Cyst Reduction by Melatonin in a Novel Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) causes progressive cystic degeneration of the renal tubules, the nephrons, eventually severely compromising kidney function. ADPKD is incurable, with half of the patients eventually needing renal replacement. Treatments for ADPKD patients are limited and new effective therapeutics are needed.

Anteroposterior centering of the humeral head on the glenoid in vivo.

Background: The capsule and ligaments are generally viewed as the primary stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint, but many important activities are performed in midrange positions in which these structures are lax.

Hypothesis: In vivo, the humeral head can be centered in the glenoid, even when the shoulder is in positions in which the capsule is lax and even when the shoulder is passively positioned.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Correlates with comfort and function after total shoulder arthroplasty for degenerative joint disease.

Although most patients are improved after shoulder arthroplasty, the degree of improvement is variable. The factors contributing to this variability are not well understood. In particular, little information is available regarding the preoperative characteristics of the patient that may influence the quality of the result.

The correlation of comorbidity with function of the shoulder and health status of patients who have glenohumeral degenerative joint disease.

We studied the effect of comorbidities on function of the shoulder and health status in a group of eighty-five consecutive patients who had glenohumeral degenerative joint disease of sufficient severity to meet one surgeon's criteria for the performance of shoulder arthroplasty. A questionnaire was used to identify the comorbidities, such as other diseases, social factors, or a work-related injury, for each patient. The number of functions on the Simple Shoulder Test that the patient could perform had a significant negative correlation with the number of comorbidities (r = -0.

Pelvic mass secondary to polyethylene and titanium alloy wear debris resulting in recurrent deep vein thrombosis.

External venous compression can be a cause of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is an unusual case of acetabular component failure and resultant polyethylene and titanium alloy wear debris that presented as a pelvic mass and resulted in iliac vein compression and subsequent DVT.

Melorheostosis.

Melorheostosis is a rare, benign connective-tissue disorder characterized by a cortical thickening of bone with irregular dense hyperostosis that appears to flow along the cortex. We review the literature to date, etiology, clinical aspects, roentgenographic features, histology, and treatment of melorheostosis.

Pediatric osteomyelitis masquerading as skeletal neoplasia.

Osteomyelitis has many forms of presentation in the pediatric age group. From neonatal osteomyelitis, with a paucity of clinical symptoms and signs, to the more typical acute hematogenous form or even the subacute or chronic presentations, a high index of suspicion is needed to institute appropriate investigations and treatment.

Fatal pulmonary embolus after knee arthroscopy.

We report a case of fatal pulmonary embolus after arthroscopy of the knee to heighten awareness of this potentially fatal complication. A literature search was conducted to review the reported complications of knee arthroscopy.

Blunt needle infusion of local anesthetics or narcotic analgesics into operative wounds or joints.

Local anesthetics or narcotic analgesics introduced into surgical wounds have been noted to provide pain relief. These agents are typically infused into the postoperative joint or wound using a standard beveled needle or by pressing the syringe hub against the incision without a needle. We present an alternative method of administering these agents to provide pain relief in the orthopedic patient.

The role of melatonin and serotonin in aging: update.

It has been proposed that aging occurs because of a failure of the pineal gland to produce melatonin from serotonin each day beginning at sunset and throughout the night. This lack leads to a nighttime deficiency of melatonin both absolutely and also relatively to serotonin. As melatonin has wide-spread integrative and regenerative effects, its lack may lead to disturbances normally associated with aging.

The role of melatonin and serotonin in aging.

The hypothesis presented in this paper defines aging as a pathological process originating in the pineal gland. This results in a diminished output of melatonin, along with a diminished melatonin to serotonin ratio, leading to a decline in adaptive processes and a predictable syndrome manifested by the "diseases of the aged" (DOA) and subsequent death of the organism. That is, aging is a syndrome of relative melatonin deficiency resulting from the gradual failure of the pineal gland.