Electromyographic muscle EMG activity in mouth and nasal breathing children

Mouth breathing may cause changes in muscle activity, because an upper airway obstruction leads may cause a person to extend his/her head forward, demanding a higher inspiratory effort on the accessory muscles (sternocleidomastoids). This purpose of this study is to compare, using electromyography (EMG), the activity pattern the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles in mouth breathing children and nasal breathing children. Forty-six children, ages 8-12 years, 33 male and 13 female were included. The selected children were divided into two groups: Group I consisted of 26 mouth breathing children, and Group II, 20 nasal breathing children. EMG recordings were made using surface electrodes bilaterally in the areas of the sternocleidomastoideus and upper trapezius muscles, while relaxed and during maximal voluntary contraction. The data were analyzed using the Kruskall-Wallis statistical test. The results indicated higher activity during relaxation and lower activity during maximal voluntary contraction in mouth breathers when compared to the nasal breathers. It is suggested that the activity pattern of the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscles differs between mouth breathing children and nasal breathing children. This may be attributed to changes in body posture which causes muscular imbalance. Because of the limitations of surface EMG, the results need to be confirmed by adding force measurements and repeating the experiments with matched subjects. Copyright © 2004 by CHROMA, Inc.

A comparison of nasopharyngeal endoscopy and lateral cephalometric radiography in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal airway obstruction

Two auxiliary methods of diagnosing nasopharyngeal airway obstruction were compared. Cephalometric radiography and nasopharyngeal videoendoscopy were evaluated for efficacy in terms of reproducibility and validity. Thirty orthodontic patients (7 to 12 years of age) seeking otorhinolaryngologic treatment for mouth breathing, or mouth and nose breathing, had nasopharyngeal endoscopy and radiographic examinations performed on the same day. Two otorhinolaryngologists analyzed the results. Nasopharyngeal endoscopy was more reliable in identifying all the obstructive nasopharyngeal processes. Endoscopy obtained kappa index scores of almost perfect agreement for diagnosis of posterior nasal septum deviation, of substantial agreement for anterior nasal septum deviation and lower turbinate hypertrophy, and of moderate agreement for middle turbinate hypertrophy. Lateral cephalometric radiography obtained scores of perfect agreement for imaging hypertrophy of the middle turbinate, of almost perfect agreement for imaging hypertrophy of the posterior portion of the inferior turbinate, and of substantial agreement for imaging hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate. Radiographic diagnoses of hypertrophy of the middle and lower turbinates exhibited high sensitivity and low specificity when compared with diagnoses by nasopharyngeal endoscopy.

ANÁLISE CEFALOMÉTRICA COMPARATIVA ENTRE CRIANÇAS RESPIRADORAS BUCAIS E NASAIS

Existem muitas controvérsias sobre a real interferência da respiração no crescimento craniofacial. Este estudo avaliou a possível relação da influência do padrão respiratório com as variáveis cefalométricas: 1) variáveis esqueléticas sagitais: convexidade do ponto A, profundidade facial, profundidade da maxila e comprimento do corpo mandibular; 2) variáveis esqueléticas verticais: altura facial inferior, eixo facial, cone facial, plano palatal, plano mandibular, altura facial posterior e arco mandibular; 3) variáveis dentárias: protrusão do incisivo inferior e protrusão do incisivo superior. A amostra constituiu-se de 120 crianças do sexo masculino e do sexo feminino com más-oclusões dentárias de Classe I e II-1, respiradores bucais e nasais na fase da dentadura mista e permanente, com indicação para tratamento ortodôntico. Após as avaliações ortodôntica, otorrinolaringológica e fonoaudiológica a amostra foi dividida em 2 grupos: 60 crianças portadoras de más-oclusões Classe I e Classe II-1 respiradoras bucais e 60 crianças portadoras de más-oclusões Classe I e Classe II-1 respiradoras nasais, sendo cada grupo divididos em 3 subgrupos nas faixas etárias: 7 a 8 anos, 9 a 10 anos e 11 a 12 anos. Após a obtenção dos resultados e a interpretação da análise estatística, foi possível concluir que: 1) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis esqueléticas sagitais: constatou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante, apresentando-se as variáveis cefalométricas: Convexidade pto. A: aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 7 a 8 anos com má-oclusão Classe I. Profundidade facial : aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1. Profundidade maxila: aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1; 2) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis esqueléticas verticais: constatou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante, apresentando-se as variáveis cefalométricas: Cone facial: diminuída no grupo de respiração bucal, idade 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe I. Arco mandibular : diminuída no grupo de respiração bucal, idade 7 a 8 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1.; 3) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis dentárias: constatou-se que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhuma das variáveis dentárias analisadas: protrusão do incisivo inferior e superior , não se relacionando com os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal).

ANÁLISE CEFALOMÉTRICA COMPARATIVA ENTRE CRIANÇAS RESPIRADORAS BUCAIS E NASAIS

Existem muitas controvérsias sobre a real interferência da respiração no crescimento craniofacial. Este estudo avaliou a possível relação da influência do padrão respiratório com as variáveis cefalométricas: 1) variáveis esqueléticas sagitais: convexidade do ponto A, profundidade facial, profundidade da maxila e comprimento do corpo mandibular; 2) variáveis esqueléticas verticais: altura facial inferior, eixo facial, cone facial, plano palatal, plano mandibular, altura facial posterior e arco mandibular; 3) variáveis dentárias: protrusão do incisivo inferior e protrusão do incisivo superior. A amostra constituiu-se de 120 crianças do sexo masculino e do sexo feminino com más-oclusões dentárias de Classe I e II-1, respiradores bucais e nasais na fase da dentadura mista e permanente, com indicação para tratamento ortodôntico. Após as avaliações ortodôntica, otorrinolaringológica e fonoaudiológica a amostra foi dividida em 2 grupos: 60 crianças portadoras de más-oclusões Classe I e Classe II-1 respiradoras bucais e 60 crianças portadoras de más-oclusões Classe I e Classe II-1 respiradoras nasais, sendo cada grupo divididos em 3 subgrupos nas faixas etárias: 7 a 8 anos, 9 a 10 anos e 11 a 12 anos. Após a obtenção dos resultados e a interpretação da análise estatística, foi possível concluir que: 1) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis esqueléticas sagitais: constatou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante, apresentando-se as variáveis cefalométricas: Convexidade pto. A: aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 7 a 8 anos com má-oclusão Classe I. Profundidade facial : aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1. Profundidade maxila: aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1; 2) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis esqueléticas verticais: constatou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante, apresentando-se as variáveis cefalométricas: Cone facial: diminuída no grupo de respiração bucal, idade 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe I. Arco mandibular : diminuída no grupo de respiração bucal, idade 7 a 8 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1.; 3) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis dentárias: constatou-se que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhuma das variáveis dentárias analisadas: protrusão do incisivo inferior e superior , não se relacionando com os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal).

ANÁLISE CEFALOMÉTRICA COMPARATIVA ENTRE CRIANÇAS RESPIRADORAS BUCAIS E NASAIS

Existem muitas controvérsias sobre a real interferência da respiração no crescimento craniofacial. Este estudo avaliou a possível relação da influência do padrão respiratório com as variáveis cefalométricas: 1) variáveis esqueléticas sagitais: convexidade do ponto A, profundidade facial, profundidade da maxila e comprimento do corpo mandibular; 2) variáveis esqueléticas verticais: altura facial inferior, eixo facial, cone facial, plano palatal, plano mandibular, altura facial posterior e arco mandibular; 3) variáveis dentárias: protrusão do incisivo inferior e protrusão do incisivo superior. A amostra constituiu-se de 120 crianças do sexo masculino e do sexo feminino com más-oclusões dentárias de Classe I e II-1, respiradores bucais e nasais na fase da dentadura mista e permanente, com indicação para tratamento ortodôntico. Após as avaliações ortodôntica, otorrinolaringológica e fonoaudiológica a amostra foi dividida em 2 grupos: 60 crianças portadoras de más-oclusões Classe I e Classe II-1 respiradoras bucais e 60 crianças portadoras de más-oclusões Classe I e Classe II-1 respiradoras nasais, sendo cada grupo divididos em 3 subgrupos nas faixas etárias: 7 a 8 anos, 9 a 10 anos e 11 a 12 anos. Após a obtenção dos resultados e a interpretação da análise estatística, foi possível concluir que: 1) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis esqueléticas sagitais: constatou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante, apresentando-se as variáveis cefalométricas: Convexidade pto. A: aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 7 a 8 anos com má-oclusão Classe I. Profundidade facial : aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1. Profundidade maxila: aumentada no grupo de respiração bucal, idade de 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1; 2) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis esqueléticas verticais: constatou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significante, apresentando-se as variáveis cefalométricas: Cone facial: diminuída no grupo de respiração bucal, idade 9 a 10 anos com má-oclusão Classe I. Arco mandibular : diminuída no grupo de respiração bucal, idade 7 a 8 anos com má-oclusão Classe II-1.; 3) das relações entre os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal) e as variáveis dentárias: constatou-se que não houve diferença estatisticamente significante para nenhuma das variáveis dentárias analisadas: protrusão do incisivo inferior e superior , não se relacionando com os padrões respiratórios (bucal e nasal).

Electromyographic evaluation of the upper lip according to the breathing mode: A longitudinal study

The present study aimed at analyzing and comparing longitudinally the EMG (electromyographic activity) of the superior orbicularis oris muscle according to the breathing mode. The sample, 38 adolescents with Angle Class II Division 1 malocclusion with predominantly nose (PNB) or mouth (PMB) breathing, was evaluated at two different periods, with a two-year interval between them. For that purpose, a 16-channel electromyography machine was employed, which was properly calibrated in a PC equipped with an analogue-digital converter, with utilization of surface, passive and bipolar electrodes. The RMS data (root mean square) were collected at rest and in 12 movements and normalized according to time and amplitude, by the peak value of EMG, in order to allow comparisons between subjects and between periods. Comparison of the muscle function of PNB and PMB subjects at period 1 (P1), period 2 (P2) and the variation between periods (Δ) did not reveal statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.05). However, longitudinal evaluation of the muscle function in PNB and PMB subjects demonstrated different evolutions in the percentage of required EMG for accomplishment of the movements investigated. It was possible to conclude that there are differences in the percentage of electric activity of the upper lip with the growth of the subjects according to the breathing mode.

Changes in facial morphology after adenotonsillectomy in mouth-breathing children

Background. Morphological and dentofacial alterations have been attributed to impaired respiratory function. Objective. To examine the influence of mouth breathing (MB) on children facial morphology before and after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Methods. Thirty-three MB children who restored nasal breathing (NB) after surgery and 22 NB children were evaluated. Both groups were submitted to lateral cephalometry, at time 1 (T1) before and at time 2 (T2) 28months on average postoperatively. Results. Comparison between the MB and NB groups at T1 showed that mouth breathers had higher inclination of the mandibular plane; more obtuse gonial angle; dolichofacial morphology; and a decrease in the total and inferior posterior facial heights. Twenty-eight months after the MB surgical intervention, they still presented a dolichofacial morphologic pattern. During this period, MB altered the face growth direction and decreased their mandible plane inclination, with reduction in the SN.GoGn, PP.MP, SNGn, and ArGo.GoMe parameters as well as an increase in BaN.PtGn. Conclusion. After the MB rehabilitation, children between 3 and 6years old presented significant normalization in the mandibular growth direction, a decrease in the mandible inclination, and an increase in the posterior facial height. Instead, they still persisted with a dolichofacial pattern when compared with nasal breathers. © 2011 The Authors. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry © 2011 BSPD, IAPD and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Determination of particle concentration in the breathing zone for four different types of office ventilation systems

Many factors affect the airflow patterns, thermal comfort, contaminant removal efficiency and indoor air quality at individual workstations in office buildings. In this study, four ventilation systems were used in a test chamber designed to represent an area of a typical office building floor and reproduce the real characteristics of a modern office space. Measurements of particle concentration and thermal parameters (temperature and velocity) were carried out for each of the following types of ventilation systems: a) conventional air distribution system with ceiling supply and return; b) conventional air distribution system with ceiling supply and return near the floor; c) underfloor air distribution system; and d) split system. The measurements aimed to analyse the particle removal efficiency in the breathing zone and the impact of particle concentration on an individual at the workstation. The efficiency of the ventilation system was analysed by measuring particle size and concentration, ventilation effectiveness and the Indoor/Outdoor ratio. Each ventilation system showed different airflow patterns and the efficiency of each ventilation system in the removal of the particles in the breathing zone showed no correlation with particle size and the various methods of analyses used.

Understanding nonsense : breathing life into shibboleths and killing critical thought in higher education

In this paper, I focus on the growing "nonsense industry" which is most apparent in the writing typical of business, government departments, and the financial press. This writing, like technical writing, is characterised by heavy reliance on grammatical metaphor. It endows shibboleths - for instance, "globalisation"; "efficiencies"; "competition"; "modernisation"; "consumer sentiment"; "reform"; and so on - with anthropomorphic qualities. These anthropomorphic artefacts of technocratised language are then presented as having immutable powers over people. Thus they become banal public excuses for negligent practices in both business and government.

Governing the dangerous classes : welcome to E-Nose, CCTV and the Mosquito

In urban locations in Australia and elsewhere, public space may be said to be under attack from developers and also from attempts by civic authorities to oversee and control it (Davis 1995, Mitchell 2003, Watson 2006, Iveson 2006). The use of public space use by young people in particular, raises issues in Australia and elsewhere in the world. In a context of monitoring and control procedures, young people’s use of public space is often viewed as a threat to the prevailing social order (Loader 1996, White 1998, Crane and Dee 2001). This paper discusses recent technological developments in the surveillance, governance and control of public space used by young people, children and people of all ages.

Lung health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders : breathing easy is not so easy

Objectives In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland, to (a) determine the disease burden of common chronic lung diseases and (b) identify areas of need with respect to lung health services. Methods Literature reviews and analyses of hospitalisation and mortality data were used to describe disease epidemiology and available programs and services. Key stakeholder interviews and an online survey of health professionals were used to evaluate lung health services across the state and to identify services, needs and gaps. Results Morbidity and mortality from respiratory diseases in the Indigenous population is substantially higher than the non-Indigenous population across all age groups and regions. There are inadequate clinical services and resources to address disease prevention, detection, intervention and management in an evidence-based and culturally acceptable fashion. There is a lack of culturally appropriate educational resources and management programs, insufficient access to appropriately engaged Indigenous health professionals, a lack of multi-disciplinary specialist outreach teams, fragmented information systems and inadequate coordination of care. Conclusions Major initiatives are required at all levels of the healthcare system to adequately address service provision for Indigenous Queenslanders with lung diseases, including high quality research to investigate the causes for poor lung health, which are likely to be multifactorial.

'Bacon - hold the eggs' for uncontrollable nose bleeds

Almost everyone experiences a nosebleed at some time during their lives. In many cases, these nosebleeds are self-limiting, resolve without medical attention, and tend to be nothing more than a minor nuisance. However, in some instances they can be life threatening and urgent medical attention is required. One of these instances is when people who have Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) experience a nosebleed...

Walking and talking with living texts: Breathing life against static standardisation

Current educational reform, policy and public discourse emphasise standardisation of testing, curricula and professional practice, yet the landscape of literacy practices today is fluid, interactive, multimodal, ever-changing, adaptive and collaborative. How then can English and literacy educators negotiate these conflicting terrains? The nature of today’s literacy practices is reflected in a concept of living texts which refers to experienced events and encounters that offer meaning-making that is fluid, interactive and changing. Literacy learning possibilities with living texts are described and discussed by the authors who independently investigated the place of living texts across two distinctly different learning contexts: a young people’s community arts project and a co-taught multiliteracies project in a high school. In the community arts project, young people created living texts as guided walks of urban spaces that adapt and change to varying audiences. In the multiliteracies project, two parents and a teacher created interactive spaces through co-teaching and cogenerative dialoguing. These spaces generate living texts that yield a purposefully connected curriculum rich in community-relevant and culturally significant texts. These two studies are shared with a view of bringing living texts into literacy education to loosen rigidity in standardisation.