ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of incentive spirometry training on oromotor and pulmonary functions in children with Down's syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-four children with Down's syndrome were randomly divided into two groups; the children were of both sexes and aged between 6 and 12 years. Group A received only oromotor exercises, while Group B received oromotor exercises and incentive spirometry training. The pulmonary function test was performed using computerized spirometry model master screen that assessed pulmonary functions (peak expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1s), while the orofacial myofunctional evaluation with score (OMES) was used to evaluate oromotor function before and after treatment. RESULTS: The post treatment results showed significant difference in oromotor and pulmonary functions within both groups, but no significant differences were found between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oromotor exercises are more effective than incentive spirometry training in improving both pulmonary and oromotor functions in children with Down's syndrome.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Airway smooth muscle contraction causes bronchial constriction and is the main cause of bronchospasm in response to stimulants in asthma patients. In this pilot study, we tested the possibility of using a commercially available neurotoxin-botulinum toxin A (BTX-A)-to reduce bronchial hyperreactivity in dogs. METHODS: Two bronchoscopic sessions were conducted in 6 healthy mongrel dogs. In the first session, BTX-A (concentration 10 U/mL) was injected in small aliquots submucosally in 1 caudal lobe and its subsegments, leaving the other side as control. During the second bronchoscopy conducted 2 weeks later, the airway calibers of the treated and untreated sides were measured in each animal before and after instillation of methacholine in the airways to induce bronchial hyperreactivity (concentration 25 mg/mL). RESULTS: The mean pretreatment diameter was 3.356 (± 1.294) mm and 2.765 (± 0.603) mm in the treated and untreated airways, respectively. After provocation with methacholine, the diameter of the treated airways was 1.985 (± 0.888) mm versus 0.873 (± 0.833) mm in the untreated airways (P=0.000). Local injection of BTX-A in the airway resulted in reduction of bronchial hyperreactivity by 58.6% (P=0.001). There were no complications resulting from the submucosal injection of BTX-A in the airways. CONCLUSIONS: Endobronchial injection of BTX-A reduces bronchial hyperreactivity in the airways of healthy dogs.
