[Quality of life in dysphonia]

Associations of Personality, Physical and Mental Health with Voice Range Profiles

OBJECTIVES

There is evidence in the literature that voice characteristics are linked to mental and physical health. The aim of this explorative study was to determine associations between voice parameters measured by a voice range profile (VRP) and personality, mental and physical health.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional population-based study.

METHODS

As part of the LIFE-Adult-Study, 2639 individuals aged 18-80 years, randomly sampled from the general population, completed both speaking and singing voice tasks and answered questionnaires on depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, personality and quality of life. The voice parameters used were fundamental frequency, sound pressure level, their ranges and maximum phonation time. The associations were examined with the help of correlation and regression analyses.

RESULTS

Wider ranges between the lowest and highest frequency, between the lowest and highest sound pressure level and longer maximum phonation time were significantly correlated with extraversion and quality of life in both sexes, as well as openness and agreeableness in women. Smaller ranges and shorter maximum phonation time were significantly correlated with depression. Neuroticism in men was inversely correlated with the maximum phonation time. In the speaking VRP, the associations for sound pressure level were more pronounced than for the fundamental frequency. The same was true in reverse for the singing VRP. Few associations were found for anxiety, life satisfaction and conscientiousness.

CONCLUSIONS

Weak associations between voice parameters derived from the VRP and mental and physical health, as well as personality were seen in this exploratory study. The results indicate that the VRP measurements in a clinical context are not significantly affected by these parameters and thus are a robust measurement method for voice parameters.

Impact of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Vocal Fold Fibroblasts: Cell Behavior and Cellular Iron Kinetics

PURPOSE

The voice is the most important instrument of communication. Tissue defects in the vocal fold (VF) area lead to serious reduction in quality of life, but thus far, no satisfactory VF implant exists. Therefore, we aim to establish a functional VF implant in a rabbit model by magnetic tissue engineering (MTE) using superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). Hence, iron quantification over time as well as cell behavior studies upon SPION treatment are of great importance.

METHODS

Rabbit VF fibroblasts (VFF) were treated with different concentrations of SPIONs (20, 40, and 80 μg/cm²), and iron content was examined for up to 40 days using microwave plasma-atom emission spectroscopy. The effects of SPION treatment on VFF (adhesion, spreading, and migration), which are important for the formation of 3D structures, were tested.

RESULTS

Cellular SPION quantification revealed that there was no residual iron remaining in VFFs after 40 days. SPIONs had a dose-dependent effect on cell adhesion, with good tolerability observed up to 20 μg/cm². Migration and spreading were not significantly influenced by SPION treatment up to 80 μg/cm².

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

To develop 3D structures, cell behavior should not be affected by SPION uptake. After 40 days, cells were free of iron as a result of metabolism or rarefication during cell division. Cell functions including adhesion, spreading, and migration were proven to be intact in a dose-dependent manner after SPION treatment, suggesting a safe usage of MTE for voice rehabilitation. Our results thus constitute a solid basis for a successful transfer of this technique into 3D constructs, in order to provide an individual and personalized human VF implant in the future.