Registry of Hypogonadism in Men (RHYME): design of a multi-national longitudinal, observational registry of exogenous testosterone use in hypogonadal men.

Objective: Despite the prevalence of hypogonadism (HG) and widespread use of testosterone therapy, little is known about the safety/effectiveness of long-term testosterone use. The Registry of Hypogonadism in Men (RHYME) is a multi-national patient registry assessing prostate health and other outcomes associated with testosterone treatment in men.

Design: Observational patient disease registry.

Association of catechol-O-methyltransferase genetic variants with outcome in patients undergoing surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

Background Context: Surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) has been associated with highly variable results in terms of postoperative pain relief and functional improvement. Many experts believe that DDD should be considered a chronic pain disorder as opposed to a degenerative disease. Genetic variation of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene has been associated with variation in human pain sensitivity and response to analgesics in previous studies.

Polymorphic variation of the guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase 1 gene predicts outcome in patients undergoing surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease.

Study Design: Prospective observational study.

Objective: To determine whether polymorphic variations of the guanosine triphosphate (GTP) cyclohydrolase 1 gene (GCH1) are associated with different outcomes in patients undergoing surgical treatment for lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD).

Summary Of Background Data: GCH1, the gene encoding the rate-limiting enzyme in tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis, has been strongly implicated as a determinant of pain experience in previous animal and human studies.

Outcome of percutaneous rupture of lumbar synovial cysts: a case series of 101 patients.

Background Context: Lumbar facet joint synovial cysts are benign degenerative abnormalities of the lumbar spine. Previous reports have supported operative and nonoperative management. Facet joint steroid injection with cyst rupture is occasionally performed, but there has been no systematic evaluation of this treatment option.

Prospective evaluation of chronic pain associated with posterior autologous iliac crest bone graft harvest and its effect on postoperative outcome.

Background: Autogenous Iliac Crest Bone Graft (ICBG) has been the "gold standard" for spinal fusion. However, bone graft harvest may lead to complications, such as chronic pain, numbness, and poor cosmesis. The long-term impact of these complications on patient function and well-being has not been established but is critical in determining the value of expensive bone graft substitutes such as recombinant bone morphogenic protein.