A osteoartrose (OA) de joelho é uma das doenças osteomioarticulares mais comuns no mundo, afetando 2693 em cada 100.000 mulheres e 1770 em cada 100.000 homens. Embora o treinamento de força (TF) seja amplamente recomendado para a melhoria das debilidades físicas encontradas em pacientes com OA, o uso de cargas entre 70-85% da força dinâmica máxima (FDM) pode ser limitado não somente pela dor, mas também pela própria etiologia da doença, representando uma limitação para esta prática. O treinamento de força associado à oclusão vascular (TFOV) baseia-se na execução do TF em intensidades entre 20 e 50% da FDM, combinado à oclusão do fluxo sanguíneo através do uso de torniquetes. Estudos têm mostrado que a magnitude das mudanças na força e massa musculares após um período de treinamento com esta técnica é similar as causadas pelo TF de alta intensidade (70-85% FDM) sem adição da oclusão vascular. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar a eficácia da associação da oclusão vascular ao TF como modelo de intervenção não farmacológica para melhoria da dor, força muscular, funcionalidade e qualidade de vida em pacientes diagnosticadas com OA de joelho. Diante disso, 48 participantes mulheres foram randomicamente distribuídas em três grupos: treinamento de força de baixa intensidade (TFB), treinamento de força de alta intensidade (TFA) ou treinamento de força de baixa intensidade associado à oclusão vascular (TFOV) e receberam treinamento duas vezes por semana durante doze semanas. No período basal e após a intervenção, as pacientes passaram por avaliações físicas (testes de funcionalidade e força), responderam questionários de qualidade de vida e de dor (índice WOMAC \"Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index\" e SF-36 \"The Short Form 36 Health Survey\") e exame de imagem da área da secção transversa (AST) do músculo quadríceps por meio de tomografia computadorizada. Durante o período de treinamento, quatro pacientes do grupo TFA foram excluídas do protocolo por dor no joelho. Após a intervenção, no WOMAC, apenas os grupos TFOV e TFB apresentaram diminuições significativas na dor (p=0,0358 e p=0,0044, respectivamente), nos demais domínios, o único grupo que apresentou diminuições significativas de escore foi o TFOV (rigidez: p=0,0167 e funcionalidade p=0,0358). Nos testes de funcionalidade, os grupos TFOV e TFA apresentaram aumentos significativos no desempenho do \"Timed-stands test\" (p=0,0251 e p=0,003), no \"Timed-up-and-go\" não foram encontradas melhoras significantes nos grupos. Com relação a força, apenas os grupos TFOV e TFA aumentaram significativamente os valores no leg-press (p<0,0001) e na extensão de joelhos (p<0,0001). Comportamento similar foi encontrado no aumento da AST, grupos TFOV e TFA apresentaram aumentos significativos (p<0,0001). A melhora de qualidade de vida foi significante nos três grupos quando analisamos a somatória dos domínios do WOMAC (TFOV: p=0,0173; TFA: p=0,0438; TFB: p=0,0301), porém o SF-36 não foi capaz encontrar melhoras significativas nos grupos. Dessa forma, concluímos que o TFOV apresenta-se como uma estratégia relevante e segura de intervenção não farmacológica para mulheres acometidas por OA sintomática de joelhos, constituindo um modelo de tratamento capaz de induzir adaptações funcionais e morfológicas de grande interesse para esta população / Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common articular disease worldwide, affecting 100,000 women in 2693 and 1770 in every 100,000 men. Although strength training (ST) is widely recommended for improving the physical weaknesses found in patients with OA, using loads between 70-85% of maximal dynamic strength (MDS) can be limited not only by pain, but also by the own etiology of the disease, representing a limitation of this practice. Strength training associated with vascular occlusion (STVO) is based on the execution of the ST at intensities between 20 and 50% of MDS, combined with the occlusion of blood flow through the use of tourniquets. Studies have shown that the magnitude of changes in strength and muscle mass after a period of training this technique is similar to those caused by high-intensity ST (MDS 70-85%) without the addition of the vascular occlusion. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the combination of vascular occlusion to the ST as non pharmacologic intervention model for improving pain, muscle strength, functionality and quality of life in patients diagnosed with knee OA. Thus, 48 women participants were randomly divided into three groups: strength training low intensity (STL), strength training, high intensity (STH) or low-intensity strength training associated with vascular occlusion (STVO) and trained two times per week for twelve weeks. At baseline and after the intervention, the patients underwent physical assessments (tests of functionality and strength), answered questionnaires on quality of life and pain (WOMAC index \"Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index\" and SF-36 \"The Short form 36 Health Survey \") and the cross section area (CSA) of the quadriceps muscle was assessed using computed tomography. During the training period the STH group, four patients were excluded from the protocol due to knee pain. After the intervention, the WOMAC, only the STVO and STL groups showed significant decreases in pain (p=0.0358 and p=0.0044, respectively), in other domains, the only group that showed significant decreases in score was the STVO (stiffness: p= 0.0167 and p = 0.0358 functionality). In functionality testing, the STVO and STH groups showed significant increases in performance \"Timed-stands test\" (p=0.0251 and p=0.003), the \"Timed-up-and-go\" were not significant improvements found in groups. Regarding strength, only the STVO and STH groups significantly increased values in leg press (p<0.0001) and knee extension (p<0.0001). Similar behavior was found in increased AST and STH STVO groups showed significant increases (p<0.0001). The improvement of quality of life was significant in all three groups when analyzing the sum of the domains of WOMAC (STVO: p=0.0173; STH: p=0.0438; STL: p=0.0301), but the SF-36 was not able to find significant improvements in groups. Thus, we conclude that the STVO presents itself as a relevant and safe strategy of non-pharmacological intervention for women suffering from symptomatic knee OA, constituting a model of treatment capable of inducing functional and morphological adaptations of great interest to this population

A Artrite reumatoide é uma doença autoimune que acomete cerca de 1% da população mundial adulta, sendo caracterizada pela participação de linfócitos Th17 no seu desenvolvimento. Na busca por novos alvos terapêuticos e pela compreensão da fisiopatologia, se destacam os inflamassomas que são plataformas proteicas, caracterizados pela produção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias por células do sistema imune inato. De forma interessante, foi demonstrado que linfócitos T CD4 também expressam alguns sensores dessas plataformas, como o Nlrp12. Adicionalmente, este sensor é responsável pela modulação negativa do NF-?B, demonstrando outra característica atípica em relação aos outros inflamassomas. Nesse sentido, foi avaliada a participação do Nlrp12 no desenvolvimento da artrite experimental e na diferenciação linfócitos Th17. Foi verificado nesse estudo que o Nlrp12 é regulado positivamente durante o desenvolvimento da artrite experimental, sendo um modulador negativo desse processo. Isso se deve a uma redução na resposta inflamatória inata do modelo e pela modulação negativa na resposta Th17. Nesse sentido, o controle da resposta Th17 e o desenvolvimento da artrite experimental ocorre por um mecanismo dependente da fosforilação do fator de transcrição Stat3, que é crítico na diferenciação de linfócitos Th17. Desta forma, este estudo demonstra uma nova função para o sensor Nlrp12 no desenvolvimento da artrite experimental, por modular a resposta imune adaptativa de forma direta nos linfócitos T CD4 / Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs in approximately 1% of the adult population worldwide, with critical role of Th17 cells in your development. In the search for new therapeutic targets and the understanding of the pathophysiology, there are inflammasomes which are protein platforms, characterized through pro-inflammatory cytokines production by innate immune system cells. Interestingly, it was demonstrated that CD4 T cells express some inflammasome sensors, as Nlrp12. Additionally, this sensor is responsible for downregulation of NF-?B, showing another atypical feature in relation to other inflammasomes. Thereby, it was evaluated the role of Nlrp12 on experimental arthritis development and Th17 differentiation. It was found in this study that Nlrp12 is upregulated during experimental arthritis development, working as negative regulator of this process. Thus, Nlrp12 downregulates innate inflammatory response from experimental model and Th17 response. Therefore, experimental arthritis development and Th17 differentiation control occurs in a Stat3 phosphorylation dependente-manne, which is a critical transcription factor on Th17 differentiation. Thus, this study demonstrates a new function for Nlrp12 on experimental arthritis development, by directly to modulate adaptive immune response in CD4 cells

A Artrite reumatoide é uma doença autoimune que acomete cerca de 1% da população mundial adulta, sendo caracterizada pela participação de linfócitos Th17 no seu desenvolvimento. Na busca por novos alvos terapêuticos e pela compreensão da fisiopatologia, se destacam os inflamassomas que são plataformas proteicas, caracterizados pela produção de citocinas pró-inflamatórias por células do sistema imune inato. De forma interessante, foi demonstrado que linfócitos T CD4 também expressam alguns sensores dessas plataformas, como o Nlrp12. Adicionalmente, este sensor é responsável pela modulação negativa do NF-?B, demonstrando outra característica atípica em relação aos outros inflamassomas. Nesse sentido, foi avaliada a participação do Nlrp12 no desenvolvimento da artrite experimental e na diferenciação linfócitos Th17. Foi verificado nesse estudo que o Nlrp12 é regulado positivamente durante o desenvolvimento da artrite experimental, sendo um modulador negativo desse processo. Isso se deve a uma redução na resposta inflamatória inata do modelo e pela modulação negativa na resposta Th17. Nesse sentido, o controle da resposta Th17 e o desenvolvimento da artrite experimental ocorre por um mecanismo dependente da fosforilação do fator de transcrição Stat3, que é crítico na diferenciação de linfócitos Th17. Desta forma, este estudo demonstra uma nova função para o sensor Nlrp12 no desenvolvimento da artrite experimental, por modular a resposta imune adaptativa de forma direta nos linfócitos T CD4 / Rheumatoid Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs in approximately 1% of the adult population worldwide, with critical role of Th17 cells in your development. In the search for new therapeutic targets and the understanding of the pathophysiology, there are inflammasomes which are protein platforms, characterized through pro-inflammatory cytokines production by innate immune system cells. Interestingly, it was demonstrated that CD4 T cells express some inflammasome sensors, as Nlrp12. Additionally, this sensor is responsible for downregulation of NF-?B, showing another atypical feature in relation to other inflammasomes. Thereby, it was evaluated the role of Nlrp12 on experimental arthritis development and Th17 differentiation. It was found in this study that Nlrp12 is upregulated during experimental arthritis development, working as negative regulator of this process. Thus, Nlrp12 downregulates innate inflammatory response from experimental model and Th17 response. Therefore, experimental arthritis development and Th17 differentiation control occurs in a Stat3 phosphorylation dependente-manne, which is a critical transcription factor on Th17 differentiation. Thus, this study demonstrates a new function for Nlrp12 on experimental arthritis development, by directly to modulate adaptive immune response in CD4 cells

Social media use related to chronic disease has become pervasive, yet few researchers have examined the influence of social media on health care message dissemination and health care outcomes. In this study, the use of Instagram, an image-rich social media platform, for sharing health information was examined. Nurses, as key providers of patient information, need to understand the relative effectiveness of different types of social media for health information, how social media is currently used by health care consumers, and how to best use various social media platforms to improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the meaning of Instagram use for visual image sharing related to #rheumatoidarthritis. Guided by Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory, a visual ethnography approach using content analysis was completed. Images for analysis (n = 106) were randomly selected, using the Instagram public search feature, during 7 distinct periods. Content analysis, conducted by 2 coders, was used to identify categories and provide a sentiment analysis of the images. Approximately 75% of the images were determined to be positive by both coders. Social interaction and self-expression were the most frequently identified categories, suggesting that individuals use Instagram primarily for sharing awareness, sharing encouragement, and self-expression regarding rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This finding is consistent with use of Instagram for social networking and self-promotion. The potential for positive social change may ultimately be the ability for Instagram to serve as a social, personal, and health-related information sharing platform for diverse audiences, particularly those who may be socially isolated due to RA.

A research report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that more than 50% of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) in the United States (U.S.) also have arthritis. The diabetes population is disproportionately affected by arthritis, but there has been limited and inconsistent research to confirm the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current study aimed to identify an association between T2DM and RA for noninstitutionalized U.S. adults between 1999 and 2012 using a nationally representative sample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (n =31,488 ). A quantitative, cross-sectional investigation was conducted to determine if patients with T2DM had an increased prevalence of RA. The current study also sought to identify characteristics that could affect the association between both groups and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Prevalence and adjusted odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression were calculated. The results show evidence of a strong association between T2DM and concomitant RA. Prevalence of RA was significantly higher in participants with T2DM compare to those without T2DM. Important factors in this association were gender, ethnicity, education, disability, and work functioning. The prevalence of CVD and adjusted OR of association were doubled in participants with T2DM and RA when compared to participants who had just one of the conditions; the OR of association was quadrupled when compared to those without this comorbidity. This study may provide patients and health care providers with a better understanding of the need for management of both conditions in a interdisciplinary manner

Contact stress exposure is thought to play a significant role in many aspects of joint degradation and pathology. Effective and accurate contact stress computation in native or pathological subject specific joints is an important tool in determining the role of contact stress in OA onset and worsening as well as eventually developing and monitoring interventions to prevent joint degradation. In the past FEA modeling has allowed for studies to be completed which relate contact stress exposure human ankle joint to the presence of radiographic OA. While promising, contact FEA for subject specific models is significantly limited by the number of cases that can be computed due to the difficulty of FEA modeling, as well as numerical convergence issues present in contact FEA. To obtain truly statistically powerful conclusions about the causes of joint degradation and OA onset large numbers of subject specific models will need to be created, run and analyzed. Rigid body spring modeling or RBSM has proven to be an effective method of contact stress measurement for both expedited evaluation of PTOA risk following tibial plafond fractures as well as for evaluation of BMLs worsening in a cohort of 38 at risk patients. RBSM treats cartilage as a bed of springs attached to an underlying rigid bone surface. It is a significant simplification from FEA in that it does not allow computation of internal stresses of an object, elaborate material treatments, or true deformation of an object. This simplification comes with the benefit of reduced computational and investigator burden due to the lack of numerical convergence issues as well as no FEA meshing step. A custom written RBSM algorithm was created in MATLAB which works in conjunction with a load balancing algorithm to iteratively solve contact solutions in both load and displacement control. This algorithm was first validated against a previously done physical validation study using two human cadaver ankles in a custom built fixture. The RBSM method was then used to replicate previously obtained FEA results in a study of 22 human ankle joints following tibial plafond fracture. FEA models and loadings were adapted for the RBSM method and run. The RBSM offered a significant speed increase while maintaining comparable results to the FEA. The ability of RBSM to predict PTOA development using a contact stress-time-area exposure metric was virtually unchanged (95% KL grade concordance and 100% OA concordance vs. 94% KL grade concordance and 100% OA concordance, for RBSM and FEA, respectively). The RBSM method was then combined with a feature based 3D-2D alignment routine custom written in MATLAB. This alignment routine uses a ray casting method to recreate a virtual x-ray silhouette edge for a 3D model. This model is then aligned to a 2D edge tracing based off an input radiograph depicting a functional pose of the bone. A global optimizer (simulated annealing) is used to determine the best Euler transform to place the bone in an accurate position in the recreated virtual scene. 38 subject specific knee models segmented from the MOST cohort were aligned to functional appositions bases off of fixed flexion standing radiographs. Contact stresses were then obtained from these aligned joints using RBSM to evaluate the relationship between contact stress level and bone marrow lesion worsening. It was found that as contact stress level increases so does the risk of BMLs worsening. As the worsening of BMLs is associated with joint pain, degradation, and pathology an expedited contact stress method which can accurately predict BML worsening is especially valuable.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is caused by aberrant attack of the joints by native inflammatory system. This can lead to joint destruction and pain that can be debilitating. Increased angiogenesis and innervation by nociceptive afferent fibers are characteristic features of RA joints, which in addition to the elevated levels of a wide variety of inflammatory mediators, are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory pain associated with RA. Interestingly, a recent report indicates that C–type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is increased in the blood serum of RA patients. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) control natriuresis and normalize changes in blood pressure. Many biological effects of NPs are mediated by guanylate cyclase (GC)–coupled NP receptors, NPR–A and NPR–B, whereas the third NP receptor, NPR–C, lacks the GC kinase domain and acts as the NP clearance receptor. In addition, NPR–C can couple to specific Gái–βã–mediated intracellular signaling cascades in numerous cell types. Recent studies suggest that NPs are also involved in the regulation of pain sensitivity, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In Aim 1, I show that CNP acutely sensitized the excitation of mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons that is dependent on the transient receptor potential vanilloid–1 (TRPV1). CNP potentiated capsaicin– and proton–activated TRPV1 currents in cultured mouse DRG neurons and increased neuronal firing frequency, an effect that was absent in DRG neurons from TRPV1−/−mice. Further, CNP injection into mouse hind paw led to the development of thermal hyperalgesia, which was absent in TRPV1−/−mice. In Aim 2, I dissected the signaling mechanism underlying TRPV1 sensitization by CNP. My results show that all 3 functional NPRs are expressed in mouse DRG neurons; however NPR–A/B–cGMP signaling is not involved in CNP–mediated sensitization of TRPV1. Interestingly, I observed that sensitization of TRPV1 by CNP is dependent on protein kinase C (PKC) activity. Furthermore, I found that NPR–C is co–expressed in TRPV1–expressing mouse DRG neurons and can be co–immunoprecipitated with Gαi, but not with Gαq/11 or Gαs subunits. CNP treatment induced translocation of PKCå to the plasma membrane of these neurons, which was attenuated by pertussis toxin pre–treatment. Accordingly, CNP–induced sensitization of TRPV1 was attenuated by pre–treatment of DRG neurons with the specific inhibitors of Gβã, phospholipase–Cβ (PLCβ) or PKC, but not of protein kinase A (PKA), and by mutations at two PKC phosphorylation sites, S502 and S800, in the TRPV1 protein. Furthermore, the development of thermal hyperalgesia in CNP–injected hindpaw was attenuated by administration of specific inhibitors of Gβã or PKC. Thus, my work identifies the Gβã–PLCâ–PKC–dependent potentiation of TRPV1 as a novel signaling cascade recruited by CNP in mouse DRG neurons that can lead to enhanced nociceptor excitability and thermal hypersensitivity. Such signaling cascade could presumably constitute one of the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammatory joint pain associated with RA.

Mit dieser Arbeit sollte untersucht werden, ob es eine Beeinträchtigung der körperlichen Leistungsfähigkeit bei Patienten bis zum 20. Lebensjahr mit inaktiver juveniler idiopathischer Arthritis bzw. einer Arthritis in Remission im Vergleich zu gesunden Gleichaltrigen gibt und wenn ja, ob ein Zusammenhang zu dem Eiweißkörper HLA B27 besteht. / 1 Introduction 1.1 Definition 1.2 Goal of this Thesis 2 Material and Methods 2.1 Description of the Test Persons 2.1.1 HLA B27-positive Patients 2.1.2 HLA B27-negative Patients with Arthritis 2.1.3 Healthy Controlls 2.2 Order of Study 2.2.1 Information and physical Examination 2.2.2 Wingate Test 2.2.3 Questionaire and VAS 2.2.4 Stresstest for measuring the Aerob Capacity 2.3 Analysis 3 Results 3.1 Wingate Test 3.1.1 Entire Test Persons 3.1.2 Triplets 3.2 Questionaire and VAS 3.2.1 Entire Test Persons 3.2.2 Triplets 3.3 Stresstest 3.3.1 Entire Test Persons 3.3.2 Triplets 4 Discussion 4.1 Test Persons 4.2 Wingate Tes 4.3 Questionaire and VAS 4.4 Stresstest 4.5 Summary 5 Conclusion Abbreviations Attachments Literature

B-Zellen spielen eine wichtige Rolle in der Pathogenese der Rheumatoiden Arthritis. Seit dem Jahr 2006 ist der Anti-CD20-Antikörper Rituximab, welcher eine passagere B-Zell-Depletion induziert, zur Therapie der Rheumatoiden Arthritis zugelassen. In dieser Arbeit wurde das variable Kappa- und Lambda-Leichtkettenrepertoire der CD19+CD27+ B-Gedächtniszellen bei einer Patientin mit aktiver Rheumatoider Arthritis vor und nach B-Zell-Depletion durch Rituximab verglichen. Hierzu wurden nach der Einzelzellsortierung von mononuklären Zellen des peripheren Blutes die Rearrangements des Kappa- und Lambda-Leichtkettenrepertoires amplifiziert, sequenziert und analysiert. Die gefundenen Daten sprechen für die Neubildung eines diversen, polyklonalen und hochmutierten Kappa- und Lambda-Leichtkettenrepertoires. Somit ist davon auszugehen, dass nach der CD20+ B-Zell-Depletion ein funktionsfähiges Repertoire entsteht, welches keine Restriktion für die Infektabwehr aufweist. / B cells play an important roll in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-CD20 antibody rituximab induces a temporal B cell depletion and is approved for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis since 2006. In this thesis a rheumatoid arthritis patient's variable kappa and lambda light chain repertoire of CD19+CD27+ memory B cells was analyzed before and after rituximab therapy. After single cell sorting of peripheral blood mononuclear cells the kappa and lambda light chain rearrangements were amplified, sequenced and analyzed. The results show the regeneration of a diverse, polyclonal and highly mutated kappa and lambda light chain repertoire. This indicates that after rituximab induced B cell depletion a functional repertoire is emerging with no signs of restriction for infect defense.

Zusammenfassung Ziel: Pathomorphologische Veränderungen der Kiefergelenke treten im Rahmen einer JIA häufig auf. In dieser Arbeit sollten anhand von einer kieferorthopädischen zweidimensionalen Röntgenbildgebung (Orthopantomographie - OPG) pathologische Veränderungen der Kiefergelenke bei JIA-Patienten differenziert und Asymmetrien des Unterkiefers in Abhängigkeit vom Grad der Kondylendestruktion bestimmt werden. Darüber hinaus sollte geprüft werden, wie sich die Krankheitsdauer auf den Befall der Kiefergelenke auswirkt. Zusätzlich wurden zur differenziellen Analyse der Pathomorphologie die klinische Funktionsanalyse (FAL), die Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) sowie die 3D-Stereophotogrammetrie (3d-Scan) eingesetzt. Ziel war mittels non-invasiver, kostengünstiger und schnell verfügbarer Untersuchungsmethoden eindeutige Parameter zum Befall der Kiefergelenke zu detektieren. Patienten und Methodik: In dieser Arbeit wurden 46 Patientin (28 weiblich; 18 männlich) kaukasischer Herkunft mit diagnostizierter JIA eingeschlossen. Die Kiefergelenke (n = 92) wurden einzeln nach dem Grad ihrer Kondylendestruktion (Grad 0 - 4 nach Billiau et. al. [78]) befundet und in eine leicht betroffene Gruppe 1 (Grad 0, 1 und 2 nach Billiau: röntgenologisch unauffällig, Kondylenerosionen, Kondylenabflachungen) und in eine schwer betroffene Gruppe 2 (Grad 3 und 4 nach Billiau: Kondylusabflachungen mit Erosionen, Komplettverlust des Kondylus) eingeteilt. Zur Quantifizierung von Unterkieferasymmetrien wurde das Seitenverhältnis aus Kondylus-, Ramus- und Mandibulahöhe bestimmt. Der Vergleich der einzelnen klinischen, instrumentellen und bildgebenden Untersuchungsverfahren (OPG, FAL, JVA, 3d-Scan) erfolgte jeweils durch die Gegenüberstellung der schwer betroffenen und der leicht betroffenen Patientengruppe. � Ergebnisse: Erkrankungsdauer: Anhand des Grades der Kondylendestruktion wurden 36 Patienten in die leicht betroffene Gruppe 1 und 10 Patienten in die schwer betroffenen Gruppe 2 eingeteilt. Dabei war die Erkrankungsdauer in der schwer betroffenen Patientengruppe (8,9 ± 5,2 Jahre) signifikant länger, als in der leicht betroffenen Patientengruppe (4,6 ± 4,7; Jahre) (p = 0,031). FAL: Die Ergebnisse der FAL zeigten ausgeprägtere funktionelle Abweichungen in der schwer betroffenen Patientengruppe (Gruppe 2). Es wurde jedoch kein signifikanter Unterschied zur Gruppe 1 ermittelt. Die schwer betroffene Patientengruppe zeigten einen höheren Prozentsatz an von Schmerzen bei Palpation der Kiefergelenke (Gruppe 2: 70,0 % vs. Gruppe 1: 61,1 %) oder Schmerzen bei Mundöffnung (Gruppe 2: 10,0% vs. Gruppe 1: 8,3 %), Deflexionen des Unterkiefers (Gruppe 2: 50,0% vs. Gruppe 1: 33,3 %), Gelenkgeräuschen (Gruppe 2: 80,0 % vs. Gruppe 1: 63,9 %) und Mundöffnungseinschränkungen (Gruppe 2: 60,0 % vs. Gruppe 1: 25,0 %). Die durchschnittliche Mundöffnung betrug in Gruppe 2 40,6 mm, während sie in Gruppe 1 43,5 mm betrug. Bei Patienten mit einer Mundöffnung < 40 mm wurde in Gruppe 2 eine durchschnittliche Mundöffnung von 35,3 mm und in Gruppe 1 von 34,1 mm gemessen. JVA: Sowohl in der gelenkbezogenen, als auch in der patientengruppenbezogenen Analyse der JVA deuteten die Messparameter in der schwer betroffenen Patientengruppe vermehrt auf chronisch-degenerative oder bestehende Ergüsse im Kiefergelenk hin. In der gelenkbezogenen Auswertung zeigte sich dies insbesondere durch eine reduzierte Signalstärke in der schwer betroffenen Patientengruppe (Total power: p = 0,005; Power < 300 Hz: p = 0,006; Power > 300 Hz: 0,003;) sowie in einer signifikant erhöhten Peak Frequenz (p = 0,036). OPG: In der Auswertung der OPGs war die Ratio von Kondylus-, Ramus- und Mandibulahöhe in der schwer Patientengruppe (Ratio 79,6 %, 85,9 %, 86,5 %) signifikant kleiner (Kondylushöhe: p = 0,0005; Ramushöhe: p = 0,0030; Mandibulahöhe: p = 0,0002), als in der leicht betroffenen Patientengruppe (Ratio 93,8 %, Ratio 96,0 %, 95,6 %). Somit ergaben sich in der schwer betroffenen Patientengruppe signifikant stärker ausgeprägte Unterkieferasymmetrien, als in der leicht betroffenen Patientengruppe. 3d-Scan: Im 3d-Scan kam es bei Patienten mit schwer betroffenen Kiefergelenken signifikant häufiger zu Abweichungen des Weichteilkinns von der Medianebene (Gruppe 2: 3,0 mm vs. Gruppe 1: 1,2 mm; p = 0,041) und zu Asymmetrien des Unterkiefers (Gruppe 2: 62,5 % vs. Gruppe 1: 14,8 %; p = 0,015) als bei Patienten mit leicht betroffenem Kiefergelenk. Schlussfolgerung: Es zeigte sich, dass mittels einfacher und schnell verfügbarer Untersuchungsmethoden wie der klinischen Funktionsanalyse, der Joint Vibration Analysis und der OPG-Aufnahme eine Pathologie im Kiefergelenk dargestellt werden kann. Die Methoden können als wichtige Referenz zur Kontrolle der Krankheitsprogression bei Patienten mit JIA dienen. Darüber hinaus ist eine Klassifikation der Kondylen in schwer und leicht betroffene Kiefergelenke mittels pathomorphologischer Analyse möglich. Dabei ist von einem direkten Zusammenhang zwischen Grad der Destruktion, Ausmaß der Unterkieferasymmetrie und Dauer der Erkrankung bei Patienten mit JIA auszugehen. Insgesamt konnte die Wertigkeit klinischer, instrumenteller und bildgebender Untersuchungsverfahren der Kiefergelenksdiagnostik bei Patienten mit juveniler idiopathischer Arthritis dargestellt werden. / Summary Aim: Pathomorphological changes of the temporomandibular joints occur frequently in patients with JIA. In this study, orthodontic two-dimensional X-ray imaging (orthopantomography - OPG) was used to differentiate pathological changes of the temporomandibular joints in JIA patients and to determine asymmetries of the mandible in accordance to the degree of condyle destruction. In addition, it should be examined how the disease duration affects the involvement of the temporomandibular joints. In addition, clinical analysis (FAL), joint vibration analysis (JVA) and 3D stereophotogrammetry (3d-scan) were used for the specific analysis of pathomorphology. The aim was to detect unambiguous parameters for affected temporomandibular joints by means of non-invasive, cost-effective and rapidly available examination methods. Patients and methods: In this study, 46 patients (28 female, 18 male) of Caucasian origin were diagnosed with JIA. The temporomandibular joints (n = 92) were individually evaluated based on the degree of their condylar destruction (Grades 0 - 4 according to Billiau et al. [78]) and divided into a slightly affected group 1 (Grades 0, 1 and 2 according to Billiau: radiologically unremarkable, Condylar erosions, condyle flattening) and into a severely affected group 2 (grade 3 and 4 according to Billiau: condyle flattening with erosions, complete loss of the condyle). To quantify mandibular asymmetries, the ratio of condyle, ramus and mandibular height was determined. The comparison of the individual clinical, instrumental and imaging examination procedures (OPG, FAL, JVA, 3d-Scan) was performed by comparing the severely affected and the slightly affected patient group. Results: Disease duration: Based on the degree of condylar destruction, 36 patients were divided into the slightly affected group 1 and 10 patients to the severely affected group 2. The disease duration was significantly longer in the severely affected patient group (8.9 ± 5.2 years) than in the slightly affected patient group (4.6 ± 4.7 years) (p = 0.031). FAL: The results of the FAL showed more functional deviations in the severely affected patient group (group 2). However, no significant difference to Group 1 was found. The severely affected patients showed a higher percentage of pain in palpation of the temporomandibular joints (group 2: 70.0% vs. group 1: 61.1%) or mouth opening pain (group 2: 10.0% vs. group 1: 8.3%), mandibular deflections (group 2: 50.0% vs. group 1: 33.3%), joint noises (group 2: 80.0% vs. group 1: 63.9%) and mouth opening restrictions (Group 2: 60.0% vs. Group 1: 25.0%). The average mouth opening in group 2 was 40.6 mm, while in group 1 it was 43.5 mm. In patients with a mouth opening <40 mm, an average mouth opening of 35.3 mm was measured in group 2 and 34.1 mm in group 1. JVA: In the joint-related as well as in the patient-group-related analysis of the JVA, the measurement parameters in the severely affected patient group increasingly pointed to chronic degenerative or existing effusions in the temporomandibular joint. In the joint-related evaluation, this was demonstrated in particular by a reduced signal strength in the severely affected patient group (total power: p = 0.005, power <300 Hz: p = 0.006, power> 300 Hz: 0.003;) and in a significantly increased peak frequency (p = 0.036). OPG: In the evaluation of the OPGs, the ratio of condyle, ramus and mandibular height was significantly lower in the severe patient group (ratio 79.6%, 85.9%, 86.5%) (condyle height: p = 0.0005; p = 0.0030, mandibular height: p = 0.0002), than in the slightly affected Patient group (ratio 93.8%, ratio 96.0%, 95.6%). Thus, significantly more pronounced mandibular asymmetries were found in the severely affected patient group than in the slightly affected patient group. 3d scan: In the 3d scan, deviations of the soft tissue chin from the median plane (group 2: 3.0 mm vs. group 1: 1.2 mm, p = 0.041) and mandibular asymmetry were significantly more frequent in patients with severely affected temporomandibular joints (group 2: 62.5% vs. Group 1: 14.8%, p = 0.015) than in patients with slightly affected temporomandibular joints. Conclusion: It has been shown that it is possible to visualize pathology in the temporomandibular joint by means of simple and easily available examination methods such as clinical functional analysis, joint vibration analysis and OPG imaging. The methods can serve as an important reference for controlling disease progression in patients with JIA. In addition, a classification of the condyles in severe and slightly affected temporomandibular joints by means of pathomorphological analysis is possible. There is a direct correlation between the degree of destruction, the extent of mandibular asymmetry and the duration of the disease in patients with JIA. Overall, the value of clinical, instrumental and imaging examination methods of temporomandibular joint diagnosis in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis was demonstrated.