The Surface Tension of the Blood Serum in Hyperthyroidism

Abstract

The present communication is a report of an investigation of the surface tension of the blood serum in patients with severe thyroid intoxication. The general plan of the study has been as follows: Determinations of the surface tension were made upon samples of blood serum from untreated patients immediately upon admission to the hospital. Treatment with iodine (in the form of Lugol's solution) was then given in sufficient amount and over a sufficient period of time to allow an exhibition of its clinical effect, when the surface tension studies were repeated. Later the surface tension was again determined after surgical operation (double partial lobectomy of subtotal thyroidectomy) in order to observe any change resulting from the diminished activity of the thyroid gland due to its partial.removal. In some cases iodine was continued for a short time after operation.The direct reading tensiometer of Du Noiiy (1) was used for making the surface tension determinations, and all the precautions recommended by him were carefully followed. The watch glasses used were of uniform size (diameter 8 cm.) and the same amount of serum, approximately 2 cc., used each time. The glassware used was boiled for two hours in a concentrated solution of sulphuric acid to which had been added 15 cc. saturated solution of potassium bichromate per liter. The watch glasses were washed not longer than two or three days before using and were flamed a short time before use in order to insure uniform spreading of the serum. The greatest care was taken throughout to avoid touching with the hands any glassware, including the collecting apparatus, centrifuge tubes and watch glasses.The blood for the surface tension determinations was collected in 181

An electrically switchable surface free energy on a liquid crystal and polymer composite film

“…8 In addition, the change of surface free energy of human blood can indicate many human diseases, such as atherogenesis and hyperthyroidism. 16,17 The wetting properties of LCPCF can be designed in a proper range to sense the change of surface free energy of human blood. Furthermore, our LCPCF and the analysis method in this Letter can help us to measure the anisotropic surface free energy of different chemical structure of LC materials.…”