[Influence of the viscosity of the swallowed food bolus on the motility of the pharynx]. / Influência da viscosidade do bolo alimentar deglutido na motilidade da faringe.

In 9 young men, healthy volunteers, we studied the effect of dry swallows, liquid and paste swallows on the pharyngeal motility. The viscosities of liquids and past were 200 centipoise (cP), 300 cP and 60000 cP, respectively. The bolus volume was 10 ml. For pharyngeal manometry we used two strain-gauge manometric probes taped together, so that a total of six transducers were staggered at 1.5 cm intervals. After its passage through the nose, the assembly was positioned so that all its transducers faced posteriorly, and manometric activity was recorded from oropharynx, hypopharynx and upper esophageal sphincter (UES). We also recorded infra-hyoid electromiographic activity. The amplitude and duration of the oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal peristaltic pressure complex were not changed by the different boluses. The velocity of peristaltism propagation between oropharynx and UES was slower for paste than for liquids or dry swallows. The increased of viscosity was associated with longer duration of UES relaxation, and greater intrabolus pressure in hypopharynx and UES. The infra-hyoid electromiographic activity was longer for paste than for liquids or dry swallows. These findings suggest that pharyngeal motility is affected by the characteristics of the swallowed bolus.

Effect of bolus volume and consistency on swallow-induced submental and infrahyoid electromyographic activity.

1. The effect of the volume of swallowed bolus and the form of barium delivered (liquid vs paste) on the timing of bolus transit, submental and infrahyoid electromyographic activity and hyoid movement during the oral and pharyngeal phase of swallowing was studied in 9 healthy volunteers. Using videofluoroscopy, we recorded concurrent submental electromyographic (EMG) activity from over the mylohyoid, geniohyoid and anterior digastric muscle complex (SM EMG) and from over the infrahyoid muscles, which consisted mainly of the thyrohyoids (IH EMG). 2. Bolus volume (2 to 20 ml) did not change the timing or the duration of SM EMG and IH EMG activity, transit of the bolus tail through the mouth and pharynx, or the onset and duration of hyoid movement, for either liquid or paste. 3. Although not volume dependent, the magnitude of SM EMG (2 ml, 79 +/- 9% vs 44 +/- 6%, mean +/- SEM) and IH EMG (2 ml, 73 +/- 15% vs 42 +/- 8%) was greater for barium paste than for liquid barium. 4. Large bolus volumes increased the duration of barium flow through the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), for both liquid (0.30 s, 0.40 s, 0.46 s, 0.50 s for 2, 5, 10, 20 ml) and paste (0.32 s, 0.43 s, 0.53 s, 0.61 s for 2, 5, 10, 20 ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of bolus volume and consistency on swallow-induced submental and infrahyoid electromyographic activity

The effect of the volume of swallowed bolus and the form of barium delivered (liquid vs paste) on the timing of bolus transit, submental and infrahyoid electromyographic activity and hyoid movement during the oral and pharyngeal phase of swallowing was studied in 9 healthy volunteers. Using videofluoroscopy, we recorded concurrent submental electromyographic (EMG) activity from over the mylohyoid, geniohyoid and anterior digastric muscle complex (SM EMG) and from over the infrahyoid muscles, which consisted mainly of the thyrohyoids (IH EMG). Bolus volume (2 to 20 ml) did not change the timing or the duration of SM EMG and IH EMG activity, transit of the bolus tail through the mouth and pharynx, or the onset and duration of hyoid movement, for either liquid or paste. Although not volume dependent, the magnitude of SM EMG (2 ml, 79 + or 9% vs 44 + or - 6%, mean + or - SEM) and IH EMG (2 ml, 73 + or - 15% vs 42 + or - 8%) was greater for barium paste than for liquid barium. Large bolus volumes increased the duration of barium flow through the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), for both liquid (0.30 s, 0.40 s, 0.46 s, 0.50 s for 2, 5, 10, 20 ml) and paste (0.32 s, 0.43 s, 0.53 s, 0.61 s for 2, 5, 10, 20 ml). Barium paste was associated with a delay in the timing of events of about 0.2 s and a longer duration of bolus transit (0.91 + or - 0.03 vs 1.14 + or - 0.6 s, 5 ml), hyoid movement (1.21 + or - 0.08 vs 1.42 + or - 0.11 s, 5 ml), EMG activity (1.02 + or - 0.08 vs 1.30 + or - 0.10 s...

Blood coagulation of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus).

Blood was obtained from 10 clinically normal West Indian manatees. Many coagulation screening tests were performed on the blood as well as specific clotting factor assays. All clotting factors were present and their activities compared to those of the dog. The clotting factor activities of the intrinsic system of the manatee are much higher than those of the dog. Factor X activity is about the same as that of the dog. The clotting factor activities of the extrinsic system seems to be less than that of the the dog.

Mechanisms of gastroesophageal reflux in children.

We studied the lower esophageal sphincter in 29 children with known or suspected gastroesophageal reflux using a sleeve sensor and micro pH electrode. Mean lower esophageal sphincter pressure for a ten-minute monitoring period was 19 +/- 13 mm Hg; however, considerable temporal variation occurred in each child. Gastroesophageal reflex was infrequently associated with a low basal sphincter pressure (< 5 mm Hg) but usually associated with an increase in intra-abdominal pressure or with transient inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.