Metallic Voice: Physiological and Acoustic Features

The metallic voice is usually confused with ring or nasality by singers and nontrained listeners. who are not used to perceptual vocal analysis. They believe a metallic voice results from a rise in fundamental frequency. A diagnostic error in this aspect may lead to lowering pitch, an incorrect procedure that Could Cause vocal overload and fatigue. The purpose of this article is to Study the quality of metallic voice considering the correlation between information of the physiological and acoustic plans, based on a perceptive consensual assumption. Fiberscopic video pharyngolaryngoscopy was performed on 21 professional singers while speaking vowel [e]-in normal and metallic modes to observe muscular movements and structural changes of the velopharynx, pharynx, and larynx. Vocal samples captured simultaneously to the fiberscopic examination were acoustically analyzed. Frequency and amplitude of the first four formants (F(1), F(2), F(3), and F(4)) were extracted by means of linear predictor coefficients (LPC) Spectrum and were statistically analyzed. Vocal tract adjustments such as velar lowering, pharyngeal wall narrowing, laryngeal rise, aryepiglottic, and lateral laryngeal constrictions were frequently found: there were no significant changes in frequency and amplitude of F(1) in the metallic voiced there were significant increases in amplitudes of F(2), F(3), and F(4) and in frequency for F, metallic Voice perceived as louder was correlated to an increase ill amplitude of F(3) and F(4). Physiological adjustments of velopharynx, pharynx, and larynx are combined in characterizing the metallic voice and can be acoustically related to changes in formant pattern.

Endometriosis lesions that compromise the rectum deeper than the inner muscularis layer have more than 40% of the circumference of the rectum affected by the disease

Study Objective: To estimate the relationship between the depth of lesions of rectal endometriosis and the percentage of the circumference of the bowel segment affected by the disease. Design: A prospective pathologic analysis of 45 surgical specimens of bowel endometriosis obtained by laparoscopic segmental resection of the rectosigmoid (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). Setting: Tertiary referral hospital. Patients: forty-five patients were submitted to a segmental resection of the rectum due to endometriosis between July 2004 and September 2006. Interventions: Morphometric aspects of endometriotic lesions were analyzed, such as size and thickness of the lesion, deepest layer of bowel affected by lesion, and percentage of circumference of bowel affected by endometriosis. Measurements and Main Results: Results showed that in lesions that reached the submucous layer of the bowel, the circumference affected was 31.6% greater than in lesions that reached only the outer muscular layer, whereas in lesions that reached the mucous layer, the circumference affected was 52.5% greater than in those that reached the outer muscular layer of the bowel. In addition, 89.3% of lesions with an affected circumference greater than 40% were those affecting the submucous or mucous layers of the bowel. These results suggest that when a lesion reaches these 2 deepest layers of the rectosiamoid, risk increases that the circumference affected will be greater than 40% (relative risk = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.3; p =.03). Conclusion: In endometriotic lesions affecting the rectosigmoid beyond the inner muscular layer of the bowel wall, more than 40% of the circumference of the rectosigmoid is affected by the disease, confirming the recommendation of segmental resection of the bowel for this form of the disease.

Effect of ultrasound therapy on the repair of Gastrocnemius muscle injury in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the pulsed ultrasound therapy (PUT) in stimulating myoregeneration and collagen deposition in an experimental model of lacerative gastrocnemius muscle lesion in 30 Wistar rats. Fifteen rats were treated (TG) daily with 1 MHz pulsed ultrasound (50%) at 0.57 W/cm(2) for 5 min, and 15 were control animals (CG). Muscle samples were analyzed on postoperative days 4, 7 and 14 through H&E, Picrosirius-polarization and immunohistochemistry for desmin. The lesions presented similar inflammatory responses in both treated and control groups. The areal fraction of fibrillar collagen was larger in the TG at 4 days post-operatively (17.53 +/- 6.2% vs 6.79 +/- 1.3%, p = 0.0491), 7 days (31.07 +/- 7.45% vs 12.57 +/- 3.6%, p = 0.0021) and 14 days (30.39 +/- 7.3% vs 19.13 +/- 3.51%, p = 0.0118); the areal fraction of myoblasts and myotubes was larger in the TG at 14 days after surgery (41.66 +/- 2.97% vs 34.83 +/- 3.08%, p = 0.025). Our data suggest that the PUT increases the differentiation of muscular lineage cells, what would favor tissue regeneration. On the other hand, it is also suggested that there is a larger deposition of collagenous fibers, what could mean worse functional performance. However, the percentage of fibers seems to have stabilized at day 7 in TG and kept increasing in CG. Furthermore, the collagen supramolecular organization achieved by the TG is also significant according to the Sirius red staining results. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Postural Control in Elderly Persons with Osteoporosis: Efficacy of an Intervention Program to Improve Balance and Muscle Strength A Randomized Controlled Trial

Burke TN, Franc, a FJR, de Meneses SRF, Cardoso VI, Marques AP: Postural control in elderly persons with osteoporosis: Efficacy of an intervention program to improve balance and muscle strength: A randomized controlled trial. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2010; 89: 549-556. Objective: To assess the efficacy of an exercise program aiming to improve balance and muscular strength, for postural control and muscular strength of women with osteoporosis. Design: Sample consisted of 33 women with osteoporosis, randomized into one of two groups: intervention group, in which exercises for balance and improvement of muscular strength of the inferior members were performed for 8 wks (n = 17, age 72.8 +/- 3.6 yrs); control group, which was women not practicing exercises (n = 16, age 74.4 +/- 3.7 yrs). At baseline and after 8 wks of treatment, postural control was assessed using a force plate (Balance Master, Neurocom), and muscular strength during ankle dorsiflexion, knee extension, and flexion was assessed by dynamometry. Results: Adherence to the program was 82%. When compared with the control group, individuals in the intervention group significantly improved the center of pressure velocity (P = 0.02) in the modified clinical test of sensory interaction for balance test, center of pressure velocity (P < 0.01), and directional control (P < 0.01) in limits of stability test, isometric force during ankle dorsiflexion (P = 0.01), knee extension (P < 0.01), and knee flexion (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Balance and strength exercises are effective in improving postural control and lower-limb strength in elderly women with osteoporosis.

COMBINATION OFGENERAL AND SPECIFICWARM-UPS IMPROVES LEG-PRESS ONE REPETITION MAXIMUM COMPARED WITH SPECIFIC WARM-UP IN TRAINED INDIVIDUALS

Abad, CCC, Prado, ML, Ugrinowitsch, C, Tricoli, V, and Barroso, R. Combination of general and specific warm-ups improves leg-press one repetition maximum compared with specific warm-up in trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 25(8): 2242-2245, 2011-Accurate assessment of muscular strength is critical for exercise prescription and functional evaluation. The warm-up protocol may affect the precision of the 1 repetition maximum (1RM) test. Testing guidelines recommend performing both general and specific warm-ups before strength tests. The general warm-up intends to raise muscle temperature, whereas the specific warm-up aims to increase neuromuscular activation. Although there is scientific evidence for performing the specific warm-up, the effects of general warm-up on strength tests are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the combination of a general with a specific warm-up (G + SWU) protocol would improve leg press 1RM values compared with a specific warm-up (SWU) protocol. Thirteen participants were tested for leg-press 1RM under 2 warm-up conditions. In the first condition, participants performed the SWU only, which was composed of 1 set of 8 repetitions at approximately 50% of the estimated 1RM followed by another set of 3 repetitions at 70% of the estimated 1RM. In the second condition (G + SWU), participants performed the 1RM test after a 20-minute general warm-up on a stationary bicycle at 60% of HRmax and the same specific warm-up as in the SWU. Values of 1RM in SWU and in G + SWU were compared by a paired t-test, and significance level was set at p <= 0.05. Strength values were on average 8.4% (p = 0.002) higher in the G + SWU compared with the SWU. These results suggest that the G + SWU induced temperature-dependent neuromuscular adjustments that increased muscle force production capacity. Therefore, these results support the recommendations of the testing guidelines to perform a moderate intensity general warm-up in addition to the specific warm-up before maximum strength assessments.

Strength Training Preserves the Bone Mineral Density of Postmenopausal Women Without Hormone Replacement Therapy

Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the effects of strength training (ST) on the bone mineral density (BMD) of postmenopausal women without hormone replacement therapy. Method: Subjects were randomized into untrained (UN) or trained (TR) groups. The TR group exercised three ST sessions per week for 24 weeks, and body composition, muscular strength, and BMD of the lumbar spine and femur neck were evaluated. Results: Body weight, mass index, and fat percentage were lower after 24 weeks only in the TR group (p < .05). SR also improved the one repetition maximum test in 46% and 39% of upper and lower limbs, respectively. The percentage of demineralization was higher in the UN group than in the TR group at the lumbar spine and femoral neck (p < .05). Discussion: Results indicated that 24 weeks of ST improved body composition parameters, increased muscular strength, and preserved BMD in postmenopausal women.

A Duplex Allele-Specific Amplification PCR to Detect SMN1 Deletion

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of death in childhood, is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle weakness, associated with deletions of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene identified and mapped to chromosome 5q13. SMN is present in two highly homologous copies (SMN1 and SMN2). In the general population, normal individuals (noncarriers) have at least one telomeric (SMN1) copy, and 5% of them have no copies of SMN2. Approximately 95% of SMA patients carry homologous deletions of SMN1 exon(s) 7 (and 8). SMN1 and SMN2 exons 7 and 8 differ only by 1 bp each, and SMA diagnosis might be performed by single-strand conformational polymorphism, PCR amplification followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification, or realtime PCR of SMNs exons 7 and 8. We developed a simpler and cost-effective method to detect SMN1 exon 7 deletion based on allele-specific amplification PCR.

Reliability of electromyographic amplitude values of the upper limb muscles during closed kinetic chain exercises with stable and unstable surfaces

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the intra and interday reliability of surface electromyographic amplitude values of the scapular girdle muscles and upper limbs during 3 isometric closed kinetic chain exercises, involving upper limbs with the fixed distal segment extremity on stable base of support and on a Swiss ball (relatively unstable). Twenty healthy adults performed the exercises push-up, bench-press and wall-press with different effort levels (80% and 100% maximal load). Subjects performed three maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) in muscular testing position of each muscle to obtain a reference value for root mean square (RMS) normalization. Individuals were instructed to randomly perform three isometric contraction series, in which each exercise lasted 6 s with a 2-min resting-period between series and exercises. Intra and interday reliabilities were calculated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 2.1), standard error of the measurement (SEM). Results indicated an excellent intraday reliability of electromyographic amplitude values (ICC >= 0.75). The interday reliability of normalized RMS values ranged between good and excellent (ICC 0.52-0.98). Finally, it is suggested that the reliability of normalized electromyographic amplitude values of the analyzed muscles present better values during exercises on a stable surface. However, load levels used during the exercises do not seem to have any influence on variability levels, possibly because the loads were quite similar. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electrical Stimulation During Gait Promotes Increase of Muscle Cross-sectional Area in Quadriplegics: A Preliminary Study

Increases in muscular cross-sectional area (CSA) occur in quadriplegics after training, but the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) along with training are unknown. Thus, we addressed two questions: (1) Does NMES during treadmill gait training increase the quadriceps CSA in complete quadriplegics?; and (2) Is treadmill gait training alone enough to observe an increase in CSA? Fifteen quadriplegics were divided into gait (n = 8) and control (n = 7) groups. The gait group performed training with NMES for 6 months twice a week for 20 minutes each time. After 6 months of traditional therapy, the control group received the same gait training protocol but without NMES for an additional 6 months. Axial images of the thigh were acquired at the beginning of the study, at 6 months (for both groups), and at 12 months for the control group to determine the average quadriceps CSA. After 6 months, there was an increase of CSA in the gait group (from 49.8 +/- A 9.4 cm(2) to 57.3 +/- A 10.3 cm(2)), but not in the control group (from 43.6 +/- A 7.6 cm(2) to 41.8 +/- A 8.4 cm(2)). After another 6 months of gait without NMES in the control group, the CSA did not change (from 41.8 +/- A 8.4 cm(2) to 41.7 +/- A 7.9 cm(2)). The increase in quadriceps CSA after gait training in patients with chronic complete quadriplegia appears associated with NMES.

Activation of the shoulder and arm muscles during axial load exercises on a stable base of support and on a medicine ball

The purpose of this study was to compare SEMG activities during axial load exercises on a stable base of support and on a medicine ball (relatively unstable). Twelve healthy male volunteers were tested (x = 23 +/- 7y). Surface EMG was recorded from the biceps brachii, anterior deltoid, clavicular portion of pectoralis major, upper trapezius and serratus anterior using surface differential electrodes. All SEMG data are reported as percentage of RMS mean values obtained in maximal voluntary contractions for each muscle studied. A 3-way within factor repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to compare RMS normalized values. The RMS normalized values of the deltoid were always greater during the exercises performed on a medicine ball in relation to those performed on a stable base of support. The trapezius showed greater mean electric activation amplitude values on the wall-press exercise on a medicine ball, and the pectoralis major on the push-up. The serratus and biceps did not show significant differences of electric activation amplitude in relation to both tested bases of support. Independent of the base of support, none of the studied muscles showed significant differences of electric activation amplitude during the bench-press exercise. The results contribute to the identification of the levels of muscular activation amplitude during exercises that are common in clinical practice of rehabilitation of the shoulder and the differences in terms of type of base of support used. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Activation of Selected Shoulder Muscles During Unilateral Wall and Bench Press Tasks Under Submaximal Isometric Effort

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. OBJECTIVE: To assess the activation of 7 shoulder muscles under 2 closed kinetic chain (CKC) tasks for the upper extremity using submaximal isometric effort, thus providing relative quantification of muscular isometric effort for these muscles across the CKC exercises, which may be applied to rehabilitation protocols for individuals with shoulder weakness. BACKGROUND: CKC exercises favor joint congruence, reduce shear load, and promote joint dynamic stability. Additionally, knowledge about glenohumeral and periscapular muscle activity elicited during CKC exercises may help clinicians to design protocols for shoulder rehabilitation. METHODS: Using surface electromyography, activation level was measured across 7 shoulder muscles in 20 healthy males, during the performance of a submaximal isometric wall press and bench press. Signals were normalized to the maximal voluntary isometric contraction, and, using paired t tests, data were analyzed between the exercises for each muscle. RESULTS: Compared to the wall press, the bench press elicited higher activity for most muscles, except for the upper trapezius. Levels of activity were usually low but were above 20% maximal voluntary isometric contraction for the serratus anterior on both tasks, and for the long head triceps brachii on the bench press. CONCLUSIONS: Both the bench press and wall press, as performed in this study, led to relatively low EMG activation levels for the muscles measured and may be considered for use in the early phases of rehabilitation. J Ort hop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(7):520-525, Epub 2 February 2011. doi:10.2519/jospt.2011.3418

A catecholamine transporter from the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni with low affinity for psychostimulants

The trematode Schistosoma mansoni is the primary cause of schistosomiasis, a devastating neglected tropical disease that affects 200 million individuals. Identifying novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis is therefore of great public interest. The catecholamines norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) are essential for the survival of the parasite as they cause muscular relaxation and a lengthening in the parasite and thereby control movement. Here we characterize a novel dopamine/norepinephrine transporter (SmDAT) gene transcript, from S. mansoni. The SmDAT is expressed in the adult form and in the sporocyst form (infected snails) of the parasite, and also in the egg and miracidium stage. It is absent in the cercariae stage but curiously a transcript missing the exon encoding transmembrane domain 8 was identified in this stage. Heterologous expression of the cDNA in mammalian cells resulted in saturable, dopamine transport activity with an apparent affinity for dopamine comparable to that of the human dopamine transporter. Efflux experiments reveal notably higher substrate selectivity compared with its mammalian counterparts as amphetamine is a much less potent efflux elicitor against SmDAT compared to the human DAT. Pharmacological characterization of the SmDAT revealed that most human DAT inhibitors including psychostimulants such as cocaine were significantly less potent in inhibiting SmDAT. Like DATs from other simpler organisms the pharmacology for SmDAT was more similar to the human norepinephrine transporter. We were not able to identify other dopamine transporting carriers within the completed parasite genome and we hypothesize that the SmDAT is the only catecholamine transporter in the parasite and could be responsible for not only clearing DA but also NE. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Functional association of human Ki-1/57 with pre-mRNA splicing events

The cytoplasmic and nuclear protein Ki- 1 / 57 was first identified in malignant cells from Hodgkin`s lymphoma. Despite studies showing its phosphorylation, arginine methylation, and interaction with several regulatory proteins, the functional role of Ki- 1 / 57 in human cells remains to be determined. Here, we investigated the relationship of Ki- 1 / 57 with RNA functions. Through immunoprecipitation assays, we verified the association of Ki- 1 / 57 with the endogenous splicing proteins hnRNPQ and SFRS9 in HeLa cell extracts. We also found that recombinant Ki- 1 / 57 was able to bind to a poly- U RNA probe in electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In a classic splicing test, we showed that Ki- 1 / 57 can modify the splicing site selection of the adenoviral E1A minigene in a dose- dependent manner. Further confocal and. uorescence microscopy analysis revealed the localization of enhanced green. uorescent protein - Ki- 1 / 57 to nuclear bodies involved in RNA processing and or small nuclear ribonucleoprotein assembly, depending on the cellular methylation status and its N- terminal region. In summary, our findings suggest that Ki- 1 / 57 is probably involved in cellular events related to RNA functions, such as pre- mRNA splicing.

Use of alprostadil, a stable prostaglandin E(1) analogue, for the attenuation of rat skeletal muscle ischemia and reperfusion injury

Aim. Some stable prostaglandin analogues such as alprostadil have been used to attenuate the deleterious effects of ischemia and reperfusion injury. The aim of this paper was to test if alprostadil can decrease the ischemia- reperfusion injury in rat skeletal muscle using muscular enzymes as markers, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); degeneration products of cell membrane-malondialdehyde (MDA) and muscle glycogen storage. Methods. Thirty male Wistar rats were used in a model of hind limb ischemia achieved by infrarenal aortic cross-clamping. The animals were randomized into three equal groups (N=10) submitted to 5 hours of ischemia followed by one hour of reperfusion. The first group (control) received continuous intravenous infusion of saline solution and the second group (preischemia, GPI) received continuous intravenous infusion of alprostadil throughout the experiment starting 20 minutes before the aortic cross-clamping. The third group, prereperfusion (GPR), received alprostadil only during the reperfusion period, with intravenous infusion being started 10 min before the clamp release. Results. There was no difference in CPK, LDH, AST or tissue glycogen values between groups. However, a significant elevation in MDA was observed in the GPI and GPR groups compared to the control group, with no difference between the GPI and GPR. Conclusion. Under conditions of partial skeletal muscle ischemia, alprostadil did not reduce the release of muscular enzymes, the consumption of tissue glycogen or the effects of ischemia and reperfusion on the cell membrane, characterized by lipid peroxidation.

High-voltage electrical burn injuries: Functional upper extremity assessment

High-voltage electric injuries have many manifestations, and an important complication is the damage of the central/peripheral nervous system. The purpose of this work was to assess the upper limb dysfunction in patients injured by high-voltage current. The evaluation consisted of analysis of patients` records, cutaneous-sensibility threshold, handgrip and pinch strength and a specific questionnaire about upper limb dysfunctions (DASH) in 18 subjects. All subjects were men; the average age at the time of the injury was 38 years. Of these, 72% changed job/retired after the injury. The current entrance was the hand in 94% and grounding in the lower limb in 78%. The average burned surface area (BSA) was 8.6%. The handgrip strength of the injured limb was reduced (p < 0.05) and so also that of the three pinch types. The relationship between the handgrip strength and the DASH was statistically significant (p < 0.001) as well as the relationship between the three pinch types (p <= 0.02) to the injured limb. The ability to perceive cutaneous touch/pressure was decreased in the burnt hand, principally in the median nerve area. These data indicate a reduction of the hand muscular strength and sensibility, reducing the function of the upper limb in patients who received high-voltage electrical shock. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.