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Lookup NU author(s): Sean Carrie, Dr Gary Green, Professor Jeffrey Pearson
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Middle ear effusions from children undergoing myringotomy were classified into thick (mucoid) and thin (serous) on the basis of their flow properties. Their composition was analysed and their rheological properties measured. The viscosity of the effusions was measured using a Contraves low shear viscometer and expressed as specific viscosity per mg/ml of non-dialysable solids present. In order to measure the effusion viscosity it was necessary to solubilize the effusion by mild homogenisation in a phosphate buffer pH 6.7 containing a cocktail of proteolytic inhibitors. The viscosity of mucoid effusions was significantly greater than that of the serous effusions. There was a small but measurable amount of proteolytic activity in the effusions, range 0.05-1.79-mu-g/mg of non-dialysable solids. This proteolytic activity was not significantly different between the thick and thin effusions and was therefore unlikely to "plain the difference in viscosity. Analysis of the constituents of the effusions showed that glycoprotein and DNA but not protein nor lipid were significantly higher in the mucoid effusions compared to the serous effusions. The viscosity of the effusions correlated with the glycoprotein concentration but not with the protein or lipid concentration. Under certain circumstances the DNA concentration did correlate with thc viscosity of the effusion. However, digestion with a proteinase free DNase did not reduce the viscosity of the effusion. These results demonstrate that classifying effusions as thick and thin based on visual inspection and flow properties is valid and that the only constituent present in the effusions that determines viscosity is mucin.
Author(s): Carrie S, Hutton DA, Birchall JP, Green GGR, Pearson JP
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Acta Oto-Laryngologica
Year: 1992
Volume: 112
Issue: 3
Pages: 504-511
Print publication date: 01/05/1992
Online publication date: 08/07/2009
ISSN (print): 0001-6489
ISSN (electronic): 1651-2251
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
URL: https://doi.org/10.3109/00016489209137432
DOI: 10.3109/00016489209137432
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