Dynamics of Synovial Fluid Aggregation under Shear.

The synovial fluid (SF) that lubricates articular joints exhibits complex rheological and tribological properties due to the interactions and behaviors of its various molecular components. Under shear, SF films abruptly thicken by more than 300% and large, dense aggregates form within the fluid. In this study, we used the Surface Force Apparatus to elucidate which SF components are involved in this shear-induced transformation by (i) determining which (if any) of all major SF components replicate the behavior of SF under shear and (ii) observing the effect of removing implicated components from SF by enzymatic digestion.

FDA-sunlamp recommended Maximum Timer Interval And Exposure Schedule: consensus ISO/CIE dose equivalence.

The authors compared calculations of sunlamp maximum exposure times following current USFDA Guidance Policy on the Maximum Timer Interval and Exposure Schedule, with USFDA/CDRH proposals revising these to equivalent erythemal exposures of ISO/CIE Standard Erythema Dose (SED). In 2003, [USFDA/CDRH proposed replacing their unique CDRH/Lytle] erythema action spectrum with the ISO/CIE erythema action spectrum and revising the sunlamp maximum exposure timer to 600 J m(-2) ISO/CIE effective dose, presented as being biologically equivalent. Preliminary analysis failed to confirm said equivalence, indicating instead ∼38% increased exposure when applying these proposed revisions.

Electrophysiological characteristics of lorcainide, a new antiarrhythmic drug.

The electrophysiological characteristics and the antiarrhythmic indication areas of lorcainide were studied by using electrophysiological investigations and clinical studies in patients suffering from sustained arrhythmias. According to the data of the arrhythmia analyses (30 patients) the most important electrophysiological effects of lorcainide are: increase of the effective refractory period of the atria and ventricles; prolongation of the conduction time in the His bundle; prolongation of the refractory period and conduction of the accessory pathways. In the course of clinical studies (55 patients) lorcainide proved to be very effective in treating ventricular arrhythmias and preventing or disrupting ventricular tachyarrhythmic attacks.

The acute effect of ajmaline on ventricular arrhythmia after cardiac surgery.

The acute effect of ajmaline was investigated in the treatment of postoperative ventricular arrhythmias. Ajmaline (Glurytmal--Giulini Pharma GMBH) was applied intravenously in 15 patients suffering from ventricular premature beats (Lown II--IV/b), tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation after open heart surgery. Ajmaline infusion produced in 40% of the cases a total suppression and in 100% a significant improvement of malignant ventricular arrhythmia.

Recording of sinus node electrogram: its technique, electrophysiological and clinical importance.

The electric sign of sinus node activity, the sinus node electrogram, was recorded in animal experiments and in 22 patients. In humans the electric sign of the sinus node precedes the atrial activation by 60 msec on the average. Atrial impulse conduction time is somewhat longer than the sinoauricular one.