Dysphagia News and Research

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Dysphagia is the medical term for the symptom of difficulty in swallowing. Although classified under "symptoms and signs" in ICD-10, the term is sometimes used as a condition in its own right. Sufferers are sometimes unaware of their dysphagia.

Duke researchers discover potential cause for ALS syndromes using mouse models

A team of researchers at Duke University Medical Center led by Dr. Paulo Ferreira and whose work was supported by the National Institutes of Health has found that derailing the transport of certain receptors that carry cargoes from and to the nucleus of motor neurons causes motor neuron disease in mice.

1 Mar 2017

Pitt researcher receives NSF CAREER Award to develop improved screening method for dysphagia

Dysphagia, or swallowing disorders, affects nearly one in 25 adults, especially the elderly and those who have suffered a stroke or neurological disease, and results in approximately 150,000 hospitalizations annually.

14 Feb 2017

IMRT linked to reduced xerostomia and feeding tube dependency in oropharyngeal cancer patients

Radiation therapy is the main treatment modality in the management of head and neck cancer.

4 Oct 2016

Cerebellar not cerebral atrophy predicts poor anti-NMDAR encephalitis outcome

Diffuse cerebral atrophy in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis does not necessarily mean irreversible brain damage, whereas progressive cerebellar atrophy may indicate a poor long-term prognosis, researchers report.

4 May 2016

Hereditary spastic paraplegia characteristics unveiled

Researchers have detailed the characteristics of a large cohort of patients with hereditary spastic paraplegias.

15 Feb 2016

Researchers discover unique muscle fibers of upper airways often present in sleep apnea patients

Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden have discovered unique muscle fibers in the soft palate of the mouth in both infants and adults. The fibers seem to be present in greater number in snorers and sleep apnea patients.

8 Dec 2015

Idera begins enrollment in IMO-8400 Phase 2 clinical trial for treatment of dermatomyositis

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing Toll-like receptor (TLR) and RNA therapeutics for patients with cancer and rare diseases, today announced that the company has commenced enrollment in a Phase 2 clinical trial of IMO-8400, an investigational TLR 7, 8 and 9 antagonist, in patients with dermatomyositis. Dermatomyositis is a rare and debilitating inflammatory muscle and skin disease associated with significant morbidity, decreased quality of life and an increased risk of premature death.

10 Nov 2015

FDA accepts Allergan's resubmission of BOTOX sBLA for treatment of adults with upper limb spasticity

Allergan plc, a leading global pharmaceutical company today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted the company's resubmission of its Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of adults with lower limb (involving ankle and toe muscles) spasticity in adults.

20 Aug 2015

Necrotising autoimmune myopathy requires early, aggressive treatment

Researchers call for the prompt recognition of necrotising autoimmune myopathy and aggressive early treatment with a combination of intravenous immune globulin, corticosteroids and a steroid-sparing agent for 3 months.

27 Jul 2015

Allergan agrees to acquire KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals for $2.1 billion

Allergan plc, a leading global pharmaceutical company, and KYTHERA Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel prescription products for the aesthetic medicine market, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Allergan has agreed to acquire KYTHERA in a cash and equity transaction valued at $75 per KYTHERA share, or approximately $2.1 billion.

17 Jun 2015

Aging associated with development of dysphagia

Nearly 40 percent of Americans 60 and older are living with a swallowing disorder known as dysphagia. Although it is a major health problem associated with aging, it is unknown whether the condition is a natural part of healthy aging or if it is caused by an age-related disease that has yet to be diagnosed, such as Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

8 Apr 2015

GW, Children's National researchers awarded $6.2 million grant to solve pediatric dysphagia

An interdisciplinary group of researchers from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and Children's National Health System has been awarded a program project grant (PPG) for $6.2 million from The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to solve pediatric dysphagia -- a chronic difficulty with feeding and swallowing in children.

17 Mar 2015

TWi Biotechnology obtains Rare Disease Drug designation in Taiwan for use of AC-203 to treat EBS

TWi Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its fully owned subsidiary, TWi Biotechnology, Inc., has received the designation of Rare Disease Drug by Taiwan FDA for use of AC-203 to treat Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex (EBS), and is eligible for applying for coverage under National Health Insurance Administration.

10 Mar 2015

New standardized approach for feeding infants in NICU improves growth of babies

A new standardized approach for feeding infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) helps babies attain full oral feeds sooner, improves their growth and sends them home sooner.

3 Mar 2015

Shire announces acquisition of Meritage Pharma

Shire plc and Meritage Pharma, Inc. announced today that Shire has acquired Meritage, a privately-held company, for an upfront fee of $70 million and additional contingent payments based on the achievement of development and regulatory milestones.

24 Feb 2015

Gastroenterology publishes landmark data from RESPECT study of Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication procedure

EndoGastric Solutions announces that Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute and the most prominent journal in the field of gastrointestinal disease, has published landmark data from the first-ever blinded, randomized, sham- and placebo-controlled clinical study of the Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) procedure.

22 Jan 2015

FDA approves Novo Nordisk’s weight loss injection, Saxenda

Novo Nordisk today announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the new drug application (NDA) for Saxenda® (liraglutide [rDNA origin] injection), the first once-daily glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist for chronic weight management.

25 Dec 2014

RT alone effective in decreasing dysphagia in patients with advanced esophageal cancer

Radiation therapy (RT) alone is as effective in decreasing swallowing complications experienced by advanced esophageal cancer patients as RT combined with chemotherapy, thus allowing patients to forgo chemotherapy, according to research presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's 56th Annual Meeting.

16 Sep 2014

GSK announces availability of once-weekly Tanzeum in pharmacies throughout the U.S.

GSK today announced that once-weekly Tanzeum (albiglutide), a prescription injectable treatment for type 2 diabetes in adults, as an adjunct to diet and exercise, is now available in pharmacies throughout the U.S.

29 Jul 2014

HRQoL changes predict survival in NSCLC

Changes in health-related quality of life during treatment may help predict survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer, suggest findings from the EORTC 08975 study.

19 May 2014