Association among Oral Health,Apical Periodontitis,CD14 Polymorphisms,and Coronary Heart Disease in Middle-aged Adults

Introduction

There is evidence to suggest that an association exists between oral infections and coronary heart disease (CHD). Subjects presenting lesions of endodontic origin (LEOs) or pulpal inflammation had an increased risk of developing CHD. However, findings concerning systemic manifestations of apical periodontitis (AP) remain controversial. An association between CD14 gene polymorphisms and atherosclerosis-associated diseases has been shown, but there are no data regarding an association between CD14 polymorphism and AP. This study evaluated associations between clinical oral health status, CD14 polymorphisms, and CHD.

Methods

A case-controlled clinical trial was designed to compare middle-aged adults with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina (n = 51) within 12 months of the acute event defined as first manifestation with healthy controls (n = 49). Participants were matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Indicators of oral disease and compliance were evaluated. CD14 polymorphisms were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction.

Results

CHD subjects had a higher prevalence of oral diseases and lower compliance to oral preventive strategies than healthy controls. Multivariate analysis showed a positive association between missing teeth (odds ratio [OR] = 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.85), the number of LEOs (OR = 4.37; 95% CI, 1.69–11.28), chronic periodontitis (OR = 5.87; 95% CI, 1.17–29.4), and CHD. No statistically significant association emerged between the CD14 C(−260)T and the CD14 C(−159)T polymorphism, endodontic or periodontal disease, and CHD.

Conclusions

Chronic oral diseases may increase the risk of CHD and may be an unconventional risk factor for CHD.     

Age- and gender-related differences in the evolution of psychological and cognitive status after the lockdown for the COVID-19 outbreak: a follow-up study

Neurological Sciences - Individuals experienced psychological symptoms in response to quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the possible effect of age...     

Long-term recovery of normal sexual function in testicular cancer survivors

Testicular cancer (TC) is the most common solid cancer in men between the third and fourth decade of life. Due to successful treatment approaches, TC survivors (TCSs) have long life expectancy, but with numerous potential long-term sequelae, including sexual dysfunction. We investigated predictors of long-term normal sexual function (SF) recovery in TCSs. Sociodemographic, medical, and psychometric data were analyzed in 143 Caucasian-European TCSs, who underwent orchiectomy at a single institution. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Statistical models tested the association between predictors (including age at surgery, body mass index, CCI, and adjuvant therapy: radiotherapy [RT], chemotherapy [CT], CT followed by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection [RPLND] and RPLND alone) and the long-term recovery of normal SF (defined as IIEF-erectile function [EF] ≥26, and sexual desire [SD], intercourse satisfaction [IS] orgasmic function [OF], and overall satisfaction [OS] domain scores in the upper tertiles). At a mean follow-up of 86 months, 35 (25.5%) TCSs had erectile dysfunction (ED), with 16 (11.2%) experiencing severe ED. Median time of EF recovery was 60, 60, and 70 months after CT, RT, and RPLND, respectively. Only adjuvant RT emerged as an independent predictor of nonrecovery of normal EF (HR: 0.55, P= 0.01). Neither adjuvant CT nor CT plus RPLND or RPLND alone significantly impaired the recovery of normal erections. Adjuvant therapy was not associated with impaired recovery of normal sexuality as a whole, considering the IIEF-SD, -OF, -IS, and OS domains.     

Patients with metabolic syndrome and widespread high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia are at a higher risk factor of prostate cancer on re-biopsy: A prospective single cohort study

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Retention rates and identification of factors associated with anti-TNFα, anti-IL17, and anti-IL12/23R agents discontinuation in psoriatic arthritis patients: results from a real-world clinical setting

Clinical Rheumatology - Biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) play a pivotal role in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Despite this, their discontinuation due to...     

Restoring the glycosaminoglycans layer in recurrent cystitis: Experimental and clinical foundations

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