Working space establishment with Miccoli's approach: spatial characteristics of the cavity created by a working space marker / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective To comprehend spatial characteristics of the cavity created by a working space market.Methods 40 patients were successively operated according to the surgJical mode of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy from Jan.2010 to Aug.2010.Instead of hand-retraction.a mechanical arm-working space marker type I(WSM-I(R)，MIEO Medinstr Co.Ltd，China)，was applied to establish a working space.After the pathway making，a cavity above the gland was created and adjusted properly by the space maker，and then，endoscopic view was built and manipulation in the cavity was progressed throughout the later process.Geometric measurement of the cavity were performed at abasic space positionjust after the initial cavitation，and parameters such as length，width and height of the cavity were measured with a specifically scale-marked puncture needle(MC1820，Bard4(R)Max·Cor(R)Instrument)through mini-holes lay in the lifting hook(φ4mm，middle point and distant point).Results13 cases received a lobectomy and isthmectomy.The other 27 cases received a partial thyroidectomy.Dimensional parameters were calculated as below.①The basic length of cavity button was(4.35±0.39)cm.The basic width of cavity button(distance at central point)was(4.66±0.53)cm.The basic central height of cavity was( 1.36±0.34)cm.The maximal central height archived by readjusting was(1.66±0.32)cm and a height increase of0.3 cm can be achieved(22.1％).②The basic peripheral height was(0.98±0.29)cm.The maximal peripheral height archived by readjusting directionally was(1.33±0.14)cm and a height increase of 0.35 cm can be achieved(35.7％).③Statistic analysis yielded a negative correlation between the cavity volume and the size of the nodule.Conclusions The working space created by WSM-I appears to be an laigh and irregular trapezoid stock with oblique roof formed by lifting hook.Although vertical height，especially the peripheral height，is a major restrictive dimension，the cavity can still be usable and enough for factual observation and manipulation，due tocompensating effectof endoscope，finite space requirement of harmonica anddirectional volume shiftingof WSM.

Working space establishment with Miccoli's approach: characteristics of the lifting force produced by a working space marker ln the proesss of its cavity-forming / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ObjectiveTo comprehend the change of the characteristics of lifting force produced by a working space marker in process of its cavity-forming. Methods37 patients were successively operated with the surgical mode of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (22/37 cases received a lobotomy and others un derwent a partial thyroidectomy) from January to August, 2010. Instead of hand-retraction, a mechanical armworking space marker type I ( WSM-I, MIEO Medinstr Co. Ltd, China) was applied to establish a working space. After pathway making, an interlayer-cavity above the lobe was created by the space maker and endoscopic view was properly built. Following all these steps, a simulated space making procedure was performed in a way of stepwise hook-lifting (5 mm rising per time). The lifting force ( LF)was measured during the process with a modflied force-measure device (FB-50, DESIK company, Germen). Then recorded data were assessed and analyzed statistically. Results①Ascending scope of LF in the process of entire space-forming was 0-27.5 Newton (N).②Along with hook rising, LF ascended correspondingly and 2 specific values emerged: One was 11. 2 ±3.5 N,as the lifting height approached 1.5 cm ( also a approximate position of essential space-forming ( Pe), at which themusculo-cutaneoustissuejustbecame tight) ; the other was 17.5 ± 4.3 N , as the lifting height approached 1.75 cm ( also a approximate position of maximal space-forming (Pmax), at which the musculo-cutaneous tissue appeared real tight, but not in a status of extreme tightness). ③Two types of LF ascending were found when the values transferred to a curve diagram : a palliative linearity increasing while lifting height varied from 0 to 1.5 cm (PO to Pe) and a rapid exponent-like increasing while lifting height varied from 1.5 to 1.75cm ( Pe to Pmax). ④ Dependability analyses yielded a diverse statistical outcome: negative significance of the comparison between incision length and LF value ( P ＞ 0. 05 ), and positive significance of the comparison between skin thickness and LF value ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusions①LF produced by WSM-I while establishing a working space is proper and relatively small, since the maximal value is merely 27.5N, far less than the stress produced by ordinary cosmetic skin expansion. ②The whole space-forming process can be divided into 2 stages according to the characteristic of LF ascending which correspond also separately to the “essential cavity-forming” and “the maximum cavity-forming” in the real establishing of a working space. ③Attention should be paid to the later stage since in which a rapid LF increasing occurs while the appearance of musculo-cutaneous tissue changes from “just become tight” to “real appear tight”. ④LF control, especially the fine readjustment at or about Pmax should be of necessity in individual space-forming, and then, ideal working space establishment can be archived at a pre cisely balanced LF point: maximum cavity volume acquired and minimal tissue expansion stress produced.

Gender difference in speech intelligibility using speech intelligibility tests and acoustic analyses

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare men with women in terms of speech intelligibility, to investigate the validity of objective acoustic parameters related with speech intelligibility, and to try to set up the standard data for the future study in various field in prosthodontics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty men and women were served as subjects in the present study. After recording of sample sounds, speech intelligibility tests by three speech pathologists and acoustic analyses were performed. Comparison of the speech intelligibility test scores and acoustic parameters such as fundamental frequency, fundamental frequency range, formant frequency, formant ranges, vowel working space area, and vowel dispersion were done between men and women. In addition, the correlations between the speech intelligibility values and acoustic variables were analyzed. RESULTS: Women showed significantly higher speech intelligibility scores than men and there were significant difference between men and women in most of acoustic parameters used in the present study. However, the correlations between the speech intelligibility scores and acoustic parameters were low. CONCLUSION: Speech intelligibility test and acoustic parameters used in the present study were effective in differentiating male voice from female voice and their values might be used in the future studies related patients involved with maxillofacial prosthodontics. However, further studies are needed on the correlation between speech intelligibility tests and objective acoustic parameters.

The effect of palatal height on the Korean vowels / 대한치과보철학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of palatal height on Korean vowels and speech intelligibility in Korean adults and to produce baseline data for future prosthodontic treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty one healthy Korean men and women who had no problem in pronunciation, hearing, and communication and had no history of airway disease participated in this study. Subjects were classified into H, M, and L groups after clinical determination of palatal height with study casts. Seven Korean vowels were used as sample vowels and subjects' clear speech sounds were recorded using Multispeech software program on computer. The F1 and the F2 of 3 groupswere produced and they were compared. In addition, the vowel working spaces of 3 groups by /a/, /i/, and /u/ corner vowels were obtained and their areas were compared. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whiteny U test were used as statistical methods and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in formant frequencies among 3 groups except for the F2 formant frequency between H and L group (P = .003). In the analysis of vowel working space areas of 3 groups, the vowel working spaces of 3 groups were similar in shape and no significant differences of their areas were found. CONCLUSION: The palatal height did not affect vowel frequencies in most of the vowels and speech intelligibility. The dynamics of tongue activity seems to compensate the morphological difference.