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Objectives: The Paediatric Throat Disorders Outcome Test (T‐14) is a disease‐specific questionnaire that parents are requested to complete; it aimed to assess the quality of life related to tonsil and adenoid disease or its treatment in children with throat disorders. The aim of this study was to validate the Spanish adaptation of the T‐14, thus allowing comparison across studies and facilitating international multicentre projects. Design, setting and participants: This was a multicentre prospective instrument validation study. Guidelines for the cross‐cultural adaptation process from the original English‐language scale into a Spanish‐language version were followed. The psychometric properties (reproducibility, reliability, validity, responsiveness) of the Spanish version (“T‐14‐s” for “T‐14‐Spanish”) were assessed in 50 consecutive children undergoing adeno/tonsillectomy (both before and 6 months after surgery) and in a separate cohort of 50 unaffected children in a comparable age range. Main outcome measures and results: Test‐retest reliability (γ = 0.83) and internal consistency reliability (α = 0.94) were adequate. The T‐14‐s demonstrated satisfactory construct validity (r > 0.40). The instrument showed excellent between‐group discrimination (P < .0001) and a high responsiveness to change (effect size = 2.09). Conclusions: The Spanish version of the T‐14 (T‐14‐s) is a valid tool for measuring the subjective severity of throat disorders, and its use is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although globus pharyngeus is not rare in clinical practice, little is known about its associated gene polymorphism. We investigated the association between the SLC6A4 polymorphism and globus pharyngeus and its response to treatment with antidepressants. Methods: A total of 84 patients were diagnosed with globus pharyngeus according to Rome III, and 160 healthy controls were genotyped for the SLC6A4 polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis. All patients with globus were studied using high-resolution manometry pre-therapy. Globus patients were randomized into paroxetine or amitriptyline groups for a 6-week treatment and asked to complete the following pre- and post-therapy questionnaires: the Glasgow Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Hamilton Rating Scale Anxiety/Depression. Treatment response was defined as a >50% reduction in the GETS scores. Results: A significant difference was observed in the globus S/S genotype with anxiety compared to that without anxiety (χ2 = 14.579, p = 0.006). The L/S genotype showed a significant difference between high upper esophageal sphincter pressure (>104 mm Hg) and non-high upper esophageal sphincter pressure patients (χ2 = 14.433, p = 0.006). A significant association between the S/S genotype and the response to antidepressant treatment was also observed, while patients with sleep disorders or depression showed no association. Conclusion: A significant association was observed between the S/S genotype of the SLC6A4 polymorphism and globus pharyngeus, suggesting that SLC6A4 is a potential candidate gene involved in the pathogenesis of globus pharyngeus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Video laryngoscope-aided intubations require less force to align oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal planes to visualize the glottis opening during intubation. Aim: The primary objective of the study was to assess the incidence and severity of postoperative sore throat (POST) in patients who were intubated with C-MAC video laryngoscope using D-blade versus traditional Macintosh laryngoscope. Settings and Design: This prospective, randomized, open label study was conducted in a tertiary care institution. Subjects and Methods: A total of 130 patients undergoing short elective laparoscopic surgeries lasting <2 h were recruited. All patients received general anesthesia as per a standardized protocol. Laryngoscopy was performed using traditional Macintosh laryngoscope in Group M and with Storz® C-MAC video laryngoscope using D-Blade in Group V. The endotracheal tube cuff pressure was maintained at 20-22 cm of H2O intraoperatively. Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson's Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Independent sample t-test were used in this study. Results: As compared to Group M, number of patients who had POST, hoarseness of voice, and cough was significantly low in Group V at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h. Severity, as well as the incidence of all these symptoms, showed a downward trend in both groups with time. Significantly more number of patients in Group M required rescue therapy for POST (44.6% as compared to 7.7%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: C-MAC video laryngoscope-aided intubations using D-blade significantly reduced the incidence and severity of POST, hoarseness of voice, and cough following orotracheal intubation as compared to use of traditional Macintosh laryngoscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motion analysis of the hyoid bone via videofluoroscopic study has been used in clinical research, but the classical manual tracking method is generally labor intensive and time consuming. Although some automatic tracking methods have been developed, masked points could not be tracked and smoothing and segmentation, which are necessary for functional motion analysis prior to registration, were not provided by the previous software. We developed software to track the hyoid bone motion semi-automatically. It works even in the situation where the hyoid bone is masked by the mandible and has been validated in dysphagia patients with stroke. In addition, we added the function of semi-automatic smoothing and segmentation. A total of 30 patients’ data were used to develop the software, and data collected from 17 patients were used for validation, of which the trajectories of 8 patients were partly masked. Pearson correlation coefficients between the manual and automatic tracking are high and statistically significant (0.942 to 0.991, P-value<0.0001). Relative errors between automatic tracking and manual tracking in terms of the x-axis, y-axis and 2D range of hyoid bone excursion range from 3.3% to 9.2%. We also developed an automatic method to segment each hyoid bone trajectory into four phases (elevation phase, anterior movement phase, descending phase and returning phase). The semi-automatic hyoid bone tracking from VFSS data by our software is valid compared to the conventional manual tracking method. In addition, the ability of automatic indication to switch the automatic mode to manual mode in extreme cases and calibration without attaching the radiopaque object is convenient and useful for users. Semi-automatic smoothing and segmentation provide further information for functional motion analysis which is beneficial to further statistical analysis such as functional classification and prognostication for dysphagia. Therefore, this software could provide the researchers in the field of dysphagia with a convenient, useful, and all-in-one platform for analyzing the hyoid bone motion. Further development of our method to track the other swallowing related structures or objects such as epiglottis and bolus and to carry out the 2D curve registration may be needed for a more comprehensive functional data analysis for dysphagia with big data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to identify differences in post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and throat pain between throat packed and non-packed patient groups in nasal surgery. This was a prospective, double blind, randomised controlled trial. A water-soaked throat pack gauze was inserted in the mouth to occlude the oropharynx was used in the throat pack group. The second group received no throat pack. A validated PONV questionnaire was completed 6 h post-operatively. Visual analogue scores (VAS) for throat pain were completed in recovery, 2, and 6 h post-operatively. 80 patients were enrolled (40 into each group based on power calculation). With regard to the primary outcome measure, mean PONV score for the throat pack group was 2.75 [median 0, standard deviation (SD 10.86)] and the mean PONV score for the non-packed group was 0.36 (median 0, SD 1.39). The difference in PONV was not statistically significant [ P value 0.375, 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.19 to 3.32]. With regard to throat pain VAS scores (our secondary outcome measure), in recovery, the mean throat pain VAS score for the throat packed group was 2.5 (median 1, SD 2.8) and the mean throat pain VAS score for the non-throat packed group was 1.3 (median 0, SD 2.5). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups with the throat pack group experiencing more throat pain in recovery ( P value 0.018 (95% CI 1.13-2.52). At 2 and 6 h post-operatively, the mean throat pain VAS scores for the throat packed group were 2.1 and 2.3, respectively, and the mean throat pain VAS score for the non-throat packed group was 2.3 and 1.4, respectively. Statistical analysis showed non-significant difference between the two groups at 2 and 6 h post-operatively. The use of throat packs in nasal surgery does not confer PONV reduction benefit. The use of throat pack, however, is associated with a small but statistically significant more throat pain in the initial recovery period from nasal operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to clinically correlate adenoid facies with various clinical features related to ear, nose and throat and to broadly study the various sequelae of adenoid hypertrophy on the physical, mental as well as the social conditioning of children. Materials and methods: After taking approval of the institutional ethics committee the study was carried out in the department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital, Jabalpur from January 2012 till December 2012. Patients who presented to the outpatient clinic or were admitted in the indoor ward with adenoid facies were included in the study. After detailed history taking and clinical examination, data was analysed with appropriate statistical methods. Results: 30 patients with adenoid facies of varying degrees were included in the study. Nasal block was the most commonly presenting symptom. Pain in throat was complained of by 66.66% of cases. In 50% of cases the parents complained of irregular dentition. Decreased airflow upon functional examination of the nose was seen to be bilateral in majority of cases. A hitched upper lip was found in 100% of cases. High arched palate was seen in all cases, grade III tonsil enlargement was seen in 63.33% cases while grade II tonsil enlargement was seen in 30%. It was seen that mastoid pneumatization was affected by adenoids, being partial cellular in 48.33% of the cases and sclerosed in 18.33% ears. Conclusions: This study concluded that adenoids affect each part of ear nose and throat system, thus its effect can actually be quite devastating in growing children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early multi-channel designs in the history of cochlear implant development were based on a vocoder-type processing of frequency channels and presented bands of compressed analog stimulus waveforms simultaneously on multiple tonotopically arranged electrodes. The realization that the direct summation of electrical fields as a result of simultaneous electrode stimulation exacerbates interactions among the stimulation channels and limits cochlear implant outcome led to the breakthrough in the development of cochlear implants, the continuous interleaved (CIS) sampling coding strategy. By interleaving stimulation pulses across electrodes, CIS activates only a single electrode at each point in time, preventing a direct summation of electrical fields and hence the primary component of channel interactions. In this paper we show that a previously presented approach of simultaneous stimulation with channel interaction compensation (CIC) may also ameliorate the deleterious effects of simultaneous channel interaction on speech perception. In an acute study conducted in eleven experienced MED-EL implant users, configurations involving simultaneous stimulation with CIC and doubled pulse phase durations have been investigated. As pairs of electrodes were activated simultaneously and pulse durations were doubled, carrier rates remained the same. Comparison conditions involved both CIS and fine structure (FS) strategies, either with strictly sequential or paired-simultaneous stimulation. Results showed no statistical difference in the perception of sentences in noise and monosyllables for sequential and paired-simultaneous stimulation with doubled phase durations. This suggests that CIC can largely compensate for the effects of simultaneous channel interaction, for both CIS and FS coding strategies. A simultaneous stimulation paradigm has a number of potential advantages over a traditional sequential interleaved design. The flexibility gained when dropping the requirement of interleaving pulses across electrodes may be instrumental in designing coding strategies for a more accurate transmission of stimulus features such as temporal fine structure or interaural time delays to the auditory nerve. Also, longer pulse phase durations may be implemented while maintaining relatively high stimulation pulse rates. Utilizing longer pulse durations may relax requirements on implant compliance and facilitate the design of more energy-efficient implant receivers for a longer battery lifetime or a reduction in implant size. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work concerns with the effects of the permeability of the wall through an overlapping constriction in an artery assuming that the flowing blood is represented by a two-fluid model. The expressions for the blood flow characteristics, the impedance, the wall shear stress distribution in the stenotic region and the shearing stress at the stenosis throat have been derived. Results for the effects of permeability as well as of the peripheral layer on these blood flow characteristics are shown graphically and discussed briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Baska mask is a novel supraglottic airway device. We conducted an initial observational study to assess this device in 30 low-risk female patients. All Baska masks were inserted by a single investigator. The overall success rate for device insertion was 96.7% (95% CI 82.8-99.9%), while the success rate for the first insertion attempt was 76.7% (95% CI 57.7-90.1%). The device was easy to insert, with a mean (SD) difficulty score of 0.9 (1.6) on a 10-cm scale. The mean (SD) airway leak pressure was 35.7 (13.3) cmH2O. The incidence of throat pain, dysphonia and dysphagia was low. We conclude that the Baska mask demonstrates a level of utility as an alternative supraglottic airway that is worthy of further clinical study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) has been defined as adduction of the true vocal cords on inspiration with abduction on expiration. It is most common in females aged between 20 and 45 years. However, cases in children have been reported. Patients with vocal cord dysfunction present with distressing shortness of breath, inspiratory stridor and breathy dysphonia. VCD is most frequently diagnosed as asthma since the attacks in both begin and end suddenly and produce distressing breathing difficulties. Study design: Infants and children presented with respiratory distress secondary to vocal cord dysfunction were included in this study. Diagnosis of VCD depended mainly on direct laryngoscopy either using flexible laryngoscopy with topical anesthesia or direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia with spontaneous respiration. The typical finding of adduction of the anterior two-third of the vocal cords during inspiration was the key point for diagnosis of VCD. Any further investigation was done according to the etiology of each case. Results: One infant and four children were included in this study. They were three boys and two girls. Their ages were 1, 12, 14, 10 and 2 years. The etiology of VCD was bulbar myasthenia gravis in one case, multiple system atrophy in one case, Laryngopharyngeal reflux in two cases, and post-nasal drip in one case. Diagnosis of VCD was done using pediatric flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopy with topical anesthesia in two cases and by direct laryngoscopy under general anesthesia with spontaneous respiration in three cases (in one of them the vocal cords were visualized during urgent intubation). Three cases were misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma and they were receiving treatment of asthma with no improvement. Conclusion: Vocal cord dysfunction represents a potentially overlooked differential diagnosis of recurrent dyspnea in children. It is always misdiagnosed as bronchial asthma. It should be suspected in every child with atypical or corticosteroid resistant asthma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Conclusions: Videofluoroscopy (VF) in the prone position can diagnose a range of esophageal pathologies in all age groups. These correlate with globus sensation in younger and middle-aged patients in prone and supine positions. Abnormal esophageal clearance appears to be associated with globus sensation in young and middle-aged persons, but not in the elderly. Objectives: To assess the correlation between globus sensation and abnormal esophageal clearance by VF in relation to body position and to investigate age-related abnormal esophageal clearance, as well as to confirm the utility of VF in diagnosing globus sensation in patients. Subjects and methods: This was a prospective study. In 72 patients with globus sensation and 33 controls, esophageal clearance was assessed by VF in the upright, supine, and prone positions, and transfer of barium through the esophagus was classified as normal, esophageal retention, esophageal reflux, or pharyngeal reflux. The detection rate of abnormal esophageal clearance was compared among all subjects by age. Results: In the upright position, VF detected no significant differences in the detection rate of abnormal esophageal clearance and reflux between the patients with globus sensation and controls; however, the detection rate of abnormal esophageal clearance was significantly higher in the prone than in the upright and supine positions ( p<0.001), and in all positions was significantly higher among globus sensation patients ( p<0.05). In the supine and prone positions, there were significantly higher detection rates of abnormal esophageal clearance in patients than in controls in the young group ( p<0.05). Additionally in the prone position, there was a significantly higher detection rate of abnormal esophageal clearance and reflux in patients than in controls in the middle-aged group ( p<0.05). In all positions, no significant differences were observed in the detection rate of abnormal esophageal clearance and reflux in the patients and controls in the elderly group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Symptoms from throat (sensation of globus; frequent throat clearing; irritated throat) are common in patients referred to voice clinics and to ENT specialists. The relation to symptoms of voice discomfort is unclear and in some cases patients do not have voice problems at all. Instruments for patients' self-reporting of symptoms, and assessment of handicap, such as the Voice Handicap Index (VHI), are in common use in voice clinics. Symptoms from throat are however only marginally covered. Purpose: To develop and evaluate an instrument that could make the patients' estimation of symptoms from the throat possible. Further to facilitate the consideration of the relation between throat- and voice problems with the Throat subscale together with a Swedish translation of the Voice Handicap Index. Finally to try the VHI with the Throat subscale: the VHI-T, for test-retest reliability and validity. Methods: A subscale with 10 throat related items was developed for appliance with the VHI. The VHI was translated to Swedish and retranslated to English. The questionnaire was tried in two phases on a total of 23+144 patients and 12+58 voice healthy controls. The reliability was calculated with Cronbach's alpha, ICC and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The validity was estimated by independent T-test. Results: The difference in VHI-T scores between the patients and the voice-healthy controls was significant (p = < 0,01) and there was a good correlation of the test- retest occasions. The reliability testing of the entire questionnaire showed an alpha value of r = 0,90 and that for the Throat subscale separately a value of r = 0,87 which shows a high degree of reliability. Conclusions: For the estimation of self-perceived throat and voice problems the scale on throat related problems together with the present Swedish translation of the Voice Handicap Index, (VHI) the VHI-Throat, proves to be a valid and reliable instrument. The throat subscale seems to help revealing a category of symptoms that are common in our patients. These are symptoms that have not earlier been possible to cover with the questionnaires designed for use in the voice clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to analyze the occurrence of vocal symptoms and the relationship among their presence, as well as their probable cause, according to a population sample. Moreover, it is to analyze the probable correlations between the cited causes and symptoms. Methods: 190 frequenters (18 to 45-year-old) of a Mall in São Paulo took part in the study. A questionnaire was used containing six closed questions of the yes / no type not referring to the aspects of health (including smoking), perception and probable cause of vocal symptoms. Data analysis was carried through by using chi-square test. Results: the most referred four related symptoms were hoarseness (34.2%), ardor in the throat (24.7%), dry throat (21.6%) and dry cough (21.6%); and the most cited causes: high respiratory disease (46.4%), stress (14.2%) and intense voice use (11.1%). It was possible to evidence that in the opinion of the participants, the hoarseness is associated with the intense voice use (p<0.001) and with high respiratory affections (p>0.001); vocal fatigue, to stress (p<0.001); ardor in the throat, to high respiratory affections (p<0.001); and sore throat, to smoking (p=0.021) and use of drugs (p=0.002). Conclusion: the data indicate, therefore, that the studied population perceives that both external factors (stress), as well as habits (smoking and use of drugs) interfere in vocal production, as well as those related to health and voice (high respiratory affections and intense voice use). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores radiological approaches used to investigate the causes of a hoarse voice. The article refers to the case of a 74 year old man with a hoarse voice and difficulty swallowing. Clinical examination with laryngoscopy or flexible nasolaryngoscopy is advised to determine the underlying cause of the hoarseness. The authors explain that vocal cord paralysis or a mass lesion of the vocal cord which causes significant obstruction of the airway or is suggestive of malignancy indicates a need for imaging. Conditions which necessitate chest radiography, computed tomography or magnetic imaging (MRI) are discussed. In particular, laryngeal masses are investigated with contrast enhanced computed tomography or gadolinium enhanced MRI.

AbstractFew studies have described laryngological evaluation of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We assessed the laryngological abnormalities of 35 such patients (24 bulbar onset and 11 limb onset). In nine limb onset patients, we discovered signs of early vagal nerve dysfunction, prior to any clinical presentation of bulbar failure. However, in all bulbar onset patients studied, we noticed changes in the uni/bilateral position of the vocal folds and in the voice quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a study of the oral and pharyngeal chemesthetic effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ibuprofen [2-(4-isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid], which pilot experiments had indicated produces an unusual sensory irritation of the throat. In experiment 1 subjects swallowed aqueous solutions of ibuprofen prepared with different buffering agents and gave ratings of irritation and taste in the mouth and throat. The results showed that ibuprofen irritates the throat much more than the mouth, and that its quality in the throat is characterized primarily as sting/prick, itch and tickle (often leading to cough). Based upon the results obtained with the different buffering agents, we hypothesized that the sting/prick/itch qualities of throat irritation were pH-dependent. Parametric manipulation of solution pH in experiment 2 confirmed this hypothesis. The same experiment revealed that, in contrast to other oral irritants (e.g. capsaicin and menthol), repeated stimulation caused neither sensitization nor desensitization of throat irritation. In the final experiment we found that ibuprofen’s throat irritation could not be modulated by temperature, as it should be if stimulation occurred via capsaicin-sensitive receptors. We therefore conclude that ibuprofen has novel chemesthetic properties, which are not mediated by capsaicin-sensitive (vanilloid) receptors, and that a major component of the throat irritation it produces occurs via a pH-dependent receptor mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents case study of a 65-year-old woman who underwent endoscopic myotomy of Zenker's diverticulum (ZD) using a novel electrosurgical knife. It presents information on the observation of tolerating regular diet, denied dysphagia, throat pain, halitosis, or regurgitation, in the patient. It states that a novel electrosurgical scissor-knife has been developed for several applications in luminal endoscopy.

The present retrospective study was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, Sion Mumbai. Total 32 cases collected were collected for this study purpose. The preponderance of Male 26 (81.25%) victims over the female 6 (18.75%) victims with the age group of 21 to 30 years 11 (34.37%) was most commonly affected. Out of total 32 cases 9 (28.13%) cases were of suicidal cut throat and remaining 23 (71.87%) cases were of homicidal cut throat and most common victims of suicidal cut throat were male 8 (88.88%) followed by female 1 (11.11%) victim. In 9 suicidal cut throat cases hesitations cuts over neck found in 8 (88.88%) cases and hesitations cuts over anterior aspect of wrist joints found in 5 (55.55%) cases and victim's suicidal note was found in 3 (33.33%) cases. Previous attempt of suicide was noted in 4 (44.44%) cases, psychiatric illness found in 4 (44.4%) case and most common motives for suicide were chronic illness 6 (66.67%). In 23 homicidal cut throat cases most common motives was breakdown of relationship 7 (30.43%). Maximum size of cut throat injury was 18cmX10cmX8cm and minimum size of cut throat injury was 4cmX3cmX3cm. Jugular vein 32 (100%) was most commonly clean cut structure of neck followed by Carotid artery 21(65.62%) and least commonly involved structure was hyoid bone 1(3.12%) cases. The direction of cut throat wound from Left side of neck to Right side of neck were observed in 25 (78.12%) cases while the direction of cut throat wound from Right side of neck to Left side of neck were noted in 7 (21.88%) cases. In 23 cases of homicidal cut throat, other associated injuries like stab wound, incised wound, chop wound etc were noted in 18 (78.26%) cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Congenital tracheal stenosis is a rare airway disorder characterized by a fixed tracheal narrowing. Surgical intervention is usually considered as the treatment of choice for long-segment type. However, due to wide spectrum of this disease, treatment modalities need to be individualized. The long-segment type has the most unfavorable outcome because it is often associated with multiple anomalies and, thus, the most difficult to manage. Here we present a case of long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis (LSCTS) that was managed by several sessions of flexible bronchoscopic balloon tracheoplasty as the primary treatment. In this particular situation, we had to deal with the parents’ request of a ‘non-surgical’ approach for an infant who had respiratory distress that also required a way to increase his tracheal diameter simultaneously. Having done this particular experience, we would like to show that this non-surgical approach can be viable for long-segment tracheal stenosis in selected cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the structure and physiology of the palatine glands. Palatine glands are important in addressing cleft palate, prosthodontia, and nose and throat conditions. The purpose of the study was to obtain more information on their structure, glandular changes that happen during secretion, and the way secretion is induced.

The article presents a case study of a 61-year-old woman who experienced a throat irritation, chest pain and difficulty of swallowing for one week. The patient was given a mucosa-protecting treatments and semi-liquid diet including talcid, esomeprazole and magnesium hydroxide. An overview of the patient's medical history, endoscopic diagnosis and follow-up observations are also explored.

The article presents a case stud of a five months old baby weighing seven kilograms presented with pedunculated palatal mass since birth. The patient underwent an airway examination which reveals that mouth opening was adequate with mass protruding out from the hard palate and adherent to the upper lip. It highlights the successful surgery and the patient was extubated after thorough suctioning and throat pack removal.

Among the various types of laryngeal paraesthesia suffered by chronic cough patients, we often encounter 'a sensation of irritation in the throat ( SIT)'. Our study indicated that capsaicin cough threshold was significantly ( P < 0.05) lower in the SIT-positive group (13.9 μmol/L) than in the SIT-negative group (49.6 μmol/L). The establishment of treatment strategies for SIT would be advantageous for treating chronic cough patients suffering from this laryngeal sensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the use of treprostinil as a treatment option for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It mentions the most commonly adverse reactions of treprostinil including throat irritation, gastrointestinal effect and pneumonia. It discusses several things to consider when using inhaled treprostinil to treat PAH such as teaching the patients the right technique in using treprostinil, avoiding contact with the eyes or skin, and using the Tyvaso Inhalation System.

The article focuses on the case of a 19 year old woman who presented to the emergency department of a hospital with a ten day history of intermittent odynophagia, voice changes and fever. A discussion of a computed tomographic scan which was performed on the woman and which revealed bilateral peritonsillar abscesses which were successfully aspirated is presented. A recurrence of abscesses which was seen with the patient 17 days after her visit to the emergency room, and which resulted in a removal of her tonsils, is discussed.

A letter to the editor is presented on the clinical case of a 80-year-old man with a history of a sensation of a fishbone in the throat.