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Biomedical subjects

F Mongini

Publications and source records attributed to F Mongini.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

MMPI profiles in patients with headache or craniofacial pain: a comparative study.

Our purpose was to examine the MMPI profiles of 157 patients with chronic headache or facial pain. The following diagnostic groups were considered: tension-type headache (n = 44); migraine + cluster headache + chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (20); trigeminal neuralgia (7); atypical facial pain (AFP) (33); temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) (53). There were two control groups: C1 of 27 healthy individuals and C2 of 18 patients with chronic pain located elsewhere. A "Pain Index" was calculated (0-10) which quantified pattern, duration and frequency of pain. The Italian MMPI abbreviated version was administered to all subjects. One-way Anova, the Duncan test and correlation analysis were performed. Of the diagnostic groups, AFP scored highest and TMJ lowest in all except three scales. In the AFP group, all neurotic scales scored above 70. The Pain Index correlated with higher scores on most scales. Chronic pain may lead to personality alterations, but some features of craniofacial pain correlate with specific personality disturbances.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

A computer-based assessment of structural and displacement asymmetries of the mandible.

The purpose of this article was to assess and quantify the different components that can lead to mandibular asymmetry in a person during or at the end of growth and to investigate the extent to which improvement can be obtained in the different situations. Three boys and 17 girls, 8 to 21 years of age, with facial asymmetry and chin deviation were selected. Posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs were taken in intercuspal position. On each radiograph, three mandibular points (menton, gonion or antegonion, and articular point) were selected to define a mandibular area. A vertical axis of reference was also determined. Computer-aided design was employed to develop two systems (A and B) to assess a symmetry degree of the mandible. With system A, the left mandibular area was rotated around the vertical axis of reference, and the degree of the superimposition between the left and right areas was plotted. With system B, the left area was rotated around an axis that ran through menton and was perpendicular to a line connecting the two articular points of the mandible. Also, in this case, the degree of superimposition between the two areas was plotted. With system A, the degree of superimposition was a function of mandibular position and mandibular symmetry. With system B, it was a function of mandibular symmetry only. Thus through comparative examination of the data, assessment of displacement asymmetry and structural asymmetry was possible. In two patients, only displacement asymmetry was present, whereas 14 patients showed various features of structural asymmetry. The patients were treated with orthopedic splints to keep the mandible in a position of symmetry. Orthodontic treatment followed so that the intercuspal position would finally coincide with the position of symmetry. Computer-aided design analysis was performed again after a mean observation period of 41.1 months. In 11 patients an improvement in symmetry was observed with both systems. The patients in whom no improvement of structural asymmetry was observed showed a relatively high degree of symmetry at the beginning or had a considerably higher age than the mean age of the whole group. The clinical implications of the data are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Thermographic findings in cranio-facial pain.

This work assesses the differences in the thermographic findings in the craniofacial and neck areas between normal individuals and patients with craniofacial pain or headache, and investigates the influence of muscle contraction on such findings. Thermographic records were taken in 10 healthy subjects and 47 patients suffering from craniofacial pain or headache of different kinds. In the patients with painful episodes the record was taken between attacks. In all the normal subjects and in 19 patients lateral thermograms were also taken during and after maximal tooth clenching for three minutes. The majority of the patients, as compared to the normal group, showed some thermal alterations and asymmetry. Such alterations seem to be due both to vascular instability and muscle contraction: these two factors may be variably superimposed in the different conditions. In patients with cluster headache or chronic paroxysmal hemicrania the presence on the symptomatic side of a cold spot along the supraorbital area and/or the inner orbital canthus, was a constant finding. We conclude that thermography is useful as an additional diagnostic means in patients with head and face pain, and that the clenching test may increase the amount of information provided.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Analysis of mastication in normal and dysfunctional subjects].

A computer based system to asses mandibular movements and EMG masseter and temporal muscle activity during habitual mastication was applied to 12 healthy subjects and to 86 dysfunctional subjects, the chewing performance was tested with a standardized bolus of crispy bread. A Siemens Sirognathograph instrument was used to record mandibular movements, while EMG signals were recorded with surface Ag/AgCl electrodes. The Dysfunction Index System was used to build two subgroups of patients with severe TMJ impairment (n = 21) and severe muscle dysfunction (n = 15) respectively. Data on the different parameters of mastication were obtained for the single patients, the whole group and the two subgroups were statistically compared together with those obtained from normal individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Habitual mastication in dysfunction: a computer-based analysis.

To study the different parameters of habitual mastication in stomatognathic dysfunction, mandibular movements and electromyographic activity of the elevator muscles were recorded during three chewing sequences in 86 dysfunctional subjects. The Dysfunction Index system was used to treat two subgroups, patients with severe temporomandibular joint impairment and patients with severe muscle dysfunction. Data on the different parameters of mastication from the single patients, the whole group, and the two subgroups were statistically assessed and compared with those from 12 normal individuals. The following conclusions were drawn. (1) In dysfunctional patients the normal symmetrical and balanced distribution of the chewing cycles is lost and movements are more restricted. (2) The electromyographic data show marked alterations with a tendency to reduce or suppress the isometric phase of contraction during closing in the temporomandibular joint patients. This can be viewed as a defensive mechanism of the impaired system. (3) The data at hand are helpful in explaining some of the mechanisms that lead to muscle pain in dysfunctional patients.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1986

Computer-based assessment of habitual mastication.

A computer-based system to assess mandibular movements and EMG masseter and temporal muscle activity during habitual mastication was applied to 12 healthy subjects and the chewing performance was tested with a standardized bolus of crisp bread. A Siemens Sirognatograph instrument was used to record mandibular movements while EMG signals were recorded with surface silver-silver electrodes. Software provided data of single chewing cycles in space and versus time, of mean mandibular displacement during opening and closing, mean velocity, and EMG activity. Clockwise and counterclockwise cycles were computed separately. The data obtained allow the following conclusions: Habitual mastication is a rhythmic event with different envelopes of motion that alternate characteristically in each subject. Each chewing cycle accomplishes several tasks but, depending on its envelope, is probably more oriented to a specific performance. A mean chewing cycle can be constructed for each individual. Its pattern depends on the distribution of different envelopes of motion that alternate during the masticatory sequence. During closure, a prevalently isotonic and a prevalently isometric phase of muscle contraction can be distinguished. Mean movement and EMG data for the whole group are not distributed at random, but according to a typical pattern. The system seems to be finalized to a well-balanced function and distribution of loads.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Relationship between structure and the stress pattern in the human mandible.

The internal bony structure of ten dentate human mandibles was examined on lateral radiograms, and the condylar shape measured with a digital electronic machine. The external surface was coated with photoelastic material. Each mandible was then placed in centric occlusion with brass replicas of the upper arch and the glenoid fossae and set in a supporting frame. Occlusal loads were simulated and the isoclinics recorded in plane-polarized light. The isostatic flow lines were constructed for each mandible. A relation was found between the mandibular structure and the distribution pattern of these lines.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Anatomic and clinical evaluation of the relationship between the temporomandibular joint and occlusion.

An anatomic and clinical investigation of condylar remodeling; the position of the condyle in centric occlusion; and the relationships of these two factors to each other and to the features of the dentition are reported. Two groups of 100 adult crania were examined. The first group had complete or partially edentulous arches. In the second group, the dentition was complete and there were various degrees of abrasion. In addition, clinical and tomographic data were obtained from 70 patients with temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome. Occlusion was also studied by intraoral registration of the gothic arch and by mounting the casts on an articulator in 40 patients. Comparison of the data made it clear that occlusal conditions determine the course of condylar remodeling and lead to marked changes in shape of the joints. Occlusal disorders are also responsible for condylar displacement (noted in 51.4 per cent of patients), which, in turn, may be the cause of typical reshaping of the joint. These findings cast doubt on the proposition that the gnathologic determinants (particularly centric relation) are never changed in the course of time.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Dental abrasion as a factor in remodeling of the mandibular condyle.

Skulls of 100 male and female subjects of various ages and with unimpaired dental arches were examined with respect to the morphological features of the mandibular condyle. A certain number of typical shapes were distinguished. Dental abrasion was also assessed and three parameters were calculated: (1) total abrasion index; (2) working:balancing abrasion ratio, and (3) frontal abrasion index. These data were then related to condylar shape and subject age. The results show that abrasion influences changes in condyle shape due to bone remodeling. The forces applied on this bone segment are distributed over functional areas that vary both in extent and in their different characteristics.

Adult↗