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Background: Chronic systemic inflammation has been proposed as the underlying mechanism of pain chronicity in several pain conditions. In spite of the growing evidence supporting the role of systemic inflammatory markers as a diagnostic tool, their role has not been analyzed in a well-defined group of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) patients until now. This study aimed to investigate the association between various clinical features and comorbidity levels of TMD in relation to hematological markers and seek its association with long-term treatment response. Methods: Clinical features and hematological indices including those for systemic inflammation were assessed in TMD patients (n = 154). Examinations were re-done after 6 months of conservative treatment. Patients were divided into pain improved and unimproved groups based on ≥ 2 numeric rating scale improvement in pain intensity at 6 months for final analysis. Results: The portion of patients with low lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (p = 0.026), total protein (p = 0.014), hemoglobin (p = 0.040), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.042) values showed significant differences according to prognosis groups. Low hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with unfavorable response to long-term treatment (β = 1.706, p = 0.018). High pre-treatment pain intensity (β=-0.682, p < 0.001) and low Graded Chronic Pain Scale (β = 1.620, p = 0.002) could predict significant pain improvement with long-term treatment. Conclusions: Hematologic assessment could be considered in addition to clinical examination to better determine long-term prognosis in TMD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the jaw functional status and severity of somatic/psychological symptoms in different Diagnostic Criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD) diagnostic subtypes and established the correlates between jaw functional limitation, somatization, depression and anxiety. Methods: Data were accrued from consecutive 'first‐visit' patients seeking TMD treatment at a university‐based oral medicine/diagnosis clinic. Axis I physical TMD diagnoses were derived using the DC/TMD methodology and patients were categorized into pain‐related (PT), intra‐articular (IT) and combined (CT) TMD groups. Axis II measures were also administered and included the Jaw Functional Limitation Scale‐20 (JFLS‐20), Patient Health Questionnaire‐15 and 9 (PHQ‐15 and PHQ‐9) and General Anxiety Disorder Scale‐7 (GAD‐7). Chi‐square/Kruskal–Wallis tests and Spearman's correlation were employed for statistical evaluations (α =.05). Results: The final dataset consisted of 772 TMD patients (mean age of 37.7 ± 15.9 years; 70.2% females). The prevalence of PT, IT and CT was 11.9%, 15.7% and 72.4%, respectively. Significant differences in functional jaw limitations, somatization, depression (CT, PT > IT) and anxiety (CT > PT, IT) were observed. Moderate‐to‐severe somatization, depression and anxiety were detected in 12.6%–15.7% of patients. For all three TMD groups, JFLS global scale/subscale scores were weakly associated with somatization, depression and anxiety scores (rs < 0.4). Moderate‐to‐strong correlations were noted between somatization, depression and anxiety (rs = 0.50–0.74). Conclusions: Functional jaw limitations were associated with painful TMDs but appear to be unrelated to somatization and psychological distress. Somatization and depression/anxiety were moderately correlated, underscoring the importance of somatic symptom screening when managing TMD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have developed carbon nanotube fibers that possess excellent electrochemical properties for use in solid-state supercapacitors. These fibers are unique in that they do not require additional active materials or complex processes, making them highly suitable for mass production. The fibers exhibit exceptional mechanical, electrical, and flexible properties, making them ideal for wearable energy storage platforms. The study was conducted by SeungMin Kim, Nam Dong Kim, Hyeon Su Jeong, and their colleagues. [Extracted from the article]

ABSTRACT Objectives Methods Results Conclusion The relationship of somatisation with facial pain duration/intensity, pain‐related interference/disability and psychological distress was investigated in East Asian temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients. Correlations between somatisation, facial pain and psychological characteristics were also explored alongside the demographic/physical factors associated with moderate‐to‐severe depression and anxiety.Anonymised data were acquired from records of consecutive ‘first‐time’ patients seeking TMD care at a tertiary oral medicine clinic. Axis I physical TMD diagnoses were established utilising the diagnostic criteria for TMDs (DC/TMD) protocol and patients with TMD pain were stratified into those with pain‐related (PT) and combined (CT) conditions. Axis II measures administered encompassed the Patient Health Questionnaire‐15 (PHQ‐15), Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS), Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9) and General Anxiety Disorder Scale‐7 (GAD‐7). Individuals with PT and CT were further categorised into those without (Pain − Som/Comb − Som) and with somatisation (Pain + Som/Comb + Som). Statistical evaluations were performed with nonparametric and logistic regression analyses (α = 0.05).The final sample comprised 473 patients (mean age 36.2 ± 14.8 years; 68.9% women), of which 52.0% had concomitant somatisation. Significant differences in pain duration (Comb + Som > Pain − Som), pain‐related interference/disability (Comb + Som > Comb − Som) and depression/anxiety (Pain + Som, Comb + Som > Pain − Som, Comb − Som) were discerned. Depression/anxiety was moderately correlated with somatisation (rs = 0.64/0.52) but not facial pain characteristics. Multivariate modelling revealed that somatisation was significantly associated with the prospects of moderate‐to‐severe depression (OR 1.35) and anxiety (OR 1.24).Somatisation exhibited a strong association with psychological distress when contrasted with facial pain in East Asian TMD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. Patients were categorized into six age groups (15-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65-84 years; Groups A-F respectively)., Results: Youths/young adults (Groups A-C) formed 74.1% of TMD patients. TMJ disc displacements (74.9%), arthralgia (49.2%), and degenerative joint disease [DJD] (36.8%) were the most common TMD subtypes. The majority had combined (54.0%) and chronic (58.5%) TMDs. Youths/young adults and middle-aged/old adults had substantially lower frequencies of merely pain-related (6.2-14.5%) and intra-articular (13.8-16.8%) TMDs correspondingly. "Being female" increased the prospects of pain-related/combined TMDs by 96%/49%, respectively., Conclusions: East Asian TMD patients comprised mostly of youths/young adults who had an alarmingly high prevalence of TMJ DJD.