Phrenic Nerve Conduction Abnormalities Correlate with Diaphragmatic Descent in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

UNLABELLED: Diaphragmatic weakness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is ascribed to hyperinflation-induced diaphragm shortening as well as impairment in cellular and subcellular structures. Although phrenic neuropathy is known to cause diaphragmatic weakness, phrenic neuropathy is rarely considered in COPD. This work aimed at assessing phrenic nerve conduction in COPD and its relation to radiographic hyperinflation and pulmonary function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty COPD patients were evaluated. Radiographic parameters of lung hyperinflation were measured on postero-anterior and lateral chest x-ray films. Flow volume loop parameters were obtained from all patients. Motor conduction study of the phrenic nerves was performed and potentials were recorded over the xiphoid process and the ipsilateral 7th intercostal space. Twenty-seven healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. RESULTS: Parameters of phrenic nerve conduction differed significantly in patients compared to controls. Phrenic nerve abnormalities were detected in 17 patients (42.5%). Electrophysiological measures correlated with diaphragmatic angle of depression on lateral view films and with lung height on postero-anterior films. They did not correlate with the flow volume loop data or disease severity score. CONCLUSION: Phrenic nerve conduction abnormality is an appreciated finding in COPD. Nerve stretching associated with diaphragmatic descent can be a suggested mechanism for nerve lesion. The presence of phrenic neuropathy may be an additional contributing factor to diaphragmatic dysfunction in COPD patients.

A prospective cross-over study to evaluate the effect of two different occlusal concepts on the masseter muscle activity in implant-retained mandibular overdentures.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this prospective cross-over study is to evaluate the effect of bilateral balanced occlusion and canine guidance occlusion on the masseter muscle activity using implant-retained mandibular overdentures. METHODS: After evaluation of 12 completely edentulous patients using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), mucoperiosteal flaps were reflected exposing the mandibular interforaminal region. Two implants were placed in the interforaminal region for each of the 12 patients. After a healing period of 3 months, acrylic maxillary complete dentures and mandibular overdentures were fabricated with bilateral balanced occlusion for 6 patients and canine guidance occlusion for the other 6 patients. Electromyographic evaluation of the masseter muscles, during clenching on a silicon index and chewing peanuts and cake, was conducted on the patients after using their dentures for 4 weeks. Each occlusion concept was then converted into the other concept using the same dentures, and the procedure of evaluation was repeated after 4 weeks. The recordings were analyzed statistically using Wilcoxon signed ranks test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The highest electromyographic activity of the masseter muscles was recorded during clenching on a preformed silicon index followed by chewing peanut then cake for both occlusal concepts. The recordings of the masseter muscle associated with canine guidance occlusion were higher than bilateral balanced occlusion but with no statistically significant difference except between the right masseter muscles during clenching (p = 0.042*). CONCLUSIONS: Both bilateral balanced occlusion and canine guidance occlusion can be used successfully in implant-retained mandibular overdentures without affecting masseter muscle activity.