Objectives: Due to their location in the entrance of the aero‐digestive tract, tonsils are steadily exposed to viruses. Human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) are two potentially oncogenic viruses that tonsils encounter. The incidence of HPV positive tonsillar cancer is on the rise and it is unknown when infection with HPV occurs.

Aim: To investigate if tonsils are infected with HPV and EBV, to study the co‐expression of HPV and its surrogate marker p16, and to evaluate the number of EBV positive cells in benign tonsillar disease.

Materials and Methods: Tonsils from 40 patients in a university hospital were removed due to hypertrophy, chronic or recurrent infection. These were analyzed for presence of HPV, its surrogate marker p16, and EBV. HPV was studied using PapilloCheck (a PCR method), while p16 was identified in epithelial and lymphoid tissue with immunohistochemistry and EBV using EBER‐ISH (Epstein‐Barr encoding region–in situ hybridization).

Results: HPV was not detected, and p16 was present at low numbers in all epithelial samples as well as in 92.5% of the lymphoid tonsillar samples. At least one EBER‐positive cell was seen in 65% of cases. Larger numbers of EBER‐expressing cells were only seen in two cases.

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that EBV and HPV infect tonsils independently, but further studies are warranted to confirm their infectious relationship.

Level of Evidence: Cross‐sectional study

Objectives: We aimed to study the effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and caudal zona incerta (cZi) on level of perceived voice tremor in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Study Design: This is a prospective nonrandomized design with consecutive patients.

Methods: Perceived voice tremor was assessed in patients with PD having received either STN-DBS (8 patients, 5 bilateral and 3 unilateral, aged 43.1-73.6 years; median = 61.2 years) or cZi-DBS (14 bilateral patients, aged 39.0-71.9 years; median = 56.6 years) 12 months before the assessment. Sustained vowels that were produced OFF and ON stimulation (with simultaneous L-DOPA medication) were assessed perceptually in terms of voice tremor by two raters on a four-point rating scale. The assessments were repeated five times per sample and rated in a blinded and randomized procedure.

Results: Three out of the 22 patients (13%) were concluded to have voice tremor OFF stimulation. Patients with PD with STN-DBS showed mild levels of perceived voice tremor OFF stimulation and a group level improvement. Patients with moderate/severe perceived voice tremor and cZi-DBS showed marked improvements, but there was no overall group effect. Six patients with cZi-DBS showed small increases in perceived voice tremor severity.

Conclusions: STN-DBS decreased perceived voice tremor on a group level. cZi-DBS decreased perceived voice tremor in patients with PD with moderate to severe preoperative levels of the symptom.

Background: Hyaluronan (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan with viscoelastic properties necessary for vocal fold (VF) vibration and voice production. Changes in HAs molecular mass, possibly related to human papilloma virus, could affect formation/persistence of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

Aims/Objective: Describing mass and localization of HA and localization of HA receptor CD44 in VF and false vocal folds (FVF) in RRP.

Materials and Methods: Biopsies from VF and FVF from 24 RRP patients. Twelve were studied with histo-/immunohistochemistry for HA and CD44 in epithelium, stroma and RRP lesions. Twelve samples were analyzed for HA molecular mass distribution with gas-phase-electrophoretic-molecular-mobility-analyzer (GEMMA).

Results: Three of 23 stains (VF and FVF combined) showed faint HA staining in the epithelium; there was more extensive staining in the stroma. CD44 was present throughout all areas in FVF and VF, it did not concur with HA. GEMMA analysis revealed very high mass HA (vHMHA) with more varying amounts in VF.

Conclusions/Significance: HA was mainly distributed in the stroma. CD44 not binding to HA might explain the non-inflammatory response described in RRP. Possibly crosslinked vHMHA was seen in VF and FVF, with more variable amounts in VF samples. Counteracting HA crosslinking could become a treatment option in RRP.

背景：透明质酸（HA）是一种糖胺聚糖, 具有声带（VF）振动和发声所必需的粘弹性。HA 分子量的变化可能与人乳头瘤病毒相关, 还可能影响复发性呼吸道乳头状瘤病（RRP）的形成或持续。

目的：描述HA的量和定位, HA受体CD44在VF中的定位和假性声带（FVF）在RRP中的定位。

材料和方法：24名RRP患者的VF和FVF的活组织检查。用组织/免疫组织化学方法研究12个样品的上皮、基质和RRP病变中的HA和CD44。用气-相-电泳 - 分子-迁移率-分析仪（GEMMA）分析另12个样品的HA分子量分布。

结果：23个染色中的3个（VF和FVF组合）在上皮细胞中显示出微弱的HA染色;基质中有更强的染色。 CD44存在于FVF和VF的所有区域, 它与HA不同时存在。 GEMMA分析显示非常高量的HA（vHMHA）, 它在VF中的量多变。

结论/意义：HA主要分布在基质中。 CD44不与HA接合可能解释所描述的RRP中的非炎症反应。在VF和FVF中观察到可能交合的vHMHA, 而在VF样品中具有更多的变量。抗HA交合可能成为RRP的治疗选择。

OBJECTIVES: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a relatively rare, chronic disease caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) 6 and 11, and characterized by wart-like lesions in the airway affecting voice and respiratory function. The majority of HPV infections are asymptomatic and resolve spontaneously, however, some individuals are afflicted with persistent HPV infections. Failure to eliminate HPV 6 and 11 due to a defect immune responsiveness to these specific genotypes is proposed to play a major role in the development of RRP.

METHODS: We performed a phenotypic characterization of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) collected from 16 RRP patients and 12 age-matched healthy controls, using immunoflow cytometry, and monoclonal antibodies against differentiation and activation markers. The cytokine mRNA profile of monocytes, T helper-, T cytotoxic-, and NK cells was assessed using RT-qPCR cytokine analysis, differentiating between Th1-, Th2-, Th3/regulatory-, and inflammatory immune responses.

RESULTS: We found a dominance of cytotoxic T cells, activated NK cells, and high numbers of stressed MIC A/B expressing lymphocytes. There was an overall suppression of cytokine mRNA production and an aberrant cytokine mRNA profile in the activated NK cells.

CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate an immune dysregulation with inverted CD4(+) /CD8(+) ratio and aberrant cytokine mRNA production in RRP patients, compared to healthy controls.

Background: Every year 2000 tracheotomies are performed in Sweden. Severe or lethal complications and shortcomings in the valuation of risks pre-, per- and postoperatively occurs. This work intends, based on best available evidence, to reduce injuries related to tracheotomy.

Material and Method: Anaesthesiologists and otorhinolaryngologists from University Hospitals compiled a document with guidelines to reduce risks to cause severe complications and death at tracheotomy operations. Landstingens Omse- € sidiga Fors € €akringsbolag (LOF, Swedish insur- € ance company for publicly funded health care providers) also took part.

Results: Surgical tracheotomy is recommended for children and adults with known or expected difficult intubation such as Cormack-Lehane IIIIV, short/thick neck, distance between cricoid cartilage and jugulum<15 mm, neck circumference >45 cm, tumors in head and neck area, BMI >35, rheumatoid arthritis, severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, high intracranial pressure, unstable neck fracture and coagulopathies. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 61 (2017) 962–1062 1034 ª 2017 The Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd SSAI ABSTRACTS Percutaneous tracheostomy (PCT) could be performed in intensive care patients. A tracheotomy cannula with an inner cannula should be used. Common complications include acute obstruction of tracheal cannula, dislocation, emphysema of the neck, trauma to dorsal tracheal wall. Some deaths have occurred due to lack of education to perform a surgical tracheotomy in patients where percutaneous tracheostomy were not possible to perform.

Conclusion: Tracheotomy should be performed at hospitals where competence exist for surgical tracheotomy, including patients with difficult anatomy, regardless of the tracheotomy technique. At each hospitals the distribution between percutaneous and surgical tracheostomies must be weighted as to preserve overall competence for both techniques. A guideline of acute tracheal cannula occlusion is presented (Figure). 

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) comprises a large group of cancers in the oral cavity and nasopharyngeal area that typically arise in older males in association with alcohol/tobacco usage. Within the oral cavity, the mobile tongue is the most common site for tumour development. The incidence of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is increasing in younger people, which has been suggested to associate with a viral aetiology. Two common human oncogenic viruses, human papilloma virus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are known causes of certain types of SCCHN, namely the oropharynx and nasopharynx, respectively. EBV infects most adults worldwide through oral transmission and establishes a latent infection, with sporadic productive viral replication and release of virus in the oral cavity throughout life. In view of the prevalence of EBV in the oral cavity and recent data indicating that it infects tongue epithelial cells and establishes latency, we examined 98 cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue and 15 cases of tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma for the presence of EBV-encoded RNAs (EBERs), EBV DNA and an EBV-encoded protein, EBNA-1. A commercially available in situ hybridisation kit targeting EBER transcripts (EBER-ISH) showed a positive signal in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of tumour cells in 43% of TSCCs. However, application of control probes and RNase A digestion using in-house developed EBER-ISH showed identical EBER staining patterns, indicating non-specific signals. PCR analysis of the BamH1 W repeat sequences did not identify EBV genomes in tumour samples. Immunohistochemistry for EBNA-1 was also negative. These data exclude EBV as a potential player in TSCC in both old and young patients and highlight the importance of appropriate controls for EBER-ISH in investigating EBV in human diseases.

Objectives: The management of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been improved, but management of features like swallowing problems is still challenging. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) alleviates the cardinal motor symptoms and improves quality of life, but its effect on swallowing is not fully explored. The purpose of this study was to examine self-reported swallowing specific quality of life, before and after caudal zona incerta DBS (cZI DBS), in comparison with a control group.

Methods: Nine PD patients (2 women and 7 men) completed the self-report Swallowing Quality of Life questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) before and 12 months after cZI DBS surgery. The postoperative data were compared to nine controls. Median ages were 53 years (range 40-70) for patients and 54 years (range 42-72) for controls.

Results: No significant differences were found between the pre-, or postoperative scores. The SWAL-QOL total scores did not differ significantly between PD patients and controls. PD patients reported significantly lower scores in the 'burden' subscale and in the 'symptom' scale.

Conclusions: PD patients selected for cZI DBS showed a good self-reported swallowing specific quality of life, in many aspects equal to controls. CZI DBS did not negatively affect swallowing specific quality of life in this study.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine swallowing function in patients with Parkinson's disease before and after caudal zona incerta deep brain (cZI DBS) surgery. The aims were to examine the effect of cZI DBS on swallowing safety regarding liquid and solid food, as well as to identify the effect of cZI DBS on body mass index (BMI) and specific items from part II of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS).

Materials and Methods: The median age of the 14 patients was 57 years (range 46–71), with a median disease duration of 6 years (range 2–13). The present sample is an extension of a previous report, into which six additional patients have been added. Fiber endoscopic examinations of swallowing function, measures of BMI, and evaluation of UPDRS part II items were made before and 12 months after surgery, with and without activated DBS.

Results: There were no significant changes due to cZI DBS regarding penetration/aspiration, pharyngeal residue or premature spillage (p > .05). Median BMI increased by +1.1 kg/m² 12 months after surgery (p = .01, r = .50). All reported specific symptoms from the UPDRS part II were slight or mild. A significant improvement regarding handling of utensils was seen 12 months postoperatively (p = .03, r = −.42).

Conclusions: Caudal zona incerta DBS was found not to have a negative impact on swallowing safety. A significant increase in postoperative weight was observed, and speech seemed to be slightly negatively affected, whereas handling of utensils was improved with cZI DBS.

Epigenetic modifications are essential regulators of biological processes. Decreased DNA methylation of OAS2 (2'-5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase 2), encoding an antiviral protein, has been seen in psoriasis. To provide further insight into the epigenetic regulation of OAS2, we performed pyrosequencing to detect OAS2 DNA methylation status at 11 promoter and first exon located CpG sites in psoriasis (n = 12) and two common subtypes of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck: tongue (n = 12) and tonsillar (n = 11). Compared to corresponding controls, a general hypomethylation was seen in psoriasis. In tongue and tonsillar SCC, hypomethylation was found at only two CpG sites, the same two sites that were least demethylated in psoriasis. Despite differences in the specific residues targeted for methylation/demethylation, OAS2 expression was upregulated in all conditions and correlations between methylation and expression were seen in psoriasis and tongue SCC. Distinctive methylation status at four successively located CpG sites within a genomic area of 63 bp reveals a delicately integrated epigenetic program and indicates that detailed analysis of individual CpGs provides additional information into the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in specific disease states. Methylation analyses as clinical biomarkers need to be tailored according to disease-specific sites.

We describe a non-smoking patient with juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), genotyped as human papilloma virus (HPV)11. The patient has undergone a total of 133 surgical CO2 laser sessions, whereof the last 28 using a high frequency jet ventilation technique (HFJV). Since completed vaccination (Gardasil) in February 2013, the patient underwent one surgery in September 2013 and was considered being in remission. In March 2015, the patient was diagnosed with a left-sided lung cancer, genotyped as HPV11, a HPV subtype associated with a more aggressive disease with higher morbidity and mortality. We advocate that RRP patients should be ventilated with HFJV technique in order to enhance surgical radicality. Furthermore, the operation should be performed in operating theaters with high air exchange/minute, optimized local exhaust ventilation, and specific masks to ensure safe conditions for patients and staff.

Här beskrivs en icke-rökande patient med recidiverande respiratoriska papillom, genotypade som humant papillomvirus typ 11 (HPV 11). Patienten har behandlats med koldioxidlaser 133 gånger; de senaste 28 gångerna ventilerades han med högfrekvent jetventilationsteknik. Efter HPV-vaccination med Gardasil och operation i september 2013 bedömdes patienten vara i remission, men i mars 2015 ställdes diagnosen HPV 11-positiv lungcancer. Patienter med recidiverande respiratoriska papillom bör ventileras med högfrekvent jetventilationsteknik för att ge bästa förutsättningar för kirurgisk radikalitet och bevarad funktionalitet. Operationspersonal bör skyddas mot droppburen respiratorisk HPV-smitta genom munskydd, optimerat lokalt utsug och hög luftväxling på operationssal.