[Use of narrow-band spectrogram in voice surgery]. / Aplicación del espectrograma de banda estrecha en fonocirugía.

Subjective voice qualities are difficult to transform into permanent objective visual patterns. Voice spectrography is not a new method of voice analysis. However, in spite of many contributions to the literature, few otolaryngologists have used this interesting method as a clinical tool for evaluating the voice before and after surgical voice procedures. We used the Yanagihara method for classifying degrees of hoarseness, witch is based on the appearance of noise components and loss of harmonic components as the major acoustic factors related to hoarseness. This classification is clinically useful because the severity of hoarseness can be numerically expressed. Changes in the harmonic components were analyzed by voice spectrographic analysis.

[Nystagmographic findings in pontocerebellar angle tumors]. / Hallazgos nistagmográficos en tumores de ángulo pontocerebeloso.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of vestibular function tests in cerebellopontine angle tumors METHODS: Analysis of preoperative nystagmographic findings in 29 patients affected of cerebellopontine angle tumors and its possible correlation with anatomical and progressive patterns RESULTS: Tumor size and growth pattern were statistically significantly related to auditory and vestibular functions and to central findings on nystagmography. Age, gender, tumor size and central findings on nystagmography did not show influence upon postoperative dysbalance. However, alterations related with adaptation of the vestibular system (positional nystagmus and asymmetry on rotational tests) correlated significantly with postsurgical dysbalance. CONCLUSIONS: The tests for vestibular function reflect a the characteristics of growth of the cerebellopontine angle tumors and can help to identify the patients susceptible of prolonged postoperative dysbalance.

[Spectrographic study of voice disorders: subharmonics]. / Estudio espectrográfico de la disfonía: subarmónicos.

The presence of subharmonics in abnormal adult voices (polyps, polypoid degeneration, plicae ventricularis) was investigated. Subharmonics are low-frequency modulations located between two consecutive harmonics in the spectrum. Spectrum analysis was performed on 115 abnormal voices, of which 36 (31%) had subharmonics. Thirteen of the 36 voices with subharmonics had normal jitter and shimmer, so the rough voice was characterized acoustically not only by jitter and shimmer but by the presence of subharmonics in the spectrum. Subharmonics may correspond to a qualitative change in the behavior of the vibratory system.

[Treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with the canalith repositioning maneuver of Epley. Our experience]. / Tratamiento del vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno mediante la maniobra de reposición de partículas de Epley. Nuestra experiencia.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common peripheral vestibular disorders. Particle repositioning maneuvers are simple and effective treatments for patients with BPPV. This study included 37 consecutive cases of BPPV treated with the particle repositioning maneuver of Epley. 97% of patients improved and the maneuver was well tolerated. We conclude that Epley Maneuver is safe and effective in the treatment of BPPV.

[Genetic alterations in sinonasal adenocarcinoma in wood workers studies with comparative genomic hybridization]. / Alteraciones genéticas en adenocarcinomas nasosinusales de trabajadores de la madera mediante hibridación genómica comparativa.

Eleven wood-workers with sinonasal adenocarcinoma were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization. This technique serves as a screening test for regions of copy number changes in tumor genomes. We have applied the technique to map DNA gains and losses in 9 cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors and 2 cases of frozen tumors. Gains were found most frequently than losses. Whole arm chromosomic gains were detected in high frequencies at 8q, 7q, 12q and 18p and losses at 18q, 8p, 10q, 5q, 14q and 17p. The segment most frequently amplified was 18p11.1-q11 (45%), even though others like 7q21-22 (18%) were related with lower survival rates. This analysis allows us to know for the first time the chromosomic aberrations that occur and may play an important role in sinonasal adenocarcinoma. In the future, comparative genomic hybridization could be used in the woodworkers with long exposition to wood dust to detect initial genetic aberrations and obtain an early treatment and diagnosis of the disease.

Aplicación del espectrograma de banda estrecha de fonocirugía / Use of narrow-band spectrogram in voice surgery

Las cualidades subjetivas de la voz son difíciles de transformar en patrones visuales objetivos. La espectrografía no es un método novedoso de análisis de la voz, pero a pesar de numerosos trabajos presentes en la literatura, pocos otorrinolaringólogos utilizan este interesante método como una herramienta clínica para la evaluación de la voz antes y después de realizar intervenciones fonoquirúrgicas. Nosotros hacemos uso de la clasificación según el método de Yanagihara en grados de severidad de la disfonía que se basa en la aparición de componentes de ruido y la pérdida de componentes armónicos en el espectro de una voz disfónica. Esta clasificación es clínicamente útil dado que el grado de severidad de la disfonía se puede expresar de forma numérica. En este trabajo se analizan los cambios en los componentes armónicos y la suma de componentes de ruido en las disfonías basándonos en el análisis espectrográfico de la voz (AU)

Subjective voice qualities are difficult to transform into permanent objective visual patterns. Voice spectrography is not a new method of voice analysis. However, in spite of many contributions to the literature, few otolaryngologists have used this interesting method as a clinical tool for evaluating the voice before and after surgical voice procedures. We used the Yanagihara method for classifying degrees of hoarseness, witch is based on the appearance of noise components and loss of harmonic components as the major acoustic factors related to hoarseness. This classification is clinically useful because the severity of hoarseness can be numerically expressed. Changes in the harmonic components were analyzed by voice spectrographic analysis (AU)

Estudio espectrográfico de la disfonía: subarmónicos / Spectrographic study of voíce disorders: subharmonics

Este estudio investiga la presencia de subarmónicos en voces adultas patológicas (pólipos, edema de Reinke, disfonía ventricular). Los subarmónicos son trazados de baja frecuencia localizados entre dos armónicos consecutivos en el espectrograma. Se realizó un espectrograma en 115 voces patológicas, 36 de las cuales presentaron subarmónicos (31 por ciento). 13 de las 36 voces con subarmónicos presentaban valores normales de jitter y shimmer, por lo que la voz áspera se caracteriza acústicamente no sólo por las alteraciones deljittery shimmer sino tambiénpor la presencia de subarmónicos en el espectro. Los subarmónicos pueden corresponder a un cambio cualitativo en la conducta del sistema vibratorio (AU)

The presence of subharmonics in abnormal adult voices (polyps, polypoid degeneration, plicae ventricularis) was investigated. Subharmonics are low-frequency modulations located between two consecutive harmonics in the spectrum. Spectrum analysis was performed on 115 abnormal voices, of which 36 (31%) had subharmonics. Thirteen of the 36 voices with subharmonics had normal jitter and shimmer, so the rough voice was characterized acoustically not only by jitter and shimmer but by the presence of subharmonics in the spectrum. Subharmonics may correspond to a qualitative change in the behavior of the vibratory system (AU)

Hallazgos nistagmográficos en tumores de ángulo pontocerebeloso / Nystagmographic findings in cerebellopontine angle tumour

Objetivo: determinar el valor de la nistagmografía en los tumores de ángulo pontocerebeloso. Metodología: Analizamos los hallazgos nistagmográficos preoperatorios en 29 pacientes diagnosticados de tumores de ángulo pontocerebeloso y sus posibles correlaciones anatómicas y evolutivas. Resultados: El tamaño tumoral y su patrón de crecimiento mantienen una relación estadísticamente significativa con los grados de función auditiva y vestibular y con la presencia de alteraciones nistagmográficas centrales. La edad, el sexo, las alteraciones vestibulares centrales y el tamaño tumoral no mostraron influencia sobre el desequilibrio postoperatorio de los pacientes; sin embargo, alteraciones atribuibles a la capacidad de adaptación del sistema vestibular (nistagmus de posición y asimetría en las pruebas de rotación) mostraron una relación estadísticamente significativa con los síntomas de desequilibrio postoperatorios. Conclusiones: El estudio funcional vestibular refleja las características de crecimiento de los tumores de ángulo pontocerebeloso y puede ayudar a identificar a los pacientes susceptibles de desequilibrio postoperatorio prolongado (AU)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of vestibular function tests in cerebellopontine angle tumors. METHODS: Analysis of preoperative nystagmographic findings in 29 patients affected of cerebellopontine angle tumors and its possible correlation with anatomical and progressive patterns. RESULTS: Tumor size and growth pattern were statistically significantly related to auditory and vestibular functions and to central findings on nystagmography. Age, gender, tumor size and central findings on nystagmography did not show influence upon postoperative dysbalance. However, alterations related with adaptation of the vestibular system (positional nystagmus and asymmetry on rotational tests) correlated significantly with postsurgical dysbalance. CONCLUSIONS: The tests for vestibular function reflect a the characteristics of growth of the cerebellopontine angle tumors and can help to identify the patients susceptible of prolonged postoperative dysbalance (AU)

Tratamiento del vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno mediante la maniobra de reposición de partículas de Epley. Nuestra experiencia / Treating benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo with the canalith repositioning maneuver of Epley. Our experience

El vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno (VPPB) es una de las patologías vestibulares más frecuentes. El desarrollo de las terapias de reposición de partículas ha supuesto un gran avance terapéutico en esta patología. Presentamos una serie de 37 pacientes diagnosticados de VPPB a los que se trató mediante la maniobra de Epley. Se consiguieron unos resultados satisfactorios en el 97 por ciento de los pacientes, con muy buena tolerancia al tratamiento, lo que permite considerar a esta maniobra terapéutica como altamente efectiva en el manejo de esta entidad (AU)

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common peripheral vestibular disorders. Particle repositioning maneuvers are simple and effective treatments for patients with BPPV. This study included 37 consecutive cases of BPPV treated with the particle repositioning maneuver of Epley. 97% of patients improved and the maneuver was well tolerated. We conclude that Epley Maneuver is safe and effective in the treatment of BPPV (AU)

Alteraciones genéticas en adenocarcinomas nasosinusales de trabajadores de la madera mediante hibridación genómica comparativa / Genetical disorders in sinonasal adenocarcinomas in wood-workers by comparative genomic hybridization

Se estudian 11 pacientes trabajadores de la madera que desarrollaron adenocarcinomas nasosinusales. Se utilizó la hibridación genómica comparativa como método de análisis en el conjunto del contenido genómico en 9 tumores parafinados y 2 tumores congelados.Encontramos alteraciones en todos los casos predominando las ganancias cromosómicas frente a las pérdidas. Las ganancias más frecuentes de brazos cromosómicos se observan en 8q, 7q, 12q y 18p y las pérdidas o deleciones en 18q, 8p, 10q, 5q, 14q y 17p. El mayor número de amplificaciones se encontró en 18p11.1-q11 (45 por ciento), aunque otras como 7q21-22 (18 por ciento) se relacionaron con menor supervivencia. Por primera vez, este análisis permite conocer las alteraciones cromosómicas ocurridas en los adenocarcinomas nasosinusales y es un primer paso en el diseño de un modelo de progresión. En un futuro, la hibridación genómica comparativa podría ser utilizada en trabajadores expuestos al polvo de madera para detectar las alteraciones genéticas iniciales y contribuir al diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de la enfermedad. (AU)

Eleven wood-workers with sinonasal adenocarcinoma were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization. This technique serves as a screening test for regions of copy number changes in tumor genomes. We have applied the technique to map DNA gains and losses in 9 cases of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors and 2 cases of frozen tumors. Gains were found most frequently than losses. Whole arm chromosomic gains were detected in high frequencies at 8q, 7q, 12q and 18p and losses at 18q, 8p, 10q, 5q, 14q and 17p. The segment most frequently amplified was 18p11.1-q11 (45%), even though others like 7q21-22 (18%) were related with lower survival rates. This analysis allows us to know for the first time the chromosomic aberrations that occur and may play an important role in sinonasal adenocarcinoma. In the future, comparative genomic hybridization could be used in the woodworkers with long exposition to wood dust to detect initial genetic aberrations and obtain an early treatment and diagnosis of the disease (AU)