Tongue Postures and Tongue Centers: A Study of Acoustic-Articulatory Correspondences Across Different Head Angles

Recent research on body and head positions has shown that postural changes may induce varying degrees of changes on acoustic speech signals and articulatory gestures. While the preservation of formant profiles across different postures is suitably accounted for by the two-tube model and perturbation theory, it remains unclear whether it is resulted from the accommodation of tongue postures. Specifically, whether the tongue accommodates the changes in head angle to maintain the target acoustics is yet to be determined. The present study examines vowel acoustics and their correspondence with the articulatory maneuvers of the tongue, including both tongue postures and movements of the tongue center, across different head angles. The results show that vowel acoustics, including pitch and formants, are largely unaffected by upward or downward tilting of the head. These preserved acoustics may be attributed to the lingual gestures that compensate for the effects of gravity. Our results also reveal that the tongue postures in response to head movements appear to be vowel-dependent, and the tongue center may serve as an underlying drive that covariates with the head angle changes. These results imply a close relationship between vowel acoustics and tongue postures as well as a target-oriented strategy for different head angles.

Risk factors associated with pressure ulcers in a public hospital [Factores de riesgos asociados a úlceras por presión en un hospital público]

The general objective was to determine risk factors associated with pressure ulcers. Hypothesis: Intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors are significantly associated in the development of pressure ulcers. The research was applied, correlational, retrospective, quantitative. The population was 180 Clinical Histories, of which 60 belonged to patients who presented pressure ulcers (Cases) and 120 to patients who did not present pressure ulcers (Controls). The instrument was a data collection sheet; the information being processed through the SSPS Vs 22 program. The Chi square statistical test, the P - Value was less than 5%. The results were; age, sex, mobility, incontinence, nutrition, state of consciousness, degree of dependence and main diagnosis are intrinsic risk factors for the appearance of pressure ulcers, also extrinsic factors; Hospital stay, availability of equipment and materials, postural changes, body hygiene, massages, location of pressure ulcers and stages are risk factors for the formation of pressure ulcers. Conclusion: intrinsic and extrinsic factors are significantly associated with the development of pressure ulcers in adulthood and older adults.

Cardiovagal Baroreflex Hysteresis Using Ellipses in Response to Postural Changes

The cardiovagal branch of the baroreflex is of high clinical relevance when detecting disturbances of the autonomic nervous system. The hysteresis of the baroreflex is assessed using provoked and spontaneous changes in blood pressure. We propose a novel ellipse analysis to characterize hysteresis of the spontaneous respiration-related cardiovagal baroreflex for orthostatic test. Up and down sequences of pressure changes as well as the working point of baroreflex are considered. The EuroBaVar data set for supine and standing was employed to extract heartbeat intervals and blood pressure values. The latter values formed polygons into which a bivariate normal distribution was fitted with its properties determining proposed ellipses of baroreflex. More than 80% of ellipses are formed out of nonoverlapping and delayed up and down sequences highlighting baroreflex hysteresis. In the supine position, the ellipses are more elongated (by about 46%) and steeper (by about 4.3° as median) than standing, indicating larger heart interval variability (70.7 versus 47.9 ms) and smaller blood pressure variability (5.8 versus 8.9 mmHg) in supine. The ellipses show a higher baroreflex sensitivity for supine (15.7 ms/mmHg as median) than standing (7 ms/mmHg). The center of the ellipse moves from supine to standing, which describes the overall sigmoid shape of the baroreflex with the moving working point. In contrast to regression analysis, the proposed method considers gain and set-point changes during respiration, offers instructive insights into the resulting hysteresis of the spontaneous cardiovagal baroreflex with respiration as stimuli, and provides a new tool for its future analysis.

Lower Levels of Vestibular Developmental Stability in Slow-Moving than Fast-Moving Primates

The vestibular system of the mammalian inner ear senses angular and linear velocity of the head and enables animals to maintain their balance. Vestibular anatomy has been studied extensively in order to link its structure to particular kinds of locomotion. Available evidence indicates that, in primates, slow-moving species show higher levels of vestibular variation than fast-moving taxa. We analysed intraspecific morphological variation and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) levels in the semicircular canal systems of six species of lorisiform primates: three slow-moving lorisids and three fast-moving galagids. Our results showed clear differences in levels of intraspecific variation between slow-moving and fast-moving taxa. Higher levels of variation were responsible for deviations from coplanarity for synergistic pairs of canals in slower taxa. Lorisids also presented higher levels of FA than galagids. FA is a better indicator of agility than intraspecific variation. These results suggest that in order to function efficiently in fast taxa, semicircular canal systems must develop as symmetrically as possible, and should minimise the deviation from coplanarity for synergistic pairs. Higher levels of variation and asymmetry in slow-moving taxa may be related to lower levels of stabilising selection on the vestibular system, linked to a lower demand for rapid postural changes.

438 Appearances are deceiving

Aims Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is frequently found in the population (3% prevalence). MVP prognosis is generally benign; however, malignant arrhythmias and increased risk of arrhythmic sudden cardiac death (0.2% to 0.4% per year) was described in patients, usually female, mostly affected by bileaflet myxomatous disease, mid-systolic click, ripolarization abnormalities in the inferior leads, and complex ventricular arrhythmias with polymorphic/right bundle branch block morphology, without significant regurgitation. The actual burden, risk stratification, and treatment of the so-called arrhythmic MVP are unknown. Methods Z.T. is a 32 years old woman who was admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) with left arm and face paraesthesia. She also reported having suffered from migraine and hypertension a few days earlier. ECG: normal sinus rhythm, no ripolarization abnormalities. CT and MRI were executed to rule out cerebral ischaemic events and both resulted negative. No SCD was reported in the anamnesis and the patient denied syncopal and pre-syncopal episodes. Z.T. had undergone cardiologic examination for tachycardia 2 years before the present events, during her second pregnancy (she produced no documentation to this effect). No chronic therapy. Low blood pressure at home. Due to the patient’s cardiologic history, ECG monitoring was performed, evidencing frequent premature ventricular beats (PVBs), some couples, and triplets. Cardiologic evaluation was requested. On Echocardiogram: Normal bi-ventricular function. Bileaflet mitral valve prolapse with myxomatous degeneration. Minimal valve regurgitation. Mitral annulus disjunction. TE echocardiogram: no PFO. Nadolol 20 mg was prescribed and after 24 h of observation the patient was discharged, scheduling Holter ECG, cardiac MRI and arrhythmologic evaluation. Results One month later, the patient reported intolerance to nadolol due to hypotension and pre-syncopal episodes during postural changes. Holter ECG revealed: polymorphic PVBs (2009), couples (383), triplets (40). Cardiac MRI: mitral valve prolapse (11 mm), mitral annulus disjunction (8mm) systolic curling (3mm). No LGE. No oedema. Nadolol was discontinued and substituted with bisoprolol 2.5 mg. Physical activity was discouraged; Ergometric test and Holter ECG were ordered under treatment with bisoprolol. The Ergometric test revealed reduced extrasystolia during physical effort, isolated PVBs and some couples during recovery. Holter ECG revealed continuing isolated PVBs (980) and some couples (37). No complex arrhythmia. Conclusion Z.T. is affected by an arrhythmic MVP syndrome characterized by complex PVBs, mitral annular disjunction, and systolic curling, which have been described by pathological and cardiac magnetic resonance studies in sudden death victims. However, Z.T. is asymptomatic: no ECG ripolarization abnormalities at rest and good response to medical therapy with β-blockers. Our patient strategy was conservative and we decided to follow up with trimestral cardiologic evaluation and Holter ECG. Further research is needed to best identify high-risk patients and suggest treatments aimed to prevent sudden death.

Prevalence of Cervical Spondylitis in Dentists of Lahore

Aim: To analyze prevalence of cervical spondylitis among dentists practicing in Lahore. Methods: A cross sectional survey of 6 months was conducted on 110 dentists practicing in dental clinics of Lahore were examined using neck disability index performa. SPSS Version 24 used for entering/analyzing the data. Results: In 110 individuals, 22% dentists including males (n=19%) and females (n=24.2%) were suffering from cervical spondylitis. According to neck disability index 34.5% had no disability, 47.2% had mild, 10.9% had moderate, 5.4% had severe disability and only 1.9% had complete disability. The major number (30%) was among 41-50years, and also statistically significant difference was observed (p-value = 0.02). Similarly maximum number of cervical spondylitis was found among females, 15(24.2%) but statistically insignificant difference was observed with respect to gender (p-value = 0.493). Longer practicing experience had also significant impact on the occurrence of spondylitis (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: Dentists are likely to have neck pain prevalent in them and very few had cervical spondylitis (22%) but the damage could be reduced if postural changes and regular exercises could be adapted. Keywords: Cervical Spondylitis, Neck Disability Index, Postural Changes

Postural Difference between the Interventions Reflecting the Concept of Mirror Therapy in Healthy Subjects

(1) Background: Mirror therapy is one of the promising interventions for the upper limb rehabilitation of stroke patients. Postural asymmetry during mirror therapy was pointed out as a possibility to influence stroke patients’ rehabilitation negatively. However, it is still difficult to find studies on the postural changes in mirror therapy concept interventions. This study compared three methods of postural differences as follows: traditional mirror therapy (mirror); displaying the real-time movement of the unaffected side on the screen above the affected side (screen); and playing a pre-recorded movement of the unaffected side on a tablet placed on a movable box where the affected hand is put inside (movable). (2) Methods: to observe a kinematic difference, we recruited 16 healthy volunteers to go through three different interventions (mirror, screen, movable). The motion capture system made observations on the postures before and during interventions, then compared and analyzed. (3) Results: while using the mirror, the sitting posture was observed to become asymmetric, and the following unique posture was observed where the target hand went further from the trunk while performing tasks. In addition, the shoulder of the target side came forward, and the difference between both elbow flexion angles was also observed. On the other hand, the screen or movable device did not cause a significant change in the sitting posture, and no additional postural differences were observed either. (4) Conclusions: mirror therapy showed a tendency to cause lateral flexion opposite the target hand, thus, creating additional postural change. However, developed methods controlled spine tilt, and enabled the keeping of the midline while sitting during the intervention.

Effect of Stretching and Strengthening Protocol on Forward Flexed Posture in Post-Menopausal Women

Background: Forward flexed posture is one of the most common structural change which occurs during menopause due to osteoporosis. Stretching and strengthening of cervical and thoracic spine muscles helps to alter the postural changes and maintain COG. This study thus, aims to see the effectiveness of the structured exercise protocol in post-menopausal women. Aims and Objective: To study the effectiveness of supervised and non-supervised stretching and strengthening protocol in post-menopausal women with forward posture. Materials and Methods: A total 40post-menopausal women with forward head posture were selected on the basis of selection criteria. They were randomly allocated in two groups A) Supervised Group= 20, B) Unsupervised Group=20 each. Forward flexed posture was assessed using Occiput to Wall Test and Craniovertebral Angle. Treatment was explained to both the groups. The pre and post measurements of the participants were recorded. Results: Statistical analysis was performed using the unpaired t test. Occiput to wall test and craniovertebral angle were used as the outcome measures for determining the effect of stretching and strengthening on forward neck posture. Comparing the pre-intervention and post-intervention values of occiput to wall test, a significant difference was seen following administration of protocol (p<0.0001). For craniovertebral angle, a significant difference was seen between pre-intervention and post-intervention values (p<0.0001). Also, it was seen that there was a significantly higher difference in the values of craniovertebral angle and occiput to wall test values in the supervised groups as compared to the unsupervised group. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated the effect of stretching and strengthening exercise in improving postural kyphosis in post-menopausal women. In addition, all variables of interest showed statistically significant post-treatment improvements in supervised group than unsupervised group.

The Trunk Rotation may Differentially Affect Lung Volume and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Males and Females

It is known that gender affect pulmonary function, associated with anatomical differences between male and female. However, the effects of trunk rotation on respiratory variables and its differences between males and females remain unclear. We examined the effects of gender and physical characteristics on postural changes in healthy young people. In this study, 9 males and 11 females (22 ± 1 year old for both males and females) were enrolled. We measure the vital capacity (VC), inspiratory capacity (IC), tidal volume (VT), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), and force vital capacity (FVC) and respiratory muscle (PImax and PEmax) with rest posture in the sitting position (rest posture) in sitting position and 30° trunk rotation both genders in the sitting position (rotational posture). The value of VC, IC, ERV, IRV, FVC, or FEV1.0 for males were significantly higher than that for females in both postures. Further, PEmax was more affected by rotational posture in male than in female. On the other hand, PImax showed a significant decrease in the rotational posture only in females. This study indicated that the effect of rotational posture on PImax and PEmax, a measure of respiratory muscle strength, may be different between males and females. These finding may provide important insights on gender differences in respiration in daily living.