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Biomedical subjects

W Singh

Publications and source records attributed to W Singh.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Computerised measurement of fundamental frequency in Scottish neoglottal patients.

An electrolaryngograph has been used to investigate the fundamental frequency of neoglottal speech produced by patients who have undergone near-total (parsimonious) laryngectomy. The resulting estimates of fundamental frequency were compared with the fundamental frequency of normal and oesophageal speakers of a similar age and Scottish dialect. It was found that the average fundamental frequencies of neoglottal and oesophageal male speakers were higher than those in the normal group, though many fall into the normal range. The fundamental frequency of the single neoglottal female speaker was higher than the normal average, but the fundamental frequencies of all of the oesophageal female speakers were lower than those of the normal female speakers. The 80 and 90% ranges of the alaryngeal speakers were wider than those of the normal speakers, but the average range of neoglottals was narrower than that of the oesophageals for the male speakers.

Female

Perceptual comparison of neoglottal, oesophageal and normal speech.

The sex, normality, intelligibility, rate, rhythm and intonation of 44 neoglottal, oesophageal and normal speakers have been judged by a panel of 10 trained listeners. It was found that the sex of the alaryngeal speakers was perceived correctly much less reliably than that of the normal speakers. Neoglottal speakers were rated more normal and intelligible than oesophageal speakers. The speaking rate of neoglottal speakers was judged not to be significantly different from that of normal speakers. Neoglottal speakers were considered more fluent and to have better intonation than the other alaryngeal speakers. Thus neoglottal speakers were found, on average, to be as good as or better than good oesophageal speakers in each of the respects of which judgements were made.

Adult

Acute filarial myositis.

An uncommon case of filariasis presenting as acute myositis is described. The patient was treated initially with steroids and antihistamines with no response. Later on with the confirmation of filariasis he was treated with diethyl carbamazine with complete recovery.

Acute Disease

Idiopathic oedema--a missed entity.

Twenty nine patients were diagnosed to have idiopathic oedema; 27 (93.1%) of these were females. Associated psychological symptoms were observed in 86.2% of patients. The most common associated symptoms were related to autonomic dysfunction. Obesity and diuretic abuse were found in 48.3% and 41.4% of patients respectively. The association of bizarre symptoms with idiopathic oedema is a common feature.

Adult

Malarial hepatitis: a heterogeneous syndrome?

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malarial hepatitis in patients with Plasmodium falciparum infection and jaundice is not known and it is not clear whether the condition is a single entity or a heterogeneous syndrome. METHODS: We prospectively studied the natural history of all patients with falciparum malaria and jaundice admitted to military hospitals in Northeast India from 1988 to 1991. A possible drug or viral cause for the hepatitis was excluded by the history, serological tests and liver histology. RESULTS: Of the 732 patients admitted with falciparum malaria, 39 had jaundice but only 18 had malarial hepatitis indicated by a rise in their serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels to more than three times the upper limit of normal and an absence of clinical or serological evidence to suggest drug or viral hepatitis. The liver in these patients was always enlarged. Their mean age was 27.6 years and 85% were males. The mean serum bilirubin was 12.7 +/- 10.3 mg/dl, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase was 212.8 +/- 144.9 IU, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase was 287.1 +/- 206.2 IU and the serum alkaline phosphatase was 20.4 +/- 10.1 KA. Clinically, 2 groups of patients were seen. Thirteen patients who presented with a severe form of disease had coma, deep jaundice and renal failure. The other 5 patients had a relatively mild illness with only fever, headache and vomiting for 2 days. Four patients with severe disease died. Liver histology (studied in 5 patients) showed Kupffer cell hyperplasia and deposition of malarial pigment. Plasmodium falciparum was demonstrated in sinusoidal red blood cells in only 2 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Malarial hepatitis occurred in 18 out of 39 patients with jaundice and falciparum malaria. It is a heterogeneous syndrome with at least two clinical subsets and the severe disease should not be mistaken for fulminant hepatic failure as there is a better response to therapy.

Adult