Physiological Studies of the Palatopharyngeal Muscle as a Speech Muscle in the Adjustment of Velar Position during Speech Production.

Background: We aimed to investigate the contribution of the palatopharyngeal muscle (PP) as a speech muscle in adjusting the velar position.

Methods: X-ray kinematic analysis of the position of the palatopharyngeal arch and an electromyographic study of the PP during speech were performed in two healthy volunteers.

Results: X-ray kinematic analysis revealed that the palatopharyngeal arch was positioned lower during the production of the low-back vowel /a/.

Thyroid-like low-grade nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma with squamous differentiation: a novel histological finding.

Thyroid-like low-grade nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma (TL-LGNPPA) is an extremely rare neoplasm originating from the nasopharyngeal surface epithelium. Histopathologically, TL-LGNPPA is characterized by cuboidal/columnar tumor cells forming papillary fronds and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) expression resembling papillary thyroid carcinoma. To date, the recorded histological features of TL-LGNPPA have been almost uniform, and the range of histological variations in this tumor type has not been sufficiently understood.

Surgical improvement of speech disorder caused by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive debilitating neurological disease. ALS disturbs the quality of life by affecting speech, swallowing and free mobility of the arms without affecting intellectual function. It is therefore of significance to improve intelligibility and quality of speech sounds, especially for ALS patients with slowly progressive courses.

[Dysphagia and dysarthria surgery for advanced-age myasthenia gravis].

Myasthenia gravis is often difficult to diagnose and treat in older subjects due to complications, previous history and reciprocal interaction with drugs used to treat complications. An 84-year-old woman with slowly progressive 2-year dysphagia and dysarthria had reached critical condition with aspiration pneumonia. She was diagnosed with thymoma-free myasthenia gravis and her respirator removed after being administrated an anticholinesterase drug.