The intervertebral disc disease (IDD) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. A number of environment and anthropometric risk factors may contribute to it. The recent reports have suggested the importance of genetic factors, especially these which encode collagen types IX and XI. The allelic variants in the collagen IX genes - COL9A2 (Trp2) and COL9A3 (Trp3) have been identified as genetic risk factors for IDD, because they interfere the cross-linking between collagen types II, IX and XI and result in decreased stability of intervertebral discs. Type XI collagen is a minor component of cartilage collagen fibrils, but it is present in the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus of intervertebral discs. Some studies have shown the association between gene COL11A1 polymorphism c.4603C>T and IDD. The frequency of 4603T allele was significantly higher in the patients with IDD than in the healthy controls.

The stomatognathic system is a functional complex of tissues and organs located within the oral and craniofacial cavities. The craniofacial anatomical factors and the biomechanics of the temporomandibular joints affect many systems throughout the body, including the organ of vision. However, few scientific reports have shown a relationship between the organ of vision and the stomatognathic system. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of connections along neural, muscle-fascial, and biochemical pathways between the organ of vision and the stomatognathic system. Based on the literature presented in this review, the connections between the organ of vision and the stomatognathic system seem undeniable. Understanding the anatomical, physiological, and biochemical interrelationships may allow to explain the interactions between the mentioned systems. According to the current knowledge, it is not possible to indicate the main linking pathway; presumably, it may be a combination of several presented pathways. The awareness of this relationship among dentists, ophthalmologists, physiotherapists, and optometrists should increase for the better diagnosis and treatment of patients.

It has been estimated that 80% of the pre-mRNA undergoes alternative splicing, which exponentially increases the flow of biological information in cellular processes and can be an attractive therapeutic target. It is a crucial mechanism to increase genetic diversity. Disturbed alternative splicing is observed in many disorders, including neuromuscular diseases and carcinomas. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease. Homozygous deletion in 5q13 (the region coding for the motor neuron survival gene (SMN1)) is responsible for 95% of SMA cases. The nearly identical SMN2 gene does not compensate for SMN loss caused by SMN1 gene mutation due to different splicing of exon 7. A pathologically low level of survival motor neuron protein (SMN) causes degeneration of the anterior horn cells in the spinal cord with associated destruction of α-motor cells and manifested by muscle weakness and loss. Understanding the regulation of the SMN2 pre-mRNA splicing process has allowed for innovative treatment and the introduction of new medicines for SMA. After describing the concept of splicing modulation, this review will cover the progress achieved in this field, by highlighting the breakthrough accomplished recently for the treatment of SMA using the mechanism of alternative splicing.

The aim of the present study was to analyze novel functional indices of masticatory muscle activity and compare them to existing and commonly used indices in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and healthy adults. Based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, 78 adult women qualified for the study. Subjects were divided into two groups: diagnosed TMDs (n = 36; mean age: 23.4 ± 2.6 years) and healthy adults (n = 42; mean age: 22.4 ± 2.3 years). Measurements of the bioelectric activity of the temporalis anterior (TA), superficial masseter (MM), and anterior bellies of the digastric muscle (DA) were carried out using the BioEMG III ™. Functional Clenching (FCI) and Functional Opening (FOI) indices were obtained as the ratio of the difference between the mean muscle root mean square (RMS) potentials during functional activity, including clenching (CL) and opening (MMO), and mean muscle resting (REST) potentials. Next, based on FCI and FOI indices, the Functional Clenching Activity Index (FCAI), Functional Clenching Symmetry Index (FCSI), and Functional Opening Symmetry Index (FOSI) were obtained. The statistical analysis showed significant differences in activity index left-sided (AcIL) and Activity index both-sided (AcItot) between TMDs and healthy women during rest measurements. The significant differences between both groups were noted in terms of all Functional Clenching Indices except Functional Clenching Index for MM right-sided (FCIMM-R). In all analyzed FCI indices, the control group showed higher values compared to the TMDs. Moreover, a significant difference between TMDs and controls was observed within Functional Clenching Activity Index left-sided (FCAIL) (14.56 vs. −0.45, p = 0.01). Both functional indices, and asymmetry (AsI) and activity (AcI) indices seem to be reliable in assessing symmetry and activity within masticatory muscles. Further studies should be performed to verify the effectiveness and suitability of the assessment of masticatory muscles using functional indices.

This study aims to examine the correlations between masticatory and neck muscle thickness and activity versus eyeball length, retinal thickness, choroidal thickness, and intraocular pressure in healthy women versus women with myopia. The study group consisted of 21 women aged 24 years and a control group of 19 women (mean age 23 years). For bioelectrical activity analysis within the temporalis anterior, the superficial part of the masseter muscle, the middle part of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, an eight-channel BioEMG III electromyograph were used. An M-Turbo ultrasound machine was used to analyze masticatory and neck muscle thickness. The eyeball length was examined by IOL Master 500; choroidal and retinal thickness by Optovue Angiovue; and intraocular pressure by Tono-Pen XL. Refractive errors are related to differences in muscle thickness and electromyographic activity. Bioelectrical activity within the temporalis anterior seems to be associated with ocular length, retinal thickness, and choroidal thickness in women with myopia.