Acoustic correlates of vocal effort: External factors and personality traits

ObjectivesTo develop an experimental protocol to study the vocal effort generated by introducing barriers to communication, and its relationship with certain personality traits.Material and methodsThe experimental protocol consisted of an interactive game in which the subject gave an investigator instructions to adopt various body positions (semi-directed communication situation). The Control situation included no constraints on communication. Then a Distance Constraint (increased distance between subject and investigator) and a Time Constraint (generation of performance stress by putting the subject in competition with others) were introduced. The vocal parameters studied comprised vocal intensity and fundamental frequency in the middle of the vowel of 3 target phonemes. Subjects also took the NEO FFI-R personality test.ResultsThe study included 41 women aged between 18 and 52 years. Vocal intensity and fundamental frequency increased significantly with the introduction of the constraints (P < 0.05), intensity passing from 75.5 dB to 81.8 dB and frequency from 249.4 Hz to 335.8 Hz. No correlations were found between these changes and results for the various personality traits.ConclusionsThis ecological protocol enables the impact of both physical and emotional obstacles to communication to be studied. No correlations between vocal effort and personality traits emerged. A larger-scale study would be necessary to analyze the continuum between vocal effort and vocal forcing, to improve speech therapy for dysfunctional dysphonia.     

Neural Correlates of Failed Inhibitory Control as an Early Marker of Disordered Eating in Adolescents

BackgroundBinge eating and other forms of disordered eating behavior (DEB) are associated with failed inhibitory control. This study investigated the neural correlates of failed inhibitory control as a potential biomarker for DEB.MethodsThe study used prospective longitudinal data from the European IMAGEN study adolescent cohort. Participants completed baseline assessments (questionnaires and a brain scan [functional magnetic resonance imaging]) at 14 years of age and a follow-up assessment (questionnaires) at 16 years of age. Self-reported binge eating and/or purging were used to indicate presence of DEB. Neural correlates of failed inhibition were assessed using the stop signal task. Participants were categorized as healthy control subjects (reported no DEB at both time points), maintainers (reported DEB at both time points), recoverers (reported DEB at baseline only), and developers (reported DEB at follow-up only). Forty-three individuals per group with complete scanning data were matched on gender, age, puberty, and intelligence (N = 172).ResultsAt baseline, despite similar task performance, incorrectly responding to stop signals (failed inhibitory control) was associated with greater recruitment of the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex in the developers compared with healthy control subjects and recoverers.ConclusionsGreater recruitment of the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate regions during failed inhibition accords with abnormal evaluation of errors contributing to DEB development. As this precedes symptom onset and is evident despite normal task performance, neural responses during failed inhibition may be a useful biomarker of vulnerability for DEB. This study highlights the potential value of prospective neuroimaging studies for identifying markers of illness before the emergence of behavior changes.     

人格特征对男性喉鳞状细胞癌患者术后近期心理状况的影响

目的 探讨人格特征对喉鳞状细胞癌（LSCC）患者术后近期心理健康状况的影响。方法 纳入2017年1月—2019年12月在湖北省肿瘤医院行手术治疗的119例男性LSCC患者，术后5~7 d采用SCL-90、SAS、SDS自评量表评估术后心理状态，采用EPQ问卷测评患者的人格特征。多元线性逐步回归方法分析LSCC患者术后近期SAS和SDS评分的影响因素。结果 男性LSCC患者术后SCL-90、SAS、SDS得分显著高于中国常模（P≤0.05），EPQ中精神质（P）量表和神经质（N）量表得分高于中国常模（P<0.01）。男性LSCC患者术后躯体化、强迫、焦虑、抑郁、敌对、恐怖、偏执、精神病性因子得分均显著高于中国常模（P<0.05）。家庭收入、手术方式、术后近期是否行放化疗、P和N人格特征是术后SAS评分的影响因素（均P<0.01）；家庭收入、手术方式、术后近期是否行放化疗和N人格特征是术后SDS评分的影响因素（P<0.01）。结论 LSCC患者术后近期存在抑郁、焦虑等心理障碍；具有P和N人格特征；家庭收入、手术方式、术后近期是否行放化疗以及P和N人格特征是影响术后SAS及SDS评分的独立危险因素。     

A cut above the rest: Trimming as a painless depilatory

Shaving and other modes of epilation can cause undue anxiety, pain, or skin irritation in children. Here, we present hair trimming as a safe, painless, and cost‐effective alternative for patients with unwanted hair which may be performed indefinitely or until the child is old enough to direct management. In select cases, removing unwanted hair using this technique may facilitate dermatologic surveillance.     

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and neurological defects

Introduction and ObjectivesNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be considered one of the most common causes of liver disease in our days and is regarded as one of the newest vascular risk factors for cerebrovascular and other neurological diseases.Materials and methodsWe studied a group of neurological outpatients, divided into two homogenous groups based on the presence or absence of NAFLD.Results and conclusionsWe testified an independent relationship between NAFLD and common vascular risk factors (age, sex, educational level, BMI, cholesterol and lipid assessment, Hb1ac). At the same time, we ascertained an independent relationship between NAFLD and more recently recognized vascular risk factors, such as lack of folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D-OH25, and increased levels of homocysteine. Finally, we have documented that NAFLD showed worse executive and frontal functions, and behavioral changes, such as depressive mood and anxiety, and apathy.