Pharmacological Management of Dysphagia in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dysphagia are important health and socioeconomic problems in the aging population. Currently, the medical treatment of dysphagia in AD patients remains insufficient, and there are significant gaps in the management and clinical needs to postpone tube feeding. Literatures published over the last 30 years were searched in the PubMed and Embase databases.

Study of Orofacial Function in Preschool Children Born Prematurely.

Children born prematurely often exhibit orofacial dysfunction. We conducted Nordic Orofacial Test Screening and analyzed chewing and swallowing functions of 243 children aged 3−5 years, consisting of 142 and 101 children born full-term and preterm, respectively, to evaluate the orofacial function of preschool premature children. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi-square test for a comparison.

Decreased Tongue Pressure Associated with Aging, Chewing and Swallowing Difficulties of Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Taiwan.

Personalized tongue pressure (TP) training focuses on improving swallowing. This study aims to establish the TP values of different age levels and compare changes between different swallowing status among community-dwelling elders. In this cross-sectional study, 1000 participants, aged 60 years old and above, were recruited from community care centers.

Dental Treatment Needs and Related Risk Factors among School Children with Special Needs in Taiwan.

The purpose of this study was to assess dental treatment needs (TNs) and related risk factors of children with disabilities (CD). This cross-sectional study recruited 484 CD, 6 to 12 years of age, from 10 special education schools in Taiwan. Dental status and TNs were examined and evaluated by well-trained dentists and based on the criteria set by the World Health Organization (1997).

A Novel Tongue Pressure Measurement Instrument with Wireless Mobile Application Control Function and Disposable Positioning Mouthpiece.

This study developed a novel chair-side tongue pressure (TP) measuring instrument with a disposable positioning mouthpiece controlled using a smartphone application (APP), denoted as the TP wireless application (TPWA). The mouthpiece was designed with a palate-shaped air balloon containing a tongue contact bump and a plastic bite positioning tube. Fatigue load testing was performed to evaluate mouthpiece durability by applying 700 displacement cycles (50 times a day for one week during training, with twice the safety factor) on the air balloon.

The Effectiveness of a Board Game-Based Oral Hygiene Education Program on Oral Hygiene Knowledge and Plaque Index of Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Pilot Study.

An oral hygiene board game was designed as an intervention tool and applied to explore the effectiveness for the oral health related knowledge (OHK) score and plaque index (PI) of adults with intellectual disability (ID). This one-group pre/post-test design study was conducted in a residential long-term care facility for 42 participants. The study had one pre-test (baseline) and three post-tests evaluated in both control and intervention stages, respectively.

Professional oral care in end-of-life patients with advanced cancers in a hospice ward: improvement of oral conditions.

Background: In end-of-life patients with advanced cancers, oral examination, oral care, and oral re-examination are crucial. Although oral symptoms are among the major complaints of end-of-life patients, few studies have focused on oral care in these patients. In this study, the association between oral symptoms and oral dryness among end-of-life patients was examined, and improvement of oral conditions after oral care interventions by a professional dentist was quantified.

Comparison of attitudes towards persons with dementia, knowledge of dementia and ageism amongst students in Taiwan and Japan: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the attitudes towards people with dementia, knowledge of dementia and ageism amongst Taiwanese and Japanese dental hygiene students.

Material And Methods: A total of 328 students participated in this cross-sectional study. Attitudes, knowledge and ageism were assessed using self-reports.

Caregivers' oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior toward their children with disabilities.

Background/purpose: This study was undertaken to document the knowledge, attitude and behavior among family caregivers, and to identify the related factors influencing their behavior in promoting their and children's oral health.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect self-administered questionnaires from 503 family caregivers, who cared for 6-12 year-old children with disabilities in 10 special schools. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the association between caregiver's oral health behaviors and related factors.

Risk factors of aspiration pneumonia related to improper oral hygiene behavior in community dysphagia persons with nasogastric tube feeding.

Background/purpose: Aspiration pneumonia (AsP) was reported to be closely related to poor oral hygiene. This study aimed to investigate the association between caregivers' oral hygiene behavior with AsP in the community dysphagia persons with nasogastric tube feeding (DPNgTF).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 128 DPNgTF and their corresponding caregivers.

[The prevalence and signs of Dysphagia among stroke patients in rehabilitation units].

Background: Dysphagia, a very common post-stroke symptom, has been linked to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and increased length of hospitalization. While patients are typically monitored for dysphagia continuously following their transfer to a rehabilitation unit, little is known about the results of dysphagia reassessments.

Purpose: This study investigates the prevalence and signs of dysphagia among stroke patients in rehabilitation units.

Cytochrome p450 metabolism of betel quid-derived compounds: implications for the development of prevention strategies for oral and pharyngeal cancers.

Betel quid (BQ) products, with or without tobacco, have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as group I human carcinogens that are associated with an elevated risk of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx. There are estimated 600 million BQ users worldwide. In Taiwan alone there are 2 million habitual users (approximately 10% of the population).

Impact of 24-month fluoride tablet program on children with disabilities in a non-fluoridated country.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the caries preventive effects of a school-based fluoride tablet program in children with disabilities. Two hundred and seventeen children with disabilities were divided into two groups: the intervention group (IG) ingested 1.0mg fluoride tablet daily while the control group (CG) ingested a placebo.

Urinary fluoride concentration in children with disabilities following long-term fluoride tablet ingestion.

Urine is the most commonly utilized biomarker for fluoride excretion in public health and epidemiological studies. Approximately 30-50% of fluoride is excreted from urine in children. Urinary fluoride excretion reflects the total fluoride intake from multiple sources.

The impact of dietary and tooth-brushing habits to dental caries of special school children with disability.

The daily oral activities may severely influence oral health of children with disabilities. In this survey, we analyzed the impact of dietary and tooth-brushing habits to dental caries in special school children with disabilities. This cross-sectional survey investigated 535 special school children with disabilities aged 6-12 years, 60.