Τρίτη 14 Ιουνίου 2022

Alterations in kinematics of temporomandibular joint associated with chronic neck pain

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

Background

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is an umbrella term for pain and dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and its associated structures. Patients with TMD show changes in TMJ kinematics and masticatory muscle activation. TMD is commonly comorbid with non-specific chronic neck pain (NCNP), which may be one of the risk factors for TMD.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate whether patients with NCNP have altered TMJ kinematics and masticatory muscle activity.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional exploratory study including 19 healthy participants and 20 patients with NCNP but without TMD symptoms. TMJ kinematics was measured during mouth opening and closing, jaw protrusion and jaw lateral deviation. Surface electromyography was used to record the muscle activity of the anterior temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid, and upper trapezius while clenching. Furthermore, cervical posture, cervical range of motion (ROM), and pressure pain threshold of the neck and masticatory muscles were measured.

Results

Compared with the healthy group, the NCNP group showed significantly reduced upper cervical rotation ROM (p=0.041), and increased condylar path length (p=0.02), condylar translation (opening p=0.034, closing p=0.011), and mechanical pain sensitivity of the upper trapezius (p=0.018). Increased condylar translation was significantly correlated with reduced upper cervical mobility and poor cervical posture (r=−0.322 to −0.397; p=0.012–0.046).

Conclusion

Increased condylar translation and path length in patients with NCNP may indicate poor control of TMJ articular movement, which may result from neck pain or may be a compensation for limited neck mobility. Evaluation of excessive TMJ translation may be considered in patients with NCNP.

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Correlation between the intensity of Helicobacter pylori colonization and severity of gastritis: Results of a prospective study

alexandrossfakianakis shared this article with you from Inoreader

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is strongly associated with chronic gastritis and is probably the main course of chronic inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Gradually, H. pylori gastritis will result in gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Identifying the relationship between intensity of colonization and activity of gastritis helps the clinician in more effective treatment and post-treatment follow-ups. The aim of our work was to analyze the relationship between the density of H. pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa and the severity of histological parameters of gastritis (inflammation activity, gastric atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia). This was a prospective monocentric study conducted from January 2020 to December 2020, collecting patients naive to any anti-H. pylori treatment and having a chronic H. pylori infection documented by histological examination. Epidemiological, endoscopic, and anathomopathological da ta were collected. Ninety-seven patients with a mean age of 42.6 years [18–65 years] and a sex ratio of M/F = 0.64 were included. The density of H. pylori colonization was mild (+) in 43.3% of patients, moderate (++) in 47.4% of patients, and significant (+++) in 9.3% of patients. Nearly, ten per cent of patients had no gastritis, 33% had mild gastritis, 50.5% had moderate gastritis, and 6.2% had severe gastritis. Gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were found in 44.3% and 10.3% of our population, respectively. Patients with mild H. pylori colonization rates had the highest level of mild activity (59.5%). There was a statistically significant association between the severity of H. pylori infection and gastritis activity (p < .001). Gastric atrophy was significantly associated with the intensity of H. pylori colonization (p = .049). No significant relationship was found between the in tensity of colonization and metaplasia (p = .08). Our study shows that there is a statistically significant association between the density of H. pylori and histopathological findings including gastritis activity and intestinal atrophy.

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