This review aims to reveal the effectiveness of myofunctional speech therapy on facial rejuvenation and/or improvement of orofacial function. A systematic review of four medical electronic databases (Medline, Google Scholar, SciELO, and LILACS) was conducted between January and March 2023. The research question was defined using the PICO model: Population (P): adult subjects with signs of physiological aging of facial skin. Intervention (I): aesthetic speech therapy (facial exercises and/or myofunctional therapy). Control (C): absence of treatment. Outcome (O): facial rejuvenation. Through the search process, a total of 472 potentially relevant articles were identified. A total of 21 studies were included in the review. Most of the studies required the participants to perform exercises learned during the weekly session on a daily basis. The subjects underwent an integrated treatment with facial exercises and worked on the stomatognathic functions for different durations. Many differences were found in the evaluation tools used to investigate the starting situation and the effects obtained following the treatment. At the diagnostic level, there was no concordance in the choice of the most appropriate scales and assessment tools, but great heterogeneity was observed. Indeed, forty-eight percent of the studies collected objective data through the use of various instruments (oral devices, electromyographs, cutometers, muscle ultrasound scans, and laser scans of the face). The observed improvements included not only a reduction in wrinkles and frown lines but also decreased muscle tension and slackness, enhanced facial symmetry and lip competence, improved skin elasticity, and restored stomatognathic function. These changes led to myofunctional restoration and facial rejuvenation, resulting in increased satisfaction with self-image and proprioception.

UNASSIGNED: The standard Keen\'s or the maxillary vestibular incision allows direct access to the zygomatico-maxillary complex with inadvertent transection of the facial muscles and more laborious visualisation of the zygoma.
UNASSIGNED: We describe modifications to the vestibular and Keen\'s technique, based on identification and re-orientation of the facial muscles as well as utilisation of anatomical gaps between the facial mimetic muscles.
UNASSIGNED: Our modifications are based on the principle of facial mimetic muscle identification, preservation and re-orientation to near normal anatomy.

One of the biggest challenges of computers is collecting data from human behavior, such as interpreting human emotions. Traditionally, this process is carried out by computer vision or multichannel electroencephalograms. However, they comprise heavy computational resources, far from final users or where the dataset was made. On the other side, sensors can capture muscle reactions and respond on the spot, preserving information locally without using robust computers. Therefore, the research subject is the recognition of the six primary human emotions using electromyography sensors in a portable device. They are placed on specific facial muscles to detect happiness, anger, surprise, fear, sadness, and disgust. The experimental results showed that when working with the CortexM0 microcontroller, enough computational capabilities were achieved to store a deep learning model with a classification store of 92%. Furthermore, we demonstrate the necessity of collecting data from natural environments and how they need to be processed by a machine learning pipeline.

The purpose of the study was to assess the effects of a novel technique involving facial stretching of the unaffected side along with a structured exercise for the affected side on facial symmetry and facial functions as compared to conventional exercise. A hospital-based parallel-group randomized trial was completed among patients with acute Bell\'s palsy in Mangalore, India. Participants were randomized to receive facial stretching and a structured exercise program (experimental group) or the conventional exercise regimen (conventional group). Primary outcomes were facial symmetry and voluntary movement; assessed by the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS). Both regimens were given for 3 weeks, with baseline, 10th day, and 20th day assessments. Out of 31 participants screened, 24 were eligible and 12 participants each were assigned to experimental and conventional groups. Change scores revealed greater improvement in the SFGS score (p = 0.002) for the experimental group participants. Facial stretching and structured exercise program exhibited promising results in enhancing facial symmetry and function in acute Bell\'s palsy when compared to conventional exercise regimen.

OBJECTIVE: Present the step of evidence of validity based on the responses to procedures of the MMBGR Protocol Infants and Preschoolers: Instructional and Orofacial Myofunctional Clinical History.
METHODS: Study developed according to phonoaudiologic tests validations recommendations. Validity analysis performed based on the process of instrument response. Ten speech therapists, that work on phonoaudiology clinic and/or orofacial myofunctional research on the population with age between 6 to 71 months, participated and applied the MMBGR Protocol Infants and Preschoolers: Instructional and Orofacial Myofunctional Clinical History with those responsible for the children. The speech therapists appraised the instrument applicability via Google®️ electronic forms, containing dichotic and/or multiple-choice questions, and likert scale with space to justify negative answers. The data was tabulated on Microsoft Excel 2016®️ worksheets and analyzed by the content validity index (CVI). The software R Core Team 2022 (Versão 4.2.2) was used.
RESULTS: All items from the MMBGR Protocol Infants and Preschoolers: Instructional and Orofacial Myofunctional Clinical History were valid when applied to real contexts. Orofacial Myofunctional Clinic history protocol- IVC 100% in terms of ease of application and filling and usage in professional practice; IVC 90% in terms of usefulness for phonoaudiology clinic. The instructional got IVC 80% in terms of clinic usefulness and 70% regarding to the prior reading necessity to fill the MMBGR Protocol Infants and Preschoolers.
CONCLUSIONS: The Instrucional and Orofacial Myofunctional Clinical History, in the MMBGR Protocol Infants and Preschoolers had its validity proven based on the processes of responses to the usage on phonoaudiology clinic.
OBJECTIVE: Apresentar a etapa da evidência de validade baseada nos processos de respostas do Protocolo MMBGR Lactentes e Pré-escolares: Instrutivo e História Clínica Miofuncional Orofacial.
UNASSIGNED: Estudo desenvolvido conforme recomendações para validação de testes em Fonoaudiologia. Realizada análise da validade baseada nos processos de resposta do instrumento. Participaram dez fonoaudiólogos, que atuam em clínica e/ou pesquisa da Motricidade Orofacial com população entre 6 e 71 meses de idade, que aplicaram o Protocolo MMBGR Lactentes e Pré-escolares: Instrutivo e História Clínica Miofuncional Orofacial junto aos responsáveis pelas crianças. Os fonoaudiólogos emitiram apreciação sobre aplicabilidade do instrumento via formulário eletrônico do Google®, contendo questões dicóticas e/ou múltipla escolha, e escala likert com espaço para justificar respostas negativas. Os dados foram tabulados em planilhas Microsoft Excel 2016® e analisados pelo Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC). Utilizado software R Core Team 2022 (Versão 4.2.2).
RESULTS: Todos os itens do Protocolo MMBGR Lactentes e Pré-escolares: Instrutivo e História Clínica Miofuncional Orofacial foram válidos na aplicação em contexto real. Protocolo de História Clínica Miofuncional Orofacial - IVC 100% quanto à facilidade de aplicação e preenchimento, e uso na prática profissional; e IVC 90% quanto à utilidade para clínica fonoaudiológica. O Instrutivo obteve IVC 80% quanto à utilidade e 70% referente à necessidade de leitura prévia para preenchimento do Protocolo MMBGR Lactentes e Pré-escolares.
UNASSIGNED: O Instrutivo e o Protocolo História Clínica Miofuncional Orofacial, pertencentes ao protocolo MMBGR – Lactentes e Pré-escolares tiveram comprovada validade baseada nos processos de resposta, para uso na clínica fonoaudiológica.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate oropharyngeal structures and functions in a pediatric population with Down Syndrome (DS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to correlate with the apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) and sleep questionnaires.
METHODS: 12 Children with DS and OSA, between the age of 4 and 12 years old, underwent polysomnography (PSG); sleep questionnaires, Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18); and speech-language evaluation using the Short Evaluation of Orofacial Myofunctional Protocol (ShOM).
RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between ShoM higher scores and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and between ShoM and the number of hypopneas. The orofacial myofunctional alterations observed in the studied group were: oral breathing, alteration in lip tonus and competence, tongue posture at rest and in swallowing, and occlusal alteration. There was also an increased risk for OSA according to the sleep questionnaires, as well as the presence of obesity and overweight, but without correlation with the severity of OSA.
CONCLUSIONS: All DS children show alterations in orofacial characteristics, higher scores being associated to severe OSA. Orofacial myofunctional evaluation may help to identify different phenotypes in Down syndrome children with Obstructive sleep Apnea, enhancing the need for a multidisciplinary approach.
OBJECTIVE: Investigar as estruturas e funções orofaríngeas de uma população pediátrica com Síndrome de Down (SD) e apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) e correlacionar com o índice de apneia/hipopneia (IAH) e questionários do sono.
UNASSIGNED: 12 Crianças com SD e AOS, entre 4 e 12 anos, foram submetidas à polissonografia (PSG); questionários do sono, Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) e Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18); e triagem fonoaudiológica por meio do Short Evaluation of Orofacial Myofunctional Protocol (ShOM).
RESULTS: Verificou-se uma correlação positiva entre pontuações mais elevadas no ShOM e o índice de apneia hipopneia (IAH) e entre o ShOM e número de hipopneias. As alterações miofuncionais orofaciais observadas no grupo estudado foram: respiração oral, alteração no tônus e competência labial, na postura de língua em repouso e na deglutição e alteração oclusal. Verificou-se também, um risco aumentado para AOS conforme os questionários do sono, bem como presença de obesidade e sobrepeso, mas sem correlação com a gravidade da AOS.
UNASSIGNED: Todas as crianças apresentaram alterações miofuncionais orofaciais, sendo que escores mais altos no ShOM, ou seja, um maior comprometimento miofuncional orofacial, estavam associados à maior gravidade de AOS, sugerindo que a avaliação miofuncional orofacial dentro de uma abordagem multidisciplinar pode auxiliar na identificação de fatores de risco para AOS em crianças com SD.

The evolution of facial muscles in dogs has been linked to human preferential selection of dogs whose faces appear to communicate information and emotion. Dogs who convey, especially with their eyes, a sense of perceived helplessness can elicit a caregiving response from humans. However, the facial muscles used to generate such expressions may not be uniquely present in all dogs, but rather specifically cultivated among various taxa and individuals. In a preliminary, qualitative gross anatomical evaluation of 10 canid specimens of various species, we find that the presence of two facial muscles previously implicated in human-directed canine communication, the levator anguli occuli medialis (LAOM) and the retractor anguli occuli lateralis (RAOL), was not unique to domesticated dogs (Canis familiaris). Our results suggest that these aspects of facial musculature do not necessarily reflect selection via human domestication and breeding. In addition to quantitatively evaluating more and other members of the Canidae family, future directions should include analyses of the impact of superficial facial features on canine communication and interspecies communication between dogs and humans.

UNASSIGNED: Aniseikonia is a binocular vision disorder that has been associated with asthenopic symptoms. However, asthenopia has been evaluated with subjective tests that make difficult to determine the level of aniseikonia. This study aims to objectively evaluate the impact of induced aniseikonia at different levels on visual fatigue by measuring the orbicularis oculi muscle activity in the dominant and non-dominant eyes while performing a reading task.
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-four collegiate students (24.00 ± 3.86 years) participated in this study. Participants read a passage for 7 minutes under four degrees of aniseikonia (0%, 3%, 5% and 10%) at 50 cm. Orbicularis oculi muscle activity of the dominant and non-dominant eye was recorded by surface electromyography. In addition, visual discomfort was assessed after each task by completing a questionnaire.
UNASSIGNED: Orbicularis oculi muscle activity increased under induced aniseikonia (i.e., greater values for the 10% condition in comparison to 0%, and 3% conditions (p = 0.034 and p = 0.023, respectively)). No statistically significant differences were observed in orbicularis oculi muscle activity for the time on task and between the dominant and non-dominant eyes. Additionally, higher levels of subjective visual discomfort were observed for lower degrees of induced aniseikonia.
UNASSIGNED: Induced aniseikonia increases visual fatigue at high aniseikonia degrees as measured by the orbicularis oculi muscle activity, and at low degrees as measured with subjective questionnaires. These findings may be of relevance to better understand the visual symptomatology of aniseikonia.

BACKGROUND: Recent research introduced the concept of the \"line of convergence\" as a guide for injectors to enhance precision and avoid complications when treating the frontalis muscle with toxins. However, currently, no pre-injection ultrasound scanning is employed to increase precision and reduce adverse events when searching for the line of convergence.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility and practicality of implementing pre-injection ultrasound scanning into aesthetic neuromodulator treatments of the forehead.
METHODS: The sample of this study consisted of n = 55 volunteers (42 females and 13 males), with a mean age of 42.24 (10.3) years and a mean BMI of 25.07 (4.0) kg/m2. High-frequency ultrasound imaging was utilized to measure the thickness, length, and contractility of the frontal soft tissue and to determine the precise location of the line of convergence during maximal frontalis muscle contraction.
RESULTS: The results revealed that the line of convergence was located at 58.43% (8.7) of the total forehead height above the superior border of the eyebrow cilia without a statistically significant difference between sex, age, or BMI. With frontalis muscle contraction, the forehead shortens in males by 25.90% (6.5), whereas in females it shortens only by 21.74% (5.1), with p < 0.001 for sex differences.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the feasibility and practicality of pre-injection ultrasound scanning for facial aesthetic neuromodulator treatments. Knowing the location of the line of convergence, injectors can determine precisely and on an individual basis where to administer the neuromodulator deep or superficial or when the injection location is at risk to cause eyebrow ptosis.

OBJECTIVE: Development of a technique for measuring the mechanical properties of zygomaticus major (ZM) may aid advances in clinical treatments for correcting abnormal oral posture. The objective of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the stiffness of ZM using an MR elastography technique that incorporates a custom local driver and a phase-gradient (PG) inversion.
METHODS: 2D MRE investigations were performed for 3 healthy subjects using a vibration frequency of 90 Hz to test the prediction that the stiffness of ZM would be greater in the mouth-open compared to the mouth-closed position. MRE wave images were acquired along the long axis of ZM and processed using a 2D spatial-temporal directional filter applied in the direction of wave propagation along the long axis of the muscle. Stiffness measurements were obtained by applying the PG technique to a 1D-profile drawn in the phase image of the first harmonic of the wave images and a one-tailed paired t-test was used to compare the ZM stiffness between the two mouth postures (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: The mean stiffness and standard deviation (SD) of ZM across the three participants in the mouth-closed and mouth-open postures was 6.75 kPa (SD 3.36 kPa) and 15.5 kPa (SD 5.15 kPa), respectively. Changes of ZM stiffness were significantly greater in the mouth-open than the mouth-closed posture (p = 0.038).
CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of using the PG MRE technique to measure stiffness changes in a small muscle such as ZM for different mouth postures has been demonstrated. Further investigations are required in a larger cohort of participants to investigate the sensitivity and reproducibility of the technique for potential clinical application as well as in health and beauty related studies.