Constraint-induced Aphasia Therapy Improves the Use of Spoken Language and Word-finding Ability in Chronic Subcortical Aphasia: A Case Report.

Background: Constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) has been reported as a short-term, intensive language training program for improving language function in patients with chronic aphasia. We report the recovery of language function in a patient with chronic aphasia who was evaluated in the baseline assessment as having reached a plateau.

Case: The patient with subcortical aphasia was a 62-year-old, right-handed man.

The effects of tongue elevation using a weighted plastic bottle on the tongue pressure and activity of suprahyoid muscles.

Background: A rise in tongue pressure coincides with an increase in the suprahyoid muscle activity.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the effects of holding a weighted plastic bottle on tongue pressure and the suprahyoid muscle activity.

Methods: Eighteen participants (8 men and 10 women; mean age 42 ± 16 years) participated in this study.

Effects of the internal syringe shape on the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative flow test.

The International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) proposed the flow test (FT) as a simple method for measuring the viscosity of thickened liquids. However, the FT specifies the use of a particular syringe type (BD-Slip), which is unfortunately not easily available in Japan. Therefore, the current study primarily aimed to investigate the effects of the internal syringe shape on IDDSI FT and identify the most suitable syringe available in Japan for xanthan gum-based thickened liquids.

Tongue pressure waveform analysis for ascertaining the influence of tongue muscle composition on articulation.

Background: Rate force development is associated with performance and muscle composition in whole-body muscle. Although rate force development on tongue muscle can be examined using tongue pressure waveform, there have been only few investigations on this topic.

Objectives: This study's main purpose was to investigate the reliability of tongue pressure waveform analysis and its relationship with articulation and tongue muscle composition.

Change in Nutritional Status and Dysphagia after Resection of Head and Neck Cancer.

Nutritional status is well-known to influence patient recovery after resection of head and neck cancer (HNC). The influence of preoperative nutritional status on dysphagia was assessed in patients who underwent surgical resection of HNC along with the assessment of nutritional status during the acute and subacute phases. Eighty-six patients underwent surgical resection and dysphagia assessments (repetitive saliva-swallowing test, water-swallowing test, and functional oral intake scale) and had their tongue pressure assessed five times (before surgery, after 1-2 weeks, and 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery).

COVID-19 Patient Returned to Work after Long Hospitalization and Follow-up: A Case Report.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes severe respiratory dysfunction and post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which can significantly affect the return to work after discharge from the hospital. This report describes the first case of a patient with severe COVID-19 at our institution during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (February to June 2020) who returned to work following rehabilitation management.

Case: A 48-year-old female nurse was admitted with COVID-19 and underwent mechanical ventilation (MV).

Impact of Thickened Liquids on Laryngeal Movement Velocity in Patients with Dysphagia.

Considering that thickened liquids are frequently used for patients with dysphagia, elucidating their impact on laryngeal dynamics is important. Although studies have investigated the impact of thickened liquids on laryngeal movement velocity among healthy young adults, no study has examined the same among patients with dysphagia. We aimed to elucidate the influence of bolus consistency on laryngeal movement velocity and surface electromyographic activity of the suprahyoid muscles in patients with dysphagia.

Validity of a dysphagia screening test following resection for head and neck cancer.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a dysphagia screening test (DST) in patients who have undergone resection for head and neck cancer (HNC). In addition, we examined whether or not combined effects of DSTs improve the detection accuracy of penetration/aspiration.

Methods: Thirty-six HNC patients were participated.

Change in tongue pressure in patients with head and neck cancer after surgical resection.

Tongue pressure is reportedly associated with dysphagia. This study investigated relationships among characteristics of head and neck cancer, tongue pressure and dysphagia screening tests performed in patients with head and neck cancer during the acute phase after surgical resection. Fifty-seven patients (36 men, 21 women; age range 26-95 years) underwent surgical resection and dysphagia screening tests (Repetitive Saliva Swallowing Test, Water Swallowing Test, Modified Water Swallowing Test and Food Test) and pre- and postoperative measurement of tongue pressure at 5 time points (preoperatively, and 1-2 weeks and 1, 2, and 3 months postoperatively).