Feasibility of First Injection of Autologous Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction in Human Scarred Vocal Folds: A Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

Importance: Patients with scarred vocal folds, whether congenitally or after phonosurgery, often exhibit dysphonia that negatively affects daily life and is difficult to treat. The autologous adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (ADSVF) is a readily accessible source of cells with angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative properties. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of local injections of autologous ADSVF in patients with scarred vocal folds. Design, Setting, and Participants: CELLCORDES (Innovative Treatment for Scarred Vocal Cords by Local Injection of Autologous Stromal Vascular Fraction) is a prospective, open-label, single-arm, single-center, nonrandomized controlled trial with a 12-month follow-up and patient enrollment from April 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017. Eight patients with severe dysphonia attributable to vocal fold scarring associated with a congenital malformation or resulting from microsurgical sequelae (voice handicap index score >60 of 120) completed the study. Data analysis was performed from September 1, 2018, to January 1, 2019. Interventions: Injection of ADSVF into 1 or 2 vocal folds. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcomes were feasibility and the number and severity of adverse events associated with ADSVF-based therapy. The secondary outcomes were changes in vocal assessment, videolaryngostroboscopy, self-evaluation of dysphonia, and quality of life at 1, 6, and 12 months after cell therapy. Results: Seven women and 1 man (mean [SD] age, 44.6 [10.4] years) were enrolled in this study. Adverse events associated with liposuction and ADSVF injection occurred; most of them resolved spontaneously. One patient received minor treatment to drain local bruising, and another experienced a minor contour defect at the liposuction site. At 12 months, the voice handicap index score was improved in all patients, with a mean (SD) improvement from baseline of 40.1 (21.5) points. Seven patients (88%) were considered to be responders, defined as improvement by 18 points or more in the voice handicap index score (the minimum clinically important difference). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings suggest that autologous ADSVF injection in scarred vocal folds is feasible and tolerable. The findings require confirmation in a randomized clinical trial with a larger population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02622464.

Is Atypical Swallowing Associated With Relapse in Orthognathic Patients? A Retrospective Study of 256 Patients.

PURPOSE: To determine the association of atypical swallowing (AS) with relapse in patients undergoing combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the clinical data of all patients who underwent combined surgical and orthodontic treatment from 1998 through 2015 at the University Hospital of Geneva (Geneva, Switzerland) were reviewed. The primary outcome variables were 1) AS and 2) post-treatment relapse. Other variables included, age, gender, dentofacial deformity (facial asymmetry, mandibular deficiency, mandibular excess, maxillary retrusion, open bite), surgical procedure performed (bilateral sagittal split osteotomy [BSSO] with or without Le Fort I osteotomy), and dental interocclusal relations according to Angle. RESULTS: Of the 256 patients investigated, 23 (9%) showed relapse at 1 year after treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that AS status (before treatment, odds ratio [OR] = 9.44, P = .005; after treatment, OR = 56.17, P < .001; before and after treatment, OR = 20.49, P < .001) was significantly associated with relapse. The presence of a pretreatment open bite also was associated with an increased risk of relapse (OR = 0.04, P < .001) regardless of AS status. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that in orthognathic patients 1) AS was associated with relapse regardless of dentofacial deformity or surgical procedure performed and 2) AS can appear after treatment in patients who were initially free of it.

The shouted voice: A pilot study of laryngeal physiology under extreme aerodynamic pressure.

INTRODUCTION: The objective was to study the behavior of the larynx during shouted voice production, when the larynx is exposed to extremely high subglottic pressure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved electroglottographic, acoustic, and aerodynamic analyses of shouts produced at maximum effort by three male participants. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Under a normal speaking voice, the voice sound pressure level (SPL) is proportional to the subglottic pressure. However, when the subglottic pressure reached high levels, the voice SPL reached a maximum value and then decreased as subglottic pressure increased further. Furthermore, the electroglottographic signal sometimes lost its periodicity during the shout, suggesting irregular vocal fold vibration.

Direct measurement of pressures involved in vocal exercises using semi-occluded vocal tracts.

The aim of this study was to rank vocal exercises using semi-occluded vocal tracts (SOVT) as a function of their effect on subglottal pressure (SGP) and on transglottal pressure (TGP). Direct measurements were performed in two healthy females. The correct realization of vocal exercises was controlled by maintaining a constant airflow at the phonation onset. TGP varied from 1.8 to 5.9 hPa among SOVT, in the same range as phonation threshold pressure values. SGP varied among subjects from 19.4 for 2-mm straw to 3.2 hPa for closed vowel. SOVT could be ranked in voice rehabilitation from the greatest to the smallest effects on SGP as following: 1) 2-mm straw; 2) 5-mm straw and fricative /v/; 3) 8-mm straw and nasals /m/ and /n/; 4) vowel /i/.