Paweł Piotrowski

Mandibular function after Myorelaxation Therapy in temporomandibular disorders

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of Myorelaxation Therapy in temporomandibular disorders on the basis of mandibular movement measurements, reported functional impairment and clinical findings. MATERIAL/METHODS To ascertain the mandibular movements 78 women were investigated. The first group consisted of 32 consecutive patients (23.3±4.8 years) suffering from muscle disorder and disk displacement with a reduction serving as a treated group. The second group was formed from 46 volunteers, as a healthy group (20.1±1.3 years). Jaw-tracking records (K7, Myotronics-Noromed Inc.) were performed including the measurements of opening, lateral and protrusive movement range, maximal and average velocity of opening/closing. Reported impairment and clinical data were collected. The treatment involved nocturnally applied a non-occluding sublingual relaxation splint combined with daily performed stretching exercises. Measurements were taken before treatment, after 4 weeks with no interventions (control period) and after 3 weeks, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS After the treatment mandibular opening range increased by 8mm (19%, p<0.05), lateral movement by 2.1mm (36%, p<0.05) while protrusive movement decreased by 0.5mm (p>0.05). Maximal and average velocity parameters significantly increased (p>0.05). These results were supported by the decrease in reported impairment and clinical pain occurrence (p<0.05). Only joint clicking change was non-significant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Myorelaxation Therapy was effective in the treatment of our group of patients. A significant improvement in the opening and lateral movement range, as well as opening/closing velocity was obtained after 6 months of treatment. This method can be easily managed by general practitioner, especially in muscles-related TMD types.

A comparative study of the content of heavy metals in oils: linseed oil, rapeseed oil and soybean oil in technological production processes

Abstract Vegetable oils belong to a large group of substances consumed on a daily basis. World vegetable oil production is soaring, reducing the popularity of animal fats. Heavy metals pose a threat to human health. It is estimated that about 80% of the daily dose of heavy metals enters the human body through the consumption of food. Hence, it is necessary to monitor their concentrations in food products. Besides, the presence of heavy metals is thought to have possible negative influence on the quality of oils, especially on their taste and smell. Heavy metals may also accelerate the process of the rancidifiction of oils. Rapeseeds, soybean seeds and linseeds were selected for the analysis because they are one of the most popular oilseeds and at the same time they differ in terms of growing conditions. The analyses of different fractions and the ready-made product were also performed. The aim of the study was to determine the variation in concentrations of heavy metals, iron and manganese in different fractions during production. The significant concentrations of iron, manganese and zinc were observed in oilseeds. It was also shown that during different stages of oil refining the concentrations of metals decrease. The concentrations of metals are compared with those reported in literature.

Kinematic Modeling of Normal Voluntary Mandibular Opening and Closing Velocity-Initial Study.

PURPOSE Determination and quantification of voluntary mandibular velocity movement has not been a thoroughly studied parameter of masticatory movement. This study attempted to objectively define kinematics of mandibular movement based on numerical (digital) analysis of the relations and interactions of velocity diagram records in healthy female individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a computerized mandibular scanner (K7 Evaluation Software), 72 diagrams of voluntary mandibular velocity movements (36 for opening, 36 for closing) for women with clinically normal motor and functional activities of the masticatory system were recorded. Multiple measurements were analyzed focusing on the curve for maximum velocity records. For each movement, the loop of temporary velocities was determined. The diagram was then entered into AutoCad calculation software where movement analysis was performed. The real maximum velocity values on opening (Vmax ), closing (V0 ), and average velocity values (Vav ) as well as movement accelerations (a) were recorded. Additionally, functional (A1-A2) and geometric (P1-P4) analysis of loop constituent phases were performed, and the relations between the obtained areas were defined. Velocity means and correlation coefficient values for various velocity phases were calculated. RESULTS The Wilcoxon test produced the following maximum and average velocity results: Vmax = 394 ± 102, Vav = 222 ± 61 for opening, and Vmax = 409 ± 94, Vav = 225 ± 55 mm/s for closing. Both mandibular movement range and velocity change showed significant variability achieving the highest velocity in P2 phase. CONCLUSIONS Voluntary mandibular velocity presents significant variations between healthy individuals. Maximum velocity is obtained when incisal separation is between 12.8 and 13.5 mm. An improved understanding of the patterns of normal mandibular movements may provide an invaluable diagnostic aid to pathological changes within the masticatory system.

Incidence of Otologic Symptoms and Evaluation of the Organ of Hearing in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders (TDM)

Background Numerous studies have discussed cases of concomitant temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and otologic symptoms (OS). However, attempts to determine the true origin of these symptoms combined with assessments of the condition of the organ of hearing are relatively rare. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and type of OS in patients with TMD, and attempted to determine the origin of the OS in the studied group of patients. Material/Methods 246 patients, aged 40.08±11.12 years (F=147, M=99) with TMD, from the Department of Oral Rehabilitation of Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: dental history interviews and clinical examinations. There were 2 groups–G1 and G2–selected on the basis of the presence or absence of OS in the medical history stage. After audiological evaluation, 2 subgroups were identified: G1.1 and G1.2. Results OS were observed in 36.18% (G1). In 48 patients (53.93%), the audiological evaluation found there was no impairment of the organ of hearing (G1.2). Audiological abnormalities were found in 46.07% (n=41) of the patients (G1.1). The OS which differentiated the 2 groups were a plugging sensation as well as otalgia (more frequent in group G1.2) and hearing impairment (more frequent in group G1.1). Conclusions 1. The OS which most frequently accompany with TMD were fullness and otalgia. 2. It is recommended that a subjective assessment of hearing loss in patients with TMD and concomitant OS should be included in the medical history stage. 3. Clicking and popping are significantly more frequent in patients without concomitant hearing impairment.

Histomorphometric Evaluation of Organic Enamel Elements in Erupted Bovine Teeth. Part I. Enamel Tufts

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare erupted permanent bovine teeth of two types involved in the process of chewing in respect to the localisation and histomorphometric characteristics of enamel tufts. The research material comprised 240 fully erupted premolars and molars from the maxillae and mandibles of 27 heads of cattle from the Polish Black-and-White breed. Overall, 1,986 specimens of bovine teeth were analysed using a Nikon Eclipse E600 microscope with Micro Image v4.0 software. Enamel tufts were relatively numerous in the enamel of smooth surfaces - on average from 5.6 to 6.4 per cross-section of tooth crown. The average length of the enamel tufts expressed by means of a median was smaller for premolars (89.3 μm) than for molars (123.9 μm). The analysis of the value of Spearmans rank correlation coefficient revealed that no relationship existed between the length and width of tufts in molars (rs =0.26), and a low-level relationship was noted (rs =0.45) in premolars. On the basis of the Mann-Whitney U test for the metric measurements, no significant differences were discovered for the width of enamel tufts (P=0.427), but significant differences were observed for the length of enamel tufts (P=0.032). The observed differences in the histological structure of the enamel of posterior bovine teeth in comparison to human teeth indicate that a certain degree of caution ought to be considered when using bovine teeth as a substitute for human teeth in in vitro trials.