Reflex Control Of Human Jaw Muscles By Periodontal Mechanoreceptors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$405,173.00
Summary
An understanding of the functional connection between the jaw muscles and various receptor organs in and around the mouth is necessary to elucidate the process of chewing and its underlying rules. Unless the details of this functional connection in health and disease are thoroughly understood, the diagnosis and treatment of chewing related disorders will remain at the present state. For example: a We still do not know why chewing in edentulous subjects is less efficient and why the bite forces i ....An understanding of the functional connection between the jaw muscles and various receptor organs in and around the mouth is necessary to elucidate the process of chewing and its underlying rules. Unless the details of this functional connection in health and disease are thoroughly understood, the diagnosis and treatment of chewing related disorders will remain at the present state. For example: a We still do not know why chewing in edentulous subjects is less efficient and why the bite forces in these individuals immediately fall to about 20 % of the teethed value. Do jaw muscles in these subjects get weak because they get less support from the receptor organs around the teeth? a We still do not understand the cause-causes of the temporomandibular dysfunction (a painful disease involving jaw muscles) which forms 18.7 % of total dental patients consulted per week in South Australia. This South Australian study indicated that the current treatments (such as pain killers, night plates, massage) Ocures? only about the half of all patients. We cannot increase the success of the treatment if we do not fully understand the control mechanisms of chewing? It is expected that the results of this study will establish the functional connection between one of the most important receptor organs in the mouth (periodontal mechanoreceptors) to the jaw muscle motoneurons in subjects with healthy teeth and gums and will illustrate the importance of keeping the periodontium healthy for developing strong and smooth masticatory forces. This knowledge can also allow us to treat jaw related disorders by approaches that bring back normal operation of the system. For example, this knowledge may help us design active dentures that replace the missing support.Read moreRead less
Inherited Genetic Variants As Prognostic Markers For Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,972.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is a major health burden. Surgical resection of the primary cancer is often possible at diagnosis, yet in many patients the cancer will recur. Together with mutations, inherited genetic variants influence the rate of bowel cancer growth. This study aims to identify inherited variants predictive of cancer recurrence. Improved prediction of recurrence will permit more targeted use of clinical interventions, tailored to the individual patient, ultimately improving patient survival.
Experience drives changes in the connections between neurons in the brain. This neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the nervous system, critical for learning and memory, but also important for recovery from injury and development of some nervous system disorders. This study will improve understanding of how, with practice, the human brain adapts to functional demands in the development of motor skill. Musicians are used as exemplars of fine motor skill who show long-term experience-driv ....Experience drives changes in the connections between neurons in the brain. This neuroplasticity is a fundamental property of the nervous system, critical for learning and memory, but also important for recovery from injury and development of some nervous system disorders. This study will improve understanding of how, with practice, the human brain adapts to functional demands in the development of motor skill. Musicians are used as exemplars of fine motor skill who show long-term experience-driven plasticity in the brain. This study will provide specific and detailed quantitative information about how motor cortex circuits important for control of the hand are altered in musicians. The study will also improve understanding of basic mechanisms involved in short-term neuroplasticity associated with motor learning in musicians and non-musicians, and hemispheric or training-related differences in these properties which may contribute to different abilities to use the hand for fine motor tasks.Read moreRead less