Surface Electromyography as a Method for Diagnosing Muscle Function in Patients with Congenital Maxillofacial Abnormalities

Thermoelectric Gel Enabling Self-Powered Facial Perception for Expression Recognition and Health Monitoring

By analyzing facial features to perform expression recognition and health monitoring, facial perception plays a pivotal role in noninvasive, real-time disease diagnosis and prevention. Current perception routes are limited by structural complexity and the necessity of a power supply, making timely and accurate monitoring difficult. Herein, a self-powered poly(vinyl alcohol)-gellan gum-glycerol thermogalvanic gel patch enabling facial perception is developed for monitoring emotions and atypical pathological states. Due to the high thermopower of 1.89 mV/K as well as excellent stretchability of 680%, the on-face-conformed thermoelectric gel can operate upon facial thermoelectric variation resulting from different interfacial contact statuses between the gel and face induced by facial muscle activities. With the aid of machine learning, the patch array delivers accurate perception of facial activities of 11 muscles in real time, achieving active expression recognition and health monitoring with the accuracy of 98 and 96%, respectively. This work provides a promising strategy of actively monitoring multisite physiological activities, advancing the development of intelligent wearable bioelectronics for physical or mental monitoring.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation modulates masseter muscle activity, pain perception, and anxiety levels in university students: a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial

Introduction

Chronic anxiety is a statemarked by sustained activation of the masseter muscle, manifesting in both mental and physical strain. This prolonged tension can significantly impact mental wellbeing and cognitive abilities, posing a risk for a range of health complications. This double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the impact of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (TAVNS) on masseter muscle activity, pressure pain threshold (PPT), and anxiety levels in university students with elevated anxiety.

Methods

Forty-two participants meeting inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either active TAVNS or sham TAVNS groups. Various parameters, including masseter muscle electromyographic (EMG) signals, PPT, and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scores, were assessed before pretreatment, immediately after the intervention week, and 2 weeks follow-up.

Results

Active TAVNS significantly reduced both left and right masseter activation during resting mandibular position, persisting for 2 weeks post-intervention. Additionally, TAVNS induced a lasting decrease in both left and right masseter PPT, indicative of altered pain perception. Notably, BAI scores showed a substantial reduction, emphasizing TAVNS as a potential intervention for anxiety, with effects maintained at the 2-week follow-up.

Discussion

This study provides comprehensive insights into the multifaceted effects of TAVNS on physiological and psychological aspects associated with anxiety in university students. The promising results underscore TAVNS as a potential neuromodulatory intervention for anxiety-related conditions, warranting further research and clinical exploration.

Clinical Trial Registration

https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-4s4kt2r.

Exploring the potential of rapid maxillary expansion and masticatory muscle activity in unilateral posterior crossbite

Background

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate if rapid maxillary expansion improves the activity of the masticatory muscles (masseter and temporal) in patients with unilateral posterior crossbite.

Material and Methods

Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and grey literature. A manual search of orthodontic journals was also performed. Randomized clinical trials or longitudinal prospective studies were eligibles. Meta-analyses were conducted using R software with the "Meta" package, applying mean differences with a 95% confidence interval. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale, and evidence certainty was evaluated using GRADE.

Results

Nine articles were included. Qualitative analysis showed that RME treatment in patients with unilateral posterior crossbite showed a positive correlation with improvement in masseter and temporalis muscle activity. Meta-analyses indicated a significant difference for all models of muscle activity after treatment with rapid maxillary expansion, except for the temporal muscle in the force exerted on the maximum voluntary clenching on cotton rolls. The studies showed low bias risk, and the evidence certainty for each analysis was generally low to very low.

Conclusions

This investigation demonstrated the benefits of R rapid maxillary expansion in treating unilateral posterior crossbite and its potential therapeutic effects on the masticatory muscles. Key words:Rapid maxillary expansion, masticatory muscles, unilateral posterior crossbite, systematic review, meta-analysis.

Surface Electromyography in Dentistry-Past, Present and Future

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a technique for measuring and analyzing the electrical signals of muscle activity using electrodes placed on the skin's surface. The aim of this paper was to outline the history of the development and use of surface electromyography in dentistry, to show where research and technical solutions relating to surface electromyography currently lie, and to make recommendations for further research. sEMG is a diagnostic technique that has found significant application in dentistry. The historical section discusses the evolution of sEMG methods and equipment, highlighting how technological advances have influenced the accuracy and applicability of this method in dentistry. The need for standardization of musculoskeletal testing methodology is highlighted and the needed increased technical capabilities of sEMG equipment and the ability to specify parameters (e.g., sampling rates, bandwidth). A higher sampling rate (the recommended may be 2000 Hz or higher in masticatory muscles) allows more accurate recording of changes in the signal, which is essential for accurate analysis of muscle function. Bandwidth is one of the key parameters in sEMG research. Bandwidth determines the range of frequencies effectively recorded by the sEMG system (the recommended frequency limits are usually between 20 Hz and 500 Hz in masticatory muscles). In addition, the increased technical capabilities of sEMG equipment and the ability to specify electromyographic parameters demonstrate the need for a detailed description of selected parameters in the methodological section. This is necessary to maintain the reproducibility of sEMG testing. More high-quality clinical trials are needed in the future.

Study protocol: Accommodative effects on the musculoskeletal system

Accommodation is a phenomenon of the eyeball, which consists of adapting to view objects at different distances. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of accommodations on the musculoskeletal system in myopic and emmetropic subjects. To date, the effect of accommodative paralysis on the musculoskeletal system has not been studied. The research hypothesis based on the current research reports is that accommodation affects the musculoskeletal system in myopic and emmetropic subjects. A smaller aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of unilateral accommodative palsy on the musculoskeletal system in myopic and emmetropic subjects. According to the authors of the previous reports, unilateral accommodative palsy will affect increased musculoskeletal asymmetry in myopic and emmetropic subjects. The surface electromyography (sEMG) of the musculoskeletal system will be performed by using the Noraxon Ultium DTS 8-K MR 3 myo Muscle Master Edition. Cycloftyal (10 mg/ml, eye drops, solution) will be used to paralyze accommodation. After the paralysis of unilateral accommodation, the test will be repeated. Both-sided accommodation will be paralyzed next, and the test will be repeated. The study may provide insight into the effects of accommodation on the musculoskeletal system, and it may also help in understanding the connections between these systems.

The Diagnostic Value of Scanning in the Injury of Triceps Crus of Volleyball Players

The study goal is to solve the problem of the diagnosis of triceps crus injury of volleyball players, meet the needs of volleyball players and team doctors for the correct diagnosis of triceps crus injury scanning, make up for the deficiency that triceps crus injury scanning diagnosis is easy to make mistakes, and improve the efficiency and ability of triceps crus injury diagnosis scanning. Because the experiment involves the technical action of volleyball jump serve, DELSYSR Trignomobile wireless portable surface electromyography tester (16 leads) made in the United States is selected to test the surface electromyography of the main muscle groups of college male volleyball players in the process of jump serve. The German made simi-3D motion image system is used to conduct three-dimensional synchronous test of athletes' jump serve action. The data analysis software adopts EMG work analysis, EMG analysis software, and simi-3D motion image analysis system for postprocessing data. The original signal is filtered (400 Hz for low pass and 20 Hz for high pass) and rectified. Finally, IEMG, EMG contribution rate, and RMS were calculated. This ensures the accuracy of the experiment.

Electromyographic Study of Masticatory Muscle Function in Children with Down Syndrome

This study assessed the electrical activity of the masticatory muscles in both children with down syndrome (DS) and healthy children. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 patients aged between 7.9 and 11.8 years participated in the study. They were divided into two groups of 15: DS and non-DS. A DAB-Bluetooth device (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) was used to record the electromyographical (EMG) activity of the right and left temporal and of the right and left masseter muscles at rest and during maximum voluntary clenching (MVC). The asymmetry index between right and left masticatory muscle EMG activity was calculated for each position. The Mann–Whitney U test was applied to analyze the study results. There were no differences in the electrical activity of the temporal and masseter muscles at rest between the groups. During MVC, the asymmetry index for the masseter muscles was significantly higher in subjects with DS. The electrical potentials of the temporal and masseter muscles in children with DS were significantly lower compared to the corresponding parameters for healthy children when clenching.

The Electrical Activity of the Orbicularis Oris Muscle in Children with Down Syndrome-A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to assess the electrical activity of the superior (SOO) and inferior (IOO) orbicularis oris muscles in children with Down syndrome (DS) and in children without DS. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 subjects were eligible to participate in the later stages of the research—15 subjects with DS (mean age 10.1 ± 1.1) and 15 healthy controls (mean age 9.8 ± 1.0). The electrical potentials of the SOO and IOO muscles were recorded using a DAB-Bluetooth electromyography machine (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) during the following tasks: At clinical rest, saliva swallowing, lip protrusion, lip compression, and production of the syllable/pa/. The Mann–Whitney U test was conducted to compare the study results between the groups. An analysis of the electromyographical (EMG) recordings showed that the electrical activity of the orbicularis oris muscle in children with DS and lip incompetence was significantly higher compared to healthy children during saliva swallowing, lip compression, and when producing the syllable/pa/, and this may suggest greater muscular effort due to the need to seal the lips during these functional conditions.

Superior Orbicularis Oris Muscle Activity in Children Surgically Treated for Bilateral Complete Cleft Lip and Palate

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the electromyographic activity of the superior orbicularis oris muscle both in children surgically treated for bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCCLP) as well as in subjects without BCCLP. The study comprised 77 children aged 6.6 to 12.5 years. All the patients with clefts had previously undergone lip and palate surgery. The upper lip electromyographic (EMG) assessments were made with a DAB-Bluetooth device (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) at rest, while swallowing saliva, protruding lips and compressing lips. EMG measurements were also made when the subjects produced phonemes /p/, /b/, and /m/ with the vowel /a/. The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to statistically analyze the EMG values. Significantly higher median upper lip EMG activity under working conditions such as swallowing saliva, lip compression, and production of the phoneme /p/ with the vowel /a/ was observed in patients with BCCLP compared to those without a cleft. The results of the study showed that the upper lip muscle activity increases in children with BCCLP when swallowing saliva, compressing lips and during some speech movement tasks. This may be important in the aspect of the effect of surgical lip repair on the craniofacial growth.