Subjective voice analysis in patients with muscular tension dysphonia: comparison between clinician and patient evaluation.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the correlation between patient and clinician subjective voice analysis in a group of patients suffering from muscular tension dysphonia. This disease does not usually present with organic lesions, and voice analysis is crucial to evaluate it. METHODS: A retrospective study with 75 patients was performed. Correlation between grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia and strain scale and voice handicap index-10 was analysed. Any possible influence of the type of muscular tension dysphonia on these two scales was studied. RESULTS: There are only a few studies that correlate voice handicap index-10 and the grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia and strain scale; however, none of them are specific for patients suffering from muscular tension dysphonia. A moderate correlation (r = 0.56) was found. No influence of muscular tension dysphonia type on voice handicap index-10 score was found, but muscular tension dysphonia type 4 had worse grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia and strain scale scores than other muscular tension dysphonia types. This could be explained if muscular tension dysphonia type 4 is considered to be the most severe form of this disease. CONCLUSION: The use of assessment scales based on the opinion of both the clinician and patient must be considered as complementary clinical tools in order to perform a complete assessment of dysphonia.

Salvage surgery for locoregional recurrences of advanced pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma after organ preservation failure.

Organ preservation treatment for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is associated with poor outcomes due to locoregional recurrences. Salvage surgery is the main therapeutic option for some of these patients. The aim of this study was to analyse the results of salvage surgery for advanced pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma previously treated with radiochemotherapy. We performed a retrospective study on 38 patients (36 men, 2 women). The median age at diagnosis was 60 years with a mean follow-up period of 49.8 months. Recurrences were diagnosed at a mean of 395 days after finalising organ preservation treatment. Patients went under different salvage surgeries, including 22 total laryngectomies, 6 partial laryngectomies (3 transoral laser surgeries and 3 opened surgeries), 8 functional neck dissections and 2 tongue base surgeries. Nineteen patients had no postoperative complications after a mean hospital stay of 2 weeks. However, 5 patients died of significant recurrent bleedings. There were 4 salivary fistulas that responded to conservative management, while 7 patients had important pharyngostomas that required reconstruction with either regional or free flaps. The mean hospital stay was of 61.60 days for all patients. Five-year overall survival from diagnosis, overall survival after salvage surgery and survival after salvage surgery were 44.20, 37.90 and 45.70%, respectively. In summary, we conclude that salvage surgery is an optimal treatment for pharyngolaryngeal and regional recurrences and provides improvement in locoregional control and survival, despite the severe complications.

Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Sevilla: 4 Años de plan piloto para la adaptación al EEES. Actividades docentes realizadas para una mejora en la calidad de enseñanza y su repercusión en el alumnado / Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Seville: 4 years of pilot plan - EHEA. Teaching activities for a better quality in the education and students repercussion

Debido a la entrada en vigor del nuevo modelo de aprendizaje propio del EEES, la Facultad de Farmaciade la US vio necesaria la adaptación del sistema actual a estos nuevos paradigmas, participando en un PlanPiloto que facilitara tanto a Profesores como a Alumnos y a PAS este proceso de cambio. Después deestudiar los datos estadísticos recopilados por los becarios designados por la Universidad de Sevilla paraapoyo a este proceso, así como del análisis de las distintas actividades recogidas en las guías docentes decada asignatura, se comprobó que la realización de estas actividades beneficiaba positivamente la calidadde la enseñanza. Se hizo patente el aumento del dinamismo en las clases, viéndose mejorada con laparticipación del alumnado. Como resultado se obtuvo un aumento de asistencia a los exámenes y unmayor índice de aprobados. Con ello, se ha comprobado cómo este sistema ayuda a fomentar unaprendizaje de calidad, y lo que es más importante, proporciona al alumno las cualidades necesarias yespecíficas que demanda el mundo laboral, propias de competencias transversales, como son liderazgo,iniciativa, trabajo en grupo, conocimiento de nuevas tecnologías, así como conocimientos generales yespecíficos de nuestra rama. Con los datos procesados, se puede evaluar la mejora en la calidad de laenseñanza, y poner de manifiesto la efectividad de la experiencia(AU)

Before entering into the Degree of Pharmacy (EHEA), the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University ofSeville has worked in a Pilot Plan for the implementation of the EHEA. This has helped teachers andstudents to the process of adaptation. The analysis of (i) statistical data and (ii) innovation teachingactivities developed in the several subjects have pointed out the positive impact of this Pilot Plan over thequality of the teaching procedures. More dynamic classes, more assistance to the exams and moresuccessful results have been produced. The Pilot Plan have helped to achieve a more quality learning.Moreover, this experience have allowed to develop several generic skills of great interest for our students.The processed data obtained during this 4 years has allowed us to evaluate the impact of Pilot Plan for theimplementation of the ECTS system, as well as to highlight the effectiveness of the process. It have beenidentified improvement points before the full incorporation of our Faculty of Pharmacy into the EHEA(AU)

Impacto del Plan Piloto para el EEES en la Facultad de Farmacia de la Universidad de Sevilla / Impact of the Pilot Plan for the EHEA in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville

La Facultad de Farmacia de la US ha comenzado (2009/10) los estudios de “Grado en Farmacia” (1º curso), que irá sustituyendo gradualmente al actual Plan de Estudios de la Licenciatura. Previo a ello, nuestra Facultad ha participado en un Plan Piloto de adaptación al EEES (4 años) que ha supuesto un efectivo entrenamiento para el Profesorado, Alumnado y PAS, en todo lo relativo al EEES. El éxito de esta acción se ha debido a la estrecha colaboración entre la Facultad, considerando tanto todos sus Departamentos como la Dirección del Centro, y el Rectorado de la US. Con objeto de facilitar estas tareas, contamos con la ayuda de Becarios para el Plan Piloto (1/curso). Funciones: colaborar en las iniciativas propuestas por los Profesores Coordinadores de las asignaturas implicadas (1º-4º) relacionadas con el EEES. Entre otras, elaborar y analizar encuestas para recabar información (alumnado y profesorado) sobre el seguimiento del Plan Piloto (visión más completa de la acción). Esta información se traduce en gráficas explicativas que reflejan la evolución del proyecto. Hoy disponemos de material para evaluar la progresión de esta iniciativa. Esto ha facilitado la detección de necesidades previas a la implantación de los nuevos planes de estudio según ECTS.Resultados muy positivos: no sólo ha aumentado el número de actividades destinadas a facilitar el aprendizaje, sino la motivación y mejora en los resultados académicos. El procesamiento de los datos permite hacer una evaluación aproximada de la mejora que ha supuesto la acción, poniendo de manifiesto la efectividad de la experiencia(AU)

The Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Seville has started (2009/10) the studies of the "Degree in Pharmacy” (EHEA) (1st year), which will gradually replace the actual Plan of Studies. Prior to that, our Faculty has participated in a Pilot Plan for adaptation to the EHEA, which has provided an effective training for teachers, students and PAS, in all matters relating to the EHEA. The success of this action was due to close collaboration between the Faculty, considering all their Departments and its Deanship, and the Government Team of the University of Seville. To facilitate these tasks, we have the help of Scholarship for the Pilot Plan (1/course). Duties: to assist in the initiatives proposed by Professors Coordinators of the subjects, related to the EHEA. Among others, to develop and to analyze surveys to gather information (students and teachers) on the Monitoring of the Pilot. This information is translated into explanatory graphs showing the development of the project. Now, we have material to assess the progression of thisinitiative. This has facilitated the detection of needs prior to introducing the new Degree according to ECTS.Results are positive: the number of activities to facilitate learning as well as the motivation has been increased; furthermore, it has been improved academic outcomes. The processing of data allows a rough assessment of the improvement that has brought the action, highlighting the effectiveness of the experience(AU)

[Fibroxanthoma of the external auditory canal]. / Fibroxantoma del conducto auditivo externo.

Atypical fibroxanthoma is an scarce skin tumor which usually develops in exposed areas of elderly persons. It is very uncommon in the external auditory canal, where it might be wrongly diagnosed as a sebaceous cyst or carcinoma. We report a case of atypical fibroxanthoma of the external auditory canal and review the current procedure for the differential diagnosis of these lesions.

Fibroxantoma del conducto auditivo externo / Fibroxanthoma of the external auditory canal

El fibroxantoma atípico es un tumor cutáneo poco frecuente que aparece en áreas expuestas al sol y en personas de edad avanzada. Es poco habitual en el conducto auditivo externo, donde puede confundirse macroscópicamente con otras lesiones mucho más frecuentes como quistes sebáceos y carcinomas. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con un fibroxantoma atípico del conducto auditivo externo, realizando una revisión actualizada del diagnóstico diferencial de estas lesiones

Atypical fibroxanthoma is an scarce skin tumor which usually develops in exposed areas of elderly persons. It is very uncommon in the external auditory canal, where it might be wrongly diagnosed as a sebaceous cyst or carcinoma. We report a case of atypical fibroxanthoma of the external auditory canal and review the current procedure for the differential diagnosis of these lesions

Molecular and phenotypic characterization of nonmotile Gram-negative bacteria associated with spoilage of freshwater fish.

AIMS: Characterization of nonmotile bacteria associated with freshwater fish spoilage and that phenotypically resembled Psychrobacter spp. METHODS AND RESULTS: A population of 44 nonmotile Gram-negative rods could not be assigned to the genus Psychrobacter on the basis of a definitive test (transformation assay). Conventional and commercial phenotypic systems did not help in identification. A second extensive phenotypic analysis using different temperatures and media confirmed these isolates as nonmotile although electron microscopic examination showed that all but two had one to four polar flagella and other appendages. On the basis of numerical taxonomy, this population was divided into six clusters, one of them consisting of five fluorescent strains. Sequencing of fluorescent and non fluorescent representative strains from each cluster demonstrated that strains from five clusters had between 97.8 and 98.8% sequence homology with Pseudomonas fragi IFO 3458. This and an unknown strain from deep sea were the closest organisms (80.9% sequence homology) to one aflagellated representative strain of the remaining cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidase-positive, nonmotile, nonfermenter Gram-negative rods isolated from freshwater fish can be wrongly ascribed to the genus Psychrobacter. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Molecular methods are necessary for the identification of environmental isolates and species with an incomplete phenotypic description. This work emphasizes the need for a sound description of Ps. fragi based on molecular and phenotypic characterization.