The voice represents a basic working tool for carrying out certain occupations. Hoarseness, as a consequence of vocal fold lesions, presents an important cause of work-related absences for voice ...professionals.
Our study was designed as a retrospective cohort one. Data on gender, workplace, vocal load and exposure to risk factors for voice disorders of the patients who had surgery in the 2014-2015 period at the tertiary centre due to benign vocal fold lesions were collected from their clinical records. We compared professional voice users (PVU) to subjects with no vocal load at work (NPVU). The SPSS programme, version 22.0, was used for statistical analysis.
From 2014 to 2015, 103 PVU and 132 NPVU were surgically treated for benign vocal fold lesions. In comparison to the second group, loud speech use was reported significantly more often by PVU (40.8% vs. 14.4%), as was a fast speaking rate (22.3% vs. 9.8%) and additional vocal load outside of the workplace (23.3% vs. 12.9%). The time that had passed between the occurrence of the hoarseness and the surgical treatment did not differ between the groups. The majority of patients were satisfied with the outcome of the operation.
Nearly a half of the operated patients had a considerable vocal load at work. An ENT assessment prior to starting a job as well as priority phoniatric treatment of voice disorders for PVU would significantly reduce the costs of work absences and contribute to a speedier recovery and return to the workplace.
Abstract
Introduction
The voice represents a basic working tool for carrying out certain occupations. Hoarseness, as a consequence of vocal fold lesions, presents an important cause of work-related ...absences for voice professionals.
Methods
Our study was designed as a retrospective cohort one. Data on gender, workplace, vocal load and exposure to risk factors for voice disorders of the patients who had surgery in the 2014-2015 period at the tertiary centre due to benign vocal fold lesions were collected from their clinical records. We compared professional voice users (PVU) to subjects with no vocal load at work (NPVU). The SPSS programme, version 22.0, was used for statistical analysis.
Results
From 2014 to 2015, 103 PVU and 132 NPVU were surgically treated for benign vocal fold lesions. In comparison to the second group, loud speech use was reported significantly more often by PVU (40.8% vs. 14.4%), as was a fast speaking rate (22.3% vs. 9.8%) and additional vocal load outside of the workplace (23.3% vs. 12.9%). The time that had passed between the occurrence of the hoarseness and the surgical treatment did not differ between the groups. The majority of patients were satisfied with the outcome of the operation.
Conclusions
Nearly a half of the operated patients had a considerable vocal load at work. An ENT assessment prior to starting a job as well as priority phoniatric treatment of voice disorders for PVU would significantly reduce the costs of work absences and contribute to a speedier recovery and return to the workplace.
The production of biobased copolymers such as poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate-co-methacrylic acid) for paints and coating applications is indispensable for the establishment of sustainable ...biorefineries, but it is challenging because of the utilization of fossil-based sources for the syntheses of methacrylic acid (MAA) from biomass. We have studied the catalytic decarboxylation of biobased itaconic acid, citric acid, and aconitic acid to MAA. Among different tested catalysts, the spinel BaAl12O19 chemical substance was found to grant an additional active catalysis, it optimized selectivity, and a 50% synthesis yield of MAA was achieved. The as-synthesized MAA vinyl monomer has been consequently utilized for the production of a chain-growth poly(St-co-BA-co-MAA) copolymer, industrially manufactured for coating, adhesive, and paint end-user applications. The latexes’ physical properties of bio-MAA-incorporated structured polymers have also been compared with a copolymerized commercial poly(St-co-BA-co-MAA) terpolymer, fabricated from petroleumbased MAA. The functional group distribution, measured molecular weight (M w), determined polydispersity index (Đ M), glass transition temperature (T g), and integrated solid content (w S) of copolymerization poly(St-co-BA-co-MAA) constituent units were comparable with benchmarks.
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