[Coping with the illness by patients with chronic polyarthritis. Forms of coping and therapeutic implications]. / Krankheitsbewältigung bei Patienten mit chronischer Polyarthritis. Bewältigungsformen und therapeutische Implikationen.

In rheumatoid arthritis, coping exerts a major influence on the feelings and the compliance of a patient. This signifies its great clinical relevance. This study presents data of 40 patients using a questionnaire for assessing their ways of coping. The main coping strategies proved to be the search for more information and ways to get cognitive control over the threat imposed by the disease. The individual strategies were not influenced by somatic parameters. Unexpectedly, the duration of disease was tightly correlated to a more intensive approach for gaining information. The results have a major influence on the way of treating patients with RA. They open up new therapeutical regimens for the patient/doctor relationship, including patient oriented seminars and various psychological therapies.

[Behavior of various serum enzymes following ligation of the superior mesenteric artery in the rat (preliminary report)]. / Das Verhalten einiger Serumenzyme nach Unterbindung der Arteria mesenterica superior bei der Ratte.

In rats, shortly after ligation of superior mesenteric artery serum enzyme activities are found significantly altered. Those changes concern aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), lipase, alpha amylase, and isocitrate dehydrogenase as well as glutamate dehydrogenase. The causes are discussed. The authors emphasize that the assessment of serum enzymes possibly gives some help in diagnosing acute intestinal ischemias in early stages.