Voice restoration following total laryngectomy by tracheoesophageal prosthesis: Effect on patients' quality of life and voice handicap in Jordan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Little has been reported about the impact of tracheoesophageal (TE) speech on individuals in the Middle East where the procedure has been gaining in popularity. After total laryngectomy, individuals in Europe and North America have rated their quality of life as being lower than non-laryngectomized individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in quality of life and degree of voice handicap reported by laryngectomized speakers from Jordan before and after establishment of TE speech.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve male Jordanian laryngectomees completed the University of Michigan Head & Neck Quality of Life instrument and the Voice Handicap Index pre- and post-TE puncture.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All subjects showed significant improvements in their quality of life following successful prosthetic voice restoration. In addition, voice handicap scores were significantly reduced from pre- to post-TE puncture.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Tracheoesophageal speech significantly improved the quality of life and limited the voice handicap imposed by total laryngectomy. This method of voice restoration has been used for a number of years in other countries and now appears to be a viable alternative within Jordan.</p

Association of non-nutritive sweeteners intake with body weight, daily food consumption and appetite in an adult population

Summary: Background: Non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) is a substitute to sugar or nutritive sweetener, those that imitate the flavor of sugar but with less calories. This study evaluated the impact of NNS consumption on daily food intake, appetite and weight control among adults in Mount Lebanon. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 553 adults aged 18–55 years in a low socioeconomic district Mount Lebanon. A cross-sectional study design, and snowballing sampling with sample size 553 were used in the study. Chi-squared test and t test for tetrachoric correlation were used for bivariate analysis, while partial proportional odds logistic, polychotomous logistic and multiple linear models were used for multivariate analysis. Results: Compared to those not consuming NNS, the odds of grains, bread, artificially sweetened non-alcoholic beverages, snacks consumptions were significantly lower for those consuming NNS ‘once a day’ and ‘2–3 times a day’; ‘2–3 times a day’ and ‘4–5 times a day’; '4–5 times a day’; ‘3–4 times a day’ and ‘5 or more times a day’. NNS consumers did not significantly have lower odds of high frequency meals and appetite respectively than non-consumers. There was no evidence of difference in BMI between NNS consumers versus non-consumers. Conclusion: NNS is associated with grains, bread, artificially sweetened non-alcoholic beverages and snacks but not with meals when it is taken in combination with the item. This study provides the basis for future research on NNS consumption in Lebanon

Mislocalisation of hephaestin, a multicopper ferroxidase involved in basolateral intestinal iron transport, in the sex linked anaemia mouse

Background: Hephaestin is a multicopper ferroxidase required for basolateral transport of iron from enterocytes. Sex linked anaemia (sla) mice have a defect in the release of iron from intestinal enterocytes into the circulation due to an interstitial deletion in the hephaestin gene (heph). Results: We have demonstrated that hephaestin is primarily localised to a supranuclear compartment in both intestinal enterocytes and in cultured cells. In normal intestinal enterocytes, hephaestin was also present on the basolateral surface. In sla mice, hephaestin was present only in the supranuclear compartment. In contrast, the iron permease Ireg1 localised to the basolateral membrane in both control and sla mice. Conclusion: We suggest that mislocalisation of hephaestin likely contributes to the functional defect in sla intestinal epithelium