Robert L. Ringel

Extracellular matrix as a scaffold for laryngeal reconstruction.

Porcine-derived xenogeneic extracellular matrix (ECM) has been successfully used as a scaffold for tissue repair and reconstruction in numerous preclinical animal studies and human applications. These scaffolds are completely and rapidly degraded and replaced by host-derived tissues that frequently mimic the original tissue composition and architecture. The purpose of the present study was to examine the morphology of ECM scaffolds after their use for laryngeal reconstruction. Thirty adult female dogs were subjected to a partial hemilaryngectomy. The right thyroid cartilage and vocal fold were replaced with ECM scaffold, and the dogs were painlessly sacrificed from 1 week to 12 months after surgery. Histologic examination of the reconstructed tissue showed the presence of a simple squamous epithelial lining, organized glandular structures within the submucosa, reconstructed thyroid cartilage, and bundles of skeletal muscle by 3 months after surgery. We conclude that ECM scaffolds are promising templates for constructive remodeling of laryngeal tissue.

Physiological fitness measures and sensory and motor performance in aging

This study investigated relationships between a multivariate index of physiological fitness and the degree of age-related sensory and motor performance deterioration observed in a group of 70 male subjects (age 63 +/- 12 years). Physiological fitness was determined by reducing a battery of resting pulmonary, hemodynamic and biochemical variables to a single score, the Index of Physiological Status (IPS). In addition, where possible, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was predicted from submaximal values using a standard treadmill procedure. Both IPS and VO2 scores were significantly correlated with age (p less than .01). High scores on the IPS were associated with faster reaction times, improved hearing at high frequencies, greater phonatory control and improved lens accommodation. In contrast, VO2 measures were found to be insensitive to changes in sensory and motor performance. While all subjects were able to complete the tests required for the generation of the IPS, 33% of the participants were unable to complete the treadmill protocol required for estimation of VO2max. These data suggest that a simple noninvasive instrument for the evaluation of physiological fitness, which is applicable to almost all elderly subjects, may be more sensitive to age-related sensory and performance changes than more traditional exercise based measures which require the exclusion of less healthy subjects.

Relationship between physiological status, cognition, and age in adult men

In this study, we examined whether the slowing of responses that has been observed with increasing age is associated with physiological status. Adults differing on physiological status were administered a choice reaction time task with difficult and easy trials. The results indicated that choice reaction time was related to physiological status in the following manner: on difficult choice reaction time trials, high-fit adults responded faster than did low-fit adults. The present results suggested that low levels of physiological fitness may be associated with behavioral slowing on tasks requiring speeded responses and that the contribution of physiological factors to overall cognitive functioning might be more limited than has previously been thought.

Perceptual and Acoustical Effects of Oral Anesthetization on the Speech of Young Children

Speech samples of four normal‐hearing and ‐speaking children aged 2.6, 3.7, 5.0, and 9.3 were recorded prior to and during oral anesthetization. Phonetic and acoustical analysis of the speech samples were made. The speech of all the children remained intelligible; however, anesthetization produced slightly more perceptual disruption of the younger childrens speech than the older. The nature of disruptions were for the most part consistent with those reported for adults by Scott and Ringel [J. Speech Hearing Res. 14 (1971)]. Acoustical analysis revealed temporal as well as spectral changes in the speech signals of all children during anesthetization. The acoustical changes which occured, however, were more variable for the younger children than for the older children. These results are discussed in terms of open‐ and closed‐loop models for the acquisition and subsequent control of the articulatory gestures of speech.

Oral Sensory Perception in the Deaf

In recent years significant advances in the study of the relationships between oral sensory acuity and form discrimination in the mouth have been made through the use of a testing procedure that successfully discriminates between persons with normal speech patterns and persons with deficient articulatory patterns [R. L. Ringel et al., J. Speech and Hearing Disorders 35, 3–11 (1970)]. Little is known, however, about the oral sensory acuity and perception of the deaf, in spite of the fact that oral sensory feedback may be the only means of mediating speech commands and motor patterns in the absence of auditory function. Experiments were conducted that tested the oral sensory acuity and oral form discrimination of congenitally deaf high‐school students. When compared with a similar hearing group, the deaf subjects demonstrated essentially normal sensory acuity—that is, normal two‐point discrimination and difference limens for object size—but performed poorly on tasks calling for discrimination of shape diffe...