Adaptation and Validation of the Lithuanian Version of the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop the Lithuanian version of the Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI) and to assess its psychometric characteristics. METHODS: The Lithuanian version of the pVHI was prepared according to the standard requirements for the questionnaire translation and adaptation procedure. It also included forward and backward translations of the original questionnaire, as well as a committee review and psychometric testing of the final version of the pVHI. A total of 126 children between 4 and 13 years of age were included in the study. Two study groups were formed: a group consisting of children with dysphonia (n = 70) and a control group of children without any alterations in their voice (n = 56). The questionnaire was always completed by their parents. The results were statistically analysed to assess the reliability, validity, sensitivity and specificity of the Lithuanian version of the pVHI. RESULTS: High internal consistency of the Lithuanian version of the pVHI was determined (Cronbach's α = 0.938). The test-retest analysis also showed a high correlation between the two tests (r = 0.949) for both the dysphonic and control groups. The mean overall pVHI score was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the dysphonic group than in the control group: 26.16 ± 11.84 and 2.43 ± 2.61, respectively. Similar results were obtained for all domains of pVHI. The most sensitive and specific limiting value for discrimination between the clinical and control groups was the sum of 8 points. CONCLUSIONS: The Lithuanian version of the pVHI is a reliable and valid instrument for the evaluation of the Voice Handicap Index in the pediatric population and can be easily applied in daily clinical practice.

Associations between depression, height and body mass index in adolescent and adult population of Penza city and oblast, Russia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible associations between depression, height and body mass index (BMI) in the adolescent and adult population of Penza city and oblast, Russia. The study included 554 adults aged 16-89 years. The presence and severity of depression was evaluated using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II). The participants self-reported their height (cm) and weight (kg) and these were used to calculate their BMI (kg/m2). Significant correlations were obtained between depression and short stature in young men, depression and short stature in participants with normal BMI and depression and age in overweight participants. Young women aged 16-23 years, and older men aged 60-89 years, presented the highest and very similar depression scores with no statistically significant difference between them. Special attention should be paid in Russia to these groups due to their higher risk of depressive disorders.

Is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Behavior after Endovascular Repair Associated with Aneurysm Wall Density on Computed Tomography Angiography?

Background and objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) growth is unpredictable after the endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Continuing aortic wall degradation and weakening due to hypoxia may have a role in post-EVAR aneurysm sac growth. We aimed to assess the association of aortic wall density on computed tomography angiography (CTA) with aneurysm growth following EVAR. Materials and Methods: A total of 78 patients were included in the study. The control group consisted of 39 randomly assigned patients without aortic pathology. Post-EVAR aneurysm sac volumes on CTA were measured twice during the follow-up period to estimate aneurysm sac behavior. A maximum AAA sac diameter, aortic wall and lumen densities in Hounsfield units (HU) on CTA were measured. A relative aortic wall density (the ratio of aortic wall to lumen densities) was calculated. A statistical data analysis was performed using standard methods. Results: An increase in the AAA sac volume was observed in 12 (30.8%) cases. Median relative aortic wall density on CTA scores in both the patient and the control group at the level of the diaphragm were similar: 0.15 (interquartile range (IQR), 0.11-0.18) and 0.16 (IQR 0.11-0.18), p = 0.5378, respectively. The median (IQR) relative aortic wall density score at the level of the maximum AAA diameter in the patient group was lower than at the level below renal arteries in the control group: 0.10 (0.07-0.12) and 0.17 (0.12-0.23), p < 0.0001, respectively. The median (IQR) relative growing AAA sac wall density score was lower than a relative stable/shrinking AAA sac wall density score: 0.09 (0.06-0.10) and 0.11 (0.09-0.13), p = 0.0096, respectively. Conclusions: A lower aortic aneurysm wall density on CTA may be associated with AAA growth after EVAR.