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J Zajac

Publications and source records attributed to J Zajac.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Effect of alcohol addition to the aqueous phase on the thermal effects of micellization of cationic benzyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide and its adsorption onto porous and nonporous silicas.

Titration calorimetry has been used to study the effect of the addition of two primary alcohols, 1-butanol and 1-heptanol, to the aqueous phase on the thermal effects of micellization of benzyldimethyldodecylammonium bromide (BDDAB) as well as its adsorption onto nonporous Spherosil XO15M and onto porous aluminosilicate SiAl32d22 possessing uniformly sized mesopores. A linear decrease of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the cationic surfactant with the additive content was inferred from the specific conductivity measurements. All adsorption and calorimetry experiments were carried out at 298 K and at a fixed alcohol content (0.01 mol kg(-1)) either in deionized water or in a 0.01 mol kg(-1) NaBr solution. Dilution calorimetry measurements allowed determination of the cumulative molar enthalpy changes and a new analysis of these data was proposed to calculate easily the enthalpy of micellization per mole of BDDAB, Delta(mic)h, and the CMC value. The alcohol addition was shown to render the micellization phenomenon more exothermic, the effect being larger as the chain length of alcohol increased. These effects were attributed to the location of alcohol molecules between the surfactant units, their hydroxyl groups close to the surfactant head-groups, in competition with the surfactant counterions. The individual isotherms of alcohol and surfactant adsorption onto XO15M and SiAl32d22 were determined. The plots of the pseudo-differential molar enthalpy of displacement, Delta(dpl)h, against the surface coverage by the surfactant cation, Theta(BDDA+), were derived from the titration calorimetry data. The formation of surface-bound aggregates was thought to be a prerequisite for alcohol coadsorption at the solid-solution interface. At least two different types of adsolubilization sites were postulated, one of the sites being the same as in micelles and the other related to the contact area between the hydrophobic surfactant tails and the equilibrium bulk solution. Coadsorption (adsolubilization) of alcohol molecules at such sites was found to increase the exothermic contribution to the enthalpy of displacement per mole of the BDDA+ adsorbed.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2003

Adsorption of a cationic gemini surfactant from aqueous solution onto aluminosilicate powders of the MCM-41 type: effect of pore size and co-adsorption of phenol.

The adsorption of cationic gemini dodecanediyl-alpha,omega-bis(dodecyldimethylammonium) bromide (i.e., C12C12C12) from aqueous solution onto aluminosilicate powders of the MCM-41 type (referred to as SiAl32dx, where x is the mean pore diameter in A) has been studied at 298 K under the conditions of free pH of the aqueous phase. Macroporous silica gel XO15M was used for comparative purposes. The discussion was based on the interpretation of experimental adsorption isotherms and differential enthalpies of displacement obtained on various solid samples. For the hydrogen-exchanged SiAl32d28 sample (i.e., H+-SiAl32d28), the adsorption of bromide counterions Br- at the solid-solution interface, the isotherm of the pH evolution in the equilibrated supernatant liquid, and the electrophoretic mobility of the solid particles coated with the adsorbed C12C12C12 were additionally measured. The uptake of phenol (PhOH) by a surfactant-solid system from a 1.5 mmolkg(-1) PhOH solution and the related thermal effect of displacement onto SiAl32d50 were quantified with the use of the solution depletion technique combined with UV spectrophotometry and the titration calorimetry technique. Titration calorimetry was also used to determine the molar enthalpy change accompanying micellization of C12C12C12 in pure deionized water and in a 1.5 mmolkg(-1) PhOH solution at 298 K. The adsorption of C12C12C12 occurs simultaneously on the external surface and on the pore walls and it is a strongly co-operative phenomenon. Surfactant aggregates forming at adsorption saturation are thought to be composed of the adsorbed surfactant units having their cationic head groups mostly oriented outward with respect to the solid surface. Therefore, they can provide co-adsorption sites for polarisable phenol molecules. On average, there is one phenol molecule retained for one gemini cation adsorbed. Transfer of phenol from the aqueous phase to either the bulk micelles or to the interfacial aggregates is enthalpically favourable.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Contact angle and film pressure: study of a talc surface.

Talc samples in both sheet and powder form are studied by adsorption calorimetry and adsorption isotherm techniques. A model is used to determine the solid surface energy, the solid surface tension and the dispersive, acidic, and basic components of these terms. These results are introduced in an approximate equation relating adsorption to contact angle data. Experimental contact angles are in correct agreement with this approach. The Neumann equation of state is used to fit the data and discussed. It appears as a numerical form of the general equation taking into account gas adsorption and film pressure. Behaviors of talc in contact with liquids do not appear very different whether the solid is in sheet or powder form.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

A study of the adsorption of bile salts onto model lecithin membranes.

Bile salts play a central role in the promotion of cytotoxicity or cytoprotection. In this study, we examined the interaction of different bile salts with egg lecithin vesicles using 31P NMR spectroscopy. The effects of taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC or 3alpha,7alpha,-dihydroxy-5beta-cholanoyl taurine, of tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) or 3alpha,7beta,-dihydroxy-5beta-cholanoyl taurine) and of taurobetamuricholate (TbetaMC or 3alpha,6beta,7beta,-trihydroxy-5beta-cholanoyl taurine), at various bile salt/lecithin ratios, were evaluated. From the percent 31P present in vesicles, the micellar capacity of bile salts to dissolve lecithin was determined. TCDC was incorporated into vesicles for bile salt/lecithin molar ratios lower than 0.62 while for TUDC and TbetaMC, the critical ratios were 0.94 and 1.1, respectively. The 31P chemical shift change was markedly larger with TCDC than that found with TUDC and TbetaMC. In order to specify the low interactions observed between hydrophilic bile salts and lecithin, we determined the intermixed micellar/vesicular bile salt concentrations (IMVC) of bile salt/lecithin solutions using rapid ultrafiltration-centrifugation for TUDC and lecithin solubility measurements for TUDC, TbetaMC and TCDC. The low IMVC obtained indicate that even hydrophilic bile salts were bound mostly to the mixed aggregates. In conclusion, the low disturbance in the arrangement of lecithin induced by TUDC and TbetaMC appears to be due to the interfacial location of these bile salts. TCDC (7alpha OH) penetrates more deeply in the membrane than the 7beta hydroxylated bile salts that may partly explain the distinct damaging effects of these bile salts.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Evaluation of Surface Enthalpy of Porous Aluminosilicates of the MCM-41 Type Using Immersional Calorimetry: Effect of the Pore Size and Framework Si:Al Ratio.

Surface properties of porous aluminosilicates of the MCM-41 type have been tested by immersional calorimetry. Two series of materials, referred to as SiAlxCn, where x is the Si : Al mole ratio and n the chain length of the surfactant template, having (1) x=32 and n=8, 12, 14, 16, 18 and (2) n=14 and x=8, 32, infinity, were used. The results of thermogravimetric analysis on these samples served to evaluate the surface density of hydroxyl groups. This parameter is rather sensitive to the pore size than to the aluminium content in the solid matrix. Based on the experimentally measured enthalpies of immersion in n-heptane, water, and formamide per unit BET specific surface area, estimates could be made of the apolar, Lewis acid, and Lewis base contributions to the total surface enthalpy of MCM-41 materials. The samples studied have a predominant surface acidic character, which is markedly enhanced by incorporating aluminium into the silica matrix. Surface acidity is also modified by changes in the porous structure, although the trends are less noticeable here. Nevertheless, the total surface enthalpy of MCM-41 aluminosilicates appears to be small in comparison with typical inorganic oxides, such as silica or alumina. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Neuropeptide FF selectively attenuates the effects of nociceptin on acutely dissociated neurons of the rat dorsal raphe nucleus.

Intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) was measured in neurons, acutely dissociated from the rat dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), with the fluorescent calcium probe Fluo3. Nociceptin (300 nM) had no effect on resting [Ca2+]i but reduced the magnitude of the [Ca2+]i transient triggered by depolarization in 90% of neurons having polygonal or fusiform perikarya. In 94% of neurons with the same morphology 5-HT (30 microM) also reduced the magnitude of the [Ca2+]i transient. The selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist 4-iodo-N-[2-[4-(methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-N-2-pyridinyl-ben zamide hydrochloride (p-MPPI) (0.4 microM) strongly attenuated (by 72+/-7%, n=4) this effect. The responses to nociceptin and 5-HT were not affected by BaCl2 (100 microM). The neuropeptide FF analog [D-Tyr1, (N-Me)Phe3]NPFF (1DMe) altered neither the resting [Ca2+]i nor the [Ca2+]i transient triggered by depolarization but dose-dependently decreased the effect of nociceptin (EC50=1.8 nM, maximal reduction: 68+/-5%). 1DMe had no effect on the response to 5-HT. Another neuropeptide FF analog, exhibiting a different pharmacological activity in mice and rats, [D-Tyr1, D-Leu2, D-Phe3]NPFF (1 microM) also reduced the effect of nociceptin by 74+/-11% (n=4). Few neurons (5 out of 42), either with polygonal/fusiform or smaller ovoid cell bodies, responded to the mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2, (N-Me)Phe4, Gly-ol5]-enkephalin (DAGO) with a decrease in the depolarization-induced [Ca2+]i transient. 1DMe (100 nM) attenuated this response by 69+/-14%. These results suggest that, at the cellular level, neuropeptide FF selectively counteracts the effects of opioid receptor activation.

Aminopyridines↗
PubMed1997

Coupling condensation nucleation light scattering detection with capillary electrophoresis using electrospray.

An improved method for coupling capillary electrophoresis (CE) with condensation nucleation light scattering detection (CNLSD) is described. The method employs an electrospray aerosol source followed by aerosol particle neutralization within a weak plasma established by a polonium-210 alpha emitter. Sensitive, universal detection of underivatized proteins, peptides, and amino acids is demonstrated. The system performance was significantly affected by the operational mode of the electrospray source, characterized by the physical appearance of the droplet at the end of the electrospray capillary. With a so-called pulsating mode, relatively low backgrounds were obtained with 10 mM ammonium acetate or 10 mM ammonium acetate/10 mM ammonia CE buffers using one diffusion screen, allowing detection of proteins at single microgram per milliliter levels and amino acids and peptides at submicrogram per milliliter levels. Linearity of response, expressed as peak height or peak area; mass limits of detection (LODs) for proteins, peptides, and amino acids at the picogram level, corresponding to femtomole levels of peptides and amino acids or subfemtomole levels of proteins; and better detectability compared to UV absorbance at 214 and 200 nm were demonstrated. The separation efficiencies obtained with the CE-electrospray-CNLSD system are much higher than those obtained for a previously reported pneumatic nebulizer-based system and in the range of approximately 20,000-160,000 plates/m using the pulsating electrospray mode. With careful adjustment of the electrospray voltage, a different operating mode, called the silver bullet mode, could be established for which higher signals, lower background and background noise, and higher separation efficiencies were observed compared to the pulsating mode. The lower background levels observed with the silver bullet mode eliminated the need for the use of a diffusion screen for background control with the buffer employed. With the silver bullet mode without a diffusion screen, linear response and LODs at the 15 ng/mL level, corresponding to subpicogram or 1-2 fmol levels of underivatized peptides and amino acids, and plate numbers in the range of 65,000-220,000 plates/m were estimated.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1997

The fetal/adult acetylcholine receptor antibody ratio in mothers with myasthenia gravis as a marker for transfer of the disease to the newborn.

High anti-fetal/anti-adult muscle anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody (Ab) titer ratio is predictive of the occurrence of neonatal myasthenia gravis in a first child. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the ratio between the levels of antibodies is an intrinsic property of the mother's sera or varies with physiologic status such as pregnancy. We performed a longitudinal study of the levels of Ab directed against both fetal and adult AChRs and the ratio between them in 11 mothers with myasthenia gravis (MG). Sera were taken during, before, and after pregnancy. Absolute levels of Ab varied considerably during the time of observation as indicated by analyzing the maximum change between any two sample times during the study (adult mean percentage change 45.9 +/- 26.4; fetal 42.51 +/- 22.05). In contrast to this, the anti-fetal/anti-adult muscle AChR Ab titer ratio was much less variable (mean percentage change 16.66 +/- 10.11; p < 0.0033). The levels of the two Ab types yielded a correlation of 0.918, consistent with the stability of the ratio between them. This stability of ratio has practical value in the management of pregnancy and infant care in mothers with MG because the ratio at any time, before or during pregnancy, will predict whether the child will contract neonatal MG. We determined this for the first child, but further studies are necessary to establish if this remains true for subsequent pregnancies.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1996

[Computer analysis of nystagmus].

An algorithm for the computer analysis of nystagmus is described in this paper. This algorhythms was based on digital differentiator, which monitors the eye position. The computed eye velocity is next used as an input to the fast phase detector. Several procedures, including minimum velocity test, slope sense test, SPV and FPV relationship test are invoked to extract the fast phases from the recorded signal. Based on three-years experience (approx. 3000 examinations) using the ENG-PC System in clinical practice we can conclude, that application of the nystagmus detector was useful in most cases. In our opinion, despite from system imperfection which is observed during the analysis of recording disturbed by artifacts, this system has unquestionable advantage over the traditional technique.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed1994

Association of neonatal myasthenia gravis with antibodies against the fetal acetylcholine receptor.

The specificities of autoantibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) for embryonic and adult muscle AChR were studied in 22 mothers with myasthenia gravis (MG) and in their newborns using human fetus and normal adult muscle AChR preparations. 12 mothers had transmitted MG to their neonates with, in three cases, antenatal injury. A clear correlation was found between occurrence of neonatal MG (NMG) and the high overall level of anti-AChR antibodies (embryonic or adult muscle AChR). However, a strong correlation was also found between occurrence of NMG and the ratio of anti-embryonic AChR to anti-adult muscle (Te/Ta) AChR antibodies (P < 0.0002). Taken together, these data suggest that autoantibodies directed against the embryonic form of the AChR could play a predominant role in the pathogenesis of NMG. Paradoxically, the three cases with antenatal injury presumably the most severe form of NMG, were not associated with high Te/Ta. At the clinical level, these observations could prove helpful in the prediction of transmission of NMG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Conditioned media from a renal cell carcinoma cell line demonstrates the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor.

In a previous report, we demonstrated the isolation and purification of a heparin binding growth factor from human renal carcinoma, and suggested that this growth factor may play a role in the neovascularity and growth of the tumor. In this report, we demonstrate that the growth of the renal cell carcinoma cell line RC29 is stimulated by the addition of exogenous fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha). Also, media conditioned by this cell line was able to stimulate growth of the A431 vulvar tumor cell line, known for its high concentration of EGF receptors, 3T3 fibroblasts, human umbilical vein (HUV) cells and RC29 cells. Using heparin-sepharose chromatography and then SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), we were able to demonstrate several proteins in the conditioned media of the RC29 cell line. Using Western blot analysis, we detected that at least one of the proteins expressed in this conditioned media was FGF and that it belongs to the basic, not acidic, family of fibroblast growth factors. These findings suggest that renal tumors may express growth factors that may play a direct role in maintaining their unrestricted proliferation.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗
PubMed1993

[Pulmonary miliary tuberculosis in a 14-year old boy].

A case is presented of a rare form of pulmonary miliary tuberculosis in a 14-year-old boy beginning with dramatic symptoms with negative the test and negative result of bacterioscopy. The preliminary diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical observation and radiological examination. Confirmation was achieved after obtaining of a positive result of bacteriological examination.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Netherton's syndrome in a 12-year old girl].

A case is presented of a 12-year-old girl with skin changes existing since birth which (in spite of the lack of changes in hair structure) were regarded as a coexistence of generalized ichthyosiform erythrodermia and atopic dermatitis, and which were diagnosed on the basis of literature data as Netherton's syndrome. Several weeks of treatment with non-steroid ointments, new generation antihistamines with the use of elimination diet gave an evident improvement and made possible her discharge in fairly good general condition, with suggested further treatment in the allergy outpatient clinic.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Pediatric pain management.

The management of pediatric pain is a complex, multifaceted subject. By viewing pediatric pain management as a priority, health care providers may diminish children's suffering in hospital settings. Critical care nurses can make a difference by increasing awareness of pain issues, incorporating pain assessment tools into their flow sheet, being knowledgeable about pain management interventions, and collaborating with the other health care team members to cope effectively with each child's individual pain management needs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Evaluation of the results of ELISA in the quantitative determination of antibodies against infectious bursitis in poultry].

Specific antibodies were investigated in serums of chicks vaccinated with live vaccine and revaccinated with inactivated vaccine against the infectious bursal disease virus, using three methods. An ELISA technique was used to determine antibody titres at a fourfold serum dilution; the reaction was evaluated visually. The results were compared with the titres of neutralizing antibodies and percentage of samples with precipitin activity (Fig. 1). The average values of neutralizing antibody titres and ELISA titres were found to have an analogical pattern; a decrease in maternal antibodies on the first days of chick life and an increase in the antibodies after vaccination, accompanied by an increase in precipitin activity, were typical in these tests. Using the different ELISA technique, 138 samples of fowl serum were examined (Fig. 2). The high correlation, r = 0.85, was found between the ELISA titres determined by visual reading of the reaction within the fourfold serum dilutions and the absorbance values determined at single serum dilution. Applying a spectrophotometer programme, a scale of antibody quantification was made up pursuant to the intensity of immunoenzymatic reaction. For the purposes of method reproducibility, the evaluation was made within the average values of absorbance of positive serum on the one hand and of negative serum on the other. The span of these values was divided into ten equal parts, designated by degrees 0 to 9. Corresponding degrees of positivity were assigned to the examined samples in dependence on the determined value of absorbance (Fig. 3). The correlation r = 0.61 was found between the ELISA values and the titres of neutralizing antibodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗