Shear elasticity of isotropic magnetic gels.

The paper deals with a theoretical study of the effective shear modulus of a magnetic gel, consisting of magnetizable particles randomly and isotropically distributed in an elastic matrix. The effect of an external magnetic field on the composite modulus is the focus of our consideration. We take into account that magnetic interaction between the particles can induce their spatial rearrangement and lead to internal anisotropy of the system. Our results show that, if this magnetically induced anisotropy is insignificant, the applied field reduces the total shear modulus of the composite. Strong anisotropy can qualitatively change the magnetomechanic effect and induce an increase of this modulus with the field.

Hysteresis of the magnetic properties of soft magnetic gels.

We present results of an experimental and theoretical study of the magnetic properties of soft magnetic gels consisting of micron-sized magnetizable particles embedded in a polymer matrix. Experiments demonstrate hysteretic dependences of composite magnetization on an applied magnetic field and non-monotonic, with maximum, dependence of the sample susceptibilities on the field. We propose a theoretical approach which describes the main physical features of these experimental results.

Anisotropy of the magnetoviscous effect in ferrofluids containing nanoparticles exhibiting magnetic dipole interaction.

The aim of this work has been the investigation of the anisotropy of the viscosity of a ferrofluid with magnetically interacting particles which are able to form structures in an applied magnetic field. The results of the experiments show a significant deviation from the case of a fluid without strong dipolar interactions. Furthermore, we have determined the dependence of the ratio of the viscosity coefficients on shear rate providing an insight into the microstructural reasons for the observed effects.

Magnetic measurements on frozen ferrofluids as a method for estimating the magnetoviscous effect.

Magnetic measurements on frozen ferrofluids with and without significant structure formation in an applied magnetic field have been performed. The results of these investigations were compared with the magnetic field dependent rheological properties for two different kinds of ferrofluids. Magnetic experiments performed similarly to conventional field cooled-field warming magnetic tests show the contribution of magnetic domain blocking and structure reorganization to the rheology of ferrofluids. Our efforts have shown the possibility of giving an estimate of the magnetoviscous effect by considering the temperature dependence of the magnetization of a frozen sample.

Motion of ferroparticles inside the polymeric matrix in magnetoactive elastomers.

Ferroelastic composites are smart materials with unique properties including large magnetodeformational effects, strong field enhancement of the elastic modulus and magnetic shape memory. On the basis of mechanical tests, direct microscopy observations and magnetic measurements we conclude that all these effects are caused by reversible motion of the magnetic particles inside the polymeric matrix in response to an applied field. The basic points of a model accounting for particle structuring in a magnetoactive elastomer under an external field are presented.

Do different dialytic techniques have different atherosclerotic and antioxidant activities?

To compare the chronic effect of several dialytic techniques (bicarbonate dialysis, BHD; acetate free biofiltration, AFB; hemodiafiltration, HDF; paired filtration dialysis, PFD) on atherosclerosis and antioxidant activity, three different indices were created. The first (atherosclerotic index = AI) is formed using the sum of three plasma substances: MDA, Hcy, and Cys (malondialdehyde, homocysteine, cysteine). The second (antioxidant activity index = AOAI) is the sum of five erythrocyte (E) parameters: E-GSH, GPx, CAT, SOD, GR (E-glutathione, E-glutathione peroxidase, E-catalase, E-superoxide dismutase, E-glutathione reductase). The third (defense index = DI) is derived from the previous two: (AOAI - AI). The indices were so expressed as AI in mmol/L, AOAI in U/g hemoglobin (Hb), and DI in arbitrary units. These indices were calculated in 20 controls and 51 chronic HD patients (26 female, 25 male) before, during, and after the first session of the week. HD patients were divided according to their dialytic technique: BHD, n = 35; AFB, n = 5 patients; HDF, n = 7 patients; or PFD = 4 patients. All patients had been treated with a given technique for at least 12 months, before entering the study. As expected, HD patients had AI values higher than controls, both before and after the session, with a mean value of 541 (before) and 331 (after), whereas controls had a mean value of 205. The AOAI was lower than controls, both before and after the session, the mean value being 1,122 (before) and 1,582 (after), that of controls being 2,424. In all cases, PFD gave the best "acute" results; at the end of a PFD session, near normal values of AI, AOAI, and DI (defensive index = AOAI - AI) were obtained.

Role of cellulosic and noncellulosic membranes in hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress.

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with an increased relative risk (RR) of 1% per micromol/L in total homocysteine concentration. In ESRD patients who undergo hemodialysis (HD), the antioxidant system is largely inadequate in correcting the imbalance between generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To clarify the role of several cellulosic (CMs) and noncellulosic of synthetic membranes (NCMs) upon hyperhomocysteinemia and the oxidative stress, we measured plasma (P) homocysteine (t-HCY), plasma lipid peroxidation (LPO), and erythrocyte (E) concentration of several antioxidant enzymes in 20 normal subjects, in 35 HD patients treated with CMs, and in 29 patients treated with NCMs. Before, during, and after the first session of the week (at times 0', 120', end, 30' after HD end), blood samples were drawn. Plasma (P) homocysteine (t-HCY), cysteine (CYS), malondialdehyde (MDA), erythrocyte (E)-glutathione (GSH), glucose-6-phosphodehydrogenase (G6PD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide-dismutase (SOD) were determined. The dialytic procedure significantly decreased the three plasma parameters, but none normalized (as a mean). The E-enzymes scavenging ROS (lower than normal before session) increased throughout the session, but the normal range of activity was never reached. Different membranes have shown different effects. When these effects on P and E spaces were pooled, we were able to classify the membranes as follows. In a general sense, cellulosic membranes are less effective than synthetic membranes both on lipoperoxides (LPO) and antioxidant activity (AOA). Among synthetic membranes, PMMA is the best membrane both for plasma values and lesser enzymatic derangement during the session. A practical system for classifying the anti-atherosclerotic action and antioxidant activity of dialytic membranes is proposed.

Hyperprolactinemia as a marker of neurotransmitter imbalance in uremic population.

Serum prolactin (PRL) levels are elevated in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) but the mechanisms responsible for these abnormalities are not fully understood. PRL secretion is undoubtedly influenced by many substances, which can be variously altered in uremia: monoamines, endogenous opiates and PTH. Our data suggest that in early renal failure PRL levels are already significantly high and the 24-h pattern of PRL secretion is significantly different from that in controls. PRL derangements could be due in mild renal failure, to unknown factors (GABA?); in severe CRF, to a major change in dopaminergic activity; in hemodialysis (HD), to a low turnover of monoamines, and in peritoneal dialysis (PD) to increased activity of serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems.

The role of neurotransmitters in the genesis of uremic encephalopathy.

To classify the influence of neurotransmitters in the genesis of uremic encephalopathy we studied cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma (P) amino acid (AA) concentration, in patients undergoing various dialytic treatments (hemodialysis = HD, intermittent and continuous peritoneal dialysis = IPD and CAPD). HD causes a significant decrease in CSF/P ratios of branched chain AA (BCAA) and a significant increase in CSF Glycine/Valine ratio, suggesting an augmented brain uptake of Glycine at detriment of Valine. In IPD the general trend of Aromatic AA/BCAA ratio suggests a preferential transport of Aromatic AA through the blood brain barrier. The differences between IPD and HD are confirmed by data concerning metabolites of Serotonin and Dopamine: CSF concentrations of 5- Hydroxyindoleacetic acid and Homovanillic acid are low in HD but high in IPD. So, a reduced (in HD) and an increased (in IPD) activity of monoamine systems could be at the basis of some neurological disturbances appearing in uremia.