Combined measurement of synovial fluid α-Defensin and C-reactive protein levels: highly accurate for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection.

Background: The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection remains a challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined measurement of the levels of two synovial fluid biomarkers, α-defensin and C-reactive protein (CRP), for the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection.

Methods: One hundred and forty-nine synovial fluid aspirates, including 112 from patients with an aseptic diagnosis and thirty-seven from patients with periprosthetic joint infection, met the inclusion criteria for this prospective study.

The alpha-defensin test for periprosthetic joint infection outperforms the leukocyte esterase test strip.

Background: Synovial fluid biomarkers have demonstrated diagnostic accuracy surpassing the currently used diagnostic tests for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Questions/purposes: The purpose of this study is to directly compare the sensitivity and specificity of the synovial fluid α-defensin immunoassay to the leukocyte esterase (LE) colorimetric test strip.

Methods: Synovial fluid was collected from 46 patients meeting the inclusion criteria of this prospective diagnostic study.

Diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection: has the era of the biomarker arrived?

Background: The diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a serious clinical challenge. There is a pressing need for improved diagnostic testing methods; biomarkers offer one potentially promising approach.

Questions/purposes: We evaluated the diagnostic characteristics of 16 promising synovial fluid biomarkers for the diagnosis of PJI.

Selectively engaging β-arrestins at the angiotensin II type 1 receptor reduces blood pressure and increases cardiac performance.

Biased G protein-coupled receptor ligands engage subsets of the receptor signals normally stimulated by unbiased agonists. However, it is unclear whether ligand bias can elicit differentiated pharmacology in vivo. Here, we describe the discovery of a potent, selective β-arrestin biased ligand of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor.