Immediate effects of the incentive spirometer in women with healthy voice.

Purpose: To evaluate the immediate effect of the incentive spirometer on acoustic measures, aerodynamic measures and on the auditory-perceptual assessment of vocal quality in vocally healthy women.

Methods: This is an experimental intra-subject comparison study with the participation of 22 women without vocal complaints. Acoustic measures, aerodynamic measures and auditory-perceptual assessment of vocal quality were obtained before and immediately after using the incentive spirometer by the participants.

Visual-perceptive assessment of glottic characteristics of vocal nodules by means of high-speed videoendoscopy.

Objective: Visual-perceptive assessment of glottic characteristics of vocal nodules by means of high-speed videoendoscopy.

Methods: Descriptive observational research with convenience sampling of five laryngeal videos of women with an average age of 25 years. The diagnosis of vocal nodules was defined by two otolaryngologists, with 100% intra-rater agreement and 53.

Preliminary Correlation of the Immunoexpression of Cathepsin B and E-Cadherin Proteins in Vocal Fold Leukoplakia.

Objectives: Early identification of vocal fold leukoplakia (VFL), which has a risk of progressing to malignant transformation, remains a controversial topic. The identification of biological markers for diagnosing these lesions would lead to a more effective treatment. We aimed to analyze the immunoexpression of cathepsin B and E-cadherin in VFL and correlate it with clinical and epidemiological data and disease prognosis.

Hyaluronic Acid Concentration in Female Vocal Folds With Reinke's Edema.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate hyaluronic acid (HA) concentrations in vocal folds among patients with Reinke's edema.

Study Design: Prospective and experimental study.

Setting: Single tertiary center.

Effects of Mechanical Vibration Stimulation of the Larynx on Voice Production.

Introduction: Combining mechanical vibration stimulation with resistance training to improve neuromuscular performance is a method that has gained popularity in the field of sports sciences.

Purpose: To evaluate the immediate and mid-term effects of mechanical vibration stimulation (G-Life NL3000) of the larynx associated to vocal exercises.

Method: Fourteen professional voice users divided into: Experimental Group - Seven participants who performed a 20-minute exercise protocol with humming applying mechanical vibration stimulation (G-Life NL3000) of the larynx once a day for 30 days; Control Group - Seven participants who performed only the 20-minute exercise protocol with humming.

The Effects in the Upper Airway of Heat and Exposure to Combustion Byproducts of Burning Materials on Larynx of Firefighters.

Introduction: High exposure to heat and combustion byproducts is associated with health problems and an increased risk of cancer.

Objective: To study the effects of heat and smoke derived from burning on the upper airway of firefighters.

Methods: Thirteen firefighters underwent a 4-week training program in Compartment Fire Behavior Training simulators while working with live fire, heat, and smoke from pallets and oriented-strand board sheet burns.

Difficulty producing high-pitched sounds in singing: correlations with laryngostroboscopy and electromyographic findings.

Introduction: Difficulties or limitations in producing high-pitched sounds while singing may be due to the vocal technique used or organic factor. The observation of such difficulty or limitation by singing teachers is one of the main reasons affected individuals are referred to otolaryngologists.

Objective: To evaluate the laryngostroboscopic and electromyographic changes in the cricothyroid muscles of singers with difficulties or limitations producing high-pitched sounds.

Vocal Symptoms and Associated Risk Factors between Male and Female University Teachers.

 Many recent studies on teachers warn of the adverse effects that voice problems have on work performance. However, only a few of these studies included university teachers.  To compare the vocal symptoms and risk factors between male and female university teachers in a private institution within the city of São Paulo.

Hoarseness and vocal tract discomfort and associated risk factors in air traffic controllers.

Introduction: An air traffic controller is a professional who performs air traffic control functions in air traffic control units and is responsible for controlling the various stages of a flight.

Objective: To compare hoarseness and vocal tract discomfort and their risk factors among air traffic controllers in the approach control of São Paulo.

Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, a voice self-evaluation adapted from to self-evaluation prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor for teachers was administered to 76 air traffic controllers at approach control of São Paulo, Brazil.

Sulfated glycosaminoglycans in human vocal fold lamina propria.

Introduction: The distribution, concentration and function of glycosaminoglycans in the various vocal fold tissues are still unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the distribution and concentration of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in different layers of the human vocal fold according to gender and age.

Methods: We used 11 vocal folds obtained from cadavers (7 men and 4 women) with no laryngeal lesion, less than 12h after death, and aged between 35 and 98 years.

Perceptual-auditory and Acoustic Analysis of Air Traffic Controllers' Voices Pre- and Postshift.

Objective: To characterize the vocal quality and acoustic parameters of voices of air traffic controllers (ATCs) without any vocal complaints before and after a shift.

Method: The voices of a group of 45 ATCs were recorded before and after a 2-hour shift, regardless of their operational position or number of previously worked shifts; both genders were included, participants had a mean age of 25 years, and they had a mean length of occupational experience of 4 years and 2 months. Each of these professionals was recorded phonating a sustained /a/ vowel and counting from 1 to 20, and the recordings were acoustically analyzed using the Praat software.

Vocal Tract Discomfort and Risk Factors in University Teachers.

Objectives: To characterize the presence of and risk factors for throat pain or irritation among male and female university teachers in private institutions within the city of São Paulo.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Voice self-evaluation forms prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor were administered to 846 university teachers in a private institution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Hoarseness and Risk Factors in University Teachers.

Purpose: To characterize the presence of hoarseness and the risk factors in male and female university teachers in private institutions in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Voice self-evaluation forms prepared by the Brazilian Ministry of Labor were administered to 846 university teachers in a private institution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Laryngeal electromyography in dysphonic patients with incomplete glottic closure.

Unlabelled: The lack of specificity in laryngoscopical examination requires that the diagnosis of superior laryngeal and recurrent laryngeal nerve involvement be carried out with the aid of electromyography.

Objective: This study aims to assess the electrophysiological function of the superior and inferior laryngeal nerves by measuring the electrical activity of the muscles they innervate in dysphonic patients with incomplete closure of the vocal folds during phonation.

Method: Thirty-nine patients with incomplete glottic closure were enrolled in a prospective study and had their cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid, and lateral cricoarytenoid muscles examined bilaterally through electromyography.

Concentration of hyaluronic acid in human vocal folds in young and old subjects.

Objective: To compare and evaluate concentrations of hyaluronic acid (HA) in normal vocal folds of both young and elderly people of both sexes.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Setting: The research was carried out at the ENT, Head and Neck Surgery Department and the Pharmacology Institute of São Paulo Federal University.

Comparison of clinical characteristics of patients with adductor laryngeal dystonia in the focal and segmental types.

Unlabelled: Dystonia is a central motor processing neurological disorder characterized by abnormal, often action-induced, involuntary movements or uncontrolled spasms.

Aim: To compare patients with the diagnoses of focal and segmental adductor laryngeal dystonia at the Neurolarynx Outpatient Clinic of the Federal University of São Paulo.

Materials And Methods: A clinical retrospective study of data collected from patient registries from 2003 to 2009.

Dysphonia severity degree and phonation onset latency in laryngeal adductor dystonia.

Although the latency between the initiation of thyroarytenoid electrical activity and the onset of phonation generally is increased in patients with adductor laryngeal dystonia, there is disagreement about whether there is overlap of latency values in these patients and normal subjects. The goal of this article was to compare the severity of dysphonia with the latency between electrophysiological activation of the thyroarytenoid muscle (TA) and the onset of phonation in patients with adductor laryngeal dystonia and compare the values with normal controls. Twenty-one patients with adductor dystonia and 15 control patients underwent laryngeal electromyographic (EMG) examination of the left TA.