[Shiau-ROC TAIWAN-P-5] Masticatory performance and related brain features of patients with temporomandibular disorders before and after treatment
[Abstract]
[Objective]
This research aimed to assess alterations in pain intensity, masticatory performance (MP), and the corresponding brain structural features associated with treatment in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
[Methods]
TMD patients who experienced tenderness in the masseter muscle were recruited. Clinical factors, including MP and masseter muscle palpation (MMP), were evaluated before treatment (T0) and three months later (T1). MP was quantified using the variogram index (VARG), which assesses the performance of food mixing efficacy1. Muscle palpation was assessed for masseter on each side (0= no pain, 1= discomfort under pressure, and 2= pain on palpation). The MMP score is the sum of the scores from both sides (0-4). Gray matter volume (GMV) was analyzed based on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging images at T0. Whole-brain analyses were conducted to identify brain regions where GMV showed statistically significant difference between the patients with and without improvement in MP and MMP (using an intensity threshold of uncorrected p<0.001) while controlling for covariates such as age, gender, number of missing teeth, and total intracranial volume.
[Results and Discussion]
Twelve TMD patients (female/male=10/2, mean age=39.3 years) were recruited. The subjects showed a significantly lower VARG (i.e., higher MP) in T1 compared to T0 (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, two-tailed, p=0.050), but no significant improvement in MMP (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, two-tailed, p=0.098). At T0, a significant positive correlation was found between VARG and MMP (the lower MP, the higher pain, rho=0.691, p=0.013) whereas this correlation was not present at T1 (p=0.392). Higher GMV in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) was observed in the patients, without improvement in MP (n=5), compared to the patients with improvement in MP (Figure A). Higher GMV in the ITG was also observed in the patients without improvement in MMP (n=6), compared to the patients with improvement in MMP (Figure B). Our preliminary findings revealed that individual differences in structural brain features may be associated with the treatment outcome in TMD patients
[References]
Lo KC, Lin HH, Lin CS. A novel method for assessing oral mixing ability based on the spatial clusters quantified by variogram. J Oral Rehabil. 2020;47(8):951-60.
[Objective]
This research aimed to assess alterations in pain intensity, masticatory performance (MP), and the corresponding brain structural features associated with treatment in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
[Methods]
TMD patients who experienced tenderness in the masseter muscle were recruited. Clinical factors, including MP and masseter muscle palpation (MMP), were evaluated before treatment (T0) and three months later (T1). MP was quantified using the variogram index (VARG), which assesses the performance of food mixing efficacy1. Muscle palpation was assessed for masseter on each side (0= no pain, 1= discomfort under pressure, and 2= pain on palpation). The MMP score is the sum of the scores from both sides (0-4). Gray matter volume (GMV) was analyzed based on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging images at T0. Whole-brain analyses were conducted to identify brain regions where GMV showed statistically significant difference between the patients with and without improvement in MP and MMP (using an intensity threshold of uncorrected p<0.001) while controlling for covariates such as age, gender, number of missing teeth, and total intracranial volume.
[Results and Discussion]
Twelve TMD patients (female/male=10/2, mean age=39.3 years) were recruited. The subjects showed a significantly lower VARG (i.e., higher MP) in T1 compared to T0 (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, two-tailed, p=0.050), but no significant improvement in MMP (Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test, two-tailed, p=0.098). At T0, a significant positive correlation was found between VARG and MMP (the lower MP, the higher pain, rho=0.691, p=0.013) whereas this correlation was not present at T1 (p=0.392). Higher GMV in the left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) was observed in the patients, without improvement in MP (n=5), compared to the patients with improvement in MP (Figure A). Higher GMV in the ITG was also observed in the patients without improvement in MMP (n=6), compared to the patients with improvement in MMP (Figure B). Our preliminary findings revealed that individual differences in structural brain features may be associated with the treatment outcome in TMD patients
[References]
Lo KC, Lin HH, Lin CS. A novel method for assessing oral mixing ability based on the spatial clusters quantified by variogram. J Oral Rehabil. 2020;47(8):951-60.