Comparative Analysis of Hormonal and Basic Parameters between Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Non-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (Non-PCOS) Individuals

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in comparison to non-PCOS women across different age groups. The data was collected from a sample of women, and their distribution among age groups revealed that the majority of PCOS women (39.6%) were in the 36-45 years age range, followed by 30.6% in the 26-35 years group, and 29.6% in the 15-25 years group. Subsequently, various parameters were compared between PCOS and non-PCOS women. The analysis of Body Mass Index (BMI) indicated that there was a marginal difference, with PCOS women having a mean BMI of 20.93±2.37 kg/m2, and non-PCOS women having a slightly higher mean BMI of 21.51±2.37 kg/m2. Furthermore, hormonal analysis revealed that PCOS women had significantly higher levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) with a mean of 13.32±2.25 compared to non-PCOS women with a mean of 7.23±2.14. Similarly, PCOS women showed elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with a mean of 6.43±4.34, while non-PCOS women had a mean of 4.43±2.53. Moreover, insulin levels were considerably higher in PCOS women with a mean of 19.52±2.06, in contrast to non-PCOS women with a mean of 6.43±3.53. These findings suggest that PCOS is associated with distinct hormonal and metabolic profiles, contributing to the understanding of this complex syndrome and emphasizing the importance of considering age and hormonal factors in its diagnosis and managemen

A new portable sound processor for the University of Melbourne/Nucleus Limited multielectrode cochlear implant

Publisher’s permission requested and denied.Abstract not available due to copyright

An improved speech processor for a 22-electrode cochelar implant [Abstract]

This is a publisher’s version of an abstract from the Annual and General Scientific Meeting of the Australian Society of Otolarngology Head and Neck Surgery, 1992. This version is reproduced with permission from Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.A spectral maxima speech processing strategy ( SMSP) has been developed as a result of research to improve the speech perception performance of a multiple-channel cochlear implant. With this speech processing strategy. the six spectral maxima from the outputs of 16 band pass filters are used to stimulate the cochlea on a place basis at a constant rate. This SMSP strategy has been compared with the MSP-MULTIPEAK strategy, the present speech processor provided by Cochlear Pty. Limited, on four postlinguistically deaf adults. The study showed that the SMSP strategy was significantly better than the MSP-MULTJPEAK for the recognition of closed-set vowels and consonants, and open-set monosyllable words and sentences in background noise

Parameter selection and programming recommendations for the ACE and CIS speech processing strategies [Abstract]

The Nucleus 24 Cochlear Implant system with the SPrint processor provides access to multiple speech processing strategies and a wide range of programming parameters. Strategy comparison studies have suggested that the optimal parameter set and coding strategy varies from individual to individual. It is necessary, however, to establish some default programming parameters and fitting guidelines. Therefore we have investigated the effect of stimulation rate and the number of channels or maxima in the ACE or CIS strategies, as well as the optimal programming strategy for subjects with a limited number of available electrodes. Speech perception was tested using monosyllabic words and sentences in noise, with the evaluation protocol designed to take into account learning effects. Take-home experience was provided with all programs, and subjects were asked to complete a comparative performance questionnaire regarding program preference. Six or eight subjects were enrolled in each study.29 August - 3 Septembe

Speech perception as a function of electrical stimulation rate: using the nucleus 24 cochlear implant system

This is a publisher’s version of an article published in Ear and Hearing 2000. This version is reproduced with permission of Lippincott Wilkins & Williams.Objective: To investigate the effect of varying electrical stimulation rate on speech comprehension by cochlear implant users, while keeping the number of stimulated channels constant. Design: Three average rates of electrical stimulation,250, 807, and 1615 pulses per second per channel (pps/ch), were compared using a speech processing strategy that employed an electrode selection technique similar to that used in the Spectral Maxima Sound Processor strategy (McDermott, McKay,& Vandali, 1992; McDermott & Vandali, Reference Note 1; McKay, McDermott, Vandali, & Clark, 1991)and the Spectral Peak strategy (Skinner et al., 1994;Whitford et al., 1995). Speech perception tests with five users of the Nucleus 24 cochlear implant system were conducted over a 21-wk period. Subjects were given take-home experience with each rate condition. A repeated ABC evaluation protocol with alternating order was employed so as to account for learning effects and to minimize order effects. Perception of open-set monosyllabic words in quiet and open-set sentences at signal to noise ratios ranging from +20 to 0 dB, depending on the subject’s ability, were tested. A comparative performance questionnaire was also administered. Results: No statistical differences in group performance between the 250 and 807 pps/ch rates were observed in any of the speech perception tests. However, significantly poorer group performance was observed for the 1615 pps/ch rate for some tests due predominantly to the results of one subject. Analysis of individual scores showed considerable variation across subjects. For some subjects, one or more of the three rate conditions evaluated provided benefits on some speech perception tasks. The results of the comparative performance questionnaire indicated a preference for the 250 and 807pps/ch rates over the 1615 pps/ch rate for most listening situations. Conclusions: For the speech processing strategy, implant system, and subjects evaluated in this study, the group results indicated that the use of electrical stimulation rates higher than 250 pps/ch (up to 1615 pps/ch) generally provided no significant improvement to speech comprehension. However, individual results indicated that perceptual

Latest results and future directions in speech processing for the Nucleus multichannel cochlear prosthesis [Abstract]

The past two years has seen the introduction of the Speak speech encoding scheme for most patients using the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear prosthesis. This scheme, based on the Spectral Maxima Speech Processor (SMSP) developed at the University of Melbourne, uses a bank of 20 band-pass filters to present detailed spectral information to the intracochlear electrode array. Clinical trials of this speech processor have shown highly significant improvements over the previous Multipeak scheme in English, German, French and Japanese speaking patients. The largest improvements were evident for open-set testing in background noise, which represents a more realistic measure of everyday benefit than testing in quiet. The latest results for adults who have changed from Multipeak to Speak will be presented, along with results over time for newly-implanted patients using the Speak scheme. New research aimed at improving the speech processing in both the spectral and temporal domains will also be discussed

An analysis of high rate speech processing strategies using the Nucleus 24 cochlear implant [Abstract]

The effects of varying the stimulation rate on speech perception was evaluated in five postlinguistically deaf adult users of the Nucleus 24 Cochlear Implant System. Three different rates of electrical stimulation, 250, 807, and 1615 pulses per second per channel were employed. For the high stimulus rate the analysis frequency was the same as for the medium rate condition. The study investigated the effect of varying rate of stimulation when using the electrode selection technique of the SPEAK strategy. The study used a repeated ABC experimental design, in order to account for learning effects and to minimize ordering effects. Speech perception was evaluated using both monosyllabic words (open-sets of CNC words in quiet) and sentence materials (open-sets of CUNY sentences at signal-to-noise ratios from +20 to 0dB). In addition, the subjects' perception of closed-sets of 19 vowels and 24 consonants, presented in the H/VID and A/C/A context, were also investigated. The recognition and perception of distinctive features were assessed across strategies and patients. Preliminary speech perception results have shown no statistically significant difference in performance between the low and medium stimulation rates. However, significantly poorer results were observed for the high rate condition for some tests with some individuals. Individual differences may be explained by the effects of rate of stimulation on speech features.4-7 Jun

Latest results and future directions in speech processing for the Nucleus multichannel cochlear prosthesis [Abstract]

The past two years has seen the introduction of the Speak speech encoding scheme for most patients using the Nucleus 22-channel cochlear prosthesis. This scheme, based on the Spectral Maxima Speech Processor (SMSP) developed at the University of Melbourne, uses a bank of 20 band-pass filters to present detailed spectral information to the intracochlear electrode array. Clinical trials of this speech processor have shown highly significant improvements over the previous Multipeak scheme in English, German, French and Japanese speaking patients. The largest improvements were evident for open-set testing in background noise, which represents a more realistic measure of everyday benefit than testing in quiet. The latest results for adults who have changed from Multipeak to Speak will be presented, along with results over time for newly-implanted patients using the Speak scheme. New research aimed at improving the speech processing in both the spectral and temporal domains will also be discussed

An analysis of high rate speech processing strategies using the Nucleus 24 cochlear implant [Abstract]

Speech comprehension for a group of five users of the Nucleus 24 Cochlear Implant system was explored at three rates of electrical stimulation, 250, 807, and 1615 pulses per second per channel. For the high stimulus rate the analysis frequency was the same as for the medium rate condition. The study investigated the effect of varying rate of stimulation when using the electrode selection technique of the SPEAK strategy. This has been undertaken using a repeated ABC experimental design to account for learning and minimize ordering effects. Speech perception was assessed using open-sets of CNC words in quiet and open-sets of CLTNY sentences at signal-to-noise ratios from +20 to 0dB. Closed-sets of 19 vowels and 24 consonants were also presented, in the H/V/D and A/C/A context. The recognition and perception of distinctive features were assessed across strategies and patients. Preliminary speech perception results have shown no statistically significant difference in performance between the low and medium stimulation rates. However, significantly poorer results were observed for the high rate condition for some tests. Individual differences may be explained by the effects of rate of stimulation on speech features.14-17 Jun