comparison between respiratory factors in patients with vocal nodule and normal controls

Speech is the most important communication tool and is the smooth product of four systems: respiratory, phonatory, resonatory, and articulatory. Currently, a variety of voice disorder occurred because of life style and environmental pollutants. Vocal nodule is one of the most prevalent disorders in this category. Considering the point that the air required for vocal cords vibration is supplied by respiratory system and we repeatedly confront with inappropriate respiratory factors in patients with vocal nodules, this study was carried out to compare respiratory factors in patients with vocal nodule and normal controls. In this study, 14 patients with vocal nodule and 7 healthy subjects referred from a medical specialist were examined. Vital capacity, vital volume and tidal volume of patients and controls were measured by PCLX, LX-strobe and ST 1 dysphonia while making voice with high, normal and low frequencies. The data were analyzed using Fisher and Mann-Withny tests .The results showed that there was significant difference between patients with vocal nodule and healthy controls on all measured factors. However, there was no relationship between family background and vocalnodule. Patients with vocal nodule do not seem to have problem with the volume of their lungs. Probably high tension in their respiratory muscles during speaking causes them not to be able to use the full capacity of their lungs and this creates a short of tidal volume and as a result, a problem in their phonatory system, i.e., vocal nodule. Because of small sample size, we need to be cautious in generalizing the results

Effect of Allium sativum L. aqueous extract on contraction power of isolated atrium from rats following administration of adrenaline

Synthetic drugs, although very effective, have their own side effects. Recently, herbal plants have received more attention to avoid the unpleasant effects of synthetic agents. To investigate the effects of garlic aqueous extract on contraction power of isolated atrium from male rats following administration of adrenalin. Male rats [Spirague Dawley, Albino, 200-250 gr] were divided into 7 groups as follows: Control, adrenalin, garlic extract [10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40mg/kg], Propranolol and Propranolol plus garlic extract at a single concentration of 40 mg/kg. Later the contraction power was recorded using a physiograph set. Garlic extract at all three concentrations used in our study caused a reduction of atrial contraction power in adrenalin group. When the degree of contraction power reduction was compared between garlic extract [40mg/kg] and garlic extract plus Propranolol groups, no statistically significant difference found. Atrial contraction power decreased in presence of garlic aqueous extract and the degree of reduction was significant in both low and high doses, statistically