OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of the application of tongue pressure sensor sheet on the signal waveform of laryngeal movement produced by the bend sensor during deglutition.

METHODSTwelve adult male subjects were recruited to perform a single swallow of 5 ml water when sitting on the dental chair with upright position. The data recorded by bend sensor was obtained with attaching tongue pressure sensor sheet simultaneously or not. Then the measured parameters by bend sensor with or without concurrent application of tongue pressure sensor sheet were compared.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between the same time point on the signal waveform produced by bend sensor whether concurrently attaching tongue pressure sensor sheet or not (P > 0.05). Additionally, we found no statistical significances between matched phases on the signal waveform recorded by bend sensor with or without application of tongue pressure sensor sheet (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe findings in this study suggest us that the usage of tongue pressure sensor sheet exerted no influences on the waveform of the laryngeal movement produced by bend sensor during deglutition, facilitating us to further apply tongue pressure sensor sheet and bend sensor simultaneously to record tongue pressure production and hyoid activity during deglutition.

Adult ; Biosensing Techniques ; instrumentation ; Deglutition ; physiology ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; physiology ; Larynx ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pressure ; Tongue ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of age on hyoid movement and the openness of UES in swallowing process, and to investigate the correlation between hyoid movement and openness of UES. METHOD: The X-ray dynamic swallowing videofluoroscopy was performed on 100 healthy adult volunteers(20-74 years). They were divided into three groups: young (ages 20 to 45), middle-aged (45 to 65) and older (65 and up). Then the software Avidemux 2. 5 and Image J were used to measure the time and distance of hyoid movement, and the maximal opening of the UES in swallowing process. RESULT: The time of hyoid moving to the maximal displacement was delayed along with the ages, and there were significant differences among the three groups (P<. 05). The staying time of hyoid in the maximal displacement gradually shortened along with the ages, and there was significant difference between young and older group, so was the middle-aged and older group(P<0. 05). The maximum antedisplacement of hyoid decreased with age, and significant differences were found between young and the middle-aged group and between oung and older group (P<0. 05). The maximal degree of UES opening decreased with the increase of age, and significant difference was found between young and older group (P<0. 05). The upper displacement of hyoid was not related to UES opening(P>0. 05), however, the antedisplacement of hyoid had significant relation to UES opening in the three groups (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION In swallowing process, the time and space parameters of hyoid movement and the maximal degree of UES opening were related to age. There was significant difference between the antedisplacement of hyoid and the openness of UES (P<0. 05).
Adult ; Aged ; Deglutition ; Esophageal Sphincter, Upper ; physiology ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; Software ; Young Adult

The main purpose of this paper was to review the role of the hyoid movement in the swallowing process and the effect of swallowing posture, age, gender, bolus properties on the hyoid movement. The displacement of the hyoid bone was divided into vertical and forward displacement. The vertical displacement of the hyoid bone contributes primarily to epiglottic and laryngeal closure, while the anterior displacement contributes primarily to opening of the UES. The dysphagia patients often experienced a reduction in hyoid bone displacement. Therefore, further research on the movement of the hyoid bone in the deglutition, especially the relationship between anterior displacement and UES opening is necessary.
Age Factors ; Deglutition ; physiology ; Deglutition Disorders ; physiopathology ; Epiglottis ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; physiology ; Larynx ; physiology ; Male ; Movement ; physiology ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The observation about the movements of laryngopharyngeal or surrounding structures is very important to understand the physiology of phonation or swallowing and to diagnose the disease. Many investigating methods were used but most of them were ineffective because those were invasive or indirect methods. Ultrasonographical examination of larynx can be applied, but the shortcomings of mechanics limits the usage of ultrasonographical study of larynx. Recently, the revolution of computer and videosystem made ultrasonographical study to be applied to the larynx. In this study, authors wanted to find out the availability of the ultrasonographical study of larynx. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3.5 and 7.5 MHz probes were applied to anterior neck and the ultrasonographical findings were observed according to the various phonation types. RESULTS: In the axial plane, the movements of bilateral vocal folds were observed. Unilateral movement of vocal cord alone was seen in the case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis. In the parasagittal plane, the movements of whole laryngopharyngeal structures were observed simultaneously. A specific tongue shape was seen on each vowel phonation. On phonation with high pitch, hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage were elevated. And thyroid cartilage was elevated and laid upon the hyoid bone moving medially. On phonation with high pitch extremely, the hyoid bone went down. On phonation loudly, echogenicity of surrounding muscles was increased. CONCLUSION: Authors think that the ultrasonographical study can be applied to the physiologic study of phonation as well as diagnostic tools or therapeutic tools.
Deglutition ; Hyoid Bone ; Larynx* ; Mechanics ; Muscles ; Neck ; Phonation ; Physiology ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Tongue ; Ultrasonography ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; Vocal Cords

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repetitive episode of upper airway collapse during sleep. Recent studies showed that not only the anatomic factors but the physiologic factors of the upper airway also have effects on the occurrence of apnea and that the genioglossus muscle also plays an important role in the maintenance of the upper airway. A variety of therapies were performed to treat OSA, and among them the use of mandibular repositioning appliances showed reasonable results. But there is still a lack of research on the structural and physiological mechanism upon the use of mandibular repositioning appliances. The author selected 26(male 17, female 9) OSA patients that came to the Yonsei University Dental Hospital; Department of Orthodontics, and 20 normal adults (male 10, female 10) and took cephalometric radiographs of them in a supine position before and after the placement of the mandibular repositioning appliance to see the structural changes of the upper airway and compare the therapeutic effects between the two groups. W ~ also studied the waking genioglossus muscle activity in OSA patients and investigated the difference in the electromyo ram of the genioglosssus muscle upon the change in body posture and the use of mandibular repositioning appliance. Following results were obtained. 1. Among the cephalometric measurements of the upper airway structure, the length of the soft palate, maximum thickness of the soft palate and SPAS, MAS, VAL, H-H1, MP-H showed statistically significant differences between the normal and OSA groups, but the lAS and EAS showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. 2. In both the normal and OSA groups, as the epiglottis moved forward on wearing the mandibular repositioning appliance, the epiglottis level of the upper airway increased and the maximum thickness of the soft palate changed and the hyoid bone also moved forward, but the lAS in both groups showed various results and the effect of the mandibular repositioning appliance on the structure of the upper airway was different in the two groups. 3. Upon changing the position, the electromyogram of the genioglossus muscle showed a increasing tendency but there was no statistically significant differences, and when the mandibular repositioning appliance were worn there was a statistically significant increase in the electromyogram of the genioglossus muscle in both the upright and supine positions. The mandibular repositioning appliances not only have an effect on the anatomical structure of the upper airway but also on the physiology of the upper airway. There are different responses to the use of mandibular repositioning appliance between the normal and OSA groups therefore it could be considered to have the different physiology of the upper airway between the two groups.
Adult ; Apnea ; Epiglottis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; Orthodontics ; Palate, Soft ; Physiology ; Posture* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Supine Position

OBJECTIVE: To understand and analyze the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and its gender difference in order to find out its forensic significance. METHODS: The hyoid bones of 68 adult corpses were dissected from redundant soft tissues after heating. The connection status of body of hyoid, greater cornu and lesser cornu, the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and the degree of ossification were observed by visual inspection. The height of hyoid bone and the arched height of hyoid bone were measured and compared the differences between male and female in order to deduce the analytic equation for gender estimation by hyoid bone. RESULTS: Five connection conditions of hyoid bone were identified by the morphological characteristics, including complete ossification in both sides, no ossification in both sides, partial ossification in both sides, complete ossification in one side (partial ossification in the other side), and complete ossification in one side (no ossification in the other side). The values of the arched height of hyoid bone (x1) and the height of hyoid bone (x2) in male were both higher than that in female (P < 0.01). The analytic equation for gender estimation (y) was y = 0.438 x1 + 1.042x2-12.979. The discriminant value was -0.272 5 and the resolution was 88.2%. CONCLUSION According to the gender characteristics of hyoid bone, the data of hyoid bone can provide helps for forensic practices.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging/physiology* ; Body Size ; Cadaver ; Female ; Forensic Anthropology ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone/physiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteogenesis ; Sex Characteristics ; Young Adult

This study sought to assess the effect of CPAP on the structure and function of upper airway of mini pig with OSAS induced by altitude hypoxia. 12 adult male mini pigs were randomly assigned to 2 groups, named A and B. The mini pigs in group A were treated with altitude hypoxia 6 h per day for 22 days, and then with CPAP 6 h per day for 30 days. The mini pigs in group B were treated with altitude hypoxia only. Pharyngeal CT scanning and respiratory pressure testing were performed after the treatments . At last all mini pigs were sacrificed and their pharyngeal tissue was acquired for pathological examination. Result of pharyngeal CT scanning showed that, in group A, both of transverse diameters of pharyngeal cave in anterior and posterior areas of hyoid bone increased significantly after CPAP treatment (P < 0.05), while the pharyngeal longitudinal diameters exhibited no significant change (P > 0.05). The thickness of pharyngeal posterior wall of the anterior areas of hyoid bone increased significantly (P < 0.05) after CPAP, while the thickness of the lateral wall displayed no significant change. The pharyngeal longitudinal diameters of group A after CPAP were shorter than those of group B, and the transverse diameters were longer than those of group B, but these differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The pharyngeal posterior walls in soft palate area and anterior area of hyoid bone after CPAP were significantly thicker than those of group B (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the two groups as far as lateral wall thickness was concerned (P > 0.05). After CPAP treatment, the pharyngeal inspiration pressure in group A decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and the pressure was significantly lower than that of group B. Microscopic findings showed that the epithelium was proliferated partly after CPAP treatment. The muscle fibers of group A became fatter and were arranged disorderly with unclear transverse striation. The dropsied and congestive subcutaneous tissues were also infiltrated with inflammatory cells. These pathological changes were more obvious in group B. The results suggested that CPAP treatment could normalize the structure and function of pharyngeal tissue in OSAS mini pigs.
Animals ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; adverse effects ; Epithelium ; pathology ; Hyoid Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiology ; Male ; Pharynx ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; therapy ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed