Elevation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and dependent signaling in human papillomavirus-infected laryngeal papillomas. (1/683)

Laryngeal papillomas are benign tumors caused by human papillomaviruses types 6 and 11. This study addressed alterations in levels of signal transduction from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in papillomas and cultured papilloma cells compared to normal tissue and cells. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was activated to a greater extent, phosphotyrosine was more abundant, and EGFR was overexpressed in laryngeal papillomas compared to normal laryngeal epithelium by Western blot analysis. The EGFR was 3 times more abundant in cultured papilloma cells than in normal laryngeal cells by Scatchard analysis and Western blot, without gene amplification or an increase in steady-state levels of mRNA. Following stimulation with EGF, a significant portion of the EGFR was recycled to the surface in papilloma cells, whereas in normal cells, it was not. Tyrosine kinase activity and activation of MAPK was more responsive to epidermal growth factor stimulation in papilloma cells than in uninfected primary laryngeal cells. PD153035, a specific inhibitor of the EGFR, and an EGFR-specific antibody that blocks ligand binding completely abrogated basal MAPK activation by endogenous ligands in laryngeal papilloma cells. These results demonstrated that infection of laryngeal epithelium by low-risk human papillomaviruses elevates the EGFR by posttranslational mechanisms, increasing its responsiveness to ligand-mediated activation. They also showed that MAPK activation in laryngeal papillomas depends upon ligand-mediated EGFR stimulation.  (+info)

Variation in subglottic size in children. (2/683)

The incidence of variation in the subglottic size was investigated in 3304 infants and children. A mild degree of congenital subglottic stenosis was found in 0.91% and a moderate degree of stenosis in 0.06% of the patients. A mild degree of congenital subglottic enlargement was noted in 0.7% and moderate enlargement in 0.06% of the patients.  (+info)

Particle deposition in the trachea: in vivo and in hollow casts. (3/683)

The pattern of deposition within the respiratory tract of potentially harmful particulates is a major factor in assessing any risk from individual and community exposures. Although the trachea is the most easily observed of the conductive airways, very little information concerning its particle collection characteristics is available, information which is essential for a complete and realistic description of particle deposition patterns within the entire respiratory tract. Data on tracheal deposition are also needed for development of accurate predictive models for particle deposition. The pattern of particle deposition in the trachea, and its relation to air flow, was studied in a hollow cast of the human larynx-tracheobronchial tree. Results were compared with data obtained in humans in vivo and from previous studies in hollow casts. In addition, the relevance of tracheal deposition in the hollow cast test system to deposition in vivo was examined by a direct comparison of deposition in a cast prepared from the lungs of donkeys previously studied in a series of in vivo tests. The disturbance of the air flow within the trachea caused by the larynx promoted the deposition of suspended particulates throughout the length of the trachea, and especially in proximal regions. This proximal deposition was due both to direct impaction from the air jet coming from the glottis and to effects of the tubulent flow. Turbulence produced inhomogenous deposition patterns within the trachea for particles of all sizes, although its effect was more pronounced as size decreased. Tracheal deposition in the human cast was within the range of normal in vivo tracheal depostion only when a larynx was used during cast test exposures; this emphasizes the need for the use of realistic experimental test systems for the study of particle deposition patterns. The relative patterns of deposition in casts of the donkey trachea and in the same tracheas in vivo were similar.  (+info)

Management of laryngeal foreign bodies in children. (4/683)

Foreign body aspiration is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children. Food items are the most common items aspirated in infants and toddlers, whereas older children are more likely to aspirate non-food items. Laryngeal impaction of a foreign body is very rare as most aspirated foreign bodies pass through the laryngeal inlet and get lodged lower down in the airway. Two rare cases of foreign body aspiration with subglottic impaction in very young children (under 2 years of age) are described. In both the cases subglottic impaction occurred consequent to attempted removal of foreign body by blind finger sweeping. The clinical presentation, investigations, and management of these rare cases are discussed.  (+info)

Larynx vs. esophagus as reflexogenic sites for acid-induced bronchoconstriction in dogs. (5/683)

Bronchoconstriction in asthmatic patients is frequently associated with gastroesophageal reflux. However, it is still unclear whether bronchoconstriction originates from the esophagus or from aspiration of the refluxate into the larynx and larger airway. We compared the effect of repeated esophageal and laryngeal instillations of HCl-pepsin (pH 1.0) on tracheal smooth muscle activity in eight anesthetized and artificially ventilated dogs. Saline was used as control. We used pressure in the cuff of an endotracheal tube (Pcuff) as a direct index of smooth muscle activity at the level of the larger airways controlled by vagal efferents. The Pcuff values of the first 60 s after instillations were averaged, and the difference from the baseline values was evaluated. Changes in Pcuff were significantly greater with laryngeal than with esophageal instillations (P = 0.0166). HCl-pepsin instillation into the larynx evoked greater responses than did saline (P = 0.00543), whereas no differences were detected with esophageal instillations. Repeated laryngeal exposure enhanced the responsiveness significantly (P < 0. 001). Our data indicate that the larynx is more important than the esophagus as a reflexogenic site for the elicitation of reflex bronchoconstriction in response to acidic solutions.  (+info)

Effects of an intubating dose of succinylcholine and rocuronium on the larynx and diaphragm: an electromyographic study in humans. (6/683)

BACKGROUND: Paralysis of the vocal cords is one objective of using relaxants to facilitate tracheal intubation. This study compares the neuromuscular blocking effect of succinylcholine and rocuronium on the larynx, the diaphragm, and the adductor pollicis muscle. METHODS: Electromyographic response was used to compare the neuromuscular blocking effect of succinylcholine and rocuronium on the laryngeal adductor muscles, the diaphragm, and the adductor pollicis muscle. Sixteen patients undergoing elective surgery were anesthetized with propofol and fentanyl, and their tracheas were intubated without neuromuscular blocking agents. The recurrent laryngeal and phrenic nerves were stimulated at the neck. The electromyographic response was recorded from electrodes placed on the endotracheal tube and intercostally before and after administration of 1 mg/kg succinylcholine or 0.6 mg/kg rocuronium. RESULTS: The maximum effect was greater at the adductor pollicis (100 and 99%) than at the larynx (96 and 97%) and the diaphragm (94 and 96%) after administration of succinylcholine and rocuronium, respectively (P < or = 0.05). Onset time was not different between the larynx (58+/-10 s), the diaphragm (57+/-8 s), and the adductor pollicis (54+/-13 s), after succinylcholine (all mean +/- SD). After rocuronium, onset time was 124+/-39 s at the larynx, 130+/-44 s at the diaphragm, and 115+/-21 s at the adductor pollicis. After succinylcholine administration, time to 90% recovery was 8.3+/-3.2, 7.2+/-3.5, and 9.1+/-3.0 min at the larynx, the diaphragm, and the adductor pollicis, respectively. Time to 90% recovery after rocuronium administration was 34.9+/-7.6, 30.4+/-4.2, and 49.1+/-11.4 min at the larynx, the diaphragm, and the adductor pollicis, respectively. CONCLUSION: Neuromuscular blocking effect of muscle relaxants on the larynx can be measured noninvasively by electromyography. Although the larynx appears to be resistant to muscle relaxants, we could not demonstrate that its onset time differed from that of peripheral muscles.  (+info)

Assessment of effect of nasal continuous positive pressure on laryngeal opening using fibre optic laryngoscopy. (7/683)

AIM: To assess the effect of nasal continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) on the dimensions of the laryngeal opening. METHODS: Nine preterm infants who had previously received ventilatory support for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were studied. All were receiving nasal CPAP. The laryngeal opening was visualised using a fibre optic video camera system. The ratio of width to length of the opening was measured on and off CPAP. RESULTS: In eight of the infants the width: length ratio increased on CPAP; mean change for group +24.4% (95% CI +11.9 to +37.9). CONCLUSIONS: Nasal CPAP seems to dilate the larynx. This may explain the selective beneficial effects of CPAP on mixed and obstructive apnoea.  (+info)

Atrophy of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle as an indicator of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. (8/683)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle is one of the intrinsic muscles of the larynx innervated by the recurrent laryngeal nerve. As such, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy should not only result in paralysis of the true vocal cord or thyroarytenoid muscle but also in a similar change in the PCA muscle. The ability of CT and MR imaging to depict denervation atrophy in the PCA muscle in patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was evaluated. METHODS: Two investigators reviewed the CT and/or MR studies of 20 patients with a clinical history of vocal cord paralysis. The appearance of the PCA muscle was given a rating of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4, with 0 being definitely normal and 4 being definitely abnormal or atrophic. Each study was also reviewed for the presence or absence of other features of vocal cord paralysis: thyroarytenoid muscle atrophy, anteromedial deviation of the arytenoid cartilage, an enlarged piriform sinus and laryngeal ventricle, and a paramedian cord. RESULTS: Atrophy of the PCA muscle was shown unequivocally in 65% of the cases and was most likely present in an additional 20%. The frequency with which other features of vocal cord paralysis were seen was as follows: thyroarytenoid atrophy, 95%; anteromedial deviation of the arytenoid cartilage, 70%; enlarged piriform sinus, 100%; enlarged laryngeal ventricle, 90%; and a paramedian cord, 100%. CONCLUSION: Atrophy of the PCA muscle may be commonly documented on CT and MR studies in patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and vocal cord paralysis, and therefore should be part of the constellation of imaging features of vocal cord paralysis. This finding is particularly useful when other imaging findings of vocal cord paralysis are absent or equivocal.  (+info)