Botulinum Toxin Type B for Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia: A Case Report

Although treatment with botulinum toxin type A (BTXA) has become the standard of care for most patients with laryngeal dystonia, its use is limited by the development of resistance to the toxin in some patients. Botulinum toxin type B (BTXB) has been found to be safe and effective in the treatment of cervical dystonia, but it has not been used previously to treat spasmodic dysphonia. Our experience with BTXB in a patient who developed resistance to BTXA suggests that BTXB may be safe and effective for the treatment of laryngeal dystonia, as well.     

Bilateral Mixed Laryngoceles: Simultaneous Strobovideolaryngoscopy and External Video Examination

A music medicine practice affords a unique opportunity to diagnose and treat laryngeal music performers. Strobovideolaryngoscopic (SVL) and external video examination of the voice professional or brass instrument player may focus on the vocal folds, yet abnormalities of the supraglottis, neck, and thorax should be appreciated and documented. Laryngoceles are uncommon laryngeal disorders but may occur in up to 5% of benign laryngeal lesions. While many laryngoceles are asymptomatic, they may cause a cough, hoarseness, stridor, sore throat, pain, snoring, or globus sensation. In particular, musicians who play brass instruments are at high risk for laryngocele development. We highlight two patients with symptomatic laryngoceles to present anatomical, historical, classification, epidemiological, diagnostic, and management considerations.     

APPLICATION OF SHELLAC IN POLYMERS

Abstract

Lac is the only known natural resin of animal origin. It is the secretion of a tiny insect known as Kerriar lacca (formally called Laceifer lacca). The lac-forming tiny insect grows on some types of trees, mostly abundant in tropical countries, including India. The secretion of the lac insect hardens in air and forms a covering on the body of the insect. This covering or the nest forms a continuous incrustation on the branches of the host trees. Lac is collected by scraping the incrustation from the branches of the trees.     

Inversion formulas for the reznitskaya transform and stability of lipschitz type in determination of initial heat distribution

In the Reznitskaya transform combining the solutions of some general linear partial differential equations of hyperbolic type and parabolic type, isometrical identities and inversion formulas are established. Furthermore, stability of Lipschitz type in the determination of initial heat distribution is given as an application.     

Strobovideolaryngoscopic Findings in Singing Teachers

Professional voice users often present to otolaryngologists and laryngologists with specific voice complaints. The contributions of pathologic lesions to the patients' vocal complaints are not always clear on examination, and often, premorbid examinations of the larynx are not available for review. This study examines the incidence of laryngeal pathology among singing teachers. At a national convention of singing teachers, volunteers were recruited for a "free strobovideolaryngoscopic examination." All volunteers completed a detailed questionnaire of their vocal and medical history and underwent strobovideolaryngoscopic examination. Strobovideolaryngoscopic examinations were completed in 20 volunteers, 7 of whom had voice complaints and 13 of whom perceived their voices to be normal. Vocal fold masses were common among the asymptomatic singing teachers. Evidence of reflux laryngitis was a common finding among both symptomatic and asymptomatic singing teachers. Asymmetries in vocal fold hypomobility were more common among those with voice complaints than was the presence of vocal fold masses in the population studied.     

Electron collisions with laser cooled and trapped metastable helium atoms: total scattering cross sections

Absolute measurements of total scattering cross sections for low energy (5-70 eV) electrons by metastable helium (2(3)S) atoms are presented. The measurements are performed using a magneto-optical trap which is loaded from a laser-cooled, bright beam of slow He(2(3)S) atoms. The data are compared with predictions from convergent close coupling and R matrix with pseudostate calculations, and we find good agreement between experiment and theory.