Rheology of synovial fluid.

After a discussion of the role of synovial fluid as a joint lubricant, rheological measurements are described with both normal (healthy) synovial fluids and pathological ones. Shear stress and first normal stress difference are measured as a function of shear gradient to calculate the apparent shear viscosity eta 1 and the apparent normal viscosity psi 7 as well as an apparent shear modulus G'. It is found, that in case of diseased synoviae all rheological parameters deteriorate.

The lectin-binding protein from the pea (Pisum sativum); properties and interactions.

The lectin-binding protein (lectin binder) from the garden pea (Pisum sativum) was studied. It is a glycoprotein composed of four subunits of about 50 000 Da. Its amino-acid composition and molecular mass differ from those of lectin and of storage proteins.

Small-angle X-ray and light scattering studies on the influence of Mg2+ ions on the structure of the RNA from bacteriophage MS2.

The influence of Mg2+ ions on the secondary and tertiary structure of the RNA from bacteriophage MS2 was investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering and light scattering and by sedimentation experiments. The analysis of the outer part of the X-ray scattering curve obtained at low temperature in the absence of Mg2+ yielded a cross-section radius of gyration of 0.88 nm and a mass per unit length of 1720 g mol-1 nm-1.

Internal hernia and gangrenous intestine. A rare complication of a femoral--femoral bypass graft.

An unusual case of an internal hernia related to a retropubic femoral-femoral bypass graft is presented. An orifice between the left and right inguinal ligaments and a protruding intraperitoneal portion of the prosthetic graft material resulted in herniation and strangulation of a portion of the small intestine. Technical factors (graft redundancy or misplacement) and natural factors (pulsatile erosion or age elongation) may be implicated.

[Biorheology: problems and results in medicine].

After a short explanation of the topic and a methodological introduction, several recent biorheological findings are presented and discussed. Intrinsic viscosity measurements with lipoproteins show, that a certain type associates strongly in presence of Ca ions thus representing a risk factor for infarction. A rheological theory of rheumatic deterioration of knee joint synovial fluid is presented and suggested as a diagnostic aid.

The interaction of calf thymus DNA with mercuric acetate and 3,6-bis-(acetatomercurimethyl)-dioxane. Small-angle X-ray scattering and viscosity studies.

The binding of Hg2+ and 3,6-bis-(acetatomercurimethyl)-dioxane (BAMD) to sonicated calf thymus DNA was studied by small-angle X-ray scattering and viscosity measurements. The scattering experiments with DNA complexed by different amounts of mercurials (for Hg2+ rb=0-0.79, for BAMD rb=0-0.

[Biorheological contribution to the problem of rheumatic joint diseases].

The rheological properties of synovial fluids from patients with different rheumatic diseases are discussed. Viscosities of 73 samples were determined and are compared to a standard of "healthy" human synovial fluid p. m.

[A rheological study on plasma lipoproteins (author's transl)].

Lipoproteins of the types LpB and LP-X are studied in a microviscometer to measure intrinsic viscosity. Up to a shear rate of 1700s-1 no shear dependence of viscosity is observed. Intrinsic viscosities are 3.