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The Saudi Dental Journal Apr 2024The association between the visceral swallowing pattern (VSP) and dentofacial abnormalities remains controversial. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the...
INTRODUCTION
The association between the visceral swallowing pattern (VSP) and dentofacial abnormalities remains controversial. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between the VSP and various factors including type of birth, gender, tongue posture, lip incompetence, eruption of primary molars, habits and the presence of malocclusions in children with primary and early mixed dentition.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
A total of 219 children (102 boys and 117 girls) were evaluated using a combination of a questionnaire and a structured clinical examination by one pediatric specialist dentist. Kittel's method of tongue posture evaluation and the Payne technique for assessment of swallowing pattern were included in the clinical examination of myofunctional status. After checking for normality, normal and non-normal distributed data were analyzed using two-sample -test and Mann-Whitney test, respectively. Analysis of categorical variables was done using a chi-square test, and Bonferroni correction was used as correction for multiple comparisons.
RESULTS
A total of 56.2 % of the study population had a VSP. The chi-square test indicated a statistically significant higher presence of VSP in male gender. Statistically significant associations were seen between the VSP and lip incompetency, pathologic resting tongue position, habits, anterior open bite and increased overjet. On the other hand, no statistically significant associations were found between VSP and children's age within the sample population, type of birth, uni- or bilateral crossbites, increased overbite, edge-to-edge anterior bite or completion of eruption of primary molars and/or permanent incisors.
CONCLUSIONS
The association between VSP and male gender, pathologic tongue posture, lip incompetency and habits and occlusal traits such as anterior open bite and increased anterior overjet is supported by the results of the present study.
PubMed: 38690392
DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2024.01.001 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2024The mechanism by which high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) improves swallowing function by regulating intestinal flora remains...
BACKGROUND
The mechanism by which high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) improves swallowing function by regulating intestinal flora remains unexplored. We aimed to evaluate this using fecal metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing.
METHODS
A Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) rat model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion. The magnetic stimulation group received HF-rTMS from the 7th day post-operation up to 14th day post-surgery. Swallowing function was assessed using a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was used to assess histopathological changes in the intestinal tissue. Intestinal flora levels were evaluated by sequencing the 16S rRNA V3-V4 region. Metabolite changes within the intestinal flora were evaluated by fecal metabolomics using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
RESULTS
VFSS showed that the bolus area and pharyngeal bolus speed were significantly decreased in PSD rats, while the bolus area increased and pharyngeal transit time decreased after HF-rTMS administration (p < 0.05). In the PSD groups, H&E staining revealed damaged surface epithelial cells and disrupted cryptal glands, whereas HF-rTMS reinforced the integrity of the intestinal epithelial cells. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that PSD can disturb the intestinal flora and its associated metabolites, whereas HF-rTMS can significantly regulate the composition of the intestinal microflora. Firmicutes and Lactobacillus abundances were lower in the PSD group than in the baseline group at the phylum and genus levels, respectively; however, both increased after HF-rTMS administration. Levels of ceramides (Cer), free fatty acids (FA), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), triacylglycerol (TAG), and sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol were increased in the PSD group. The Cer, FA, and DG levels decreased after HF-rTMS treatment, whereas the TAG levels increased. Peptococcaceae was negatively correlated with Cer, Streptococcus was negatively correlated with DG, and Acutalibacter was positively correlated with FA and Cer. However, these changes were effectively restored by HF-rTMS, resulting in recovery from dysphagia.
CONCLUSION
These findings suggest a synergistic role for the gut microbiota and fecal metabolites in the development of PSD and the therapeutic mechanisms underlying HF-rTMS.
Topics: Animals; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Feces; Rats; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Metabolomics; Stroke; Deglutition Disorders; Male; Disease Models, Animal; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Bacteria
PubMed: 38686094
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1373737 -
BMJ Open Apr 2024To describe the severity and impact of gastrointestinal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and identify associated factors.
OBJECTIVES
To describe the severity and impact of gastrointestinal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and identify associated factors.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Non-controlled cross-sectional study of patients with SSc (2013 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria). The main variables were severity of gastrointestinal involvement according to the University of California, Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 instrument (UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0) and dysphagia according to the Eating Assessment Tool-10 (EAT-10). We evaluated reflux, distension, diarrhoea, faecal soilage, constipation, emotional well-being and social functioning, as well as dysphagia. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF) and the EuroQol-5D-3L. The degree of skin fibrosis was assessed using the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Multivariate models were constructed to analyse factors associated with gastrointestinal involvement and dysphagia.
RESULTS
Of the 75 patients with SSc included, 58.7% had moderate, severe or very severe reflux, 57.4% had constipation according to UCLA SCTC GIT 2.0 and 49.7% had abdominal distension. Gastrointestinal symptoms interfered significantly with social functioning (42.7%) and emotional well-being (40.0%). Dysphagia (EAT-10≥3) was recorded in 52% of patients, and according to MNA-SF poor nutrition in 30.7%, and clear malnutrition requiring a nutritional intervention in 5.3%. Multivariate adjustment revealed an association between severity of gastrointestinal symptoms according to the mRSS (β=0.249; p=0.002) and Visual Analogue Scale 3-Level EuroQol-5D (VAS-EQ-5D-3L) (β=-0.302; p=0.001), whereas presence of dysphagia was associated with the mRSS (OR=2.794; p=0.015), VAS-EQ-5D-3L (OR=0.950; p=0.005) and malnutrition (MNA-SF≤7; OR=3.920; p=0.041).
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with SSc frequently present severe gastrointestinal symptoms. These are associated with poor quality of life, more severe skin involvement and malnutrition.
Topics: Humans; Scleroderma, Systemic; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Severity of Illness Index; Aged; Deglutition Disorders; Quality of Life; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Constipation; Adult
PubMed: 38684244
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083419 -
Endoscopy Dec 2024
Topics: Humans; Male; Deglutition Disorders; Endoscopic Mucosal Resection; Esophageal Neoplasms; Esophagoscopy; Adult
PubMed: 38684196
DOI: 10.1055/a-2302-7690 -
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer... Apr 2024To identify swallowing-related structures (SRSs) predicting post-radiotherapy dysphagia in oropharyngeal carcinoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
To identify swallowing-related structures (SRSs) predicting post-radiotherapy dysphagia in oropharyngeal carcinoma patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Between September 2020 and October 2022, oropharyngeal cancer patients who had completed radiotherapy at least one year before without recurrence or residuals were selected. They underwent flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) assessments and dysphagia grading. The mean radiation doses delivered to their SRSs were recalculated. The correlation between radiation doses to each SRS and FEES scores was analysed.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine participants, aged 51-73 years, were enrolled. Six patients had received two-dimensional radiotherapy, eight had undergone three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, and fifteen had received intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Radiation doses to the inferior pharyngeal constrictor, cricopharyngeus and glottic larynx significantly predicted dysphagia for both semisolids (p = 0.023, 0.030 and 0.001) and liquid diets (p = 0.021, 0.013 and 0.002). The esophageal inlet significantly predicted swallowing outcomes for only the liquid diet (p = 0.007).
CONCLUSIONS
This study supports that SRS-sparing during radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancers improves swallowing outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Middle Aged; Male; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Female; Aged; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; Follow-Up Studies; Prognosis; Deglutition; Radiation Injuries; Radiotherapy, Conformal; Radiotherapy Dosage; Organ Sparing Treatments
PubMed: 38680007
DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2024.25.4.1451 -
Brain Research Aug 2024Swallowing is induced by a central pattern generator in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). We aimed to create a medullary slice preparation to elucidate the neural...
Swallowing is induced by a central pattern generator in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS). We aimed to create a medullary slice preparation to elucidate the neural architecture of the central pattern generator of swallowing (Sw-CPG) and record its neural activities. Experiments were conducted on 2-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 46). The brainstem-spinal cord was transected at the pontomedullary and cervicothoracic junctions; the medulla was sliced transversely at thicknesses of 600, 700, or 800 μm. The rostral end of the slice was 100 μm rostral to the vagus nerve. We recorded hypoglossal nerve activity and electrically stimulated the vagus nerve or microinjected bicuculline methiodide (BIC) into the NTS. The 800-μm slices generated both rhythmic respiratory activity and electrically elicited neural activity. The 700-μm slices generated only respiratory activity, while the 600-μm slices did not generate any neural activity. BIC microinjection into the NTS in 800-μm slices resulted in the typical activity that closely resembled the swallowing activity reported in other experiments. This swallowing-like activity consistently lengthened the respiratory interval. Despite complete inhibition of respiratory activity, weak swallowing-like activity was observed under bath application of a non-NMDA receptor antagonist. Contrastingly, bath application of NMDA receptor antagonists resulted in a complete loss of swallowing-like activity and no change in respiratory activity. These results suggest that the 800-μm medullary slice preparation contains both afferent and efferent neural circuits and pattern generators of swallowing activity. Additionally, NMDA receptors may be necessary for generating swallowing activity. This medullary slice preparation can therefore elucidate Sw-CPG neural networks.
Topics: Animals; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Deglutition; Medulla Oblongata; Animals, Newborn; Bicuculline; Rats; Vagus Nerve; Central Pattern Generators; Hypoglossal Nerve; Electric Stimulation; Solitary Nucleus
PubMed: 38679314
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148955 -
Jornal de Pediatria Apr 2024To assess FEES findings in defining oral feeding safety in children with suspected dysphagia, comparing them with clinical feeding evaluation results.
OBJECTIVE
To assess FEES findings in defining oral feeding safety in children with suspected dysphagia, comparing them with clinical feeding evaluation results.
METHODS
This study comprised a case series involving children with suspected dysphagia, referred for evaluation by otolaryngologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) at a Brazilian quaternary public university hospital. These children underwent both clinical evaluations and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), with a comprehensive collection of demographic and clinical data. Subsequently, the authors performed a comparative analysis of findings from both assessments.
RESULTS
Most patients successfully completed the FEES procedure (93.7%), resulting in a final number of 60 cases included in the study. The prevalence of dysphagia was confirmed in a significant 88% of these cases. Suspected aspiration on clinical SLP evaluation was present in 34 patients. Of these, FEES confirmed aspiration or penetration in 28 patients. Among the 35 patients with aspiration or penetration on FEES, 7 (20%) had no suspicion on SLP clinical assessment. All seven patients in whom clinical SLP evaluation failed to predict penetration/aspiration had neurological disorders. The median age of the children was 2.8 years, and 49 (81.6%) had neurological disorders, while 35 (58.3%) had chronic pulmonary disease. The most prevalent complaints were choking (41.6%) and sialorrhea (23.3%).
CONCLUSION
FEES can diagnose structural anomalies of the upper aerodigestive tract and significantly contribute to the detection of aspiration and penetration in this group of patients with suspected dysphagia, identifying moderate and severe dysphagia even in cases where clinical assessment had no suspicion.
PubMed: 38679061
DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2024.03.008 -
BMC Pediatrics Apr 2024Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by a triad of symptoms consisting of microcytic hypochromic anaemia, oesophageal webs, and dysphagia. PVS is commonly...
BACKGROUND
Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by a triad of symptoms consisting of microcytic hypochromic anaemia, oesophageal webs, and dysphagia. PVS is commonly found in women in the fourth and fifth decades of life and is rarely reported in the paediatric population.
CASE PRESENTATION
We report the case of a 1-year-old male South Asian child who presented with dysphagia and anaemia for 4 months and frequent episodes of vomiting after ingesting semisolid and solid food. A complete blood analysis revealed microcytic hypochromic anaemia. An oesophagogram revealed circumferential narrowing of the upper thoracic oesophagus. Based on these findings, our suspicion was that the patient had an oesophageal web and vascular ring. Oesophageal dilation was performed with a Savary-Gilliard dilator; initially, 5 mm and 7 mm probes were used, and final dilation with a 9 mm probe was performed.
CONCLUSION
Although rare in paediatric patients, a high suspicion of this syndrome is necessary in these patients to provide relief to the patient for better growth and development. Iron supplements increase the haemoglobin level but do not subside dysphagia, and oesophageal dilation is needed to open the blocked enteral pathway.
Topics: Humans; Plummer-Vinson Syndrome; Male; Infant; Deglutition Disorders; Dilatation
PubMed: 38678196
DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04750-x -
Nutrients Apr 2024The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of dysphagia in patients with ischaemic stroke. It was crucial to evaluate the relationship between swallowing...
The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of dysphagia in patients with ischaemic stroke. It was crucial to evaluate the relationship between swallowing disorders and selected demographic and clinical indicators. Additionally, the association between various patient feeding methods and selected demographic and clinical factors was assessed. Based on the analysis of medical documentation, we identified the most important clinical parameters, including demographic data, the frequency of stroke risk factors, the location of the ischaemic lesion, cortical involvement, stroke severity as measured by the NIHSS (Nationale Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), and the methods of feeding post-stroke patients. Dysphagia was observed in 65.9% of the patients in the study group. Hypertension was the most common chronic illness in the studied population of ischemic stroke patients (91.8% of patients). Diet modification (35.7%) and PEG (25%) were the frequent methods of feeding in patients with confirmed dysphagia. Age played a significant role in determining the feeding methods in patients with dysphagia. Patients with a PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) tube were the oldest (79.37 ± 10.80) and 75% of them had pneumonia. Early identification of swallowing difficulties in stroke patients is critical in determining an appropriate and safe feeding plan, as well as initiating logopedics therapy to improve swallowing efficacy and minimize pulmonary complications.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition Disorders; Male; Aged; Female; Retrospective Studies; Ischemic Stroke; Aged, 80 and over; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Gastrostomy; Enteral Nutrition; Stroke; Age Factors
PubMed: 38674886
DOI: 10.3390/nu16081196 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Apr 2024: The Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is commonly used in oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) research as a self-report measure of functional health status and health-related...
: The Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is commonly used in oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) research as a self-report measure of functional health status and health-related quality of life. The DHI was developed and validated using classic test theory. The aim of this study was to use item response theory (Rasch analysis) to evaluate the psychometric properties of the DHI. : Prospective, consecutive patient data were collected at dysphagia or otorhinolaryngology clinics. The sample included 256 adults (53.1% male; mean age 65.2) at risk of OD. The measure's response scale, person and item fit characteristics, differential item functioning, and dimensionality were evaluated. : The rating scale was ordered but showed a potential gap in the rating category labels for the overall measure. The overall person (0.91) and item (0.97) reliability was excellent. The overall measure reliably separated persons into at least three distinct groups (person separation index = 3.23) based on swallowing abilities, but the subscales showed inadequate separation. All infit mean squares were in the acceptable range except for the underfitting for item 22 (F). More misfitting was evident in the Z-Standard statistics. Differential item functioning results indicated good performance at an item level for the overall measure; however, contrary to expectation, an OD diagnosis presented only with marginal DIF. The dimensionality of the DHI showed two dimensions in contrast to the three dimensions suggested by the original authors. : The DHI failed to reproduce the original three subscales. Caution is needed using the DHI subscales; only the DHI total score should be used. A redevelopment of the DHI is needed; however, given the complexities involved in addressing these issues, the development of a new measure that ensures good content validity may be preferred.
PubMed: 38673604
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13082331