Prevalence and Risk Factors for Voice Problems Among Soccer Coaches.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of voice problems has been investigated in various occupations, but research investigating sports coaches' voice problems seems to be limited even if coaches are an occupational group whose work requires heavy voice use. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of voice problems among soccer coaches and identify risk factors that can contribute to the problems. METHODS/DESIGN: The data were collected with a web questionnaire that was sent to 500 soccer coaches. Overall, 109 male coaches, who practiced soccer coaching to various extents, responded to the questionnaire. The presence of six vocal symptoms was investigated, as well as environmental factors and health-related factors that may have an influence on the voice. RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of voice problems among soccer coaches was high. In total, 28.4% of the participants reported two or more frequently occurring vocal symptoms. The most common symptom was throat clearing or coughing followed by voice becomes low or hoarse. The coaches who had vocally demanding main occupations alongside their coaching tasks had an increased risk for voice problems. Moreover, a significant association was found between chronic rhinitis and frequently occurring vocal symptoms, as well as between stress and frequently occurring vocal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Given the extent of voice problems and the fact that soccer coaches have a vocally demanding occupation, it would be important to increase the awareness of voice use among this group. Soccer coaches are in immense need of more information about voice ergonomics during their coaching education.

Successive legionellosis in the course of lymphomatoid granulomatosis.

A 75-year-old male presented with typical cutaneous lesions and pulmonary involvement due to lymphomatoid granulomatosis. A legionellosis was associated with this condition. Though the radiological findings in lymphomatoid granulomatosis are suggestive, they are not specific, and set a difficult problem in distinguishing the two conditions. Monoclonal antibody studies indicated the predominance of CD8 T lymphocytes in the infiltrate of the skin, as well as in the bronchoalveolar fluid.

Dermatitis herpetiformis associated with relapsing polychondritis.

A 35-year-old woman developed typical relapsing polychondritis within a year following the onset of dermatitis herpetiformis. This occurred during a reduction in the dapsone dose regimen. To our knowledge, the coexistence of these two conditions in a single patient has not yet been reported in the literature. Both the parallel course and the good response to dapsone suggest a pathogenic link between these two diseases.

Immunofluorescent evidence of an FMRFamide-like peptide in the peripheral nervous system of the gastropod mollusc Helix aspersa.

An antiserum raised against the FMRFamide peptide revealed a highly developed peripheral nervous system in the mollusc Helix aspersa. Immunoreactive fibres associated with muscular fibres are observed in all organs. Cell bodies are frequently seen, for example in the digestive and genital tracts. The antiserum also revealed associations between immunoreactive fibres and non-reactive perikarya. In Helix aspersa an FMRFamide-like peptide is most likely a neurotransmitter/neuromodulator for muscular and peripheral nervous activity.

Immunocytochemical evidence that the same neurons in the human infundibular nucleus are stained with anti-endorphins and antisera of other related peptides.

Neurons immunoreactive with anti-beta-endorphin can be detected in the infundibular region of human fetal hypothalami from the 11th week of development. In the human adult, neurons stained with anti-beta-endorphin are located in the infundibular nucleus and are also stained with anti(17-39) ACTH. Their fibers terminate in contact with non/immunoreactive perikarya or close to vessels of the pituitary stalk. The neurons most reactive with anti(17-39)ACTH or anti-beta-endorphin are also immunoreactive with anti-alpha-MSH, anti-beta-MSH, anti-alpha-endorphin, anti(1-24)ACTH or anti-beta-LPH. These results suggest that a molecule similar to pro-opiocortin of fragment(s) of it is secreted by these neurons.