Perceptual evaluation of voice quality and its correlation with acoustic measurements

To determine whether a correlation exists between the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Aesthenia, Strain (GRBAS) scale (a subjective measure of voice) and the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP) scale (an objective measure of voice). A retrospective review of 37 voice patients (12 male/25 female) was conducted. Each voice was perceptually evaluated using the GRBAS scale by an experienced speech pathologist and acoustically analyzed using the MDVP scale. Statistical analysis using a multivariate regression model identified a significant correlation between the noise-related parameters of MDVP and the components of the GRBAS scale. Grade correlated with voice turbulence index (VTI), noise harmonic ratio (NHR), and soft phonation index (SPI). Roughness correlated with NHR only. Breathiness correlated with SPI only. Aesthenia also correlated with SPI only. Of the 19 acoustic variables measured by the MDVP system, only three noise parameters significantly correlated with the GRBAS perceptual voice analysis. Perhaps "noise" is the perceived acoustical quality of the dysphonic voice. A voice quantifying measure such as a "voice index score" could be proposed using the GRBAS scoring and the three clinically relevant MDVP values following further studies.     

The treatment of essential voice tremor with botulinum toxin A: A longitudinal case report

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of bilateral botulinum toxin injection into the thyroarytenoid (TA) muscles of a patient with essential voice tremor. Acoustic and aerodynamic data were collected weekly over a 16-week period. Flexible nasolaryngoscopy was performed prior to injection and 2, 6, 10, and 16 weeks postinjection. Perceptual analyses of the acoustic and nasolaryngoscopic data were performed. A reduction in frequency tremor and, to a lesser extent, amplitude tremor was observed during the 1-10 week period. Estimated laryngeal resistance decreased after injection and was accompanied in perceptual measures by a reduction in vocal effort, laryngeal tremor, and supraglottic hyperfunction. Essential voice tremor can be successfully attenuated with bilateral percutaneous injection of botulinum toxin A into the vocalis muscle.     

N-乙酰半胱氨酸对老年患者碘海醇肾损害的保护作用

目的探讨N-乙酰半胱氨酸对老年患者碘海醇肾损害的保护作用。方法选取行增强CT检查（静脉注射碘造影剂碘海醇）的老年患者74例,其中A组26例（于造影前48h和造影后48h口服N-乙酰半胱氨酸600mg,2次/d）,B组25例（于造影前48h和造影后48h口服N-乙酰半胱氨酸600mg,1次/d）;对照组23例（于造影前48h和造影后48h口服安慰剂,1次/d）。造影前和造影后48h,检测3组患者血尿素氮（BUN）、SCr、内生肌酐清除率（CCr）,并记录对比剂肾病发生率,造影前和造影后48h以及5d时,检测24h尿蛋白（PRO）、24h尿β2-微球蛋白(β2- MG)、24h尿微量白蛋白（UmAlb）。结果 A组无CIN发生,B组发生CIN5例（20%）,C发生CIN6例（26.09%）,A组CIN发生率明显低于B、C组（均P＜0.05）。3组患者造影前各指标的差异均无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。与造影前比较,3组患者造影后48h BUN、SCr、Ccr均发生明显变化（P＜0.05）;与B组、对照组比较,A组造影后48h BUN、SCr、Ccr均发生明显变化（P＜0.05）。与造影前比较,3组患者造影后48h、5d时PRO、Umalb、和β2- MG均发生明显变化（P＜0.05）;与对照组比较,A组造影后48h及5d、B组造影后48h的PRO、Umalb、和β2- MG均发生明显变化（P＜0.05）。结论口服N-乙酰半胱氨酸600mg（2次/d）能有效预防老年患者碘海醇肾损害。     

A Comparison of Two Perceptual Voice Evaluation Training Programs for Naive Listeners

Studies have raised concerns about the reliability of traditional clinical perceptual voice evaluation. References, training, and the analysis-by-synthesis method were proposed to improve this reliability. However, no study has directly compared the effectiveness of these methods. This study compared two training programs that are based on an anchors method and a paired comparison method. The aim of the programs was to improve the ability of naive listeners to detect subtle differences in breathiness. This study found that trained listeners showed significant improvement after training. Equivocal results were found as to which of these training methods was more effective. However, it is suggested that listeners should be trained before they use the analysis-by-synthesis method. The findings of this study provided more information on developing the theoretical framework proposed by Kreiman et al, in particular the "nature" of the internal representations of voice quality. An exemplar-based approach for processing breathiness is proposed.     

Abnormal soft palate posturing in patients with laryngeal movement disorders

Laryngeal movement disorders (LMDs), including spasmodic dysphonia and essential voice tremor, have been described as focal disorders affecting the muscles of the larynx. Little reference has been made to possible hyperfunction of supralaryngeal structures and/or palatal involvement. Videonasolaryngoscopic examinations of 83 patients with LMDs revealed a significantly high incidence of abnormal soft palate posturing (84%). Further associations and implications are presented.