An investigation of the laryngeal system as the resonance source of the singer''s formant

Since its introduction, the Sundberg model of the laryngeal system as the resonance source of the singer's formant has gained wide acceptance. However, no studies directly testing this hypothesis in vivo have previously been reported. Thus, the present study was undertaken to test this hypothesis on three classically trained professional male singers. The vocal behaviors of the singer-subjects were evaluated during modal and pulse register phonation via magnetic resonance imaging, strobolaryngoscopy, and acoustic analysis. Results indicated the subjects did not achieve the laryngopharyngeal/laryngeal outlet cross-sectional area ratio requisite to the model and that the formant remained robust in pulse register phonation. It was concluded that these subjects' behaviors were not consistent with Sundberg's model and that the model was inadequate to account for the generation of the singer's formant in these three subjects.     

超声内镜辅助下ESD治疗上消化道隆起性病变的疗效及安全性探讨

目的探讨超声内镜对于应用ESD治疗上消化道隆起性病变的疗效及安全性。方法20例上消化道黏膜局限性隆起病变,先行超声内镜检查,再采用ESD进行治疗,比较术前超声内镜诊断与内镜治疗术后病理结果的一致性,记录手术耗时、整块切除率、并发症发生率及局部残留复发率。结果食管病变6例,其中早癌及高级别上皮内瘤变各1例,平滑肌瘤4例;胃内病变14例,其中胃早癌及高级别上皮内瘤变各3例,异位胰腺1例,间质瘤7例。术前EUS诊断与术后病理结果的一致性为100%。手术时间16~100（32.8±15.7）min;整块切除率85%,出血率为20%,穿孔率10%,术后随访1～12个月,无残留与复发。结论超声内镜对消化道黏膜隆起性病变诊断准确率高,超声内镜辅助下ESD治疗上消化道隆起性病变安全有效。     

In vivo determination of the time and location of mucoadhesive drug delivery systems disintegration in the gastrointestinal tract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect the time when and the location at which orally delivered mucoadhesive drugs are released. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Drug delivery systems comprising tablets or capsules containing a mucoadhesive polymer were designed to deliver the polymer to the intestine in dry powder form. Dry Gd-DTPA [diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gadolinium(III) dihydrogen salt hydrate] powder was added to the mucoadhesive polymer, resulting in a susceptibility artifact that allows tracking of the application forms before their disintegration and that gives a strong positive signal on disintegration. Experiments were performed with rats using T(1)-weighted spin-echo imaging on a standard 1.5-T MRI system. RESULTS: The susceptibility artifact produced by the dry Gd-DTPA powder in tablets or capsules was clearly visible within the stomach of the rats and could be followed during movement towards the intestine. Upon disintegration, a strong positive signal was unambiguously observed. The time between ingestion and observation of a positive signal was significantly different for different application forms. Quantification of the remaining mucoadhesive polymer in the intestine 3 h after observed release showed significant differences in mucoadhesive effectiveness. CONCLUSION: MRI allows detection of the exact time of release of the mucoadhesive polymer in vivo, which is a prerequisite for a reliable quantitative comparison between different application forms.     

Distinguishing and quantification of the human visual pathways using high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor tractography

Quantification of the living human visual system using MRI methods has been challenging, but several applications demand a reliable and time-efficient data acquisition protocol. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor fiber tractography (DTT) in reconstructing and quantifying the human visual pathways. Five healthy males, age range 24–37 years, were studied after approval of the institutional review board (IRB) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. We acquired diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 1-mm slice thickness on a 3.0-Tesla clinical MRI scanner and analyzed the data using DTT with the fiber assignment by continuous tractography (FACT) algorithm. By utilizing the high-spatial-resolution DTI protocol with FACT algorithm, we were able to reconstruct and quantify bilateral optic pathways including the optic chiasm, optic tract, optic radiations free of contamination from neighboring white matter tracts.     

Antibacterial effect of butyryl alkannin from Arnebia euchroma against vancomycin-resistant pathogens of Enterococcus faecalis causing urinary tract infections

This study was carried out to investigate the biomedicinal potential of a bioactive marker component, butyryl alkannin, isolated from n-hexane root extract of Arnebia euchroma against various vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) isolates of Enterococcus faecalis causing urinary tract infections. As a result, butyryl alkannin showed significant antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant E. faecalis pathogens of VRE as minimum inhibitory concentration values which were found in the range of 3.13 to 6.26 μg ml^? 1. The findings of this study justify biological and biomedicinal potential of butyryl alkannin compound as confirmed by its higher and significant antibacterial efficacy against VRE isolates of E. faecalis as compared to standard antibiotic vancomycin.     

“Hot Potato Voice” in Peritonsillitis: A Misnomer

The "hot potato voice" is widely recognized as a symptom of peritonsillar cellulitis or abscess; yet there have been no studies assessing the resonance characteristics of the vocal tract in peritonsillitis. Analysis was undertaken of formant frequencies in the articulation of the vowels /i:/. /a:/ and /u:/ in six subjects with peritonsillitis and compared with articulation once the peritonsillitis had settled. Significant variation was found in F1 when articulating /i:/ and in F2 when articulating /a:/, which are explainable by dyskinesis of the peritonsillar musculature. These findings were compared with six subjects articulating the same vowels with and without a hot potato in their mouth. Variation was found in both F1 and F2 when articulating /i:/, which can be related to interference of the potato with movement of the anterior tongue. The changes in the vocal tract differ in these two cases and the title "hot potato voice" in peritonsillitis is a misnomer.     

马口鱼消化道的形态及组织学结构特征

为了解马口鱼消化道的形态结构特点, 采用解剖学、石蜡切片-显微技术及扫描电镜技术观察研究了马口鱼消化道的形态及组织学结构特征. 结果显示: 马口鱼消化道由口咽腔、食道、肠道组成, 无胃; 口咽腔无颌齿, 具咽齿; 舌短小, 被覆复层扁平上皮, 具少量味蕾及较多圆形粘液细胞. 食道及肠道均由粘膜层、粘膜下层、肌层及外膜构成. 食道粘膜层主要由复层扁平上皮构成, 杯状细胞较多, 肌层发达, 内层环肌、外层纵肌. 肠道分前、中、后三段, 呈“S”形盘曲, 肠长指数0.86~1.50; 肠内面皱褶发达, 粘膜上皮为单层柱状上皮, 其游离面有微绒毛密集排列形成的纹状缘, 后肠微绒毛密集程度略小于前中肠; 上皮细胞间分布有杯状细胞, 杯状细胞的数量前、中肠较多, 后肠后段较少, 肠管直径、肠绒毛数量及其高度由前到后渐减. 马口鱼消化道的结构特征与其肉食性相适应.     

妇科患者泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的高危因素研究

目的调查分析妇科患者泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的高危因素。方法选取2014年1月—2015年10月于孝感市中心医院妇科进行诊治的950例泌尿生殖道感染的患者为研究对象,将其泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的发病率进行统计,比较支原体属感染的患者不同年龄段、民族、职业、文化程度、孕产史、是否伴有淋病感染、不洁性史、性交次数过多等因素的发生率及构成比,并行Logistic回归分析。结果 1 950例泌尿生殖道感染的患者中有320例患者为支原体属感染,发病率为33.68%。其中21~40岁年龄段、无职业、文化程度较低、孕产次数较多、伴有淋病感染、具有不洁性史及性交次数过多的患者较其他患者发病率普遍较高,以上差异均具有统计学意义(P0.05)。2经Logistic回归分析发现,伴有淋病、不洁性史与性交次数过多为支原体属感染的独立危险因素(P0.05),而年龄、文化程度及孕产史也与支原体属感染密切相关(P0.05)。而民族、职业无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论淋病、不洁性史、性交次数过多、年龄、文化程度及孕产史均为妇科患者泌尿生殖道支原体属感染的高危因素,可根据以上因素进行针对性干预以降低支原体属的泌尿生殖道感染率。