Mapping of periodically poled crystals via spontaneous parametric down-conversion

A new method for characterization of periodically poled crystals is developed based on spontaneous parametric down-conversion. The method is demonstrated on crystals of Y:LiNbO3, Mg:Y:LiNbO3 with non-uniform periodically poled structures, obtained directly under Czochralski growth procedure and designed for application of OPO in the mid infrared range. Infrared dispersion of refractive index, effective working periods and wavelengths of OPO were determined by special treatment of frequency-angular spectra of spontaneous parametric down-conversion in the visible range. Two-dimensional mapping via spontaneous parametric down-conversion is proposed for characterizing spatial distribution of bulk quasi-phase matching efficiency across the input window of a periodically poled sample.Comment: 19 pages, 6 figure

Investigation of lens morphology and mechanical characteristics of lens capsule and lens nucleus in patients with agerelated and diabetic cataract

Purpose: To investigate the influence of carbohydrate metabolism on the structure and mechanical properties of the lens capsule and nucleus.Methods: Human lens pathology was studied in different forms of cataract. 220 patients with a cataract (220 eyes) were included in this study. Morphological, immunohystological and immunocytochemical investigations of lens substance (antibodies to a- (a-А and a-В), b-, g- crystallines), spectroscopic analyses of smears and morphometric analyses of slices, investigation of lens morphology and mechanical caracteristics of lens capsule and lens nucleus were performed.Results: The capsule of the lens in patients with senile cataract contains more Na+, Cl-. The capsule of the lens in patients with senile cataract contains more Ca2+, O. Mechanical strength of the capsule in the case of diabetes mellitus was lower comparatively with senile cataract in the same age groups. More significant expression of a-В and b-crystallines was found in patients with diabetes mellitus comparatively with patients with age-related cataract. Morphological features were founded in patients with cortical and nuclear forms of senile cataract and the diabetic cataract.Conclusion: During surgery (ultrasonic microcoaxial phacoemulsification) the equivalent of ultrasound was recorded. Lower density of the lens nucleus of patients with diabetes mellitus made it possible to use lower energy parameters. Using the torsion ultrasound in those cases allowed us to decrease the influence of ultrasound on eye tissues and reduce the time of achieving the maximum BCVA in the postsurgical period

Morphologic characteristics of the biological fluids in abnormal uterine bleeding

«Litos-system» - as a method of laboratory study of menstrual discharge is up till now poorly studied, non-invasive, promising method of early diagnosis of female reproductive organs. This study allowed us to obtain an integrated assessment of both systematic and local homeostasis in abnormal uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age

Chronic Ouabain Prevents Radiation-Induced Reduction in the α2 Na,K-ATPase Function in the Rat Diaphragm Muscle

The damaging effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on skeletal muscle Na,K-ATPase is an open field of research. Considering a therapeutic potential of ouabain, a specific ligand of the Na,K-ATPase, we tested its ability to protect against the IR-induced disturbances of Na,K-ATPase function in rat diaphragm muscle that co-expresses the α1 and α2 isozymes of this protein. Male Wistar rats (n = 26) were subjected to 6-day injections of vehicle (0.9% NaCl) or ouabain (1 µg/kg/day). On the fourth day of injections, rats were exposed to one-time total-body X-ray irradiation (10 Gy), or a sham irradiation. The isolated muscles were studied 72 h post-irradiation. IR decreased the electrogenic contribution of the α2 Na,K-ATPase without affecting its protein content, thereby causing sarcolemma depolarization. IR increased serum concentrations of ouabain, IL-6, and corticosterone, decreased lipid peroxidation, and changed cellular redox status. Chronic ouabain administration prevented IR-induced depolarization and loss of the α2 Na,K-ATPase electrogenic contribution without changing its protein content. This was accompanied with an elevation of ouabain concentration in circulation and with the lack of IR-induced suppression of lipid peroxidation. Given the crucial role of Na,K-ATPase in skeletal muscle performance, these findings may have therapeutic implications as countermeasures for IR-induced muscle pathology