Biomedical subjects

Linda Lee

Publications and source records attributed to Linda Lee.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Use of acupuncture for the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a preliminary investigation.

Ten subjects with adductor spasmodic dysphonia participated in a study examining the effects of an acupuncture treatment protocol on their voice disorder. Treatment consisted of eight sessions, and it was designed and performed by two physicians certified in acupuncture. Voice characteristics were evaluated pretreatment and posttreatment using the CSL Motor Speech Profile (MSP), Unified Spasmodic Dysphonia Rating Scale, and Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Subjects also answered a posttreatment questionnaire regarding their experience. Significant pretreatment and posttreatment differences occurred for some MSP measures. Significant differences were found on all three subtests of the VHI, and the average total scores pretreatment and posttreatment differed by 17 points (considered significant according to VHI standardization). Seven of 10 subjects reported improvements in voice production, although expert raters did not detect perceptual changes in voice quality. Possible reasons for the discrepancies between objective measures and self ratings, and implications for further research, are discussed.

Acupuncture Therapy↗

PubMed2003

The relationship between the characteristics of speech and velopharyngeal gap size.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceptual characteristics of hypernasality, nasal emission and nasal rustle, and size of the velopharyngeal gap. DESIGN: A retrospective medical chart review. SETTING: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. SUBJECTS: Subjects were patients of the Craniofacial Anomaly Team. All were between ages 3 and 12 years and diagnosed with velopharyngeal dysfunction secondary to cleft palate +/- cleft lip. A total of 173 charts were reviewed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Speech characteristics were assessed perceptually by an experienced speech-language pathologist. Following that assessment, velopharyngeal closure was evaluated using videofluoroscopy, nasopharyngoscopy, or both. RESULTS: Based on the perceptual ratings alone, 21 subjects were diagnosed with nasal rustle only, 27 had hypernasality with nasal rustle, 89 had hypernasality with nasal emission without nasal rustle, and 36 had hypernasality with no audible nasal emission. An ordinal logit regression was conducted and showed that moderate and severe hypernasality contributed significantly to the prediction of a large gap size; nasal rustle contributed significantly to prediction of a small gap size. Perceptual characteristics of speech correctly predicted gap size for 121 of the 173 subjects (70%). CONCLUSIONS: This investigation revealed that some information regarding velopharyngeal gap size may be predicted from the speech assessment alone. Confidence in the prediction is strongest if the patient has nasal rustle, suggesting a small gap, or if the patient has moderate to severe hypernasality, which is more commonly associated with a large opening.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Myxedema ascites in the posttransplant setting: case report.

Ascites is a rare but important complication of hypothyroidism. Because of the rarity of the disease and the inconsistency of symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, patients often go undiagnosed for months. Institution of thyroid replacement hormone results in rapid and complete resolution of ascites. Here we present a case of myxedema ascites that presented in a 52-year-old man 4 months after allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT). Diagnoses initially considered in the differential included the common post-BMT complications, namely, hepatic veno-occlusive disease, graft vs. host disease, and infection. However, posttransplant patients are also at risk for illnesses unrelated to their underlying diagnosis or transplant procedure, including hypothyroidism. This case illustrates the importance of considering a broad differential diagnosis in posttransplant patients, especially those in whom the clinical course is atypical.

Ascites↗

PubMed2001

Pathogenesis and treatment of graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplant.

Stem cell transplantation is being used to treat a number of hematologic malignancies as well as hematologic and immune deficiency states. The ages of patients being offered this therapy and the donor marrow sources have been expanded. One persistent problem has been graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). This article reviews the basic biology of GVHD, clinical manifestations of acute and chronic GVHD, prophylaxis and treatment of acute GVHD, and treatment of chronic GVHD.

Acute Disease↗