A 45-year-old man without significant past medical history p…

A 45-year-old man without significant past medical history presents with severe back pain after lifting boxes at work 2 days ago. Other than his back pain, his review of symptoms is negative. The pain radiates from his lower back down his posterior thigh to his great toe when you perform both a straight leg raise test and the contralateral leg raise. His strength, sensation, and reflexes are preserved. Which of the following imaging studies should be done immediately?

A 65-year-old man with a history of chronic hypertension, di…

A 65-year-old man with a history of chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and degenerative joint disease presents with acute onset of severe pain of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and swelling of the left first toe. Physical examination shows exquisite tenderness of the joint, with swelling, warmth, and erythema. The patient has no history of trauma or other significant medical problems. Synovial fluid analysis and aspiration is most likely to show which of the following?