S.-C. Chung

Effect of botulinum toxin injection on nocturnal bruxism: a randomized controlled trial.

Lee SJ, McCall WD, Jr., Kim YK, Chung SC, Chung JW: Effect of botulinum toxin injection on nocturnal bruxism: A randomized controlled trial. Objective:To evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin type A on nocturnal bruxism. Design:Twelve subjects reporting nocturnal bruxism were recruited for a double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Six bruxers were injected with botulinum toxin in both masseters, and six with saline. Nocturnal electromyographic activity was recorded in the subjects natural sleeping environment from masseter and temporalis muscles before injection, and 4, 8, and 12 wks after injection and then used to calculate bruxism events. Bruxism symptoms were investigated using questionnaires. Results:Bruxism events in the masseter muscle decreased significantly in the botulinum toxin injection group (P = 0.027). In the temporalis muscle, bruxism events did not differ between groups or among times. Subjective bruxism symptoms decreased in both groups after injection (P < 0.001). Conclusions:Our results suggest that botulinum toxin injection reduced the number of bruxism events, most likely mediated its effect through a decrease in muscle activity rather than the central nervous system. We controlled for placebo effects by randomizing the interventions between groups, obtaining subjective and objective outcome measures, using the temporalis muscle as a control, and collecting data at three postinjection times. Our controlled study supports the use of botulinum toxin injection as an effective treatment for nocturnal bruxism.

Plasma and saliva levels of nerve growth factor and neuropeptides in chronic migraine patients

OBJECTIVESnTo investigate the level and interrelationship of nerve growth factor (NGF) and sensory neuropeptides [substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)] in plasma and saliva of chronic migraine patients, and to analyze the association between pain intensity and their concentration.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnPlasma and resting whole saliva were collected from 33 chronic migraine patients and 36 control subjects. NGF, SP, and CGRP concentrations were measured by enzyme immunoassay and pain intensity of each subject was measured using the Graded Chronic Pain Scale.nnnRESULTSnChronic migraine patients showed higher NGF and neuropeptide levels in both plasma and saliva compared to the control subjects. Plasma NGF, and plasma and saliva levels of SP and CGRP were highly associated with pain intensity. There was a significant positive correlation between NGF and both neuropeptide levels in plasma, and between the neuropeptide levels in both plasma and saliva. Plasma levels of SP and CGRP were significantly correlated with their saliva level.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe increased production of NGF and sensory neuropeptides may play an important role in the maintenance of pain in chronic migraine and analysis results of human saliva could act as an index of disease state and therapeutic outcome.

Chronic orofacial pain among Korean elders: prevalence, and impact using the graded chronic pain scale.

Abstract The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of orofacial pain symptoms in the Korean elderly population, and to evaluate factors associated with orofacial pain and graded chronic pain. Of 4342 Korean elders from the cohort of Korean National Interview Survey of Oral Health Status in 2000, telephone interviews were conducted on a stratified random sample of 1032 people aged 55 years or older. Prevalence of five orofacial pain symptoms (jaw joint pain, face pain, toothache, oral sores, and burning mouth) in the past 6 months along with questions from the graded chronic pain scale were assessed by telephone using a structured questionnaire. The results suggested that the 6‐month prevalence of joint pain (15.5%), face pain (9.3%), toothache (26.8%), oral sores (26.2%), and burning mouth (14.2%) in Korean elders were higher than in studies on Caucasian populations. Painful oral sores and burning mouth had higher prevalence for females than for males. Subjects with joint pain, burning mouth or toothache pain were more likely to report high levels of a pain‐related disability compared with subjects not reporting those symptoms. There were no age group differences in pain intensity, but the older age group reported a higher number of disability days because of their pain. Chronic orofacial pain is a substantial health problem in the elderly population.

Dry mouth among the elderly in Korea: a survey of prevalence, severity, and associated factors

OBJECTIVESnThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of dry mouth among elderly population of Korea and to evaluate associate factors and their impact.nnnSTUDY DESIGNnTelephone interviews were conducted on a stratified random sample of 1,012 subjects aged ≥ 55 years. Prevalence of dry mouth symptoms, severity of overall oral dryness, and associated factors were assessed using a structured questionnaire.nnnRESULTSnAmong the subjects, 70.1% reported to have at least one dry mouth-related symptom and 25.8% were classified with considerable dry mouth. Overall oral dryness severity of each of these groups was 4.30 ± 2.67 and 6.09 ± 2.25, respectively, on a 0-10 scale. Odds ratio of dry mouth increased in women, in smokers, and with increased age and number of medications taken. Women and number of medications taken were significantly associated with overall oral dryness severity.nnnCONCLUSIONnA major portion of the Korean elderly reported various dry mouth symptoms, and a wide range of severity and discomfort was caused by these symptoms.

Detection of ABH blood group antigens in the saliva of Koreans and their stability according to storage of saliva samples

The purpose of the present study was to identify salivary molecules carrying the ABH blood group antigens in Koreans and to investigate the changes in these antigens according to processing and storage of saliva samples. Secretor or non-secretor phenotypes and salivary components carrying the ABH antigens were identified in 90 subjects, 30 subjects in each ABO blood group, by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. Saliva samples were then obtained from 12 secretors-two males and two females in each ABO blood group and aliquots of both fresh saliva samples and their supernatants after centrifugation were stored at room temperature, 4, -20 and -70 degrees C. The same experiments were performed after 1, 3 and 6 months to investigate changes in the blood group antigens. In all 68 secretors, high-molecular-weight salivary mucin (MG1) was found to be the primary carrier of the ABH antigens. A salivary component of approximately 80 kDa also carried H antigen in seven saliva samples of 22 blood type O secretors. The blood group antigens were better detected in centrifuged samples. In saliva samples preserved at room temperature and 4 degrees C, the blood group antigens were either not detected or detected as degraded molecules. No change was found in the blood group antigens in saliva samples preserved at -20 and -70 degrees C for 6 months.