Tribological aspects of joint intraaricular therapy.

The condition of synovial joints affected by synovitis or degeneration dystrophy has been usually normalized by drugs of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating and/or lubricating-protective action injected into the joint cavity. These preparations influence, but in different way, the friction in joints and wear of cartilages, even if they belong to the same pharmacological group and follow the same medication mechanism. With the development of a large group of lubricating-and-protective substitutes for the synovial fluid the tribological efficiency of injection drugs has begun to attract attention, whereas no information is available in the literature on pharmacopoeia or orthopedics about the lubricity of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial drugs commonly used as injections. The mechanisms by which structure and properties of lubricating films containing drugs undergo transformation under the influence of biological field in joints remain in fact unknown. In vitro experiments have been conducted to simulate a biofield of a joint; the lubricity of some injection drugs used in orthopedics has been evaluated.

[Impact of a magnetic field on blood separation kinetics in patients with joint diseases].

The paper gives the results of experiments on phase separation of blood in the constant magnetic field that allows the structure of blood to be regulated, without changing its cellular and chemical composition. Blood deposition kinetic relationships were obtained for patients with joint diseases of various etiology (osteoarthritis, osteoarthrosis deformans, endoprosthesis instability, contusions, and joint wounds). They correlate with the severity of an inflammatory process in the joint and its adjacent tissues, with a patient's resistance to the development of pathology, and with red blood cell mobility in the biophysical field of a living organism. Analysis of relationships gives information on concentrations in plasma and hence synovial fluid (the basis of which is blood dialysate) in the liquid-crystalline phospholipid and cholesterol phase that determines the lubricity of synovial fluid and a low friction in the joints. The method may be used for the primary evaluation of efficacy of drugs for joint treatment, which is made in vitro on the blood taken from the patients rather than on the latter.

[Infrared spectroscopy of synovial fluid and serum from patients with joint diseases].

The infrared spectra of synovial fluid and serum from the same patient were comparatively analyzed. The coordination bond variations in the complex protein-polysaccharide compounds of synovial fluid were shown to correspond to the range of frequencies of 3000-3500 cm(-1) and those of valence bonds in its individual components were in the range of 800-1700 cm(-1). It was established that a reduction in the peak area of 3300 cm(-1) may be an additional indicator in the diagnosis of osteoarthritis. The above results confirm it expedient to treat joints, by injecting serum-based agents.

[Molecular mass distribution of proteins in serum and synovial fluid].

The Laemmli polyacrylamide gel protein electrophoresis method was used to assess the protein molecular mass distribution in the serum and synovial fluid from apparently healthy individuals and patients with knee osteoarthritis of various etiologies. The development of inflammatory complications in joint diseases was shown to be identified on the protein separation spectra as a rise in the synovial fluid concentration of protein fractions with the extremely low molecular mass (to 20 kD). The protein molecular mass distribution in the sera in all the groups and that in the synovial fluid from the apparently healthy joints were virtually equal.

[Immobilization of Saccharomyces yeast cells on electret polyethylene films].

The method of electret-thermal analysis developed in dielectric physics has been applied to monitor bioelectric phenomena that accompany the immobilization of microorganisms on electret substrates. A spectrum of thermo stimulated currents for biofilms consisting of immobilized Saccharomyces cells has been obtained. The spectrum represents a halo in the region of 30-90 degrees C. The immobilization of Saccharomyces cells on electret polyethylene films results in their depolarization that is recorded on the spectra of thermostimulated currents as a reduction of the current peak corresponding to the polyethylene melting point. A hypothesis has been put forward that explains the phenomenon by the absorption of the electric energy of polarized substrates by the cells for the occurrence of metabolic reactions.

Tribological monitoring of drugs used for the treatment of arthropathies.

Lubricating capacity of drugs injected into articular cavity were tested using a pendulum tribometer. The findings indicate that friction coefficient for a pair simulating metallopolymeric articular endoprosthesis is changed under the effect of electromagnetic field after lubrication. Regularities of these changes depend on the nature and mechanism of action of drugs. A method for rapid evaluation of the lubricating characteristics of drugs is proposed for optimizing their therapeutic effect on joints.

Electret-thermal analysis of blood.

The thermally stimulated discharge (TSD) method, intended for the analysis of charged dielectrics, was used for human blood research. Above-room-temperature TSD spectra of blood consist of three peaks. There are indications that the low-temperature peak (40-50 degrees C) corresponds to the thermally stimulated destruction of hydrate shells surrounding blood components while the mid-temperature peak (70-90 degrees C) is related to thermal denaturation of blood proteins. The intensive high-temperature peak (105-120 degrees C) is observed when a phase transition of blood, accompanied by the formation of a firm dry film of blood, occurs. The position of the high-temperature peak depends on the blood group. Data is discussed which suggests that the spontaneous "quasi-electret effect" of blood relates to the character of the biochemical processes taking place in human organisms. The TSD method might be used as simple and informative means of diagnostics in cooperation with medical and physical investigations.