[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.