ObjectiveTo identify the relationship between osteoarthritis and periodontitis.Methods144,788 periodontitis patients and 144,788 propensity score-matched controls without history of periodontitis were enrolled in this cohort study. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the risk of osteoarthritis. Survival analysis was utilized to assess the time-dependent effect of periodontitis on osteoarthritis. Age and gender were stratified to identify subgroups at risk. A symmetrical case-control analysis was designed to determine the relationship between present periodontitis and history of osteoarthritis.ResultsPatients with periodontitis had higher risk of osteoarthritis (hazard ratio, HR =1.15, 95% CI =1.12–1.17, p < 0.001) and severe osteoarthritis that led to total knee replacement or total hip replacement (TKR/THR) (HR =1.12, 95% CI =1.03–1.21, p < 0.01) than controls, which was time-dependent (log-rank test p < 0.01). The effect of periodontitis on osteoarthritis was significant in both genders and age subgroups over 30 years-old (all p < 0.001). Among them, females (HR=1.27, 95% CI = 1.13–1.42, p < 0.001) and patients aged over 51 (HR= 1.21, 95% CI =1.10-1.33, p < 0.001) with periodontitis were predisposed to severe osteoarthritis. In addition, periodontitis patients were more likely to have a history of osteoarthritis (odds ratio = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06 - 1.17, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThese findings suggest an association between periodontitis and a higher risk of osteoarthritis, including severe osteoarthritis that led to TKR/THR. Likewise, periodontitis is more likely to develop following osteoarthritis. A bidirectional relationship between osteoarthritis and periodontitis was observed.

Background: Male patients with genital warts are known for higher rates of sexual dysfunction. This study was conducted to investigate whether human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: Patients aged over 18 with HPV infection (n = 13,296) and propensity score-matched controls (n = 53,184) were recruited from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID). The primary endpoint was the diagnosis of ED. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the distribution of demographic characteristics. The Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the development of ED in both groups, after adjusting for sex, age, relevant comorbidities, co-medication, and surgery. Results: ED developed in 181 patients of the study group. The incidence density of ED was 2.53 per 1000 person-years for the HPV group and 1.51 per 1000 person-years for the non-HPV group, with an adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.63 (1.37–1.94). In stratification analysis, adjusted HR of diabetes-, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD-), and stroke-subgroup were 2.39, 2.51, and 4.82, with significant p values for interaction, respectively. Sensitivity analysis yields consistent findings. Conclusions: The patients with HPV infection had a higher risk of subsequent ED in comparison to the non-HPV controls. The mechanism behind such association and its possible role in ED prevention deserves further study in the future.

BACKGROUND: Dynamic hip screw (DHS) is a common implant used to treat stable-type intertrochanteric hip fractures. There are many factors that can affect the success rate of the surgery, including the length of side plates. It is therefore important to investigate the biomechanical effect of different DHS side plates on bones. OBJECTIVE: In order to reduce the likelihood of an implant failure, the aim of this study was to use finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate and understand the effect of side plates with different lengths in DHS. METHODS: In this FEA study, a 3D model with cortical bone, cancellous bone, side plate, lag screw, and cortical screws to simulate the implantation of DHS with different lengths of side plate (2-hole, 4-hole, and 6-hole) for intertrochanteric hip fractures was constructed. The loading condition was used to simulate the force (400 N) on the femoral head and the stress distribution on the lag screw, side plate, cortical screws, and femur was measured. RESULTS: The highest stress points occured around the region of contact between the screw and the cortical bones. The stress on the femur at the most distal cortical screw was the greatest. The shorter the length of the side plate, the greater the stress on the cortical screws, resulting in an increased stress on the femur surrounding the cortical screws. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DHS with 2-hole side plate may increase the risk of side plate pull-out. The results of this study provide a biomechanical analysis for selection of DHS implant lengths that can be useful for orthopaedic surgeons.

Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is troublesome condition that has proved to be highly related to spinal malalignment after spinal surgery. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the morphological changes after anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and oblique LIF (OLIF) to establish the differences between the two surgical methods in terms of possible ASD avoidance. Fifty patients, half of whom received ALIF while the other half received OLIF, were analyzed with image studies and functional outcomes during the pre-operative and post-operative periods, and 2 years after surgery. Image measurements obtained included spinal-pelvic parameters, index lordosis (IL), segmental lordosis (SL), anterior disc height (ADH), posterior disc height (PDH) and adjacent segment disc angle (ASDA). The ADH and PDH in the adjacent segment decreased in the two groups while OLIF showed greater decrease without radiological ASD noted at 2-year follow-up. Both groups showed an increase in IL after surgery while ALIF showed greater improvement. No statistical difference was identified in functional outcomes between LIFs. We suggest that both ALIF and OLIF can restore adequate lordosis and prevent ASD after surgery. However, it should be noted that patient selection remains crucial when making any decision involving which of the two methods to use.

Patients with viral infections are susceptible to osteoporosis. This cohort study investigated the correlation between human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and the risk of osteoporosis via 12,936 patients with new-onset HPV infections and propensity score-matched non-HPV controls enrolled in Taiwan. The primary endpoint was incident osteoporosis following HPV infections. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the effect of HPV infections on the risk of osteoporosis. Patients with HPV infections presented with a significantly high risk of osteoporosis (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.06–1.65) after adjusting for sex, age, comorbidities and co-medications. Subgroup analysis provided that populations at risk of HPV-associated osteoporosis were females (aHR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.04–1.71), those aged between 60 and 80 years (aHR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.01–2.08 for patients aged 60–70; aHR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.07–2.12 for patients aged 70–80), and patients with long-term use of glucocorticoids (aHR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.11–4.22). HPV-infected patients who did not receive treatments for HPV infections were at a greater risk (aHR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.09–1.80) of osteoporosis, while the risk of osteoporosis in those who received treatments for HPV infections did not reach statistical significance (aHR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.78–1.66). Patients with HPV infections presented with a high risk of subsequent osteoporosis. Treatments for HPV infections attenuated the risk of HPV-associated osteoporosis.