A comparative effectiveness study of usual care, simple Chuna manual therapy, and complex Chuna manual therapy for the treatment of pelvic biomechanical lesions in patients with non-acute low back pain: a protocol for multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chuna manual therapy (CMT), a Korean manual therapy technique predominantly used for treating low back pain (LBP) and related disorders, lacks well-conceived research focusing on its comparative effectiveness, safety, and economic evaluation, particularly with respect to complex CMT with established CMT diagnostic algorithms. This study aims to illustrate a protocol for a randomized clinical study for comparative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of complex CMT with simple CMT and usual care.

Methods: This is a protocol for a three-armed, multicenter, assessor-blinded, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial study.

Chuna Manual Therapy or Electroacupuncture with Pregabalin for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy, and effective treatments for CIPN are still lacking. For this reason, there is a growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine as a potential source of nonsurgical treatments for CIPN symptoms alongside pregabalin. One such option being explored is Chuna manual therapy (CMT), a traditional Korean manual therapy.

Validation and Development of Voice Handicap Index-Throat for Koreans.

Introduction: This study aimed to develop, validate, and analyze the reliability of the Korean version of the Voice Handicap Index-Throat (VHI-Tk).

Methods: This prospective study included 103 patients in the case group with voice problems (18 with functional dysphonia, 44 with mass in the larynx, 18 with neurological voice disorder, 23 with throat problems) and 27 in the control group without voice problems. All participants completed these questionnaires at their initial visit: the Korean version of the Voice Handicap Index (K-VHI), VHI-Tk, and the Korean version of the Voice Symptom Scale (K-VoiSS).

An arrayed optofluidic system for three-dimensional (3D) focal control via electrowetting.

A new lens capability for three-dimensional (3D) focal control is presented using an optofluidic system consisting of n × n arrayed liquid prisms. Each prism module contains two immiscible liquids in a rectangular cuvette. Using the electrowetting effect, the shape of the fluidic interface can be rapidly adjusted to create its straight profile with the prism's apex angle.

Estimating the Total Societal Cost of a Hexavalent Vaccine versus a Pentavalent Vaccine with Hepatitis B in South Korea.

In South Korea, the ready-to-use hexavalent vaccine (against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and hepatitis B) is not listed despite its facility of no need to reconstitute. It, therefore, has the potential to augment the efficiency of prevention against the six infectious diseases, and it may reduce vaccine-related errors of reconstitution when compared with the currently used vaccination scheme of the pentavalent vaccine with the additional shots against hepatitis B. Given the assumed clinical equivalence between the two vaccination schemes, a cost-minimization analysis has been performed from a societal perspective including all the medical and non-medical direct and indirect costs when vaccinating one birth cohort.

A Cepstral Analysis of Pathological Voice Quality in the Korean Population using Praat.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the reference values for cepstral peak prominence (CPP) and smoothed CPP (CPPS) measured using Praat in Korean speakers with the normal, healthy and pathological voice.

Methods: A total of 4,524 Korean participants with vocally healthy (n = 410) and dysphonic voices (n = 4,114) participated in this study. The speech task consisted of a sustained vowel /a/ and a sentence reading the Korean passage "Walk".

Awareness and Needs of Smoking Cessation Services for Female Emotional Laborers, Parcel Delivery Workers, Transportation Workers, and Construction Workers in South Korea.

Although South Korea has implemented various smoking cessation services, women who are emotional laborers, as well as parcel delivery, transportation, and construction workers, have poor access to these services. This study evaluated the smoking-related characteristics of workers in these four occupations as well as the awareness of and need for smoking cessation services. In total 808 workers in these four occupations aged 19 years and above were recruited nationwide and had their data analyzed.

Fatty Acid Composition of Grain- and Grass-Fed Beef and Their Nutritional Value and Health Implication.

Beef contains functional fatty acids such as conjugated linoleic acid and long-chain fatty acids. This review summarizes results from studies comparing the fatty acid composition of beef from cattle fed either grass or grain-based feed. Since functional lipid components are contributed through dietary consumption of beef, the fatty acid composition is reported on mg/100 g of meat basis rather than on a percentage of total fat basis.

Resonance Characteristics in Epiglottic Cyst: Formant Frequency, Vowel Space Area, Vowel Articulatory Index, and Formant Centralization Ratio.

Objectives: Resonance characteristics can change due to alterations in the shape of the vocal tract in patients with epiglottic cysts. This study aimed to analyze the resonance characteristics before and after the surgical excision of epiglottic cysts.

Methods: Twelve male patients with epiglottic cysts were enrolled in this study.

The Usefulness of Multi Voice Evaluation for Measuring Voice Recovery After Endolaryngeal Phonomicrosurgery in Patients with Vocal Fold Polyps.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to the usefulness of a five-variable model predicting perceived voice severity and incorporating acoustic analysis based on cepstral analysis and self-reported questionnaires, for measuring voice recovery after endolaryngeal phonomicrosurgery in patients with vocal fold polyps.

Methods: In this study, 72 patients with vocal fold polyps were included. Two voice evaluations, including acoustic analysis, self-reported questionnaires, and auditory perceptual assessments for each patient, were implemented before and after endolaryngeal phonomicrosurgery.

The usefulness of multi voice evaluation: Development of a model for predicting a degree of dysphonia.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were (1) to analyze the usefulness of self-report questionnaires, acoustic analysis, and auditory perceptual assessment for screening voice problems; and (2) to develop a new model for predicting a comprehensive voice severity using multi-assessment.

Methods: A total of 306 voice samples were analyzed in this study (typical group, n = 72; dysphonia group, n = 234). We performed a receiver operating characteristic analysis to determine the cutoff values of auditory perceptual assessments (visual analog scale), acoustic parameters (spectral- and cepstral-based analyses), and self-report questionnaires for screening voice disorders.

Simple technique to preserve the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve during thyroidectomy: Clinical practicability of an attachable nerve stimulator.

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the usefulness of an attachable magnetic nerve stimulator for preservation of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) during thyroidectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 120 female patients, of which 60 underwent thyroidectomy with an attachable magnetic nerve stimulator (magnetic group) and the remaining 60 underwent thyroidectomy with a conventional method without EBSLN identification (control group). For both groups, objective and subjective voice parameters were investigated on the day before surgery and at 2 weeks and 2 months after surgery.

Clinical Significance of the Preoperative Thyroidectomy-Related Voice Questionnaire Score in Thyroid Surgery.

Background: The thyroidectomy-related voice questionnaire (TVQ) is an efficient screening tool for detecting postoperative vocal dysfunction. The aim of this study was to confirm the significance of the preoperative TVQ score in thyroid surgery.

Methods: We examined 180 women who underwent total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection from March 2014 to May 2016.

The Usefulness of Auditory Perceptual Assessment and Acoustic Analysis as a Screening Test for Voice Problems.

Background/aims: The aims of study were (1) to determine the cut-off values of parameters related to auditory perceptual assessment (visual analog scale [VAS]) and acoustic analysis (cepstral peak prominence [CPP], low-frequency/high-frequency [L/H] ratio, CPP SD, L/H ratio SD, acoustic voice quality index [AVQI], and cepstral spectral index of dysphonia [CSID]) for predicting voice problems within a Korean population, and (2) to verify the discriminative power of these cut-off values.

Methods: 1,113 voice samples were analyzed in this study. Perceptual assessments (VAS) were performed by 5 speech-language pathologists.

Validation of Acoustic Voice Quality Index Version 3.01 and Acoustic Breathiness Index in Korean Population.

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) version 3.01 and the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI) as tools for acoustic analyses in the Korean language.

Methods: Concatenated voice samples of sustained vowels (SV) and continuous speech (CS) were collected from 151 subjects with dysphonia and 71 vocally healthy subjects.

Comparison of Cepstral Analysis Based on Voiced-Segment Extraction and Voice Tasks for Discriminating Dysphonic and Normophonic Korean Speakers.

Objectives: This study investigated whether there are differences in the discriminatory power of cepstral analysis according to the voiced-segment extraction method and voice tasks used for identifying dysphonic and normophonic Korean individuals.

Materials And Methods: A total of 2,863 subjects (2,595 subjects with and 268 subjects without dysphonia) were included in this study. The 3-second sustained vowel (SV) /a/ and one sentence of "Sanchaek" were edited and analyzed using Praat scripts.

The Usefulness of Auditory Perceptual Assessment and Acoustic Analysis for Classifying the Voice Severity.

Objective: The aims of this study were to (1) to determine the cut-off values of parameters related to auditory perceptual assessment (visual analog scale) and acoustic analysis (cepstral peak prominence, low frequency/high frequency ratio, cepstral peak prominence standard deviation, low frequency/high frequency ratio standard deviation, acoustic voice quality index, and cepstral spectral index of dysphonia) for predicting the voice severity within a Korean population; and (2) to verify the discriminative power of these cut-off values.

Methods: Voice samples of 1,029 subjects who visited Pusan National University Hospital, South Korea to be treated for swallowing or voice evaluation from January 2018 to December 2018 were analyzed in this retrospective study. The acoustic analysis of cepstral parameters, cepstral spectral index of dysphonia, and acoustic voice quality index were calculated using the Computerized Speech Lab and Praat software.

Fingerprint-to-CH stretch continuously tunable high spectral resolution stimulated Raman scattering microscope.

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy is a label-free method generating images based on chemical contrast within samples, and has already shown its great potential for high-sensitivity and fast imaging of biological specimens. The capability of SRS to collect molecular vibrational signatures in bio-samples, coupled with the availability of powerful statistical analysis methods, allows quantitative chemical imaging of live cells with sub-cellular resolution. This application has substantially driven the development of new SRS microscopy platforms.

Voice Recovery in a Patient with Inhaled Laryngeal Burns.

Introduction: Laryngeal burns cause long-term voice disorders due to mucosal changes of the vocal folds. Inhalation injuries affect voice production and result in changes in the mucosal thickness and voice quality.

Case Report: A 47-year-old woman was transferred to our department with laryngeal burns sustained during a house fire.

Effects of Injection Laryngoplasty with Hyaluronic Acid in Patients with Vocal Fold Paralysis.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of injection laryngoplasty (IL) with hyaluronic acid in patients with vocal fold paralysis (VFP).

Methods: A total of 50 patients with VFP participated in this study. Pre- and post-IL assessments were performed, which included analyzing the sustained vowel /a/ phonation, and the patient reading 1 Korean sentence from the "Walk" passage that comprised 25 syllables in 10 words.

Comparison of Two Versions of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index for Quantification of Dysphonia Severity.

Objectives: The acoustic voice quality index (AVQI) is a specific acoustic indicator designed to objectively estimate dysphonia severity and measure the values of acoustic parameters based on the diagnostic category. This study compared the performance of two AVQI versions (2.02 and 3.

Validation of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index in the Korean Language.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the concurrent validity of the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI) in a Korean population. We investigated the feasibility of its cutoff values and diagnostic accuracy in discriminating between normal and dysphonic voices.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,524 native Korean subjects with normal voices (n = 113) and with voice disorders (n = 1,411) were asked to speak and sustain the vowel "a" and to read the Korean text "Walk" aloud.

Usefulness of Two-Dimensional Digital Kymography in Patients With Vocal Fold Scarring.

Objective: Although laryngeal videostroboscopy is widely utilized in the analysis of vocal fold vibrations, it is often difficult to identify patterns of vocal fold vibrations in patients with aperiodic voice signals due to failure of synchronization during laryngeal videostroboscopy examination. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the usefulness of simultaneous two-dimensional digital kymography (2D DKG) and traditional DKG for the detection of changes in the pattern of vocal fold vibrations in patients with vocal fold scarring (VFS).

Methods: Seven patients with VFS and one normal subject underwent high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV).

Acoustic Characteristics in Epiglottic Cyst.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the acoustic characteristics associated with alternation deformation of the vocal tract due to large epiglottic cyst, and to confirm the relation between the anatomical change and resonant function of the vocal tract.

Methods: Eight men with epiglottic cyst were enrolled in this study. The jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonic ratio, and first two formants were analyzed in vowels /a:/, /e:/, /i:/, /o:/, and /u:/.

Efficacy of Two-dimensional Scanning Digital Kymography in Evaluation of Atrophic Vocal Folds.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional scanning digital kymography (2D DKG) in patients with vocal cord atrophy before and after treatment.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed the characteristics of vocal fold vibration in five patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis and five patients with presbyphonia. In patients with vocal cord paralysis, the status before and after intracordal injection was compared.