J Orofac Pain
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To investigate chronic orofacial pain experience, psychosocial impact, and help-seeking response in adult Chinese people in Hong Kong. ⋯ The prevalence of current/episodic orofacial pain was relatively high, whereas chronic orofacial pain was much less common. Although the intensity of chronic orofacial pain was significant, associated psychosocial disability was low, as was the level of perceived need for treatment. These findings may be related to more effective pain-coping strategies and greater acceptance of pain in this ethnic group compared to other ethnic groups.
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Comparative Study
Experimental jaw-muscle pain has a differential effect on different jaw movement tasks.
To determine the effects of experimental jaw-muscle pain on jaw movements. ⋯ The data indicate that the effect of pain on jaw movement may vary with the task performed.
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To investigate whether trigeminal manifestations of pain, sensitization, and vasomotor responses following the intradermal injection of capsaicin to the foreheads differ from manifestations following injection of capsaicin in the forearms of healthy humans. Dose dependency and sex-related differences of the evoked responses were also studied. ⋯ Capsaicin-evoked sensory and vasomotor manifestations were different in the forehead and forearm. The differences are most likely due to the differences in innervation density and neurovascular activity. The capsaicin-induced effects were demonstrated to be dose-dependent and sex-related phenomena.
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Comparative Study
Orofacial pain conditions and impact on quality of life in community-dwelling elderly people in Hong Kong.
To determine orofacial pain (OFP) characteristics, associated disability, and effect on quality of life in elderly community-dwelling Chinese people. ⋯ OFP had a substantial detrimental impact on daily life activities, psychological distress level, and quality of life in Chinese elders. MST and DA conditions had the greatest adverse impact on quality of life.
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To test in vitro and in vivo the reliability and accuracy of a new algometer, the pressure algometer for palpation (PAP), for measuring pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and to compare its features with those of a commercially available pressure algometer. ⋯ Both the PAP and the Somedic algometer showed high reliability. Concurrent validity was demonstrated by statistically significant correlations between the devices. Both showed equally high capacity for differentiating TMD cases from controls. The PAP yielded significantly higher PPTs than the Somedic algometer.