Effects of tumor necrosis factor of TMJ in temporomandibular joint disturbance syndrome

The synovial fluids from 17 cases of TMJ disturbance syndrome (TMJDS) and 5 normal persons were studied. The results show that TNF present in the synovial fluid of TMJDS patients. There is no significant difference between the cases of internal derangement and osteoarthritis. The concentration of TNF is associated with the bone destruction, local pain, open limit and the illness period. The authors consider that the TNF may take part in the autoimmunity of this disease and the destructive process of articular tissues.     

The cerebrovascular manifestations of temporomandibular joint pain dysfunction

Overall 37 patients with painful dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), characterized clinically by headaches and dizziness as well (25 persons) were examined. A study was made of REG. The responsiveness of the sinocarotid node (SCN) was recorded. Diverse changes in the REG readings that attested to the development of cerebral angiodystonia were recorded. Abnormal responsiveness of SCN was discovered. Skillful orthopedic correction of the spatial position of the mandible was associated with noticeable changes in the normalizing and optimizing character of numerous REG readings. These data together with optimization of the responsiveness of the SCN point to the role played by the irritative vascular mechanism in the pathogenesis of headaches and dizziness seen in TMJ dysfunction.     

Tumor necrosis factor and AIDS

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to assess the interrelationship between protein-energy nutritional status, disease severity, and life-threatening complications in a population of elderly rehabilitation patients. METHODS: Three-hundred and fifty randomly selected admissions to Geriatric Rehabilitation Unit of a Veterans Administration hospital were prospectively studied. The average age of the study subjects was 76 years, nearly all (99%) were male, and 75% were white. At admission, each patient completed a comprehensive medical, functional, neuropsychological, socioeconomic, and nutritional assessment. While remaining in the hospital, each subject was monitored on a daily basis for the development of complications. RESULTS: Of the 96 variables evaluated, the best predictors of developing at least one life-threatening complication were serum albumin, body mass index, the presence of renal disease (i.e. blood urea nitrogen > 30 mg/L), the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living score, and the amount of weight loss in the year prior to admission. When all of these variables were included in the logistic regression analysis, the final model was highly significant by the -2Log Likelihood Chi-square goodness-of-fit criterion (Chi-square of 64.1 with 5 d.f., p < 0.0001) with a sensitivity of 77%, a specificity of 77% and an overall predictive accuracy of 77%. When the predictive accuracy of the logistic model was tested using a second sample of 110 patients, the model differentiated those who developed a life-threatening complication from those who had not with a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 61%, and an overall predictive accuracy of 65%. As indicated by the Chi-square test, these results were significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Protein-energy undernutrition appears to be a strong independent risk factor for life-threatening morbidity during hospitalization.     

Tumor necrosis factor and AIDS

A guinea pig model with surgically induced endolymphatic hydrops of the inner ear has been developed and studied over the past thirty years. The aim of such studies is to obtain insight into physiological processes associated with endolymphatic hydrops in man and in particular in Menière's disease where endolymphatic hydrops is systematically encountered at post-mortem examination of the temporal bones. The present review attempts to draw together the data pertaining to functional modifications of inner ear function in the animal model. For simplicity the data are categorised under five main titles: electrochemical modifications, electrophysiological modifications, pressure and hydrops, sensitivity to other insults and vestibular dysfunction. One of the most striking observations that can be made is that the data originating from different authors are very variable. There is, however, some evidence suggesting that the evolution of the auditory dysfunction could be considered as consisting of a series of different phases. This kind of information could serve as a basic framework for future research on the animal model.     

Role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and platelet-activating factor in neoangiogenesis induced by synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of the present study was to investigate in vivo in a mouse model the stimulation of neoangiogenesis by synovial fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the formation of new vessels. Angiogenesis was studied in a mouse model in which Matrigel, injected subcutaneously, was used as a vehicle for the delivery of potential angiogenic stimuli. Synovial fluids of patients with RA but not with osteoarthritis (OA) were shown to induce neoangiogenesis. Since synovial fluid of patients with RA contained significantly higher levels of TNF-alpha-like bioactivity and of PAF than that of patients with OA, the role of these mediators was evaluated by using an anti-TNF-alpha neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) and a PAF receptor antagonist, WEB 2170. When added to Matrigel, anti-TNF-alpha mAb and particularly WEB 2170 significantly reduced neoangiogenesis induced by synovial fluids of RA patients. Moreover, PAF extracted and purified from synovial fluid induced angiogenesis. These results suggest that the neoangiogenesis observed in rheumatoid synovitis may be due, at least in part, to the angiogenic effect of locally produced TNF-alpha and PAF.     

Tumor necrosis factor locus polymorphisms in rheumatoid arthritis

Pleomorphic adenoma of the larynx is a rare disorder, and until recently has been treated mainly by approaches involving pharyngotomy. We encountered a case of pleomorphic adenoma originating from the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis and removed it using a YAG laser through a suspension laryngoscope. This case was complicated by delayed-onset bilateral vocal-cord paralysis, the causes of which are also discussed.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha induces migration of human eosinophils

In order to evaluate the role of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) in the recruitment of eosinophils and neutrophils into the tissues, we studied the effect of TNF alpha on the migration of those cells in vitro, employing a modified Boyden's chamber technique. TNF alpha induced a significant migration of human eosinophils in a dose-dependent manner, and the preincubation of eosinophils with TNF alpha enhanced platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced eosinophil migration. Checkerboard analysis revealed that the eosinophil migration induced by TNF alpha was mainly due to chemokinesis. On the other hand, TNF alpha induced neither neutrophil migration nor enhancement of PAF-induced neutrophil migration. These results indicate that TNF alpha possesses a chemokinetic effect on human eosinophils and that TNF alpha augments the migration of eosinophils by PAF.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced vascular leakage involves PECAM1 phosphorylation

Herein we show that exposure of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) led to platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM1) surface redistribution, disruption of cytoskeleton connections, and increased PECAM1 phosphorylation, accompanied by increased permeability to macromolecules. The in vitro use of inhibitors of tyrosine or serine-threonine kinases could prevent both PECAM1 surface redistribution and the increase in permeability induced by the cytokine. In vivo administration of lavendustin A, a natural tyrosine kinase inhibitor, protected endothelial cells from TNFalpha-dependent vascular leakage in mouse liver. We propose that the involvement of PECAM1 in TNFalpha-mediated effects on vascular permeability may depend on a dynamically regulated cytoskeletal association, related to the degree of PECAM1 phosphorylation.     

Tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-2, and interferon-gamma in adult varicella

Adult varicella can be a severe illness complicated by pneumonia, encephalitis, or prolonged fever. This study measured levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon gamma (IFN-G) in a consecutive group of 31 adult varicella patients presenting within 24 hours of rash onset. All cytokines were assayed using an ELISA technique. TNF-alpha was detectable in 71% of patients with a mean level of 52 pg/ml. IL-2 was detectable in 29% with a mean level of 1040 pg/ml. IFN-gamma was detectable in only 9%. There was no correlation between TNF, IL-2, or IFN-G level and clinical severity as determined by duration and severity of cutaneous findings, duration of fever, frequency of hepatitis, or thrombocytopenia.     

Tumor necrosis factor alpha regulates proliferation in a mouse intestinal cell line

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a prominent cytokine in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease, yet its effects on the intestinal epithelium remain poorly understood. This study was designed to investigate the action of TNF-alpha on intestinal cell proliferation. METHODS: Young adult mouse colon cells were studied under nontransformed conditions with epidermal growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, or serum in the presence or absence of TNF-alpha and cell numbers determined. The expression and independent actions of the 55-kilodalton TNF-alpha R1 and 75-kilodalton TNF-alpha R2 receptors were studied by immunologic methods. RESULTS: TNF-alpha stimulated proliferation at 0.1 and 1 ng/mL and inhibited proliferation at 100 and 1000 ng/mL without altering cell viability. TNF-alpha inhibited the mitogenic effect of growth factors and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine phosphorylation. TNF-alpha R1 receptor agonist antibody inhibited proliferation, whereas a TNF-alpha R2 receptor-blocking antibody prevented the proliferative effect of low-dose TNF-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: TNF-alpha displays a novel influence on intestinal cell growth, stimulating proliferation at physiological concentrations and inhibiting proliferation at pathological concentrations. The regulation of intestinal cell mitogenesis by TNF-alpha seems to be mediated differentially by the two TNF-alpha receptors, with the TNF-alpha R1 receptor inhibiting proliferation and the TNF-alpha R2 receptor promoting proliferation.     

Clinical experience in temporomandibular joint arthroscopy

Clinical experience of arthroscopy in 12 temporomandibular joints with a clinical diagnosis of closed lock was described. There were 10 patients and all were females with a mean age of 31.2 years (range 20 to 59 years). The antero-lateral approach was used for entry into 11 joints. The clinical findings were adhesions (64%), fibrillation (64%), anterior displacement of disc (36%) and scuffing of the articular surface of the glenoid fossa (9%). Two of the joints that had arthrocentesis prior to arthroscopy did not show any different findings from the rest. Of the 8 patients who had pre-arthroscopy pain, 7 patients (88%) had reduction of the symptom. Three patients (38%) had complete resolution of pain. The range of mouth opening (measured as maximal incisor opening) increased in all patients two weeks following arthroscopy. The average change in maximal incisor opening was 40.3% with a range of 22% to 85%. The mean follow-up was 34 months (range 4 to 68 months).     

Immunohistochemical distribution of lymph capillaries and blood capillaries in the synovial membrane in cases of internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint

The distribution of lymph capillaries and blood capillaries in the synovial membrane was examined immunohistologically with anti-human collagen IV antibody and anti-human von Willebrand factor in 26 human temporomandibular joint (TMJ) samples comprising discs with adjoining synovial membrane from 10 control TMJs and from 16 TMJs with internal derangement. Three different distribution types were observed in the synovial membrane. In the control samples, the occurrence of blood capillaries and lymph capillaries was rare. In mildly hyperplastic synovitis, lymph capillaries were observed just beneath the surface of the synovial membrane, whereas blood capillaries occurred in a little deeper layer of the synovial membrane. In a severely hyperplastic synovitis, both lymph and blood capillaries were observed frequently. The present results suggest that the different distribution patterns of lymph capillaries and blood capillaries reflect the degree of synovitis but can not be attributed to specific clinical symptoms.     

Temporomandibular joint disorders and surgery of the temporomandibular joint

Surgery of the TMJ is a useful tool in Temporo Mandibular Disorders (TMD). After have been identified what is part of TMD and what isn't, this article lay stress upon the fact that surgery of the TMJ is the appropriate treatment only when the nonsurgically therapy had failed. Indications, danger and complications are discussed. Procedures of arthrotomy and arthroscopy are explained. Various surgical procedures and staging of TMD are discussed.