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BackgroundLaryngo-pharyngeal mechano-sensitivity (LPMS) is involved in dysphagia, sleep apnea, stroke, irritable larynx syndrome and cough hypersensitivity syndrome among other disorders. These conditions are associated with a wide range of airway reflex abnormalities. However, the current device for exploring LPMS is limited because it assesses only the laryngeal adductor reflex during fiber-optic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing and requires a high degree of expertise to obtain reliable results, introducing intrinsic expert variability and subjectivity.MethodsWe designed, developed and validated a new air-pulse laryngo-pharyngeal endoscopic esthesiometer with a built-in laser range-finder (LPEER) based on the evaluation and control of air-pulse variability determinants and on intrinsic observer variability and subjectivity determinants of the distance, angle and site of stimulus impact. The LPEER was designed to be capable of delivering precise and accurate stimuli with a wide range of intensities that can explore most laryngo-pharyngeal reflexes.ResultsWe initially explored the potential factors affecting the reliability of LPMS tests and included these factors in a multiple linear regression model. The following factors significantly affected the precision and accuracy of the test (P < 0.001): the tube conducting the air-pulses, the supply pressure of the system, the duration of the air-pulses, and the distance and angle between the end of the tube conducting the air-pulses and the site of impact. To control all of these factors, an LPEER consisting of an air-pulse generator and an endoscopic laser range-finder was designed and manufactured. We assessed the precision and accuracy of the LPEER’s stimulus and range-finder according to the coefficient of variation (CV) and by looking at the differences between the measured properties and the desired values, and we performed a pilot validation on ten human subjects. The air-pulses and range-finder exhibited good precision and accuracy (CV < 0.06), with differences between the desired and measured properties at <3 % and a range-finder measurement error of <1 mm. The tests in patients demonstrated obtainable and reproducible thresholds for the laryngeal adductor, cough and gag reflexes.ConclusionsThe new LPEER was capable of delivering precise and accurate stimuli for exploring laryngo-pharyngeal reflexes.

ResumenTrichosporon asahii es un hongo patógeno emergente reportado en la literatura médica principalmente en pacientes inmunocomprometidos. No obstante, el presente caso es inusual debido a que se trata de un paciente adulto joven inmunocompetente que presentó fungemia por T. asahii y al mismo tiempo desarrolló insuficiencia respiratoria aguda por bronquiolitis respiratoria y neumonía descamativa, la cual resolvió posterior al tratamiento antimicótico instaurado, soporte ventilatorio y vigilancia en Unidad de Cuidado Intesivo (UCI).Palabras claves: Inmunocompetencia, Fungemia, Trichosporon asahii, Neumonía descamativa.REVISTA 24(1): 89 -96, 2016

<p>El avance de la investigación médica, en los campos de la biología molecular y la ingeniería genética, ha traído consigo el desarrollo de una serie de nuevos medicamentos dirigidos a bloquear diferentes vías de la respuesta inmune celular. La terapia biológica, nombre con el cual se reconoce a estos nuevos medicamentos, ofrece una nueva oportunidad terapéutica para el manejo de enfermedades crónicas progresivas. En las enfermedades pulmonares crónicas como el asma, la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), la enfermedad pulmonar parenquimatosa difusa (EPPD) y el cáncer de pulmón, el tratamiento con medicamentos biológicos ha aportado importantes avances para comprender con mayor claridad estas enfermedades y en algunos casos gracias a la eficacia de los mismos, mejorar la calidad de vida de los pacientes que las presentan. Debido al número cada vez mayor de medicamentos de terapia biológica y su aplicación terapéutica creciente en enfermedades inflamatorias crónicas y cáncer, creemos necesario revisar su estado actual en el manejo de la patología pulmonar crónica.</p>