Effects of pectin liquid on gastroesophageal reflux disease in children with cerebral palsy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of thickeners is a standard therapy for decreasing episodes of regurgitation or vomiting in infants. However, it remains to be investigated whether thickener is effective for vomiting and/or chronic respiratory symptoms in children with cerebral palsy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We enrolled 18 neurologically impaired children caused by cerebral palsy, with gastroesophageal reflux disease. In the first part of this study (pH monitoring), subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: fed with a high-pectin diet [enteral formula: pectin liquid = 2:1 (v/v)], or a low-pectin diet [enteral formula: pectin liquid = 3:1 (v/v)]. Two-channel esophageal pH monitoring was performed over 48 h. In the second part (clinical trial), subjects were fed a high- or low-pectin diet and non-pectin diet for 4 weeks in a crossover manner. Nurses recorded the feeding volume, number of episodes of vomiting, volume of gastric residue, episodes of cough and wheeze, frequency of using oxygen for dyspnea, and the day when the child could return to school. Cough and wheeze were recorded as a cough-score.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The median value for the % time pH < 4 at the lower and upper esophagus was significantly decreased with a high-pectin diet [9.2% (6.2–22.6) vs. 5.0% (3.1–13.1); P < 0.01, 3.8% (2.9–11.2) vs. 1.6% (0.9–8.9); P < 0.01 (interquartile range), non-pectin and high-pectin, respectively]. The number of reflux episodes per day and duration of longest reflux were decreased significantly with a high-pectin, but not with a low-pectin diet. The median number of episodes of vomiting decreased significantly with a high-pectin diet [2.5/week (1.0–5.0) vs. 1.0 (1.0–1.5), P < 0.05]. The median cough-score was significantly decreased by both concentrations of pectin [8.5/week (1.0–11.5) vs. 2.0/week (0.0–3.0), fed with a high-pectin diet; 7.0/week (1.0–14.5) vs. 1.0/w (0.0–5.0), fed with a low-pectin diet, P < 0.05].</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pectin liquid partially decreased gastroesophageal reflux as measured by eshophageal pH monitoring, and might improve vomiting and respiratory symptoms in children with cerebral palsy.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ISRCTN19787793</p

Viscosidade e qualidade da imagem do líquido espessado para videodeofluoroscopia de deglutição com acréscimo do contraste de bário

OBJETIVOS: estudar a viscosidade da fórmula de partida espessada para os exames de videofluoroscopia de deglutição após acréscimo de contraste de Bário. MÉTODOS: copos de 200 ml de leite foram preparados em três consistências com sete espessantes. A viscosidade média foi verificada com viscosímetro nas temperaturas ambiente e acima de 40ºC, e após acrescentar o contraste de Bário em diluições a 50%, 25% e 12,5%. Os preparados foram expostos à fluoroscopia para obtenção de imagens que foram avaliadas quanto à visualização do preparado nas diferentes consistências, diluições e espessantes. RESULTADOS: comparando valores médios em centipoise(cP), observou-se que a viscosidade na consistência pudim foi significantemente menor na temperatura acima de 40ºC do que na temperatura ambiente. Nas consistências néctar e pudim o acréscimo de Bário resultou em mudança significante da viscosidade para mel. Não houve mudança na qualidade das imagens entre as diluições de Bário à 50% e 25%. CONCLUSÃO: o acréscimo do Bário resulta em mudanças nos valores de viscosidade que afetaram a consistência do preparado espessado para néctar e pudim. Uma redução da diluição do contraste para 25% não resulta em mudança clinicamente significante na qualidade da imagem. Os achados sugerem a importância da padronização do preparado para a fluoroscopia em relação à viscosidade e diluição do Bário visando garantir a reprodutibilidade do exame, prevenir falhas diagnósticas e otimizar as orientações para modificações da dieta na disfagia orofaríngea infantil

The need for international terminology and definitions for texture-modified foods and thickened liquid used in dysphagia management: foundations of a global initiative

Conservative estimates suggest that dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) affects approximately 8 % of the world's population. Dysphagia is associated with malnutrition, dehydration, chest infection and potentially death. While promising treatments are being developed to improve function, the modification of food texture and liquid thickness has become a cornerstone of dysphagia management. Foods are chopped, mashed or puréed to compensate for chewing difficulties or fatigue, improve swallowing safety and avoid asphyxiation. Liquids are typically thickened to slow their speed of transit through the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing, to avoid aspiration of material into the airway and improve transit to the esophagus. Food texture and liquid modification for dysphagia management occurs throughout the world. However, the names, the number of levels of modification and characteristics vary within and across countries. Multiple labels increase the risk to patient safety. National standardization of terminology and definitions has been promoted as a means to improve patient safety and inter-professional communication. This article documents the need for international standardized terminology and definitions for texture-modified foods and liquids for individuals with dysphagia. Furthermore, it documents the research plan and foundations of a global initiative dedicated to this purpose

Moisture absorption characteristics of food thickeners used for the management of swallowing dysfunctions

Six commercial food thickeners, based on starch, and guar and xanthan gums, were investigated for their moisture absorption properties. The thickeners were exposed to 100% relative humidity as well as soaked in water for selected time periods. The gum-based thickeners dissolved in water to yield 100% water solubility index. The water absorption index of the starch-based thickeners ranged from 14.7 to 18.0 g/g dry solids of thickener. The starch-based thickeners sorbed less moisture than the gum-based ones, with the xanthan gum-based thickeners having the highest sorptive ability on mass basis. The Peleg model was the most suitable (r(2)=0.966-0.997) of the sorption models investigated to describe the sorption data. The diffusion rate constant of the thickeners ranged from 8.7 to 13.5 day%(-1), while the equilibrium moisture content was between 35.7 and 46.8%. The sorptive ability explained viscosity development in some of the thickeners, but was unsuitable in fully describing comparisons of the solutions viscosities of starch-based and xanthan gum-based thickeners