Jerzy Margielewicz

Assessment of the TMJ Dysfunction Using the Computerized Facebow Analysis of Selected Parameters

The Purpose of the Paper. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of selected parameters of mandible movements, electronically registered in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction and healthy ones. Material. Function test of the mandible movements was conducted in 175 patients. Gender distribution was 143 women and 32 men, aged 9 to 84. Methods. The studied population, after accurate clinical examination, was divided into age groups with the range of five years. All the patients had Zebris JMA computerized facebow examination done, according to the generally accepted principles and procedures. Results. Mean values of mouth opening calculated to 45.6 mm in healthy group and 37.6 mm in TMJ dysfunction group. Mean length of condylar path amounted to 39 ± 7% of the maximum value of mouth opening in the group of healthy people, 44 ± 11% in the case of muscle-based disorders, and 35 ± 11% with joint-based. The mean value of the condylar path inclination oscillated in the range of 25° to 45°. Conclusions. The ratio of length of the condylar path to the size of mouth opening may be a significant value characterising the type and degree of intensification of the TMJ dysfunctions.

Development of the Silesian Logistic Centres in Terms of Handling Improvement in Intermodal Transport on the East-West Routes

The chapter presents the characteristics of Silesian logistics centres as the most important elements of logistics point infrastructure in the south of Poland, serving connections and integrating various branches of transport in East-West relations. The analysis was carried out on the example of the centre in Gliwice—located in the inland port in the west of the Silesian Province and the centre in Slawkow—the point in Europe with the easternmost broad-gauge (1520 mm) railway line. These centres support the second largest in terms of population and the first in terms of industrialization region in Poland—the province of Silesia. The authors focused on presenting the development that has taken place over the last few years in both centres. The expansion and new equipment made it possible to significantly increase the throughput and capacity of handling and storage. The parameters of handling machines for container reloading have been characterized and compared, which in recent years have been installed in two container terminals. In addition, the warehouse space and its equipment, handling capacity, advantages and disadvantages of the applied solutions and development plans were presented. A separate theme is the characterization of the location of both logistic centres and accompanying facilities in the Polish transport system and on the east-west line. As well as the characteristics of the location giving opportunities for the development and increase of intermodality of transhipments and implementation of international and intercontinental transports. As part of this, the comparison of reloading machines and trends in their application and construction are presented. The chapter is concluded with a summary and conclusions regarding the planned increase in cargo transport about the new Silk Road.

Model identification of stomatognathic muscle system activity during mastication

The present study aimed to determine the numeric projection of the function of the mandible and muscle system during mastication. An experimental study was conducted on a healthy 47 year-old subject. On clinical examination no functional disorders were observed. To evaluate the activity of mastication during muscle functioning, bread cubes and hazelnuts were selected (2 cm2 and 1.2/1.3 cm in diameter, respectively) for condyloid processing. An assessment of the activity of mastication during muscle functioning was determined on the basis of numeric calculations conducted with a novel software programme, Kinematics 3D, designed specifically for this study. The efficacy of the model was verified by ensuring the experimentally recorded trajectories were concordant with those calculated numerically. Experimental measurements of the characteristic points of the mandible trajectory were recorded six times. Using the configuration coordinates that were calculated, the dominant componential harmonics of the amplitude-frequency spectrum were identified. The average value of the dominant frequency during mastication of the bread cubes was ~1.16±0.06 Hz, whereas in the case of the hazelnut, this value was nearly two-fold higher at 1.84±0.07 Hz. The most asymmetrical action during mastication was demonstrated to be carried out by the lateral pterygoid muscles, provided that their functioning was not influenced by food consistency. The consistency of the food products had a decisive impact on the frequency of mastication and the number of cycles necessary to grind the food. Model tests on the function of the masticatory organ serve as effective tools since they provide qualitative and quantitative novel information on the functioning of the human masticatory organ.

Evaluation of articular disc loading in the temporomandibular joints after prosthetic and pharmacological treatment in model studies.

BACKGROUND Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is often related to excessive load in the stomatognathic system. OBJECTIVES The objective of the model tests, using numeric calculations, was to assess the articular disc loads in the temporomandibular joints after prosthetic and pharmacological treatment of functional disorders of the masticatory organ. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study involved 10 patients, aged 21-48 years, of both sexes, randomly selected from a group of 120 patients treated with relaxation occlusal splints (60 patients, group I) and intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A (60 patients, group II), suffering from temporomandibular joint dysfunction with the dominant muscle component. In all subjects, a specialized functional examination was carried out. Treatment groups: occlusal splint therapy (group I) and intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A (group II). An assessment of the loads of 4 disc zones of the temporomandibular joints was carried out based on the results of clinical studies (phase I of the study), and numeric model tests (phase II). In the representatives of the study groups (5 patients in each group), measurements of occlusal forces and an evaluation of tension of the masseter and temporalis muscle were performed. RESULTS The results of the average load values for all evaluated zones of the right and left articular disc differ in a statistically significant way in favor of group II, with the exception of the external mid part of the discs. In the case of the anterior of the right disc, the load was lower in patients belonging to group I than in those obtained in group II. CONCLUSIONS Botulinum toxin type A significantly reduces the loads within the temporomandibular joints, generated by masseter muscle hypertonia.