Activation of TGR5 in the injured nerve site according to a prevention protocol mitigates partial sciatic nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain by alleviating neuroinflammation.

Neuropathic pain is a pervasive medical challenge currently lacking effective treatment options. Molecular changes at the site of peripheral nerve injury contribute to both peripheral and central sensitization, critical components of neuropathic pain. This study explores the role of the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor (GPBAR1 or TGR5) in the peripheral mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation in male mice.

Characteristics of painful temporomandibular disorders and their influence on jaw functional limitation and oral health-related quality of life.

Background: There is limited knowledge about the impact of painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and pain characteristics on jaw functional limitation and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in TMD patients.

Objectives: The influence of painful TMDs and pain characteristics on jaw functional limitation and OHRQoL was investigated. Inter-relationships between limitation in jaw function and various OHRQoL domains, along with facial pain attributes predicting impaired jaw function and diminished OHRQoL were also examined.

Towards clinically applicable automated mandibular canal segmentation on CBCT.

Objectives: To develop a deep learning-based system for precise, robust, and fully automated segmentation of the mandibular canal on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.

Methods: The system was developed on 536 CBCT scans (training set: 376, validation set: 80, testing set: 80) from one center and validated on an external dataset of 89 CBCT scans from 3 centers. Each scan was annotated using a multi-stage annotation method and refined by oral and maxillofacial radiologists.

Age distribution of East Asian TMD patients and age-related differences in DC/TMD axis I findings.

Objectives: The pattern of age distribution in East Asian temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients and age-related differences in DC/TMD diagnostic subtypes/categories were evaluated.

Subjects And Methods: TMD patients from two University-based centers in China and South Korea were enrolled. Axis I physical diagnoses were rendered according to DC/TMD.

DC/TMD axis I subtyping: generational and gender variations among East Asian TMD patients.

Objectives: This study examined the generational-gender distinctions in Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) subtypes among East Asian patients.

Methods: Consecutive "first-visit" TMD patients presenting at two university-based TMD/orofacial pain clinics in China and South Korea were enlisted. Demographic information along with symptom history was gathered and clinical examinations were performed according to the DC/TMD methodology.

Comparison of painful temporomandibular disorders, psychological characteristics, sleep quality, and oral health-related quality of life of patients seeking care before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background: Literature concerning Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and the Covid-19 pandemic is limited and disparate findings related to TMD frequencies, psychological distress, and quality of life were presented. This study investigated the prevalence of painful Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and compared the psychological, sleep, and oral health-related quality of life profiles of patients seeking TMD care before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Methods: Data were accrued from consecutive adult patients 12 months before (BC; control) and during (DC; case group) the Covid-19 pandemic.

TMJ degenerative joint disease: relationships between CBCT findings, clinical symptoms, and signs.

Objectives: The relationships between cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) findings, Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms, and signs were investigated in patients with TMJ degenerative joint disease (DJD).

Material And Methods: Adult patients with Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs (DC/TMD)-defined intra-articular conditions were enrolled and subjected to CBCT assessment. The participants were organized into three groups, namely no (NT), early (ET), and late (LT) TMJ DJD based on radiographic findings.

Descending serotonergic modulation from rostral ventromedial medulla to spinal trigeminal nucleus is involved in experimental occlusal interference-induced chronic orofacial hyperalgesia.

Background: Dental treatment associated with unadaptable occlusal alteration can cause chronic primary myofascial orofacial pain. The serotonin (5-HT) pathway from the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) exerts descending modulation on nociceptive transmission in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5) and facilitates chronic pain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether descending 5-HT modulation from the RVM to the Sp5 is involved in the maintenance of primary myofascial orofacial hyperalgesia after persistent experimental occlusal interference (PEOI) or after delayed removal of experimental occlusal interference (REOI).

The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, sex, and age on temporomandibular disorders subtypes in East Asian patients: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Despite its major existential, societal, and health impacts, research concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) is still limited. This study examined the effect of the pandemic on TMD subtypes and elucidated the influence of the pandemic, sex, and age on the prospect of pain-related (PT) and/or intra-articular (IT) TMDs in East Asian patients.

Methods: Data were accrued from consecutive new patients attending two university-based TMD/orofacial pain clinics in China and South Korea, 12 months before (BC; Mar 2019-Feb 2020) and during (DC; Mar 2020-Feb 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increased joint loading induces subchondral bone loss of the temporomandibular joint via the RANTES-CCRs-Akt2 axis.

Early-stage temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) is characterized by excessive subchondral bone loss. Emerging evidence suggests that TMJ disc displacement is involved, but the pathogenic mechanism remains unclear. Here, we established a rat model of TMJOA that simulated disc displacement with a capacitance-based force-sensing system to directly measure articular surface pressure in vivo.

Neuronal Activities in the Rostral Ventromedial Medulla Associated with Experimental Occlusal Interference-Induced Orofacial Hyperalgesia.

The imbalanced conditions of pronociceptive ON-cells and antinociceptive OFF-cells in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) alter nociceptive transmission and play an important role in the development of chronic pain. This study aimed to explore the neuroplastic mechanisms of the RVM ON-cells and OFF-cells in a male rat model of experimental occlusal interference (EOI)-induced nociceptive behavior reflecting orofacial hyperalgesia and in modified models involving EOI removal at early and later stages. We recorded the mechanical head withdrawal thresholds, orofacial operant behaviors, and the activity of identified RVM ON-cells and OFF-cells in these rats.

Degenerative temporomandibular joint diseases and their relation with sleep and emotional disturbance.

Objective: The relation of degenerative temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases (DJDs) with sleep and emotional disturbance were investigated.

Methods: CBCT examination of patients (n = 358) with DC/TMD-defined intra-articular temporomandibular disorders was performed and stratified into NN: no DJD and no arthralgia; NA: no DJD with arthralgia; TO: osteoarthrosis; and TR: osteoarthritis. Sleep and emotional disturbance were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).

Viability of the quintessential 5 temporomandibular disorder symptoms as a TMD screener.

Objective: This study explored the viability of using the 5 temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms (5Ts) of the Diagnostic Criteria for TMDs (DC/TMD) as a TMD screener.

Study Design: A total of 1039 adults (≥18 years old) with a mean age of 32.65 ± 12.

Functional, physical and psychosocial impact of degenerative temporomandibular joint disease.

Objectives: This study evaluated the functional, physical and psychosocial impacts of TMJ degenerative joint disease (DJD). The bearing of TMJ osteoarthrosis/osteoarthritis and early/late TMJ DJD on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) were also compared.

Methods: Participants were enrolled from a TMD/oro-facial pain centre.

Oral health-related quality of life of patients with acute and chronic temporomandibular disorder diagnostic subtypes.

Background: Studies have indicated the negative effects of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The authors investigated the OHRQoL of patients with acute and chronic TMD subtypes.

Methods: The authors recruited a total of 830 patients.

CXCR3 signalling partially contributes to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain in male rodents.

Background: Currently, there is a lack of effective therapy for chronic pain. Increasing evidence has shown that chemokines and their correlative receptors involved in the neuron-glial cell cross-talk could contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Our previous studies suggested that CXCR3 expression was elevated in the spinal dorsal horn after nerve injury.

Lateral Lingual Foramina and Canals in the Mandible: CBCT Evaluation of 506 Patients in North China.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, location, diameter, course and anastomosis of the lateral lingual foramina (LLF) and canals (LLCs) in a northern Chinese population using CBCT.

Methods: CBCT images of 506 patients (181 male and 325 female, mean age 21.03 ± 8.

Rasch validation of the oral health impact profile for temporomandibular disorders.

Objectives: This study examined the metric properties of the Oral Health Impact Profile for Temporomandibular Disorders (OHIP-TMD) using Factor/Rasch analyses and created a short-form version of the measure.

Subjects And Methods: Aggregated OHIP-TMD data were obtained from a cross-sectional study involving 844 TMD patients with diagnostic criteria for TMDs defined conditions. The dimensionality of the OHIP-TMD was first evaluated with exploratory factor analysis.

Accuracy of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index for identifying pain-related and/or intra-articular Temporomandibular Disorders.

This study established the diagnostic accuracy of the Fonseca Anamnestic Index (FAI) in relation to the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (DC/TMD) standard. A total of 866 TMD patients and 57 TMD-free controls were instructed to answer the FAI and DC/TMD Symptom Questionnaire (SQ). Participants were subsequently categorized into no (NT), pain-related (PT), and/or intra-articular (IT) TMDs using the DC/TMD protocolized examination/algorithms.

Comparison of psychological states and oral health-related quality of life of patients with differing severity of temporomandibular disorders.

Background: Studies on temporomandibular disorder (TMD) severity in patient populations are scarce.

Objectives: This study sought to compare the psychological states and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among patients with differing TMD severity.

Methods: Adult patients (≥18 years old) with and without (controls) TMDs were recruited from the TMD/oro-facial pain centre and prosthodontics department, respectively.

Number and type of temporomandibular disorder symptoms: their associations with psychological distress and oral health-related quality of life.

Objective: In this case-control study, we investigated the presence of differing numbers and types of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) symptoms, their association with psychological distress, and their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Study Design: We recruited a total of 814 participants with TMD and 147 control subjects. The participants were instructed to complete the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders Symptom Questionnaire; the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21; and the Oral Health Impact Profile-Temporomandibular Disorders.

Astrocytes in the rostral ventromedial medulla contribute to the maintenance of oro-facial hyperalgesia induced by late removal of dental occlusal interference.

Background: Astrocytes in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) contribute to descending pain modulation, but their role in oro-facial pain induced by persistent experimental dental occlusal interference (PEOI) or following EOI removal (REOI) is unknown.

Objective: To explore the involvement of RVM astrocytes in PEOI-induced oro-facial hyperalgesia or its maintenance following REOI.

Methods: Male rats were randomly assigned into five groups: sham-EOI, postoperative day 6 and 14 of PEOI (PEOI 6 d and PEOI 14 d), postoperative day 6 following REOI on day 3 (REOI 3 d) and postoperative day 14 following REOI on day 8 (REOI 8 d).

Temporomandibular disorder subtypes, emotional distress, impaired sleep, and oral health-related quality of life in Asian patients.

Objectives: This study determined the differences in emotional states, sleep and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) between patients with pain-related and intra-articular Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and associated emotional symptoms with sleep and OHRQoL.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a tertiary TMDs referral centre. The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Oral Health Impact Profile-TMDs (OHIP-TMDs) were used to assess emotional states, sleep and Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), respectively.