"Hook-like effect" causes false-negative point-of-care urine pregnancy testing in emergency patients.

Background: Failure to detect pregnancy in the emergency department (ED) can have important consequences. Urine human chorionic gonadotropin (uhCG) point-of-care (POC) assays are valued for rapidly detecting early pregnancy with high sensitivity. However, under certain conditions, POC uhCG tests can fail to detect pregnancy.

Viscosupplementation: a new treatment option for osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative joint disease affecting articular cartilage and synovial joint fluid, is the most common of the rheumatic diseases. OA is a huge public health issue that diminishes the quality of life of millions in the United States. Current treatments for OA include physical therapy, antiinflammatories, narcotics, steroids, and surgery.