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Swallowing With Parkinson’s | Corinne Jones | TEDxUWMadison


I am fascinated by swallowing dirty

I am fascinated by swallowing dirty jokes aside it’s really quite amazing

jokes aside it’s really quite amazing

jokes aside it’s really quite amazing how he can perform such a complex task

how he can perform such a complex task

how he can perform such a complex task with such little thoughts to move a

with such little thoughts to move a

with such little thoughts to move a piece of watermelon the 15 centimeters

piece of watermelon the 15 centimeters

piece of watermelon the 15 centimeters or so from our lips to our esophagus

or so from our lips to our esophagus

or so from our lips to our esophagus we need to precisely coordinate the

we need to precisely coordinate the

we need to precisely coordinate the contraction of 31 pairs of muscles with

contraction of 31 pairs of muscles with

contraction of 31 pairs of muscles with sensory and motor information traveling

sensory and motor information traveling

sensory and motor information traveling along six of the 12 cranial nerves after

along six of the 12 cranial nerves after

along six of the 12 cranial nerves after biting manipulating and chewing we’ve

biting manipulating and chewing we’ve

biting manipulating and chewing we’ve propelled the watermelon to the back of

propelled the watermelon to the back of

propelled the watermelon to the back of the mouth using the tongue we close off

the mouth using the tongue we close off

the mouth using the tongue we close off the nasal cavity

the nasal cavity

the nasal cavity don’t want any watermelon juice getting

don’t want any watermelon juice getting

don’t want any watermelon juice getting up the nose we valve off the opening to

up the nose we valve off the opening to

up the nose we valve off the opening to the airway release the sphincter at the

the airway release the sphincter at the

the airway release the sphincter at the top of the esophagus and drive the

top of the esophagus and drive the

top of the esophagus and drive the watermelon down the throat using the

watermelon down the throat using the

watermelon down the throat using the squeeze from the back of the tongue

squeeze from the back of the tongue

squeeze from the back of the tongue against the throat walls and all that

against the throat walls and all that

against the throat walls and all that happens in 800 milliseconds while we’re

happens in 800 milliseconds while we’re

happens in 800 milliseconds while we’re trying to remember when the firework

trying to remember when the firework

trying to remember when the firework starts swallowing is one of those

starts swallowing is one of those

starts swallowing is one of those critical life functions requiring urgent

critical life functions requiring urgent

critical life functions requiring urgent medical care if something goes wrong

medical care if something goes wrong

medical care if something goes wrong it’s one of the few motor acts that we

it’s one of the few motor acts that we

it’s one of the few motor acts that we need to be able to be able to perform at

need to be able to be able to perform at

need to be able to be able to perform at birth

birth

birth on day one in order to survive and we

on day one in order to survive and we

on day one in order to survive and we actually practice swallowing a wall in

actually practice swallowing a wall in

actually practice swallowing a wall in the womb if at any point in our lifetime

the womb if at any point in our lifetime

the womb if at any point in our lifetime something goes wrong with our swallowing

something goes wrong with our swallowing

something goes wrong with our swallowing the effects range further than just

the effects range further than just

the effects range further than just figuring out how to get nutrition and

figuring out how to get nutrition and

figuring out how to get nutrition and hydration imagine sitting at the

hydration imagine sitting at the

hydration imagine sitting at the Thanksgiving table seeing the gorgeous

Thanksgiving table seeing the gorgeous

Thanksgiving table seeing the gorgeous spread smelling the rich aroma is being

spread smelling the rich aroma is being

spread smelling the rich aroma is being able to enjoy your favorite dish or to

able to enjoy your favorite dish or to

able to enjoy your favorite dish or to participate in the debate about who

participate in the debate about who

participate in the debate about who makes a better pumpkin pie imagine not

makes a better pumpkin pie imagine not

makes a better pumpkin pie imagine not being able to take a cool drink of water

being able to take a cool drink of water

being able to take a cool drink of water into a parched throat or sip on that

into a parched throat or sip on that

into a parched throat or sip on that glorious first cup of coffee in the

glorious first cup of coffee in the

glorious first cup of coffee in the morning so treating a swallowing

morning so treating a swallowing

morning so treating a swallowing disorder is more than just figuring out

disorder is more than just figuring out

disorder is more than just figuring out the safest way to provide nutrition and

the safest way to provide nutrition and

the safest way to provide nutrition and hydration for people we want to be able

hydration for people we want to be able

hydration for people we want to be able to provide the comfort that comes along

to provide the comfort that comes along

to provide the comfort that comes along with eating and drinking and

with eating and drinking and

with eating and drinking and provide an individual the ability to

provide an individual the ability to

provide an individual the ability to participate in the many show social

participate in the many show social

participate in the many show social events that center around food and drink

events that center around food and drink

events that center around food and drink so what happens if something goes wrong

so what happens if something goes wrong

so what happens if something goes wrong with swallowing people with swallowing

with swallowing people with swallowing

with swallowing people with swallowing complaints are often seen by a

complaints are often seen by a

complaints are often seen by a speech-language pathologists such as

speech-language pathologists such as

speech-language pathologists such as myself and the most common way that we

myself and the most common way that we

myself and the most common way that we take a look at the swallow is to do a

take a look at the swallow is to do a

take a look at the swallow is to do a video x-ray so here we’re looking at the

video x-ray so here we’re looking at the

video x-ray so here we’re looking at the side of the neck we can see the mouth

side of the neck we can see the mouth

side of the neck we can see the mouth jaw and soft palate the little dangly

jaw and soft palate the little dangly

jaw and soft palate the little dangly guy in the back here throat in the upper

guy in the back here throat in the upper

guy in the back here throat in the upper left as well as the spine esophagus and

left as well as the spine esophagus and

left as well as the spine esophagus and airway in the middle of the screen

airway in the middle of the screen

airway in the middle of the screen during this evaluation the person will

during this evaluation the person will

during this evaluation the person will eat and drink food liquid with a barium

eat and drink food liquid with a barium

eat and drink food liquid with a barium contrast in it and that appears on the

contrast in it and that appears on the

contrast in it and that appears on the x-ray video is black in a healthy person

x-ray video is black in a healthy person

x-ray video is black in a healthy person we can see the material moving quickly

we can see the material moving quickly

we can see the material moving quickly through the mouth and throat all of the

through the mouth and throat all of the

through the mouth and throat all of the material is going into the esophagus the

material is going into the esophagus the

material is going into the esophagus the structures and the throat have a good

structures and the throat have a good

structures and the throat have a good range of motion none of that materials

range of motion none of that materials

range of motion none of that materials getting into the airway and there’s

getting into the airway and there’s

getting into the airway and there’s nothing left in the throat after the

nothing left in the throat after the

nothing left in the throat after the swallow

swallow

swallow isn’t that cool so this is a healthy

isn’t that cool so this is a healthy

isn’t that cool so this is a healthy swallow or what might someone look like

swallow or what might someone look like

swallow or what might someone look like with a severe swallowing disorder well

with a severe swallowing disorder well

with a severe swallowing disorder well we can already see that this person has

we can already see that this person has

we can already see that this person has some black material in the throat left

some black material in the throat left

some black material in the throat left over from a previous swallow and they’re

over from a previous swallow and they’re

over from a previous swallow and they’re having difficulty moving this lip of

having difficulty moving this lip of

having difficulty moving this lip of liquid to the back of the mouth this

liquid to the back of the mouth this

liquid to the back of the mouth this person needs multiple swallows to get

person needs multiple swallows to get

person needs multiple swallows to get that liquid down some of the liquid is

that liquid down some of the liquid is

that liquid down some of the liquid is getting into the airway but despite

getting into the airway but despite

getting into the airway but despite efforts to cop it out and there’s quite

efforts to cop it out and there’s quite

efforts to cop it out and there’s quite a bit of residue left over in the throat

a bit of residue left over in the throat

a bit of residue left over in the throat after this swallow so this is a

after this swallow so this is a

after this swallow so this is a gentleman in the late stages of

gentleman in the late stages of

gentleman in the late stages of Parkinson disease which is a

Parkinson disease which is a

Parkinson disease which is a neurodegenerative neurodegenerative

neurodegenerative neurodegenerative

neurodegenerative neurodegenerative disease which is the second most common

disease which is the second most common

disease which is the second most common in the United States after Alzheimer’s

in the United States after Alzheimer’s

in the United States after Alzheimer’s disease Parkinson disease is

disease Parkinson disease is

disease Parkinson disease is characterized by a loss of brain cells

characterized by a loss of brain cells

characterized by a loss of brain cells in a region called the substantia nigra

in a region called the substantia nigra

in a region called the substantia nigra and these brain cells produce dopamine

and these brain cells produce dopamine

and these brain cells produce dopamine which is one of the main

which is one of the main

which is one of the main neurotransmitters required for movement

neurotransmitters required for movement

neurotransmitters required for movement control classic signs of Parkinson

control classic signs of Parkinson

control classic signs of Parkinson disease include a tremor

disease include a tremor

disease include a tremor rest small slow and stiff movements and

rest small slow and stiff movements and

rest small slow and stiff movements and the limbs and stooped posture with a

the limbs and stooped posture with a

the limbs and stooped posture with a shuffling walking pattern however as we

shuffling walking pattern however as we

shuffling walking pattern however as we just saw swallowing disorders can happen

just saw swallowing disorders can happen

just saw swallowing disorders can happen in people with Parkinson disease as well

in people with Parkinson disease as well

in people with Parkinson disease as well and although swallowing disorders are a

and although swallowing disorders are a

and although swallowing disorders are a lot less visible than the classic

lot less visible than the classic

lot less visible than the classic science I mean we need an x-ray to even

science I mean we need an x-ray to even

science I mean we need an x-ray to even see in there that can pose a big problem

see in there that can pose a big problem

see in there that can pose a big problem for these patients

for these patients

for these patients Budhan liquid getting into the airway is

Budhan liquid getting into the airway is

Budhan liquid getting into the airway is a risk factor for what we call

a risk factor for what we call

a risk factor for what we call aspiration pneumonia and that’s the

aspiration pneumonia and that’s the

aspiration pneumonia and that’s the leading cause of death for people with

leading cause of death for people with

leading cause of death for people with Parkinson disease and currently there’s

Parkinson disease and currently there’s

Parkinson disease and currently there’s no cure for Parkinson’s disease so our

no cure for Parkinson’s disease so our

no cure for Parkinson’s disease so our treatments are focused around decreasing

treatments are focused around decreasing

treatments are focused around decreasing the science and symptoms and

the science and symptoms and

the science and symptoms and unfortunately the main medications and

unfortunately the main medications and

unfortunately the main medications and surgeries that improve motor function in

surgeries that improve motor function in

surgeries that improve motor function in the limbs in patients with Parkinson

the limbs in patients with Parkinson

the limbs in patients with Parkinson disease do not meaningfully improve

disease do not meaningfully improve

disease do not meaningfully improve swallowing function so these people are

swallowing function so these people are

swallowing function so these people are left to behavioral treatments such as

left to behavioral treatments such as

left to behavioral treatments such as exercise in order to improve their

exercise in order to improve their

exercise in order to improve their swallowing so what can we do to improve

swallowing so what can we do to improve

swallowing so what can we do to improve a condition that could potentially

a condition that could potentially

a condition that could potentially shorten the life span of a person with

shorten the life span of a person with

shorten the life span of a person with Parkinson disease well let’s look at a

Parkinson disease well let’s look at a

Parkinson disease well let’s look at a progression about how how this might go

progression about how how this might go

progression about how how this might go for someone surely after or after the

for someone surely after or after the

for someone surely after or after the diagnosis of Parkinson disease typically

diagnosis of Parkinson disease typically

diagnosis of Parkinson disease typically some time passes before the person or

some time passes before the person or

some time passes before the person or their family members start to realize

their family members start to realize

their family members start to realize changes to swallowing so this might be

changes to swallowing so this might be

changes to swallowing so this might be something like coughing after taking a

something like coughing after taking a

something like coughing after taking a sip of liquid these changes progress to

sip of liquid these changes progress to

sip of liquid these changes progress to a problematic point such as that would

a problematic point such as that would

a problematic point such as that would warrant a report to the primary care

warrant a report to the primary care

warrant a report to the primary care provider who would then generate a

provider who would then generate a

provider who would then generate a referral to a speech-language

referral to a speech-language

referral to a speech-language pathologist who had been performance

pathologist who had been performance

pathologist who had been performance objective swallowing evaluation such as

objective swallowing evaluation such as

objective swallowing evaluation such as the x-ray videos that we saw and from

the x-ray videos that we saw and from

the x-ray videos that we saw and from what was seen in those x-ray videos

what was seen in those x-ray videos

what was seen in those x-ray videos speech pathologists would recommend a

speech pathologists would recommend a

speech pathologists would recommend a treatment program that’s reactive to the

treatment program that’s reactive to the

treatment program that’s reactive to the science and symptoms so something like I

science and symptoms so something like I

science and symptoms so something like I noticed this structure in the throats

noticed this structure in the throats

noticed this structure in the throats not moving as much as it should so I’m

not moving as much as it should so I’m

not moving as much as it should so I’m going to strengthen the muscles that are

going to strengthen the muscles that are

going to strengthen the muscles that are responsible for moving that structure

responsible for moving that structure

responsible for moving that structure this reactive treatment paradigm can

this reactive treatment paradigm can

this reactive treatment paradigm can lead to variable outcomes for these

lead to variable outcomes for these

lead to variable outcomes for these patients most

patients most

patients most because by the time it takes to get

because by the time it takes to get

because by the time it takes to get through this pipeline the progression of

through this pipeline the progression of

through this pipeline the progression of the disease may have passed an ideal

the disease may have passed an ideal

the disease may have passed an ideal point for behavioral swallowing

point for behavioral swallowing

point for behavioral swallowing treatment and a person may have

treatment and a person may have

treatment and a person may have difficulty returning to a desired level

difficulty returning to a desired level

difficulty returning to a desired level of function say having a steak dinner

of function say having a steak dinner

of function say having a steak dinner and having a glass of wine so then why

and having a glass of wine so then why

and having a glass of wine so then why don’t speech-language pathologists see

don’t speech-language pathologists see

don’t speech-language pathologists see people suturing the progression of the

people suturing the progression of the

people suturing the progression of the disease of Parkinson’s well let’s take a

disease of Parkinson’s well let’s take a

disease of Parkinson’s well let’s take a look at a swallowing video from someone

look at a swallowing video from someone

look at a swallowing video from someone in the early stages so we can notice the

in the early stages so we can notice the

in the early stages so we can notice the liquid is moving quickly through the

liquid is moving quickly through the

liquid is moving quickly through the throat structures have good range of

throat structures have good range of

throat structures have good range of motion no materials getting into the

motion no materials getting into the

motion no materials getting into the airway and there’s no residue left over

airway and there’s no residue left over

airway and there’s no residue left over after the swallow this is a beautiful

after the swallow this is a beautiful

after the swallow this is a beautiful swallow but as a clinician I have

swallow but as a clinician I have

swallow but as a clinician I have nothing to react to in this swallow from

nothing to react to in this swallow from

nothing to react to in this swallow from what I see there are no therapy therapy

what I see there are no therapy therapy

what I see there are no therapy therapy items that that would improve the

items that that would improve the

items that that would improve the swallow because it’s already a good

swallow because it’s already a good

swallow because it’s already a good swallow and of the problem in order to

swallow and of the problem in order to

swallow and of the problem in order to start a rehabilitation plan as a

start a rehabilitation plan as a

start a rehabilitation plan as a therapist I need to be able to document

therapist I need to be able to document

therapist I need to be able to document a change in function from a typical

a change in function from a typical

a change in function from a typical person it might be that at this point in

person it might be that at this point in

person it might be that at this point in the progression of the disease the

the progression of the disease the

the progression of the disease the muscles nerves and brain regions

muscles nerves and brain regions

muscles nerves and brain regions responsible for swallowing aren’t yet

responsible for swallowing aren’t yet

responsible for swallowing aren’t yet affected or it could be that a

affected or it could be that a

affected or it could be that a swallowing evaluation such as this x-ray

swallowing evaluation such as this x-ray

swallowing evaluation such as this x-ray is not sensitive enough to detect very

is not sensitive enough to detect very

is not sensitive enough to detect very subtle deviations and motor controls for

subtle deviations and motor controls for

subtle deviations and motor controls for swallowing so you may have noticed these

swallowing so you may have noticed these

swallowing so you may have noticed these black rectangles in this person’s throat

black rectangles in this person’s throat

black rectangles in this person’s throat you haven’t seen those on the other

you haven’t seen those on the other

you haven’t seen those on the other x-rays these are high resolution

x-rays these are high resolution

x-rays these are high resolution pressure sensors and we can now

pressure sensors and we can now

pressure sensors and we can now objectively measure swallowing pressures

objectively measure swallowing pressures

objectively measure swallowing pressures from all along the throat and as I said

from all along the throat and as I said

from all along the throat and as I said before when we swallow food and liquid

before when we swallow food and liquid

before when we swallow food and liquid doesn’t just magically glide down our

doesn’t just magically glide down our

doesn’t just magically glide down our throat we have to actively contract

throat we have to actively contract

throat we have to actively contract muscle groups in the mouth and throat to

muscle groups in the mouth and throat to

muscle groups in the mouth and throat to push it down and we can measure the

push it down and we can measure the

push it down and we can measure the pressures as a result of those muscle

pressures as a result of those muscle

pressures as a result of those muscle contractions and a fine scale and get a

contractions and a fine scale and get a

contractions and a fine scale and get a wealth of objective data about the

wealth of objective data about the

wealth of objective data about the swallow great so then what do swallowing

swallow great so then what do swallowing

swallow great so then what do swallowing pressures look like in patients in the

pressures look like in patients in the

pressures look like in patients in the early stages of Parkinson disease well

early stages of Parkinson disease well

early stages of Parkinson disease well that’s just narrow our focus to one

that’s just narrow our focus to one

that’s just narrow our focus to one region of the throat so we’ll look at

region of the throat so we’ll look at

region of the throat so we’ll look at the region where the back of the

the region where the back of the

the region where the back of the presses up against the walls of the

presses up against the walls of the

presses up against the walls of the throat and we can compare swallowing

throat and we can compare swallowing

throat and we can compare swallowing pressure waves from a healthy individual

pressure waves from a healthy individual

pressure waves from a healthy individual as you’ll see on the left and someone in

as you’ll see on the left and someone in

as you’ll see on the left and someone in the early stages of Parkinson disease on

the early stages of Parkinson disease on

the early stages of Parkinson disease on the right and we can look at a single

the right and we can look at a single

the right and we can look at a single swallow but we really start to see more

swallow but we really start to see more

swallow but we really start to see more interesting things if we look at

interesting things if we look at

interesting things if we look at multiple swallows from the same person

multiple swallows from the same person

multiple swallows from the same person if we overlay multiple swallowing

if we overlay multiple swallowing

if we overlay multiple swallowing pressure waves at the same level in the

pressure waves at the same level in the

pressure waves at the same level in the throat over multiple swallows of the

throat over multiple swallows of the

throat over multiple swallows of the same amount of liquid we can see an

same amount of liquid we can see an

same amount of liquid we can see an interesting phenomenon namely the person

interesting phenomenon namely the person

interesting phenomenon namely the person with Parkinson disease is generating a

with Parkinson disease is generating a

with Parkinson disease is generating a swallowing pressure pattern that is more

swallowing pressure pattern that is more

swallowing pressure pattern that is more variable than the healthy person and we

variable than the healthy person and we

variable than the healthy person and we can objectively measure the degree to

can objectively measure the degree to

can objectively measure the degree to this variability this within individual

this variability this within individual

this variability this within individual variability in motor movement is not

variability in motor movement is not

variability in motor movement is not limited to swallowing in Parkinson

limited to swallowing in Parkinson

limited to swallowing in Parkinson disease it’s also seen in other motor

disease it’s also seen in other motor

disease it’s also seen in other motor systems such as fine motor control in

systems such as fine motor control in

systems such as fine motor control in the hand and in the walking pattern and

the hand and in the walking pattern and

the hand and in the walking pattern and this variability in swallowing motor

this variability in swallowing motor

this variability in swallowing motor control would not be able to be seen

control would not be able to be seen

control would not be able to be seen without an objective evaluation such as

without an objective evaluation such as

without an objective evaluation such as the swallowing pressure evaluation so

the swallowing pressure evaluation so

the swallowing pressure evaluation so great we have something to now

great we have something to now

great we have something to now objectively document a change in typical

objectively document a change in typical

objectively document a change in typical function in these patients in the early

function in these patients in the early

function in these patients in the early stages of swallowing disorders and the

stages of swallowing disorders and the

stages of swallowing disorders and the patients that we’ve seen in the lab that

patients that we’ve seen in the lab that

patients that we’ve seen in the lab that I work in this variability happens more

I work in this variability happens more

I work in this variability happens more or less throughout the throat and even

or less throughout the throat and even

or less throughout the throat and even in the absence of changes seen on an

in the absence of changes seen on an

in the absence of changes seen on an x-ray swallowing study so it seems to

x-ray swallowing study so it seems to

x-ray swallowing study so it seems to better suit these patients to move from

better suit these patients to move from

better suit these patients to move from a reactive treatment model waiting for

a reactive treatment model waiting for

a reactive treatment model waiting for science and symptoms of a swallowing

science and symptoms of a swallowing

science and symptoms of a swallowing dysfunction to occur and then trying to

dysfunction to occur and then trying to

dysfunction to occur and then trying to go in and rehabilitate a disordered

go in and rehabilitate a disordered

go in and rehabilitate a disordered swallow to a more proactive treatment

swallow to a more proactive treatment

swallow to a more proactive treatment model where someone has seen or by

model where someone has seen or by

model where someone has seen or by speech-language pathologists soon after

speech-language pathologists soon after

speech-language pathologists soon after diagnosis undergoes an objective

diagnosis undergoes an objective

diagnosis undergoes an objective swallowing evaluation and then is put

swallowing evaluation and then is put

swallowing evaluation and then is put through a proactive treatment model

through a proactive treatment model

through a proactive treatment model where the goal is to preserve a high

where the goal is to preserve a high

where the goal is to preserve a high level of swallowing function for as long

level of swallowing function for as long

level of swallowing function for as long as possible if we can prolong the amount

as possible if we can prolong the amount

as possible if we can prolong the amount of time that a person with Parkinson

of time that a person with Parkinson

of time that a person with Parkinson disease is able to safely swallow we can

disease is able to safely swallow we can

disease is able to safely swallow we can be able to prolong not only the lifespan

be able to prolong not only the lifespan

be able to prolong not only the lifespan of that person but their quality of life

of that person but their quality of life

of that person but their quality of life and this model of swallowing

and this model of swallowing

and this model of swallowing Proactive treatment is not limited to

Proactive treatment is not limited to

Proactive treatment is not limited to swallowing and Parkinson disease with

swallowing and Parkinson disease with

swallowing and Parkinson disease with improvements in diagnostics health

improvements in diagnostics health

improvements in diagnostics health monitoring and big data and now is this

monitoring and big data and now is this

monitoring and big data and now is this we have the potential to widen the scope

we have the potential to widen the scope

we have the potential to widen the scope of proactive treatments across many

of proactive treatments across many

of proactive treatments across many different dysfunctions in different

different dysfunctions in different

different dysfunctions in different chronic and degenerative diseases if our

chronic and degenerative diseases if our

chronic and degenerative diseases if our goal is to preserve a good level of

goal is to preserve a good level of

goal is to preserve a good level of function the person will be better

function the person will be better

function the person will be better equipped as their disease progresses or

equipped as their disease progresses or

equipped as their disease progresses or even as they age and if we shift towards

even as they age and if we shift towards

even as they age and if we shift towards more objective evaluations in healthcare

more objective evaluations in healthcare

more objective evaluations in healthcare we cannot learn more we can not only

we cannot learn more we can not only

we cannot learn more we can not only learn more about a disease process but

learn more about a disease process but

learn more about a disease process but we can document evidence for treatment

we can document evidence for treatment

we can document evidence for treatment efficacy or non efficacy and we can get

efficacy or non efficacy and we can get

efficacy or non efficacy and we can get a clear understanding of rehabilitation

a clear understanding of rehabilitation

a clear understanding of rehabilitation in general so clearly there’s a lot of

in general so clearly there’s a lot of

in general so clearly there’s a lot of work left to be done here and there are

work left to be done here and there are

work left to be done here and there are a lot of unanswered questions but we

a lot of unanswered questions but we

a lot of unanswered questions but we move forward still because preserving a

move forward still because preserving a

move forward still because preserving a person’s ability to eat and to drink is

person’s ability to eat and to drink is

person’s ability to eat and to drink is not a trivial matter thank you and

not a trivial matter thank you and

not a trivial matter thank you and Cheers

Cheers

Cheers [Applause]

”

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