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Context Low bone mineral density (BMD) has been linked to elevated risks of mortality and infections in the general population; however, its association with these outcomes in stroke patients remains unclear. Objective This study aims to investigate the correlation between low BMD and risks of mortality and infections among stroke patients in a Taiwanese cohort. Methods In this single-center retrospective cohort study, 905 stroke patients from a Taiwanese database (2000-2022) were analyzed. Patients were grouped based on BMD measurements of the femur and spine. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes included urinary tract infection (UTI) and pneumonia. Accelerated failure time regression model analyses evaluated the association between BMD and these outcomes, while the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test assessed survival differences between groups. Results Among the participants (average age 76.1 years, 70.5% female), 33.82% had osteopenia and 55.25% had osteoporosis. Stroke patients with lower spine and right femur BMD had significantly reduced survival rates, especially when the BMD value fell below 0.842 g/cm2 (spine), and 0.624 g/cm2 (right femur), respectively. Regarding secondary outcomes, lower spine BMD was significantly associated with an increased risk of UTI. Conclusion Low BMD, particularly in the femur and spine, is a significant predictor of mortality and UTI in stroke patients. These findings highlight the importance of assessing and managing BMD in stroke patients to improve outcomes and reduce complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Non-union is a severe complication of traumatic fracture that often leads to disability and decreased quality of life, with treatment remaining complex due to a lack of standardized protocols. This study examines the effectiveness of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) for non-union in patients who have a failed open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Materials and Methods: Eleven patients with confirmed non-union at least 9 months post-ORIF or total hip replacement were enrolled. These patients received ACS treatment on the lesion sites once to three times monthly and were followed up. Efficacy was monitored through monthly X-rays to assess callus formation and bone union. Results: Seven patients received ACS three times, three patients received it twice, and the one who underwent total hip replacement received it once. Ten patients achieved union at the last follow-up visit, indicating the effectiveness of ACS in non-union cases unresponsive to ORIF. ACS demonstrated promising results in facilitating bone union in these challenging cases. Conclusions: ACS has the potential as an alternative or adjective treatment for non-union and is worthy of being investigated further for the benefits of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis poses significant health risks, especially among veterans, due to lifestyle factors. This study compares bone density and fracture risks between male veterans and non-veterans. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1427 veterans from the Taichung Veterans General Hospital osteoporosis database (2010–2022), matched 1:1 by age and gender with non-veterans. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Comorbidities, fracture sites, and mortality data were tracked. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify factors influencing fracture risk. Results: The study found that veterans have a higher fracture risk (univariable OR 1.24, multivariable OR 1.20, p < 0.001). Fracture victims were slightly younger in the veterans group (78.7 ± 10.0 years vs. 80.1 ± 9.2 years, p = 0.010), who also had better T-scores in the lumbar spine and left femoral neck. Veterans showed a higher post-fracture mortality rate (39.9% vs. 31.9%, p = 0.001) and a greater incidence of radial fractures (5.01% vs. 2.96%, p = 0.036). Importantly, veterans exhibited a trend toward more hip fractures compared with non-veterans (27.0% vs. 23.6%, p = 1.017), suggesting a potential difference despite not reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: In the present study, we found that veterans have higher rates of comorbidities, and higher mortality after a fracture event, highlighting the need for targeted medical interventions to address these differences. Further intervention to prevent avoidable fractures and the provision of adequate care for long-term osteoporosis management remain critical issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevation of serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level has been demonstrated as a risk factor for varying diseases, as well as a biomarker for predicting recovery after operation of lumber disc herniation. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between serum hs-CRP and sacroiliac (SI) joint inflammation in patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA).