PPAV-CL refleja la versión original en inglés, en número de preguntas e ítems. CONCLUSION: Se logró equivalencia cultural de VAPP para el español chileno (PPAV-CL). La validación del PPAV-CL está actualmente en curso.

How Do Tube Diameter and Vocal Tract Configuration Affect Oral Pressure Oscillation Characteristics Caused by Bubbling During Water Resistance Therapy?

PURPOSE: The present study aimed at observing the effect of tube diameter and vocal tract configuration on frequency, amplitude, and regularity of Poral oscillation caused by bubbling during water resistance therapy (WRT). A secondary objective was to examine the degree of self-perceived sensation of massage-like effect produced by bubbles during WRT. METHODS: Forty-two participants were included in this study. Assessment protocol included: (1) self-assessment of massage-like sensation and (2) objective assessment of air pressure-related variables. In the first section, participants were instructed to select and produce a sustained-vowel like phonation into three different tubes (varying inner diameter) submerged 5 cm below the water surface. Also, two different vocal tract configurations were produced by all subjects: (1) horizontal position (regular vocal tract position), (2) vertical position (yawning position with low vertical laryngeal position). Participants were asked to self-assess their massage-like sensation. In the second section, objective measurements of air pressure-related variables were acquired during WRT exercises. RESULTS: Statistical differences were driven by tube inner diameter for oral pressure oscillation frequency, amplitude, jitter and shimmer and self-perceived massage-like sensation. Vocal tract position generated differences for medium-size tube and large-size tube only for self-perceived massage-like sensation. CONCLUSION: Inner diameter of tube and configuration of vocal tract affect bubble characteristics and massage-like sensation during WRT. Larger tube diameters and vocal tract volumes seem to produce more regular bubbles, lower bubble frequency, and larger bubble amplitude, causing a more evident massage-like sensation. Therefore, control of these variables is apparently relevant to obtain the best effect in patients with voice disorders.

Traducción y equivalencia cultural de la Versión Chilena del Voice Activity and Participation Profile - VAPP / Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Chilean Version of the Voice Activity and Participation Profile - VAPP

RESUMEN Objetivo Obtener la equivalencia cultural de la versión chilena del Protocolo VAPP, por medio de su adaptación cultural y lingüística. Método El proceso se inicia con la traducción del instrumento original del VAPP realizada por dos Fonoaudiólogos bilingües. Seguido de una retro traducción al inglés por una tercera Fonoaudióloga quien no presenta sesgos de etapas previas. Un comité conformado por 5 Fonoaudiólogos con experiencia en el área de la voz comparó la versión original, retro traducida y traducida, buscando divergencias y discrepancias entre las tres versiones. Llegando a un consenso, el protocolo se tituló "Perfil de Participación y Actividad Vocal (PPAV-CL)", con 28 preguntas, las cuales son consignadas con escala analógica visual (EAV) de 100 milímetros de largo. Durante el proceso de equivalencia cultural, se aplicó el protocolo a 28 sujetos con trastornos de voz. En cada pregunta, se adicionó la opción "No aplicable" como respuesta, con el objetivo de identificar preguntas incomprendidas o inadecuadas del grupo albo. Ninguno de los sujetos evaluados tuvo dificultad en responder las preguntas, por lo cual no fue necesario modificar la traducción de ninguna de ellas. La versión final del protocolo PPAV-CL presenta las características adecuadas en su comprensión. Resultados El instrumento PPAV-CL refleja la versión original en inglés, en número de preguntas e ítems. Conclusion Se logró equivalencia cultural de VAPP para el español chileno (PPAV-CL). La validación del PPAV-CL está actualmente en curso.

ABSTRACT Purpose The present study aimed to obtain the cross-culturally-adapted Chilean version of the voice activity and participation profile - VAPP. Methods The process began a with translation of the original English version of the VAPP instrument into Spanish, carried out by two bilingual speech-language pathologists (SLP), followed by a back-translation from a third SLP who was unbiased by the previous stages. A committee of 5 SLP with experience in the area of voice compared the original version, the back translation, and the translated version, seeking divergences and discrepancies between the three versions. A consensus was reached, and they renamed the protocol "Perfil de Participación y Actividad Vocal (PPAV-CL)", with 28 questions which were answered using a visual analog scale (VAS) of 100 millimeters in length. In the process of making the cross-cultural equivalence, the protocol was applied to 24 subjects with voice disorders. For each question, the option of "Not applicable" was added to the answer choices for identification of the questions not comprehended or not appropriate for the target population. None of the subjects under assessment had difficulty answering the questions, therefore it was unnecessary to modify the translation of any of them. The final version of the PPAV-CL shows the appropriate characteristics to be understood. Results The PPAV-CL instrument reflects the original English version in the number of questions and items. Conclusion a cultural equivalence of the VAPP to Chilean Spanish was achieved. The validation of the PPAV-CL is currently underway.

Efectos del entrenamiento respiratorio aislado en las variables respiratorias y vocales / Effects of isolated respiratory training on breathing and voice variables

La implementación del entrenamiento respiratorio aislado en la rehabilitación y el entrenamiento de la voz es una práctica común en los países de habla hispana. Ac-tualmente, no existe ningún manuscrito en español que revise la información teórica y empírica del entrenamiento respiratorio en este contexto. El propósito de la presente revisión es entregar la evidencia actualizada del efecto del entrenamiento respiratorio aislado en la voz. El entrenamiento de la fuerza respiratoria ha demostrado tener consecuencias positivas en los parámetros medidos; no obstante, los datos disponibles hasta ahora no reporta efectos significativos en la voz, exceptuando los casos de personas con trastornos neurológicos de base y presbifonía. Si el entrenamiento respiratorio con el uso de dispositivos no ha demostrado impactar favorablemente sobre otras disfonías (no neurológicas ni presbifonía) ni en sujetos sanos profesionales de la voz, no existiría razón para esperar que los ejercicios respiratorios aislados que se suelen incluir en las rutinas de entrenadores vocales, fonoaudiólogos, logopedas y foniatras tengan un efecto positivo. Considerando que el entrenamiento de la fuerza muscular respiratoria parece actuar sobre algunos parámetros vocales en personas con alteraciones neurológicas y presbifonía, futuras investigaciones deberían considerar la exploración del posible efecto positivo en otros parámetros vocales no medidos aún en este tipo de población

Isolated breathing training in rehabilitation and voice training is a common prac-tice in Spanish-speaking countries. Currently, there are no documents in Spanish that study the theoretical and empirical information related to respiratory training in this context. The purpose of the present review is to provide updated information regarding the current evidence of the possible effect of isolated respiratory training on voice. Respiratory strength training has been shown to have positive effects on respiratory parameters, however, the available evidence does not report significant effects on the voice, except for people with underlying neurological disorders and presbyphonia. If respiratory training using devices designed for these purposes has not been shown to positively impact vocal characteristics of subjects with dyspho-nia (not neurological or presbyphonia) or of healthy professional voice users, there is no reason to expect that the isolated breathing exercises that are often included in the routines of vocal trainers and speech therapists will have a positive effect on voice variables. Considering that respiratory muscle strength training seems to positively affect some vocal parameters in people with neurological disorders and presbyphonia, future research should consider exploring the possible effect on other vocal parameters not yet measured in this type of population

Aerodynamic Characteristics of Growl Voice and Reinforced Falsetto in Metal Singing.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to assess the aerodynamic characteristics of vocally healthy metal singers when producing growl voice or reinforced falsetto. METHODS: Fifty-four participants (metal singers) were initially enrolled in this study, with 23 meeting the inclusion criteria. Sixteen participants performed growl voice and seven performed reinforced falsetto as a voice resource during metal singing. All participants were asked to undergo rigid laryngeal videostroboscopy to confirm the absence of laryngeal pathology. Then, subjects were aerodynamically assessed while performing growl voice or reinforced falsetto. RESULTS: Higher glottal airflow rate, sound pressure level, and subglottic pressure (Psub) for growl voice samples compared to vowel production without growl voice (keeping the same fundamental frequency [F0]) were found. Higher Psub, sound pressure level, and glottal resistance for high-pitched reinforced falsetto compared to naïve falsetto (keeping the same F0) were found. No differences for F0 were found for neither growl voice nor reinforced falsetto. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that growl voice is produced by decreasing vocal folds adduction and increasing Psub, which in turn, promotes an increased airflow rate. Reinforced falsetto is characterized by an increased vocal fold adduction and an increased Psub. A proper resonance strategy in reinforced falsetto and a decreased glottal adduction in growl voice might probably be the factors that contribute to prevent voice problems in singers who use these vocal resources, classically labeled as vocal abuse.