Objective Dietary loading has been reported to have an effect on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) remodeling via periodontal-muscular reflex. We therefore examined whether reducing dietary loading decreased TMJ degradation induced by the unilateral anterior crossbite prosthesis as we recently reported. Methods Forty 6-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two experimental and two control groups. One experimental and one control group received small-size diet and the other two groups received large-size diet. Unilateral anterior crossbite prosthesis was created in the two experimental groups. The TMJ samples were collected 3 weeks after experimental operation. Histological changes in condylar cartilage and subchondral bone were assessed by Hematoxylin & Eosin, toluidine blue, Safranin O and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate the expression levels of Collagen II, Aggrecan, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5) and RANKL/RANK/OPG in TMJ condylar cartilage and/or subchondral bone. Results Thinner and degraded cartilage, reduced cartilage cellular density, decreased expression levels of Collagen II and Aggrecan, loss of subchondral bone and enhanced osteoclast activity were observed in TMJs of both experimental groups. However, the cartilage degradation phenotype was less severe and cartilage ADAMTS-5 mRNA was lower while OPG/RANKL ratio in cartilage and subchondral bone was higher in the small-size than large-size diet experimental group. No differences of histomorphology and the tested molecules were found between the two control groups. Conclusions The current findings suggest that a lower level of functional loading by providing small-size diet could reduce TMJ degradation induced by the biomechanical stimulation from abnormal occlusion.

Yan73 is a “teinturier” red wine variety cultivated in China and used in winemaking to strengthen red wine color. Here, the anthocyanin profile in both the skin and pulp of this grape variety was analyzed by HPLC-MS. The results showed that 18 anthocyanins were detected in both the skin and the pulp, and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, an anthocyanin compound hardly detected in most other Vitis vinifera berries, was found. However, the contents of individual anthocyanins in the skin and the pulp were significantly different. Compared with the skin, the pulp exhibited much lower ratio of 3’,5’-substituted to 3’-substituted anthocyanins and much higher ratio of methoxylation of anthocyanin B-ring to non methoxylation, and with regard to the aromatic acylated and aliphatic acylated anthocyanins, both their contents in the skin are higher than in the pulp. The findings will provide some new insight for the tissue-specific expression and regulation of the genes involving in anthocyanin biosynthesis in grape berries.

There is disagreement about the association between missing posterior teeth and the presence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Here, the purpose was to investigate whether the number of missing posterior teeth, their distribution, age, and gender are associated with TMD. Seven hundred and forty-one individuals, aged 21-60 years, with missing posterior teeth, 386 with and 355 without TMD, were included. Four variables-gender, age, the number of missing posterior teeth, and the number of dental quadrants with missing posterior teeth-were analyzed with a logistic regression model. All four variables-gender (OR = 1.59, men = 1, women = 2), age (OR = 0.98), the number of missing posterior teeth (OR = 0.51), and the number of dental quadrants with missing posterior teeth (OR = 7.71)-were entered into the logistic model (P < 0.01). The results indicate that individuals who lose posterior teeth, with fewer missing posterior teeth but in more quadrants, have a higher prevalence of TMD, especially young women.