The interaction between breathing and swallowing in healthy individuals

WOS: 000318905600019PubMed ID: 23261084In this article, we aimed at investigating the interaction between breathing and swallowing patterns in normal subjects. Ten healthy volunteers were included in the study. Diaphragm EMG activity was recorded by a needle electrode inserted into the 7th or 8th intercostal space. Swallowing was monitored by submental EMG activity, and laryngeal vertical movement was recorded by using a movement sensor. A single voluntary swallow was initiated during either the inspiration or expiration phases of respiration, and changes in EMG activity were evaluated. When a swallow coincided with either inspiration or expiration, the duration of the respiratory phase was prolonged. Normal subjects were able to voluntarily swallow during inspiration. During the inspiration phase with swallowing, diaphragmatic activity did not ceased and during the expiration phase with swallowing, there was a muscle activity in the diaphragm muscle. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Flexor reflexes elicited by magnetic and electric stimulation of the sural nerve

WOS: 000292087300007PubMed ID: 21708070Objectives: We have investigated whether magnetic stimulation of the sural nerve can evoke a flexor reflex recorded from the ipsilateral short head of the biceps femoris muscle. Methods: The sural nerve was subjected to magnetic stimulation as well as by single-pulse electrical stimulation in healthy subjects. Results: In 87% of the participants, a reflex response was elicited from the short head of biceps femoris muscle by magnetic stimulation of the sural nerve. In terms of latency and amplitude, this reflex response was similar to the flexor reflex response evoked from the same muscle by single-pulse electrical stimulation of the sural nerve. Discussion: Findings indicate that flexor reflexes can easily be evoked from the short head of the biceps femoris muscle by magnetic stimulation of the sural nerve. The late component of the flexor reflex may not only be elicited via nociceptive afferents but may also involve non-nociceptive afferents

Retrospective analysis of effectiveness of fingolimod in real life setting in Turkey (REFINE)

Background/aim: During multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment different modes of action such as lateral (interferon beta to glatiramer acetate or glatiramer acetate to interferon beta) or vertical (interferon beta/glatiramer acetate to fingolimod) drug switch can be performed. This study aims to investigate the clinical effectiveness of switching from the first-line injectable disease modifying treatments (iDMTs) to fingolimod (FNG) compared to switching between first-line iDMTs. Materials and methods: This is a multicenter, observational and retrospective study of patients with relapsing-remitting MS who had lateral and vertical switch. The observation period included three key assessment time points (before the switch, at switch, and after the switch). Data were collected from the MS patients’ database by neurologists between January 2018 and June 2019. The longest follow-up period of the patients was determined as 24 months after the switch. Results: In 462 MS patients that were included in the study, both treatments significantly decreased the number of relapses during the postswitch 12 months versus preswitch one year while patients in the FNG group experienced significantly fewer relapses compared to iDMT cohort in the postswitch 12 months period. FNG cohort experienced fewer relapses than in the iDMT cohort within the postswitch 2 year. The mean time to first relapse after the switch was significantly longer in the FNG group. Conclusion: The present study revealed superior effectiveness of vertical switch over lateral switch regarding the improvement in relapse outcomes. Patients in the FNG cohort experienced sustainably fewer relapses during the follow-up period after the switch compared the iDMT cohort. Importantly, switching to FNG was more effective in delaying time to first relapse when compared with iDMTs