Background Due to the multifactorial aetiology and unpredictable long-term stability, skeletal anterior open bite (SAOB) is one of the most intractable conditions for orthodontists. The abnormal orofacial myofunctional status (OMS) may be a major risk factor contributing to the development and relapse of SAOB. This study is aimed at evaluating the OMS and the efficacy of orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) alone for SAOB subjects. Methods Eighteen adolescents with SAOB (4 males, 14 females; age: 12–18 years) and eighteen adolescents with normal occlusion (2 males, 16 females; age: 12–18 years) were selected. The electromyographic activity (EMGA) associated with mastication and closed mouth state was measured. Lateral cephalography was used to evaluate craniofacial morphology. Wilcoxon signed rank tests and t-tests were performed to evaluate myofunctional and morphological differences. Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlations between EMGA and morphological characteristics. SAOB subjects were given OMT for 3 months, and the EMGA was compared between before and after OMT. Results During rest, anterior temporalis activity (TAA) and mentalis muscle activity (MEA) increased in SAOB subjects, but TAA and masseter muscle activity (MMA) decreased in the intercuspal position (ICP); and upper orbicularis activity (UOA) and MEA significantly increased during lip sealing and swallowing (P < 0.05). Morphological evaluation revealed increases in the FMA, GoGn-SN, ANS-Me, N-Me, L1-MP, U6-PP, and L6-MP and decreases in the angle of the axis of the upper and lower central incisors and OB in SAOB subjects (P < 0.05). TAA, MMA and anterior digastric activity (DAA) in the ICP were negatively correlated with vertical height and positively correlated to incisor protrusion. MEA was positively correlated with vertical height and negatively correlated with incisor protrusion; and the UOA showed a similar correlation in ICP, during sealing lip and swallowing. After SAOB subjects received OMT, MEA during rest and TAA, MMA and DAA in the ICP increased, while UOA and MEA decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion SAOB subjects showed abnormal OMS features including aberrant swallowing patterns and weak masticatory muscles, which were interrelated with the craniofacial dysmorphology features including a greater anterior facial height and incisor protrusion. Furthermore, OMT contributes to OMS harmonization, indicating its therapeutic prospect in SAOB.

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Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a worldwide, multifactorial mental disorder characterized by manic and depressive symptoms of varying degrees. Among all the genetic risk factors correlated with BD, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as a crucial neutropin that influences BD susceptibility with strong conservative across species and multiple downstream signaling pathways. However, the mechanisms of how BDNF polymorphism can contribute to BD are not yet lucid and systematically reviewed. BDNF Val66Met variant is capable of inducing neurodegenisis and Long-term Depression (LTD), both of which account for pathogenesis in BD. The Val66Met variant is associated with rapid cycling episodes in BD. Another variant, Arg125Met is a potential BD risk variant which elicits neuronal apoptosis by affecting the maturation of BDNF. In this paper, we briefly summarized BD epidemiology, symptoms, BDNF structure, and its action of function. We reviewed various mechanisms of BDNF Val66Met and Arg125Met variant for BD pathogenesis in detail and provided insights into possible BD clinical treatment targets. BDNF has been proven to be a noteworthy gene factor in BD and gene therapy targeted on BDNF is a promising therapeutic strategy that requires further research.