Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Dimensions in Infants 0-12 Months: Between- and Within-Group Differences Based on Age and Sex.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to (a) provide quantitative data on the growth of levator veli palatini (LVP), velopharyngeal (VP), and craniofacial dimensions in children under 12 months while controlling for corrected age and sex and (b) compare variability within age and sex groups. METHOD: Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 75 infants between 0 and 12 months were measured and divided into four age groups. These data were obtained as part of a larger retrospective study. Following exclusion criteria, scans were analyzed, and dependent variables were obtained. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p < .0001) difference between corrected age groups on LVP muscle, VP, and craniofacial variables while controlling for sex. Significant growth effects were observed for LVP length (p < .0001), extravelar length (p < .0001), intravelar length (p = .048), midline thickness (p = .0001), origin-origin distance (p < .0001), velar length (p < .0001), velar thickness (p = .003), nasion-sella turcica distance (p < .0001), sella turcica-basion distance (p < .0001), and hard palate length (p < .0001). Significant sex effects were observed for pharyngeal depth (p = .026) and effective VP ratio (p = .014). When age was treated as a continuous variable, similar results were observed for all variables except pharyngeal depth. Within-group comparisons revealed the most variability occurs between 3 and 5.99 months for LVP and craniofacial variables and between 9 and 11.99 months of age for VP variables. Male participants demonstrated greater variability than female participants. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were observed in LVP, VP, and craniofacial variables in children under 12 months while controlling for sex. Males demonstrated larger values and greater variability for most variables.

Examining Craniofacial and Velopharyngeal Structures in Premature Infants: A Window Into the Womb.

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about how the velopharynx and levator veli palatini muscle develop in utero. The purpose of this study was to describe craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions in a group of infants born prematurely and imaged before 40 weeks gestation. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive study design was utilized to examine the MRI scans of 6 infants less than 40 weeks' gestation. Imaging was initially completed for medically necessity and pulled from patients' charts retrospectively for the purpose of this study. Craniofacial, velopharyngeal, and levator veli palatini dimensions were analyzed. RESULTS: All linear measures were consistently shorter across all variable categories. While effective VP ratio was less favorable for speech in infants under 40 weeks' gestation, angle measures such as LVP angle of origin, NSB angle, SNA angle, and SNB angle were relatively unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Linear craniofacial, VP, and LVP variables tend to be smaller in infants under 40 weeks' gestation than those reported within the first 6 months of life while angulation is relatively similar. Future research in this area may be relevant to better diagnosis of craniofacial conditions in utero.

An Exploratory Investigation of the Palatoglossus Muscle in Children Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

PURPOSE: There is currently little evidence reporting the typical morphology of the palatoglossus (PG) muscle. The primary purpose of this exploratory study is to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods used to quantify the morphology of the levator veli palatini (LVP) muscle can be applied to the PG. The secondary purpose is to provide preliminary data regarding the relationship between the LVP and PG muscles in children. METHOD: Ten children between ages of 4 and 7 years participated in this study. Each participant was scanned using a nonsedated, child-friendly protocol with a T2-weighted, three-dimensional anatomical scan to obtain images of the oropharyngeal anatomy. Custom, oblique-coronal image planes were created to visualize and measure the LVP and PG muscles in their entirety from origin to insertion. Thermo Scientific Amira Software was used to obtain 2D measurements of PG muscle length, width, velar insertion distance, lingual insertion distance, and several angle measurements. RESULTS: The PG ranged from 17.95 to 26.96 mm in length across participants. Velar insertion distance ranged from 17.22 to 30.95 mm. Lingual insertion distance ranged from 26.91 to 36.02 mm. Width ranged from 2.32 to 3.08 mm. The angle formed by the PG and LVP muscle planes ranged from 7.3° to 52.7°. The LVP insertion angle ranged from 42.5° to 75.9°. The PG insertion angle ranged from 16.9° to 52.3°. CONCLUSIONS: MRI was successful in visualizing the PG muscle. The PG was consistent in size and shape within an individual participant but varied across the participant cohort.

Opportunities and limitations for using new media and mobile phones to expand access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for adolescent girls and young women in six Nigerian states.

Reproductive health problems are a challenge affecting young people in Nigeria. Education as a Vaccine (EVA) implements the My Question and Answer Service, using mobile phones to provide sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. Use of the service by adolescent girls and young women is low. Focus group discussions were held with 726 females to assess their access to mobile phones, as well as the barriers and limitations to the use of their phones to seek SRH information and services. Results demonstrate high mobile phone access but limited use of phones to access SRH information and services. Barriers to use of these services include cost of service for young female clients, request for socio-demographic information that could break anonymity, poor marketing and publicity, socio-cultural beliefs and expectations of young girls, individual personality and beliefs, as well as infrastructural/network quality. It is therefore recommended that these barriers be adequately addressed to increase the potential use of mobile phone for providing adolescent and young girls with SRH information and services. In addition, further initiatives and research are needed to explore the potentials of social media in meeting this need.