OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of altered fundamental frequency (F0) on nasalance levels of the vowels /i/ and /a/ produced by adults without cleft palate within a controlled sound pressure level (SPL) range. DESIGN: A prospective group design with convenience sampling from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ...

In German (and many languages) the alveolar nasal n can assimilate to [m] if followed by a labial (e.g. 'in Berlin' <-- "i[m] Berlin"). In a German spontaneous speech corpus (KielCorpus), one also finds a few cases in which an m followed by an alveolar consonant surfaces as [n] (e.g., ...

In the studies of room acoustics, the parameters that are taken into consideration while evaluating the acoustic performance of a hall are examined in two sections: objective acoustic parameters which can be measured and calculated and, subjective acoustic parameters which define the impacts of a hall's acoustical qualities over the ...

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of atherothrombosis independent of the Framingham risk factors. Studies on hemostasis factors in OSA are scarce and inconsistent. We sought to understand the variation in atherothrombotic propensity as a function of apoptotic circulating endothelial cells (CECs) in OSA by investigating ...

The identification of intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the esophagus is necessary for the selection of patients with Barrett esophagus (BE) for surveillance. We studied 108 esophageal biopsy and resection specimens, clinically diagnosed as BE, and stained them for CDX2, villin, HepPar-1, and cytokeratin (CK) 7 to investigate sensitivity for identifying ...

Nasal patency, with both congestion and decongestion, is affected in a wide variety of reflexes. Stimuli leading to nasal reflexes include exercise; alterations of body position, pressure, and temperature; neurologic syndromes; and dentistry. As anticipated, the vagal and trigeminal systems are closely integrated through nasobronchial and bronchonasal reflexes. However, perhaps ...

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) has demonstrated promising results in the treatment and prevention of atopic eczema. To study the effects of LGG on the oral immune response in adolescents and adults with birch pollen allergy combined with oral allergy syndrome. Patients received either LGG (n = 19) or a placebo ...

AIM: To compare screening performances of the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ), the Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence (FTND) and the Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) with a view to determining the optimum cutoff scores using biomarkers as standards. BACKGROUND: Previous studies proposed inconsistent cutoff scores for the FTQ, the FTND as ...

PURPOSE: To evaluate diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI as a noninvasive tool to investigate major salivary gland function before and after radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: DW-MRI was performed in 8 HNC patients before and after parotid-sparing RT (mean dose to the contralateral parotid gland <26 Gy). ...

Dogs with brachycephalic conformation frequently suffer from stenotic nares. This study investigated the clinical effects of stenotic nares resection in shih tzu puppies using an amputation technique first described in 1949. The authors hypothesized that surgical correction of the stenotic nares would result in improvement of nasal discharge/noise, breathing difficulty ...

There is no consensus on diagnostic criteria for chronic rhinosinusitis. By convention, the symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis are similar to those of acute rhinosinusitis but last more than 8 weeks. Diagnosis is based on history, physical examination, and computed tomography scan of the sinuses or rhinoscopy. Treatment options are numerous ...

BACKGROUND: Clinically, nasal obstruction is experienced frequently in the supine position, and the nasal autonomic nervous system (ANS) may be involved in the mechanism. The central ANS functions at maintaining cardiovascular hemodynamics. However, during postural change, the corresponding changes of the central ANS may simultaneously change the nasal airway as ...

The behavior of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) pollens in an urban area was examined through the measurements of the dispersion characteristics at the various sampling locations in both outdoor and indoor environments. Airborne pollens were counted continuously for three months during the Japanese cedar pollen ...

BACKGROUND: Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) measurement is a simple and non-invasive method for monitoring airway inflammation. Similarly, nasal NO has been proposed as a surrogate marker in inflammatory diseases of the upper airways, e.g. allergic rhinitis. A new portable analyser using an electrochemical sensor has been developed for measurements of ...

The aim of this study was to characterize the adequacy and longevity of biological response to desmopressin (DDAVP) in a large Amish kindred of Type 2M von Willebrand disease (VWD) possessing C-to-T transition at nucleotide 4120 in exon 28 of A1 domain of von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene. Response to ...

CONCLUSION: Odiosoft-Rhino (OR) is a non-invasive test that is completed in an extremely short period of time. It is easy to perform and little patient cooperation is needed. OR is safe and could be used in the rhinological setting if further improved. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate nasal obstruction objectively with a ...

This study evaluated the pitting corrosion resistance of nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments with different surface treatments in 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and NaCl solutions. Electropolished RaCe instruments were allocated to group A, non-electropolished RaCe instruments to group B, and physical vapor deposition (PVD)-coated Alpha files to group C (10 instruments ...

Physical exercise may induce upper and lower airway symptoms such as rhinitis and asthma. Rhinitis symptoms are often neglected although runny nose and nasal congestion may interfere with performance of the affected individual. A detailed history regarding locality and time of symptoms is of most significance for taking the appropriate ...

In otorhinolaryngologist's experience the nasal out-breath of people affected by chronic nasal or paranasal infections may be characterized by peculiar odours. In a previous study we showed that an electronic nose (EN), examining nasal out breath was able to distinguish subjects affected by chronic rhinosinusitis from healthy subjects. The present ...

The purpose of the research was to prepare metoclopramide HCl mouth/orally dissolving tablets (MDTs) using glycine, carboxy methyl cellulose and sodium alginate with sufficient mechanical integrity and disintegration time comparable to superdisintegrants. Application of Plackett-Burman design revealed that concentration of glycine (X(1)), concentration of carboxy methyl cellulose (X(2)) and tablet ...

Minimal evidence has shown creatine (Cr) supplementation to enhance endurance performance in either humans or rats. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Cr supplementation on endurance performance during high-intensity exercise in trained male rats. Endurance performance was defined as the distance run. Sixteen days of ...

Evidence is unequivocal that exercise training can improve health outcomes. However, despite this evidence, adoption of healthy lifestyles is poor. The physical environment is one possible determinant of successful adoption of healthy lifestyles that could influence outcomes in community-based intervention strategies. We developed a novel exercise prescription delivered in two ...

Both the route of breathing, nasal versus oral, and the effectiveness of the nose to filter inhaled, fine particles may differ between children and adults. This study compared (1) the nasal contribution to breathing at rest and during mild to moderate exercise in children (age 6-10 yr) versus young adults ...

Pre-ART cycle screening with saline infusion sonohysterography is effective at limiting cycle cancellation caused by endometrial polyps to 0.5%. Although a thickened lining at the time of baseline ultrasound can be indicative of a uterine polyp, a normal endometrial lining does not eliminate the possibility that a polyp will be ...

BACKGROUND: In nasotracheal intubation, there are two main pathways in the nostril through which the endotracheal tube may pass. The lower pathway lies along the floor of the nose underneath the inferior turbinate. The upper pathway lies above the inferior turbinate, just below the middle turbinate. The lower pathway may ...

An 11-month-old Japanese Black steer with chronic bloat underwent clinical and histological analyses. During the observation period, it showed normal appetite and fecal volume but persistent chronic bloat symptoms. Compared to controls, the steer's feces contained undigested large straws. Necropsy revealed normal rumen, reticulum, and abomasum but a small omasum. ...

Factors influencing nasal versus oral breathing in asthmatics are not well understood. The current authors hypothesised that asthmatic subjects have enhanced perception of nasal threshold loads, and switch from nasal to oral breathing at a lower load than healthy subjects. In total, 15 mild asthmatic and 20 healthy control subjects ...

AIM: To determine the impact of total fundoplication on the spontaneous esophageal clearance, known as secondary peristalsis. BACKGROUND: Although there is general agreement that total fundoplication is not an obstacle to bolus swallowing (primary peristalsis), whether it is an obstacle to spontaneous esophageal clearance (secondary peristalsis) is still not clear. ...

The acute effects of pure inhaled glucan on respiratory inflammation remain inconclusive and not sufficiently examined with regards to the simultaneous interaction of glucan, endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS), and house dust in airway inflammation. This study aims at determining effects of simultaneous exposure to office dust and glucan on nasal and ...

This prospective study was undertaken to determine the safest means of supplemental oxygen delivery for patients undergoing facial cosmetic surgery under conscious sedation. Two common methods of oxygen delivery were used in 20 patients: (1) a nasal cannula and (2) a red rubber nasopharyngeal tube through which the cut ends ...

We study the prospects for detecting weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) in a number of phenomenological scenarios, with a detector composed of a target simultaneously sensitive to both spin-dependent and spin-independent couplings, as is the case of COUPP (Chicagoland Observatory for Underground Particle Physics). First, we show that sensitivity to ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between nasal nitric oxide (nNO) concentration and its influence on olfactory function. SETTING: Tertiary otolaryngology care centre. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis and 20 healthy subjects participated. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study. OUTCOME MEASURES: The nNO concentration was measured by chemiluminescence and olfactory thresholds ...

We used scanner data on cigarette prices and sales collected from supermarkets across the United States from 1994 to 2004 to test the hypothesis that cigarette prices are positively correlated with sales of cigarettes with higher tar and nicotine content. During this period the average inflation-adjusted price for menthol cigarettes ...

Nicotine, the major addicting agent in tobacco and tobacco smoke, undergoes a complex metabolic pathway, with approximately 22% of nicotine urinary metabolites in the form of phase II N-glucuronidated compounds. Recent studies have shown that UGT2B10 is a major enzyme involved in the N-glucuronidation of several tobacco-specific nitrosamines. In the ...

It has been reported that intake of yogurt or powder supplemented with the Bifidobacterium longum BB536 probiotic strain alleviated subjective symptoms and affected blood markers of allergy in individuals with Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCPsis) during the pollen seasons of 2004 and 2005, based on randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. Furthermore, the ...

An anatomic and endoscopic study of 48 cadaveric heads (96 sphenoid sinuses) was undertaken to describe the anatomy of the sphenoid sinus in Asians. Sellar type of sphenoid sinus is the most common, present in 53 out of 96 sides (55%). Forty-five of the 48 heads had a dominant sphenoid ...

To determine whether multiple sessions of electrical stimulation (ES) applied to neck muscles improve swallowing function and whether this improvement is accompanied by cortical reorganization in patients with dysphagia, before-after trials were performed on eight subjects. ES was applied for 1 hour, 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Swallowing ...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of rhinitis is rapidly increasing in recent years and has become a major public health problem in developed countries. A new classification of allergic rhinitis has been proposed by the allergic rhinitis and its impact on asthma group. In this study we aimed to evaluate the prevalence ...

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown decreased retrobulbar blood flow in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) compared to healthy controls. This study evaluates the ability of colour Doppler imaging (CDI) to identify patients with NTG. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with untreated NTG (mean age 57+/-14 years) and 40 age-matched controls (mean age 58+/-9 ...

Pieces of gill isolated from the clam Mercenaria mercenaria clear colloidal graphite from seawater, and the clearance rates are measurable. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) had a biphasic effect on clearance rates: concentrations from 10(-6) to 10(-5) mol l(-1) 5-HT increased clearance, but higher concentrations reduced it. During the summer, the gills were ...

BACKGROUND: To diagnose occupational rhinitis, it is mandatory to conduct an objective assessment of changes in nasal patency during specific inhalation challenge (SIC). The reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry measurements in the setting of occupational challenges has never been examined. This study assessed the reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry during SIC investigation ...

BACKGROUND: The nasal valve is the narrowest segment of the nasal cavity and plays an essential role in breathing. There has been plenty of discussion in the literature concerning the location and function of the nasal valve. The Cottle's maneuver (CM) is a test in which the cheek on the ...

Aphids, which constitute one of the most important groups of agricultural pests, ingest nutrients from sieve tubes, the photoassimilate transport conduits in plants. Aphids are able to successfully puncture sieve tubes with their piercing mouthparts (stylets) and ingest phloem sap without eliciting the sieve tubes' normal occlusion response to injury. ...

Aspiration pneumonia is the leading cause of death in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. In clinical practice, the videofluoroscopic examination (VFE) is the most common method for evaluation of swallowing disorders. One of the variables manipulated during the VFE is consistency of the bolus. The results of this examination greatly influence ...

BACKGROUND: Chronic productive cough is a common clinical problem; often potential causes outside the lower respiratory tract are forgotten or ignored. The aim of this study was to make a precise etiopathogenetic diagnosis of chronic productive cough in young adults. METHODS: In a clinical setting, 212 subjects (mean age 41+/-5 ...

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic inflammatory disease in which allergen exposure leads to the appearance of symptoms in sensitized individuals because of histamine liberation from nasal mucosal mast cells. Comorbidity of this disease with allergic asthma is common. Therefore, the one airway one disease theory has been put ...

Aspirin induced asthma (AIA) is a syndrome characterised by intolerance to acetylsalycilic acid (ASA), nasal polyps and bronchial asthma, being the metabolic shift of arachidonic acid toward the lipoxygenase pathway and hyper-production of cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) the current pathogenetic hypothesis. The research for both sensitive indicators and safe diagnostic tests is ...

The present cross-sectional and interventional study was carried out to assess the incidence of vitamin B12 / vitamin D deficiency in male office executives in the tropical city of Mumbai, India. A total of 75 senior executives were surveyed and subjected to analysis of blood levels of vitamin D (25 ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether there is a correlation between active anterior rhinomanometry (RMM) and optical rhinometry (ORM) data in the detection of changes in nasal congestion. DESIGN: In 70 subjects both ORM and RMM were performed. Changes in nasal congestion were induced by nasal provocation with histamine, allergens, solvent, and ...

OBJECTIVE: To compare nicotine pharmacokinetics and subjective effects of three new smokeless tobacco potential reduced exposure products (PREPs; Ariva, Revel and Stonewall) with moist snuff (Copenhagen) and medicinal nicotine (Commit lozenge). METHODS: 10 subjects completed a randomised, within-subject, crossover study. Subjects used one product for 30 min at each of ...