Wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with rehabilitation for dysphagia caused by achalasia of cricopharyngeal muscle after stroke / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with rehabilitation for dysphagia caused by achalasia of the cricopharyngeal muscle after stroke.Methods:Sixty patients with dysphagia caused by achalasia of the cricopharyngeal muscle after stroke who received treatment in Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from June 2019 to March 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group ( n = 30). All patients received routine drug treatment and swallowing rehabilitation training. The control group underwent routine acupuncture treatment. The treatment group received wrist-ankle acupuncture based on routine acupuncture treatment. Both groups were treated for 4 consecutive weeks. The clinical efficacy in the two groups was evaluated using the Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS), Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), and Swallow Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL). Results:Before treatment, there were no significant differences in VFSS, SSA, and SWAL-QOL scores between the two groups. After treatment, VFSS, SSA, and SWAL-QOL scores in the treatment group were (8.21 ± 0.77) points, (21.19 ± 1.42) points, (200.24 ± 11.12) points, and they were (6.01 ± 0.36) points, (23.31 ± 1.45) points, and (182.37 ± 12.06) points in the control group ( t = 3.26, 5.50, 6.31, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with rehabilitation is an effective treatment method for dysphagia caused by achalasia of the cricopharyngeal muscle after stroke. It can alleviate dysphagia and improve quality of life.

Acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus for constipation in patients with stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus in the treatment of constipation in patients with stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy.Methods:Ninety stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy patients with constipation, who received treatment in Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2019 to December 2020, were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to receive either routine treatment (control group, n = 45) or routine treatment plus acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus (study group, n = 45). Serum motilin, gastrin, and somatostatin levels and orocecal transit time pre- and post-treatment were compared between the two groups. The constipation severity was evaluated using the Constipation Severity Scale (CSS). Quality of life was evaluated using the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire. Clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups. Results:The somatostatin level and orocecal transit time post-treatment in the study group were (13.66 ± 4.24) ng/L and (80.58 ± 10.11) minutes, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(19.31 ± 6.13) ng/L, (87.16 ± 12.04) minutes, t = 5.08, 2.80, both P < 0.05]. Serum motilin and gastrin levels post-treatment in the study group were (281.07 ± 41.16) ng/L and (181.07 ± 35.16) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(259.64 ± 39.83) ng/L, (162.65 ± 32.83) ng/L, t = 2.51, 2.56, both P < 0.05]. The scores of the Constipation Severity Scale and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life Questionnaire post-treatment in the study group were (10.66 ± 3.14) points and (60.14 ± 13.64) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [ (15.31 ± 4.13) points, (71.61 ± 14.72) points, t = 6.01, 3.83, both P < 0.05). Total response rate was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (97.78% vs. 80.00%, χ2 = 5.51, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy combined with rhubarb applied to the umbilicus can be used to treat constipation in patients with stage IV-V diabetic nephropathy. The combined therapy can adjust the secretion of gastrointestinal tract-related hormones, shorten orocecal transit time, improve clinical symptoms, and improve clinical efficacy and quality of life.

Fisiología del esfínter velofaríngeo durante la deglución. Revisión sistemática de literatura

Resumen El objetivo de este artículo es describir el funcionamiento del esfínter velofaríngeo (EVF) durante la deglución, mediante una revisión de literatura. En febrero de 2020, las bases de datos electrónicas Medline, LILACS, SciELO e IBECS, fueron consultadas retrospectivamente, usando las palabras claves en inglés: "velopharyngeal sphincter" o "pharyngeal muscles". Fueron seleccionados artículos originales que describen la fisiología del EVF en la deglución de adultos sanos. Para este estudio fue creado un protocolo que contempla lo siguiente: autor, año, país, número y características de los participantes, actividades evaluadas, metodologías e instrumentos utilizados y principales resultados. Fueron encontrados 4.124 artículos. 3.863 fueron excluidos luego de la lectura de los títulos, 239 luego de lectura de los resúmenes y 8 luego de la revisión de los textos completos. Finalmente, 14 artículos fueron analizados en esta revisión. Se discuten eventos espaciales y temporales del EVF, la actividad electromiográfica de la musculatura del EVF y la presión velofaríngea durante la deglución en adultos sanos. Se concluye que el esfínter velofaríngeo cumple un rol importante en la fase faríngea de la deglución, que debe ser profundizado en futuras investigaciones.

Abstract The aim of this article is to describe the functioning of the velopharyngeal sphincter (VPS) during swallowing, through a literature review. In February 2020, the electronic databases Medline, LILACS, SciELO and IBECS were retrospectively consulted, using the key words in English: "velopharyngeal sphincter" or "pharyngeal muscles". Original articles were selected that describe the physiology of VPS in healthy adult swallowing. For this study it was created a protocol that includes the following items: author, year, country, number and characteristics of the participants, evaluated activities, methodologies and instruments used, and main results. 4124 articles were found. 3,863 were excluded after reading the titles, 239 after reading the abstracts and 8 after reviewing the full texts. Finally, 14 articles were analyzed in this review. Spatial and temporal events of the VPS, the electromyographic activity of the VPS musculature, and velopharyngeal pressure during swallowing in healthy adults are discussed. We conclude that the velopharyngeal sphincter plays an important role in the pharyngeal phase of swallowing, which should be studied in depth in future research.

Lateral-Expansion Pharyngoplasty: Combined Technique for the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Abstract Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a multifactorial disease characterized by episodes of partial or complete collapse during sleep of different regions of the upper airway. Surgery for OSAS evolved with the introduction of different techniques, considering new surgical concept of reconstruction of the upper airway. Objective To retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of a new approach aimed at reducing pharyngeal collapse by combining two surgical techniques: lateral and expansion pharyngoplasty. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 38 patients with OSAS undergoing lateral/expansion pharyngoplasty from January 2012 to December 2016. The following data were collected: patient age, gender, and pre- and postoperative body mass index (BMI), Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) scores, snoring visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and polysomnography (PSG) results. Results The PSG results showed a significant reduction in the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) from 22.4 ± 27.3 events/h preoperatively to 13.6 ± 17.9 events/h postoperatively (p = 0.009), with postoperative AHI reduction greater than 50% in 63.2% of the patients. There was also a significant reduction in the microarousal index (19.5 ± 22.6 vs 11.0 ± 13.4 events/h; p = 0.001) and in the minimum oxygen saturation (82.6 ± 10.3 vs 86.9 ± 11.1; p = 0.007). Conclusions Lateral-expansion pharyngoplasty represents a new surgical strategy for the treatment of OSAS in patients with palatal collapse by combining two different techniques: lateral and expansion pharyngoplasty. The two techniques, performed as a one-stage procedure, led to improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, and PSG respiratory parameters by acting on lateral and retropalatal collapse, produc- ing favorable results with good applicability in otolaryngology clinical practice.

Effects of Electrical Stimulation and Pharyngeal Muscles Training on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Patients with Stroke / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To investivate the effects of VocaStim?-Master electrical stimulation and pharyngeal muscles training on sleep breathing parameters, clinical symptoms and cognitive functions in stroke patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods From December 1st, 2014 to November 30th, 2017, 50 stroke patients complicated with OSAS were divided into control group (n = 25) and research group (n = 25). All the patients received routine medicine and rehabilitation, while the research group accepted VocaStim?-Master electrical stimulation and pharyngeal muscles training in addition, for four weeks. Their symptoms were observed, and tested with polysomnography (PSG) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) before and after treatment.Results After treatment, the clinical symptoms improved (P < 0.05), while apnea hypopnea index (AHI) (t > 2.270, P < 0.05)and oxygen desaturation index (t > 3.044, P < 0.01) decreased, and average oxygen saturation (SaO2) and lowest SaO2 increased (t > 3.095, P < 0.01), in the research group, compared with those before treatment and those in the control group (P < 0.05), the scores of MMSE increased (t > 2.859, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference of AHI, averge SaO2, lowest SaO2 and oxygen desaturation index during the period of treatment in the control group (P > 0.05), nor for the score of MMSE.Conclusion VocaStim?-Master electrical stimulation combined with pharyngeal muscles training could effectively ameliorate nocturnal sleep apnea symptom and improve cognitive functions in stroke patients complicated with OSAS.

Pharyngeal transit adaptation to bolus volume and consistency in Chagas' disease / Adaptação do trânsito faríngeo ao volume e consistência do bolo deglutido na doença de Chagas

Background: Esophageal Chagas' disease causes a longer pharyngeal bolus clearance, which may be an adaptation to the impairment of esophageal bolus transit. This adaptation should be present when we change volume or consistency of the swallowed bolus. Methods: By the videofluoroscopic method, the correlation was calculated between bolus volumes of 5 and 10mL, and consistencies liquid and paste on pharyngeal clearance duration and hyoid movement duration using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r). It was evaluated 17 patients with Chagas' disease and 15 normal volunteers. Results: In both groups, there was no correlation between the pharyngeal clearance duration and the hyoid movement duration. In pharyngeal clearance there was a positive correlation between the volumes of 5 and 10mL and between liquid and paste boluses in patients with Chagas' disease, but not in controls. In hyoid movement duration the correlation between the volumes of 5 and 10mL was positive and significant in Chagas' disease patients for liquid and paste bolus, and only for paste in controls. Conclusion: Patients with Chagas' disease have a positive correlation of bolus flow through the pharynx related to change in bolus volume and bolus consistency, which suggested that they have a more important control of pharyngeal flow related to bolus volume and consistency than normal volunteers...

Justificativa: Envolvimento do esôfago pela doença de Chagas provoca aumento na duração da depuração da faringe, o que pode ser uma adaptação consequente ao comprometimento do trânsito do bolo pelo esôfago. Esta adaptação deve estar presente quando variamos o volume e consistência do bolo deglutido. Métodos: Foi realizada, com o método videofluoroscópico, avaliação da duração da depuração faríngea e da duração do movimento do osso hióide com a deglutição de bolos de 5 e 10mL, e consistências líquida e pastosa em 17 pacientes com doença de Chagas e 15 voluntários saudáveis. Foi calculada a correla­ção entre os resultados por meio do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (r). Resultados: Em pacientes com doença de Chagas e voluntários, não houve correlação entre a duração da depuração da faringe e da duração do movimento do hióide. Em pacientes com doença de Chagas, na depuração da faringe, houve correlação positiva entre os volumes de 5 e 10mL e entre bolos líquido e pastoso, o que não foi observado nos voluntários. Na duração do movimento do hióide a correlação entre os volumes de 5 e 10mL foi positiva e significativa em pacientes com doença de Chagas para bolo líquido e pastoso, e apenas para pastoso nos voluntários. Conclusão: Pacientes com doença de Chagas têm correlação positiva do fluxo pela faringe relacionada com a alteração no volume e consistência do bolo, o que sugere um maior controle do fluxo pela faringe do que o observado em voluntários normais...

Histochemical Study of Musculature of the Human Upper Esophageal Sphincter / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pharyngoesophageal musculature plays an important role in swallowing, and prevents aspiration and supraesophageal reflux. These muscles are closed during the resting state and opens with swallowing to allow the passage of food. In this study, the histochemical characteristics of the upper esophageal sphincter muscles in human were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Muscle samples from the inferior pharyngeal constrictor, cricopharyngeus, upper esophageal muscle and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle were obtained from the healthy portion of nine laryngectomized specimen. We used the H&E staining for identifying the gross anatomy of these muscles, and the myofibrillar ATPase staining and the NADH-TR staining for differentiating the muscle fiber type. RESULTS: Analysis of the muscle fiber types of the upper esophageal sphincter muscle revealed a predominance of type I in the cricopharyngeus (78.9%) and the upper esophageal muscle (85.2%), and type II in the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle (80%). In the SCM muscle, the percentage of each fiber type was almost the same. The proportion of oxidative fibers within these muscles correlated well to that of the type I fibers. CONCLUSION: The distribution of the type I fibers tended to be higher in the upper esophageal muscle than in the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. These findings about fiber types represents well the physiological features of each muscle, i.e. the inferior pharyngeal constrictors are capable of short rapid contraction and the upper esophageal muscles are capable of slow rhythmic movement.

Structural and functional changes of pharyngeal muscle in rats with altitude hypoxia-induced obstructive sleep apnea syndrome / 第二军医大学学报

Objective:To observe the changes of structure and function of pharyngeal muscle in SD rats with altitude hypoxia induced obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS),in an attempt to investigate the remodeling of pharyngeal space and the possible biomechanical mechanism of OSAS.Methods:Twenty-four SD rats(12 male and 12 female) were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 6 rats in each group.Rats in group A and B were male and those in group C and D were female.Rats in group A and C were placed in altitude chamber and treated with altitude hypoxia 6 h per day for 22 days.The pressure in the chamber was 53.9 kPa with an oxygen concentration of 10.0%-11.2%.Rats in group B and D,serving as controls,received no treatment.All rats were sacrificed on the 23~(rd)day.The open-angle and the inside diameter of rats′ pharyngeal-ring and the pathology of pharyngeal tissues were examined in all rats.Results: The open-angles of rats′ pharyngeal-ring of group A, B,C and D were(55?24)?,(15?8)?,(38?20)?,and(35?15)?,respectively;and the inside diameters of the pharyngeal-ring(cm) were(0.4?0.2,) 0.2?0.1,0.3?0.1,and 0.3?0.1,respectively.The open-angle and the inside diameter of rats′ pharyngeal-ring in group A were significantly higher(P