Objective To investigate the radiation exposure of patients during videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs) through literature study. Methods The English literature was searched using PUBMED with the search expression:(radiation) AND (swallow) AND (MBS OR VFSS OR barium OR dysphagia).The Chinese lite-rature was searched using CNKI with the search expression:(FT=dysphagia+deglutition disorder+swallowing function disorder) and (FT=radiation exposure+radiation injury+radiation protection+radiation+radiation dose). Results PUBMED returned 11 original articles and one review article focusing on the radiation exposure of patients during a VFSS.In addition,there were two review articles which mentioned this issue.These studies were published from 1990 to 2009.No original or review article was found through CNKI searching.Conclusions Radi-ation exposure of patients during a VFSS is an issue that has been neglected in China.

Diet modification is a common and important approach for dysphagia rehabilitation. Categories of foods/liquids, suitable volumes per swallow, and effective methods of posture adjustment can be selected through Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS)/Modified Barium Swallow (MBS), to determine a safe and valid strategy of diet modification. Diet modification based on VFSS/MBS will ensure eating ability and promote swallowing function in dysphagia patients to the greatest extent.

Objective To explore fMRI data with independent component analysis (ICA) in order to investigate effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on brain function. Methods The experiment was performed on a whole-body 1.5 T GE Signa Excite MRI scanner with which the brain oxygenation level dependent (BOLD)/EPI images were acquired from a female traumatic brain injury patient. A block designed protocol was used. Both durations of rest and TEAS were 30 seconds. The data processing was performed with GIFT, Statistical Parametric Mapping 5 (SPM5) and MRIcro. Results from ICA and SPM were compared. Results Extended Infomax algorithm provided by GIFT found thirteen independent components (ICs), each of which contained a spatial map and a corresponding time course. The spatial maps associated with task-related ICs resembled the activation maps from SPM5 but were not totally identical. In addition, the time courses of these ICs differed from the shape of canonical HRF model used by SPM. Conclusion ICA is a good choice to investigate data and obtain prior knowledge before using model-based methods such as SPM.

Objective To establish a new approach based on mathematical morphology that can effectively reduce the drifts in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signals. Methods Based on investigation of the characteristic of drifted fMRI signals, a mathematical morphology method for baseline drift correction was presented. Results With both simulated data and real fMRI data, the results of the experiment showed that the mathematical morphology method can effectively correct the baseline drifts. Conclusion Both linear and nonlinear drifts can be removed with the proposed method without any statistical model assumption.

Objective To observe the changes of functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) when performing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS) in Du Channel of the patient with brain trauma.Methods TENS was applied to the acupoints of Mingmen and Yaoyangguan in a patient with brain trauma.The changes of brain function when TENS performed were observed with fMRI.Results Compared with rest status,multiple brain areas were activated during stimulation.Conclusion TENS in Du Channel may influence neural plasticity course after brain injury.

This paper would discuss the concepts about motor imagery and differences to motor execution. The application of motor imagination in rehabilitation was described. The problem of the way to observe the motor imagery and executing task of motor imagery effectively are emphasized. Finally we provide an addressing on motor imagery questionnaires.