Verticality perception in patients with active multiple sclerosis: The applicability of subjective visual vertical test and its modifications.

Background: Dizziness and balance disturbances are common in patients with MS. Subjective visual vertical (SVV) is a test of vestibular perception that allows clinicians to evaluate the integration of multiple sensory inputs for spatial orientation in the CNS. We hypothesize that central vestibular impairment caused by active MS lesions may be reflected in the modified SVV testing.

The Association of , , and SNPs and Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Development.

Head and neck cancer is the seventh leading cancer diagnosis worldwide. One of the most common cancers in the head and neck region is laryngeal cancer. In past years, the incidence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma has risen by 23%, and despite progress in treatment modalities, the survival rate has not changed.

Alaryngeal Speech Enhancement for Noisy Environments Using a Pareto Denoising Gated LSTM.

Loss of the larynx significantly alters natural voice production, requiring alternative communication modalities and rehabilitation methods to restore speech intelligibility and improve the quality of life of affected individuals. This paper explores advances in alaryngeal speech enhancement to improve signal quality and reduce background noise, focusing on individuals who have undergone laryngectomy. In this study, speech samples were obtained from 23 Lithuanian males who had undergone laryngectomy with secondary implantation of the tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP).

The association of E2F1 and E2F2 single nucleotide polymorphisms with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma pathomorphological features.

Background: Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the upper respiratory tract. It is well-known that it has a high mortality rate and poor prognosis in advanced stages. There are well-known risk factors for LSCC, though new specific and prognostic blood-based markers for LSCC development and prognosis are essential.

Accuracy Analysis of the Multiparametric Acoustic Voice Indices, the VWI, AVQI, ABI, and DSI Measures, in Differentiating between Normal and Dysphonic Voices.

The study aimed to investigate and compare the accuracy and robustness of the multiparametric acoustic voice indices (MAVIs), namely the Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI), Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI), Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI), and Voice Wellness Index (VWI) measures in differentiating normal and dysphonic voices. The study group consisted of 129 adult individuals including 49 with normal voices and 80 patients with pathological voices. The diagnostic accuracy of the investigated MAVI in differentiating between normal and pathological voices was assessed using receiver operating characteristics (ROC).

Smartphone-Based Voice Wellness Index Application for Dysphonia Screening and Assessment: Development and Reliability.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a Voice Wellness Index (VWI) application combining the acoustic voice quality index (AVQI) and glottal function index (GFI) data and to evaluate its reliability in quantitative voice assessment and normal versus pathological voice differentiation.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 135 adult participants (86 patients with voice disorders and 49 patients with normal voices) were included in this study.

Pareto-Optimized Non-Negative Matrix Factorization Approach to the Cleaning of Alaryngeal Speech Signals.

The problem of cleaning impaired speech is crucial for various applications such as speech recognition, telecommunication, and assistive technologies. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that combines Pareto-optimized deep learning with non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) to effectively reduce noise in impaired speech signals while preserving the quality of the desired speech. Our method begins by calculating the spectrogram of a noisy voice clip and extracting frequency statistics.

Reliability of Universal-Platform-Based Application in AVQI Measurements Captured with Different Smartphones.

The aim of the study was to develop a universal-platform-based (UPB) application suitable for different smartphones for estimation of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and evaluate its reliability in AVQI measurements and normal and pathological voice differentiation. Our study group consisted of 135 adult individuals, including 49 with normal voices and 86 patients with pathological voices. The developed UPB "" application installed on five iOS and Android smartphones was used for AVQI estimation.

The survival rate of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: impact of IL1RAP rs4624606, IL1RL1 rs1041973, IL-6 rs1800795, BLK rs13277113, and TIMP3 rs9621532 single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Purpose: Results of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treatment and the 5 year survival rate of these patients remain poor. To purify therapeutic targets, investigation of new specific and prognostic blood-based markers for LSCC development is essential.

Methods: In the present study, we evaluated five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): IL1RAP rs4624606, IL1RL1 rs1041973, IL-6 rs1800795, BLK rs13277113, and TIMP3 rs9621532, and determined their associations with the patients' 5 year survival rate.

An iOS-based VoiceScreen application: feasibility for use in clinical settings-a pilot study.

Objectives: To elaborate the application suitable for smartphones for estimation of Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) and evaluate its usability in the clinical setting.

Methods: An elaborated AVQI automatization and background noise monitoring functions were implemented into a mobile "VoiceScreen" application running the iOS operating system. A study group consisted of 103 adult individuals with normal voices (n = 30) and 73 patients with pathological voices.

The Role of ApoE Serum Levels and Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recent studies have revealed that the inflammatory effect may play a significant role in various cancer development. However, this effect has still not been analyzed in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In the present study, we evaluated two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of (rs7412 and rs429358) and determined their associations with LSCC development and the LSCC patients' five-year survival rate.

Lightweight Deep Learning Model for Assessment of Substitution Voicing and Speech after Laryngeal Carcinoma Surgery.

Laryngeal carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor of the upper respiratory tract. Total laryngectomy provides complete and permanent detachment of the upper and lower airways that causes the loss of voice, leading to a patient's inability to verbally communicate in the postoperative period. This paper aims to exploit modern areas of deep learning research to objectively classify, extract and measure the substitution voicing after laryngeal oncosurgery from the audio signal.

Factors Affecting the Lifetime of Third-Generation Voice Prosthesis After Total Laryngectomy.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of different variables on the longevity of Voice Prosthesis (VP) in patients after total laryngectomy.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study is based on data about a continuous series of 328 third-generation VP, which were implanted between 2016 and 2020. Data about the VP users' age, sex, place of residence, laryngeal tumor stage, neck irradiation, VP size, and the use of Heat and Moisture Exchanger (HME) were obtained and analyzed.

Association of SIRT1 single gene nucleotide polymorphisms and serum SIRT1 levels with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma patient survival rate.

Background: SIRT1 is a multifunctional protein, possibly essential in tumorigenesis pathways, which can act both as a tumor promoter and tumor suppressor depending on the oncogenes, specific to particular tumors. Pathogenesis of laryngeal cancer is multifactorial and the association of SIRT1 expression with the clinical characteristics and prognosis of LSCC has not been fully identified.

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate associations between single gene nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SIRT1 (rs3818292, rs3758391, and rs7895833), serum SIRT1 levels, and 5-year survival rate in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Impaired Subjective Visual Vertical and Increased Visual Dependence in Older Adults With Falls.

Aging affects the vestibular system and may disturb the perception of verticality and lead to increased visual dependence (VD). Studies have identified that abnormal upright perception influences the risk of falling. The aim of our study was to evaluate subjective visual vertical (SVV) and VD using a mobile virtual reality-based system for SVV assessment (VIRVEST) in older adults with falls and evaluate its relationship with clinical balance assessment tools, dizziness, mental state, and depression level.

The Role of Polymorphisms and Serum IL-9 Levels in Carcinogenesis and Survival Rate for Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recent studies have described the dichotomous function of IL-9 in various cancer diseases. However, its function has still not been analysed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). In the present study, we evaluated five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of (rs1859430, rs2069870, rs11741137, rs2069885, and rs2069884) and determined their associations with the patients' five-year survival rate.

Laryngeal carcinoma experimental model suggests the possibility of tumor seeding to gastrostomy site.

Some studies state that laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is associated with possible direct tumor cell seeding to percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) site. However, there is a lack of experimental proof that LSCC tumor tissue can adhere and grow in distant sites. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the growth pattern of LSCC implants on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and evaluate possible associations between clinical course of the disease and behavior of experimentally implanted LSCC tumors.

Accuracy of Acoustic Voice Quality Index Captured With a Smartphone - Measurements With Added Ambient Noise.

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) measures obtained from voice recordings simultaneously using oral and smartphone microphones in a sound-proof room, and to compare them with AVQIs obtained from the same smartphone voice recordings with added ambient noise.

Methods: A study group of 183 subjects with normal voices (n = 86) and various voice disorders (n = 97) was asked to read aloud a standard text and sustain the vowel /a/. The controlled ambient noise averaged at 29.

Impact of Promoter Polymorphisms and IL-10 Serum Levels on Advanced Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Survival Rate.

Background/aim: Prognosis of advanced stages of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) remains poor. To clarify therapeutic targets and improve survival rate, identification of new specific and prognostic biomarkers of LSCC is required. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of IL-10:rs1800871, rs1800872, rs1800896 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and IL-10 serum levels on LSCC development and determine associations of selected SNPs with patient survival rate.

An Experimental Model of Human Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis: A Bridge to Clinical Insights.

Objectives/hypothesis: To investigate the growth pattern of recurrent respiratory papilloma (RRP) implants on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs) and to evaluate possible associations between the clinical course of the disease and the behavior of experimentally implanted RRP tumors.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Methods: Fresh 172 RRP tissue samples from 12 patients were implanted onto chick embryo CAMs.

Tendencies of FGFR2 rs2981582 polymorphism in patients with oral cancer.

Objective: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) is a member of the FGFR family of tyrosine kinase receptors, which via cell growth, invasiveness, motility and angiogenesis contributes to the process of tumorogenesis. A huge interest today is focused on FGFR2 gene polymorphism as it may have a significant impact on the development of various benign and malignant tumors. A case-control study was designed to help determine if FGFR2 gene polymorphism rs2981582 is associated with oral cancer in Lithuanian subjects.

Investigation of Relationship Between Auditory-Perceptual Methods and Self-reported Speech Handicap Index in the Assessment of Substitution Voicing.

Objective: To assess correlations between auditory-perceptual and self-reported speech evaluation methods for substitution voicing (SV) and to investigate the robustness of these methods in a clinical setting.

Methods: Fifty-nine male patients who underwent laryngeal oncosurgery and 62 healthy male controls were included in this prospective study. Lithuanian versions of the Speech Handicap Index (SHI-LT) and Impression of voice quality (I), Impression of intelligibility (I), Unintended additive Noise (N), Fluency (F), and Quality of Voicing (Vo) scale (IINFVo-LT) were used to assess and compare self-reported and auditory-perceptual evaluations of SV.

Association of Leukocyte Telomere Length and Genes Involved in its Regulation With Oral Carcinoma.

Background/aim: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL) and gene polymorphisms involved in its regulation with the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Patients And Methods: Patients with OSCC and healthy subjects were examined. Genotyping and RLTL measurement were carried out using rPCR.

Association of Relative Leucocyte Telomere Length and Gene Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms () in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background/aim: The study aimed to evaluate associations of relative leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and polymorphisms of telomere length-associated genes TERT (rs2736098), TERT-CLPTM1L (rs401681), TRF1 (rs1545827, rs10107605) and TNKS2 (rs10509637, rs10509639) in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Materials And Methods: The study consisted of 300 patients with LSCC and 369 healthy control subjects. Genotyping and relative LTL measuring were carried out using qPCR.

Subjective visual vertical and visual dependency in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Spatial orientation is an inherent ability governed by the complex integration of visual, vestibular and proprioceptive inputs. The degree to which an individual relies upon visual cues, as opposed to the vestibular or proprioceptive cues, is termed visual dependence. Although abnormal visual dependence has been documented in other neurological disorders, it is not known whether MS leads to visual dependence, and if so whether this is related to disease progression, clinical disability, or neuro-inflammatory burden in the central nervous system.