Capsaicin May Improve Swallowing Impairment in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Patients with neurodegenerative diseases are at an increased risk of dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia. In this study, we examined whether ingestion of capsaicin prior to swallowing changes the temporal dynamics of swallowing in such patients. In a crossover, randomized controlled trial, 29 patients with neurodegenerative diseases were given a soluble wafer containing 1.5 μg capsaicin or an identical placebo 20 min prior to testing. For evaluation with video fluoroscopy (VF), patients consumed a barium-containing liquid plus thickening material. The durations of the latency, elevating and recovery periods of the hyoid were assessed from VF. Overall, no significant differences were observed in the duration of each period between capsaicin and placebo treatments. However, reductions in the latency and elevating periods were positively correlated with baseline durations. In subgroup analyses, that correlation was observed in patents with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but not in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The consumption of wafer paper containing capsaicin before the intake of food may be effective in patients with dysphagia related with certain neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ALS patients. Further studies will be needed to validate this finding

DH Training in Spanish: Digital Humanities as an e-learning platform to teach between Spain and Latin America

#dariahTeach is developing open source, community-driven, source, high quality, multilingual teaching materials for the digital arts and humanities. Begun in January 2015 and running through June 2017, #dariahTeach is funded through an Erasmus + Strategic Partnership Grant. The #dariahTeach consortium has eight partners, coordinated by Maynooth University, Ireland. LINHD UNED is part of this initiative and is collaborating through the experience of Elena González Blanco and Gimena del Rio as experts in online distant teaching on Digital Humanities.Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET

Study on factors relating to oral malodor and preventive measures among the elderly

One hundred ten elderly with disabilities in institutions or receiving home care were selected and informed. This study focused on oral malodor and discusses consent was obtained the relationship between oral malodor and the state of dental health and oral hygiene in the elderly with disabilities. ADL of the elderly with disabilities (rank J, A, B, C, settled by National Health Administration in Japan) were 8.2% at rank J, 28.2% at rank A, 42.7% at rank B and 20.9% at rank C, respectively. The incident rate of swallowing pneumonitis, fever and bedsores were low. Accordingly, physical and mental conditions were comparatively preferable. Tooth and periodontal conditions were comparablye to nationwide results. 1. The elderly in poor ADL had marked oral malodor compared with those in good health. 2. The elderly who required assistance to eat or had special dietary requirements had marked oral malodor. 3. The elderly who had normal oral functions and the ability to take care of their own oral hygiene had markedly less oral malodor. 4. The elderly who had poor oral hygiene exhibitings thick tongue coating and positive results in a Candida albicans culture test, had marked oral malodor. 5. Using, the multivariate statistical analysis of Hayashi methodsⅡ, the coefficient of correlation between the state of oral malodor and 27 variables was obtained. 1) The study obtained trustworthy values that discriminate analysis 92.7% and correlation ratio is 0.53. 2) The variables related to severe oral malodor, extracted by the multivariate statistical analysis in descending order, were: "low level of ADL in gargling and denture brushing", "cigarette smoking", "speech disabilities", "unsatisfactory mastication", "need for special dietary care", "oral druyness", "gingivitis", "soft diet of side dish", "living in a special institution caring for the elderly", "thick tongue coating", and "a positive Candida albicans culture test", respectively. 3) The items related with comparatively comfortable or bearable oral malodor, extracted by the multivariate statistical analysis in descending order were : "satisfactory mastication", "home care", "healthy or poor eyesight", "difficulty in mastication", "being able to independently remove, dentures", "a negative Candida albicans culture test", "no oral dryness", "independents in selecting diet", "comfortable gingival condition", "being dependent on others for tooth-brushing" and "preferable tongue coating", respectively. 4) For the effective preventive countermeasures of oral malodor, ADL of oral health, caring circumstances and hygiene of gingiva/tongue should be focused on rather than dental hygiene itself

Taste Responses and Ingestive Behaviors to Ingredients of Fermented Milk in Mice

Fermented milk is consumed worldwide because of its nutritious and healthful qualities. Although it is somewhat sour, causing some to dislike it, few studies have examined taste aspects of its ingredients. Wild-type mice and T1R3-GFP-KO mice lacking sweet/umami receptors were tested with various taste components (sucrose, galactose, lactose, galacto-oligosaccharides, fructo-oligosaccharides, l- and d-lactic acid) using 48 h two-bottle tests and short-term lick tests. d-lactic acid levels were measured after the ingestion of d- or; l-lactic acid or water to evaluate d-lactic acidosis. In wild-type mice, for the sweet ingredients the number of licks increased in a concentration-dependent manner, but avoidance was observed at higher concentrations in 48 h two-bottle tests; the sour ingredients d- and l-lactic acid showed concentration-dependent decreases in preference in both short- and long-term tests. In 48 h two-bottle tests comparing d- and l-lactic acid, wild-type but not T1R3-GFP-KO mice showed higher drinking rates for l-lactic acid. d-lactic acidosis did not occur and thus did not contribute to this preference. These results suggest that intake in short-term lick tests varied by preference for each ingredient, whereas intake variation in long-term lick tests reflects postingestive effects. l-lactic acid may have some palatable taste in addition to sour taste

Sugar signals from oral glucose transporters elicit cephalic-phase insulin release in mice

Abstract Cephalic-phase insulin release (CPIR) occurs before blood glucose increases after a meal. Although glucose is the most plausible cue to induce CPIR, peripheral sensory systems involved are not fully elucidated. We therefore examined roles of sweet sensing by a T1R3-dependent taste receptor and sugar sensing by oral glucose transporters in the oropharyngeal region in inducing CPIR. Spontaneous oral ingestion of glucose significantly increased plasma insulin 5 min later in wild-type (C57BL/6) and T1R3-knockout mice, but intragastric infusion did not. Oral treatment of glucose transporter inhibitors phlorizin and phloretin significantly reduced CPIR after spontaneous oral ingestion. In addition, a rapid increase in plasma insulin was significantly smaller in WT mice with spontaneous oral ingestion of nonmetabolizable glucose analog than in WT mice with spontaneous oral ingestion of glucose. Taken together, the T1R3-dependent receptor is not required for CPIR, but oral glucose transporters greatly contribute to induction of CPIR by sugars