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Biomedical subjects

B I Lev

Publications and source records attributed to B I Lev.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Paranematic interaction between nanoparticles of ordinary shape.

We propose a general approach to the description of the long-ranged interaction between nanoparticles (1-10 nm) of ordinary shape in the paranematic phase, i.e., nematic liquid crystal in the isotropic phase. In general case interaction potential is attractive of Yukawa form with derivatives. But it can be anisotropic despite the isotropy of the paranematic phase. The origin of such anisotropy is the shape of nanoparticles. Particular potentials for spherical and cylindrical particles are considered. For the case of nanocylinders anisotropic part of the interaction potential can lead to the orientational ordering of them in the isotropic phase of nematic liquid crystals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Cluster formation in the system of interacting Bose particles.

Based on statistical approach we described possible formation of spatially inhomogeneous distribution in the system of interacting Bose particles. The condition of cluster formation in both gas and condensed phases was obtained in this system. We studied the dynamics of cluster formation in the limit case of high temperatures. We compared the cluster-formation processes in the attractive system (with short-range interaction) and in the gravitational system at the low temperatures of Bose-Einstein condensate regime.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Ordered droplet structures at the liquid crystal surface and elastic-capillary colloidal interactions.

We demonstrate a variety of ordered patterns, including hexagonal structures and chains, formed by colloidal particles (droplets) at the free surface of a nematic liquid crystal (LC). The surface placement introduces a new type of particle interaction as compared to particles entirely in the LC bulk. Namely, director deformations caused by the particles lead to distortions of the interface and thus to capillary attraction. The elastic-capillary coupling is strong enough to remain relevant even at the micron-scale when its buoyancy-capillary counterpart becomes irrelevant.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2002

Symmetry breaking and interaction of colloidal particles in nematic liquid crystals.

We propose a general approach to the description of the long-ranged elastic interaction in the nematic colloids, based on the symmetry breaking of the director field. The type of the far-field interaction between particles immersed in a nematic host is determined by the way the symmetry is broken in the near-field region around the colloidal particle. This is caused both by the particle's shape and the anchoring at the surface. If the director field near the particle has a set of three symmetry planes, the far-field interaction falls off as d(-5) with d being the distance between particles. If one symmetry plane is absent, a dipolar moment perpendicular to it is allowed and yields dipole-dipole interactions, which decays as d(-3). If both the horizontal and vertical mirror symmetries are broken (it is equivalent to the case when the nonzero torque moment is applied to the particle by the nematic liquid crystal), the particles are shown to attract each other following the Coulomb law. We propose a simple method for the experimental observation of this Coulomb attraction. The behavior of colloid particles in curved director fields is analyzed. Quadrupolar particles with planar anchoring are shown to be attracted toward the regions with high splay deformations, while quadrupoles with homeotropic anchoring are depleted from such regions. When there are many colloidal particles in the nematic solvent, the distortions of the director from all of them are overlapped and lead to the exponential screening in the elastic pair interaction potential. This is a many-body interaction effect. This screening is essential in the real dense colloid systems, such as ferronematics--suspensions of magnetic cylindrical grains in the nematic liquid crystal. External magnetic field induces an elastic Yukawa attraction between them. We apply this attraction to the explanation of the cellular texture in magnetically doped liquid crystals.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Crystal structure in nematic emulsion.

We describe the experimental observation of a crystal structure formed by glycerol droplets suspended in a nematic liquid crystal. The structure exhibits a high density hexagonal ordering. We have experimentally observed a noticeable interaction between droplets with tangential boundary conditions. Within the scope of known models we discuss the nature of appropriate mechanisms of the interaction.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Deformation of liquid crystal droplets under the action of an external ac electric field.

Deformation of liquid crystal droplets suspended in liquid polymer matrix under the action of external electric field was observed in dependence of ion concentration in such system. Experimental dependence of droplet elongation vs electric field demonstrates nonmonotonous character with increase of ion concentration. The theory that provides the basic agreement with experimental observation is developed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Non-Debye screening of a surface charge and a bulk-ion-controlled anchoring transition in a nematic liquid crystal.

We study the anchoring mechanism due to substrate-adsorbed ions by examining a related anchoring transition. An analytical solution to the Poisson equation shows that, as their number suffices for a non-negligible anchoring contribution, the surface field is screened over some characteristic microscopic distance. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that the critical temperature of the transition can be controlled by bulk ion density through its relation to the density of adsorbed ions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Diabetic neuropathy. Helping patients cope with their pain.

Diabetic neuropathy may have a metabolic or an ischemic origin, and the pattern of nerve damage varies by cause. Treatment should address the underlying cause. Patient reassurance, relaxation techniques, glucose control, use of tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants, and surgical decompression for entrapment neuropathy are currently the mainstays of treatment. Physicians must reassure these patients that neuropathic pain is temporary.

Analgesics, Opioid↗
PubMed1988

Biology of Giardia lamblia. Detection of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as the only surface saccharide moiety and identification of two distinct subsets of trophozoites by lectin binding.

Lectins and glycosidases of known sugar specificity were used as probes to analyze the surface carbohydrate moieties of G. lamblia trophozoites and in particular to determine whether chitin or oligomeric D-GlcNAc is present in the trophozoite form of the parasite as well as on the cyst. Of 13 lectins with varying sugar specificity, only D-GlcNAc-specific lectins bound specifically to the trophozoite surface as determined by light microscopy and EM. A striking finding was the identification of two distinct subsets of trophozoites, distinguished by reactivity with WGA and detected by light microscopy and EM as well as by flow cytometry. Unlike the cyst wall, the trophozoite D-GlcNAc residues were resistant to chitinase treatment. In contrast N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase abolished WGA binding suggesting that the lectin binds to terminal beta-linked D-GlcNAc residues. These residues were identified as being present on surface glycoproteins by Western blotting of parasite membrane proteins using WGA as a probe. This study identifies D-GlcNAc as the only saccharide moiety detectable by lectin binding on the surface of G. lamblia trophozoites and demonstrates that in contrast to the cyst, chitin is not present in the trophozoite. In addition two distinct subsets of trophozoites were identified based on reactivity with WGA and may represent varying stages of differentiation from trophozoite to cyst.

Acetylglucosamine↗
PubMed1988

Quiescent Q fever endocarditis exacerbated by cardiac surgery and corticosteroid therapy.

Q fever endocarditis occurs in up to 11% of patients infected by Coxiella burnetti. Major clues for the diagnosis are culture-negative endocarditis, hepatic involvement, rash, and thrombocytopenia. Characteristically, the diagnosis is delayed. In our patient, Q fever endocarditis occurred without previously recorded signs of infection. Fever, rash, and hepatic involvement all occurred following aortic valve replacement. The histologic picture of the excised valve was consistent with endocarditis, and serologic tests disclosed elevated IgA and IgG antiphase 1 antibody titers against C burnetti, compatible with Q fever endocarditis. It is assumed that the exacerbation of quiescent Q fever endocarditis was caused by cardiac surgery and steroid therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Identification and characterization of taglin, a mannose 6-phosphate binding, trypsin-activated lectin from Giardia lamblia.

We have previously reported the presence of a cell surface associated lectin activity in Giardia lamblia, a human protozoan parasite that is a significant cause of diarrheal disease worldwide [Lev, B., Ward, H., Keusch, G. T., & Pereira, M. E. A. (1986) Science (Washington, D.C.) 232, 71-73]. This lectin is specifically activated in vitro by a host protease, trypsin, which is secreted in vivo at the site of infection. The activated lectin agglutinates cells to which the parasite adheres in vivo and binds specifically to isolated brush border membranes of these cells. These findings suggest that this lectin may be of importance in the host-parasite interaction. We now report the identification of this lectin, which we have named taglin (to denote trypsin-activated Giardia lectin), and describe some of its properties. A monoclonal antibody that inhibits the hemagglutinating activity of taglin recognizes a protein of 28,000/30,000 kdaltons in Western blots of Giardia lysates. This finding was confirmed by direct demonstration of lectin activity with the technique of erythrocyte binding to proteins electroblotted to nitrocellulose, which revealed specific red cell binding to giardial protein bands in the same molecular weight range as those recognized by the monoclonal antibody. This study also elucidates the binding of taglin to terminal phosphomannosyl residues. The involvement of cell surface phosphate in binding of taglin to erythrocytes is shown by the abolition of lectin activity by alkaline phosphatase treatment of the erythrocytes. Taglin also requires divalent cations, Ca2+ or Mn2+, for hemagglutinating activity and is active within a narrow pH range of 6-7.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Identification of chitin as a structural component of Giardia cysts.

The intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia is a significant cause of diarrheal disease, which is perpetuated by the infective cyst form of the parasite. Although a rational approach to the control of giardiasis would be to inhibit cyst formation, nothing is known of the chemical composition of the cyst wall or of its biosynthesis. In these studies, we have shown that chitin is a major structural component of G. lamblia and G. muris cyst walls. This conclusion is based on the finding that chitinase specifically destroys the cyst wall, as revealed by electron microscopy. The presence of chitin was also shown directly by lectin binding studies. Of 12 lectins with diverse carbohydrate recognition specificity, only the N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins wheat germ agglutinin, succinylated wheat germ agglutinin, and tomato lectin bound to cyst walls, as shown by fluorescence microscopy and cytochemistry. Wheat germ agglutinin binding was completely abolished by treatment of the cysts with purified chitinase. This effect was specific since it could be prevented by incubating the enzyme with chitin before treatment of the cysts. Treatment of cysts with N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase partially inhibited wheat germ agglutinin binding, whereas other glycosidases and proteases had no effect. These findings indicate that chitin is a major structural component of Giardia cyst walls and raise the possibility that inhibitors of chitin synthesis may be of use in preventing encystation and thus controlling spread of the disease.

Acetylglucosamine↗