Overexpression of MMPs, cytokines, and RANKL/OPG in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis and their association with joint pain, mouth opening, and bone degeneration: A preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the expression of distinct matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, and bone resorptive factors in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) patients and their association with joint pain, mouth opening, and subchondral bone degeneration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients affected with TMJ-OA (n = 5), disk displacement without reduction (DDWoR) (n = 3), or disk displacement with reduction (DDWR) (n = 4) were selected. Joint pain was quantified by using visual analog scale, mouth opening was quantified at the maximum pain-free aperture, and bone degeneration was quantified using joint imaging. Synovial fluid samples were collected and immediately processed for cell and synovial fluid recovering. From cells, the MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-13, IL-6, IL-23, and TNF-α expression was quantified by qPCR. From synovial fluid, the RANKL and OPG levels were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: Higher levels of MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-13, IL-6, IL-23, TNF-α, and RANKL/OPG ratio were detected in TMJ-OA compared with DDWoR and DDWR patients (p < .05). Joint pain significantly correlated with TNF-α levels (r = .975, p = .029). Besides, imaging signs of bone degeneration significantly correlated with RANKL/OPG ratio (r = .949, p = .042). Conversely, mouth opening did not correlate with any of the analyzed mediators. CONCLUSION: During TMJ-OA, a pathological response characterized by the overexpression of TNF-α and RANKL/OPG could be involved in joint pain and subchondral bone degeneration.

New record of Neosaimiri (Cebidae, Platyrrhini) from the late Middle Miocene of Peruvian Amazonia.

The Honda Group of La Venta, Colombia, has yielded a wide array of crown platyrrhine primates, documenting the late Middle Miocene epoch (ca. 13.1-12.6 Ma, Laventan South American Land Mammal Age). Although exceptional, this record represents only a snapshot of the evolutionary history of New World monkeys because virtually none of the primate taxa recorded at La Venta had so far been found elsewhere. We describe here few dental remains of a cebine platyrrhine discovered from Laventan deposits in the San Martín Department of Peru (Peruvian Amazonia). The primate dental specimens from that new fossil-bearing locality (TAR-31) are strongly reminiscent morphologically of the teeth of Neosaimiri fieldsi from La Venta. However, given that several aspects of the dental variability from TAR-31 are unknown, we prefer to provide an assignment with open nomenclature (i.e., N. cf. fieldsi), instead of formally referring these remains to N. fieldsi, pending the discovery of additional specimens. The occurrence of Neosaimiri in Peru, in coeval deposits of La Venta, thus represents a second and southernmost record of that low-latitude genus in the Neotropics, thereby demonstrating its wide distribution along the northwestern edge of the Pebas Mega-Wetland System, in tropical western South America.

Late middle Miocene caviomorph rodents from Tarapoto, Peruvian Amazonia.

Miocene deposits of South America have yielded several species-rich assemblages of caviomorph rodents. They are mostly situated at high and mid- latitudes of the continent, except for the exceptional Honda Group of La Venta, Colombia, the faunal composition of which allowed to describe the late middle Miocene Laventan South American Land Mammal Age (SALMA). In this paper, we describe a new caviomorph assemblage from TAR-31 locality, recently discovered near Tarapoto in Peruvian Amazonia (San Martín Department). Based on mammalian biostratigraphy, this single-phased locality is unambiguously considered to fall within the Laventan SALMA. TAR-31 yielded rodent species found in La Venta, such as the octodontoid Ricardomys longidens Walton, 1990 (nom. nud.), the chinchilloids Microscleromys paradoxalis Walton, 1990 (nom. nud.) and M. cribriphilus Walton, 1990 (nom. nud.), or closely-related taxa. Given these strong taxonomic affinities, we further seize the opportunity to review the rodent dental material from La Venta described in the Ph.D. volume of Walton in 1990 but referred to as nomina nuda. Here we validate the recognition of these former taxa and provide their formal description. TAR-31 documents nine distinct rodent species documenting the four extant superfamilies of Caviomorpha, including a new erethizontoid: Nuyuyomys chinqaska gen. et sp. nov. These fossils document the most diverse caviomorph fauna for the middle Miocene interval of Peruvian Amazonia to date. This rodent discovery from Peru extends the geographical ranges of Ricardomys longidens, Microscleromys paradoxalis, and M. cribriphilus, 1,100 km to the south. Only one postcranial element of rodent was unearthed in TAR-31 (astragalus). This tiny tarsal bone most likely documents one of the two species of Microscleromys and its morphology indicates terrestrial generalist adaptations for this minute chinchilloid.

Concordancia entre los criterios diagnósticos RDC/TMD y su actualización DC/TMD, aplicados a la patología inflamatoria de la articulación temporomandibular / Agreement between Diagnostic Criteria RDC/TMD and its update DC/TMD, applied to the inflammatory pathology of the Temporomandibular Joint

RESUMEN: Objetivo: Evaluar el grado de concordancia entre las prevalencias de trastornos articulares inflamatorios (TAI) de las Articulaciones Temporomandibulares (ATM), obtenidas con los Criterios Diagnósticos de Investigación para Trastornos Temporomandibulares (RDC/TMD) y los Criterios Diagnósticos para Trastornos Temporomandibulares (DC/TMD). Materiales y métodos: 59 pacientes adultos chilenos fueron examinados según el Eje I de los RDC/TMD y el Eje I de los DC/TMD para determinar la prevalencia de TAI. Luego se compararon los resultados obtenidos de cada protocolo con el test Kappa de Cohen para evaluar la concordancia entre ambos. Resultados: La prevalencia de TAI para ambos criterios fue de 22%, con una concordancia casi perfecta (kappa=0,91). Al comparar las prevalencias de TAI por articulación, se obtuvo un grado de acuerdo sustancial (kappa=0,77) para la ATM derecha y un grado de acuerdo casi perfecto (kappa=0,94) para la ATM izquierda. Al comparar las prevalencias de TAI según género y edad se obtuvo una concordancia estadísticamente significativa en la mayoría de los casos. Conclusión: Hay concordancia estadísticamente significativa entre los datos obtenidos con los RDC/TMD y los DC/TMD, en el diagnóstico de trastornos articulares inflamatorios.

ABSTRACT: Aim: To assess the agreement between the prevalence of inflammatory joint disorders (IJD) obtained with Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) and Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). Materials and methods: 59 Chilean adult patients were examined according to Axis I of the RDC/TMD and Axis I of the DC/TMD to determine prevalence of IJD. Then, the results obtained from each protocol were compared with Cohen's Kappa test to assess the agreement between them. Results: The prevalence of IJD for both criteria was 22%, with almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.91). When comparing the prevalences of IJD per joint, a substantial agreement (kappa = 0.77) was obtained for the right TMJ and an almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.94) for the left TMJ. When comparing the prevalences of IJD according to gender and age, a statistically significant agreement was obtained in the majority of cases. Conclusion: There is statistically significant agreement between the data obtained with the RDC/TMD and the DC/TMD, in the diagnosis of inflammatory joint disorders.

Prevalencia de Trastornos Temporomandibulares según los CDI/TTM, en un Grupo de Adultos Mayores de Santiago, Chile / Prevalence of Temporomandibular Disorders According to RDC/TMD in Older People of Santiago, Chile

En la población chilena, los adultos mayores representan un 13% de la población total del país (2,2 millones), proyectándose para el 2020 un aumento del grupo de 60 años o más en un 45%. Todos los seres humanos sufren un proceso de envejecimiento y, los tejidos orales y periorales no escapan de este proceso. Las repercusiones sobre el sistema estomatognático, podrían manifestarse a través de sintomatología en alguno de sus componentes, compatible con un trastorno temporomandibular (TTM). El objetivo de este trabajo, fue determinar la prevalencia de TTM según los Criterios de Investigación Diagnóstica ó CDI/TTM (Eje I), en adultos mayores examinados en la Clínica Odontológica de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Chile (FOUCh), durante el año 2012 y establecer la relación entre ambos sexos. Este estudio determinó, que existe una alta prevalencia de TTM en la muestra de adultos mayores chilenos estudiados (47%), principalmente diagnósticos de tipo articular y sin una relación significativa entre ambos sexos.

In Chilean population, elders represent a 13% of the overall population (2.2 million), projected for 2020 an increase of 45%, from the group of 60 and over. All humans undergo a process of aging. Oral and perioral tissues do not escape from this process, whose impact on the condyle and articular disc could be observed, in the presence of symptoms consistent with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TMD according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria or RDC/TMD (Axis I), in older adults examined at the Dental Clinic of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile during 2012, and establish the relationship between the sexes. In conclusion, this study found that there is a high prevalence of TMD in Chilean elderly sample studied (47%), mainly articular diagnoses without a statistically significant relationship between the sexes.