Asymmetric triangular body-cover model of the VFs with bilateral intrinsic muscle activation.

Many voice disorders are linked to imbalanced muscle activity and known to exhibit asymmetric vocal fold vibration. However, the relation between imbalanced muscle activation and asymmetric vocal fold vibration is not well understood. This study introduces an asymmetric triangular body-cover model of the vocal folds, controlled by the activation of intrinsic laryngeal muscles, to investigate the effects of muscle imbalance on vocal fold oscillation. Various scenarios were considered, encompassing imbalance in individual muscles and muscle pairs, as well as accounting for asymmetry in lumped element parameters. The results highlight the antagonistic effect between the thyroarytenoid and cricothyroid muscles on the elastic and mass components of the vocal folds, as well as the impact on the vocal process from the imbalance in the lateral cricoarytenoid and interarytenoid adductor muscles. Measurements of amplitude and phase asymmetry were employed to emulate the oscillatory behavior of two pathological cases: unilateral paralysis and muscle tension dysphonia. The resulting simulations exhibit muscle imbalance consistent with expectations in the composition of these voice disorders, yielding asymmetries exceeding 30% for paralysis and below 5% for dysphonia. This underscores the versatility of muscle imbalance in representing phonatory scenarios and its potential for characterizing asymmetry in vocal fold vibration.

Work-Related Vocal Challenges of Online Teaching: A Study of Female College Professors.

BACKGROUND: College professors are at an elevated risk of developing voice disorders due to increased vocal demands associated with their working conditions, including high background noise levels, long reverberation times, prolonged voice use duration, and large class sizes. However, the impact of online classes on vocal health among college professors remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study aimed to characterize voice changes associated with online teaching among female Colombian college professors. METHODS: Thirteen female college professors teaching online classes completed an online survey that included questions about voice functioning, working conditions, the Spanish translation of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), and the Spanish translation of the Voice-Related Quality of Life. Instrumental measurements were also performed, including environmental background noise levels, hearing screening, and voice recordings before and after a synchronous online class. RESULTS: This study found a decreased fundamental frequency in connected speech (reading) associated with the number of students per class, the number of classes per week, and background noise levels measured with a sound level meter. L1L0 was statistically smaller among experienced teachers with higher background noise levels compared with less-experienced colleagues in quieter classes. 1558kHz was statistically associated with the average number of students, whereas HNR was slightly higher for professors with more students and more classes per week. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that online teaching has important implications for voice production among participating teachers. This study highlights the importance of considering working conditions during online classes when designing workplace prevention programs for college professors.

A Voice Rehabilitation Protocol With the Semioccluded Ventilation Mask in Subjects With Symptoms of Vocal Fatigue and Phonatory Effort.

PURPOSE: The present study was designed to assess the efficacy of a six-session physiologic voice therapy program with the semioccluded ventilation mask (SOVM) in a group of subjects with voice complaints (vocal effort and fatigue). METHODS: Thirty-four participants with functional dysphonia were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) voice treatment with physiologic voice therapy plus vocal hygiene program (n = 17), and (2) vocal hygiene program only (n = 17). Laryngoscopic assessment was performed in all subjects to confirm laryngeal diagnosis. Before and after voice therapy, participants underwent aerodynamic assessment. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI), Vocal Tract Discomfort Scale (VTDS), and self-assessment of resonant voice were also performed. The treatment included six voice therapy sessions. For the experimental group, the exercises consisted of a sequence of seven phonatory tasks performed with the SOVM. Comparison for all variables was performed between experimental group and control group. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant improvements for experimental group for VHI (decrease), VTDS (decrease), and self-perception of resonant voice quality (increase). Significant decrease for experimental group was observed in subglottic pressure and phonation threshold pressure. CONCLUSION: Physiologic voice therapy based on the SOVM with connected speech exercises seems to be an effective tool to improve voice in subjects diagnosed with voice complaints. Apparently, improvements are reflected in both subjective and objective outcomes. A reduction in phonatory effort and perceptual aspects of vocal fatigue are the main subjective improvements. A decrease in air pressure-related variables seems to be the most important objective change after voice therapy.

Efficacy of a Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract Exercises-Therapeutic Program in Behavioral Dysphonia: A Randomized and Blinded Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTE) may improve the source and filter interaction by changing the acoustic characteristics and the impedance of the vocal tract, both in dysphonic and vocally healthy populations. However, there are a few studies that verify the effects of these exercises in a clinical trial. Thus, this study's purpose was to analyze the effectiveness of the SOVTE-Therapeutic Program (SOVTE-TP) in vocal quality and self-assessment, comparing it with Vocal Function Exercises. METHOD: Eighteen (eight men; 10 women), ages 18-50, with behavioral dysphonia participated in this randomized and blinded clinical trial. The participants were equally randomized into two groups: Experimental Group and Vocal Function Exercises Group. They were assessed at three moments: before the treatment, after finishing it, and one month after finishing the treatment--follow up. Acoustic measures (ie, fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, cepstral peak-smoothed, alpha ratio, and L1-L0), auditory-perceptual analysis, vocal fatigue index (VFI), self-perceived resonant voice, and vocal handicap index-30 (VHI-30) were measured at all assessment moments. For the two groups, the interventions happened twice per week (four weeks) and lasted 35 minutes. It was applied the repeated-measures ANOVA test (P< 0.05) and Tukey Test. RESULTS: The acoustic measures and auditory-perceptual had no differences between the groups and moments, respectively, which means that SOVTE-TP did not cause any harm. The auditory-perceptual analysis showed a mild deviation of participants' vocal quality. All groups reduced the VFI and VHI-30 scores in M2 and kept these results at M3 also, the vocal economy sensation increased in M2, decreasing slightly in M3. CONCLUSION: SOVTE-TP has positive effects regarding self-assessment (VFI, VHI, and resonant voice quality) on patients with mild behavioral dysphonia, and it provides the same effects as VFE.

Biomechanical Models to Represent Vocal Physiology: A Systematic Review.

Biomechanical modeling allows obtaining information on physical phenomena that cannot be directly observed. This study aims to review models that represent voice production. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, and IEEE Xplore databases. To select the papers, we used the protocol PRISMA Statement. A total of 53 publications were included in this review. This article considers a taxonomic classification of models found in the literature. We propose four categories in the taxonomy: (1) Models representing the Source (Vocal folds); (2) Models representing the Filter (Vocal Tract); (3) Models representing the Source - Filter Interaction; and (4) Models representing the Airflow - Source Interaction. We include a bibliographic analysis with the evolution of the publications per category. We provide an analysis of the number as well of publications in journals per year. Moreover, we present an analysis of the term occurrence and its frequency of usage, as found in the literature. In each category, different types of vocal production models are mentioned and analyzed. The models account for the analysis of evidence about aerodynamic, biomechanical, and acoustic phenomena and their correlation with the physiological processes involved in the production of the human voice. This review gives an insight into the state of the art related to the mathematical modeling of voice production, analyzed from the viewpoint of vocal physiology.

Novel SRY-box transcription factor 9 variant in campomelic dysplasia and the location of missense and nonsense variants along the protein domains: A case report.

Background: Campomelic dysplasia (CD) is a rare disorder that involves the skeletal and genital systems. This condition has been associated with a diverse set of mutations in the SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) gene. Case presentation: We herein report a case involving a 4-year-old female patient with CD, female sex reversal, type 1 Arnold-Chiari malformation, and bilateral conductive hearing loss and investigate the causal mutation. Whole-exome sequencing analysis detected a novel Trp115X* variant in the SOX9 gene. We performed a literature review of the reported cases and demonstrated that the missense variants were located only in the self-dimerization domain (DIM) and high-mobility group box domains. We also reported that variants in the DIM domain do not cause sex reversal and identified that the amino acid sequences that were mutated in the patients with campomelic dysplasia are evolutionarily conserved among primates. Conclusions: We suggest that missense variants cannot be located in the K2, PQA, and PQS given that these domains function critically for transcriptional activation or repression of target genes and evolve under purifying selection.

Systematic Review of Literature on Prevalence of Vocal Fatigue Among Teachers.

BACKGROUND: Previous results suggest that teaching is a high-risk profession for developing voice disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the prevalence of vocal fatigue among teachers and its relationship with voice acoustic parameters reported in previous studies. METHOD: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement Guidelines, we performed a systematic literature review including five databases: Scopus, Scielo, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Web of Science. Information on study population, definition and evaluation of vocal fatigue, and teaching characteristics were extracted from each paper. The quality of the included publications was assessed using the "Quality assessment tool for quantitative studies". RESULTS: In total, 14 publications met the inclusion criteria. The two most common work-related factors of vocal fatigue were high levels of noise inside classrooms and loud speaking voice use. Some investigations reported voice acoustic parameters such as fundamental frequency and vocal Sound Pressure Levels as associated with vocal fatigue. CONCLUSION: Vocal fatigue is a prevalent symptom among teachers associated with teaching vocal demands. However, studies on objective parameters that complement self-reports, to quantify vocal fatigue are needed to determine permissible values for healthy occupational voice use.

Key points for the development of antioxidant cocktails to prevent cellular stress and damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) during manned space missions.

Exposure to microgravity and ionizing radiation during spaceflight missions causes excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that contributes to cellular stress and damage in astronauts. Average spaceflight mission time is expected to lengthen as humanity aims to visit other planets. However, longer missions or spaceflights will undoubtedly lead to an increment in microgravity, ionizing radiation and ROS production. Strategies to minimize ROS damage are necessary to maintain the health of astronauts, future space colonists, and tourists during and after spaceflight missions. An antioxidant cocktail formulated to prevent or mitigate ROS damage during space exploration could help maintain the health of space explorers. We propose key points to consider when developing an antioxidant cocktail. We discuss how ROS damages our body and organs, the genetic predisposition of astronauts to its damage, characteristics and evidence of the effectiveness of antioxidants to combat excess ROS, differences in drug metabolism when on Earth and in space that could modify antioxidant effects, and the characteristics and efficacy of common antioxidants. Based on this information we propose a workflow for assessing astronaut resistance to ROS damage, infight monitoring of ROS production, and an antioxidant cocktail. Developing an antioxidant cocktail represents a big challenge to translate current medical practices from an Earth setting to space. The key points presented in this review could promote the development of different antioxidant formulations to maintain space explorers' health in the future.

Bibliometric Analysis and Review of Literature on the Relationship Between Voice Production and Bilingualism.

BACKGROUND: The spoken language may influence the way we produce our voice. Therefore, speak more than one language could affect voice production. However, there is limited evidence on the relationship between voice production and bilingualism. AIM: To characterize the relationship between bilingualism and voice production determined by means of voice acoustic parameters and voice perception. METHODS: A review of literature was performed using four computerized databases. The keywords used were voice, bilingualism, and multilingualism. Relevant data were extracted from the publications on country and year of study, participants, sample size, characterization of voice production (acoustics, perceptual), and languages. A bibliometric analysis was performed for co-occurrence analysis. Quality assessment was conducted with the EPHPP tool. RESULTS: A total of 10 publications met our inclusion criteria. Nine of the articles compared English productions with another language. Included studies reported changes in fundamental frequency between English and Spanish, Cantonese Chinese, Mandarin, Russian, Finnish, Arabic, Korean, Welsh, and Hebrew. The co-occurrence analysis shows that fundamental frequency is the most reported parameter, and English is the most compared language among studies including bilingual speakers. CONCLUSION: Speaking a second language influences voice production determined by voice acoustic parameters, such as fundamental frequency. Therefore, language may be an important factor to take into consideration when planning assessment and intervention programs on the field of voice.

Variation on Vocal Economy After Different Semioccluded Vocal Tract Exercises in Subjects With Normal Voice and Dysphonia.

PURPOSE: The present study aimed at observing the possible differential effects of eight semioccluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTE) on vocal economy measured by the Quasi Output Cost Ratio (QOCR). METHODS: Thirty-six participants were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: an experimental group of subjects diagnosed with mild hyperfunctional dysphonia (n = 17) and a control group of vocally healthy subjects (n = 19). Participants were required to randomly select and produce a series of three SOVTE from a list of eight exercises. The electroglottographic based measure QOCR was used to calculate the vocal economy before and after each voice exercise. RESULTS: Significant differences were found when comparing pre and poststages regardless of the vocal condition (normal voice or dysphonia) or the specific SOVTE used. Moreover, when individually comparing the effect of each SOVTE, only tube in water (10 cm) showed significant differences between pre and postconditions (QOCR values were higher after exercises). CONCLUSION: In general, semioccluded vocal tract exercises tend to increase vocal economy regardless the vocal condition (normal voice or dysphonia) or the specific SOVTE used. Phonation into a tube submerged deep into water promoted the highest increase in vocal economy. An increased acoustic output, nonproportional increase in vocal folds adduction and an effortless voice production would cause this increase in vocal economy after water resistance therapy.

Lesiones premalignas y malignas del estómago en pacientes sin tamización para cáncer gástrico / Premalignant and malignant findings of the stomach in patients without gastric cancer screening

Introducción. Para establecer una frecuencia de seguimiento como método de tamización en cáncer gástrico, se propone la endoscopia en pacientes mayores de 35 años con síntomas de dispepsia, y en pacientes mayores de 40 años con alto riesgo. La demora en la realización de la primera endoscopia en la vida de un paciente incrementa el riesgo de no detectar lesiones premalignas ni cáncer potencialmente prevenible. Los objetivos de nuestro estudio fueron describir el número de pacientes mayores de 40 años con endoscopia de primera vez y evaluar la presencia de lesiones premalignas y malignas del estómago en pacientes sin tamización. Métodos. Revisión retrospectiva de base de datos. Se describieron hallazgos de informes de histopatología en pacientes mayores de 40 años (lesiones premalignas y malignas). Adicionalmente se describieron las variables sociodemográficas de los pacientes con endoscopia de primera vez y la presencia de infección por Helicobacter pylori en la población mencionada. Resultados. Setenta y ocho pacientes (23,6 %) tuvieron una endoscopia de primera vez siendo mayores de 40 años. En el 44 % de los pacientes se encontró la presencia de Helicobacter pylori, 25,4 % de los pacientes presentaron atrofia gástrica, 23,1 % metaplasia, ningún paciente presentó displasia y un paciente (1,3 %) presentó un adenocarcinoma gástrico. Discusión. Los resultados de nuestro estudio muestran un número elevado de pacientes sin endoscopia de tamización. Nuestro estudio resalta la importancia del uso de la endoscopia de tamización en la prevención, así como en el diagnóstico temprano de cáncer gástrico y sugiere mayor adherencia a las guías de práctica clínica

Introduction. To establish a frequency of follow-up as a screening method for gastric cancer, endoscopy is pro-posed in patients older than 35 years with symptoms of dyspepsia, and in patients older than 40 years at high risk. The delay in performing the first endoscopy in a patient's life increases the risk of not detecting premalignant lesions or potentially preventable cancer. The aims of our study were to describe the number of patients older than 40 years with first-time endoscopy and to assess the presence of premalignant and malignant stomach lesions in patients without screening.Methods. Retrospective database review. Histopathology report findings in patients older than 40 years (prema-lignant and malignant lesions) were described. Additionally, the sociodemographic variables of patients with first-time endoscopy and the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the mentioned population were described.Results. Seventy-eight patients (23.6%) had a first-time endoscopy being older than 40 years. Helicobacter pylori was found in 44% of the patients, 25.4% of the patients had gastric atrophy, 23.1% had metaplasia, no patient had dysplasia and one patient (1.3%) had gastric adenocarcinoma. Discusions. The results of our study show a high number of patients without screening endoscopy. Our study highlights the importance of the use of screening endoscopy in prevention, as well as in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer, and suggests greater adherence to clinical practice guidelines

Nivel de conocimiento sobre soporte vital básico del personal no médico de una institución de salud, Pasto- Colombia, 2017 / Level of knowledge about basic life support of non-medical workers of a health institution at Pasto city- Colombia, 2017

Objetivo: el objetivo de la presente investigación es describir el nivel de conocimiento acerca de soporte vital básico, del personal asistencial no médico del servicio de urgencias de una institución de salud, en la ciudad de Pasto-Colombia,en el año 2017. La parada cardiorrespiratoria corresponde a la interrupción brusca, inesperada y potencialmente reversible de la respiración y la actividad mecánica cardíaca; que requiere de la implementación de medidas de reanimación,cuyo éxito depende del nivel conocimiento y habilidades del personal que la lleva a cabo Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. El nivel de conocimiento se determinó mediante un cuestionario diseñado para tal fin. Resultados: se reclutaron en total 58 participantes. En 39,65% de los casos el nivel de conocimiento fue aceptable, mientas que se consideró adecuado en un 41,37% de los casos. Los puntajes fueron más altos en el grupo con capacitación en soporte vital básico o avanzado en los dos años previos. Conclusiones: la capacitación continua en soporte vital, representa una estrategia que conlleva a la obtención de mejores niveles de conocimiento en reanimación cardiopulmonar que, posiblemente impacten, en los desenlaces del paro cardíaco intrahospitalario..(AU)

Objective: the aim of the present investigation is to describe the level of knowledge of non-medical workers of the emergency service of a health institution at city of Pasto-Colombia in 2017. Cardiorespiratory arrest is the abrupt, unexpected and potentially reversible interruption of respiration and the mechanical activity of the heart; which requires the implementation of resuscitation measures, whose success depends on the level of knowledge and skill level of the staff that carries it out. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional study was permormed. The level of knowledge was determined through a questionnaire designed for that purpose. Results: a total of 58 participants were recruited. In 39.65% of cases, the level of knowledge was acceptable, while it was considered adequate in 41.37% of the cases. Scores were higher in the group with basic or advanced life support training in the previous two years. Conclusions: continuous training in life support represents a strategy that leads to obtaining better levels of knowledge in cardiopulmonary resuscitation that, possibly, impacts the outcomes of in-hospital cardiac arrest..(AU)

Do Different Semi-Occluded Voice Exercises Affect Vocal Fold Adduction Differently in Subjects Diagnosed with Hyperfunctional Dysphonia?

OBJECTIVE: To observe the possible differential effects of 8 different semi-occluded vocal tract exercises on glottal contact quotient (CQ) as a measure of vocal fold impact stress. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group with hyperfunctional dysphonia and a control group of vocally healthy subjects. The participants were recorded before, during and after the exercises. Electroglottographic samples were analyzed to obtain CQ. RESULTS: For the experimental group, all exercises, except lip trills and tongue trills, had an overall significant effect when conditions before, during and after the exercises were compared. The CQ presented differently across the 8 semi-occluded postures during exercise for both groups. For the experimental group, most exercises increased the CQ during practice. Only lip and tongue trills demonstrated lower CQ during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Different semi-occluded exercises differentially affect vocal fold adduction. Lip and tongue trills produced the lowest CQ. Therefore, they may be recommended for decreasing glottal adduction. A straw submerged 10 cm below the water surface presented the greatest CQ. A shallower depth led to a lower CQ, while deeper submersion produced a higher CQ.

Prevención de infecciones en la Copa Mundial de Fútbol 2014 / Infectious diseases prevention at the FIFA World Cup 2014

La medicina del viajero es una disciplina que se ha constituido y afianzado en el mundo entero durante los últimos 20 años y América Latina no ha sido la excepción (1-4). En la región se organizó, en 2008, el Primer Congreso Latinoamericano de Medicina del Viajero, que marcó la consolidación de la creación de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Medicina del Viajero (SLAMVI), la cual es una organización científica de alcance latinoamericano dedicada a tratar la problemática de la salud en los viajeros, preservando la salud individual, de las comunidades emisoras y receptoras, y promoviendo el cuidado del medio ambiente (5).

Travel medicine is a discipline that has been established and consolidated throughout the world during the last 20 years and Latin America has not been the exception (1-4). In the region, the First Latin American Congress of Traveler's Medicine was organized in 2008, which marked the consolidation of the creation of the Latin American Society of Traveler's Medicine (SLAMVI), which is a Latin American scientific organization dedicated to treating the health problems in travelers, preserving the health of the individual, the sending and receiving communities, and promoting care for the environment (5).

¿Ha llegado el momento de considerar la inclusión de la medicina del viajero en la formación del médico en América Latina? / Is the moment to consider the inclusion of travel medicine in the training of phsysicians in Latin America?

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Ritidoplastia minimamente invasiva utilizando tecnica de suspension craneofacial / Minimally invasive facelift using craneofacial suspension

Introducción y objetivos: con el fin de valorar los resultados y complicaciones de la ritidoplastiamínimamente invasiva realizamos un estudio retrospectivo observacional.Métodos: a veinte pacientes se les realizó ritidoplastia mínimamente invasiva con técnica de suspensióncráneo-facial entre 2004 y 2005. 16 pacientes fueron operadas bajo anestesia local y cuatro con anestesia general.Resultados: los resultados fueron satisfactorios y estables luego de un año de seguimiento. Las únicascomplicaciones encontradas fueron dos pacientes que desarrollaron queloides en la cicatriz retroauricular. No hubo casos de parálisis facial, pérdida de pelo, necrosis de colgajos o hematomasDiscusión: la ritididoplastia mínimamente invasiva es una técnica con baja frecuencia de complicaciones, por lo cual es una alternativa segura para pacientes interesados en mejorar su envejecimiento facial.