Role of Genetic Polymorphism in Neuroplasticity Involved in Dysphagia Recovery

BBS is a scale that measure person's static and dynamic balance abilities, ranging from 0 to 56 where 56 indicated independence in gait and 0 means unable to gait. Higher change in Berg Balance Scale means improved patient's mobility.

The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) is a commonly used scale for measuring the degree of disability or dependence in the daily activities of people who have suffered a stroke or other causes of neurological disability.

It is categorical value with the the scale running from 0-6, running from perfect health without symptoms to death.

The Barthel scale or Barthel ADL index is an ordinal scale used to measure performance in activities of daily living (ADL). Each performance item is rated on this scale with a given number of points assigned to each level or ranking. Higher scores indicates indolence in ADL activities.

The Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC) is a functional walking test that evaluates ambulation ability. This 6-point scale assesses ambulation status by determining how much human support the patient requires when walking, regardless of whether or not they use a personal assistive device . Higher scores indicate better performance.

The Fugl-Meyer Assessment for upper extremity (FMA-UE)is considered to assess the body function according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) with a maximum score of 66 points)

1. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a 30-point questionnaire that is used extensively to measure cognitive impairment.[1] Higher score indicates better cognitive function.

The QOLS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring quality of life from the perspective of the patient The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and extreme problems. The patient is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking the box next to the most appropriate statement in each of the five dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number that expresses the level selected for that dimension. The digits for the five dimensions can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state.

initial PAS is a categorical scale that measures level of penetration of bolus(food) into airway at pharynx. It ranges from Score 1 to 8, where 1 indicated no airway entrance of bolus and 8 indicated glottic passage of food. Higher change in PAS indicates improvement in patient's swallowing function.

initial The Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (DOSS) is a simple, easy-to-use, 7-point scale developed to systematically rate the functional severity of dysphagia based on objective assessment and make recommendations for diet level, independence level, and type of nutrition with level 1 indicating severe dysphagia and level 7 indicating normal swallowing function.

initial SWAL-QOL is a survey that evaluation patient's subjective quality of life within their swallowing function. Scored will be sumed up where higher score indicates better quality of life.

initial Diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia will be based on ≥3 of the following features: fever (>38°C), productive cough, abnormal respiratory examination, abnormal chest radiograph; specifically involving the dependent portions of the lung; white blood cell count >12,000/mL, or isolation of a relevant pathogen and use of antibiotics)