Search

This paper presents the possibilities of applying atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques to the study of the wear of prosthetic biomaterials. In the conducted research, a zirconium oxide sphere was used as a test piece for mashing, which was moved over the surface of selected biomaterials: polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and dental gold alloy (Degulor M). The process was carried out with constant load force in an artificial saliva environment (Mucinox). An atomic force microscope with an active piezoresistive lever was used to measure wear at the nanoscale. The advantage of the proposed technology is the high resolution of observation (less than 0.5 nm) in the three-dimensional (3D) measurements in a working area of 50 × 50 × 10 µm. The results of nano wear measurements in two measurement setups are presented: zirconia sphere (Degulor M and zirconia sphere) and PEEK were examined. The wear analysis was carried out using appropriate software. Achieved results present a tendency coincident with the macroscopic parameters of materials.

Background The objective of rehabilitation after the treatment of a mandibular condyle fracture is to retrieve the effortless, symmetrical opening of the jaws with the preservation of appropriate movements to the sides, appropriate occlusion without a sense of tension in the mastication muscles or pain sensations. Objectives The aim of the article was to establish the conditions of the rehabilitation of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) after the surgical treatment of a fractured condyle. Material and methods The research featured 46 of patients treated surgically between January 2, 2017 and December 30, 2017. The open reduction and rigid internal fixation (ORIF) was the method mainly applied. Rehabilitation with the use of the Delphi technique was implemented in each patient. The assessment of the mastication organ was mostly performed at 3 and 6 weeks since the beginning of rehabilitation. In every patient, the interincisal distance was measured; in chosen cases, the range of condyle movement, the trajectory of condyle movement and the trajectory of the secant point during jaw opening were defined with the use of the Zebris® JMA device. Results In 45 patients, a full reposition and immobilization of 52 bone fragments of fractured mandibular condyles was obtained. The displacement of the midline of the mandible in occlusion or an incorrect occlusion contact determined the decision on the application of intermaxillary fixation in 8 patients for a period of 2 weeks. The minimal jaw opening of 40 mm was achieved in 41 patients after 6 weeks of rehabilitation. In 5 of the rest of the patients, rehabilitation had to be continued. The reassessment of the X-ray images and additional computed tomography (CT) diagnosis in three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction in those patients revealed the possible causes of difficulties in the restoration of the stomatognathic system functions - the injuries of the muscles or ligaments connected with the joint. Conclusions The extension of radiological diagnostics with a CT examination may improve the assessment of the restored TMJ function after the surgical treatment of a fractured mandibular condyle.

Mandible displacement is known to correlate with otological conditions such as pain in the ear canal, hearing loss, or tinnitus. The present work aimed to determine the association between the displacement of the condyle in a temporomandibular joint, the structure and position of the petrotympanic fissure (PTF), and comorbid tinnitus in patients affected by temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD). We enrolled 331 subjects with TMD (268 women and 63 men). The average age of women was 40.8 ± 16.8 years (range 13–88), whereas the average age of the examined men was 38 ± 14 years (range 13–74). We performed imaging studies of the facial part of the skull in the sagittal plane using a volumetric imaging method and a large imaging field (FOV) of 17 cm × 23 cm. The habitual position of the mandible was determined and used as a reference. Based on the imaging results, we developed a classification for the topography and the structure of the petrotympanic fissure. Thirty-three TMD patients (about 10% of the sample) reported having tinnitus. These patients had PTF configurations characterized by a rear (36.59%) or intracranial-cranial (63.41%) condylar displacement of the temporomandibular joint. Our findings imply that the TMJ- and tinnitus-positive group of patients possibly represents a distinct phenotype of tinnitus. We concluded that for such patients, the therapeutic approach for tinnitus should include TMD treatment.

Graphene oxide (GO), due to its properties, such as nanometric dimensions, large specific surface area, and biocompatibility, can be used as a carrier in controlled drug release systems. The method of its chemical activation before drug molecules binding was elaborated. Doxorubicin (DOX), an anticancer drug, was attached to the surface of GO via the Gly-Gly-Leu linker. Approximately 3.07 · 1020 molecules of the tripeptide were attached to 1 g of GO and subsequently almost the same number of DOX molecules. GO was suspended inside a sol surrounded by a thin porous membrane. The bound DOX was effectively released using thermolysin, an enzyme cleaving peptide bonds between Gly and Leu inside the linker structure. The membrane, as the shell was responsible for keeping enzyme molecules in their native form and GO flakes inside the carrier, simultaneously allowed the released drug molecules to diffuse outside. The rate of drug release was described as a function of the enzyme concentration and mass of DOX expressed on carrier volume; thus, the daily dose and length of the therapy can be controlled. Studies involving the cell line of mice fibrosarcoma WEHI 164 have shown that the prepared carrier itself is not toxic and only the introduction of DOX-releasing enzyme into it causes cell death.

Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) is a rare genetic condition and is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner. The disease is caused by a change in the nucleotide sequence of an X-linked gene encoding glypican 3, a protein belonging to the heparan-sulfate membrane proteoglycan family. SGBS case studies are almost entirely restricted to the pediatric population. Scarce literature describing SGBS course in adults may be due to both the high mortality of SGBS patients in childhood and low rate of SGBS diagnosis in adults. We present a case of a 39-year-old man with an initial diagnosis of acromegaly. Genetic tests revealed a hitherto unreported deletion in the GPC3 gene. SGBS manifestations in our patient included tall stature, dysmorphic features, and central nervous system (CNS) anatomical pathology. MRI of the head visualized abnormalities of median line structures, a feature consistent with SGBS: an unclosed craniopharyngeal canal, a sellar-suprasellar cyst, dysmorphic pituitary gland, and a cyst of the septum pellucidum. Moreover, cardiomyopathy complicated by life-threatening paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia was diagnosed. Although various cardiac anomalies are often found in SGBS, their pathogenesis is unclear and may be multifactorial. We believe that the presented case contributes to a better understanding of SGBS and may help clinicians in introducing prophylaxis and treatment for its comorbidities.

BACKGROUND Orthognathic surgery (OGS) is associated with extensive surgical intervention within the soft and hard tissues of the facial region of the skull leading to inflammatory reactions. The presence of postoperative swelling indicates the accumulation of exudate or transudate; both these fluids occur in surgery. Massive swelling is a significant problem, because the tension of tissues intensifies pain sensations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the kinesio taping method (KT) in patients after orthognathic surgery in the area of the facial skull in terms of eliminating postoperative swelling. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study of the impact of kinesiology tape applied after orthognathic surgery to the craniofacial area on the elimination of swelling was performed in sixteen patients who suffered from this complication after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy. RESULTS The swelling was shown to be reduced after KT; within the same study the differences were statistically significant between the left and right sides and for the same side (p

Aim of the study. The aim of the first part of the study was to evaluate the impact of displacement crackles, located within the temporomandibular joint, on the quality of graphic records, free mandible movements, recorded with a Zebris JMA device and to determine the usefulness of instrumental techniques in the analysis of functional diagnosis of disorders within the stomatognathic system.The second part was devoted to determine the validity and application of instrumental techniques in functional analysis in the diagnosis of disorders of the stomatognathic system and the impact assessment of silent jumps in joints on graphic records of abduction and adduction movements of the mandible. Material and methods. The study was conducted in a group of 55 people according to the methodology described in detail in the first part of the article. The results were analysed for the existence of statistical relationship (significance level at p

Graphene oxide (GO) was proposed as an efficient carrier of antibiotics. The model drug, amoxicillin (AMOX), was attached to GO using a peptide linker (Leu-Leu-Gly). GO-AMOX was dispersed in a hydrogel to which the enzyme responsible for releasing AMOX from GO was also added. The drug molecules were released by enzymatic hydrolysis of the peptide bond in the linker. As the selected enzyme, bromelain, a plant enzyme, was used. The antibacterial nature of the carrier was determined by its ability to inhibit the growth of the Enterococcus faecalis strain, which is one of the bacterial species responsible for periodontal and root canal diseases. The prepared carrier contained only biocompatible substances, and the confirmation of its lack of cytotoxicity was verified based on the mouse fibrosarcoma cell line WEHI 164. The proposed type of preparation, as a universal carrier of many different antibiotic molecules, can be considered as a suitable solution in the treatment of inflammation in dentistry.

Physiological whole saliva is a unique body fluid constantly washing the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, and larynx. Saliva is a clear, slightly acidic mucinous-serous secretion, composed of various electrolytes, small organic substances, proteins, peptides, and polynucleotides. There are many ways to use saliva as a biological fluid (biofluid). The significant advantages of saliva as a unique diagnostic material are its availability and the noninvasive method of collection. The aim of this review is to emphasize the diagnostic value of saliva as a research material in the configuration of its structure and secretion disorders. The data were obtained using the MEDLINE (PubMed) search engine, as well as an additional manual search. The analysis covered 77 articles selected from a group of 1986 publications and initially qualified for devising. The results were evaluated and checked for the correctness of qualifying in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The diagnostic use of saliva has attracted the attention of many researchers due to its noninvasive nature and relative simplicity of collection. In addition, it should be noted that the determination of chemical and physical saliva parameters can be effectively performed in the patient’s presence in the dental office.

The aim of this work was to investigate whether the use of magnetoledotherapy will accelerate the elimination of osteolytic lesions of the dental periapical area, and provide for prosthetic treatment. What impact on time of healing does the inflammatory change location, type of treatment or patient's age have? 69 patients underwent the examination. The problem of osteolytic lesions in the course of protracted or protracted acute dental periapical tissue inflammation was determined. Patients were divided into two research groups: group L - treated with magnetoledotherapy and group K - treated without the support of magnetoledotherapy. In the first group we applied the electromagnetic field, generated using the Viofor JPS Clinic apparatus. Our studies have confirmed the effectiveness of magnetoledotherapy in the accelerated decommissioning of the osteolytic lesion. This provides evidence of the appropriateness of this method in the treatment of protracted dental periapical tissue inflammation, in teeth qualified for prosthetic load. Magnetostimulation combined with LED energy is an adjunctive procedure, adopted in order to eliminate osteolytic inflammatory changes of dental periapical tissues. It can be used in all age groups with the same good result. After applying magnetoledotherapy, in the course of the dental periapical tissue repair process of tooth treated endodontically for the first time as well as reendodontically, no differences were found. This shows the opportunity of using magnetoledotherapy in all cases of protracted periapical tissue inflammation.

On the basis of selected cases, evaluation of the usefulness of muscular exercises in rehabilitation of patients stricken by a dysfunction of the motor system of the chewing organ was accomplished. The assessment of the electric function of chewing muscles together with the registration of mandibular movements with the axiographic Zebris JMA apparatus was made, both before and after muscular therapy. The examination has shown that regardless of microor macro-traumatic cause, the set of muscular exercises appropriately selected and dutifully carried out is able to restore full condition of the motor system of the bone-dental structure effectively.

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.

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.

Purpose of the Paper. This paper is an attempt to mathematically describe the mastication organ muscle functioning, taking into consideration the impact of the central nervous system.Material. To conduct model tests, three types of craniums were prepared: short, normal, and long. The necessary numeric data, required to prepare the final calculation models of different craniofacial types, were used to identify muscle and occlusion forces generated by muscles in the area of incisors and molars. The mandible in model tests was treated as a nondeformable stiff form.Methods. The formal basis for the formulated research problem was reached using the laws and principles of mechanics and control theory. The proposed method treats muscles as “black boxes,” whose properties automatically adapt to the nature of the occlusion load. The identified values of occlusion forces referred to measurements made in clinical conditions.Results. The conducted verification demonstrated a very good consistency of model and clinical tests’ results. The proposed method is an alternative approach to the so far applied methods of muscle force identification. Identification of muscle forces without taking into account the impact of the nervous system does not fully reflect the conditions of mastication organ muscle functioning.

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 to39±7% of the maximum value of mouth opening in the group of healthy people,44±11% in the case of muscle-based disorders, and35±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.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the development of burnout among physiotherapists with different length of service in physiotherapy. Material and Methods: The following research tools were used to study burnout: the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LSQ), based on FLZ (Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit) by Frahrenberg, Myrtek, Schumacher, and Brähler; the Burnout Scale Inventory (BSI) by Steuden and Okła; and an ad hoc questionnaire to collect socio-demographic data. The survey was anonymous and voluntary and involved a group of 200 active physiotherapists working in Poland. Results: A statistical analysis revealed significant differences in overall life satisfaction between length-of-service groups (p = 0.03). Physiotherapists with more than 15 years of service reported greater satisfaction than those with less than 5 years and between 5 and 15 years of service. The results suggest that burnout in those with 5-15 years of service is higher in physiotherapists working in health care centers and increases with age and greater financial satisfaction, while it decreases with greater satisfaction with friend and family relations and greater satisfaction with one’s work and profession. In those with more than 15 years of service, burnout increases in the case of working in a setting other than a health care or educational center and decreases with greater satisfaction with one’s work and profession. Conclusions: Job satisfaction and a satisfying family life prevent burnout among physiotherapists with 5-15 years of service in the profession. Financial satisfaction, age and being employed in health care may cause burnout among physiotherapists with 5-15 years of service. Physiotherapists with more than 15 years of service experience more burnout if they work in a setting other than a health care or educational center and less burnout if they are satisfied with their profession.

On the basis of selected cases, evaluation of the usefulness of muscular exercises in rehabilitation of patients stricken by a dysfunction of the motor system of the chewing organ was accomplished. The assessment of the electric function of chewing muscles together with the registration of mandibular movements with the axiographic Zebris JMA apparatus was made, both before and after muscular therapy. The examination has shown that regardless of micro or macro-traumatic cause, the set of muscular exercises appropriately selected and dutifully carried out is able to restore full condition of the motor system of the bone-dental structure effectively.

Electric potentials occurring in the oral cavity deserve attention as they may cause various diseases and subjective feelings, which are very difficult to treat. The aim of this study was to evaluate the electric potentials within the oral cavity in patients with metal fillings and metal prosthetic restorations, after using a pulsed electromagnetic field. The study was carried out on 84 patients. The Viofor JPS Classic device was used in the treatment. It generates a pulsed electromagnetic field with low induction of the extremely low frequency (ELF) range. Average values of electric potentials in the preliminary test were about the same in both groups; they were 148.8 mV and 145.5 mV. After another appliance of ELF fields there was found a steady decline in the average value of electric potentials in the study group. This decrease was statistically highly significant, while mean values of electric potentials in the control group were characterized by a slightly upward tendency. The obtained statistically significant reduction of electric potentials in the oral cavity of patients having metal fillings and metal prosthetic restorations, after application of the Viofor JPS Classic device, implies a huge impact of ELF pulsed electromagnetic field on inhibition of electrochemical processes, as well as on inhibition of dental alloy corrosion.

Functional disorders of the masticatory organ is a group of diseases characterized by the increasing frequency of instances whereby these disorders affect all age groups. Advances in technology and the application of specialized medical equipment facilitates the observation of masticatory organ disorders. Having regard to limitations associated with the use of clinical studies, a spatial model of the mandible kinematics was developed. Results of such model are obtained to enable accurate interpretation of data collected during clinical studies. The model formulated in the paper facilitates our understanding of the phenomena occurring during physiological mandible movements, also the results of modeling studies provide new information that has not yet been taken into account when analyzing the causes of dysfunction. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.18.4.2327