Aline Mansueto Mourão

Avaliação eletroglotográfica de mulheres disfônicas com lesão de massa

PURPOSE: to compare the electroglottographical evaluation results in women with otorhinolaryngological reports of vocal nodules and presence of glottal gap and in women with no larynx alteration. METHOD: 20 women took part in this study, 10 with otorhinolaryngological exam of vocal nodule, associated with glottal gap, and 10 with voices evaluated in the perceptive-audio analysis as neutral and electroglottographic evaluation without larynx alteration. The age group varied from 27 to 55 year old, with average of 37.60 for the study group and 36.00 for the control group. The voice material was the habitual emissions of the sustained vowel /a/. We extracted the measures of quotient of contact, fundamental frequency, jitter, as well as the sorting and interpretation of the kinds of waves and presence of electroglottographic knee. The statistical analysis has been accomplished by the Fisher Exact test and T of Student. RESULTS: all traces were sorted as Type II (100%). The difference in the presence or absence of knees between groups was not observed. The average of quotient of contact was 42.52 for the study group, and 45.56 for the control group. In spite of the minor value for the studied group, there has been no significant difference between groups for the fundamental frequency and jitter. The average of the fundamental frequency was 193.18 and 211.69 and, the average value of jitter was1.21 and 2.9 for the study and control group, respectively. CONCLUSION: women with mass lesion in the vocal folds show higher jitter values and minor values as for the electroglottographic fundamental frequency.

Determinants of quality of life in Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the current study were 1) to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale and 2) to investigate the quality of life of Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis and its determinants. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 69 patients with myasthenia gravis who underwent neurological evaluation and completed questionnaires regarding quality of life (the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study and the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale), anxiety and depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale showed high internal consistency and good concurrent validity with the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study and its subscales. Determinants of quality of life in Brazilian patients with myasthenia gravis included the current status of myasthenia gravis as assessed by the Myasthenia Gravis Composite, the current prednisone dose and the levels of anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the 15-item Myasthenia Gravis Quality of Life Scale is a valid instrument. Symptom severity, prednisone dosage and anxiety and depression levels impact the quality of life of patients with myasthenia gravis.

Frequência e fatores associado à disfagia após acidente vascular cerebral

PURPOSE To investigate the frequency of dysphagia in acute stroke and the possible associated clinical and sociodemographic features. METHOD A cross-sectional study was performed including 100 stroke patients who were admitted to the Minas Gerais Regional Public Hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, and the patients underwent clinical evaluation through the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). RESULTS The frequency of dysphagia was 50%, and most patients had severe swallowing disorders. Only a previous history of stroke was associated with dysphagia (p=0.02). Other sociodemographic and clinical variables were not associated with dysphagia, suggesting that the location and the pathophysiology of stroke did not influence its occurrence and severity. CONCLUSION The frequency of dysphagia after stroke is high, being a previous stroke an important risk factor for subsequent stroke.

Association between executive and food functions in the acute phase after stroke

Purpose To investigate potential associations among executive, physical and food functions in the acute phase after stroke. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated 63 patients admitted to the stroke unit of a public hospital. The exclusion criteria were other neurological and/or psychiatric diagnoses. The tools for evaluation were: Mini-Mental State Examination and Frontal Assessment Battery for cognitive functions; Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score for quantification of brain injury; National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale for neurological impairment; Modified Rankin Scale for functionality, and the Functional Oral Intake Scale for food function. Results The sample comprised 34 men (54%) and 29 women with a mean age of 63.6 years. The Frontal Assessment Battery was significantly associated with the other scales. In multivariate analysis, executive function was independently associated with the Functional Oral Intake Scale. Conclusion Most patients exhibited executive dysfunction that significantly compromised oral intake.

Evolução da deglutição no pós-AVC agudo: estudo descritivo

Purpose: to analyze the evolution of swallowing after acute stroke. Methods: this is a descriptive exploratory study with a non-probabilistic sample where 100 stroke patients were followed in the Regional Public Hospital of Betim. The patients were subjected to a structured speech evaluation in two different times: in the first 48 hours after stroke and at the time of hospital discharge. The Gugging Swallowing Screen scale was used. It is a standardized and valid tool to be used at the bedside. Results: in the initial speech evaluation, the frequency of dysphagia among patients was of 52%, being that 28% of them were diagnosed with severe dysphagia with high risk of aspiration. The average time between the initial swallowing assessment and the assessment at the hospital discharge was 22.1 days. At the hospital discharge, only 2.1% of patients still presented severe dysphagia. A change of the swallowing profile with the severity of dysphagia and texture of the oral feeding was observed. Conclusion: the frequency of post-stroke dysphagia is high, but there are progressive changes in the swallowing profile of the patients during their hospital stay.

Clinical profile of patients with myasthenia gravis followed at the University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais

OBJECTIVE to determine the clinical profile of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG); followed at the Neuromuscular Diseases Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and to compare it with other Brazilian case series. METHODS sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from patients, and a systematic literature review performed, focusing on national studies on the clinical profile of MG patients. RESULTS sixty nine patients were enrolled in the study. Fifty five (91%) subjects were female and the mean age (SD) was 37.6 (± 11.4) years. The mean disease duration was 14.1 years. Regarding treatment, prednisone was the most used strategy (64%), followed by the use of azathioprine (43%). There was no difference between thymectomized (42) and non-thymectomized (27) patients regarding disease severity and medication use. CONCLUSION clinical and socio-demographic features of this MG sample from a University-based clinic resemble those reported in other Brazilian series and in the international literature.