A note on vowel centralization in stuttering and nonstuttering individuals.

Inferences were made regarding vocal tract vowel space during fluently produced utterances through examination of the first two formant frequencies. Fifteen adult males served as subjects, representing separate groups of untreated and treated individuals who stutter and nonstuttering controls. The steady-state portion of formant one (F1) and formant two (F2) was examined in the production of various CVC tokens containing the vowels /i/, /u/, and /a/. Vocal tract vowel space was estimated three ways. The first analysis scheme involved measurement of formant frequency spacing. The second measure involved calculating the area of the vowel space triangle. The third measure was based on calculating the average Euclidean distance from each subject's midpoint "centroid" vocal tract position to the corresponding /i/, /u/, and /a/ points on the vowel triangle. The formant frequency spacing measures proved to be most revealing of group differences, with the untreated stutterers showing significantly greater vowel centralization than the treated group and control group. Discussion focuses on the vocal tract articulation characterizing fluent speech productions and possible treatment implications for persons who stutter.

Acoustic, aerodynamic, physiologic, and perceptual properties of modal and vocal fry registers.

The purpose of the study was to examine the acoustic, aerodynamic, physiologic, and perceptual characteristics of modal and vocal fry production. Twenty normal speakers (10 males, 10 females) participated in the study. Speech material included four sustained vowels (/i/, /a/, /ae/, /u/), and syllable strings of /pi/ repetitions produced in both modal and vocal fry registers. Acoustic data (fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, and signal-to-noise ratio), aerodynamic data (airflow and air pressure), and electroglottographic (EGG) data were obtained simultaneously. Results demonstrated considerable differences across voice parameters for the modal and vocal fry registers. Fundamental frequency was significantly lower in vocal fry than in modal register for both males and females, however, significant gender differences existed only in modal register. For both males and females, measurements of jitter and shimmer were significantly higher and signal to noise ratio was significantly lower in vocal fry. In addition, airflow rate in modal register was almost three times as high as the airflow rate in vocal fry register during sustained vowel production. During syllable string production, subglottal air pressure values in modal register were approximately 1.5 times higher than that in the vocal fry register. In general, these data emphasize that the aeromechanical mechanisms of vocal fold vibratory behavior are substantially different between modal and vocal fry registers. A model of vocal fry phonation is presented to account for the present results.

[Cat-scratch disease--an overlooked disease in Denmark?]. / Kattekradssygdom--en overset sygdom i Danmark?

Only one patient with cat-scratch disease (CSD) has been reported in Denmark. A case and retrospective investigation among patients admitted to the ward is presented. Over a period of 3.5 years, six patients were found to have suffered from CSD. The yearly incidence was calculated to 2.6/100,000. The patients were tested for antibodies against Bartonella (Rochalimaea) henselae with a new test developed at the Danish Serum Institute. Only two of the patients with CSD had titres of antibodies higher than 400 (positive). Tested again with an improved test five of the six patients were found to have antibodies against B. henselae. It is assumed that CSD is found with the same incidence as the USA and Holland. It is recommended that examination for chronic lymphadenopathy includes questions about cat contact and testing for antibodies against Bartonella henselae.

Gait analysis in hallux valgus.

The solar pressure zones were analyzed in the feet of 66 patients suffering from hallux valgus, together with 60 normal subjects. The EMED Gait Analysis System was used. In the hallux valgus group, the maximum pressure was found to be increased significantly in the small toe region and more proximally situated, close to the metatarsophalangeal joint. In the normal subjects, the maximum pressure was increased significantly in the first, second, third, and fourth metatarsal and heel regions. In general, the hallux valgus group had smaller contact areas compared to the control group. The increased pressure in the small toe region, together with the smaller contact areas manifested by the hallux valgus group, were interpreted in this work as being the possible causes of the metatarsalgia seen in patients with the deformity.