Photoluminescent properties of oxidized stochiometric and carbon-rich amorphous Si₁₋xCx:H films

Near-stochiometric and carbon-rich a-Si₁₋xCx:H thin films were deposited using the magnetron sputtering of Si target in Ar/CH₄ gas mixture. As-deposited nearstochimetric (x = 0.5) sample showed weak blue photoluminescence (PL), while PL of as-deposited carbon-rich (x = 0.7) sample was 20 times stronger and white in color. The films were annealed in pure argon, wet argon, and dry oxygen at 450 °C for 30 min. The intensity of PL in a-Si₁₋xCx:H layers were enhanced by the factor from 2 to 12 after annealing in dependence on the annealing atmosphere. The strongest oxidation and strongest light emission were observed in carbon-rich series (x = 0.7) after annealing in oxidizing atmosphere. Structural properties of the films were characterized by infra-red absorption spectroscopy, ellipsometry and electron paramagnetic resonance. The effect of carbon enrichment of a-Si₁₋xCx:H films and annealing atmosphere on the evolution of photoluminescence and local interatomic bonding structure in annealed material were studied and analyzed. It has been found that main effects of thermal treatments is strong enhancement of photoluminescence accompanied by formation of Si:C–Hn and Si–OxCy bonding. The strongest oxidation effect as well as strongest hotoluminescence were observed in carbon-rich a-SiC:H films

Radical nephrectomy in a left pelvic dystopic kidney in a patient with renal cell carcinoma

The incidence of the renal cell carcinoma in Russia and worldwide remains high. Current literature reports isolated cases of patients who were diagnosed and treated for malignant neoplasms of dystopic kidneys. In addition, the absence of patient complaints and the paucity of non-specific symptoms of pelvic dystopic kidneys lead to late diagnosis of this anomaly and the kidney diseases. This article presents a case study of a radical nephrectomy in a patient with renal cell carcinoma of the left pelvic dystopic kidney

Radical nephrectomy in a left pelvic dystopic kidney in a patient with renal cell carcinoma

The incidence of the renal cell carcinoma in Russia and worldwide remains high. Current literature reports isolated cases of patients who were diagnosed and treated for malignant neoplasms of dystopic kidneys. In addition, the absence of patient complaints and the paucity of non-specific symptoms of pelvic dystopic kidneys lead to late diagnosis of this anomaly and the kidney diseases. This article presents a case study of a radical nephrectomy in a patient with renal cell carcinoma of the left pelvic dystopic kidney

Female genital prolapse surgery using ultra lightweight polypropylene mesh

AIM: To compare the results of female genital prolapse (FGP) surgery via vaginal access using lightweight and ultra-lightweight polypropylene mesh.MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, 93 women aged from 46 to 71 years with II-IV stage FGP (POP-Q classification) were examined and underwent the vaginal extra-peritoneal colpopexy using polypropylene implants in the Department of Urology. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In patients of group 1 (n=50) the surgery was performed according to a newly developed technique using perforated ultra-lightweight (surface density 19 g/m2) domestically manufactured polypropylene implant. In group 2, a standard trocar set with light (surface density of 42.7 g/m2) foreign-made polypropylene implants was used.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Long-term follow-up was from 1 to 5 years. General surgical complications (urinary bladder injury, blood loss over 300 ml, perineal and vaginal hematomas) were detected in 2 (4%) patients of group 1 and in 7 (16.3%) patients of group 2. The most common specific mesh-related complication was the vaginal wall erosion, which was observed in 4 (9.3%) patients of group 2 and in 1 (2%) patient of group 1. FGP recurrence was diagnosed in 5 (10%) patients of group 1 in the non-treated part and in 8 (18.6%) patients of group 2. Three patients (7%) in group 2 developed recurrent cystocele due to the shrinkage of the mesh implant which was not observed in group 1. At 12 month follow-up, the results of FGP surgical treatment were estimated as good (full functional recovery and no FGP recurrence) in 41 (82%) and 32 (74.4%) patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively.CONCLUSION: We have developed a method of vaginal extra-peritoneal colpopexy using a perforated ultra-lightweight polypropylene implant. This technique has resulted in the absence of recurrence in the treated part of FGP, and 4.1, 4.2 and 4.7 fold reductions in the incidence of general surgical complications, vaginal wall erosions and perineal and vaginal hematomas, respectively, compared with FGP patients undergoing the placement of the lightweight polypropylene implant using the standard trocar set

Female genital prolapse surgery using ultra lightweight polypropylene mesh

AIM: To compare the results of female genital prolapse (FGP) surgery via vaginal access using lightweight and ultra-lightweight polypropylene mesh.MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, 93 women aged from 46 to 71 years with II-IV stage FGP (POP-Q classification) were examined and underwent the vaginal extra-peritoneal colpopexy using polypropylene implants in the Department of Urology. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In patients of group 1 (n=50) the surgery was performed according to a newly developed technique using perforated ultra-lightweight (surface density 19 g/m2) domestically manufactured polypropylene implant. In group 2, a standard trocar set with light (surface density of 42.7 g/m2) foreign-made polypropylene implants was used.RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Long-term follow-up was from 1 to 5 years. General surgical complications (urinary bladder injury, blood loss over 300 ml, perineal and vaginal hematomas) were detected in 2 (4%) patients of group 1 and in 7 (16.3%) patients of group 2. The most common specific mesh-related complication was the vaginal wall erosion, which was observed in 4 (9.3%) patients of group 2 and in 1 (2%) patient of group 1. FGP recurrence was diagnosed in 5 (10%) patients of group 1 in the non-treated part and in 8 (18.6%) patients of group 2. Three patients (7%) in group 2 developed recurrent cystocele due to the shrinkage of the mesh implant which was not observed in group 1. At 12 month follow-up, the results of FGP surgical treatment were estimated as good (full functional recovery and no FGP recurrence) in 41 (82%) and 32 (74.4%) patients of groups 1 and 2, respectively.CONCLUSION: We have developed a method of vaginal extra-peritoneal colpopexy using a perforated ultra-lightweight polypropylene implant. This technique has resulted in the absence of recurrence in the treated part of FGP, and 4.1, 4.2 and 4.7 fold reductions in the incidence of general surgical complications, vaginal wall erosions and perineal and vaginal hematomas, respectively, compared with FGP patients undergoing the placement of the lightweight polypropylene implant using the standard trocar set

Morphologic structure and immunohistochemical analysis of vaginal wall in women with pelvic organ prolapse

AIM: to study a correlation between clinical stage of pelvic organ prolapse (POP), a histological structure and results of immunohistochemical study of the vaginal wall were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 peri- and postmenopausal women (average age 61.9+/-8.4 years) with POP of stage II-IV, according to the POP-Q classification, or with stress urinary incontinence and cystocele of stage I-II, who undergone to surgical treatment, were included in the study. During a procedure, a biopsy from the anterior vaginal wall was taken. Depending on the stage of POP, patients was divided into two groups. In the group 1, 30 patients with stage I and II of POP were included, while group 2 included 30 women with POP of stage III and more. The control group (group 3) consisted of 20 patients without POP (mean age 63.4+/-11.0 years) who underwent a hysterectomy due to to other indications. A histological and immunohistochemical studies of vaginal wall tissue was performed in order to determine the tissue content of collagen type I and III; matrix metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (MMP-1 and MMP-2), a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1), vimentin and smooth muscle actin. RESULTS: In contrast to two other groups, in group 2 there were significant changes in the connective tissue. Collagen has a form of fibrous mass with areas of reduced content. In addition, scarring areas with an increase in the content of type III collagen, a decrease in the amount of type I collagen and elastic fibers with significant fragmentation, were seen. Moreover, in patients with severe POP (III-IV), degradation of collagen fibers with a decrease in connective tissue strength and elasticity was detected. Women with POP had a low ratio of type I:III collagen. Analysis of the collagen content in the vaginal wall in patients with mild POP (I-II) revealed a significant increase in the level of collagen type I (p=0.0003) and a decrease in the content of type III (p=0.045), compared to patients with more severe POP (III-IV). The level of MMP-1 and MMP-2 in women with POP was higher, than in control group by 1.7 times (p<0.05). The content of TIMP-1 in the group 1 was significantly lower by 1.5 and 2.2 times, compared to group 2 and 3, respectively. An analysis of MMP-1 and MMP-2 concentration in patients of groups 1 and 2 revealed a significant (p=0.04) decrease in their activity in severe POP (III-IV). In women of the group 2, biopsy of the vaginal wall showed that expression of vimentin and smooth muscle actin in the connective tissue was significantly higher, than in group 1 and 3 (p<0.05). Vimentin expression in the group 2 was 1.4 and 2.6 times higher than in the group 1 and 3, respectively. In the control group, the expression of these markers in the vaginal wall was minimal and focal. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that fibrosis and degradation of the connective tissue in the vaginal wall predominate in POP, and these changes are a consequence, but not a cause of PG. The aggravation of degenerative changes in the connective tissue leads to the progression of POP

Investigation of low-coherence laser radiation interaction with different materials

The paper presents the results of experiments on the interaction of low-coherence laser radiation with low density volume-structured materials and solid-state density materials, performed at the facility “KANAL-2” [1]. The data on scattering, absorption, and transport of low-coherence heating laser radiation through plasmas from low-density volume-structured materials and solid density materials have been analyzed. The experiments have demonstrated that laser radiation of low coherence effectively interacts with low density materials, and materials of solid-state density

Lasagna-like supramolecular polymers derived from the PdII osazone complexes via C(sp2)–H⋯Hal hydrogen bonding

Preparation of the novel PdII osazone complex and its self-assembly into lasagna-like arrays in the solid state via rare C(sp2)–H⋯Hal hydrogen bonding, as well as N–H⋯Ph weak contact is reported. The rare PdII osazone complex was characterized using elemental analyses (C, H, N), ESI-MS, IR, 1H and 13C NMR techniques and X-ray diffraction analysis. The intermolecular non-covalent interactions C–H⋯Cl and N–H⋯Ph responsible for the formation of 1D supramolecular polymeric chains in the crystal were detected and studied by DFT calculations and topological analysis of the electron density distribution within the framework of Bader's theory (QTAIM method). Estimated strength of these non-covalent interactions is 1.3–1.6 kcal/mol. © 2019 Elsevier B.V