Effect and Safety of Tongyan Spray (通咽喷雾剂) on Hyoid Motion in Patients with Dysphagia after Ischemic Stroke

Objective: To observe the effects and safety of Tongyan Spray (通咽喷雾剂) on the range and time of hyoid motion in patients with ischemic post-stroke dysphagia. Methods: Seventy-two patients with ischemic post-stroke dysphagia were selected and randomly assigned to a treatment group (36 cases) and a control group (36 cases) by a random number table from January 2013 to October 2014. All patients swallowed 4 kinds of barium meals with different traits respectively, and each patient underwent video fluoroscopy (VF) examination twice. In the treatment group, Tongyan Spray was sprayed to the pharynx on both sides and the middle part once respectively. The spray was applied 30 min before the second examination. Purified water at room temperature was used as placebo in the control group. The changes in the range and time of hyoid motion in both groups were observed before and after treatment. Results: Six patients dropped out in each group, and 60 patients completed the study and were included in the final analysis. Significant improvement was observed in the range of superior hyoid excursion distance and the time of hyoid motion in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). There were no obvious adverse reactions observed in oral mucosa in both groups during the whole study. Conclusion: Tongyan Spray was an effective and safe medicine for improving swallowing function in patients with ischemic post-stroke dysphagia.     

Impact of Premorbid Malnutrition and Dysphagia on Ischemic Stroke Outcome in Elderly Patients: A Community-Based Study

Objective: The present study was performed to assess nutritional status and its relationship with clinical outcomes in elderly stroke patients.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, 253 stroke patients were studied. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was used to assign patients to three groups: malnourished, at risk of malnutrition, and well nourished. Northwestern Dysphagia Patient Check Sheet was administered to all patients. Anthropometric measures, including body mass index (BMI), calf circumferences (CC), mid-arm circumferences (MAC), and triceps skinfold thickness were brought out. In addition, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and biochemical tests were performed.

Results: Of 253 patients, 34.4% were malnourished, 42.3% were at risk of malnutrition, and 23.3% were well nourished. The malnourished patients had significantly lower BMI, CC, and MAC (p?<?0.05). The levels of albumin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly different among the groups (p?<?0.001). The admission and 3-month follow-up mRS scores, as well as dysphagia, were significantly higher in the malnourished patients and those at risk of malnutrition (p?<?0.001). In addition, mRS scores at admission and 3-month follow-up scores, as well as the length of hospital stay (LOS), were significantly correlated with MNA score, dysphagia, BMI, CC, MAC, albumin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p?<?0.05). Significant unadjusted associations were observed among MNA scores, BMI, CC, MAC, dysphagia scores, NIHSS scores, length of hospital stay (LOS), albumin, hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) with a poor outcome. With a multivariate logistic regression analysis, NIHSS scores and MNA scores remained significantly associated with the poor outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.

Conclusions: The findings of the present study underline the importance of nutritional status in elderly stroke patients.     

针刺咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹:随机对照研究

目的:比较针刺患侧与针刺双侧咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹的临床疗效。方法:将66例脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹患者随机分为单侧组和双侧组,每组33例,最后每组各有1例脱落。两组患者在常规药物和电项针治疗的基础上,单侧组针刺患侧的吞咽、发音和治反流穴,双侧组针刺双侧吞咽、发音和治反流穴。每天1次,每周连续针刺6 d,休息1 d,治疗21 d后评定临床疗效。采用吞咽困难分级量表、洼田饮水试验和GRBAS分级评价两组患者治疗前后的吞咽和构音情况。结果:治疗21 d后,两组患者吞咽困难分级量表评分均提高(均P<0.01),且单侧组改善程度大于双侧组(P<0.01);两组患者GRBAS分级、洼田饮水试验情况均改善(均P<0.01),且单侧组改善程度大于双侧组(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:针刺患侧咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹较针刺双侧咽部腧穴疗效更优。