Acoustic analysis of voice in children with noduli vocales.

The acoustic tests of voice were carried out on 46 children with noduli vocales before the treatment and after its completion. Acoustic parameters of voice were compared with the control group of children without voice pathology. The results of the investigation were analysed acoustically. It has been proved that jitter, shimmer, Fo tremor and HNR values significantly differentiate the children with noduli vocales from the children without pathological changes in the larynx. These parameters during treatment tend to approach normal values. Therefore, the acoustic analysis of voice may be used in treatment monitoring.

[A nineteen year observation of a boy with branchio-oto-renal syndrome and chronic renal failure]. / Dziewietnastoletnia obserwacja chlopca z zespolem skrzelowo-uszno-nerkowym i przewlekla niewydolnoscia nerek.

Branchio-oto-renal syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder of the first and second embryonic branchial arches and the urinary tract. It is characterized in its full expression by branchial fistulas or cysts, preauricular pits, outer, middle and inner ear defects, hearing loss, lachrymal duct stenosis, facial paralysis and mental retardation. Renal anomalies may range from mild hypoplasia to complete absence. Our report demonstrates the patient with classical BOR syndrome and severe renal insufficiency since infancy up to end stage renal failure at 18 years of age caused by bilateral renal hypoplasia. Although no definitive histological diagnosis was made, the clinical findings in our patients, like mild proteinuria, normal blood pressure, polyuria, polydypsia, hyperchloremic acidosis and typical course of renal failure support the diagnosis of oligomeganephronia in this case.

Acoustic analysis in the diagnosis of voice disorders in children.

The main aim of this study was to describe the changes in acoustic analysis in diagnosing voice disorders in children. The secondary goal was the attempt at differentiation of organic and functional disorders by means of acoustic analysis. The study included 112 children in treated due to laryngeal papilloma, gastro-esophageal reflux, atopic disease and noduli vocales. The following values have been determined: basic frequency F(o), jitter, shimmer, F(o) tremor and the harmonics to noise ratio (HNR). The study results confirmed that the HNR value was the most sensitive indicator of changes in the voice organ.

[The personality of children with repeated nose injuries]. / Cechy osobowosci u dzieci z powtarzajacymi sie urazami nosa.

Clinical observations of children hospitalised due to head injuries made us try to define some features of personality characteristic for this group of children. The examinations of 63 children aged 8-12 were carried out with R.B. Porter and R.B. Cattell test: What do you like doing? and What do you like to think about?. This method facilitates selection of 14 personality traits. The results proved that personalities tested in the group included the following dominating characteristics: aggressiveness, great excitability, and IQ exceeding average.

Hearing loss in chronic alcoholics.

Alcohol has a local and general influence. A specially harmful effect is observed when it is abused--used frequently and in high concentrations. Chronic excessive drinking of alcohol results in sight deterioration, hearing loss and psychical disorders. The study aimed at evaluating the degree and place of the hearing organ damage in 30 alcoholics. They were subjected to audiologic examinations including: pure-tone and impedance audiometry, otoacoustic emissions and evoked brain stem responses tests. The patients were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, lack of otoemission indicating the damage of outer hear cells as well as hearing pathway damage in the brain stem.

[Familial occurrence of hearing loss following streptomycin (SM) treatment]. / Rodzinne wystepowanie niedosluchu odbiorczego zwiazanego z leczeniem streptomycyna.

References data indicate the probability of inheritance of predisposition to post-streptomycin hearing loss. Ototoxicity after SM is transmitted by women. It is considered as autosomal dominant inheritance, but the transmission to the next generation is not explained by the Mendelian inheritance rule. The aim of our presentation is showing different kinds of hearing loss after SM occurring in siblings with probable inherited susceptibility to SM.

[Trace elements in neoplasm tissues of the larynx]. / Pierwiastki sladowe w tkankach krtani objetych choroba nowotworowa.

Trace elements are essential for the proper functioning of the body. Changes in bioelements concentration were observed in numerous pathologic conditions. The aim of this study was evaluation of trace elements concentration in neoplasmatic tissues of the larynx. The study comprised 52 patients operated for cancer of the larynx. Levels of magnesium, zinc and copper in neoplasmatic tissues of the larynx were determined using atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry. The results were compared with the control group. Elevated levels of magnesium were observed in neoplasmatic tissues of the larynx. Zinc and copper levels were lowered in comparison with the control group. The results were statistically analysed.

Hearing defects in children born of mothers suffering from rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The investigations concerned women that had suffered from symptomatic rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy. The presence of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M antibodies in mothers and their children was detected, and the hearing organ was examined. In early childhood (up to 3 years of age), hearing loss was confirmed in 50% of the children born of mothers with rubella.

Evaluation of bcl-2 gene expression in papilloma of larynx in children.

Apoptosis - programmed death of a cell - is a natural mechanism that controls the number of cells in an organism. Neoplastic cells as many types of normal cells, may be the subject of spontaneous apoptosis as well as they may be induced by anti-neoplastic factors. Neoplastic cells' resistance to drugs is often correlated with impossible induction of apoptosis in those cells. Though the process of apoptosis is not fully explained, a possible involvement of many genes in regulation of this process is indicated. One of them is bcl-2 gene and its product - bcl-2 protein, which has the property of apoptosis process inhibition and stimulation of a cell towards outliving (survival). Increased expression of bcl-2 gene is present in many neoplastic cells and it suggests a possible pathogenic role of bcl-2 gene in oncogenesis. In this paper the expression of bcl-2 gene in the cells of papilloma in larynx is defined in six children operated in the Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology of Medical School in Lublin. Papillomas of larynx are neoplasm's of particular resistance to treatment. Complete, cellular RNA was isolated with Chomczynski and Sacchi method using guanidine thiocyanate. Gene expression was defined with the method of reverse transcription by cDNA synthesis and amplification of bcl-2 gene fragment with specific oligonucleotides in reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The products were identified on agarose gel. Expression of bcl-2 gene in the investigated cells of laryngeal papilloma was confirmed in all the children. The presence of bcl-2 gene product in these cells may be the cause of apoptosis inhibition and stimulation of cells proliferation of the neoplasm.

[Voice disorders in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease]. / Zaburzenia glosu u dzieci z choroba refluksowa.

The study concerns 11 patients with gastroesophageal disease confirmed by pH-metric examination of esophagus. The clinical assessment included lupolaryngoscopy, stroboscopy and acoustic analysis of voice. Basing on the tests there were confirmed inflammatory lesions at the posterior part of larynx (laryngitis posterior) as well as pathological changes of voice acoustic tests.

[Hormonal conditioning of vocal changes in male]. / Hormonalne uwarunkowania mutacji przedluzonej u osobników plci meskiej.

Porophonia pubertum is the change of voice following activation of gonads in puberty. The present paper shows disorders of porophonia pubertum in 3 boys. The objective of the paper was to explain the pathogenesis of these disorders. Basing on clinical and genetic tests, a non-physiological, high position of spoken voice typical for the prolonged porophonia pubertum was proved. The genetic test confirmed the male sex. However, hormonic tests proved a significantly increased level of estradiol. We suppose that excessively increased estradiol level in blood serum caused the porophonia pubertum disorders in our patients.

[Speech disorders in Alajouanine syndrome]. / Zaburzenia mowy w zespole Alajouanine'a.

Alajouanine syndrome includes congenital, bilateral, central facial and abducens nerves palsy and clubfoot. The authors present speech disorders and helpful influence of early rehabilitation.

ABR differences before and after dialyses.

The aim of the study was the objective evaluation of the hearing organ in children. Seven children aged 6-17 with end stage renal failure treated by haemodialysis were examined. Four- to five-hour dialyses were performed 2-3 times a week. Pure-tone audiometry was normal in five children. The reactions of brain stem responses (latency and interpeak latency) were analysed before and after haemodialyses. We conclude that the ABR differences were connected with biochemical parameters of uraemia. The present study is a preliminary one and will be continued in the future.