Concentrations of synovial fluid protein, measured electrophoretically, acid glycoproteins and sialic acid in 22 cases of rheumatoid arthritis are compared to 17 of osteoarthritis. Similar observations reported previously from other laboratories have been confirmed in these carefully performed studies.Le concentrationes de proteina in le liquid0 synovial (mesurate electrophoreticamente), de glycoproteinas acide, e de acido sialic in 22 patientes con arthritis rheumatoide, esseva comparate con le valores correspondente in 17 patientes con osteoarthritis. Le presente studios, que esseva executate meticub semente, confirma previe reportos ab altere laboratorios. E PROTEIN DISTRIBUTION in pathologic synovial fluid has been T" studied by several workers in recent On the whole the protein pattern has been found to be very similar to that of serum. In rheumatoid arthritis Schmid and MacNair6 have shown, using merent physicochemical and immunochemical methods, that the proteins of synovial fluid probably are identical with those of plasma.Differences are on the other hand present, especially with respect to total protein concentration. This is most marked in the osteoarthritic fluid~,~3 where the total protein is usually less than half the serum value. Differences in relative content, especially of alphaz and gamma globulins, have also been noted, however.3-6 It seemed of interest to study such differences between serum and synovial fluid more closely and to compare osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in this respect. In t h i s way more reliable information about the protein permeability of the synovial membrane might be obtained.A paper electrophoretic procedure for synovial fluid was worked out for this purpose. To get an idea about the glycoprotein conditions, determinations of acid glycoproteins and sialic acid in serum and synovial fluid were also included.The effect of intra-articular steroid therapy was also studied by the same methods. Previous workers have reported only slight or insignificant changes in the protein pattern in contrast to the marked effect on the hyaluronic acid after such treat~nent.~-l~ MATERIAL AND METHODS MaterialThe material comprised 22 cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 17 cases of osteoarthritis. All the cases of rheumatoid arthritis had typicd x-ray findings and positive sheep cell
The significance of calcium for the responsiveness of human lactotrophs and somatotrophs to iv TRH and oral L-dopa was investigated in 11 young healthy women. Both TRH and L-dopa were administered on three different background infusions: 1) saline, 2) verapamil, and 3) calcium. Twenty-five micrograms of TRH raised the PRL level from 15.1 +/- 2.3 to 76.9 +/- 8.8 ng/ml in 15 min (P less than 0.001). Calcium infusion blunted this PRL response by 33 +/- 8% (P less than 0.02), whereas verapamil, known for its calcium-antagonistic properties, left in unaffected. Five hundred milligrams of L-dopa increased the GH level from 2.2 +/- 0.7 to 16.7 +/- 2.2 ng/ml in 60 min (P less than 0.002) and reduced the PRL level from 11.6 +/- 2.9 to 3.1 +/- 0.4 ng/ml in 150 min (P less than 0.05). Neither calcium nor verapamil influenced these GH and PRL responses significantly. These findings indicate that human somatotrophs may be less dependent than human lactotrophs on normocalcemia for adequate hormone secretion.
Changes are known to occur in the hyaluronic acid of joint fluids in rheumatoid arthritis, these changes having been described as due to overproduction of incompletely polymerized polysaccharide.The influence of intra-articular injection therapy, mainly with hydrocortisone, upon the hyaluronic acid changes in the fluids has been studied in cases of active rheumatoid arthritis. The analyses included determinations of hyaluronic acid concentration and of degree of polymerization of the polysaccharide, as measured by the intrinsic viscosity and the degree of anomalous viscosity. Determinations of hyaluronidase inhibitors and of total protein were also made.Clinical response t o treatment with hydrocortisone was always reflected by chemical changes in the joint fluid.There was usually an increase in hyaluronic acid concentration, but little or no change in the total protein.The consistent change was an increase in the degree of polymerization of the hyaluronic acid, as manifested by a rise in both intrinsic viscosity and degree of anomalous viscosity. The maximum response occurred 2 4 days after injection with often complete restoration to normal of the hyaluronic acid changes in the fluids.Marked changes were only found with hydrocortisone. Cortisone had a slight effect on the hyaluronic acid, whereas there was no appreciable influence on the hyaluronic acid in experiments with Butazolidine and with the hyaluronidase inhibitor polyphloretine phosphate.The change in the hyaluronic acid induced by the hydrocortisone could hardly be ascribed to inhibited depolymerization, since there was a slight but significant decrease in hyaluronidase inhibitor activity in the fluids.The hormone probably acts by influencing the synthesis of hyaluronic acid in the synovial tissue either directly or indirectly by its anti-inflammatory action.The electrophoretic blood protein pattern in lupus erythematosus cannot be regarded as specific for the disease but most cases display a characteristic protein spectrum.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.