Overuse of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Moderate to Severe Osteoarthritis.

Background: MRI in the evaluation of end-stage knee joint osteoarthritis (OA) is usually unnecessary when radiographic and clinical evidence of gonarthrosis is clear. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of MRI scans ordered in patients with radiographically obvious gonarthrosis and to examine the characteristics of health care providers who ordered these imaging studies.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 164 patients diagnosed with moderate to severe OA who were referred for total knee replacement (TKA) over a one-year period.

Biomechanical Assessment of Locking Plate Fixation of Comminuted Proximal Olecranon Fractures.

Objectives: To determine if mean ultimate strength or failure mechanism differed between comminuted olecranon fractures created at the proximal 25% or 50% of the trochlear notch and fixed with precontoured posterior locking plates (PLPs).

Methods: Comminuted osteotomies were created in 10 matched pairs of cadaveric upper extremities at either the proximal 25% or 50% of the trochlear notch after quantitative computed tomography scans were performed to evaluate bone mineral density. Variable-angle olecranon PLPs were fixed to the specimens.

Safety and efficacy of hyperosmolar irrigation solution in shoulder arthroscopy.

Background: A hyperosmolar irrigation solution has been reported to be safe and have potential benefits for use during shoulder arthroscopy in an animal model study. In this study, the clinical effects of a hyperosmolar solution were compared with a standard isotonic solution when used for shoulder arthroscopy.

Methods: A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was performed to compare isotonic (273 mOsm/L) and hyperosmolar (593 mOsm/L) irrigation solutions used for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

Osteochondral Allografts in Shoulder Surgical Procedures.

The use of fresh osteochondral allografts has become popular in many joint-preserving orthopaedic procedures and shows early promising results within the shoulder. Distal tibial allograft contains a stout cartilaginous layer that appears to have highly congruent curvature and concavity to the glenoid, which makes for an optimal allograft option for instability. In the setting of large Hill-Sachs lesions, the use of a humeral-head osteochondral allograft is essential to restore geometry, stability, and mechanics of the native glenohumeral joint.

Hyperosmolar irrigation compared with a standard solution in a canine shoulder arthroscopy model.

Background: A hyperosmolar irrigation solution may decrease fluid extravasation during arthroscopic procedures. Demonstrating the safety of a hyperosmolar irrigation solution with respect to chondrocyte viability and cartilage water content was deemed necessary before designing a clinical efficacy study.

Methods: We designed a translational animal model study in which hyperosmolar arthroscopy irrigation fluid (1.

Evaluation and management of an irreducible posterolateral knee dislocation.

Irreducible posterolateral knee dislocations are rare and complex injuries that are often difficult to treat. Prompt recognition and appropriate early management are vital to the successful long-term outcome for the patient. In this case report, we highlight a single patient presenting with an irreducible posterolateral knee dislocation following a high-energy trauma.

A review of translational animal models for knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis remains a tremendous public health concern, both in terms of health-related quality of life and financial burden of disease. Translational research is a critical step towards understanding and mitigating the long-term effects of this disease process. Animal models provide practical and clinically relevant ways to study both the natural history and response to treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Substituent effects on the reaction of beta-benzoylalanines with Pseudomonas fluorescens kynureninase.

Kynureninase is a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of l-kynurenine to give l-alanine and anthranilic acid. beta-Benzoyl-l-alanine, the analogue of l-kynurenine lacking the aromatic amino group, was shown to a good substrate for kynureninase from Pseudomonas fluorescens, and the rate-determining step changes from release of the second product, l-Ala, to formation of the first product, benzoate [Gawandi, V. B.

Cytotoxicity of Abeta1-42, RAGE23-54, and an Abeta-RAGE complex in PC-12 cells.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) binds amyloid peptides with high affinity. Soluble RAGE-like peptides and Abeta-like peptides occur in relatively high concentrations in the circulation of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Protein complexes with epitopes for both Abeta and RAGE are also present.