Research Profiles: 

1. Pathophysiological mechanisms of bone resorption after anterior disc displacement without reduction 

2. Pathophysiological mechanisms of bone regeneration after disc-reducing and anterior repositioning splint treatment

3. Mechanisms of how spinal microglia are activated and which pathway activated microglia modulate pain transmission in the spinal cord

4. AI assisted oral and maxillofacial radiology

Research Expertise

Area of Research Expertise:

Currently we are doing clinical research in the field of TMD, focusing on disc reducing for TMD anterior disc displacement, early diagnosis and early intervention in TMD osteoarthrosis. We are also interested in AI-assisted radiographic diagnosis in recent years. For basic research, we focused on molecular mechanisms for bone degeneration and bone regeneration in TMJ, pain mechanisms of how spinal microglia are activated and which pathway activated microglia modulate pain transmission in the spinal cord.

Research Theme:

Bone degeneration, Bone regeneration, Pain mechanism, Spinal microglial activation, Artificial intelligence 

Academic Publications

1.Shi W, Yao Y, Liang Y, Lei J, Feng S, Zhang Z, Tian Y, Cai J, Xing G*, Fu K*. Activation of TGR5 in the Injured Nerve Site According to a Prevention Protocol Mitigates pSNL-induced Neuropathic Pain by Alleviating Neuroinflammation. Pain in press

2.Yap AUJ#, Lei J#, Liu C, Fu KY*. Characteristics of painful Temporomandibular disorders and their influence on jaw functional limitation and oral health-related quality of life. J Oral Rehabil 2024;51(9):1748-1758

3.Ni FD, Xu ZN, Liu MQ*, Liu CG, Zhang MJ, Li S, Han JH, Bai HL, Ding P, Fu KY*. Towards clinically applicable automated mandibular canal segmentation. J  Dent 2024 May;144:104931

4.Yap AUJ, Fu KY, Lei J*. The “5Ts” screening tool: Enhancements and threshold values for effective TMD identification. Oral Dis 2024;(7):30, 4495–4503 

5.Yap AUJ#, Zhang MJ#, Cao Y, Fu KY*. Diagnostic accuracy of the short-form Fonseca Anamnestic Index in relation to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders. J Prosthet Dent. 2022 Nov;128(5):977-983

6.Feng SY, Lei J, Li YX, Shi WG, Wang RR, Yap AU, Wang YX*, Fu KY*. Increased joint loading induces subchondral bone loss of temporomandibular joint via the RANTES-CCRs-Akt2 axis. JCI Insight 2022 Nov;7(21):e158874

7.Yap AUJ#, Zhang XH#, Cao Y, Fu KY*. Functional, physical, and psychosocial impact of degenerative Temporomandibular joint disease.  J Oral Rehabil 2022; 49(3):301– 308.  doi:10.1111/joor.13288

8.Li K#, Tan YH#, Feng SY, Fu KY*. CXCR3 signaling partially contributes to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain in male rodents. J Oral Rehabil 2022; 49 (2):186–194

9.Liu MQ, Xu ZN, Mao WY, Li Y, Zhang XH, Bai HL, Ding P, Fu KY*. Deep learning-based evaluation of the relationship between mandibular third molar and mandibular canal on CBCT. Clin Oral Investig 2022, 26 (1):981–991 

10.Cao Y, Yap AUJ, Zhang MJ, Lei J, Fu KY*. Oral health related quality of life of acute and chronic temporomandibular disorder diagnostic subtypes. J Am Dent Assoc 2022 Jan;153(1):50-58

11.Cao Y, Yap AUJ, Lei J, Zhang MJ, Fu KY*. Subtypes of acute and chronic Temporomandibular disorders: Their relation to psychological and sleep impairments. Oral Dis 2021Sep;27(6):1498–1506

12.Yap AUJ, Cao Y, Zhang MJ, Lei J, Fu KY*. Comparison of emotional disturbance, sleep, and life quality in adult patients with painful Temporomandibular disorders of different origins. Clin Oral Investig 2021Jun;25(6):4097-4105

13.Feng SY, Lei J*, Chen HM, Wang YX, Yap AUJ, Fu KY*. Increased Chemokine RANTES in Synovial Fluid and Its Role in Early-stage Degenerative Temporomandibular Joint Disease. J Oral Rehabil 2020;47(9):1150-60

14.Lei J, Yap AUJ, Li Y, Liu MQ, Fu KY*. Clinical protocol for managing acute disc displacement without reduction: An MRI evaluation. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2020; 49(3): 361–368 

15.Liang YJ, Feng SY, Qi YP, Li K, Jin ZR, Jing HB, Liu LY, Cai J, Xing GG*, Fu KY*. Contribution of microglial reaction to increased nociceptive responses in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity in male mice. Brain Behavior Immunity 2019Aug; 80: 777–792