The development of trauma-induced lesions of the vocal folds (VFs) has been linked to a high collision pressure on the VF surface. However, there are no direct methods for the clinical assessment of VF collision, thus limiting the objective assessment of these disorders. In this study, we develop a video processing technique to directly quantify the mechanical impact of the VFs using solely laryngeal kinematic data. The technique is based on an edge tracking framework that estimates the kinematic sequence of each VF edge with a Kalman filter approach and a Hertzian impact model to predict the contact force during the collision. The proposed formulation overcomes several limitations of prior efforts since it uses a more relevant VF contact geometry, it does not require calibrated physical dimensions, it is normalized by the tissue properties, and it applies a correction factor for using a superior view only. The proposed approach is validated against numerical models, silicone vocal fold models, and prior studies. A case study with high-speed videoendoscopy recordings provides initial insights between the sound pressure level and contact pressure. Thus, the proposed method has a high potential in clinical practice and could also be adapted to operate with laryngeal stroboscopic systems.

Obesity and depression are public health issues of increasing concern worldwide. This study aims to evaluate programs that address obesity and their impact on depressive symptoms in children and adolescents. Obesity and depression share a bidirectional relationship, where each can serve as both a cause and a consequence of the other. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA criteria, with the registration recorded under PROSPERO code (CRD42024550644). The selected publications report on intervention programs for obesity and depression in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years. The selection was from databases including PUBMED, SCOPUS, LILACS, COCHRANE, WOS, SciELO, and ScienceDirect, using PICOS criteria to define inclusion. ROB-2 and ROBINS-1 were applied to assess bias. Results: Out of 3376 articles reviewed, eight met the inclusion criteria, some including several programs. These programs varied in duration and type, demonstrating changes in reducing Body Mass Index (BMI) and depressive symptoms. However, evidence supporting the effectiveness of programs that address both conditions is limited, particularly in developing countries. Additionally, the results exhibit high heterogeneity due to the diversity of evaluation criteria and methodological approaches, highlighting considerable risks of bias. Conclusions: Intervention programs for obesity management show statistically significant effects on depressive symptoms, although there is heterogeneity in the designs for their standardization and long-term follow-up strategies; however, the evaluations consider DSM-5 and ICD-11 criteria, which contributes to homogeneity. It is vital to address these closely related issues from a multidimensional perspective, considering socio-emotional and psychological factors, and to promote early intervention to maximize effectiveness and enhance quality of life at various stages of development.

Although laryngeal high-speed videoendoscopy (HSV) is crucial for studying vocal fold vibrations, its translation to clinical practice has been hindered by the large volume of data it produces and the difficulty in interpreting current analysis methods. Although image processing techniques have been developed to map spatial-temporal data into two-dimensional representations, they alter the geometrical construction of the glottis and do not provide standard quantitative features, thus challenging clinical interpretation. In response, we propose a new visualization and analysis framework for assessing the dynamics of vocal folds based on the empirical distribution of the glottal edge using HSV. This procedure analyzes vocal fold oscillations by preserving the shape of the glottis and quantifying the asymmetry between right and left vocal fold displacements along the anterior-posterior axis. This method was evaluated on four groups of participants: ten with normal voices, ten with vocal fold nodules, ten with muscle tension dysphonia, and two with unilateral vocal fold paralysis. The proposed method produces distinct representations for normal and pathological vocal fold vibratory behaviors and derived features based on amplitude and phase asymmetry metrics that show statistically significant differences between normal and pathological groups. Comparative analysis with state-of-the-art techniques indicates that our proposed method can complement the assessment of vocal fold vibration and enhance the clinical translation of HSV.

Introducción: el envejecimiento poblacional en Latinoamérica ha incrementado la demanda de cuidados informales. Aunque la sobrecarga del cuidador se asocia con ansiedad, depresión y deterioro de la calidad de vida, sus correlatos cognitivos específicos continúan siendo heterogéneos. Objetivo: examinar asociaciones entre sobrecarga del cuidador, salud mental, calidad de vida y funcionamiento cognitivo en cuidadores informales de personas mayores dependientes en Chile. Método: estudio observacional analítico de corte transversal en 59 cuidadores informales. Se aplicaron la ZBI, HADS, WHOQOL-BREF, MCS, M-ACE III, LASSI-L y ZMT. Se realizaron comparación de grupos, análisis correlacionales y modelos de regresión lineal jerárquica ajustados por edad, escolaridad, ansiedad y depresión. Resultados: los cuidadores con sobrecarga presentaron mayores niveles de ansiedad y depresión, junto con menor calidad de vida en los dominios físico, psicológico, social y ambiental. No se encontraron diferencias significativas en cognición global ni en la mayoría de las medidas ejecutivas evaluadas. La interferencia proactiva en recuerdo libre mantuvo una asociación negativa significativa con sobrecarga tras controlar variables sociodemográficas y emocionales. Asimismo, los cuidadores con sobrecarga mostraron mayores tiempos de trazado en el ZMT, sin diferencias significativas en planificación ni en número de errores. Conclusiones: la sobrecarga del cuidador se asoció principalmente con una mayor vulnerabilidad emocional y detrimento de la calidad de vida. En el ámbito cognitivo, la interferencia proactiva en recuerdo libre y el tiempo de ejecución en una tarea ecológica de planificación fueron los indicadores más sensibles a la sobrecarga. Estos hallazgos deben interpretarse como evidencia preliminar y requieren confirmación mediante investigaciones longitudinales.