Absence Of Tongue Research Articles

Wine Flavor Perception in a Person with Isolated Congenital Aglossia, Naïve Wine Taster, and Sommelier

Objective: This study aimed to augment previous research that investigated flavor perception in isolated congenital aglossia by a whole food/beverage approach. Isolated congenital aglossia is the rare condition of absence of a tongue at birth without the presence of other symptoms. Previous studies confirmed taste perception in isolated congenital aglossia using single taste solutions including sour, salty, sweet, bitter, and umami. Methods: The current randomized, double-blinded study age- and sex-matched a naive wine taster and sommelier to the 46 year-old female with isolated congenital aglossia. A Nose and Palate Survey with 54 variables created based on the Court of Master Sommeliers Deductive Tasting Format was used to evaluate flavor perception. All of the five red wines were tested in triplicate in random order, for a total of 15 separate samples per subject. Results: There was a significant difference in overall nose ratings among the participants F(2,42)=63.461, p<0.001, with post hoc analysis revealing differences in overall nose ratings between the person with isolated congenital aglossia and sommelier (p<0.001), as well as between the naive wine taster and sommelier (p<0.001). There was a significant difference in overall palate ratings among the participants F(2,42)=48.651, p<0.001, and post hoc analysis revealed differences in overall palate ratings between the person with isolated congenital aglossia and sommelier (p<0.001), as well as between the naive wine taster and sommelier (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the person with isolated congenital aglossia and naive wine taster with a tongue for either overall nose or palate ratings. Conclusion: These results support previous findings that individuals with isolated congenital aglossia can discern various taste and flavor stimuli and suggest that absence of tongue does not greatly affect wine flavor perception among naive wine tasters.

Foxf2 is required for secondary palate development and Tgfβ signaling in palatal shelf mesenchyme

The secondary palate separates the oral from the nasal cavity and its closure during embryonic development is sensitive to genetic perturbations. Mice with deleted Foxf2, encoding a forkhead transcription factor, are born with cleft palate, and an abnormal tongue morphology has been proposed as the underlying cause. Here, we show that Foxf2−/− maxillary explants cultured in vitro, in the absence of tongue and mandible, failed to close the secondary palate. Proliferation and collagen content were decreased in Foxf2−/− palatal shelf mesenchyme. Phosphorylation of Smad2/3 was reduced in mutant palatal shelf, diagnostic of attenuated canonical Tgfβ signaling, whereas phosphorylation of p38 was increased. The amount of Tgfβ2 protein was diminished, whereas the Tgfb2 mRNA level was unaltered. Expression of several genes encoding extracellular proteins important for Tgfβ signaling were reduced in Foxf2−/− palatal shelves: a fibronectin splice-isoform essential for formation of extracellular Tgfβ latency complexes; Tgfbr3 – or betaglycan – which acts as a co-receptor and an extracellular reservoir of Tgfβ; and integrins αV and β1, which are both Tgfβ targets and required for activation of latent Tgfβ. Decreased proliferation and reduced extracellular matrix content are consistent with diminished Tgfβ signaling. We therefore propose that gene expression changes in palatal shelf mesenchyme that lead to reduced Tgfβ signaling contribute to cleft palate in Foxf2−/− mice.

Isolated aglossia in a six year old child presenting with impaired speech: a case report

IntroductionThe most mobile organ of the body, the tongue is associated with various congenital anomalies; most of which are in association with many other systemic abnormalities. Rarely do they occur in isolation. Isolated aglossia, that we presented, is one of the more rare presentations.Case presentationOur patient is a 6-year-old male child of Asiatic origin from Kashmir (India), who was physically well built and mentally sound and presented with history of impaired speech. The patient had normal velopharangeal competence but absence of tongue which was replaced by a small mucus membrane projection near the floor of oropharangeal isthmus. The patient had no difficulty in feeding or taste sensation but he was unable to pronounce lingual consonants.ConclusionIsolated aglossia is very rare condition explained on the basis of growth failure of lateral lingual swellings and tubercular impar. Such patients do not usually need reconstruction of tongue; as feeding, swallowing and taste sensations are usually intact and speech cannot be improved by reconstruction. However, malocclusion of teeth needs to be taken care of.

Correction of anterior open bite deformity: A study of tongue function, speech changes, and stability

Nine individuals with anterior open bite underwent tongue function and speech evaluation prior to treatment, postoperatively, and at three-month intervals for at least one year. Aberrant tongue function and speech improved in the absence of tongue or speech therapy during the postoperative period. Periodic clinical and cephalometric evaluation demonstrated generally good stability of treatment results for the period of study.