Occlusal force predicts global motion coherence threshold in adolescent boys.

BACKGROUND: Beneficial effects of mastication on cognitive abilities in the elderly have been shown in human studies. However, little is currently known about the effect of masticatory stimulation on cognitive and perceptual ability in younger populations. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the influences of masticatory stimulation on perceptual ability in adolescent boys. METHODS: The present study examined the relationship between occlusal force (i.e., masticatory stimulation) and visual perception ability in adolescent boys. Visual perception ability was quantified by measuring global motion coherence threshold using psychophysical method. As an index of masticatory stimulation, occlusal force was measured by pressure sensitive film. We also measured participants' athletic ability, e.g. aerobic capacity and grip strength, as potential confounding factor. RESULTS: The multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between global motion coherence threshold and occlusal force, which persisted after controlling for confounding factors such as age and aerobic capacity. CONCLUSIONS: This finding indicates that masticatory stimulation enhances visual perception in adolescent boys, indicating the possibility that beneficial effects of masticatory stimulation are observed not only in the elderly but in developing population consistently with the findings of the previous animal studies.

Uptake of iron (III)-ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid complex by phosphatidylcholine lipid film: Part I. Effect of bulk pH.

We studied a ternary solutes aqueous solution of NaOH, iron (III)-ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid complex (Fe-edta), and 1,2-diheptanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DHPC)/air interface system to clarify the interactions between iron complexes and lipids with a phosphatidylcholine head group. The solution surface tension and pH were measured as functions of the total molality of NaOH, Fe-edta and DHPC, and the mole fractions of NaOH and DHPC. Rigorous thermodynamic equations were derived, in which the overall proton dissociation equilibria of Fe-edta and DHPC were taken into consideration, and applied to experimental data to obtain phase diagram of adsorption. It was found that (1) adsorption of Fe-edta at the solution/air interface with a DHPC monolayer was about 50-130 times higher than that without a DHPC monolayer and (2) when the bulk mole fraction of NaOH was high, Fe-edta tended to be expelled from the adsorbed film. The last finding suggests that the ambient pH significantly affects passive transport of the iron complex through a phospholipid-containing membrane into the cell interior.

Uptake of iron (III)-ethylenediamine-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid complex by phosphatidylcholine lipid film. Part II. Effect of film curvature.

Mixed micelles formed in a ternary-solute aqueous solution of NaOH, iron (III)-ethylenediamine-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid complex (Fe-EDTA) and 1,2-diheptanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidyl choline (DHPC) were studied and compared with the mixed adsorbed film reported in Part I of this series to clarify the effect of the curvature of molecular assemblies on the interactions between their Fe-EDTA and DHPC constituents. The critical micelle concentrations (CMCs), surface tension at the CMC, and solution pH were measured as functions of the mole fractions of NaOH and DHPC. Rigorous thermodynamic equations were derived, in which the overall proton dissociation equilibria of Fe-EDTA and DHPC were taken into consideration, and applied to experimental data to obtain phase diagrams of micelle formation and the micelle-adsorbed film equilibrium. It was found that when the bulk solution was strongly acidic, Fe-EDTA was incorporated in the micelles. However, the adsorbed film was more Fe-EDTA-enriched than the micelle. These findings imply that a flat cell membrane is more permeable to an iron complex than a cell membrane with positive curvature.

Short-term follow-up of masticatory adaptation after rehabilitation with an immediately loaded implant-supported prosthesis: a pilot assessment.

BACKGROUND: When teeth are extracted, sensory function is decreased by a loss of periodontal ligament receptions. When replacing teeth by oral implants, one hopes to restore the sensory feedback pathway as such to allow for physiological implant integration and optimized oral function with implant-supported prostheses. What remains to be investigated is how to adapt to different oral rehabilitations. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess four aspects of masticatory adaptation after rehabilitation with an immediately loaded implant-supported prosthesis and to observe how each aspect will recover respectively. METHODS: Eight participants with complete dentures were enrolled. They received an implant-supported acrylic resin provisional bridge, 1 day after implant surgery. Masticatory adaptation was examined by assessing occlusal contact, approximate maximum bite force, masticatory efficiency of gum-like specimens, and food hardness perception. RESULTS: Occlusal contact and approximate maximum bite force were significantly increased 3 months after implant rehabilitation, with the bite force gradually building up to a 72% increase compared to baseline. Masticatory efficiency increased by 46% immediately after surgery, stabilizing at around 40% 3 months after implant rehabilitation. Hardness perception also improved, with a reduction of the error rate by 16% over time. CONCLUSIONS: This assessment demonstrated masticatory adaptation immediately after implant rehabilitation with improvements noted up to 3 months after surgery and rehabilitation. It was also observed that, despite gradually improved bite force in all patients, masticatory efficiency and food hardness perception did not necessarily follow this tendency. The findings in this pilot may also be used to assess adaptation of oral function after implant rehabilitation by studying the combined outcome of four tests (occlusal contact, maximum bite force, masticatory efficiency, and food hardness perception).

Experimental low-level jaw clenching inhibits temporal summation evoked by electrical stimulation in healthy human volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of low-level jaw clenching on temporal summation in healthy volunteers. DESIGN: In 18 healthy volunteers, the pain intensities evoked at the masseter muscle and the hand palm by the first and last stimuli in a train of repeated electrical stimuli (0.3 or 2.0 Hz) were rated using 0-100mm visual analogue scales (VAS), in order to evaluate temporal summation before and after three types of jaw-muscle tasks: low-level jaw clenching, repetitive gum chewing and mandibular rest position. A set of concentric surface electrodes with different diameters (small and large) was used for the electrical stimulation. RESULTS: The temporal summation evoked by the large diameter electrode with 2.0 Hz stimulation decreased significantly both on the masseter and the hand after low-level clenching (P ≤ 0.03), but did not show any significant change after the other tasks (P > 0.23). The VAS score of the first stimulation did not show any significant changes after low-level clenching (P > 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Experimental low-level jaw clenching can inhibit pain sensitivity, especially temporal summation. Low-level jaw clenching can modify pain sensitivity, most likely through the central nervous system. The findings suggest that potential harmful low-level jaw clenching or tooth contacting could continue despite painful symptoms, e.g., temporomandibular disorders.

Modulation of neck muscle activity induced by intra-oral stimulation in humans.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of painful electrical stimuli applied to intra-oral tissues around the teeth on the neck muscle activity in healthy humans. METHODS: Electromyographic (EMG) responses of the dorsal neck muscles evoked by intra-oral electrical stimulation were recorded before and after local anesthesia to the stimulus site in 17 healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Inhibition of dorsal neck muscle EMG activities on average 80% compared to baseline level was observed with a latency around 50 ms after the electrical stimulation before anesthesia, and the EMG activity inhibition decreased after anesthesia of the intra-oral stimulus site. The perceived intensity of the electrical stimuli as scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) was 6.1 ± 0.4 cm before anesthesia and 1.5 ± 0.2 cm after anesthesia. CONCLUSION: Intra-oral stimulation can inhibit neck muscle activity. This modulation might be attributed mainly to nociceptive afferent nerves however, non-nociceptive fibers could also be responsible. SIGNIFICANCE: Intra-oral information including nociceptive activity can inhibit neck muscle activity. From a clinical viewpoint, the present findings demonstrate the neural connectivity between the trigeminal region and the cervical region raising the possibility that orofacial pain conditions could influence head, neck and shoulder activity.

Effects of eccentric jaw exercise on temporal summation in jaw-closing muscles of healthy subjects.

Eccentric jaw exercises has been known to cause muscle soreness but no studies have so far examined to what extent temporal summation mechanisms within the exercised muscles are changed. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of an eccentric biting exercise on the temporal summation, mechanical pressure sensitivity and jaw muscle activity. A total of 15 healthy men participated in a two-session-experiment: In one session, they performed 30 min controlled eccentric jaw exercise and the other session served as a no-exercise control. Soreness sensations at rest and during maximal biting, pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and electromyographic (EMG) activity during maximal jaw biting were recorded before (baseline), immediately after (Post-task), and 1 day after the exercise (1-day-after). The temporal summation ratio using intra-muscular electrical stimulation of the masseter was investigated at baseline and at 1-day-after. The eccentric jaw exercise was associated with significant increases in soreness sensation and decreased PPTs at Post-task and at 1-day-after. The EMG activity and biting force did not change. The summation ratio was significantly decreased at 1-day-after in both sessions. The present findings demonstrate that eccentric jaw exercise does not induce detectable changes in temporal summation. However, the summation ratio may have clinical utility to differentiate the location of sensitization.