Determining the Association Between TMDs and Six Serologic Markers

Objectives: The definitive association between the presence or relative amount of any one or all of six specific serologic markers and the development of a temporomandibualr disorder (TMD). To conduct a literature review of original research articles to determine if an association exists between TMDs and any or all of the following six serologic markers: antinuclear antibody (ANA), HLA-B27, vitamin D, estradiol, rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP).
Methods: An NYU biomedical librarian conducted a comprehensive systematic search of published literature yielding 114 abstracts related to the topic of TMDs and their association with any or all of six serologic markers: ANA, HLA-B27, vitamin D, estradiol, RF, and anti-CCP. Two forms will be fabricated to allow for the categorizing of relevant research articles. A two-staged literature review process will be performed: 1) a preliminary selection process to identify relevant articles from the 114 existing abstracts using the “TMD Abstract Selection” (TAbS) form and, 2) a detailed content analysis of relevant articles using the “TMD Article Analysis” (TArA) form. An investigator will extract the appropriate information on the TAbS and TArA forms by reading all abstracts and relevant articles, respectively. Any uncertainties that emerge during the first stage literature review process about an abstract’s relevance will be addressed by including that abstract’s full article in the second stage review process, i.e. reading the article and completing its corresponding TArA form, to avoid the discarding of a potentially relevant article. A pie chart showing the percentages of the six serologic markers that have been shown to be associated with TMDs, which will be discussed by each relevant article, will be created to show the relative degrees of association with TMDs among the six markers.
Results: To be determined upon completion of final analysis.
Conclusions: To be determined upon completion of final analysis.