• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.147-154
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• 2018

Wet voice quality (WVQ) is a characteristic that appears after swallowing. Although the concept is accepted by many clinicians worldwide, it is nevertheless ambiguous. In this study, we investigated WVQ in patients with swallowing disorders using acoustic analysis. A total of 106 patients diagnosed with penetration-aspiration by the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were recruited. A voice recording of vowel /a/ was conducted before and after the VFSS, and an acoustic analysis was then performed using PRAAT. Voice after VFSS was used for a perceptual judgment and divided into two groups: the Wet group (48 patients) and the Non-wet group (58 patients). At the post-VFSS stage, the two groups displayed significant differences in many acoustic parameters including F0_SD, Jitter, RAP, Shimmer, APQ, HNR, NHR, FUF, DVB, and CPP. The parameter affecting judging wetness resulted into Jitter and NHR by the logistic regression test. At the pre-VFSS stage, the two groups differed significantly in many acoustic parameters including Intensity, Jitter, RAP, Shimmer, NHR, FUF, DVB, and CPP. Both pre-and post-VFSS, the mean values of all significant parameters, except Intensity, HNR, and CPP, were higher in the Wet group. According to pre-and post-VFSS, the two groups displayed interactions in many parameters (Intensity, F0_SD, Jitter, RAP, Shimmer, APQ, HNR, NHR, FUF, DVB, and CPP). In particular, Intensity increased in both groups after the VFSS, although the increase in the Non-wet group was greater. Based on these results, it was conjectured that the WVQ after swallowing resulted from the secretion effect of the mucous membrane due to the dry laryngeal characteristic of elderly patients, rather than aspiration resulting in food on the vocal cords.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.19-25
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• 2018

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the activity of suprahyoid muscles, infrahyoid muscles and swallowing ability in stroke patients with dysphagia. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 120 patients who were diagnosed with CT or MRI stroke and had swallowing disorder at Daegu Metropolitan General Hospital from August 2014 to February 2017. The suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscle activity was measured in patients with dysphagia and the new videofluoroscopy swallowing studies scale (new VFSS scale) was used for evaluation of swallowing function. Correlation analysis was conducted using the measured data. RESULTS: The activities of suprahyoid muscles were 325.8 (%RVC) on average, while the average infrahyoid muscle activity was 302.65 (%RVC) and the average value of the new VFSS scale was 31.52. The total for oral organs was 3.62 on average and that for pharynx organs was 28.30 on average. The activity of the suprahyoid muscles showed a significant positive correlation with the activity of the infrahyoid muscles, but a significant negative correlation with the total oral phase, total pharyngeal phase and total new VFSS scale (p<.01). The activity of the infrahyoid muscles showed a significant negative correlation with the total oral phase, total pharyngeal phase, and total new VFSS (p<.01). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary for researchers to consider the infrahyoid and suprahyoid muscles when conducting swallowing rehabilitation.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.41
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• pp.30.1-30.8
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• 2019

Background: Advancements in the field of microvascular surgery and the widespread adoption of microvascular surgical techniques have made the use of osteocutaneous fibula free flaps the standard of care in the surgical management of segmental mandibular defects. Although the literature possesses abundant evidence to support the effectiveness of fibula free flaps as a reconstructive method, there are relatively few studies reporting on outcomes as objectively measured by videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). The purpose of this study is to explore the potential correlation between early postoperative VFSS and the long-term swallowing outcomes in patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with fibula free flaps. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 36 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with osteocutaneous fibular free flaps between 2009 and 2012. Demographics, clinical variables, VFSS data, and diet information were retrieved. Penetration and aspiration findings on VFSS, long-term oral feeding ability, and the need for gastrostomy tube were statistical endpoints correlated with postoperative clinical outcomes. Results: Thirty-six patients were reviewed (15 females and 21 males) with a mean age of 54 years (7-81). Seventeen cases were treated for malignancy. The size of the bony defect ranged from 3 to 15 cm (mean = 9 cm). The cutaneous paddle, a surrogate for soft tissue defect, ranged from 10 to 125 ㎠ (mean = 52 ㎠). A gastrostomy tube was present in patients preoperatively (n = 8), and postoperatively (n = 14). Seventeen patients had neoadjuvant exposure to radiation. Postoperative VFSS showed penetration in 13 cases (36%) and aspiration in seven (19%). Overall, 29 patients (80.6%) achieved unrestricted diet, and this was statistically correlated with age (p = 0.037), radiation therapy (p = 0.002), and preoperative gastrostomy tube (p = 0.03). The presence of penetration or aspiration on VFSS was a strong predictor for long-term unrestricted oral diet (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Early postoperative VFSS is an excellent predictor for long-term swallowing outcomes in patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction with osteocutaneous fibula free flaps.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.678-685
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• 2016

Deglutition inspection has been the gold standard for inspection of dysphagia using a penetration device of the division of radiology to date. However, inspection using an endoscope has facilitated diagnosis of dysphagia in recent days. In this study, we compared the results of VFSS alone with those of VFSS combined with FEES to determine if the detection rate of penetration, aspiration, and pharyngeal residue increased. This study evaluated at 130 persons who underwent both VFSS and FEES from December 2013 through March 2014, and used VFSS (FELAVISION, SHIMADZU) and FESS (EVIU LUCERA CV-260SL, OLYMPUS) as devices. After preparing barium diluted solution, yogurt that diluted barium and rice that diluted barium in 2.5 ml, 5 ml, 10 ml by modifying Logemann's protocol in part, and having subjects take the solution, this study confirmed pharyngeal residue, penetration, aspiration etc. VFFS and FEES using full HD video revealed aspiration in 36 of the 130 patients in both inspections. Additionally, aspiration was discovered in 36 patients upon VFFS, but in 41 upon FESS. Although FEES was more sensitive at diagnosing dysphagia, the two inspection methods are complementary, so diagnostic value will be greatly improved when the endoscope operating method and accurate fluoroscopic inspection are combined.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2021

With the recent advances in radiological science, there was radiographic techniques development and several researches to diagnosing dysphagia. We proposed the new Imaging technology based on Near Infrared radiation (NIR) for video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). To reduce the risk of the VFSS examination for swallowing rehabilitation, multi-NIR camera system comprised. Based on the multi-NIR camera imaging system, Computational simulation was conducted to identify the potential of the multi-NIR camera imaging system as a clinical tool (screening system). As a result of the simulation applied in this study, the proposed system has a potential to be a clinical solution although there is a few of limitations. we believe that it will be a good tool to support the VFSS as a screening technology in clinical fields.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.85-91
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• 2017

The present study aimed to investigate the changes of acoustic parameters of the aspirated voice in stroke patients. The eighty-eight subjects diagnosed with cerebro-vascular accident were divided into 32 penetration/aspiration (P/A) and 56 Non-P/A groups according to the videofluroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) results, and 26 control subjects participated. All subjects preformed VFSS and vowel /a/ was recorded three times pre- and post VFSS. Since the variation in the acoustic parameters within a single phonation has been observed, we proposed a delta formula for the acoustic parameters which can reflect the temporal changes of the each parameter in an utterance. We measured from the voice data eight acoustic parameters: fundamental frequency (F0), standard deviation of F0 (F0_SD), Jitter, relative average perturbation (RAP), Shimmer, amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), harmonic to noise ration (HNR), noise to harmonic ratio (NHR). Then we found parameters which show the meaningful biggest temporal change in an utterance using the suggested delta parameter. Among them, the deltas of shimmer and APQ were significantly different pre- and post VFSS. These deltas of the P/A and the control group were increased after VFSS, while those of the Non-P/A group was descended. The variation patterns of the P/A and the control group were similar but the change width of the P/A group was larger. The large variations in an aspirated phonation of the P/A group are thought to be caused by irregular changes in air resistance due to residual food on the vocal cords.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3259-3263
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• 2016

Aims: To determine suitable food textures for videofluoroscopic study of swallowing (VFSS), in order to predict and prevent subsequent aspiration pneumonia in esophageal cancer patients with dysphagia after surgery. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 45 hospitalized esophageal cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 2012 and December 2013. The control group consisted of 43 patients treatmed from January 2010 until December 2011 and were not examined by VFSS. Test foods, which were presented in order of increasing thickness, included thin barium sulfate (Ba) liquid (3 or 10 ml), slightly thickened Ba liquid (3 or 10 ml), a spoonful of Ba jelly, and a spoonful of Ba puree. Results: Patients could most safely swallow puree, followed by jelly. The 3-mL samples of both the thin and thick liquids put patients at risk for aspiration pneumonia, with incidence rates of 13% and 11%, respectively. While 64.4% of patients could swallow all test foods and liquids safely, 35.6% were at risk for aspiration pneumonia when swallowing liquids. Even though >30% of patients were at risk, only 1 (2.2%) in the VFSS group developed aspiration pneumonia, which occurred at the time of admission. Following VFSS, no incidence of aspiration pneumonia was observed. However, aspiration pneumonia occurred in 4 (9.3%) control patients during hospitalization. Conclusions: Postoperative esophageal cancer patients were more likely to aspirate any kind of liquid than solid foods, such as jellies. VFSS is very useful in determining suitable food textures for postoperative esophageal cancer patients.

• Korean Journal of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
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• v.60 no.9
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• pp.454-462
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• 2017

Background and Objectives The present study aimed to investigate the effects of penetration/aspiration (P/A) on voice acoustic parameters. Subjects and Method Twenty-seven patients were analyzed with the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and then divided into two groups based on the modified Penetration and Aspiration Scale results. Ten patients (5 males and 5 females) were included in the Non-P/A group, and 17 patients (12 males and 5 females) in the P/A group. Stroke was the major cause of swallowing disorders. Three sustained /a/ vowels recorded in pre- and post-VFSS were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare acoustic values before and after VFSS, and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve with combination of significant parameters was also conducted. Results Among acoustic parameters, the length of analyzed sample (p=0.010), number of segments computed (p=0.018), total number detected pitch periods (p=0.017), and second formant (p=0.013) in pre- and post-VFSS were significantly different between Non-P/A and P/A groups. In the P/A group after VFSS, the means of these significant parameters decreased. According to ROC combined with four significant parameters, the probability of predicting P/A condition was 84% (p=0.005), the sensitivity was 80%, and the specificity was 80%. Conclusion Voice acoustic analysis can reflect voice changes by penetration/aspiration and the combination of significant parameters can also detect swallowing disorders. Therefore, voice analysis can be a reliable screening tool for patients with swallowing disorders.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.236-245
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study is to report the effects of Korean medical treatment with electroacupuncture on post-stroke dysphagia. Methods: Two stroke patients with dysphagia received Korean medical treatment including electroacupuncture for about six months and three months respectively. A Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) were used to confirm efficacy of electroacupuncture therapy as outcome measurements. Results: After treatment, swallowing function was improved, and symptoms related to dysphagia were decreased. NRS, VFSS showed improvement in stroke patients with dysphagia. Conclusions: This study shows that Korean medical treatment with electroacupuncture can be useful for dysphagia.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.110-110
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• 2003